The Twin Dilemma
The Twin Dilemma is the seventh and final serial of the 21st season of the British science fiction television series Doctor Who, which was first broadcast in four twice-weekly parts from 22 to 30 March 1984.The serial stars Colin Baker and Nicola Bryant as the Sixth Doctor and Peri Brown, respectively.The serial follows the Doctor immediately after regenerating as he works to prevent the alien gastropod Mestor (Edwin Richfield) from plotting to explode the sun of the planet Jaconda to scatter his eggs throughout the universe to conquer it.As a result of his recent regeneration, the Sixth Doctor suffers from mood swings and violent delusions, culminating in his attempt to strangle his companion, Peri Brown.Realising the threat he could pose to the universe in this state, the Doctor decides to exile himself and Peri to a remote asteroid Titan 3.The Doctor, however, realizes that Mestor has lied to Azmael about the nature of his plan, and the calculations will actually cause Jaconda's sun to go supernova, allowing Gastropod eggs to infest the galaxy.Hugo decides to stay on Jaconda and become its new ruler, while the Doctor agrees to return Romulus and Remus to their parents.[16] Peri's new outfit was originally a blue trouser suit, however Nathan-Turner opposed this as he felt she should wear something more revealing.[20] Where the previous serial, The Caves of Androzani, is frequently cast among the very best of all Doctor Who stories, The Twin Dilemma is often regarded as one of the very worst in the history of the series.[5][21][23] Writing for Den of Geek, Andrew Blair felt that the quality of the serial partially devalued the ending of The Caves of Androzani.The review also argues the script "leaves much to be desired" and that the direction is uninteresting, giving the whole story "a rather tacky, B-movie feel to it".[25] In the 150th issue of SFX magazine Russell T Davies, producer of the 2005 revival, cites the story as "the beginning of the end" of Doctor Who.The pair wrote, "How could anyone have thought that this story, of juvenile space monsters, meaningless plans and never-ending cop-outs, was ever workable?".[20] A novelisation of this serial, written by Saward, was published in hardback by Target Books in September 1985, and in paperback in March 1986.
The Twin Dilemma (novel)Doctor WhoDoctorColin BakerSixth DoctorCompanionNicola BryantPeri BrownMaurice DenhamEdwin RichfieldKevin McNallyDennis ChinneryOliver SmithBarry StantonHelen BlatchPeter MoffattAnthony StevenEric SawardJohn Nathan-TurnerMalcolm ClarkeSeason 21The Caves of AndrozaniAttack of the CybermenList of episodes (1963–1989)21st seasonscience fiction televisionPeter MoffatAnthony StevensregeneratinggastropodTime LordDoctor Who season 21chronological orderBBC Television CentreHertfordshireGerrards CrossBuckinghamshireAll Creatures Great and SmallrewritesFifth DoctorPeter DavisonFourth DoctorArc of InfinityThe Sea Devilstrouser suitCentral LondonAudience Appreciation IndexDen of GeekDavid J. HoweB-movieSFX magazineRussell T DaviesTat WoodLawrence MilesRadio TimesDigital SpyDoctor Who MagazineChildren in NeedDimensions in TimeAndrew SkilleterTarget novelisationsTarget BooksWoolworthsBehind the scenesThe Trial of a Time LordThe A.V. ClubPanini ComicsHowe, David J.Walker, Stephen JamesBBC BooksFuture plcLofficier, Jean-MarcMiles, LawrenceWood, TatMad Norwegian PressBBC OnlineInternet Speculative Fiction DatabaseOriginal seriesSeason 1Missing episodesRevived seriesSeries 12008–2010 specials2013 specials2022 specials2023 specialsWarriors of the DeepThe AwakeningFrontiosResurrection of the DaleksPlanet of FireSeason 22Vengeance on VarosThe Mark of the RaniThe Two DoctorsTimelashRevelation of the DaleksSeason 23The Mysterious PlanetMindwarpTerror of the VervoidsThe Ultimate FoeTime and the RaniThe Name of the DoctorThe Day of the DoctorThe Power of the DoctorA Fix with SontaransThe Sirens of TimeWhispers of TerrorThe Marian ConspiracyThe Spectre of Lanyon MoorThe Apocalypse ElementThe Holy TerrorThe One Doctor...ishJubileeDoctor Who and the PiratesDavrosZagreusThe JuggernautsThicker than WaterAssassin in the LimelightThe Doomwood CurseBrotherhood of the DaleksThe Raincloud ManLegend of the Cybermen