WITH HINDSIGHT

The basic premise of this feature is to create an alternative version of a season of Doctor Who. Each issue, I hope to provide someone else's take on one season of their choice ie how he/she would have improved it with the benefit of hindsight. I am not looking for completely revamped seasons, there are certain rules which contributors must abide by. Hopefully, my own example, featured this issue, will give you an idea of my aims.

RULES

Only one story can be replaced outright.
No production changes ie alternative directors, casts etc. Alterations are to be made to small sections of the script, I am only really interested in ideas which might be seen to improve the script.
Season long story arcs are acceptable.
No radical storylines which conflict with future stories (eg, killing off The Master in Planet of Fire). Let’s be a bit more continuity-conscious than some other people.

I must restrict the selection to one season - I don’t want anyone re-writing a whole Doctor or decade!

So, armed with hindsight, I present the 1983 series of Doctor Who had I been script editor. Basic storylines have been given for the information of those unfamiliar with the stories.

Sequence Seventeen (replacing Arc of Infinity)

A few years have passed for Tegan since being left behind at Heathrow Airport. Back in Australia she comes across the report of a group of people disappeaing near Ayers Rock. Conducting her own investigation Tegan soon finds her path crossing the Doctor's once again.
I don't want to say anything more about this story since the original idea was one I had back in 1983 and I have always wanted to write the story. Perhaps it will appear on these very pages?

Snakedance

In my opinion there is no need for improvement at the script stage - the only real change would be omitting a single line of dialogue which refers to the original season opener.
Finding themselves on the homeworld of the Mara, a personification of the evil in the minds of people, the Doctor and Nyssa must find a way to prevent it from fully crossing over from Tegan's mind into the real world and controlling all those around it. If they fail, a new dark age will descend.

Mawdryn Undead

After the producer insists on the return of the Brigadier the story is significantly altered. The Brigadier took up teaching in 1981 (one year after the Zygon gambit) and while settling down prior to the start of term (watching the wedding of Charles and Diana) he meets a young woman by the name of Tegan Jovanka. It soon transpires that she is a companion of the Doctor. The Doctor, meantime is stranded in 1987, reliant upon the Brigadier's fragmented memory to locate the TARDIS. To complicate matters Tegan, Nyssa and the Brigadier (in 1981) find a man they believe to be the injured Doctor (in reality a mutant named Mawdryn).
The story concludes with the Doctor being forced to use his life-force to free Mawdryn, his fellow travellers and Tegan and Nyssa from the mutation afflecting them. The Brigadiers meet with mind-shattering consequences for the early Lethbridge-Stewart. For the Doctor comes the realisation that he is no longer a Time Lord - nevertheless he continues his travels with a new companion, Turlough, unaware that the young man has a hidden agenda.

Terminus

Again, the story remains intact, although an utterly pointless scene in which Nyssa removes an item of clothing is dropped.
An apparent fault in the TARDIS causes it to make an emergency landing, fusing part of its structure to another ship. The travellers soon learn that this other ship is on its way to a leper colony, a place that is the end of the road for most of those who end up there. It harbours one other secret which could spell the end of the universe.
In spite of his increased mortality the Doctor throws himself into the situation. In episode 2 he tells Nyssa that there are things that need to be done whether or not he is a Time Lord. At the story’s conclusion Nyssa paraphrases this statement and the Doctor understands her reasons for staying on Terminus.

Enlightenment

Again, little needs changed, unfortunately the casting cannot be changed and so Leee John remains. An extra line in episode 3 explains away the Vacuum Room set as an example of Wrack’s flamboyance.
The TARDIS crew find themselves on board a ship taking part in an amazing race. Enlightenment is the prize but some of the race participants might go to any lengths to win. Who can the Doctor trust, not only among the crew of the racing ship but among his own companions?

The King’s Demons

No change to this story, other than Tegan becoming increasingly concerned that the Doctor still throws himself into the thick of things.
King John is enjoying the hospitality of Sir Ranulph, but he is also taking the Crusader's oath in London. Can there be more than one King John and why does he regard the Doctor as his demon?

The Five Doctors

Armed with a bottle of aspirin only a few changes are made - such as explaining the scene with the 2nd Doctor, Jamie and Zoë - the Doctor recalls that when he met his future self (The 3 Doctors) he saw an image of Jamie and Zoë being returned to their times. At the story’s conclusion Rassilon rewards the Doctor for his wise decision by restoring his remaining lives.

Afterword

These are my ideas and are not meant to reflect general fan opinion. I have a low opinion of Eric Saward which probably began with Mawdryn Undead so I'm sure that no-one will be surprised at the changes I have made. There may be arguments about the chronology of the series but the fact remains that there were plenty of earlier stories that "date" the UNIT era (Web of Fear - 1975, The Invasion - 1979, Pyramids of Mars - 1980...the third Doctor didn't get much of a look-in!)

Please do send in your own alternative seasons. The season I have covered should give you an idea about what I want. If you want to go into more detail feel free, but don’t go overboard. Don’t forget - I don’t want alternative cast lists etc.