Excellent journey through 6's excellent run. The turning point with him for me was something as simple as the playful delivery of "don't know... Shall we find out?" at the start of Revelation. So glad his rare mix of bombast and empathy got a second flight :)
It's hardly surprising that Colin's Doctor did so well in the BF audio adventures, given that we didn't have to endure the visual trauma of that terrible CBeebies costume! Excellent video as ever.
Regarding the Big Finish story, the Pirates, which I agree with you is one of the standout stories for the 6th Doctor on Audio (The Holy Terror being another of my favorites too), I would also add the skillful way that they tell a story within a story. Big Finish has done this several times with different characters over different stories and it is always a delight to listen to. However, here they surpass themselves with the narrative subtly (or not so subtly) changing depending on whether it is the Doctor or Evelyn telling the story. From the start, it seemed almost as if Big Finish were on a mission to make Old Sixie stand out. I love all the Doctors, especially Doctor 5 who was "my" Doctor, the incumbent Doctor when I started watching and who turned me into a lifelong fan, but the Big Finish 6th Doctor adventures, especially the early ones, just seemed to have that edge over all their other amazing output.
Thank you for your insightful comment! I completely agree with you about "The Pirates" being a standout story for the 6th Doctor on audio, and "The Holy Terror" is definitely another gem. Big Finish's ability to weave stories within stories is indeed impressive, and "The Pirates" is a prime example of how they masterfully shift the narrative perspective between the Doctor and Evelyn. This technique adds so much depth and richness to the storytelling. It's always fascinating to hear which Doctor people consider "their" Doctor. Doctor 5 is a fantastic choice, and it's wonderful to see how these characters continue to inspire lifelong fandom. Big Finish has certainly contributed greatly to the legacy of Doctor Who, and it's discussions like these that highlight just how special their work is. Thank you again for sharing your thoughts!
The Marion Conspiracy was a revelation to this old Whovian. I had long been part of that group of fans who dismissed Mr. Baker and his era as "a bad experiment". But once Big Finish opened its doors and invited 6 over to continue his adventures, my mind was totally changed. Amazing performances, right from the start, demonstrating that --if anything-- it was script and direction that gave 6's original TV run such a bad time. I LOVE Colin, now: his interpretation of the Doctor is one of my favorites! If only we could go back in time and show ourselves what the TV show could have been like! :)
I've often thought what it would be like to revisit the old series with modern technology. But, coming to the show with slightly different sensibilities would be nice as well. I guess that's what BF has allowed us to do.
As a kid I didn’t like Colin Baker’s doctor, he was so savage and it didn’t help that he followed two Doctors I loved. As an adult I can appreciate the problems on a meta level that got in his way.
I personally love the 6th Doctor. Once upon a time i was not a big fan. But through the Big Finish audio adventures and then revisiting the TV era i have decided that Sixie is indeed my favourite Doctor. I'm also looking to get a replica of his coat made and, no, its not for cosplay. I will wear it everywhere :)
There's something about... especially those early Big Finish releases that are a little more special. Perhaps because the show was off the air at the time and that was the only 'proper' Doctor Who we got on a regular basis? But, Colin made such an impact on me as a listener that he couldn't have done had it not been for BF. We probably owe them a lot.
FINALLY. Your channel is getting the reach it deserves. Excellent video. Your presentation is always so well put together, and you don't waste a word in your video script. They kind of give off the vibe of those documentaries on the Doctor Who DVD range. Speaking of the Sixth Doctor, besides Jubilee, Holy Terror and Pirates, what are some 6th doctor audio dramas that you think are the cream of the crop?
I've just noticed this one has pushed over the 1k mark. I'm really pleased about that... I see you're channel is nearly up to the 1k subs mark. That's some achievement in itself. I'm really glad you are enjoying the videos, though. Cream of the crop audio dramas... Gosh... I re-listened to Spectre of Lanyon More the other day, and that's rather nice. It's got the Brig in it and feels a little like a 3rd Doctor adventure with a healthy dose of folk horror in the mix. The Apocalypse Element was one that stuck with me for quite some time after listening to it. There's a trilogy with Jamie and Zoe: City of Spires, The Wreck of the Titan and Legend of the Cybermen. Zoe is only in the last one, but it's interesting to see 6 interacting with those companions... And, in a similar vein, Last of the Cybermen as well. I suppose a special mention should go to Trial of the Valeyard, where we get to see Michael Jayston as The Valeyard. Oh, and The Reaping, which sees Peri going home.
For me, one of the biggest problems with the Sixth Doctor is that he violently assaults Peri at the very beginning of his tenure. It immediately makes him loathsome and there's no real way to get back out of that. Even if we understand that this was a moment of great stress and that he was not fully responsible for his actions, as a character he can't use that as an excuse because it's exactly what a real life abuser will say, over and over again. It's a tragedy for Colin Baker that he ended up in an impossible situation.
Yes, it's understand able that people can't get beyond that part. It's pretty awful to watch as well. Overall, he doesn't treat Peri very well throughout the series, even after his regeneration stabilises.
Back in 2008 in college I got a hold of the entire 80's run of Doctor Who and set aside an hour a day to watch episodes. I remember falling in love with the characters and world. I was the only person I knew that went back to seek out some of the original Doctors, and while Tennant and Eccleston were great there was a lot of history and stories that came before. I think the pace of the original show was too slow for a lot of people, but slow sci-fi can really be the best sci-fi. The audio dramas were fantastic to listen to when I had long drives to my parents' house. I was really excited to get more adventures with those characters from the 80s that I felt didn't get their dues. Especially Turlough, he was someone I found really fascinating, but it seemed like the writers didn't know what to do with him so they always just threw him in a box or prison.
Turlough must be difficult to write for, depending on where he is in his timeline. I'm glad to see I'm not the only one whose experience of Big Finish is largely through long drives :)
The Doctor is always at his best when his companions can kind of check him. Peri and Mel were way too weak of companions for the task. I wish we had seen someone like Evelyn Smythe in Six's television adventures.
Very much enjoyed and completely agreed with your video, having made the same points in my star letter to Doctor Who Magazine many years ago. I hated the overrated costume and loved the underrated Doctor, especially when accompanied by Maggie Stables. Unencumbered by his garish multicoloured costume the Sixth Doctor was able to outgrow his TV persona, and show us what he could really do. On Big Finish audio he became my favourite classic Doctor, but having the right companion, as we’ve learnt, is paramount. Well done O’le Sixxy. I look forward to many more years from you on audio yet.🎉🎉🎉
I personally think he’s one of the most interesting doctors, but also one of the more important characters in the series when it comes to the overall storyline of the timelords vs The doctor. All of his stories, including what most would consider the worst, like the twin dilemma, or timelash, are all certainly worth the watch, if not out of sheer curiosity, but also because they’re some of the most interesting stories I’ve personally ever seen, as well as some of my personal rewatched stories of classic who. My favorite doctor.
I'm going to come out and say it. I have a bit of a soft spot for Timelash. I think there is an argument to be made that his era was one of the worst in the entire run... But around that, there were some VERY interesting stories, concepts and ideas that I would never want to lose.
Great video, have a sub! I was always curious about the 6th Doctor, 12 is my favorite and I was told that Capaldi's run had a similarly controversial start. 4-5-6 seemed to have a similar pattern to 10-11-12
thank you ever so much. I'm thrilled you enjoyed the video and thanks for subscribing. It's interesting you mention the similarities between 4-5-6 and 10-11-12 as it's something I've noticed too. I do think we should have had a lot more of Peter, though. He had something special. I'm kind of glad the fanbase seems to be rediscovering his stuff again and that it's getting more recognition.
such a lovely video on an underrated incarnation, and your presentation was top-class! you've definitely earned my sub, and i hope many more come to the channel
Thank you so much. Exploring Colin's run is well worth it. There are some real gems in there. I have to say (on the sub count) I'm ever so grateful that anyone would want to sub to me. It's still a new channel (up since November) and it takes a lot of work, what with the large amount of art I have to do to make the thumbnails... But it's worth it for some of the very kind things people have said about the content.
The problem was that Doctor Who was already on the Decline before Baker was cast as the sixth Doctor. The Stories in Peter Davidson's era weren't that great. Earth Shock? Time Flight? Outside of possibly Mawdren Undead, which saw the return of the Brigadier, and the nostagic Five Doctors, most of the stories were just play bad. Even the Much praised Caves of Androzani, which I just rewatched, wasn't that great. It could have been great but didn't have enough episodes to tell it's story completely. So it was already in the Decline by the time he was cast.
Well, I say in the video that people of my age were moving away from the show. But, I disagree with you on Caves and much of the Davison run. It definitely has it's bad moments, but not nearly as bad as Tom's last season, which saw the ratings drop to lows of 4.7 million. Davison's era restored those figures and we didn't see a drop like that again until Trial of a Timelord.
@@BeyondTheSofa Well I guess we're gonna have to agree to disagree on that. I have seen the fifth Doctor's era, I don't know how many times, most recently last week. And honestly I still don't like most of it. I'll watch it because I love the show. But I don't think that the stories themselves are that great. As I have said I am not that big of a fan of Caves of Androzani. It's probably one of the most over rated stories in the history of the show, with only Blink and Listen being more overated. The the problem is that the Doctor doesn't defeat the enemy. He doesn't even solve the problem. He basically spends the entire story fighting the Villan's hench man. That's it. To me that's not exciting.
@@josephcooter5763 Well, we've all seen it "I don't know how many times." I'm not sure that's much of an argument. And, it's fine not to like it personally, but it's disingenuous to say the show was in decline. It demonstrably wasn't. You also have to acknowledge that your position is not the majority one and a lot of the stories you don't like have stood the test of time with the wider fanbase. Again, it's fine not to like those stories personally, but not to misrepresent them.
@@BeyondTheSofa How am I misrepresenting them. All I am doing is saying why I think that it was in the decline. They had a set up that just didn't work. Three companions in the Tardis, especially when you have a companion who is morally questionable and another one who has a temper to rival Hot Lips Houlihan is untenable. On top of that the stories weren't that great, at least as far as I am concerned an that is based on my watching almost every episode of that era multiple times over. It just doesn't work at most two companion can function, look at Jamie and Victoria or Amy and Rory, but three companions just complicates things and makes it difficult to tell a story unless you want to side line a character, which happened frequently. As for the ratings you can not use that as 'proof' that the show was doing better becuase the powers that be at Auntie Beeb sure as well didn't think so. Why do you think they put it on hiatus. On top of that that you can't say good ratings is a sign of quality since a lot of bad shows stay on the air for years becuase they get good ratings, just look at Sienfeld and The Office as examples.
@@josephcooter5763 You're misrepresenting them by claiming the show as in decline. It wasn't. the ratings and historical context tell a different story. Yes, Doctor Who has had its ups and downs, but Davison's tenure actually saw a stabilization in viewership that Tom Baker's last season struggled with. that was a stabilisation that actually carried across to Colin's first season as well. And yes, ratings aren't the sole indicator of quality, but they're a significant indicator of engagement and interest. It's important to clarify that the show didn't go on hiatus during Davison's time. The hiatus came after Colin Baker's first season, largely due to decisions made by BBC's Michael Grade, not directly because of the show's quality or ratings. Grade was not a fan of Doctor Who and was keen on reallocating the budget to other projects. This wasn't a secret; it's a well-documented aspect of the show's history. Again, why do you insist that "watching almost every episode of that era multiple times over" is any sort of yardstick? I've lost count of the times I've seen the Davison era. I saw a good chunk of it over Christmas. It's not like people are unaware of the episodes, and yet this is still a well-loved era of the show. I said in a previous comment, it had it's bad moments, but it's just completely untrue that 3 companions inherently make it difficult to tell a story. Now, I'm saying that as someone who was a jobbing writer for 14 years. Was it always handled well, no. Does that mean the show was in decline... No! I mean, you're completely ignoring periods that also had lots of companions where the stories worked well. Hell, the initial Tardis crew was 4 people, Dalek's Master Plan had 3 companions, and don't get started on Unit, where you've essentially got an era of the show that's an ensemble cast for every episode. Plenty of the Davison stories worked with 3 crew members. You just don't like them. Again, not liking them is fine, but to claim they were the decline of the show is just not born out when you take into consideration the historical context.
