Season 55 - 2020

 

Season 55 was a direct continuation of the previous season but we would be introduced to a second companion for the TARDIS team this season, Andrew Buchan would join the cast as Derek Callaghan who would be Secretary of State for Extraterrestrial Operations. Chibnall saw the season as the starting point for where the show could really run with it’s ideas, Season 54 had to gain the audience’s trust by somewhat playing it safe but Chibnall’s second season didn’t need to do that.

To get the show get more on track with the general public it was decided that three new Doctor Who TV shows would air in 2021, the first one was a show where Doctor Who episodes from 1963-98 would all be colourised, restored and animated. The second was a CBBC animated show and the third spinoff would see the return of Olympus. We’ll get back to these three shows later as serious effects will take place causing trouble for a few of the productions of the spinoffs.

No Worthy Move

By Chris Chibnall

The Doctor, on his travels with Claire, intercepts a series of strange energy pulses coming from the heart of London, emanating from GOGGS (Government Offices Great George Street) itself. Curious, he lands the TARDIS and is soon thrust into a covert government crisis: an alien signal has been detected, seemingly aimed at destabilising Earth’s top leadership.

At the heart of the crisis is Derek Callaghan, a former military man turned civil servant, recently promoted to the newly formed position of Secretary of State for Extraterrestrial Operations.

Cool under pressure and harbouring a deep distrust of aliens, Callaghan is overseeing the government's response to the growing threat. Unbeknownst to him, however, the alien presence is far closer than anyone imagines—embedded within the very institutions meant to protect Earth. As Callaghan struggles to contain the situation using traditional military tactics, the Doctor and Claire arrive. The Doctor quickly realises that the true threat lies not in an invading alien force but in a subtle infiltration designed to exploit humanity's own paranoia and fear.

Callaghan and the Doctor clash at first. He’s a man of rigid rules, strategy, and military precision, whereas he operates on instinct, improvisation, and empathy. But as the crisis deepens, the two are forced to work together. The Doctor sees something in Callaghan—a man haunted by his past and by the lives he's lost. He hides it well behind a stoic exterior, but the Doctor knows the weight he carries, and he challenges him to see beyond the black-and-white approach of "worthy actions" and sacrifice.

As the alien threat escalates and an invasion seems inevitable, Callaghan's past decisions come back to haunt him. He once made a fateful choice during a covert extraterrestrial operation that saved lives but cost him his moral compass. Now, the aliens, called The Veilari, are using that very event against him, triggering painful memories and playing on his insecurities.

In the climax, Callaghan must make a final, impossible decision: sacrifice his own career and risk exposure of Earth's defence weaknesses or trust the Doctor and Claire and take a leap of faith. Together, they must stop the alien plot from within, revealing the true nature of the Veilari—manipulative beings who feed on fear, hoping to turn Earth into a planet ruled by suspicion and paranoia.

By the end, Callaghan’s worldview has shifted. He sees the Doctor’s approach to life and the universe—one that values understanding, compassion, and unconventional thinking. The Doctor, in turn, sees Callaghan’s potential. Despite his past, he’s a man who, given the right circumstances, could become an extraordinary companion, balancing out her idealism with his pragmatism. He is a man who strives for worthy actions, but under the Doctor’s guidance, he begins to learn that not all victories are won by battles and sacrifices.

With the crisis averted, the Doctor offers him a place by his and Claire’s side. A man used to control and structure, Callaghan hesitates. But perhaps, after so many years of living by the book, it’s time to see the universe through a new lens.

The final scene sees Callaghan standing in awe of the stars stretching out before him, ready to embark on a journey beyond anything his previous life had ever prepared him for.

The Eternal Evil, Part One

By Chris Chibnall and Pete McTighe

We begin with a man walking into a cathedral-like room and putting on a record player where it plays ‘Puttin on The Ritz’ by Taco, he sits down in an armchair drinking a glass of whisky as he clicks his fingers as we see a part of an alien city blow up as people panic and run away as others die as we cut to the opening credits.

Following the opening titles, we see the Doctor, Claire and Derek in the TARDIS just being friends, when Derek notices that a name has come up on the scanner: Postruenov. When he absent-mindedly mentions this to the Doctor, the Doctor turns white as a sheet and states that this shouldn't be possible; Postruenov and its ruler are supposed to be just an old myth of the universe and nothing more. However, it is too late to do anything, as the ship has landed in the same quadrant of the city that Deusmalus decided to blow up just a short while earlier. Deciding to try and assist the citizens as best he can, the Doctor, Claire and Derek start to begin relief efforts. However, as Claire goes to grab supplies from the TARDIS, it dematerialises, with the Doctor revealing he had had the HADS on in the case of an emergency, and seemingly just being on Postruenov is an emergency in itself. The trio decide to get to work with what they've got, assisting with medical efforts, and the Doctor and Derek trying to provide food for some of the more malnourished among them. Meanwhile, Deusmalus, aware of their presence, decides to have his informer network deal with the companions. He's heard of the Doctor, and how much he cares for them, so, as far as he is concerned, why not take the time to experiment? Whilst the Doctor is assisting a couple of civilians, Rula and Armathea, Claire and Derek are beamed away by a pair of informants disguised as civilians. The Doctor soon realises that his companions have disappeared, and he, Rula and Armathea go to look for them. We cut to Claire and Derek awaking trapped to the wall of Deusmalus' throne room. Deusmalus introduces himself, before saying that they don't need to introduce themselves, he knows all about them. When Derek asks how, it is revealed the HADS brought the TARDIS to his throne room, and that Deusmalus read their files.

After giving a villainous monologue about his nature as a being feared by the universe (think the Toymaker's speech in the giggle of turning the guardians of time into voodoo dolls), he reveal that he plans to test how moral the Doctor is, before switching on a torture device. We cut back to the Doctor as he, Rula and Armathea realise that Deusmalus must have taken his companions away. Just as they make this conclusion, Deusmalus appears projected on a building, and tells the Doctor that he has their companions, having the camera pan to show Claire looking terrified, but telling the Doctor to come quickly, right before she is shocked by what Deusmalus describes as "about as much electricity as the human body can take in one sitting". After revealing he's done a couple more moderately messed up things to the Doctor's companions for his own amusement ("I've already taken off a couple of Derek' fingernails"-type thing), he shuts off the broadcast. 

The Eternal Evil, Part Two

By Chris Chibnall and Pete McTighe

The Doctor, shocked and guilty at how careless he was with his companions, decides enough is enough, and changes tack. Whilst he initially simply tries to gather together a group of people to speak with Deusmalus and negotiate a more peaceful solution, the number of people he attracts to his cause develops into a full-on riot, and after Deusmalus sends another message, with Claire and Derek both clearly in pain in the background, the Doctor runs with it.

Satisfied with this as a beginning, Deusmalus decides to have Claire and Derek taken down, with his guards escorting them to a dungeon so that Deusmalus can decide how to play with them next. However, Claire manages to break out using the sonic screwdriver, which the Doctor had given her on the way to the TARDIS early on in the story. The pair disguise themselves as guards and go to find the Doctor. However, Deusmalus, in between trying to break the Doctor by remotely detonating more areas of Postruenov, rearranges the rooms of his palace remotely to make it nearly impossible for them to escape. The Doctor's forces manage to reach Deusmalus' palace and dispatch of the guards there, just as Claire and Derek are allowed to leave, nearly being taken down by Rula and Armathea before they reveal who they are. The Doctor nearly breaks down in tears at the sight of his companions alive and at least somewhat well, however, he holds it off just enough to go and find Deusmalus. Deusmalus lets the Doctor come to him with his companions and some of the city's citizens, before grabbing Rula and killing her by throwing her out the window right in front of the Doctor. This, coupled with everything else he has been through today, succeeds in causing the Doctor to break, however, instead of any kind of visible anger or screaming, the Doctor simply walks into the TARDIS whilst Deusmalus looks on somewhat confused. The Doctor rewires a couple of elements, before opening part of the TARDIS console to send the time vortex careering into Deusmalus' chest. Claire and Derek run into the TARDIS and try to stop the Doctor, reminding him that this is not him, and that it is exactly what Deusmalus wants. After a while of this, the Doctor relents, shutting off the time vortex in time to stop Deusmalus from dying. However, the residual energy of the time vortex causes Deusmalus to overload, and after promising he would meet the Doctor again, Deusmalus explodes in a beam of light.

The Doctor steps outside, just about keeping it together as he states that the people of Postruenov are free- Deusmalus has no quarrel with them any more, it rests entirely with him. He proposes Armathea as the new leader for her kind qualities that would have been exhibited in the Doctor's section of the story, and, after a new government is set up for the planet, the Doctor, Claire and Derek leave. Once back in the TARDIS, the Doctor finally begins to cry, explaining the reason he acted like that was because Deusmalus succeeded, and now that he's promised to return, he fears he cannot guarantee their safety, especially after what happened on Postruenov. However, Claire and Derek console him, reminding him that he held it together for the most part, and telling him that even though they went through all that torture, they knew the Doctor wouldn't desert them, and that whatever happens, they will stick by him. The story ends with the Doctor, still taking a little while to recover, proposing they take a holiday back to Earth.

When he’s alone in the console room he finds a pocket watch from Postruenov, he doesn’t know how it got there but he examines it and then he opens it and an ominous laugh is heard, the Doctor turns around startled.

The October Revolution

By Maxine Alderton

This story would focus on the October revolution of 1917, the story would see the trio being split in Petrograd, which has been taken by force. The story would see historical events such as Vladimir Lenin, Joseph Stalin and Leon Trotsky storming the Tsar's Winter Palace and assuming control of Russia in the name of the soviets. Many more events in the story do happen such as a spiritual presence threatening to hijack the revolution and force an internally squabbling-Russian nation without an obvious leader back into the war on the side of the Germans, the Doctor would defeat the spiritual presence when reunited with Claire and Derek and they would get back to the TARDIS.

Under Watchful Eyes

By Simon Allen

The Doctor, Claire and Derek arrive in present-day London, only to find the city unrecognisable. Towering screens dominate the skyline, each one broadcasting the face of "The Great Leader"—an enigmatic dictator whose omnipresent gaze tracks the movements of every citizen. The streets are devoid of colour and individuality; everyone wears identical grey uniforms, their emotions subdued under the constant surveillance of robotic "Thought Patrols." The once-bustling metropolis now operates under a rigid system of control, fear and conformity.

As the trio navigates this dystopian version of London, they uncover unsettling details. Citizens are encouraged to report each other for “thought crimes,” language is controlled through a simplified, propaganda-driven dialect called "TruthSpeak" and resistance is met with re-education or worse, Claire would then say that all of this is starting to feel very familiar but she doesn’t know why.

Determined to find out who is behind this Orwellian nightmare, the Doctor, Claire and Derek infiltrate the headquarters of "The Great Leader." What they discover shocks them: The Great Leader is Eustacius Smith, a once-brilliant historian who became obsessed with George Orwell’s 1984 and lost his sanity, this is why Claire felt it was familiar as she remarks that she read the book whilst in University. 

Convinced that humanity is destined to destroy itself, Eustacius has modelled the entire world after Orwell’s dystopia in a twisted bid to "save" it. Using advanced mind-control technology, he has taken control of global governments, rewriting history and subjugating free will.

But things are even more complicated. The Doctor soon learns that Eustacius’ mind is being influenced by aliens called the Acherons, beings that manipulate leaders into creating oppressive regimes. The Acherons have used Eustacius’ obsession to amplify its control.

The Doctor tries to convince Eustacius to break free of the Acherons’ influence while Derek and Claire lead the resistance in disabling the Thought Patrols. The final confrontation sees The Doctor challenging Eustacius’ worldview, exposing the hollow, destructive nature of his regime.

After the Acherons are defeated and Eustacius’ control crumbles, the city begins to wake from its Orwellian nightmare. The citizens, unsure of how to live without constant surveillance, look to the Doctor, Claire and Derek for guidance on how to reclaim their autonomy and rebuild their world.

Navigators of The Deep

By Charlie Brooker

The TARDIS materialises on a large ship in the Atlantic Ocean in 1514 during the Age of Discovery, a time when European explorers set sail to map new territories. The Doctor, Claire and Derek step out onto the deck, immediately hit by the salty air and the tension among the crew. The ship is on a voyage to the "New World," but strange disappearances and an air of superstition plague the sailors.

As they explore the ship, the Doctor, Claire and Derek discover that it’s not an ordinary exploration vessel. It belongs to a secretive guild of navigators who are charting not just Earth’s oceans but pathways between dimensions. They've found a way to use ancient star maps to tap into other realities, but their tampering has brought dangerous beings into our world.

Mysterious lights flicker on the horizon, and creatures from the deep, ancient beings older than time itself, begin to stalk the ship. Known as the “Sea Specters,” these beings are drawn to the navigators’ reckless experimentation with interdimensional travel. The ship's captain, obsessed with glory and driven by the desire to discover new worlds, has made a deal with an alien intelligence offering knowledge of the "unreachable" — realms outside time and space — in exchange for human lives.

Claire and Derek investigate the lower decks and find strange devices the navigators are using to map "hidden paths" between worlds. They realise the navigators have been opening portals to other dimensions, unaware that their actions are causing damage to the ship and risking the entire world’s safety.

The Doctor confronts the captain, trying to persuade him to stop the experiments, but the captain refuses, obsessed with becoming the first human to travel beyond known space into the realms of legend. He believes the knowledge of these "star maps" is worth any cost.

Meanwhile, the Sea Specters increase their attacks. Several sailors are taken, and the ship begins to fall apart, sinking slowly as reality warps around it.

The Doctor concocts a plan to reverse the damage by using the star maps to seal the rift between dimensions. Claire and Derek work to rally the terrified crew to defend the ship and distract the Specters long enough for the Doctor to work.

The captain, mad with power, tries to sabotage the Doctor’s plan, believing that entering the other dimension is humanity’s destiny. In a tense confrontation, Claire and Derek must convince the crew to rise against the captain, who becomes consumed by the alien intelligence he sought to bargain with.

The Doctor manages to seal the rift just as the Sea Specters close in, but the ship is too far gone. In the climactic final moments, the TARDIS materialises in the hold, and the Doctor, Claire, Derek, and the surviving crew escape just as the ship sinks beneath the waves.

Back on the TARDIS, the Doctor reflects on the dangers of human ambition and the temptation of exploring beyond the stars. Claire, shaken by the experience, asks if some places were never meant to be reached. The Doctor’s answer is cryptic: “There’s always something beyond the horizon... but it’s not always ours to find.”

The TARDIS dematerialises, leaving the ship behind and the camera pans up from the vast ocean to the night sky, where a brief flicker of the Sea Specters’ glowing forms can still be seen.

For Tonight We May Die, Part One

By Chris Chibnall

The TARDIS materialises back in modern day London, the Doctor steps out and smiles as the city lights illuminate the night. Claire and Derek walk out of the TARDIS and the Doctor says that the plan is to just enjoy themselves as they haven’t been able to in recent events. 

We see them enjoying themselves and having a good time in London, but soon small explosions and riots break out and a plane crash lands not far away as we cut to the opening credits.

After the opening credits we see the Doctor, Claire and Derek traverse the streets of London as it is plagued by chaotic anarchy. Soon the Doctor, Claire and Derek are split up: the Doctor is swept away by UNIT, while Claire and Derek are whisked off in a mysterious black car to a COBRA emergency meeting with the Prime Minister, Hugh Preston.

As the Doctor reconnects with General Wilson at UNIT HQ, the mystery deepens. London’s sudden descent into chaos is no random act—something sinister is at play, and UNIT is struggling to contain the situation. The Doctor’s instincts are on high alert, but the pieces aren’t fitting together yet. All they know is that whoever or whatever is behind this has a global reach, and time is running out. The Doctor must race to decipher UNIT’s fragmented intelligence while fending off military pressures for more drastic action.

Meanwhile, in a high-stakes COBRA meeting, Claire and Derek are plunged into the world of political manoeuvring. The Prime Minister, Hugh Preston, is wrestling with the weight of the crisis, as tensions between government officials rise. What was initially believed to be localised terrorist activity might be something far more alien—and far more deadly. Claire and Derek quickly realise they are out of their depth, but their first-hand knowledge of the Doctor’s work makes them essential in helping the government understand what they’re truly up against. But not everyone in the room trusts them—and not everyone in the room will survive.

The Doctor, after analysing the cryptic signal embedded in the chaos, uncovers a chilling truth—this isn’t just an alien attack. The signal isn’t a mere warning; it’s a countdown. Something vast, something hidden deep beneath London, is about to activate. The Doctor and General Wilson rush to the underground command centre, only to find it in complete disarray. Monitors flicker with distorted alien glyphs, while UNIT personnel scramble in panic.

In the COBRA meeting room, tensions are at an all-time high. Prime Minister Hugh Preston orders the military to prepare for an all-out evacuation of London, but before they can execute any plan, a high-ranking official receives a cryptic call. The official’s face turns pale as he listens, then abruptly ends the call. Without warning, he draws a gun and takes control of the room.

"Nobody’s leaving this building," he says coldly, aiming the weapon at the Prime Minister. "They’ve already won. And I intend to survive."

Panic ensues as the official reveals himself to be with the alien force, who call themselves the Xalthorians, to ensure his own survival. Derek, quick-thinking, leaps at the man, causing the gun to go off. A stray bullet ricochets, shattering a window. Claire grabs Derek, and they scramble towards the open window, looking down at the chaos-ridden streets below.

Suddenly, an earthquake-like tremor shakes the entire base. Alarms blare. A massive power surge causes the lights to flicker. The Doctor's eyes widen as the screens reveal what’s been buried beneath the city for centuries—an ancient Xalthorian weapon, slowly powering up. 

"It's not just an invasion," the Doctor whispers, horrified. "They’re planning to wipe London off the map."

Suddenly, they hear a low, ominous hum from the distance. The entire room goes silent as everyone looks out the window and sees a massive, Xalthorian craft hovering above the London skyline, sending out pulses of light that cause buildings to collapse and streets to erupt in flames.

Claire turns to Derek, eyes wide with fear. "That’s no rescue mission. It’s the end."

Before they can react, the base goes into full lockdown. Metal doors slam shut around them. The Doctor frantically tries to override the system, but it’s too late. The countdown hits zero, and with a deafening roar, the ground beneath them begins to split open.

The last shot lingers on the Xalthorian craft, its power surging as it prepares to unleash a devastating energy pulse. The screen cuts to black and we get a caption: To Be Continued.

For Tonight We May Die, Part One

By Chris Chibnall

So this story would see both plotlines take place again, so I’ll go over them one by one.

The episode opens in utter chaos. The ground beneath UNIT HQ shakes violently as the ancient Xalthorian weapon begins to stir. The Doctor struggles to maintain his balance as walls crack and equipment explodes from electrical overloads. Alarms wail as UNIT soldiers scramble to evacuate.

Desperately working to override the base's lockdown, the Doctor frantically pulls out his sonic screwdriver, bypassing security protocols. “Come on, come on!” he mutters. Finally, the doors open, and he rushes out, dragging General Wilson with him as the ground buckles.

With only minutes left until the weapon fully activates, the Doctor realises that shutting it down from the surface is impossible. “We’ve got to go deeper,” he says, a steely determination in her voice. The Doctor, joined by a team of UNIT soldiers, heads down into the dark, crumbling underground tunnels, racing against time to find the core of the ancient weapon before it unleashes devastation on London.

As they descend, the Doctor uncovers more about the Xalthorian weapon. It’s not just any technology—it’s a doomsday device from an ancient race that once ruled the Earth, a race long forgotten by history. And worse, it’s drawing power from the chaos and violence erupting across the city.

Meanwhile, back in the COBRA war room, Claire and Derek are in a standoff with the traitorous official, who has locked them inside and taken control. The Xalthorian ship continues to pulse energy beams across the city, causing widespread destruction. The Prime Minister, Hugh Preston, is pinned down as the official rants about how the world is doomed, and only a select few will be spared by the Xalthorian overlords.

In the chaos, Claire and Derek exchange a quick look, formulating a silent plan. Claire distracts the official by asking questions, trying to stall him, while Derek sneaks towards the control panel. In a split second, Derek manages to unlock the doors, and Claire lunges at the official. A struggle ensues, but Derek is able to overpower the man and shut off his access to the building’s defence systems.

Just as they think they have a moment of relief, a sudden explosion rocks the building, and the windows shatter as the Xalthorian ship’s energy blast hits close by. Claire, Derek, and the Prime Minister barely manage to escape the room before it collapses. Together with government officials, they flee down into the building’s underground bunker.

Deep underground, the Doctor reaches the core of the ancient weapon, a glowing, pulsating mass of Xalthorian machinery. He quickly realises the scale of the threat—it’s designed to not just destroy London, but to trigger a global chain reaction that will devastate the planet.

But the weapon isn’t just activating on its own; it’s being controlled remotely by the Xalthorian ship above. The Doctor realises he has to sever the connection between the two before the final pulse is unleashed.

Up above, Claire and Derek manage to establish a radio connection with UNIT HQ. They warn the Doctor that the Xalthorian ship is sending out energy beams that seem to feed the weapon’s core.

The Doctor, his mind racing, devises a dangerous plan. “If we can disrupt the power link between the ship and the weapon, we might be able to stop it,” he says. “But that means one of us needs to get aboard that ship.”

Without hesitation, Claire volunteers. Derek, concerned, insists on going with her. The Doctor agrees and relays instructions to UNIT for how to get them aboard the Xalthorian vessel. A daring mission begins, with UNIT deploying a modified aircraft that covertly flies Derek and Claire toward the Xalthorian ship, evading the energy pulses.

Inside the Xalthorian ship, Claire and Derek navigate its strange, otherworldly corridors, dodging hostile Xalthorian guards. They finally reach the control centre, where they find the source of the power transfer. As Claire works to disrupt the connection, Derek fends off the Xalthorians using a weapon they picked up from UNIT.

Back underground, the Doctor, working against the clock, fights to deactivate the core as the ancient weapon surges with energy. The countdown to destruction is nearing its end, and the Doctor knows that if Claire and Derek don’t succeed, there will be no way to stop the weapon from annihilating London—and beyond.

In a tense moment, just as the final pulse is about to be unleashed, Claire manages to sever the power link. The Xalthorian ship begins to falter, losing its ability to control the weapon. The Doctor uses the window of opportunity to shut down the core, moments before it reaches critical mass.

With the power severed, the Xalthorian ship begins to break apart. Claire and Derek narrowly escape via UNIT’s extraction team as the ship plummets into the Thames, exploding in a massive fireball. London, bruised and battered, is saved from total destruction.

Back at UNIT HQ, the Doctor, Claire, and Derek reunite. The Doctor reflects on the ancient race that once sought to use Earth for its own ends and wonders aloud about what other forgotten dangers may still lie buried beneath the surface of the world.

As Claire and Derek recover, the Doctor gets a call from General Wilson: UNIT has detected strange signals in other parts of the world. The Doctor smiles slightly, the glint of adventure returning to his eyes.

“Well,” he says, stepping toward the TARDIS, “looks like our work is never done.”

As the trio steps into the TARDIS, ready for their next adventure, the camera pans back to the smouldering wreckage of the Xalthorian ship in the Thames. A faint, eerie light glows beneath the water. The threat, it seems, may not be over just yet.

The season had a similar reaction to last season with it being very mixed, some fans were let down by the finale a little bit, however it wasn’t seen as a huge deal. The fan favourite story was the two parter The Eternal Evil and Chibnall did confirm he had plans for Deusmaulus in the future.

With the Covid-19 pandemic putting the world to a halt in 2020, it severely affected Doctor Who’s plans for the future: Series One of the CBBC show was part way through Series One’s recording sessions when production was immediately halted.

Olympus’ fourth season was in it’s script development stages, but the new Doctor Who show with restored and animated episodes would be completed through zoom calls and other methods as it was pretty easy to get around.

But this did mean that Season 56’s original plans wouldn’t be going ahead, originally an eight episode season the season’s episode count would be put down to six making it Doctor Who’s shortest ever season.

Thank you to Our Holy Leader Sylvester McCoy on Discord for writing The Eternal Evil and help bring Deusmaulus to life.