History Recap / DoctorWhoS24E1TimeAndTheRani

'''Production code:''' 7D

Written by by by Creator/PipAndJaneBaker. This four-episode serial first aired from September 7--28, 1987.

JustForFun/{{The one w|ith}}here[[note]][[Recap/BigFinishDoctorWhoSpecialTheLastAdventure at the time]][[/note]] the Sixth Doctor suffers DeathByFallingOver, and we are introduced to [[Creator/SylvesterMcCoy the Seventh Doctor]]... first via a wig, since [[Creator/ColinBaker Colin]] declined to show up for the trade-off, considering he'd been fired.

* ReallySevenHundredYearsOld: The Doctor notes that he and the Rani are the same age, 953 years old. Either "rule one: the Doctor lies" applies, or he's forgotten how old he actually is.

The title sequence is now finally shown, the first one to ever use CGI in the series, equally as impressive for its time as the opening scene of the teaser. The theme arrangement it's one of the first compositions by newcomer Keff [=McCullough=], who will be providing the soundtracks for the remainder of the classic era, and lathering every story hereafter in poppy late 80's synth.[[note]]Synthesizer-driven scores had been the norm since season 18 and had been experimented with numerous times since the Second Doctor's run, but this is where the show's synth-driven scores started sounding less like novelty "Moog music" singles and Music/{{Vangelis}} knockoffs of varying quality and more like [[Music/{{Yazoo}} Vince]] [[Music/{{Erasure}} Clarke]] or Music/TrevorHorn on methamphetamine.[[/note]]

'''Production code:''' 7D

-->--'''The Doctor''', finally realizing the error of his ways.

JustForFun/{{The one w|ith}}here the Sixth Doctor suffers DeathByFallingOver, and we are introduced to [[Creator/SylvesterMcCoy the Seventh Doctor]]... first via a wig, since [[Creator/ColinBaker Colin]] declined to show up for the trade-off, considering he'd been fired.

After the departure of Creator/EricSaward near the end of the previous season, ''Doctor Who'' got its final script editor of the classic series, Creator/AndrewCartmel. His first script, however, was inherited from the previous team. This story was originally intended for Colin Baker's [[TheNthDoctor Sixth Doctor]] by Creator/PipAndJaneBaker (old hands at writing for him by this point). Although BBC executives had ordered John Nathan-Turner to dismiss Colin Baker from the role, they were amenable to let him appear in this serial in full, with the Doctor regenerating at the end. Baker, worried about the work he might miss out on if he was still considered contracted to ''Doctor Who'' even though he wasn't actually filming the show, refused to return for anything less than a full season; the BBC refused, and the story was sent through the re-write cycles. It's notable for the final appearance of the Rani in the series (not counting Recap/DoctorWho30thASDimensionsInTime).

[[TheTeaser Without even an opening title sequence to kick things off]], this serial features an impressive (for the time) CGI shot of the TARDIS randomly flying around as it gets zapped with lasers. Why it's zapped with lasers, what's going on, who's doing what, that's unimportant[[labelnote:note]]...unimportant to ''this'' story, that is. For those who are curious, read the following, but beware {{spoiler}}s if you haven't bulked up on the ''AudioPlay/BigFinishDoctorWho'' audio series, "[[Recap/BigFinishDoctorWhoSpecialTheLastAdventure The Sixth Doctor: The Last Adventure]]": The Sixth Doctor has just piloted his TARDIS to Lakertya after trying to steer away from the planet in response to a warning that there's a radioactive presence nearby, because a subliminal command from his future self has jolted his mind and caused him to forget that. His future self in the same incarnation has enacted a [[BatmanGambit risky gambit]] that will result in his past self crossing paths with the Rani (neither Doctor realizing she's skulking about the planet and the source of the danger, just that there's something dangerous in its vicinity), whose lasers are comprised of this deadly radiation, which harms Time Lords and excludes humans (all it does to Mel is lull her to sleep). In doing so, his past self will be forced to regenerate and cancel out a timeline where his nemesis, the Valeyard, achieved total victory, winking the Valeyard into oblivion in the Matrix and causing the future Sixth Doctor to [[RetGone be overwritten with the result of his regeneration]], which is starting to take place. In simple terms: The Seven Doctor is being his usual manipulative self before he even existed and manipulates his Sixth incarnation into travelling somewhere that will make him die; Tuesday, for him..[[/labelnote]]. Here, the TARDIS is being zapped and forced to land on an [[BBCQuarry exotic alien planet]] as a day-glo lizard guy watches. The [[Recap/DoctorWhoS22E3TheMarkOfTheRani Rani]] steps in and gloats while the unconscious Sixth Doctor (played by Creator/SylvesterMcCoy [[FakeShemp with a blond wig]]) [[TheNthDoctor regenerates]] into the Seventh Doctor (played by Creator/SylvesterMcCoy without a blond wig).

[[TheTeaser Without even an opening title sequence to kick things off]], this serial features an impressive (for the time) CGI shot of the TARDIS randomly flying around as it gets zapped with lasers. Why it's zapped with lasers, what's going on, who's doing what, that's unimportant[[labelnote:note]]...unimportant to ''this'' story, that is. For those who are curious, read the following, but beware {{spoiler}}s if you haven't bulked up on the ''AudioPlay/BigFinishDoctorWho'' audio series, "[[Recap/BigFinishDoctorWhoSpecialTheLastAdventure The Sixth Doctor: The Last Adventure]]": The Sixth Doctor has just piloted his TARDIS to Lakertya after trying to steer away from the planet in response to a warning that there's a radioactive presence nearby, because a subliminal command from his future self has jolted his mind and caused him to forget that. His future self in the same incarnation has enacted a [[BatmanGambit risky gambit]] that will result in his past self crossing paths with the Rani (neither Doctor realizing she's skulking about the planet and the source of the danger, just that there's something dangerous in its vicinity), whose lasers are comprised of this deadly radiation, which harms Time Lords and excludes humans (all it does to Mel is lull her to sleep). In doing so, his past self will be forced to regenerate and cancel out a timeline where his nemesis, the Valeyard, achieved total victory, winking the Valeyard into oblivion in the Matrix and causing the future Sixth Doctor to [[RetGone be overwritten with the result of his regeneration]], which is starting to take place[[/labelnote]]. Here, the TARDIS is being zapped and forced to land on an [[BBCQuarry exotic alien planet]] as a day-glo lizard guy watches. The [[Recap/DoctorWhoS22E3TheMarkOfTheRani Rani]] steps in and gloats while the unconscious Sixth Doctor (played by Creator/SylvesterMcCoy [[FakeShemp with a blond wig]]) [[TheNthDoctor regenerates]] into the Seventh Doctor (played by Creator/SylvesterMcCoy without a blond wig).

[[caption-width-right:300:Meet Michael Grade's agent of [[DroppedABridgeOnHim bridge-dropping]] against the Sixth Doctor and his [[ImpossiblyTackyClothes heliotrope coat]].[[note]]
[[Recap/BigFinishDoctorWhoSpecialTheLastAdventure Big Finish had the last laugh, though, even if it took them 28 years for it.]] And okay, we broke our promise regarding the coat jokes from the previous story, but ''now'' we're done with them, at least for a good while.[[/note]]]]

-->''[[DeadpanSnarker "Cretin."]]''

[[caption-width-right:300:Meet Michael Grade's agent of [[DroppedABridgeOnHim bridge-dropping]] against the Sixth Doctor and his [[ImpossiblyTackyClothes heliotrope coat]].[[note]][[Recap/BigFinishDoctorWhoSpecialTheLastAdventure Big Finish had the last laugh, though, even if it took them 28 years for it.]] And okay, we broke our promise regarding the coat jokes from the previous story, but ''now'' we're done with them, at least for a good while.[[/note]]]]

The one where the Sixth Doctor suffers DeathByFallingOver, and we are introduced to [[Creator/SylvesterMcCoy the Seventh Doctor]]... first via a wig, since [[Creator/ColinBaker Colin]] declined to show up for the trade-off, considering he'd been fired.

[[TheTeaser Without even an opening title sequence to kick things off]], this serial features an impressive (for the time) CGI shot of the TARDIS randomly flying around as it gets zapped with lasers. Why it's zapped with lasers, what's going on, who's doing what, that's unimportant[[labelnote:note]]... unimportant to ''this'' story, that is. For those who are curious, read the following, but beware {{spoiler}}s if you haven't bulked up on the ''AudioPlay/BigFinishDoctorWho'' audio series, "[[Recap/BigFinishDoctorWhoSpecialTheLastAdventure The Sixth Doctor: The Last Adventure]]": The Sixth Doctor has just piloted his TARDIS to Lakertya after trying to steer away from the planet in response to a warning that there's a radioactive presence nearby, because a subliminal command from his future self has jolted his mind and caused him to forget that. His future self in the same incarnation has enacted a [[BatmanGambit risky gambit]] that will result in his past self crossing paths with the Rani (neither Doctor realizing she's skulking about the planet and the source of the danger, just that there's something dangerous in its vicinity), whose lasers are comprised of this deadly radiation, which harms Time Lords and excludes humans (all it does to Mel is lull her to sleep). In doing so, his past self will be forced to regenerate and cancel out a timeline where his nemesis, the Valeyard, achieved total victory, winking the Valeyard into oblivion in the Matrix and causing the future Sixth Doctor to [[RetGone be overwritten with the result of his regeneration]], which is starting to take place[[/labelnote]]. Here, the TARDIS is being zapped and forced to land on an [[BBCQuarry exotic alien planet]] as a day-glo lizard guy watches. The [[Recap/DoctorWhoS22E3TheMarkOfTheRani Rani]] steps in and gloats while the unconscious Sixth Doctor (played by Creator/SylvesterMcCoy [[FakeShemp with a blond wig]]) [[TheNthDoctor regenerates]] into the Seventh Doctor (played by Creator/SylvesterMcCoy without a blond wig).

[[TheTeaser Without even an opening title sequence to kick things off]], this serial features an impressive (for the time) CGI shot of the TARDIS randomly flying around as it gets zapped with lasers. Why it's zapped with lasers, what's going on, who's doing what, that's unimportant[[labelnote:note]]... unimportant to ''this'' story, that is. For those who are curious, read the following, but beware {{spoiler}}s if you haven't bulked up on the ''AudioPlay/BigFinishDoctorWho'' audio series, "[[Recap/BigFinishDoctorWhoSpecialTheLastAdventure The Sixth Doctor: The Last Adventure]]": The Sixth Doctor has just piloted his TARDIS to Lakertya after trying to steer away from the planet in response to a warning that there's a radioactive presence nearby, because a subliminal command from his future self has jolted his mind and caused him to forget that. His future self in the same incarnation has enacted a [[BatmanGambit risky gambit]] that will result in his past self crossing paths with the Rani (neither Doctor realizing she's skulking about the planet and the source of the danger, just that there's something dangerous in its vicinity), whose lasers are comprised of this deadly radiation, which harms Time Lords and excludes humans (all it does to Mel is lull her to sleep). In doing so, his past self will be forced to regenerate and cancel out a timeline where his nemesis, the Valeyard, achieved total victory, winking the Valeyard into oblivion in the Matrix and causing the future Sixth Doctor to [[RetGone be overwritten with the result of his regeneration]], which is starting to take place. At the end of it all, the following happens:[[/labelnote]] the TARDIS is being zapped and forced to land on an [[BBCQuarry exotic alien planet]] as a day-glo lizard guy watches. The [[Recap/DoctorWhoS22E3TheMarkOfTheRani Rani]] steps in and gloats while the unconscious Sixth Doctor (played by Creator/SylvesterMcCoy [[FakeShemp with a blond wig]]) [[TheNthDoctor regenerates]] into the Seventh Doctor (played by Creator/SylvesterMcCoy without a blond wig).

[[TheTeaser Without even an opening title sequence to kick things off]], this serial features an impressive (for the time) CGI shot of the TARDIS randomly flying around as it gets zapped with lasers. Why it's zapped with lasers, what's going on, who's doing what, that's unimportant[[labelnote:note]]...Unimportant to ''this'' story, that is. For those who are curious, read the following, but beware {{spoiler}}s if you haven't bulked up on the ''AudioPlay/BigFinishDoctorWho'' audio series, "[[Recap/BigFinishDoctorWhoSpecialTheLastAdventure The Sixth Doctor: The Last Adventure]]". [[spoiler:The Sixth Doctor has just piloted his TARDIS to Lakertya after trying to steer away from the planet in response to a warning that there's a radioactive presence nearby, because a subliminal command from his future self has jolted his mind and caused him to forget that. His future self in the same incarnation has enacted a [[BatmanGambit risky gambit]] that will result in his past self crossing paths with the Rani (neither Doctor realizing she's skulking about the planet and the source of the danger, just that there's something dangerous in its vicinity), whose lasers are comprised of this deadly radiation, which harms Time Lords and excludes humans (all it does to Mel is lull her to sleep). In doing so, his past self will be forced to regenerate and cancel out a timeline where his nemesis, the Valeyard, achieved total victory, winking the Valeyard into oblivion in the Matrix and causing the future Sixth Doctor to [[RetGone be overwritten with the result of his regeneration]], which is starting to take place.]] At the end of it all, the following happens:[[/labelnote]] the TARDIS is being zapped and forced to land on an [[BBCQuarry exotic alien planet]] as a day-glo lizard guy watches. The [[Recap/DoctorWhoS22E3TheMarkOfTheRani Rani]] steps in and gloats while the unconscious Sixth Doctor (played by Creator/SylvesterMcCoy [[FakeShemp with a blond wig]]) [[TheNthDoctor regenerates]] into the Seventh Doctor (played by Creator/SylvesterMcCoy without a blond wig).

* CostumeTestMontage: After spending most of the story in his predecessor's costume, the Seventh Doctor tries out costumes of the Second, Third, Fourth and Fifth Doctors before settling on his new costume.

* RearrangeTheSong: This serial sees the debut of another new take on the title theme by Keff [=McCullough=], who would also serve as a frequent incidental music composer for the Seventh Doctor's era alongside Dominic Glynn and Mark Ayres. [=McCulloguh's=] theme continues the ethereal approach of the Dominic Glynn theme from 1986, but is much higher-pitched and baroque-sounding, with the middle 8 prominently imitating a harpsichord.

* StealthPun[=/=]VisualPun: The Seventh Doctor wears a Tartan scarf. Seven has a Scottish accent. And of course, [[ActorAllusion Sylvester McCoy is Scottish.]]

* EvolvingCredits: A new Doctor means a new intro, the final one for the Classic Series and the only one made entirely from CGI.

* RearrangeTheSong: Keff [=McCullough=] handles the soundtrack from now on, meaning layers of synths. Think something like Music/FrankieGoesToHollywood on banned steroids.

Written by Pip & Jane Baker. This four-episode serial first aired from September 7--28, 1987.

After the departure of Creator/EricSaward near the end of the previous season, ''Doctor Who'' got its final script editor of the classic series, Creator/AndrewCartmel. His first script, however, was inherited from the previous team. This story was originally intended for Colin Baker's [[TheNthDoctor Sixth Doctor]] by Pip and Jane Baker (old hands at writing for him by this point). Although BBC executives had ordered John Nathan-Turner to dismiss Colin Baker from the role, they were amenable to let him appear in this serial in full, with the Doctor regenerating at the end. Baker, worried about the work he might miss out on if he was still considered contracted to ''Doctor Who'' even though he wasn't actually filming the show, refused to return for anything less than a full season; the BBC refused, and the story was sent through the re-write cycles. It's notable for the final appearance of the Rani in the series (not counting Recap/DoctorWho30thASDimensionsInTime).

* {{Technobabble}}: As usual for a Pip & Jane Baker script, there's a lot of real scientific jargon that bears no resemblance to what's actually onscreen. The Rani's description of how she intends to transform the planet and her giant brain into a time manipulating weapon involves strange matter, PES (a plastic), gamma waves, Helium-2 and chronons (all real, though the last is theoretical) and "loyhargil".

* BBCQuarry: About 2/3rds of the episode are spent meandering over one.

* HandGagging: A Tetrap does this to Mel towards the end of episode 3.