Doctor Who

Season 3

1965 45 Episodes

At twelve episodes, The Daleks' Master Plan was the longest story in the show's history until superseded by the fourteen-episode The Trial of a Time Lord in 1986. The season also had the greatest number of different companions (seven) and producers (three). This was the longest season in the history of the franchise to date, at 45 episodes. It also featured the first appearance of actor Nicholas Courtney, although not in his most famous role as the Brigadier. The Daleks' Master Plan also saw the return of Peter Butterworth as the Monk, who became the second Doctor Who enemy to make a return (after the Daleks themselves) to the show. This was also the season of The War Machines, to date the only televised story in which the taboo of never referring to the Doctor directly by the name "Doctor Who" is broken, with the exception of Missy's teasing in World Enough and Time.

Episode 1
E1

Four Hundred Dawns

25 min Sep 11, 1965 6.0

After an encounter with a hostile robot called a Chumblie, the Doctor and his companions are rescued by a group of female Drahvins.

Episode 2
E2

Trap of Steel

25 min Sep 18, 1965 5.8

With the knowledge that the planet will be destroyed in two days, the Drahvins instruct the Doctor to help them steal the Rills' ship.

Episode 3
E3

Air Lock

24 min Sep 25, 1965 5.5

The Doctor and Vicki encounter the Rills and learn the situation is more complex than they thought while Steven finds the Drahvins' hospitality ever more perilous.

Episode 4
E4

The Exploding Planet

25 min Oct 02, 1965 6.0

The Doctor and Vicki enlist the aid of the Chumblies to rescue Steven from the Drahvins and then find a way off the planet before its destruction.

Episode 5
E5

Mission to the Unknown

25 min Oct 09, 1965 6.7

Whilst The Doctor, Steven and Vicki are traveling to their next destination. On the planet Kembel, Marc Cory, a Space Security Service agent discovers The Daleks are attending a secret meeting with their allies. Where Cory discovers the Dalek's evil plan, which sets the stage for the epic 12-part adventure "The Dalek Master Plan".

Episode 6
E6

Temple of Secrets

25 min Oct 16, 1965 6.2

The TARDIS lands in the middle of the Trojan War, where the Doctor is mistaken for the god Zeus.

Episode 7
E7

Small Prophet, Quick Return

25 min Oct 23, 1965 5.8

While Odysseus forces the Doctor to find a way to win the war, Steven decides to get himself taken prisoner in order to enter Troy and find Vicki and the TARDIS.

Episode 8
E8

Death of a Spy

25 min Oct 30, 1965 6.2

With Steven and Vicki being held prisoner by the Trojans, the Doctor's only hope of seeing them again is to suggest the idea of the Trojan Horse.

Episode 9
E9

Horse of Destruction

25 min Nov 06, 1965 6.0

The Doctor waits inside the Trojan Horse for a chance to reach his companions but Steven's assumed identity as a Greek soldier and Vicki's growing feelings for Troilus endanger their escape.

Episode 10
E10

The Nightmare Begins

25 min Nov 13, 1965 7.6

The Doctor runs afoul of the Daleks and Special Security Agent Bret Vyon on the planet Kembel.

Episode 11
E11

Day of Armageddon

24 min Nov 20, 1965 7.0

The Doctor infiltrates the Daleks' conference to try and discover their plans, leaving Steven, Katarina and Bret to find a way off the planet.

Episode 12
E12

Devil's Planet

25 min Nov 27, 1965 7.2

The Doctor and his friends escape Kembel in the Spar ship but the Daleks force them down on the planet Desperus, where they are threatened by a group of convicts.

Episode 13
E13

The Traitors

25 min Dec 04, 1965 7.4

With Katarina being held hostage, the Doctor, Steven and Bret are in danger of having to given in to Kirksen's demands, while, on Earth, Chen has them listed as traitors.

Episode 14
E14

Counter Plot

24 min Dec 11, 1965 6.6

The Doctor, Steven and Sara are accidentally transported to the planet Mira where Chen sends the Daleks after them.

Episode 15
E15

Coronas of the Sun

25 min Dec 18, 1965 6.8

The Doctor, Steven and Sara escape Mira in a Dalek pursuit ship but when they find the ship is returning to Kembel, they are forced to come up with a new plan to avoid the Daleks.

Episode 16
E16

The Feast of Steven

25 min Dec 25, 1965 5.6

The Doctor, Steven and Sara visit a Liverpool police station on Christmas Day and a Hollywood film set during the 1920s.

Episode 17
E17

Volcano

25 min Jan 01, 1966 6.6

The Daleks realise the Doctor has given them a fake Taranium Core while, on the planet Tigus, the Doctor encounters the Meddling Monk.

Episode 18
E18

Golden Death

25 min Jan 08, 1966 6.6

The Doctor, Steven and Sara travel to Ancient Egypt, pursued by both the Daleks and the Meddling Monk.

Episode 19
E19

Escape Switch

24 min Jan 15, 1966 6.2

Steven, Sara and the Monk are captured by the Daleks in order to force the Doctor to hand over the Taranium Core.

Episode 20
E20

The Abandoned Planet

25 min Jan 22, 1966 6.8

The Doctor, Steven and Sara reach Kembel where they find the Daleks have betrayed their allies and imprisoned them.

Episode 21
E21

Destruction of Time

25 min Jan 29, 1966 7.6

With the Daleks poised to invade the solar system, the Doctor decides his only option is to activate the Time Destructor prematurely, threatening the entire planet.

Episode 22
E22

War of God

25 min Feb 05, 1966 7.0

The TARDIS lands in sixteenth century Paris and Steven becomes involved with a group of Huguenots.

Episode 23
E23

The Sea Beggar

25 min Feb 12, 1966 6.6

While trying to find the Doctor, Steven discovers a conspiracy to assassinate a man known as the Sea Beggar.

Episode 24
E24

Priest of Death

25 min Feb 19, 1966 6.8

Steven has discovered the identity of the Sea Beggar, but can he warn the Huguenots in time?

Episode 25
E25

Bell of Doom

25 min Feb 26, 1966 7.2

Steven rejoins the Doctor and they leave Paris just ahead of the massacre, leaving Anne behind.

Episode 26
E26

The Steel Sky

24 min Mar 05, 1966 6.0

The Doctor, Steven and Dodo arrive on a giant spaceship millions of years in the future, transporting the last humans away from the doomed Earth.

Episode 27
E27

The Plague

25 min Mar 12, 1966 6.0

With the Ark infected with a cold virus, the Doctor must convince the Guardians to trust him so he can find a cure.

Episode 28
E28

The Return

24 min Mar 19, 1966 6.2

The Doctor, Steven and Dodo have travelled 700 years into the future and find that the Ark is now under the control of the Monoids as it approaches Refusis.

Episode 29
E29

The Bomb

25 min Mar 26, 1966 5.5

The Monoids abandon the Ark, leaving Steven and the Guardians to die, but a mutiny in their ranks may give the Doctor a chance to bring about peace.

Episode 30
E30

The Celestial Toyroom

25 min Apr 02, 1966 5.8

The Doctor, Steven and Dodo arrive in the realms of the Celestial Toymaker, who forces them to play his deadly games.

Episode 31
E31

The Hall of Dolls

25 min Apr 09, 1966 5.2

While the Doctor continues to play the Trilogic Game with the Toymaker, Steven and Dodo are involved in a deadly game of musical chairs.

Episode 32
E32

The Dancing Floor

25 min Apr 16, 1966 5.2

Steven and Dodo are forced to cross the dancing floor, where the Toymaker's dolls plan to force them to dance for eternity.

Episode 33
E33

The Final Test

24 min Apr 23, 1966 5.8

As the Doctor nears the end of his game against the Toymaker, Steven and Dodo take on Cyril in a lethal game of hopscotch to try and recover the TARDIS.

Episode 34
E34

A Holiday for the Doctor

24 min Apr 30, 1966 5.8

The TARDIS arrives in Tombstone, Arizona in 1891. Where the Doctor is looking for a dentist when he has a toothache, where The Doctor finds the local dentist is the famous Doc Holliday who is in a feud with The Clanton Brothers and their hired gunfighter Johnny Ringo, whilst local sheriff Wyatt Earp is trying to keep the peace. The Doctor, Steven and Dodo find themselves joining forces with The Clanton Brothers and Sheriff Wyatt Earp.

Episode 35
E35

Don't Shoot the Pianist

24 min May 07, 1966 6.5

With the Clantons believing the Doctor to be Doc Holliday, Wyatt Earp takes him into protective custody but this leaves Steven and Dodo in danger.

Episode 36
E36

Johnny Ringo

25 min May 14, 1966 6.8

Earp comes to Steven's rescue and arrests Phineas Clanton, prompting the Clantons to decide to enlist the help of Johnny Ringo.

Episode 37
E37

The O.K. Corral

24 min May 21, 1966 6.0

The Clantons have shot Warren Earp, leading to a showdown between the two families with the Doctor powerless to prevent bloodshed.

Episode 38
E38

The Savages (1)

25 min May 28, 1966 5.8

The Doctor, Steven and Dodo arrive in the far future and are welcomed by the advanced civilisation of the Elders but soon begin to suspect they are hiding a secret.

Episode 39
E39

The Savages (2)

25 min Jun 04, 1966 6.0

The Doctor, Steven and Dodo investigate why there are Savages in the Elders' city and uncover the true price of the Elders' perfect society.

Episode 40
E40

The Savages (3)

25 min Jun 11, 1966 5.8

The Doctor has been subjected to the Elders' extraction process and Steven and Dodo must return to their city to rescue him.

Episode 41
E41

The Savages (4)

25 min Jun 18, 1966 5.8

The Doctor urges the Savages to finally bring an end to the Elders' oppression and enlists the help of an unlikely ally.

Episode 42
E42

The War Machines (1)

24 min Jun 25, 1966 7.3

The Doctor and Dodo return to London in the present day where the Doctor becomes concerned about WOTAN, a new super-computer installed in the Post Officer Tower.

Episode 43
E43

The War Machines (2)

24 min Jul 02, 1966 6.8

Dodo is under the control of WOTAN and attempts to lure the Doctor into a trap, while the rest of WOTAN's slaves begin construction on its robotic War Machines.

Episode 44
E44

The War Machines (3)

24 min Jul 09, 1966 7.0

Ben tries to escape from the warehouse but is captured by Polly, who is now also under WOTAN's control, and forced to work on construction the War Machine.

Episode 45
E45

The War Machines (4)

23 min Jul 16, 1966 7.2

The first War Machine is defeated but the Doctor only has a matter of hours to destroy WOTAN before the rest of its army is activated.