20th Anniversary Story

The Five Doctors aired in November 1983 as a 90 minute special to commemorate the twentieth anniversary of Doctor Who. Then-current Doctor Peter Davison (Number Five) was joined by predecessors Patrick Troughton (Doctor Number Two) and Jon Pertwee (Number Three). The late William Hartnell had passed on nearly a decade earlier, but is seen at the very beginning of the episode in a clip from The Dalek Invasion of Earth, and Richard Hurndall does an admirable job stepping into Hartnell's shoes as the First Doctor. Tom Baker, the Fourth Doctor, was unavailable to do the anniversary story, but is seen in clips from the unfinished story Shada (along with Lalla Ward as Romana), doctored up with some special effects and the subplot of the Fourth Doctor being trapped in a time vortex as an explanation as to why that particular Doctor is not part of the action in the story. Several of the Doctor's companions put in appearances--most of them cameos--including Sarah Jane Smith (played by Elisabeth Sladen), K-9 (voiced by John Leeson), the Doctor's granddaughter Susan (Carole Ann Ford), Jamie McCrimmon (Fraser Hines), and Brigadier Lethbridge-Stewart (Nicholas Courtney) among several others in addition to then-current companions Tegan Jovanka (Janet Fielding) and Turlough (Mark Strickson). The story involves an area on the Doctor's homeworld of Gallifrey called the Death Zone. A member of the High Council of the Time Lords has reactivated the Death Zone and used a timescoop to lift the Doctor's earlier incarnations, along with several of his companions from their respective time streams and place them in the Zone. The Fifth Doctor and his companions are brought to the Death Zone when the TARDIS is caught in a tractor beam. Several of the Doctor's old enemies--Daleks, Yeti, Cybermen--have also been brought to the Zone. The Doctor's archenemy the Master (the late Anthony Ainley) is sent into the Zone by the High Council to rescue the Doctors. The Doctors and their companions must journey to a dark tower (the Tomb of Rassilon) at the center of the Zone to disable the tractor beam holding the TARDIS, and find out who has reactivated the Death Zone to play the Game of Rassilon. Yes, having so many characters involved does make this story a bit of a cluster, but The Five Doctors made a great celebration of Doctor Who's twentieth anniversary, and it's one of my favorite stories from the Peter Davison era.

One of the best Doctor Who stories! Just as good as the 3 Doctors!

I watched this at a time when I only had primary knowledge of Doctor Who when I only knew about Tom and Peter. So I fully enjoyed it! I just borrowed it from the video store ages ago and thought it would be a great deal of fun! ...How right I was! :)

It's an all out adventure that has all the usual elements, familar Doctor Who personalities, familiar creatures who stop the Doctors from going to tower where the master is keeping all the "minature Doctor forms..."

They were all there in one form or another. For example William died in 1975, but his replacement is cool! Did a fantastic job, but with little oddities like this, doesn't spoil the show! The script around all this was done extremely well! It was good seeing Sarah again -- Tom Baker's favorite companion! "Everything was good when Liz was around," as said on his website! :)

It's fast moving, 90 minute special only! Worked really well. All Doctor Who specials (like with the 3 doctors) are always, always good! Add this to your collection, not because all the Doctors are at it together because it's just a good story! :) This is towards the end of Peter's era...

Hmm, I wonder how this would have looked in Colins era... :)

5 Doctors DVD?

DVD means digitally versatile disk. This normally includes:
commentary,branching (watch as original or new enhanced version)
tv trailers,interviews & a photo gallery. Sometimes even an easter egg (hidden extra).

What you do get is some tedious muzak that you wouldn't give as a present to your least favourite in law.

I couldn't see much difference between the VHS tape & the supposed DVD version.

The actual story is quite good and was a special for the children in need charity telethon in the UK. If this was on VHS then it would have been worthwhile, but as a DVD it's an own goal.