Classic Doctor Who Review: The Three Doctors

This one is kind of a big deal. The 10th anniversary special, the first time that the Doctor met himself, the first appearance of Omega, the final appearance of William Hartnell in the role of the first Doctor... Can it possibly be a good story while trying to juggle all of this stuff at once? We'll let's take a look at this story and find out. As a bonus, this video is being released on Jon Pertwee's birthday!
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[@bythebreach]

"Though considering the way things have been going, I shudder to think what you'll do without me" The last words of William Hartnell's acting career.

[@ClaraFinn]

Daniel Henshaw It really is bittersweet. Bless Hartnell for doing the episode despite his ailing health, he really loved the show and the joy it gave to kids

[@MrThomasC22]

@@ClaraFinn Actually I find the story behind this episode, in regards to Hartnell, to be very sad. It's detailed on the documentary that came with the DVD release. Basically they called William Hartnell and asked him if he would do the episode. At the time he was already in the last stages of Alzheimer's disease. But they caught him on a lucid day and he agreed (because as you said he really loved the show). They went on to write the script not realizing he was incapable of acting in the episode. By the time they found out it had already been solicited as "the three doctors" What they ended up doing was cutting his role dramatically. Then filming him seated in a garage, reading his lines off giant cue cards (his memory was too gone to even remember the few lines he had). if you watch the episode with that in mind you can tell, his dialogue is very stilted. I'm glad they decided to make arrangements to include him. So he got one last bow as the doctor. But it is sad to me that his appearance was so below his normal standards.

[@MrThomasC22]

@@ClaraFinn if you're interested most of the Hartnell section of the DVD documentary is on KZbin (I thought to look after I posted my first message). Just search for " Exclusive First Look: Hartnell's perseverance" It's only a few minutes...

[@ClaraFinn]

“You’re upset that you had to trick Omega, aren’t you?” “I didn’t exactly trick him. I promised him his freedom and I gave it to him. The only freedom he could ever have...” Troughton is my favourite of the 3, but that was a beautifully delivered performance from Pertwee at the end

[@joeclayton2875]

Best line is where Hartnell asked the other two what they've done about solving the crisis. "We've assessed the situation." Hartnell responds "as I thought, nothing."

[@electerald]

fitting for Jon's birthday

[@M-E_123]

I get the feeling you haven't really seen much of Hartnell's era if you think he's all serious. He speaks with authority when needed but Troughton actually borrowed a lot of his performance from Hartnell's lighter moments. Those moments may be less common with Hartnell but they are there.

[@demaupin]

I feel like Vicki really helped bring out his mischievous, affectionate and playful side. I love them together! I wish more people saw those 1st doctor episodes. And I agree that The Romans is like Blackadder; great comparison/ observation :)

[@karlmortoniv2951]

To be fair, poor Carole Anne Ford got shafted a bit. In later years she said the part of Susan was sold to her as a mysterious, psychic-abilitied, martial arts expert sort of asskicker which she was VERY much looking forward to playing. Then it was decided by the writers and producers that what the show actually needed was a terrified audience surrogate and the scripts started showing up written like that, by which time there wasn’t a whole lot she could do other than make the best of it. 😕

[@rassilontdavros3004]

The fact that Season 3 is so particularly poorly-preserved compared to 1 and 2 doesn’t help.

[@M-E_123]

@Rebecca Woolf isn't the Romans the one where Hartnell gets attacked and does a Pertwee style throw? (First time the Doctor really gets involved in fighting?)

[@Mrazmatmahmood]

Oh yeah, Hartnell could be absolutely hilarious sometimes.

[@kaicreech7336]

The first time someone is offered a jellybaby!

[@julieeverett7442]

wrong happened in 2nd

[@lazy1119]

i'd suggest watching all of Jo's stories with Pertwee in order as youll be able to see her arc develop and its great, she has the strongest Character Development of any classic companion.

[@ftc3000]

Tom is Lazy agreed, I think she’s a very underrated companion. I think a lot of people tend to point to her introduction in Terror of the Autons and think that’s what how she was as a companion but I think you see her character become stronger and more independent with each story, especially in Planet of the Daleks which isn’t my favourite story but she really shines in that one.

[@BretAHart]

"Nobble him? You're talking about one of the most powerful blokes in the cosmos. Nobble him?!"

[@magicalmrwest]

I think your internal head canon is also supported in “twice upon a time”. “Will you put that ridiculous buzzing toy away and look at the woman... her face, it’s every so slightly asymmetrical.” “You’re right I should have noticed that.” For me it all kind of goes with why timelords regenerate in the first place, rather then living one long continuous life. Seeing things from a new point of view, a different mans eyes.

[@Freak80MC]

"Seeing things from a new point of view, a different mans eyes." Weirdly enough I feel like that will end up being the problem if humanity ever figures out immortality. Sure, we get to live forever, but also we end up getting bogged down by what we've already been through and experienced. Like how an older person would be less likely to change their mindset than a younger person, like would social change ever be able to happen if most of the population was hundreds of years old and had experienced life a certain way? Maybe we could actually figure out a regeneration-like process. Making reincarnation real almost, and giving humans the benefits of what reincarnation should do (ie starting over from a slightly different mindset, getting to experience new things and be shaped in entirely new ways.)

[@julieeverett7442]

@@helenwhs not really, hes lived long enough and wants to die, he was dying at this point

[@julieeverett7442]

@@helenwhs the funny thing in time lord lore your average time lord has 12 regenerations, 13 lives, of around 1000 earth years each (as witnessed by 11th on Trenzalore) its only degenerate little twits like the doctor who goes on dangerous adventures that burn through their regenerations so quickly. If you do the math 12th is actually only about 4000 years old (not counting the confession dial. as he was only in there really weeks or months - not years) so only really on his 4th or 5th incarnation. But the doctor has seen a lot, and he's tired, and THIS one wants to actually die this time. He shouldnt be here, the doctor burnt through all his original incarnations, hes alive because he got an extension

[@eclecticdog2k901]

@@helenwhs Capaldi wasn't trying to stay himself forever though...he was wanting to die as himself.

[@immoralq]

I think my favourite part of this story is when Benton actually gets into the TARDIS for the first time and he's looking around with that 'my mind is boggled' expression on his face and the Third Doctor says something like, "Well, Sergeant, aren't you going to say that it's bigger on the inside than it is on the outside - everybody else does." And Benton just sort of pulls his beret off his head and replies with, "It's pretty obvious, isn't it? Anyway, nothing to do with you surprises me anymore, Doctor." And then the Doctor says, "Well, thank you for the compliment." I can't even articulate why i like that particular scene so much. I just do.

[@thefragrantwookiee]

The relationship between the 2nd and 3rd Doctors is my favourite in any multi-Doctor story. That first scene where they're each trying to explain to Jo what's going on is magic (and I love that her response is that Beatles quote).

[@TheHistorySoldier]

For me personally, #3 and Jo have always been one of my favorite Doctor/companion pairings. The two have some of the best chemistry in old Who, up there in my mind with 2/Jamie, 4/SJS, 4/Romana and 7/Ace

[@julieeverett7442]

agreed

[@citrinedragonfly]

Fitting episode for Jon Pertwee's 100th birthday. Do you follow Katy Manning, the actress who plays Jo, on Twitter, by any chance? She's delightful, and she shares memories of Pertwee quite often. They were good friends. Jo is wonderful as a companion. She lets people underestimate her based on her appearance, and it enables her access to far more than otherwise. She nods and smiles and acts sweet, then proceeds to ignore what others tell her to do, break out the lockpicks, and get on with what she needs to do to help. Yes, she screams, but she's not ditzy at all. I loved when she came back in Sarah Jane Adventures - the conversation between Jo and the Doctor was beautiful.

[@citrinedragonfly]

Also -- you momentarily forgot Benton's name! Poor Benton, always getting overlooked, despite his steadfastness, reliability, and mad driving skills. John Levene is a big part of why I got into Doctor Who back in the 90s, and Benton is one of my absolute favorites. Admittedly, I'm bad with remembering names as well, so I'm just teasing, but I do love the good sergeant.

[@GLBizzie]

@@citrinedragonfly Im kinda glad Jamie couldn’t make it. It gave Benton a lot more to do. It didn’t even felt forced that Benton had to take over for Jamie‘s part coz Benton had already more to do in the last serial

[@cindydott452]

In Sarah Jane Adventures, I loved when the Doctor told Jo it looked like someone baked her!

[@rowanc88]

Your theory on how the First Doctor's mind works kind of solves the major issue I have with the end of 'The Five Doctors'

[@jonm3427]

It especially bugged the hell out of me how the 1st Doctor said "when you get to be my age" to the 5th. This at least makes such things slightly less annoying.

[@julieeverett7442]

@@jonm3427 that actually works in with the second theory as to why they bow to him, hes the oldest in incarnation. (until 8th) one thing about classic who is their ages are actually locked in. 2nd was 450 EARTH years old, 4th 750ish, 6th 900, 7th 957 (at the beginning of his incarnation) Meaning first has spent anywhere up to 400 years in this incarnation, the others, if you even it out, around 100 each. And hes the most pure, the one who grew from child to man, went to the academy, had a family, before he left.

[@colinmoore7460]

Apparently Pertwee and Troughton would play on the animosity at the early conventions, including the use of progressively larger water guns. See "The Pertwee Years" ( originally on VHS, introduced by Jon Pertwee himself.)

[@ilovecatweazle]

I actually like this one more than the 5 (actually 4) Doctors. I've always found the Brigs' reaction to the TARDIS interior priceless!

[@lukecarlson4710]

Love this episode! The "I see you've redecorated. I don't like it." line is my favorite recurring gag. I also really like Omega and would like to see him return in some form in the future.

[@ChrisBrown-jp1hi]

One of the best things about Pertwees era is The Doctors growing respect for Jo Grant. What started as someone that the Doctor didn’t want to have around, he grew to respect and like Jo and Jo began to be written more intelligently during her time in the TARDIS. It culminates in one of the most somber departure scenes for a companion in the history of the show in The Green Death. Overall, Jo is one of the best classic companions.

[@ChrisBrown-jp1hi]

Rebecca Woolf yes.

[@stevesstuff1450]

You aren't wrong. As a 10 year old at the time Pertwee's stories were airing, I really loved him as the Doctor, and then when Jo came along, that was it... I fell in love with her too.... The chemistry between them was perfect, the stories were incredible, and she was just lovely...

[@toonguy7739]

Something I always loved about this one is Sergeant Benton's bigger role in it. I think he fills the role of Jamie, who at one stage was going to be in the story until committments or the amount of returning characters caused him to be cut from the script, but he's very good at his role. Charming, likeable, he was always probably my favourite over Yates because of this episode.

[@willimations277]

Jo is amazing. That's it. That's the comment.

[@billgorman481]

The Earliest was always able to cut through the minutiae and took the simplest and easiest approach to solving problems whereas his later personas liked to show off and often got in trouble doing so. I love it that the Earliest always saves the day in the uncle Terry multi stories.

[@AubreySciFi]

I love the Three Doctors, it's a fun story and Pat and Jon play off each other so well. The two actors became friends afterward and did convention appearances together where they purposely continued the argumentative banter first seen here, much to the enjoyment of the fans.

[@tonjeacupoftea6120]

"So this is what becomes of me, a dandy and a clown!" Apparently the bickering between Pertwee and Troughton, was based on how they acted towards eachother in real life.

[@karlmortoniv2951]

It was also to do with acting styles. Troughton had a near photographic memory and would read the script once and then, when it was his show, basically wing it. He would get the sense of what was written, but not always the precise wording. Terrance Dicks explained it as, if the Doctor’s scripted line might be, “Hello, come in and sit down,” Troughton might say, “Good afternoon, do come in and make yourself at home, my dear chap,” during one take and “Greetings, feel free to take a load off,” during the next. His fellow actors couldn’t just wait for a silence and then say their lines, they had to actively listen to what he said and react appropriately. You can kinda see it in a lot of his scenes during his run on the show, he really kept the other actors on their toes and by and large they really enjoyed playing opposite him a great deal. Pertwee came from light entertainment, he had never done any extended scripted dramatic stuff before he was cast as the Doctor, certainly not where he carried the thing. At first he was a bit insecure about his acting chops and took it all very seriously, because he wanted to do it properly more than anything, so in contrast to his predecessor Pertwee would be absolutely doctrinaire about getting the lines out precisely as written, which is fair enough - Pertwee gave fewer writers conniption fits than Troughton did. When Troughton showed up to do “Three Doctors” he carried on as before and it completely threw Pertwee for a loop and he lashed out a bit in rehearsals, demanding why he said it differently this time compared to last time, to which Troughton replied that he just felt like it. Troughton was not a total dick though so he chilled out and they ended up acting together just fine and became good friends in later years on the convention circuit, but there is some rather tense between takes video (from “Five Doctors” I think) where Pertwee barks at Troughton a bit over this kind of continuity. In any case, by accident or by design, both guys were smart enough to use any differences in their approaches in their scenes together. 😁

[@jonm3427]

If you are subscribed to Spotify, they have the first 50 of the Big Finish main range, and some spinoffs like Jago and Lightfoot, Bernice Summerfield, Cybermen, Dalek Empire, and Iris Wildthyme. There's also The Graceless, which was good enough that I was 2 hours in before I realized it's not actually a Doctor Who spinoff. Iris Wildthyme made me laugh enough that I was an hour in before realizing that she isn't a Doctor Who parody, but an actual spinoff. I kept trying to figure out why her voice sounded so familiar, and then I remembered having heard the character in the Colin Baker story The Wormery, and that she's played by Katy Manning. Edit to add that I Davros is also available on Spotify.

[@not_enough_space]

I'm taking that First Doctor headcanon about clutter. Makes pretty good sense.

[@thebasementfilmgroup]

Love the Three Doctors - I did wonder what you were going to say about Jo/Katy - since she is a good friend of mine - great review :)

[@doughorton3635]

With regards to 3rd Doctor's companions, Elisabeth Sladen as Sarah was the best actress, Carolyn Johns was a refreshing adult change from previous companions Jamie and Zoe (with the 2nd Doctor) but Katy Manning as Jo was the quintessential 3rd Doctor Companion. The character of Jo simply worked so well with Pertwee's Doctor and (yes) Katy Manning and Jon Pertwee had great chemistry. Jo's leaving in "The Green Death" is one of the best (and most emotional) companion departures.

[@frankbrody239]

I feel that as you get more and more into the 3rd Doctors seasons, you'll come to appreciate Jo Grant a lot more. She may be ditzy, but she is fearlessly brave, and even kicks ass in stories like The Sea Devils. She also literally saves the world in The Daemons, and even withstands The Master's hypnosis! Anyway, I loved this episode, and I just wish they would use Omega in some kind of season long story arc, or possibly in a special. And I LOVED the jelly monsters in this one. I grew up in the days of cheesy special effects, I guess that is part of the charm of classic Who to me. : )

[@thomaskirkness-little5809]

That headcanon totally makes sense to me. I love it.

[@geekdetritus5503]

If you watch all 3 seasons with Jo, in order, you clearly get character development/ story arch with her that is very satisfying by her final episode. My introduction to Classic Who was the start of the 3rd Doctor, and while I won't cut Liz, or Sarah Jane short, Jo Grant is THE 3rd Doctor companion.

[@carlrood4457]

I do love the UNIT era. It definitely got formulaic at times, but the cast all really worked well. I've always been a bit disappointed that Benton and Yates were never brought back along with The Brigadier from time to time. As an American, I think it's a bit ironic that this was an era where positive portrayals of the military establishment were very unpopular. Even G.I. Joe became a civilian adventurer in the 70's. There was a good balance to The Brig, and a definite progression which made sense as he came to trust Pertwee's Doctor more and more. Yes, he's a bit thick here, but it's not entirely out of character at this point. Remember, he's been mostly dealing with threats on familiar ground. He's fought monsters, but most of the advanced technology he's see have been weapons, nothing like the interior of the TARDIS,

[@cindydott452]

Yates couldn't come back. Mike Yates took forced retirement from UNIT in lieu of a court martial and possible prison sentence due to his actions in "Invasion of The Dinosaurs". In all fairness, he was misled. He did redeem himself in "Planet of the Spiders".

[@Katherine_The_Okay]

Love your headcanon for why the earlier Doctors seem somehow "smarter" or more focused than the later ones. It would definitely explain why every incarnation seems increasingly ditzy in its own way.

[@doughosford5849]

Having seen all of Jon Pertwee's episodes it is my favorite after The Daemons . I feel you are correct on the Doctors feeling the each is better than each other until The Day of the Doctor.

[@NicoleM_radiantbaby]

Omega -- especially in this story -- has always been my favorite Doctor Who villain. I didn't like him as much in 'Arc of Infinity', but in 'The Three Doctors', I am totally here for it.

[@inionanbas615]

I know this is an old video so who knows if you'll ever see this, but after watching this for the first time i'd love to see a video of which Doctors would or wouldn't get along with their different regenerations. For example, i cannot for the life of me see Capaldi and Colin Baker's doctors getting along, but I feel Whittaker and Tennant would be friendly.

[@carlrood4457]

The separation is common in all original series multi-Doctor episodes. I think there are number of reasons. The first is to give each the spotlight to drive the plot and to not treat them as simply a guest star. Secondly, it's probably easier to write in the even of unforeseen circumstances like Hartnell's health and Tom Baker's decision not to participate. And yes, Pertwee and Troughton got along quite well and were very good friends.

[@007robotchicken]

I actually think Pertwee is the most stiff. Hartnell does have lighter moments, despite being having a very commanding presence. He's easily my favorite of the three because of how mysterious he was. He was the Doctor when we didn't quite know who the Doctor was.

[@Puddin_Tame]

It was cool to see the First Doctor in color and ripping on his replacements.

[@simonalane5358]

You are so good at wanting to see the Doctor as a whole. I am privileged to have seen him evolve in real time. Thank you

[@julieeverett7442]

I've watched him since 3rd (not being old enough for 1st and 2nd - but caught up as soon as I could) Its been a great run, and this IS one of the best!

[@The_Lauren_Fox_Catalogue]

Nice job :) Although, as a Hartnell fan, I'd argue he's not as stiff or serious as he seems. If anything, he's a giddy little troll, it's why he's my favourite XD My headcanon is that they defer to the First Doctor is because he's the original Doctor, the most himself, not a changed self. If they want to know what their original opinions would be, they'd ask him. Plus maybe even the most 'pure', for a lack of a better term, he hasn't gone through all the regrettable morally grey decisions later Doctors had to make and therefore would able to say what the other Doctors believe they should've said.

[@oliverraven]

That works for this story, and also for The Five Doctors, but it doesn't cover the deference for the War Doctor by Ten and Eleven in Day of the Doctor. I prefer Nathaniel's explanation.

[@julieeverett7442]

@@oliverraven 10 and 11 dont defer to war, they're horrified of him

[@rocklobsterjwt]

Jo is a lot of fun! She does start off ditzy, but they take the time to develop her so that she becomes more resourceful. Season 8 isn't her best, but she starts to come into her own in the other two seasons.

[@mrcritical6751]

You can’t really blame Jo for not starting off too strong she was kinda just thrown into the show without warning after the previous companion left offscreen

[@ftumschk]

Her intro story (Terror of the Autons) is pretty good, and I've always thought that Jo did a pretty good job of it... apart from nuking the Doctor's laboratory apparatus, of course!

[@ftumschk]

@A Mad Man With a Box Apart from the interminable "Colony in Space", S8 has some great stories IMHO. "Terror of the Autons" is certainly entertaining, and it's a solid start for Jo and the Master. "Claws of Axos" was never a classic, but it's not half as bad it's sometimes made out. Finally, both "Mind of Evil" and "The Dæmons" often apprear in lists of the best Pertwee stories. S7 was excellent, but S8 is a worthy successor.

[@Ben-vf5gk]

I loved Colony in Space for personal reasons, Terror of the Autons is a gem, Claws of Axos is pretty interesting, Mind of Evil I'm torn on and I was very meh on the Daemons.

[@ftumschk]

​@@Ben-vf5gk There was a big fad for the occult in the 1970s, and I was as fascinated by witchcraft as I was by science (fact and fiction). When The Dæmons aired in 1971 it must have been the perfect story for me, and I remain very fond of it. It's one of my favourite novelisations and audiobooks as well.

[@Alfwin]

_The Three Doctors_ is probably my favourite Doctor Who anniversary special. Solid writing, great chemistry between the main cast members, and Omega is gloriously over-the-top (RIP Stephen Thorne). I also actually like how unconvincing the anti-matter monster at the beginning looks; I think it fits the idea that it's an entity from another universe that's fundamentally incompatible with our own. The big walking jellies, on the other hand, just look silly.

[@danielsleeper2307]

One of my absolute favorite classics! Also in the few ten or so classic dvds I got, specifically to get more of each of the Doctors and to see Omega

[@M-E_123]

I disagree about the scientific concepts being uncommon in Dr Who - the UNIT episodes were full of "real science", much more so than other era's. Likely as it was modeled on Quatermass - scientists investigating unusual (usually alien) events.

[@quinnsinclair7028]

M E That may be true of 3rd’s era but for the vast majority of the show and most of NewWho they just go “it’s alien science, run!”

[@M-E_123]

@@quinnsinclair7028 I think with Hartnell they still attempted to educate the audience (like making the Daleks be powered by static electricity). They moved away from the "real science" and the historicals as his run concluded and Troughton they pulled further away from both elements although still had the introduction of UNIT to ground things. Pertwee was something of a last push towards having some elements of realism in the technobable. Only by Tom Baker is where it was abandoned for good.

[@michaelkpate]

Liz was furious over losing her new job as UNIT's Scientific Adviser to this guy who dropped in out of nowhere. Sarah Jane was a reporter. Jo was hired specifically to be the Doctor's Assistant - which makes what Three tells Two about not trying to confuse her completely accurate. But I don't think Susan, Barbara, Polly, or Zoey were there to be damsels in distress. Victoria - I am less sure about because I am not sure if I have seen any episodes with her - but she was also from 19th Century Earth.

[@julieeverett7442]

Polly got a little screamy at times and Victoria was very innocent, but neither were helpless. But there were a few 1st and 2nd companions I didnt see because of the lost stories

[@neilmcdonald9164]

The Brigadier got a bit sillier from this story until his final regular appearance in 4's era:less clued in military man,more army duffer (this probably peaked at end of next season)🎩

[@GLBizzie]

Really? I didn’t find him that silly like people pointed him out to be…

[@neilmcdonald9164]

Jo got less "ditzy and shrieky" as her time on show went on: this being her final season opener,she is far more clued in here than her first season stories🎩

[@Yickerd]

Do you think there will be an episode of dr. Who where the dr helps the flying muffins win the war with the anti gravity avocados?

[@V-grandraccoon]

There better be.

[@jb888888888]

Well technically in season 9's "Day of the Daleks" the 3rd Doctor and Jo interact with themselves very briefly.

[@englishgiraffe2124]

Unpopular opinion: this is my favourite multi-Doctor story. The Five Doctors, while overall good, there's this form of feeling at the back of my head wondering what is missing about the Five Doctors. But this story I just love, with a fantastic villain, two of the best Doctors interacting and bouncing off each other splendidly and a nice brisk pace that never halts to a complete stop. A great start to one of my favourite Classic Who Seasons.

[@thomaskirkness-little5809]

I agree. It's great.

[@julieeverett7442]

what is missing from the 5 doctors is the classic multi episode thing. This was parsed down to a 90 minute movie, it WAS filmed as a 4 part, but they changed it

[@evo_is_confused]

I watched this just now. Glad you did a review! It was my first classic who experience and, gotta say, it's very good!

[@stephencoppins9467]

This is still my favourite Multi-Doctor story. It’s less cluttered (a new and unique villain, rather than shoe-horning in Daleks, Cybermen or other recurring villains/monsters) and the multi-episodic formula allows more time to develop the story and characters (at least a little bit more than one off specials like The Five Doctors and The Day of the Doctor). A story that managed to be fun, nostalgic, original and moved the series forward rather effectively.

[@tommyhughess]

fun fact: the three doctors marks the 10th series, not the ten year anniversary. it was in its ninth year at the time

[@jerry2357]

William Hartnell is not just serious in this. He has the best line in the story: “So you’re my replacements: a dandy and a clown!” I think this story was OK, but nowhere near as good as the Terror of the Autons, the Green Death, the Daemons or the Sea Devils from the same era. Those stories had a much bigger impact on me when they were originally broadcast.

[@kickingroses8925]

"Hartnells' VERY serious" - Dude, you gotta watch some of his stories with Vicki. Especially the Romans; it's basically just the two of them having fun pranking Nero and his peeps.

[@GLBizzie]

Only people that don’t bother to watch the available episodes or never watched it are saying he was just the old grumpy men. He softened so much after season 1 and especially when Susan left. I will never forget Hartnell and his speech as doctors when he was upset about his companions leaving and then Dodo stormed inside 😂 He really cared for his companions and always wanted the best for them

[@samuelbarber4154]

"I suppose you are my replacements hmm? A dandy and a clown."

[@BaloonBoy7]

This is probably my favourite multi-doctor story

[@julieeverett7442]

me too, the first and still the best! And for the classic fans, very precious!

[@kaicreech7336]

I actually like the lighting more in this video, it looks less flat.

[@cindydott452]

Especially in 'The Three Doctors" I absolutely love how Jo dresses!

[@chanceneck8072]

You should have given it the most *BASS* you have into your voice, to keep the Baker impersonation more legit! :-)

[@ronaldfrechette2045]

Jon Pertwee I think had the best overall show on his watch, but yeah Troughton is just so much fun to watch. Easily my 2 favorite doctors of either era.

[@interstellar1962]

A very fair and accurate review, however since you admit that you've only seen a couple of other Jo Grant stories, that means you've not seen almost three seasons of the Third Doctor, so it seems a bit unfair to compare him to other incarnations until you've seen more of his character arc. You need to catch up fella. 😁 As for The Three Doctors I was ten years old when this was first broadcast in the UK, the perfect age to enjoy the wonder of the series without any adult cynicism or nitpicking, so it will always have a special place in my heart. 😁

[@maldon3659]

The Three Doctors was the first Classic Dr Who story I watched.

[@julieeverett7442]

same here

[@gregochaba9338]

Best multi-Doctor story! So much fun from start to finish

[@delboy3k1]

To me it makes sense. If your the first your less experienced as you go through life you gain experience and knowledge so the later doctors know more. It's not about being younger looking I.e. the younger doctor being smarter than the older ones. Well in my head that works anyway.

[@justsomeone8310]

I loved Jo, she was the perfect way for the Doctor to talk to the audience.

[@kaicreech7336]

It is a hard to write a multi-doctor crossovet, because in most of the scenes they're going to be trying to solve the problem the same way, which means they can end up being redundant.

[@kennethnystrom593]

Omega a tiny sliver part from the OMEGA (arsenal) (compare with Validium that also was from the OMEGA arsenal) that gave birth to the Great intelligens in the same way inside that 55 year old girl in Bells of St John & the boy in Snowmen. (in the 2 prequels shooting stars (pt1) (sentient dust particles) from the "comet" that passed the Earth each 25thish year until 1988. (pt2 prequel snowmen (snow fall from a cloudless sky that wasnt snow (sentient snow) compare with Omega (3 doctors)/Girl in Bell st John / boy in snowmen. (i have solved all of Doctor Who) this is just a tiny part of that BTW OMEGA was Rassilons timemachine during his time as a Doctorish person bk when his original ppl the Ragnarookians used to rule time. But as the ppl tht would become the Timelords came around the OMEGA "died" and some of its sentient parts became the OMEGA arsenal and its dead shell became the dark tower in Gallifreys death zone. same fate the TARDIS have on Trenzalore as a semisentient dark tower in a dead zone being the former Doctors "tomb" as the classic series (1963-2006; 2010; 2013 Universetimeline) mankind becomes the next rulers over time. (as that Earth was stolen away from that Universe and taken into the new Universetimeline that spawned into existance on June 26th 2010)(most missed this when it happend (hidden in plain sight) in the show.

[@benflay6038]

Looking forward to the 5drs review

[@nathanbrady2704]

There is a reallu obvious reason why an older doctor would defer to a younger doctor. Agency. Older Doctors are constrained by thier memories of events, no matter what those memories are, they are constrained not to counter them. only the youngest doctor can act free of this restraint. Hence he or in later crossovers potentially she. has to be trusted to act desicively.

[@CulturePhilter]

I do love a multi-doctor story 🙂

[@roguebritgravy1]

Nice review. It's a good story. Would you do the five doctors?

[@ramblesrandom]

Honestly I preferred the natural daylight that made the video brighter, maybe consider buying a cheap ring flash.

[@GeeksAssemble]

I prefer the five doctors as a multi Dr story than any other but three doctors are really good good video on it👌

[@docskywalker51riftstudios58]

WE WILL GO INSANE FROM LOCKDOWN WE RE OMEGA

[@theshadowdirector]

Don’t know if you’re aware of a certain photo shoot Jo’s actress did after leaving the show? It’s something. Still my favourite multi Doctor story. I find it funny how both this and The Five Doctors have unintentionally deceptive titles.

[@ftumschk]

"The Two Doctors" was kind-of deceptive, too, in that Patrick Troughton's talents are IMHO largely wasted and he has little to do. He's tied up nearly all of the time, doesn't meet Colin Baker until the 3rd and final part, and he spends much of that playing a pantomime alien.

[@CouncilofGeeks]

I’m well aware of the photo in question.

[@IronSalamander8]

Love this one but 2 things hurt it a bit: the monsters are pretty bad, especially the bouncy one as you point out:and the Brigadier is a bit of a clod in this one. You missed a great opportunity to point out Benton's reaction to the TARDIS!

[@donsample1002]

IronSalamander8 Benton was one of my favourite classic characters, and his initial reaction to the Tardis interior is one of the reasons.

[@julieeverett7442]

1 these are antimatter creatures, why would we assume they would work like the matter world 2 The brig was a little confused, the doctor he knew before is now back and he doesnt WANT to acknowledge these things

[@adampeacock8867]

"Oh so you're my replacements, a dandy and a clown"

[@Ben-vf5gk]

I see why Season 10 got a blu-ray release- I think it's the best Pertwee Series. The closest thing its got to a dud is Planet of the Daleks and even that I enjoy.

[@Prowl1701]

Season 10 and Season 7 are my two favorties of Jon's.

[@GLBizzie]

@@Prowl1701 I loved season 9

[@helloitsme7553]

Omg you're just on time I was just rewatching this

[@vincinel114]

Fun fact, but I've actually seen episodes 2-4 of this story. I would've seen episode 1, but I ended up skipping it on accident.

[@oliverraven]

Until the moment Troughton turns up, you're really not missing much.

[@highvoltage7797]

Again, apart from Susan, Mel and sometimes Viki I don’t see the screaming companion archetype. Also, Jo has character development through her 3 seasons that you won’t see in one random episode.

[@highvoltage7797]

Rebecca Woolf The only time Polly screamed was when the writers didn’t know her character like in The underwater menace. And I know it was not prevalent that’s why I said I don’t understand where the screaming companions cliche comes from.

[@julieeverett7442]

@@highvoltage7797 Oh I think most of the girls did some screaming at one point during the series. Susan did from time to time (but she was the equivalent of a 16 year old girl)Polly did Vicki did Sarah Jane did, it happens!

[@GLBizzie]

@@julieeverett7442 if a fucking Dalek or Cybermen would attack my home planet and start an invasion I would scream too 😂

[@TonksMoriarty]

As a massive Troughton fan, I feel that he gets an unfair shake here and is flanderised here. He gets so much better rep in The Five Doctors.

[@CashelOConnolly]

I know this is off topic but can I ask have you seen the British version of Queer As Folk? If so how do you feel it compares to the U.S version? I prefer the British version,I felt the U.S version came over as a soap opera. My favourite Dr is Christopher Eccleston

[@benflay6038]

You have to do the 5 Drs now

[@mythme01]

Easily the best multi-Doctor story. Strange how every anniversary DW has its own trauma - 10th: Hartnell's failing health. 20th: Several discarded ideas and re-writes plus Tom Baker declining to participate. 25th: ratings freefall and BBC wanting to kill the show. 30th: The Dark Dimension nixed for (UGG!) Dimensions in Time. 35th & 40th: No Who on Telly. 45th: Nothing really. Tennant was nearly out producing only a few specials in 2008. 50th: Eccleston refuses to reurn throwing the script for the Day of the Doctor into chaos

[@LaurenceGill2000]

Hmm, my rankings of the first 3 doctors are the exact opposite to yours. Interesting...

[@Lil-Dragon]

Had to wait to watch this review but it was worth it.

[@rowanc88]

Does it really count as a 10th Anniversary story if it was broadcast nearly a year before?

[@kennethnystrom593]

10th aniversary was the "Time Warrior" if i remember the titles correctly.

[@lizzie8561]

The Three Doctors was the premier serial of Season 10, so yes, it is a 10th Anniversary story.

[@rowanc88]

15th December 1973

[@simonalane5358]

A little Nit Picky my friend. Let's look at it historically as it happened. What a thrill to have this episode at the time.

[@rassilontdavros3004]

It might as well be.

[@sirjedisentinel]

My favorite Third Doctor story.

[@rassilontdavros3004]

I always thought Troughton was a bit off in this story. He’s silly and flighty, yes, but here he comes off as an idiot most of the time here. Hartnell was way more absent-minded, and since Troughton got most of what was supposed to be Hartnell’s dialogue in this story he ends up getting character traits he never really had.

[@julieeverett7442]

oh did you watch his series, the deviousness of actions must have been too subtle for you, he kept on going on about his recorder? Why? He kept on playing the goof against 3rds seriousness,Why? 2nd was the second most devious doctor of the classic era behind 7th. Everything he did was for a reason!

[@shmee123ful]

first doctor 'oh so your my replacements? a dandy and a clown'war doctor 'If you two really are me? with your sand shoes and dicky bow'I cant wait for another doctor who anniversary were say for example 12 berates his replacements. because you know he would 12 is grumpiness incarnate

[@TheLeprechaunMaster_]

So, I have never seen this episode before. But, I don't care about spoilers. I just want to hear you talk about it.

[@helloitsme7553]

The aesthetics don't matter cause we in a normal matter world don't know what antimatter looks like

[@jacobhogan3208]

This was my second classic story I ever watched and the first one I saw all the way through. (I think I was watching one with five when I was really young but stopped because I was eating something awful tasting and associated it with classic who.)

[@quinnsinclair7028]

Jacob Hogan I think the Twin Dilemma was my first ClassicWho story. I didn’t go back to classic Who for about ten years.

[@stevencassidy6982]

You don't watch enough Pertwee.

[@robtilley8758]

Thanks heaps. I’ve always found it a pretty cool story

[@Yan_Alkovic]

Oh yeah, superb story. Just, all across the board it's great, it's monumental in being the First Multi-Doctor story and so on and so forth, I basically agree with everything that you've praised about this episode. Except for Jo. Because, personally, I believe that he keeps her around out of pity for what she had to go through on her first day at work and because she's really good at "passing the Doctor his test tubes and telling him how brilliant he is". And that's it, cause to me she is utterly insufferable and she is the only thing I don't like about Pertwee's era. Well, that and the fact that there are only 5 seasons of Pertwee's era. 4, if you're a purist like myself. Cause, man, season 11 is really quite different from season 7-10. But that's just my personal gripe with her. Glad that you've enjoyed this episode and didn't mind Jo that much!

[@Alfwin]

Normally I wouldn't dispute such a subjective matter, but I simply must say something in defence of my favourite companion: Sure, the Doctor takes Jo on out of pity at first, but by the time she leaves in _The Green Death,_ she's easily as capable as any other companion (except maybe Romana). If nothing else, it has to be said that Jo had the strongest character development of any companion until at least the '80s.

[@Yan_Alkovic]

@@Alfwin Oh, yeah, go ahead, I think that debating such things is really quite fascinating and sometimes enlightening, so long as it's kept civil and respectful. And, well, I do get where you're coming from, but I just never connected with Jo on a personal level (like I did with Clara, for instance), I didn't get her, really, and I am generally not into people as open, outgoing and impulsive as Jo. But those are really just my personal preferences when it comes to people. So, again, I do recognise that she _has_ improved and developed over the 3 seasons that she was on the show, but my personal gripes weigh my opinion of her way down and there was just no way to get that up.

[@Alfwin]

@@Yan_Alkovic I find Jo's openness and impulsiveness to be rather endearing, but I can totally see why you don't like that. And there are several companions who I dislike for similar reasons (i.e. they're just not the sort of people I get along with), but then I suppose that's one of the reasons they swap out the companion every few years. I think what appeals to me about Jo beside her character development is how obvious it is that Katy Manning and Jon Pertwee got along very well. Incidentally, it's for those same two reasons that Clara is my favourite companion of the modern era.

[@Yan_Alkovic]

@@Alfwin I see your point about finding the interactions between the actors themselves to be appealing. I sort of get the same vibe from Tom and Lalla, though I like Romana for utterly different reasons. Also glad to see a person who doesn't hate Clara! Funnily enough, pretty much all of the Who-tubers that I watch dislike her for the way Moffat used her and especially because of Hell Bent, but let's not open that can of worms even though we both like Clara ;)

[@danielsleeper2307]

I love that headcanon!

[@rebmoti1]

Science: the black hole turned into a super nova. Yeah... no.