There is only one outright classic in Baker’s last four seasons…
…but it may well be the best of the lot! It is, of course, ‘City of Death’. Who would not love to see a love-struck Tom and Lalla running arm in arm through the streets of Paris and investigating the theft of the Mona Lisa? Douglas Adams’ effervescent script has everything, including a high-brow comic cameo appearance by John Cleese and Eleanor Bron who discuss the nature of art as the TARDIS dematerialises in front of their eyes. Tom Chadbon’s Duggan is one of the best supporting characters of all time, and Julian Glover and Catherine Schell are a perfect match in suave sophistication as the villainous Count and Countess. ‘City of Death’ sticks out though, because ‘The Talons of Weng-Chiang’ had been the last bona fide clear-cut classic of the Tom Baker era. The first three seasons are overbalanced with five-star stories. But his last four seasons have only one. Amongst the dross, there are a few very good near-classics that call for attention, like ‘The Ribos Operation’, ‘Image of the Fendahl’ and ‘Warriors’ Gate’, but they aren’t quite up there with the best of the best. Inescapably, once Philip Hinchcliffe stopped producing the show, the Tom Baker era lost and never quite rediscovered its magical sparkle. Except in the fleeting example of ‘City of Death’, which is an absolute treasure.
