Oh my, Harry, look at that – color! Loads of color, from the very start. What do you think of the newly designed titles? Can you imagine how exciting they would have been in 1970?
Harry -
As exciting as our new-look blog! New groovadelic titles, new Doctor, new companion, new hangout, new monsters... everything is new.
Sarah -
Even the format is new. "Spearhead from Space" feels more like a police procedural than an alien invasion story.
Harry -
The fact that the entire story was shot on film and on location lends it a cinematic quality. It's like watching a Doctor Who movie.
Sarah -
We have a strike at the BBC to thank for that!
Harry -
Might as well begin with the beginning. Unlike the Troughton stories we have become so fond of - with their fun, frolicky opening sequences - "Spearhead from Space" begins with a notable lack of fun. We see a concerned UNIT technician at a radar screen as he picks up a strange cluster of objects falling to the Earth. His supervisor questions his findings and there is an instant sense of tension - especially when we get that close up of the techie's sweaty face.
Sarah -
UNIT is immediately reestablished as a centerpiece of the series. There’s one more for the “new” column.
Harry -
Meanwhile, here's something familiar: the TARDIS! It lands in a field, the door opens... and a tall, grey-haired man topples to the ground, unconscious. Ouch. Oh dear, this isn't fun at all.
Sarah -
Good thing those cushioning plants were standing by!
Harry -
At least we have the soothing sounds of a jazz flute to put us at ease as Elizabeth Shaw checks in at UNIT. I love that Liz got her own theme music. And thank goodness the Brigadier is there. Things should get straightened out soon, no?
Sarah -
My faith in the Brig knows no bounds!
The music is perfect for Liz’s introduction, because if there’s one thing she is, it’s cool – cool as a cucumber. Her amused and somewhat incredulous reaction to the Brigadier’s admission that alien life forms have attempted to invade Earth made me love her. No screaming girl, Doctor Elizabeth Shaw is a natural progression from Anne Travers and Zoe Herriot.
Harry -
It's great that she's a sceptic whose opinions won't be influenced by mere military bluster.
There's an impressive maturation to the show here. In addition to the serious tone and refreshing new character, we see a weakened, almost fragile Doctor, not one who immediately leaps into action - although it doesn't take long. When he does leave his hospital bed, he gets put through the ringer right away. He's nearly abducted, he goes on a hair-raising wheelchair ride, and gets shot. Wild!
Sarah -
It’s quite the finish to episode one, isn’t it? And here’s another change – a Doctor who wants to do as many of his own stunts as possible.
Harry -
Well, what do you think of this new Doctor fellow then?
Sarah -
Watching the story, I did my best to put aside all I know about the Third Doctor and try to appreciate Pertwee’s performance as if I were seeing it for the first time.
When he stumbles out of the TARDIS, in the Second Doctor’s clothing – which has somehow magically stretched to fit his taller frame – we can see that this is a new Doctor, but it takes a couple episodes until we get to know him. Other than his conversation with the Brig and Liz, we don’t learn much about this new Doctor in the first episode.
Harry -
The slow reveal does leave us wondering.
Sarah -
I may be projecting, but the scene where the Doctor retrieves the TARDIS key from his shoe felt like a very Troughton-y piece of business.
Harry -
"Shoooes!"
Sarah -
The Third Doctor’s characteristics emerge more from the second episode on and I quite like him. What about you, Harry?
Harry -
I like the very loose concept that each new Doctor is a contrast from the one who came before, both physically and in personality. Once Pertwee's Doctor has recovered, we see a man who is tall and imposing, confident and quick with a quip. He's not content to bide his time in the background. He is a man of action. He is... The Doctor!
I quite like the change. And that number!
Sarah -
He’s all confidence, isn’t he?
Harry -
For me, what I like best about this story is the multi-faceted evil that the Doctor must face. It begins with Channing, who first appears as a silent observer at the hospital, creeping around and glaring at people. It turns out he's more than just a weirdo. He has mental powers that are beyond human, as evidenced by his telepathic hold over Hibbert at the baby doll / plastics factory. Then, there are the Autons. Great bouncing Buddhas, but the Autons scare the hell out of me. It's always that moment - when a mannequin jolts to life - that freaks me out so much. AAAAAAA!
I need a moment. Bear with me please.
Sarah -
I’m not sure that I’ve ever told you, but I’ve always found Autons to be amongst the scariest Doctor Who baddies ever. I nearly squealed with glee and cried with horror when they inaugurated the new series in 2005.
Harry -
OK, so we've seen Channing, we've seen the Autons, but on top of them there is still an even greater, unseen menace. The Doctor and Liz soon piece it together that the meteorites first spotted by the UNIT techie contain elements of a collective consciousness. I really like that kind of Lovecraftian "lurking terror" from the skies - Bob Holmes really did well in creating a slow-building horror here.
Sarah -
It’s quite brilliant how the story builds, adding layers of danger. The establishing shots of the factory where the dolls are made was almost frightening enough for me, but the story keeps piling it on! Speaking of the dolls, I think I had one quite like that back in the day.
Harry -
Evil baby dolls may have destroyed my psyche. Apparently Bob Holmes was no fan of plastics, which is why instead of a furry, lumbering monster, he made plastic into an element of horror for this story.
Sarah -
Turning an everyday object into a monster is always effective.
Harry -
I picked up that bit about Holmes from the entry in Outside In: 160 New Perspectives on 160 Classic Doctor Who Stories by 160 Writers.
This book is acting as a nanny for the time being, while we await the publication of the next volume of commentary and banter from Rob Shearman and Toby Hadoke, who guided us through the Hartnell and Troughton eras.
Sarah -
Not that we’re putting any pressure on Rob and Toby to get the damn book out already…or anything.
Harry -
I couldn't help but be amused by the scene in the wax museum. It opens on a cluster of statues of notable U.S. Presidents. Then the camera pans over to a completely anonymous group of statues. Who are those people? Without batting an eye, Liz reveals that these are top civil servants. Civil servants in a wax museum? Only in Britain! It is, after all, a country where one of the most beloved TV shows was all about civil servants. Hilarious!
Sarah -
That moment made me laugh out loud. “Hey kids, let’s pop down to Madame Tussaud’s and check out the new Ministry of Bridges and Wainscoting Exhibit!”
I found myself quite taken with the Seeleys – they’ve got an important part to play in the story and turn in excellent performances as bickering-but-loving couple. They should have gotten their own series!
Harry -
Ah, Sam and Meg Seeley - what a pair! Salt of the Earth. I'm glad they both survived. Can you imagine a Seeleys’ spinoff series? Sam the poacher eternally getting himself into fixes, with Meg having to save the day. It would be great, if I could only understand what Sam was saying. That has to be the thickest accent in all of Doctor Who.
Sarah -
It would have had a great theme song, wouldn’t it?
Harry -
Imagine them singing a song at the piano, like the opening of All in the Family. Hah!
As we leave the Seeleys to clean up their cottage for now, I've got a great sense of anticipation for Doctor Who moving forward. We've got an interesting new Doctor established, with a sharp new companion and the UNIT lads by his side. At this point, we don't know how long his exile is supposed to last, but he's certainly going to do what he can to get around it.
Sarah -
Thanks to the Brig, he’ll have everything he needs to make it through his exile and prepare for its end – facilities to repair the TARDIS, a proper wardrobe, and an automobile, having taken a shine to driving during his escape from the hospital. He’s a Time Lord who is ready for what lies ahead!
Harry -
"Spearhead from Space" is a fantastic "new Doctor" story and one of my all-time favourites. I can't wait to see what's next!
Best line: "Destroy. Total destruction." Bit harsh!
Favourite moment: The Doctor meets Liz and they hit it off right away.
Lasting image: the Autons come to life.
9/10
Sarah -
Best Line: Liz, to the Brigadier as he is contemplating opening the TARDIS: “I think you should, there might be a policeman locked inside.”
Favorite Moment: The Doctor hiding in plain sight by taking a shower in the Doctor’s lounge, stealing clothes, and then making off with Dr. Beavis’ car.
Lasting Image: The Autons coming to life almost sent me scurrying behind the sofa!
8/10
Our marathon continues with Story #52 - Doctor Who and the Silurians...
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