A hugely significant entry in this year long rewatch marathon was first broadcast in November and December 1989. Survival is the 155th adventure in Doctor Who and, though it was never intended to be, it serves as the final serial of the classic era. Written by Rona Munro and directed by Alan Wareing, this three-part story presents an urban nightmare mixed with otherworldly savagery, tackling themes of evolution, survival, and personal transformation. With the return of the Master and a deeply personal conflict for Ace, Survival is an emotionally charged and symbolically resonant conclusion to the show’s original run.
The story sees the Doctor and Ace return to Perivale, Ace’s home, only to find that several of her old friends have mysteriously vanished. The trail leads them to the planet of the Cheetah People, a decaying wasteland where those taken from Earth are transformed into wild hunters. The Master, now infected by the Cheetah virus himself, is using the planet’s power to enact his latest scheme. But as the Doctor and Ace struggle to resist the pull of the savage world, the battle becomes not just about survival, but about identity and the fight to hold onto one’s humanity.
Sylvester McCoy’s Doctor is at his most introspective here, facing the ultimate test of his character. His conflict with the Master takes on an almost mythic quality, two opposing forces caught in a cycle of destruction. The Doctor’s refusal to succumb to violence, even when the Master pushes him to the brink, highlights his unwavering commitment to his moral code. McCoy’s performance is haunting, carrying an almost melancholic weight, as if his Doctor senses that the end is near. His final monologue, delivered over a quiet shot of Ace and himself walking away, is one of the most poetic farewells in Doctor Who history.
Sophie Aldred’s Ace is given one of her most significant challenges, emotionally and physically. The story plays into her lingering resentment toward Perivale, showing how disconnected she feels from the place she once called home. But it also highlights her growth—she is no longer the same angry teenager who left. Her transformation on the Cheetah Planet serves as both a literal and metaphorical evolution, and her struggle to retain her humanity reinforces how much she has changed since meeting the Doctor.
Anthony Ainley’s Master is perhaps at his most terrifying here. Gone is the theatrical villainy—this is a desperate, almost feral version of the character, clinging to control as his own body betrays him. His interactions with the Doctor are electric, their battle playing out less as a grand confrontation and more as a deeply personal struggle for dominance. His ultimate fate, left ambiguous as he fades into the dying planet, is a fittingly eerie send-off.
Visually, Survival is effective despite budgetary limitations. The use of real-world locations, particularly the suburban streets of Perivale, adds an unsettling realism to the story. The Cheetah People, while slightly let down by their costumes, remain a fascinating concept—beasts that embody both savagery and beauty, representing the instinctual side of nature. The decaying planet itself, a world falling apart due to its inhabitants’ aggression, serves as a haunting metaphor for self-destruction.
Thematically, Survival is rich with meaning. It explores the duality of civilization and instinct, the fight to retain one’s identity in the face of primal urges, and the idea that where we come from does not define who we are. The final lines of the Doctor’s monologue—"There are worlds out there where the sky is burning, where the sea’s asleep and the rivers dream. People made of smoke and cities made of song. Somewhere there’s danger, somewhere there’s injustice, and somewhere else the tea’s getting cold. Come on, Ace, we’ve got work to do."—capture the eternal nature of the Doctor’s journey. It’s a quiet but powerful farewell to the classic era, not an ending, but a promise of more adventures to come.
Rewatching Survival in 2025, it remains an emotional and fitting conclusion to the show’s original run. Though it wasn’t written as a finale, it carries a weight of finality, marking the end of an era with an understated beauty. It is a story about change, about finding one’s place in the world, and about choosing to be more than what fate dictates. And in that way, it is the perfect final message of Doctor Who before it entered its long hiatus.
Ranking the Seventh Doctor’s Adventures
With Sylvester McCoy’s era now complete, here is a ranking of his 12 televised stories:
12. Time and the Rani – A deeply flawed debut, suffering from tonal inconsistency and a lack of a clear direction for the Seventh Doctor. McCoy does his best, but the story’s comedic excess and weak villains hold it back.
11. Silver Nemesis – Intended as the show’s 25th-anniversary special, it ultimately feels like a weaker retread of Remembrance of the Daleks. The Cybermen are underwhelming, and the multiple antagonists never quite come together in a cohesive way.
10. Paradise Towers – An intriguing premise with strong social satire, but uneven execution and inconsistent performances make it a frustrating watch. The Chief Caretaker’s over-the-top portrayal detracts from the story’s deeper themes.
9. Delta and the Bannermen – A quirky, 1950s-inspired adventure that is fun but ultimately lightweight. Ace is not yet introduced, and the tone shifts between whimsy and tension without fully committing to either.
8. Battlefield – Ambitious in its blending of Arthurian legend and modern warfare, but suffers from pacing issues. The return of the Brigadier is a highlight, and the idea of the Doctor as Merlin adds intrigue.
7. The Greatest Show in the Galaxy – A surreal, nightmarish critique of the entertainment industry. The psychic circus setting is wonderfully eerie, and McCoy’s performance is among his best.
6. Ghost Light – A beautifully complex gothic horror story that rewards multiple viewings. Its abstract storytelling can be difficult to follow, but thematically, it is one of Doctor Who’s richest tales.
5. Survival – A powerful and poignant final story, blending urban realism with high-concept science fiction. Its themes of identity and change make it a perfect farewell to the classic era.
4. The Happiness Patrol – One of the most overtly political Doctor Who stories, tackling authoritarianism and forced conformity. The Kandyman remains an unforgettable, if divisive, villain.
3. The Curse of Fenric – A masterful blend of history, horror, and deep character development. The Doctor’s manipulations and Ace’s emotional journey elevate it to one of the greatest Doctor Who stories ever.
2. The Greatest Show in the Galaxy – A surreal and deeply thematic deconstruction of the show itself, filled with unforgettable imagery and strong performances.
1. Remembrance of the Daleks – The defining Seventh Doctor story. A perfect mix of action, moral complexity, and Dalek mythology, showcasing McCoy’s Doctor as the ultimate master manipulator.
Sylvester McCoy’s portrayal of the Doctor evolved dramatically from his first season to his last. Initially introduced as a comedic and eccentric figure, his character grew into one of the most complex and mysterious incarnations of the Time Lord. His Doctor was a master planner, playing long games against his enemies and always operating with knowledge beyond what he revealed. He brought a quiet intensity to the role, proving that the Doctor could be just as powerful in stillness as in action.
Though the classic series ended under his watch, McCoy’s influence on Doctor Who was profound. His darker, more manipulative take on the Doctor directly influenced the modern era, particularly in the portrayals of the Ninth and Twelfth Doctors. McCoy ensured that the Doctor remained unpredictable, poetic, and a force of justice. His era may have marked the end of classic Doctor Who, but it also laid the groundwork for its eventual revival. As for this rewatch marathon, we're not entirely done with the Seventh Doctor - a couple of notorious entries from, what is commonly known as, the wilderness years, await...
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