The Pertwee Years - 1970-1974
The first era is my personal favorite. Jon Pertwee is probably my favorite Doctor of the classic series, with Troughton coming in number two. I don't know if I still want to say he is m all time favorite Doctor, that honor may go to my first real Doctor, David Tennant, but Pertwee is certainly a close close second.
This was a strong time for the show, it built on what the 60s did, and created many elements that added to what many consider classic elements of the show. Two hearts, the term regeneration, Gallifrey, the Sontarans, The Sea Devils & Silurians, Sarah Jane Smith, and last but certainly not least: The Master. All these things are major contributions that can not be understated. For everyone, the top three foes for the Doctor are always going to be the Daleks, the Cybermen, and The Master.
The term regeneration is commonplace with the show, but it wasn't created until Pertwee's final episode. His first story introduced his second heart. The Sontarans and Sarah Jane were both created in the same story!
Season 8 started what became known as the UNIT Family: The Doctor, Jo Grant, The Brigadier, Sgt. Benton, Capt. Mike Yates, and their main foe The Master. This was a very strong and consistent time for the show.
In the end all credit goes to Barry Letts and Terrence Dicks, as well as Pertwee. Letts recently passed away, and even got an on screen tribute in the latest episode, which is fantastic, because the show owes so much to his contributions as Producer of the show for five solid years.
Tom Baker Part One: The Hinchcliffe Years - 1975-1977
Tom Baker's first few years were under the reign of producer Phillip Hinchcliffe, who gave the series a darker, almost gothic, atmosphere. The show hit its popularity peak in these days, with the stories being taken seriously, and Baker making the character his own, and interesting many fans for years to come. Its these stories that give Baker his reputation as one of the most popular Doctors, not his length of time behind the TARDIS console, but really its the strength of his first couple of seasons.
A good portion of the success can be contributed to the on screen rapport of Sarah Jane and the Doctor. The chemistry between the two is fantastic, and once Liz Sladen left, with no disrespect to the other companions of the Fourth Doctor, things just were never the same. Even both Romanas, who both had a good chemistry with Baker, never truly lived up to that of Sladen and Baker.
Tom Baker Part Two: The Williams Years - 1977-1979
The end of the 70s were never as strong as the beginning. 1970-1977 were arguably the most successful in the original shows run. Seven strong years is pretty damned impressive when you consider the fact that there was 6 fairly popular years preceding it.
The budget constraints finally took the turn for the worse around the same time Graham Williams took over as producer though, and unfortunately he was ultimately only able to create one completely strong season, his second at the head of the operation. He could not keep the magic working in his final year however, and the season is truly dismal.
I would say that it is obvious the 70s were a success, for they kept the show strong and even made the show so popular that it wasn't even in peoples minds to let it go at the end of the 1970s. It is clear, however, that the show was losing its life force near the end of the decade. Williams had clearly had enough, and a new young Producer with a new vision and direction for the show would take over in what would become the turbulent 1980s.
NEXT TIME: Changing Times
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