Yesterday, I closed out my rewatch of The Caves of Androzani with a paraphrase of the Sixth Doctor's words: "Change, my dear, but was it a moment too soon?" By that, I mean, it's hard to argue that The Caves of Androzani is not one of the greatest Doctor Who adventures of all time, and for me, the pinnacle of the Fifth Doctor's era, and so to follow that so quickly (no season break, just one week to the next) with arguably one of the weakest entries in the entire canon (largely down to execution and lack of budget, I hasten to add), feels a significant misstep, and a very unstable footing to begin Colin Baker's tenure as the Doctor.
The Twin Dilemma, written by Anthony Steven and directed by Peter Moffatt, is a story that, in concept, is far from unworkable. It attempts to establish a new Doctor who is unpredictable, brash, and even unlikable at times, as a stark contrast to his predecessor’s quiet nobility. However, the execution leaves much to be desired, with uneven characterisation, a clumsy plot, and unconvincing visuals undermining what should have been a bold introduction for the Sixth Doctor.
Picking up immediately after the Fifth Doctor’s dramatic sacrifice, the newly regenerated Sixth Doctor and Peri arrive in the TARDIS, but things quickly take a dark turn. This new incarnation is erratic and aggressive, prone to fits of arrogance and paranoia. Most infamously, he physically attacks Peri in a fit of post-regenerative instability—a moment that, while intended to show the Doctor’s unpredictability, instead alienates audiences almost immediately. This decision alone makes it a challenge to fully invest in the story, as the Doctor, the figure we are meant to root for, is presented as someone difficult to like.
The actual plot revolves around the kidnapping of twin mathematical prodigies, Romulus and Remus, who are being manipulated by the villainous Mestor, a giant slug-like creature whose plan involves detonating planets to spread his species across the galaxy. It’s the kind of classic Doctor Who premise that could work well in a different context, but here, it struggles under the weight of weak dialogue, underdeveloped secondary characters, and pacing issues. The twins themselves, played by Gavin and Andrew Conrad, fail to make an impression due to stilted performances and dialogue that lacks credibility. Mestor, though conceptually interesting, suffers from an unconvincing costume that fails to convey menace or authority.
Colin Baker’s debut as the Doctor is, unfortunately, at odds with what fans might have expected. Where previous incarnations gradually eased into their personalities, the Sixth Doctor is presented as deliberately off-putting from the outset. His garish costume reflects his theatrical personality, but his erratic behaviour, frequent outbursts, and pompous declarations make it difficult to connect with him in these early moments. While Baker himself delivers his lines with commitment, the material he is given does little to endear him to viewers. That being said, there are moments of promise—flashes of intelligence and wit that hint at a more refined portrayal to come in later stories.
Nicola Bryant’s Peri, coming off a solid introduction in Planet of Fire and a strong dynamic with Davison’s Doctor, struggles in The Twin Dilemma due to the uneven writing. Her fear and frustration at the Doctor’s instability are played well, but the character is often left reacting to events rather than influencing them. Her presence is somewhat diminished by the chaotic storytelling, making it hard for the audience to feel fully invested in her journey.
Visually, The Twin Dilemma suffers from the budgetary constraints of the era. And it's not helped that season 21 was broadcast twice weekly, on Thursday and Friday evenings. Three weeks ago, viewers had the visually lush and atmospheric backdrops of Lanzarote during Planet of Fire, and seven days previously the production design for The Caves of Androzani perfectly encapsulated the tension of the Fifth Doctor's almost-perfect swansong. Yet here, the sets, particularly the asteroid base, look flimsy, garish, and the production values as a whole fail to support the ambition of the script. The costume design for Mestor and his gastropod minions is particularly unfortunate, as their lack of mobility and rubbery aesthetic make them more laughable than threatening. Even for Doctor Who, where limited budgets are often overcome by strong storytelling, these shortcomings stand out.
Thematically, the story attempts to explore transformation and instability, both in terms of the Doctor’s regeneration and the larger conflict involving Mestor’s species. The idea that the Doctor’s personality can be unpredictable post-regeneration is a strong one, and it’s clear that the writers were trying to create a stark contrast with his predecessor. However, in execution, the story leans too heavily on making the Sixth Doctor unlikable rather than complex, which results in a jarring and unbalanced debut.
This is why, still today, The Twin Dilemma remains one of Doctor Who’s most frustrating stories—not because the concept is flawed, but because the execution is. A rocky debut for a Doctor is not unheard of (The Eleventh Hour and Deep Breath both featured regeneration instability but still introduced their respective Doctors effectively), but this story struggles to make the Sixth Doctor's erratic nature compelling rather than alienating. Over time, Colin Baker would refine his portrayal into something more layered and engaging, but this introduction does little to showcase his strengths as an actor, and alienated many casual viewers of the time.
The climax of the story, where the Doctor finally asserts himself as the moral force we expect, comes too late to salvage the journey. His ultimate defeat of Mestor is underwhelming, and his declaration that he is “the Doctor—whether you like it or not” feels more like a challenge to the audience rather than a reassurance. It’s a sentiment that would prove prophetic, as Baker’s Doctor would continue to polarise viewers for much of his tenure.
The Twin Dilemma is not just a disappointing season finale—it’s an unfortunate introduction to an era that deserved better. While later stories would allow Colin Baker to show his true potential in the role, his first outing is too uneven, too alienating, and too poorly realised to leave a strong first impression. Change, my dear, and in this case, it was absolutely a moment too soon.
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