Doctor Who's Most Depressing Story Ever?

There are many stories in Doctor Who that are depressing, bleak and outright nihilistic, but few capture a special storm of depression that Caves of Androzani does - and yet it's beloved as one of the best classic stories despite this! Why? Let's take a look into it!
Also, massive thanks to my good friend Daniel J Patton for the new intro!
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[@DokkaChapman]

I did love the subtle way they showed that he was fighting off his regeneration at the end of the penultimate episode, it really showed the strong spirit 5 had.

[@WhoChaser]

Dokka Chapman Agreed, by the end he was pretty incredible and risking his life for a girl he had near enough just met - very heroic.

[@CrazyHorseTheSiouxW4rrior]

I wouldn't necessarily say its depressing but its one of the most action packed episodes

[@harrycarden5538]

The Caves of Androzani is a spectacular story and could easily watch it whenever I feel like it because it's so good. The dark tone works very well in a story like this.

[@chriszone50]

1.The Caves of Androzani 2.The War Games 3.Bad Wolf/Parting of the Ways

[@marky437]

The thing I love about this story is not just how well characterised every character is but it one of those stories where the Doctor in dropped into an ongoing event which he is totally powerless to stop or change it's course - the pieces are in place and will playout till the end. The Doctor is so out of his depth and powerless as there is nothing he can do to stop the inevitable. If this was a NuWho story the psychic paper would saved the day and the Sonic Screwdriver would be out every 3 seconds and finds the cure for Spectrox poisoning and everyone except Jek and Morgus would of survived and there would be a happy ending and a long Doctor monologue which will bring peace to everyone - and you know it's true hahahaha.

[@anselmtheweird0]

I personally like Logopolis More, as it focuses in The faulties of The TARDIS, it is Ainley's master's first proper story and we get to meet Tegan.

[@eladiocofresi5202]

It sounds like a nice way to describe how depraved humankind can get. With this, I am thinking of how the news has become a nightmare to read at times on this side of the pond. I do believe a good fantasy can speak about reality.

[@Quartermistress]

The new intro is incredible. (And also very fitting considering you're the next Doctor).

[@lasercatsproductions]

I could definitely see him becoming the Doctor, lol.

[@Quartermistress]

@@lasercatsproductions Well he is for dw2012

[@markvegar33]

Undoubtedly the best cast of any Doctor Who story, the Jacobean asides from Morgus, the dismissal of the Doctor and Peri ( "I can't bear to look at them") and their quick departure from shot, General Chellak's refrain to Morgus in anger: "thank you sir". Absolutely brilliant.

[@HiDesert004]

Depressing also because it’s the best Fifth Doctor story and the last Fifth Doctor story 😕

[@caleb7551]

My favorite Doctor :(

[@finnstewart4747]

@@caleb7551 Who knew that the Fifth Doctor's favourite Doctor would be 5.

[@caleb7551]

@@finnstewart4747 no idea

[@stevenedwards8353]

I hate that this is the story where the 5th finally hit it big, and showed just how heroic of an incarnation he could be, only for it to also be his last episode.

[@tonyandthewhoniverse8527]

It's a tragic story where it saw the end of MY Doctor. No major plan to stop something from taking over the universe. All the doctor wanted to do was simply escape with Peri back to the TARDIS..which they do but at a terrible price..

[@TrentonBlessWrestlemania489]

You think this one is depressing? Listen to "The Last" from Big Finish starring Paul McGann. It's the perfect soundtrack to curling up into a ball and contemplating how much life sucks.

[@mikebasil4832]

Doctor Who gave me the best appreciation for how a show, even a family show as Doctor Who was originally intended, can have a fair equilibrium between the light and the dark (even where its share of errors is concerned) and yet still somehow resonate with its audience. Because of Doctor Who's uniquely boundless format, every Doctor Who story may somehow qualify as a variation. So The Caves Of Androzani is relatively enjoyable from my perspective and my favorite regeneration-finale story in the classic series. Thank you for your very thoughtful review.

[@julieeverett7442]

there is a reason why this and Genesis of the Daleks are frequently voted the best stories in who history, good arent they?

[@dalcon555]

Well said, Caves of Androzani is a master class is storytelling. It's almost perfect barring that silly monster costume in the cave creature that didn't really serve a purpose in the story. And yeah I cannot think of anything that comes close except maybe the War Machine for regeneration stories. Also I'd love to hear what your personal rankings of the doctors are! It's pretty much a required video now :)

[@cynicalwho4039]

Great review! The Two Doctors has some pretty dark undertones aswell...

[@alphabetaxenonzzzcat]

It is a powerful story for so many reasons, the Doctor and Peri are in the wrong place and at the wrong time - and completely out of their depth, there's the various subplots involving the bitter rivalries between the various characters, Jek's damaged character - but his redemption in helping the Doctor and Peri, the action packed sequences, the energy level that Graeme Harper brings to the direction, the witty dialogue from Robert Holmes, Davison's great performance and the Doctor's heroic sacrifice for Peri. The only minuses are the dodgy effects for the cave creature, the chromo keying scene where the Doctor gets the milk and possibly Jek is a bit melodramatic at times.

[@BadwolfGamer]

For the modern series Turn Left I'd say was pretty dark.

[@mantamoony]

1) I REALLY need to watch classic Who 2) I just got a 13th doctor costume today, and now I'm going to wear it every time you post a video, cause 13's got style (Lol)

[@WhoChaser]

AFandomNerd Get a Sixth Doctor costume when you can - now THAT is style 😏

[@highvoltage7797]

AFandomNerd Classic Doctor Who is best Doctor Who. Imo anyway.

[@karlclemmy2054]

Excellent review of a classic story Dom, as usual, you are right it's a very depressing story, but it really shows the spirit and fight The 5th Doctor has, it also brings us, at the end, the brilliant Colin Baker, shame Colin never got to be The Doctor for as long as he should

[@MrAEMiller]

It is the best. The President I think is the nearest thing to an honourable character... "the red cloth was for soldiers"... Morgus looks but doesn't understand. The there's Chellack? "In war the innocent die too" the general who means well but doesn't have any authority or much intelligence. And of course Morgus's secretary...

[@harrynewiss4630]

Great story. What a contrast to the risible garbage being served up now.

[@olaoluwapowilliams5169]

Are you going to do a top 10 of your favorite Big Finish Doctor Who audios?

[@thegallifreyanwhovian2544]

*Hell Bent wants to know your location*

[@oliverbennett8515]

Love this story get sad at the end despite the fact that 5 is one of my least favourite doctors.

[@matty.r23]

Oliver Bennett

[@paulflint6254]

I watched this story, loved it.

[@theunknowneditor63]

Personally, I love this story. I think it's easily the best classic regeneration story. I think the darkest moment in this story is in part four when sharaz jek dies in front of the guy who is also infected with spectrox toxemia, who doesn't even do anything since the infection has completely taken him over.

[@paulharries9558]

No, he's not infected, he's an android.

[@lolwhites]

I'll probably be ducked in the acid seas of Marinus for even thinking this, but I've always considered this one massively overrated. The admittedly excellent production values and acting (lava beast notwithstanding) don't change the fact that there is simply no good reason for the Doctor and Peri to be there. There's no injustice for him to put right, no oppressed victims for him to fight for, no dastardly plot for him to foil. I was left wondering what the point of it was.

[@theevildalek5425]

I don’t know...The Massacre of St Bartholomew’s Eve is pretty dark

[@rayvenkman2087]

Problem is that it’s all missing except for the audio and we don’t know how it looks to make a good judgment of it.

[@aaron75fy]

is this really darker than the doctor regenerating into a genocidal maniac because of someone who died after he met her? the last moments of the 8th regeneration partially blaming the time lords during the time war

[@archiejohnson6711]

Can you do a how to cosplay the 11th Doctor Series 6 and 7B?

[@GilgaFrank]

1:07 - "adieu" means goodbye and it's pronounced more like "ad-yerr". The phrase you meeant to say is "without further ado".

[@WhoChaser]

Thank you for commenting on this 4 year old video. Please note it’s never too late to stop being so condescending.

[@lewisfrisby5673]

For the Dr who event u were season 18 tom baker

[@ianmax69]

there was one comical aspect in it What on earth was that cave dwelling dragon thing in it for.?? . there was no reason for it and it looked stupid Surely escaping sub terrain gas poison would have been a better plot liner.. But the rest of this episode is excellent the plots of drug and gun running where very adult topics and yes there was even sexual tension with Sharas Jeks love for Peri's beauty obviously toned down for children,,, the tension is as good as in Genius of The Daleks where long shadows are show around corners and the dark mode carries the tension It pushed Peter D.s acting aswell sometimes he looked almost like a "wallpaper actor" where his outfit and celery carried the character But in this script he really shines,, and I think that because there was just now him and Peri there where no other distracting regulars.. which I think spoilt PeterD's era blame it on good old JNT..

[@ManicPandaz]

I watched that arch recently. It was amazing. Made the last season of Dr.Who seem far worse.

[@ZidaneWarner]

While I've never seen this story. I don't think anything can get as depressing as it can get with Scherzo.

[@WhoChaser]

CastielDestler Okay we don't talk about Scherzo. *shudder*

[@ZidaneWarner]

@@WhoChaser Kinda hard not to since it's my favorite doctor who story ever.

[@WhoChaser]

CastielDestler Thing gives Midnight a run for its money for sheer bottle horror.

[@lewisfrisby5673]

I saw u at the national space centere

[@CroneoRegion]

nice use of Undertale music :)

[@the_openers_of_eyes8]

[@electerald]

i think The Tenth Planet, Logopolis and The End Of Time are better regen stories, Caves is ok, but i find it a little dull in the middle

[@ahumanbeingfromtheearth1502]

Wierd how all of those are among the least popular regen stories. Nothing wring with that just that it's kinda funny.

[@electerald]

@@ahumanbeingfromtheearth1502 Yeah, although I'd say the End Of Time is more mixed, some adore it, some despise it

[@ahumanbeingfromtheearth1502]

@@electerald I used to be firmly in "despise it" but over time I've mellowed out to it a bit more, though I still think it's quite bad. There is definitely some good material in it that I've come to appreciate over time (most of Wilfred's scenes mainly) but for every moment I genuinely like there's at least 5 things that i can at best enjoy in a "so bad it's good" sense. As it's stands though, I don't think there is much in it that genuinely pisses me off like It used to, more just a lot that makes me confused as to what they were thinking when they wrote it.