Worth Watching

* indicates a Must See story.

What's Interesting About the Season?

It's truncated. Very truncated. It's particularly unsatisfying that we're zipped through a number of companions with no real chance to get to know them.

Fortunately the three stories that survive are worth watching. The recent discovery of two Patrick Troughton stories at least allows us to hold out vague hope that alleged classics like The Myth Makers will someday be uncovered.

As for the stories we do have, they are good but not up to the level of the outstanding second season. The producers have become disappointingly blasé about companions, as well -- we've gone from the heart-rending exit of Susan last season to not even bothering to complete the story of or say goodbye to Dodo. Steven had an excellent start in last season's The Chase, but almost immediately has the edges of his personality shaved off so he can be the blank slate action stand-in for the Doctor.

We're almost to the Patrick Troughton era, the favorite of many who saw it, and thankfully we now have more stories available to see what the fuss was about.

So, let's dust the disappointment off, pick up a flute, and move onward!