Last week, Season 7 was released on Blu-ray in the UK. Unfortunately, US fans will have to wait until June to enjoy the improved picture quality and new special features. But if you've never seen Season 7 or can't wait that long for a rewatch, then you might like this news.
On Mar 1, the whole of Season 7 was uploaded in full to the YouTube channel Doctor Who Classic. This is the third complete season to have been uploaded, and the second to feature Jon Pertwee's Third Doctor, following the release of Season 9 last week.
If this is your first time watching Classic Who, and you're enjoying the seasons in the order they're released on the channel, then you might be surprised by Season 7. Season 9 is a season of Daleks, Ice Warriors, and Sea Devils, a season that ends in a rather silly story featuring the Master, Atlantis, and the weirdest assortment of objects. It's a solid, entertaining season that's light in tone, but not too light. (At least, not overall.)
A dark debut
So it might come as a surprise to watch Jon Pertwee's first season and see how radically different it is. The tone of the season is darker, even grittier compared to what comes later. The stories are more morally complex, and the monsters aren't always clear-cut villains.
A comparison that really highlights how different Seasons 7 and 9 are are the stories "Doctor Who and the Silurians" and "The Sea Devils". Both broadly tell the same plot: an intelligent race from millions of years ago has returned from a very deep sleep to reclaim the Earth. "The Sea Devils" explores this concept in a deliberately fun way: filled with sea battles, sword fights, and the Master being gloriously evil and trying to engineer a war between humanity and the Sea Devils.
"The Silurians" however is very different. There are many moral questions raised, and while some Silurians wish to see humanity wiped out, others just want to live on the planet in peace. There's real tension between the Doctor and the Brigadier - the Doctor genuinely wants to find a peaceful solution for both races, while the Brigadier sees only one solution in dealing with this potential threat. It's a story that's much darker and more morally complex than what we had previously seen in Doctor Who, a description that can apply to the whole of Season 7 itself.
Of course, that dark and gritty tone is what makes Season 7 stand out. It presents a different kind of Doctor Who than what we might normally be used to. But thanks to great stories, strong performances, and excellent direction, it's also a season that's often recognized by fans as one of the best. You can find out for yourself by watching the entire season here. If you enjoy the season and want to know more about what to expect from the new Blu-ray release, you can read more details on the box set and its special features here.