Doctor Who: Season 25
As the silver anniversary season, it included several stories noting the milestone: Remembrance of the Daleks, which featured the final "classic series" appearance of the Daleks and Davros and which would feature scenes set at Coal Hill School and 76 Totter’s Lane, both significant locations in the first episode, An Unearthly Child; and Silver Nemesis, the final classic series appearance of the Cybermen, which had it
Season 25 Lore Primer
Key plot threads, lore context, and character stakes you need to remember before diving into this season.
- Directly follows the overarching narrative developments of Doctor Who Season 24.
- Faction dynamics and core character alliances shift under escalating external stakes.
- Crucial mysteries introduced previously reach key turning points and narrative reckonings.
- Sets up serialized story arcs that build directly toward the climactic season finale.
Season overview
As the silver anniversary season, it included several stories noting the milestone: Remembrance of the Daleks, which featured the final "classic series" appearance of the Daleks and Davros and which would feature scenes set at Coal Hill School and 76 Totter’s Lane, both significant locations in the first episode, An Unearthly Child; and Silver Nemesis, the final classic series appearance of the Cybermen, which had its first episode broadcast on the actual 25th anniversary of the series. It also showed the lighter side of the Seventh Doctor's personality fade and be replaced by darker qualities. The Greatest Show in the Galaxy was also the last episode to have the Doctor dressed in bright colours. This would also be the first season that would be recorded with the intention of, and be broadcast in, a stereo mix.
Episode Guide
Season 25 Progress Shield
Remembrance of the Daleks (1)
Oct 5, 1988 · 25 min
London, 1963. Returning to the scenes of his first televised adventure, the Doctor and new companion Ace play a tricky game of bluff and deceit involving two rival Dalek factions,
Remembrance of the Daleks (2)
Oct 12, 1988 · 25 min
With two factions of Daleks involved in a race war on Earth, the Doctor takes care of old business by having the Hand of Omega ceremoniously but quietly buried in a churchyard. His
Remembrance of the Daleks (3)
Oct 19, 1988 · 25 min
The Doctor plans to let one of the Dalek factions have the Hand of Omega (but not too easily, of course) while keeping Gilmore and his military men preoccupied in a safe territory,
Remembrance of the Daleks (4)
Oct 26, 1988 · 25 min
The Omega device is in jeopardy. A giant Dalek warship hangs above the Earth. London has become a battleground for ruthless alien intelligences.
The Happiness Patrol (1)
Nov 2, 1988 · 25 min
The Earth colony Terra Alpha, the future. With the aid of her sweet-natured executioner, Helen A, ruler of the planet, has ensured the population is happy - on pain of death! The D
The Happiness Patrol (2)
Nov 9, 1988 · 25 min
The Doctor and Earl manage to escape from the Kandy Man and join up with the planet's natives, the Pipe People, enlisting their help to rescue Ace.
The Happiness Patrol (3)
Nov 16, 1988 · 25 min
As the Doctor leads the Pipe People towards reclaiming their world, Helen A faces betrayal from those closest to her.
Silver Nemesis (1)
Nov 23, 1988 · 25 min
The Doctor and Ace battle the time traveller Lady Peinforte and the Cybermen for possession of the incredibly powerful Nemesis statue, which is on its way back to the planet Earth
Silver Nemesis (2)
Nov 30, 1988 · 25 min
As hostilities break out between factions vying for ownership of the comet, the Doctor goes after the worst of the lot - Cybermen, using Ace's upgraded boom box to flood Cyber Comm
Silver Nemesis (3)
Dec 7, 1988 · 25 min
With the Cyber Fleet poised nearby, the Doctor may have no choice but to let them have Nemesis. Meanwhile, Lady Peinforte and Richard navigate modern society, De Flores encounters
The Greatest Show in the Galaxy (1)
Dec 14, 1988 · 25 min
The Doctor and Ace visit the Psychic Circus on the planet Segonax, where they find the standard of judging at the talent contest distressingly astringent.
The Greatest Show in the Galaxy (2)
Dec 21, 1988 · 25 min
The Doctor and Ace reach the Psychic Circus, where the Doctor is imprisoned with the other contestants while Ace draws the attention of the Chief Clown.
The Greatest Show in the Galaxy (3)
Dec 28, 1988 · 25 min
Mags helps the Doctor escape and Deadbeat leads him to Ace, where Bellboy tells them what happened to the Psychic Circus.
The Greatest Show in the Galaxy (4)
Jan 4, 1989 · 25 min
Mags goes to find Ace and Kingpin, pursued by the Chief Clown, while the Doctor confronts the power behind the Psychic Circus.