3) The Three Doctors
This is the original multi-Doctor story.
For Doctor Who‘s 1oth anniversary in 1973, the writers decided it would be a fun idea to have Jon Pertwee’s reigning Doctor paired up with Patrick Troughton and William Hartnell’s versions. The results were as awesome as that sounds and a new tradition for the show was born.
Pertwee and Troughton are a wonderful double act and the finest Doctor pairing we had until David Tennant and Matt Smith. Despite being – or perhaps because they are – the same person, the duo can’t agree on anything and their bickering and constant irritation with the other is hilarious. Due to illness, Hartnell couldn’t appear in the flesh but his pre-filmed scenes – received on the TARDIS scanner – paint the First Doctor as Two and Three’s wise, wizard-like uncle.
The story is also a belter. The two Doctors are pitched together by the Time Lords to face Omega, the founder of Time Lord society who’s been driven mad by spending millennia trapped in an anti-matter world located in a black hole (what? You can’t expect proper science from Doctor Who).
2) The Five Doctors
It’s a very tough call but, on this occasion, we’re going for “The Five Doctors” over “The Three Doctors.” If nothing else, there’s just more Doctors on show and more history to celebrate. As opposed to the 10th anniversary’s traditional four-parter structure, “Five” aired as one special 90 minute TV movie on November 23rd, 1988 to celebrate Doctor Who‘s 20th birthday.
Serving Doctor Peter Davison was joined by Patrick Troughton and Jon Pertwee – the undisputed kings of the multi-Doctor story – and Richard Hurndall, filling in for the late Hartnell. Tom Baker unfortunately only appeared via archival footage. However, there were more than enough cameos to make up for his absence, as endless companions, including Elisabeth Sladen’s Sarah Jane Smith, a troop of Cybermen, the Master and a Dalek all got in on the action.
In a neat counterpart to “The Three Doctors,” “Five” sees the assembled Doctors travel to The Tomb of Rassilon – the last resting place of the other founder of the Time Lords – where it’s said lies the secret to true immortality. They aren’t trying to steal it for themselves, of course, but to stop a corrupt Gallifreyan official for getting his hands on it. Lots of Doctors, companions, monsters and a grand quest – what more could you want from a Doctor Who birthday party?