Doctor Who - Season 16

Doctor Who - Season 16

Season 16

This season saw the introduction of the Black and White Guardians as well as the companion Romana, who became only the second female Time Lord companion since Susan. This season is sometimes colloquially known as The Key to Time season after the story arc involving the Key to Time. Although not the first season to consist of linked stories (Season 8 in 1971 was the first, as all the stories that year featured the Master), it was the first to be recognised as having a series long arc. Although multi serial arcs would occur again, such a full- season experiment wouldn't be attempted again until Season 23. The arc has a number of similarities to the Season 1 story The Keys of Marinus. The storyline was originally proposed for Season 15, but it required more planning.
Network
DatesSep 2, 1978 - Feb 24, 1979
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Episodes

The Ribos Operation, Part One
Season 16Episode 125 min

The Ribos Operation, Part One

The Guardian of Time gives the Doctor a difficult task,and a new assistant. Together they must search for the six segments of the Key to Time, to prevent the Universe from being plunged into eternal chaos. On their mission, the Doctor and Romana travel to the planet Ribos where the first segment of the key is protected by the monstrous Shrivenzale.

Sep 2, 1978
The Ribos Operation, Part Two
Season 16Episode 225 min

The Ribos Operation, Part Two

The Doctor and Romana investigate Garron's activities but this results in the Graff believing they are working together.

Sep 9, 1978
The Ribos Operation, Part Three
Season 16Episode 325 min

The Ribos Operation, Part Three

The Graff takes the Doctor, Romana and Garron prisoner and then sets about trying to track down Unstoffe and the jethryk.

Sep 16, 1978
The Ribos Operation, Part Four
Season 16Episode 425 min

The Ribos Operation, Part Four

The Doctor returns to the city to keep an eye on the Graff, leaving Romana, K9 and Garron to search for Unstoffe and the first segment. However, Garron double crosses them and steals the tracer.

Sep 23, 1978
The Pirate Planet, Part One
Season 16Episode 525 min

The Pirate Planet, Part One

In seeking the second segment of the Key to Time, the TARDIS heads for an icy world but lands on a populated planet that shouldn't be there.

Sep 30, 1978
The Pirate Planet, Part Two
Season 16Episode 625 min

The Pirate Planet, Part Two

After the Mentiads knock the Doctor out, he discovers that Romana has been taken to the planets bridge. He then travels to the bridge to help her and ends up being forced to help repair the engines.

Oct 7, 1978
The Pirate Planet, Part Three
Season 16Episode 725 min

The Pirate Planet, Part Three

The Doctor takes Romana down to investigate the planets mines and gets unexpected help when the Captains guards show up to confront them.

Oct 14, 1978
The Pirate Planet, Part Four
Season 16Episode 825 min

The Pirate Planet, Part Four

The Mentiads with the help of the Doctor work to foil Queen Xanxia's plan to regain a body and destroy Earth in the process.

Oct 21, 1978
The Stones of Blood, Part One
Season 16Episode 925 min

The Stones of Blood, Part One

In their search for the 3rd segment of the key to time, the Doctor and Romana land on Earth at a Stonehenge type site where worshipers are engaged in their practice and people are being killed by unknown causes. While en route the Doctor and Romana hear a strange voice that says 'Beware the Black Guardian".

Oct 28, 1978
The Stones of Blood, Part Two
Season 16Episode 1025 min

The Stones of Blood, Part Two

Romana ends up hanging on the side of a cliff while the Doctor is captured by Druid pagan worshipers. The Doctor and the Professor then go on a search for Romana after finding her shoes.

Nov 4, 1978
The Stones of Blood, Part Three
Season 16Episode 1125 min

The Stones of Blood, Part Three

The Doctor transfers to Hyperspace to save Romana from her imprisonment and has a run in with the Megara Justice machines during his search.

Nov 11, 1978
The Stones of Blood, Part Four
Season 16Episode 1225 min

The Stones of Blood, Part Four

The Doctor convinces the Megara to give Vivien Fay a truth test while playing for time so Romana can get back to Earth and find evidence against Vivien.

Nov 18, 1978
The Androids of Tara, Part One
Season 16Episode 1325 min

The Androids of Tara, Part One

The Doctor and Romana are now searching for the 3rd segment of the Key to Time. Landing on the world of Tara, the Doctor decides to send Romana off in search of the 3rd segment while he takes a break and does some fishing.

Nov 25, 1978
The Androids of Tara, Part Two
Season 16Episode 1425 min

The Androids of Tara, Part Two

Romana is being held prisoner by Count Grendal, the Prince and his men along with the Doctor are drugged when they toast to the king after the Doctor has fixed the Prince's android. He is then accused of being involved in the Princes disappearance. They then have to figure out a plan to still get the android crowned as the Prince has vanished while the men were unconscious.

Dec 2, 1978
The Androids of Tara, Part Three
Season 16Episode 1525 min

The Androids of Tara, Part Three

The confirmation of the King has been put on hold, and the Doctor works on repairing the android of the future king in time. Count Grendal meanwhile, having had his plans interrupted works to stop the confirmation so he can become king in the Princes place.

Dec 9, 1978
The Androids of Tara, Part Four
Season 16Episode 1625 min

The Androids of Tara, Part Four

After the Doctor escapes Grendel's trap, plans are made to rescue both the Prince and Strella. Count Grendel continues to finalize his plan to take over the kingship.

Dec 16, 1978
The Power of Kroll, Part One
Season 16Episode 1725 min

The Power of Kroll, Part One

The Doctor and Romana land on the moon Delta III, home to the green-skinned Swampies and a small group of human colonists. Soon after arriving, Romana is taken by the Swampies who wish to sacrifice her to the mysterious squid-like Kroll.

Dec 23, 1978
The Power of Kroll, Part Two
Season 16Episode 1825 min

The Power of Kroll, Part Two

The Doctor rescues Romana from the Swampies but is horrified to hear that Kroll has awoken.

Dec 30, 1978
The Power of Kroll, Part Three
Season 16Episode 1925 min

The Power of Kroll, Part Three

The Doctor, Romana and Rohm-Dutt are sentenced to death by the Swampies while the refinery crew try to work out a way to destroy Kroll.

Jan 6, 1979
The Power of Kroll, Part Four
Season 16Episode 2025 min

The Power of Kroll, Part Four

The Doctor races to stop Thawn from destroying the Swampie settlement and then works to destroy Kroll once and for all.

Jan 13, 1979
The Armageddon Factor, Part One
Season 16Episode 2125 min

The Armageddon Factor, Part One

In their search for the final segment of the 'Key To Time', the Doctor and Romana land the TARDIS on the world of Atrios who is at war with it's neighboring planet Zeos. Upon avoiding a missile attack right before landing, the Doctor and Time Lady Romana are then mistaken for spys from Zeos by the Marshall.

Jan 20, 1979
The Armageddon Factor, Part Two
Season 16Episode 2225 min

The Armageddon Factor, Part Two

When the Doctor and Romana work to escape they Marshal, they not only discover that their TARDIS has been buried underneath a pile of rubble from a recent Zeos attack, but also they discover someone who may be trapped and kidnapped by a unknown source.

Jan 27, 1979
The Armageddon Factor, Part Three
Season 16Episode 2325 min

The Armageddon Factor, Part Three

While faithful K-9 awaits the return of the Doctor and those with him, he is taken prisoner by The Shadow. With The Marshal determined to attack Zeos, the Doctor has to put a halt to his plan in order to save Atrios and billions of lives.

Feb 3, 1979
The Armageddon Factor, Part Four
Season 16Episode 2425 min

The Armageddon Factor, Part Four

K-9 communicates with the leader of the Zeos world and the Doctor attempts to keep the leader from completing it's plan. The Doctor and companions discover the unknown world that is between Atrios and Zeos.

Feb 10, 1979
The Armageddon Factor, Part Five
Season 16Episode 2525 min

The Armageddon Factor, Part Five

The Doctor with Drax's help, escape from their prison and work to stop The Shadows plan. The Shadow uses Astra to further the Black Guardians plot to obtain the Key to Time.

Feb 17, 1979
The Armageddon Factor, Part Six
Season 16Episode 2625 min

The Armageddon Factor, Part Six

The Doctor and Romana prevent the Marshal from concluding his plan and discover what the last segment of the Key to Time actually is. They then encounter both the Black Guardian and The White Guardian in their effort to conclude the mission given to them by the White Guardian.

Feb 24, 1979

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