Doctor Who's 10th anniversary story is a nonsensical but roaringly funny ride, celebrating all things Doctor Who. It will remain one of the most memorable adventures from the Jon Pertwee era.
Story: 10
The Three Doctors swiftly introduces the problem, with some strange energy flashes causing havoc around the country. It feels like the third or fourth episode of a six-parter and creates tension directly.
Part of the fun on this story comes from the Time Lords being forced to break the First Law of Time by having the Doctor meet his former selves to stop the Universe of Anti-Matter and Omega from taking over.
Some would argue that the plot makes zero sense and that might very well be true, but it's also so hilariously over-the-top and creative that it's huge fun. Above all, the story is a celebration of all things Doctor Who.
Acting: 11
Jon Pertwee and Patrick Troughton are amazing together. Troughton overdoes the cosmic hobo part of his Doctor here, which is a bit of a shame, but he is still recognizably the Second Doctor. Their constant bickering forms an endless string of memorable lines and jokes, while they also clearly need each other to solve the problem.
Sadly, William Hartnell was too ill to return as the First Doctor, and only appears in a brief cameo throughout the story, filming his scenes from home and reading his lines from a piece of paper. You can hear the age and illness in his voice, and it's heartbreaking. At the same time, he's very recognizably the First Doctor. Hartnell died merely two years after this story was broadcast.
This story also has some of my favourite actings from both Nicholas Courtney and John Levene. Courtney portrays the frustrated and confused Brigadier very well, even going as far as losing his temper with the Doctor(s).
In any other story, Stephen Thorne's overly theatrical acting would most likely feel misplaced, but for a silly over-the-top adventure like The Three Doctors, it fits perfectly. Just watch Omega's breakdown in Episode 4, it's the worst overacting I've ever seen, but it's hilarious.
The Doctors: 12
This is the funniest story for the Doctor yet. Seeing Doctors Two and Three interact with each other is endless joy and it carries this story admirably until the very end. The way the First Doctor has been incorporated is ingenious, by having him seen like the older and more serious counterpart, needing to heed his future selves.
The Companions: 9
Due to the focus put on the two Doctors, the companions are mostly given secondary importance in the story, creating comical situations. That being said, Jo and Benton have some great moments together with the Doctors while the Brigadier seems to be more stressed-out than ever before.
The Monster/Villain: 7
Omega is one of these over-the-top simplistic villains, who look majestic but have a very simple motive for his actions. A lesser actor wouldn't have managed to stand out, but Stephen Thorne makes him memorable. Technically, he's just a version of the Master from The Mind Robber (1969).
Production: 10
The Universe of Anti-Matter looks pretty bad and the strange Anti-Matter blobs are ridiculous. The visual effects look quite nice though, so that makes up for it.
Lennie Mayne does a fine job keeping this story together. There's a fight sequence inside Omega's mind in Episode 3, which has no sound at all but looks awesome.
Pacing: 12
Due to the multi-Doctor gimmick and the immensely quotable dialogue and great performances, this is one of the swiftest four-parters in the history of the show.
Atmosphere: 12
This story is exciting from the very onset. It's mysterious and strange and outs the stakes high directly. It's a joyride from beginning to end, and never slows down.
This is one of the funniest, goofiest and most lighthearted adventures in Doctor Who's history. It's tremendous fun every time you watch it.
The ending of the story even manages to be nostalgic and touching, with the Doctors' friends leaving the Doctors behind in Omega's universe.
Impact: 12
The Three Doctors is a landmark story in Doctor Who, establishing the by-now legendary multi-Doctor story concept while celebrating ten years of Doctor Who.
Replay Value: 12
This story is among the five most rewatchable ones from the Pertwee era and one that is the easiest to watch again whenever and wherever.
Random Observations:
Doctor: "Well, Sergeant. Aren't you going to say it's bigger on the inside than on the outside? Everybody else does!" Benton: "Well, it's pretty obvious".
The Brigadier has an amazing reaction to seeing the TARDIS interior, believing the Doctor has been building it with UNIT funds all this time.
The Time Lords and Gallifrey appear again briefly, and once again Gallifrey looks completely different from earlier appearances. It's like a colourful playground, drawn from The Mutants (1972).
The "You've been redecorating, I don't like it!" line that becomes a running gag on the show originates here.
Isn't it strange how the Universe of Anti-Matter looks just like an English quarry?
The Fourth Doctor is usually associated with offering jelly babies left and right, but the Second Doctor did that first, to the Brigadier in Episode 2.
The Time Lords end the Doctor's exile, I place since Spearhead from Space (1970), at the end of this story, freeing the Doctor to travel anywhere in time and space again.
Review by Theo KallströmVIP 6BlockedParent2020-06-15T12:06:26Z
Doctor Who's 10th anniversary story is a nonsensical but roaringly funny ride, celebrating all things Doctor Who. It will remain one of the most memorable adventures from the Jon Pertwee era.
Story: 10
The Three Doctors swiftly introduces the problem, with some strange energy flashes causing havoc around the country. It feels like the third or fourth episode of a six-parter and creates tension directly.
Part of the fun on this story comes from the Time Lords being forced to break the First Law of Time by having the Doctor meet his former selves to stop the Universe of Anti-Matter and Omega from taking over.
Some would argue that the plot makes zero sense and that might very well be true, but it's also so hilariously over-the-top and creative that it's huge fun. Above all, the story is a celebration of all things Doctor Who.
Acting: 11
Jon Pertwee and Patrick Troughton are amazing together. Troughton overdoes the cosmic hobo part of his Doctor here, which is a bit of a shame, but he is still recognizably the Second Doctor. Their constant bickering forms an endless string of memorable lines and jokes, while they also clearly need each other to solve the problem.
Sadly, William Hartnell was too ill to return as the First Doctor, and only appears in a brief cameo throughout the story, filming his scenes from home and reading his lines from a piece of paper. You can hear the age and illness in his voice, and it's heartbreaking. At the same time, he's very recognizably the First Doctor. Hartnell died merely two years after this story was broadcast.
This story also has some of my favourite actings from both Nicholas Courtney and John Levene. Courtney portrays the frustrated and confused Brigadier very well, even going as far as losing his temper with the Doctor(s).
In any other story, Stephen Thorne's overly theatrical acting would most likely feel misplaced, but for a silly over-the-top adventure like The Three Doctors, it fits perfectly. Just watch Omega's breakdown in Episode 4, it's the worst overacting I've ever seen, but it's hilarious.
The Doctors: 12
This is the funniest story for the Doctor yet. Seeing Doctors Two and Three interact with each other is endless joy and it carries this story admirably until the very end. The way the First Doctor has been incorporated is ingenious, by having him seen like the older and more serious counterpart, needing to heed his future selves.
The Companions: 9
Due to the focus put on the two Doctors, the companions are mostly given secondary importance in the story, creating comical situations. That being said, Jo and Benton have some great moments together with the Doctors while the Brigadier seems to be more stressed-out than ever before.
The Monster/Villain: 7
Omega is one of these over-the-top simplistic villains, who look majestic but have a very simple motive for his actions. A lesser actor wouldn't have managed to stand out, but Stephen Thorne makes him memorable. Technically, he's just a version of the Master from The Mind Robber (1969).
Production: 10
The Universe of Anti-Matter looks pretty bad and the strange Anti-Matter blobs are ridiculous. The visual effects look quite nice though, so that makes up for it.
Lennie Mayne does a fine job keeping this story together. There's a fight sequence inside Omega's mind in Episode 3, which has no sound at all but looks awesome.
Pacing: 12
Due to the multi-Doctor gimmick and the immensely quotable dialogue and great performances, this is one of the swiftest four-parters in the history of the show.
Atmosphere: 12
This story is exciting from the very onset. It's mysterious and strange and outs the stakes high directly. It's a joyride from beginning to end, and never slows down.
This is one of the funniest, goofiest and most lighthearted adventures in Doctor Who's history. It's tremendous fun every time you watch it.
The ending of the story even manages to be nostalgic and touching, with the Doctors' friends leaving the Doctors behind in Omega's universe.
Impact: 12
The Three Doctors is a landmark story in Doctor Who, establishing the by-now legendary multi-Doctor story concept while celebrating ten years of Doctor Who.
Replay Value: 12
This story is among the five most rewatchable ones from the Pertwee era and one that is the easiest to watch again whenever and wherever.
Random Observations:
Doctor: "Well, Sergeant. Aren't you going to say it's bigger on the inside than on the outside? Everybody else does!"
Benton: "Well, it's pretty obvious".
The Brigadier has an amazing reaction to seeing the TARDIS interior, believing the Doctor has been building it with UNIT funds all this time.
The Time Lords and Gallifrey appear again briefly, and once again Gallifrey looks completely different from earlier appearances. It's like a colourful playground, drawn from The Mutants (1972).
The "You've been redecorating, I don't like it!" line that becomes a running gag on the show originates here.
Isn't it strange how the Universe of Anti-Matter looks just like an English quarry?
The Fourth Doctor is usually associated with offering jelly babies left and right, but the Second Doctor did that first, to the Brigadier in Episode 2.
The Time Lords end the Doctor's exile, I place since Spearhead from Space (1970), at the end of this story, freeing the Doctor to travel anywhere in time and space again.
Score: 107/120