Fifth Doctor regenerates - Peter Davison to Colin Baker - Doctor Who - The Caves of Androzani - BBC 

Poor Peter Davison...he was acting his heart out only to be overshadowed by an unfortunate camera angle.

One thing that puts all the classic regenerations, this one especially, past all the New Who ones is that the classic Doctors are lying down. Regeneration usually happens when the Doctor finally reaches a situation that he simply can't escape from, and so having him lying down, in a rare moment of extreme weakness, further signifies what he's just gone through. The New Who Doctors are always standing up when they regenerate, which severely diminishes the impact and significance of such a critical moment. They don't seem like they're in a moment of weakness or even injured or sick, so it doesn't give the impression that they've just experienced their most grueling challenge. Here's hoping that Capaldi goes out horizontally, or at least sitting down.

A remarkable scene.

Damn Mary...never noticed.

Haha the 6th Doctor was such a jerk

...best Doctor Regen by far....they are too OP now...

The Doctor was under such a strain when he had to carry Peri back to the TARDIS and off Androzani Minor so that he can cure her with the bat's milk before it was too late to save her.

1:18-2:20 Feels different this time...

Adric?

There's a theory as to why the Doctor chose Commander Maxil's face. It says that the Doctor subconsciously felt that he had grown weak and needed a face that inspired bold and bravery.

In a sense, this was the perfect ending for the Fifth Doctor. From the very beginning, he was usually surrounded by two or three supportive friends. In this story, we see what he's really made up because he and Peri are so ill that he has to go it alone almost the whole time...which made his ultimate triumph that much more heroic.

Colin Baker was a great Doctor, it was the writing that made his tenure suck. Colin himself is actually a good actor. His audio stories are alot better I think.

I think the reason why this whole scene is so powerful and in a way similar to today's regenerations albeit with cheaper-looking effects is because of Graeme Harper's direction; the only director of the classic series to have worked on the revived series. It's as if he understood how important it was to portray the regeneration on screen and it's done in almost the same way as it's done today, considering how little money they had. The whole story in fact was very tightly directed.

Although it's nice that regeneration has some continuity now instead of being decided on a whim by whoever was directing, it does mean the regeneration's these days lack the creativity of this one. This is the absolute best regeneration, not only is it creatively stimulating it also gives added motivation for him to regenerate and continue fighting the good fighting.

Peri's rack would make any man have a successful "regeneration"

I love how the regeneration itself Just focuses on the Doctor, his inner demons, & nothing else! If this were the Modern series, I think it would constantly be cutting back and forth to shots of Peri crying & reacting.

I still prefer this (and 4 to 5) to the pyrotechnics of the modern era. These regenerations were mysterious, even creepy. And as a young child in the 80s, I didn't even know they were coming. But I remember the sense of dread in the last episode, wondering how the Doctor was going to cure himself - genuinely not knowing that these were his final moments- and then the sudden realisation that he was about to regenerate, something I only dimly remembered from a few years before. Great TV.

I particularly like how when the camera pans down, we see he's lying exactly on the exact line of the TARDIS console's shadow. It subtly suggests that the Doctor is a border, or an ending, and that even he doesn't know what's going to happen: death or regeneration? I don't know whether or not it's intentional (although Graeme Harper is such a good director that it probably IS), but it's a subtly effective image just as his regeneration begins. A classic...

And So the Best Doctor was born. Bless Old Sixie!

And thus ends the best story of Doctor Who

It's a shame Peter Davison wasn't wearing his celery when be regenerated

Whether you like 5th or not, this is undoubtedly one of (if not the) best classic regenerations (and I say that as a not-5th fan). A heroic final moment followed by something that starts with a pang of finality and sadness that slowly degrades into dark and creepy (the way the voices merge together into this muffled sound as the Master cackles with delight, before the tunnel effect kicks in... Just lovely.

I think 6 is a direct result of how broken and sad 5's last journeys were, after Adric died, one of his original companions, nothing was the same for him, Nyssa's departure was quite depressing too. 6 was like an antibody, like to say, if what I suffered through was because of my kindness then I don't want the same to happen to me ever again, so he subconsciously made the tough exterior of 6. In his big finish audio stories he says being 5 was like being on vacation, 10 also looks back on 5 rather fondly in Time Crash. 5's depressing end became the basis for 6's violent tenure, and to an extent, 7's dark, repressed mindset. And to think, when he became 8 and finally came back to the usual jolly Doctor, the Time War crashed on him...

Peri... (@)(@)

Peri is the hottest doctor companion for sure.

I like how Tegan comes first shows how much he loved her

"Change my dear" :) goodbye Peter Davison hello Colin Baker :D nice regeneration scene

I will not forget one line of that, not one day, I swear, I will always remember, when the doctor was Peter.

Colin Baker--very underrated Doctor, until the Big Finish audios gave him the good reputation that he had always deserved.

"Adric?" :,(

Yes. Nicola Bryant as Peri, best Doctor Who companion rack ever!

I love the way that you can still see the 'ghost' or 'shell' of the Fifth Doctor for a split second as the Sixth sits up.

Best regeneration of classic who

It's very interesting on how much the regeneration process changed from back then and to the way it is now. I do miss the less dramatic and destructive regeneration from time to time.

Regeneration from a good doctor to my favorite doctor! Colin baker is my favorite doctor

Oh man, I remember watching this in the late 80s on PBS as a little kid... When the Master appeared, beckoning the Doctor to die, I didn't realize how messed up this was until decades later as an adult. That at the time, it was like the Master was reaching out from the dead to try and pull him down with him!

The relationship between Peri and the 5th doctor reminds me a lot of Clara and the 11th doctor

A shame JNT didn't bow out after this. A new firebrand producer with fresh ideas and Doc could have had a great future, plus I think if JNT had have gone then I think his tenure would have been much more appreciated

I love this regeneration. It's sort of like the modern ones in the way that the explosive sounds a company the energy effect bursting out of him

I wish five could had have a few more stories

Peri is so beautiful. ;-)

This is such a great scene on so many levels. The Doctor's brief discussion with Peri, his sense of impending doom, the uncertainty about what would happen, the companions and the master. All great stuff. As with Tom Baker's regeneration to Peter Davison I did not know this was a regeneration story when I first saw it. Where I lived we had no Dr. Who media to read and I did not know that Caves of Androzani was Davison's final story. As the episode was winding down, and this scene started, I realized that this was a regeneration episode and it just shook me to my core. God how I loved the Baker and Davison years.

Of all the classic Doctor Who’s, this was the best story. Robert Holmes’ writing was first rate and the acting is amazing.

wowm what a hot companion

im sure Peter enjoyed filming this scene lol

It's strange how his last word is "Adric...?" Without his mouth moving

Considering that the opinion at the time of filming this was that the Master was dead, it makes his sudden appearance all the more shocking. As others have said, it's as if the Doctor's oldest enemy is reaching out to him from beyond the grave to compel him to succumb to death! Considering what was done with the master after this, it probably would have been better to assume he was was dead after "Planet of Fire"... except for the fact that we would be deprived of Anthony Ainley's chilling performance in the final story of the classic series- "Survival". I feel that Ainley was a much more nuanced actor than he's often given credit for.

trippy regeneration

Five was my favorite. Seeing his regeneration scene... hurts.

Peri was indeed gorgeous, hmm, that dress in the last story before Colin turned into Sylvester McCoy.

ALL HAIL PERI'S BEACONS!! poor peter, trying not to catch a glimpse

Giving such a powerful performance and the cameraman is wanting all to think woo Perri !

I always thought that the Doctor was willing to die for real this time, but he knew the Master was out there wrecking havoc and he have to stop him.

I love how about 98.9876565656% of the comments are about Nicola Bryant's jugs

Best Dr. Who regeneration ever!

I always say this regeneration is why the 6th Doctor turned out the way he was at the beginning especially with Peri, it was a very traumatic regeneration

Peter Davison had said himself: If there is a fate worse than death this is it. Don't believe me? Check out the DVD commentary for the Caves of Androzani

I don't really like Five's regeneration that much, but I love Six's entrance. He's only there for a few seconds, but he absolutely owns the scene.

He actually wanted(and was told) to do another season, but was then fired and replaced by McCoy. They only wanted Baker for the regeneration. He was insulted and refused.

If Peri did ask the 5th Doctor if she was the 1st to enter the TARDIS wearing a bikini,would he say yes? Would he have told her about Leela,who was half-dressed when she joined the Doctor in the TARDIS and was kind of like a cavewomen,though she did wear boots.

shoogamoogaman Colin might be "The Know-it-all". He tried to fix the chameleon circuit and failed , while also arguing with people who were really correct. McCoy would be the Schemer, Eccelston The Soldier, Tennant The Traveler and Smith the Dark Joker. Depending on what he does , Capaldi might be the Rage of Gallifrey or the Pathfinder (as he has to look for Gallifrey)

The Master turns into Ben Kingsley at 2:03

Arguably Peter's finest hour. Such strong performances from everyone and a cracking good script. One of his best episodes

Colin Baker was never given the chance. From what I heard they were forced to make last minute script changes "I'm talking trashing almost everything" and everything was underfunded and rushed when he was doctor. Plus he was forced to dress silly. It's not his fault.

The most touching regeneration yet...

My first classic doctor love Peter 💙💙

Colin Baker, most mouthy Doctor ever...until Peter Capaldi, that is.

The ghost of Adric HAS A DIFFERENT HAIRSTYLE! >:-D

one of the best regenerations along with 3rd to 4th and 10th to 11th

3 years after this was filmed at the BBC, I saw "The Caves of Androzani" for the first time. In this regeneration sequence, I was saddened to see Peter Davison leave the program. I enjoyed the three months (December 1986-March 1987 ) seeing the 5th Doctor episodes.

Graeme Harper who directed The Caves of Androzani based the inspiration for the regeneration sequence between fifth and sixth Doctors on The Beatles' A Day in The Life.

i saw this when i was getting my wisdom teeth pulled out.

Colin was fantastic in the day! If only he stayed on for another year! But I also love Sylvester McCoy as

Peter is probably my favorite classic Doctor and Caves of Androzani was my favorite episode. Too bad it was his last :(

It was good that Peri kept her distance from the Doctor when he entered his 5th regeneration in front of her in the TARDIS. If it happened while she was holding him in her arms,who knows how she'd feel about his changing his form in the blink of an eye.

I remember watching this and what the Fifth Doctor's old friend including the line "Too many of your enemies will delight in your death Doctor".

Fifth doctor will always be my first classic doctor holds a special place in my heart

Because of basically everything colin baker just said, I had a really hard time getting into him. Truth be told, he is the only Doctor I don't like.

"You were expecting someone else?"

I liked this regeneration.

I LOOOVED this one! This, and 2's were my favorite. This one was epic and nerve-wracking, 2's was just plain epic and mysterious! "I *might* regenerate... I don't know..." I can only imagine what Peri was thinking when she was off to the side watching him

I might regenerate...I don't know...feels different this time....

Classic who went downhill after this sadly

Saddest yet most moving scene from classic doctor who

She's got a lovely set of coconuts!

I love how the Master is laughing as the Doctor seems to be dying. Kind of dramatic.

This is his best story so sad with what follows

You know if I die I hope to god the last thing I see isn't a bunch of my friends faces floating around me followed by Anthony Ainley telling me that I must die.

2:38 When your sports team turns things around lol

The greatest regeneration scene, and not just because of Nicola Bryant, you horndogs!

Bit harsh but I can see where you're coming from :') I like to picture the positives of each Doctor when looking back on them though, I'd never call The Doctor a dickwad :)

unfortunate camera angle but fortunate position don't you think?

Twin Dilemma was horrible, after a time he mellowed out. But Trial of a Timelord. He'd had became a more talkative irrational version of 4.

Fun bit of trivia - this is the only Doctor regeneration episode in the classic series in which the succeeding Doctor has dialogue! I type, realising this is technically not applicable to Time and the Rani ep. 1

McCoy: The Pacifist :) I don't know an awful lot about McCoy so if you have a better suggestion I'm open to new ideas :)

My first classic doctor

You know, I might be overthinking it or over analyzing it, but I noticed that when the actual regeneration began to happen there was this sort of drum sound, a very slow beat that had a long pause between each boom. When you count it, you could vaguely make out 13 of them. 13. Over analyzing? Yes. Cool? Probably.

Great epic regeneration

I stopped watching Dr Who after Peter Davidson, I just couldnt get into it for some reason with Colin Baker, and I could not stand Sylvester's Dr, I found him irritating. To me, this is where the show was becoming lame, the sets were poor, the acting even worse, I dont think there was a lot of effort by the BBC to keep it going at that time, and sadly it showed. The new era Dr Who is completely different, but of course it had to be if it was to succeed.

If the Doctor didn‘t cure Peri in time after carrying her back to the TARDIS,would he take her back to Earth anyway,even though he doesn‘t know where to find her family?