It’s a perfect finale to this series 4th shows a lot of emotion and probs the most connected I’ve been with him on my marathon

This is part of a series of reviews of Doctor Who in chronological timeline order.

Previous Story: The Perfect Prisoners - Part 1

Now that is how you do a series finale. We get the conclusion to the Ann Kelso/Anya Kingdom story arc, not that it really existed before this two-parter given how little she was an actual fleshed out character before this. I will say having a companion turn on the Doctor makes for a good story, even if she was under control. And the resolution to the story is just brilliant to hear unfold.

The Dream Machine makes for some really tense writing and brilliant twists, it feels like a few Mission Impossible scenes where they reveal everyone is wearing a mask, the idea of altering people's perception so that you can use them as slaves is just so fascinating and fits the Bond-villain Syndicate so well. This two parter as a whole feels like The Daleks' Master Plan meets James Bond with some general Doctor Who sci-fi stuff mixed in.

Next Story: The Ribos Operation

Series Review: 6/10

I can't say I liked this series that much, it feels to me like they came up with this two-parter first and then realised they needed to make a series leading up to it, and that led to Ann Kelso being one of the most boring companions I've encountered so far. There were a few good stories in this set but I think there were so many missed opportunities, I really wish they'd put a bit more effort into Tom Baker stories because when they do it well, they do it well.