In the rich, long history of Doctor Who, one incarnation of the Time Lord stands out in particular as being the "definitive" Doctor. Tom Baker’s portrayal of the Fourth Doctor was iconic and still resonates with audiences all over the world.
The era of the Fourth Doctor took Doctor Who to all-new heights of success. The stories were often deep, varied, and genuinely frightening, and featured a host of stand-out villains, monsters, and supporting characters. And with a tenure that lasted seven seasons, Tom Baker is still the longest-reigning Doctor of all. Here are some of the best stories from his time as the “indomitable” Fourth Doctor.
10 Pyramids Of Mars (1975)
Written by legendary Doctor Who scribe Robert Holmes (he’ll be featuring a lot in this article) under the pseudonym Stephen Harris, “Pyramids of Mars” is typical of the Fourth Doctor’s early years. It combines Hammer Horror pastiche with sci-fi trappings and a truly nasty enemy.
Sutekh, voiced with effortless menace by Gabriel Woolf, is one of Doctor Who’s greatest one-off villains. Fans also get to see a more alien side to the Doctor, particularly when he casually tosses aside a dead body, reminding Sarah Jane that there are much higher stakes to play for.
9 The Face Of Evil (1978)
A controversial attack on organized religion, “The Face of Evil” is a wonderfully bizarre and occasionally disturbing adventure.
This story is notable for two reasons: the first is that the Doctor himself is the "monster" of the piece. The second is that it introduces the iconic companion Leela. Writer Chris Boucher created a new kind of assistant for the Doctor - a good-hearted savage with the heart of a warrior. Louise Jameson nails her performance from the beginning and helps bring a fresh dynamic to the show.
8 The Brain Of Morbius (1976)
Hammer Horror tropes are cherry-picked again, with this surprisingly gruesome twist on the Frankenstein story. Far from just a sci-fi rehash of a horror classic though, “The Brain of Morbius” introduced a few key elements to the Doctor Who mythos.
It’s the story that gave fans the Sisterhood of Karn. This cult of near-immortal women would return to see the Eighth Doctor on his way to the show’s 50th anniversary. It’s also the first Doctor Who adventure to imply that there were other Doctors before William Hartnell’s incarnation. Continuity aside, “…Morbius” features recurring Who actor Philip Madoc in perhaps his finest villain role – as the mad Dr. Solon.
7 The Deadly Assassin (1976)
An engrossing political thriller, “The Deadly Assassin” revived the Master for the first time since Roger Delgado’s tragic death, reincarnating the Time Lord as a disgusting, corpse-like wraith. This adventure was also the first to imply that Time Lords only have thirteen lives.
The dramatic cliffhanger at the end of part three enraged British activist Mary Whitehouse, earning the show a special place in television notoriety. The only downside to the story is that it’s the only one in Doctor Who history to feature no women at all in the cast.
6 The Talons Of Weng-Chiang (1977)
Racial stereotypes aside, “The Talons of Weng-Chiang” is one of the greatest Doctor Who stories. An exciting Sherlock Holmes-inspired horror thriller set in the grim shadows of Victorian London, it boasts some legendary villains, a stellar guest cast, and…a dodgy giant rat.
Of all the things “…Weng-Chiang” might be remembered for, the supporting characters of Jago and Litefoot are definitely at the top. A typically Robert Holmes double-act, these two characters almost steal the show from Tom Baker himself, and they later went on to have a successful audio spin-off series.
5 The Seeds Of Doom (1976)
With a near-unstoppable monster, an insane villain obsessed with plants, and a gripping "race against time" plot written by Robert Banks-Stewart "…The Seeds of Doom” has it all.
Opening in a claustrophobic base in Antarctica (pastiching The Thing From Another World), before moving on to a glorious manor house in England, “The Seeds of Doom” keeps the momentum going throughout its six episodes. Special mention has to go to Tony Beckley, for his quietly unhinged portrayal of megalomaniac Harrison Chase.
4 The Ark In Space (1975)
Pre-dating Alien by several years, “The Ark in Space” sees the future of humanity held at the mercy of a particularly nasty extra-terrestrial insect.
Notable for being Doctor Who writer and former-showrunner Steven Moffat’s favorite story, “The Ark in Space” is a chilling, atmospheric thriller, tightly written by Robert Holmes. In spite of it being only Tom Baker’s second adventure as the Doctor, he has already settled into the role and has brilliant on-screen chemistry with his co-stars Elisabeth Sladen (Sarah Jane) and Ian Marter (Harry Sullivan).
3 Horror Of Fang Rock (1977)
With its claustrophobic lighthouse setting, “Horror of Fang Rock,” written by Doctor Who legend Terrance Dicks, oozes atmosphere at every sinister turn.
With a dangerous creature on the loose and tensions rising between the selfish humans trapped inside the lighthouse, “…Fang Rock” is a wickedly dark story in which, aside from the Doctor and Leela, there are no survivors. Part morality tale, part ghost story, this is a highlight of the Tom Baker years.
2 City Of Death (1979)
Allegedly written over a very drunk weekend by the legendary Douglas Adams and then-producer Graham Williams, “City of Death” is quite possibly the wittiest Doctor Who story of all time.
Filmed largely on location in Paris, this story is gorgeous to look at and a delight to experience. Julian Glover’s turn as the villainous Count Scarlioni is among the best in Who history (and was responsible for him landing the part of Kristatos in For Your Eyes Only), and the rich screenplay is endlessly quotable. As Eleanor Bron says in her cameo appearance, “Exquisite!”
1 Genesis Of The Daleks (1975)
“Genesis of the Daleks” is the greatest story Terry Nation, creator of the dreaded pepperpots, ever wrote. Many of its biggest moments still impact the show to this day.
Introducing Davros, played to perfection by Michael Wisher, this story is a succession of heart-stopping moments, exciting chases, and some incredible philosophical mediations. The Doctor’s internal struggle about whether or not he has the right to destroy the Daleks is cemented in Doctor Who legend. Throw in a deeply chilling performance from Peter Miles as Davros’ henchman Nyder, and fans have a truly epic, and downright terrifying serial.