The most controversial era of the Classic Doctor Who Series (1984-1986) has fallen on the shoulders of producer John Nathan Turner and actor Colin Baker. Much like his predecessor, Peter Davison, Colin had a history of television acting, something that was a new facet to the program compared to its previous connection to RADA – style drama.
Rather than rely on the more subtle attitudes of situation drama acting, Colin Baker went rather the other way into a boisterous and ‘larger than life’ line delivery. Whether you like Doctor #6 or not, one thing you can never say is that he was quiet or subdued.
In contrast to the previous somber and refined science fiction series of stories ranging from the intellectual stories such as Kinda to the historical dramas like Black Orchid, the new era introduced hyper-violent and absurd stories such as Vengeance on Varos and Timelash.
Many eras of Doctor Who can be directly tied into the period they were filmed in. For instance, the optimism of the early 1980’s can be seen embraced by the Peter Davison era. That same optimism became darkened by economic recession and a growing level of violence in entertainment in the mid 1980’s which was reflected in Davison’s final season as the Doctor.
This darker edge to the series can be seen in almost every episode of Doctor Who’s Season 21 and it extended into Colin Baker’s character and the adventures that Doctor #6 went on with his companion Peri, who seemed to be unsettled by both the Doctor and the mad and dangerous universe they explored.
Colin Baker has often been quoted as wanting to introduce more alien traits into the character, giving the Doctor back the strangeness and eccentricities that had been so prominent during the William Hartnell and Tom Baker eras.
The Doctor’s sense of morality and existential proportion is so skewed that he would saunter through a hallway full of bodies like it was nothing but grieve over the death of a butterfly. I have to applaud the intent of this take on the Doctor as it portrays what it means to ‘walk throughout eternity’ or experience time in a completely different way to us humans.
Doctor Who ‘Who’s Who’ Peter Davison to Colin Baker
Doctor Who ‘Who’s Who’ Colin Baker – taking on the part
After playing the Doctor for a short two years on screen including a radio drama and a stage play (switching parts with Jon Pertwee), Colin Baker took the brunt of the blame for Doctor Who’s steady decline in viewing figures and was fired. He has since become one of the loudest and proudest supporters of the program and continues to appear at conventions and support the new series with current Doctor #10, David Tennant.
Colin Baker on Top Gear
After his time on the program, Colin Baker and co-star Nicola Bryant continued to work together on a series of video by Reeltime Pictures entitled ‘The Stranger.’ Many fans feel that the Stranger adventures offer a much clearer idea of what kind of character Colin was trying to develop on Doctor Who. The Stranger videos are very similar in some ways to Doctor Who and portray an odd and weirdly fantastic type of science fiction that Doctor Who is known for. Other Doctor Who actors, such as Sophie Aldred and Terry Malloy also worked on the series which can be purchased here.
Much like his colorful costume, Colin Baker’s Doctor polarized viewers and fans alike. Many supported and accepted the new take on the gentleman Timelord, while others continue to cry that he is not the Doctor they wanted to see. As I’ve said many times, this variety is part of the appeal of the program. You never know what you’re going to get, but Doctor Who rarely remains constant for long.
Looking at the change of direction that arrived in 1984 when the Doctor regenerated out of the dashing cricketer and into the multi-colored action man, I have to wonder what we Doctor Who fans have in store for us.
