First broadcast 6 September 1986.

When Doctor Who‘s 23rd season premiered in September 1986, it was after an 18-month interruption; an abrupt cancellation had, after a public outcry, been changed to a delay in broadcast. The new season still featured stars Colin Baker and Nicola Bryant, not to mention producer John Nathan Turner, but the series length was cut from 13 50-minute episodes to 14 25-minute ones. Furthermore, the entirety of the new season was formed around a single over-arching narrative. “The Trial of a Time Lord” would see the Doctor (Baker) go on trial at the hands of his own people (the Time Lords), with each individual serial representing evidence in the proceedings. The first four episodes of the season, unofficially titled “The Mysterious Planet” by fans, were written by series stalwart Robert Holmes.

When the Doctor is put on trial by the prosecuting Valeyard (Michael Jayston) for his constant interfering in the affairs of other planets, the first piece of evidence presented relates to his and Peri’s (Bryant) adventure on the planet Ravalox – which strangely has the same physical properties of the Earth.

First and foremost, the trial framework is a poor addition to the series. Hopelessly on the nose, it also has the effect of constantly breaking up the main action of the serial without much drama in return. The courtroom scenes are very static, and despite the best efforts of Baker, Jayston, and Lynda Bellingham – as the prosecuting judge – they quickly degenerate into pointless objections and squabbling.

When given the chance to find its own momentum, the main storyline is actually quite intriguing. It portrays a Doctor and companion whose relationship has warmed over the 18-month break, and manages to make both the Doctor and Peri more likeable than in their first season together. Director Nicholas Mallett works with both actors to make their interactions seem rather charming and enjoyable. It is just a shame it took more than a season to make the change happen.

When a chance discovery raises even more questions about Ravalox’s true nature, it is a smart and – for the time – genuinely provocative idea. Holmes’ script achieves some solid worldbuilding as well, revealing a primitive civilization on the planet’s surface and a dystopia in thrall of a mysterious robot underneath. There is also some very typical elements of satire to Holmes’ script, accompanied by a slightly acerbic sense of humour. It is apparent that Holmes did not write the scenes from the Doctor’s trial; those are by script editor Eric Saward, and fall terribly flat by comparison.

There is a technical change with this episode that will affect the remaining four years of the original series. With only a few exceptions, location shoots for Doctor Who were conducted on film while interior scenes were recorded on video. From here the outdoor scenes are produced using outdoor broadcast (OB), and the visual similarity between scenes inside and those outside actually create a nicely consistent look. Add in Dominic Glynn’s solid electronic score and the series does actually feel like it has been somewhat refreshed.

I doubt many fans of Doctor Who would rise to claim the serial as the series at its best, but it is worth watching Part 1 while putting the trial out of mind as much as possible. There is a decent science fiction adventure at its core, and it is a shame it was not given more room to breathe.