The season introduced the Sontarans and Sarah Jane Smith, we saw Mike Yates turn minor traitor for misguided iseals, they added a new title sequence and logo, and named the Doctor's home planet Gallifrey and the technique he uses to stay alive Regeneration. In the end we lose Pertwee, UNIT and Earthbound stories, and The Brigadier as a regular. This was the victory lap for Pertwee, Barry Letts and Terrence Dicks. Their era comes to an end, and the new one of Tom Baker, Phillip Hinchcliffe, and Robert Holmes begins.
Pertwee had better stories in earlier seasons, and while I love Sarah Jane Smith, Jo Grant was the definitive Third Doctor companion. Of course Sarah goes on to be the hard act to follow of the Fourth Doctor companions. I think that Pertwee's authoritative style worked much better as he played the fatherly figure for Jo...but with such a strong willed Sarah, the rapport isn't as strong. Still this season worked just fine with these two, even if Pertwee's previous companion was better for him, and she was better for the next guy.
Pertwee was an excellent Doctor, one of the best, very different to those who came before and many that came after. He was a unique Doctor and not many have been as similar to him since.
Season 12 is up next, the strongest season since 8!
NEXT TIME: Would You Like A Jelly Baby?
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