elleflies | The Third Doctor

I have successfully watched every single episode of the Third Doctor run of Doctor Who!

I feel so accomplished.

I ran through the Troughton Era episodes in what felt like no time at all. The Pertwee Era on the other hand felt like it took forever. It felt like a slog! I just wasn't feeling him as the Doctor as much as I was Troughton (PS, I LOVE YOU TROUGHTON!).

I liked Pertwee's take on the Doctor, don't get me wrong, I just felt that he was presenting the character as more Hartnell-esque then Troughton's take on the character was. His was a Doctor that took himself seriously, which made for some hilarious situations. He was also... very gadgety. I'm guessing this is where the sonic screwdriver concept really took off as the Second Doctor barely ever used his and the Third Doctor being the Radio Shack addict that he was...

His physicality was a huge difference from the first two, although I'm wondering where the addiction to all things Venusian came from. Pertwee really could rock the velvet smocking jackets. For being older he had a really nice body (Look at that, perving on the Doctor. I really don't change). He was the kind of Doctor one just wanted to stroke - between the velvet and the ruffles he just seemed so very textured.

On the subject of the Doctor outfits, I like what Classic Who did with the first three Doctors and I feel its something the New Series has come back to. As opposed to the Doctor having one outfit, he seems to have a wardrobe based off one outfit. The colors and combinations may change but the basic look stays the same. I may not have seen past the Third Doctor in the classic series but I've seen pictures of the rest of the Doctors and I can't say I'm too terribly fond of some of the costuming choices to come (Hi Six!). I like it when the Doctor has clothes that fit in but still mark him as somewhat off. I want him to look quirky and as if he's trying to grasp the human concept of dressing but just not quite getting it. The question marks and blatant bad taste of the series to come just makes me dread having to slog through some of that. Not having seen it, I may just be a bit biased, but even Sylvester McCoy has admitted to not being fond of some of it (the question mark pullover) so I might just be sticking to his boat. It does please me that the new series seems to have gone back to the idea of alien trying to fit in but not quite getting it. More of that please!

I liked the Third Doctor companions. Liz Shaw especially. She is totally my girl! I loved that Unit approached her on her own merits as a scientist even before the Doctor showed up on the scene. I thought she was amazing and felt we didn't get enough time with the character. Her departure was so abrupt, and I know it was for a variety of reasons (Carolyn John being pregnant, the character maybe being TOO smart as a companion... etc etc) but I still miss her. I do believe I was fangirling Liz more then I was the Doctor during her brief tenure as Companion.

Jo Grant falls into the category of companion that really seems to click well with the Doctor in my opinion. Jamie and Rose also fall into this category as far as I'm concerned. The Doctor seems to get along best with companions who are smart but not in a bookish scientific way. I'd qualify it as having plenty of native intelligence coupled with pluck. They can look out for themselves, are smart enough to notice when something is off, even if they don't quite know how and aren't afraid to call the Doctor on his shit. Jo Grant may have been a bit of a hippy ditz, but she wasn't afraid to get involved, get in trouble, and drag the Doctor with her. She also wasn't afraid to give him a piece of her mind when the situation called for it. I loved the end of The Green Death when Jo is having her engagement party and the Doctor ducks out and drives off full of melancholy. I felt that was a great representation of their relationship and how she may have missed what he felt for her in all of the brilliant alien-ness he likes to promote so much.

The Green Death was also awesome because they apparently used blown up condoms to represent the maggot creatures in long shots. My Show. It is AWESOME.

Even though Sgt Benton isn't counted as a companion I still want to give props to just how awesome he was. When the Brigadier and Captain Yates weren't quite grasping what the Doctor was saying Benton was always there in the background taking it all in and keeping up. He was such a Doctor fanboy too. Every time the Doctor did something awesome Benton squeed into his fists. TRUFAX. His acceptance and grace in dealing with whatever alien stuff was going on was just brilliant and I love that he didn't bat an eye when the Second Doctor showed up and he suddenly had two Doctors to deal with. He just quietly fanboyed them both and went on with life. If only everyone could have more Benton in their lives...

Now about the Master...

He and the Doctor are total ex-boyfriends. It was a bad breakup, the Master blames the Doctor and doesn't like that the Doctor seems to be moving on so easily without him (and with human women of all people!). He LOVES the Doctor, why can't the Doctor see that. So basically he's going to make the Doctor's life hell until the Doctor comes to his senses. This is my canon and you can't convince me otherwise!

Yeah. I ship it.

Delagado made for a great Master. He had great chemistry with Pertwee and I thought his last appearance as The Master before his early death was one of the best episodes of Three's run.

I liked the Third Doctor. He's not my favorite but I did enjoy him.

Now onward to the Baker years!

I REALLY hope I like the Fourth Doctor. As I'm going to be there awhile.