Season 12 has a lot going for it. Namely classic stories (Ark in Space and Genesis), Hinchcliffe and Holmes making their mark on the series and a new dimension to the Daleks.

But first let's begin on a story which feels exactly like a Pertwee story. As everyone knows, Robot is like King Kong in the way that the monster falls for the beautiful woman (okay, it's Sarah Jane, but never mind). Even the ending is the same. (What do you mean, you don't know how King Kong ends? Go and watch it!)

I have to say though, that I like Robot; it's an undemanding enjoyable story, which helps to introduce the character of the new Doctor. Tom seems instantly likeable. Another thing, I think that Harry Sullivan is a great character. He's really funny and he works very well, with his stiff upper lip attitude compared to the Doctor's whimsical nature. Ian Marter did a really good job, it's a pity that they couldn't have kept the character on a bit longer.

The Ark in Space is one of those stories regarded by fans as being one of the all-time classics. Why is that? The sets are passable while the effects are not very good. I think it's the people trapped in an enclosed environment with hostile forces surrounding them that attracts people to it.

As far as I'm concerned the best thing about the story are the developing characters of the Doctor, Sarah and Harry. One of my favourite parts is when the Doctor and Harry are being attacked by the defence system. I also like the Doctor's speech about humanity. One of the great scenes from Who. Bob Holmes at his best.

Travels without TARDIS would have been a good title for this season, as they use T-mat to get from story to story after this point. Funny how a cost-saving idea worked so well in the context of the series.

The Sontaran Experiment is one of those Bob Baker and Dave Martin scripts that are good. I think it's because they didn't need to put in any padding. Perhaps they should have written more two-parters. In effect though, this continues from Ark in Space.

Kevin Lindsay is really good as the Sontaran again. (I feel I must raise the point here: He has five fingered hands in this story, unlike in The Time Warrior when he had three. End of sad fan-boy bit.)

I also liked the way that the story had the colonists with South African accents, presenting a different view of humanity's future. It makes sense doesn't it? That some colonies would be set up by people from the same place?

Styre's experiments on the durability of humans are good, I especially liked the one with the weight that gets heavier and heavier, threatening to crush a man to death.

What can I say about Genesis of the Daleks? Should I be critical and risk being flogged in the streets for heresy? Or shall I just write unwarranted praise on it? I think I'll stick with the safe option.

Praise: It's good to see the background to the Daleks' origins. Davros is brilliantly played. (It's a shame that Michael Wisher couldn't play him again). The war of attrition element is good. The first episode is very dramatic looking and bleak. Harry's joke about the caveman listening to rock music is good. I must also mention the 'To hold in my hand' speech from Davros. Again, one of the best scenes ever done for the series. Davros isn't mad, he just understands the nature of power. Great stuff.

And now the criticism: Sarah being captured by the Thals is complete drivel. The scenes of them climbing the scaffolding are badly done. One more thing, why did they have to go and have a surprise appearance by a Dalek at the end of part one, when the story is called Genesis of the Daleks? Is it supposed to surprise the viewers?

Revenge of the Cybermen, despite the re-write by Robert Holmes comes across as a very sixties style story. Nothing wrong with that, except for the fact that the Cybermen seem to be acting emotionally. Why couldn't Holmes grasp the fact that the Cybermen work best because they don't have emotion? Also, it might have been a mistake to give them a weakness to gold. It worked all right in this story (well apart from the fact that they went down to a place full of the stuff!). But by the time we got to Silver Nemesis it was like garlic is to vampires, utterly ridiculous. Anyway, back to Revenge:

Despite their degeneration, the Cybermen are still an imposing presence. I like the way that they have weapons on their heads. I also liked the cliffhanger for part two, when they storm the nerva beacon and shoot everybody. This is really good.

The interaction between Sarah and Harry is also really good. Especially the bit when Harry is saying that she has thick ankles.

Overall an enjoyable story, with perhaps the Cybermen being a bit silly and wearing flares! The idea of setting the story on the Nerva beacon before Ark was a really good idea (and had nothing to do with saving money on sets, honest) Also, Michael Wisher makes his 2nd appearance this season. (See if you can recognise him under another mask!)