Valentine Top Ten

Valentine's Day is a great time to cuddle on the couch with your sweetie and have a classic-era Doctor Who movie marathon!  Here are Dr. Dasha's top picks for a romantic Doctor Who movie night.

10.  Black Orchid (5, Tegan, Nyssa, Adric)  This Doctor Who story is loosely based on Charlotte Bronte's Jane Eyre, one of the most romantic books ever written.  Like Bronte's novel, Black Orchid has its dark moments.  However, it also has many light-hearted moments, including a cotume ball that is pure eye candy.

9.  Timelash (6, Peri)  As is so often the case in Doctor Who, the plot in this story hinges on brave people rebelling against a tyrant.  In this case, the rebel leaders are a cute couple, Mykros and Vena.  Their romance makes this a great Valentines flick.  Timelash is also an homage to H. G. Wells, and you and your date can have fun trying to spot all the references to Wells's novels.

8.  Time and the Rani (7, Mel)  When I think about Valentine's Day, I think pink.  And this episode is very, very pink, thanks to Mel's incredible pink-and-white costume.  Even the bad old Rani decides to cop Mel's style, right down to the puffed sleeves and the faux leg warmers.  This Doctor who story also includes a scene in the TARDIS wardrobe that is sure to make fans' hearts flutter with sentimentality, as Sylvester McCoy tries on versions of his predecessors' costumes.

7.  The Happiness Patrol (7, Ace)  Some people detest Valentine's Day and all the candy and pinkness and gooeyness that go along with the holiday.  If you fall into this category, then The Happiness Patrol is what you need to watch on Valentine's Day!  This episode will show you the sinister side of candy and the color pink.  You will learn to fear death by fondant surprise.

6.  The Masque of Mandragora (4, Sarah Jane)  This story culminates in another sumptuous costume ball.  The ball, or masque, takes place in fifteenth-century Italy, and Sarah Jane gets to dance with a prince!  Sarah Jane's ball gown is gorgeous, and the prince wears tights--it's like a scene out of Cinderella.

5.  The Curse of Fenric (7, Ace)  The baddies in this episode are vampires.  If you are one of those people who find vampires sexy, then this episode is for you.  Also, Ace behaves very seductively in this episode...watching those scenes is bound to heat things up at your movie night!  

4.  City of Death (4, Romana 2) A lighthearted romp through Paris in the spring!  The on-screen chemistry between Tom Baker and his future wife Lalla Ward is quite visible.  Just ignore the fact that Lalla Ward is now Tom Baker's ex-wife, and simply bask in the moment.

3.  The Green Death (3, Jo)  Jo gets engaged!  Some people might find it strange that Jo's love for Professor Jones blossoms over the course of an adventure involving giant maggots, edible fungus, and a hippie commune.  But to us Doctor Who fans, that's the way love is supposed to be...right?

2.  An Unearthly Child  (1, Susan, Barbara, Ian)  Classic era stories famously featured lots of hints of romance between characters.  However, it was seldom clear whether those characters were actual couples.  An Unearthly Child--the very first Doctor Who story ever broadcast--is full of cute, flirtatious moments between Barbara and Ian, the first semi-couple in a long line of companion semi-couples.  

1.  Ghost Light (7, Ace) The best date-movies provide conversational fodder.  That way, the date doesn't end when the movie is over; instead, the conversation prolongs the date.  The strange and convoluted plot of Ghost Light is sure to generate hours of conversation between you and your partner...and the conversation will probably start with questions like: "What the heck was that?" and "Did you understand all of that?"  Listening to the commentary track on the DVD will help you crack open the plot--and provide another lengthy opportunity for cuddling on the couch with your sweetie!

Happy viewing, Doctor Who fans!