Story #52 - Doctor Who and the Silurians (1970)

Harry -
I have to admit right off the start, Sarah, I have a lot of love for this story. It contains many of my favourite elements for a Doctor Who adventure. One could argue it sets the template for many more stories to come in this era.


Sarah -
One of my favorite things about the story is that it's an entirely new premise. We've seen alien invasions/base under siege stories. We've seen the Doctor and his companions visit other times and places. In "Doctor Who and the Silurians", we encounter aliens who aren't really aliens -- they were here first! The humans are the invaders!


Harry -
"This planet is ours. It always has been."

Nice role-reversal. Malcolm Hulke takes that premise and lets us view it from many different angles: UNIT sees the Silurians as a threat to be eliminated; the Doctor and Liz see an intelligent civilization to be treated respectfully; the scientists and civil servants see an unforeseen development that must be managed to their advantage. Even within the handful of Silurians, there are peacemakers and warmongers. So many shades of grey, so many bad decisions being made.


Sarah -
So very many shades of grey! This is such a nuanced and grown-up story. I can't imagine watching it as a child and appreciating much more than the cool Silurian costumes and third eyes.

Speaking of Silurian third eyes, they seem to be more useful than a sonic screwdriver. Is there anything they can't do?


Harry -
Oh dear, you have to feel bad for the Second Doctor. He always wanted to meet prehistoric monsters - and who does the Third Doctor encounter in only his second adventure? The Silurians and their giant dino-watchdog. Prehistoric monsters! Somewhere deep within the Doctor's psyche, you can picture his previous incarnation pouting, arms crossed, stamping a foot and spitting out a Troughtony profanity like "Crumbs!"


Sarah -
What a great image!


Harry -
I touched on some of the general characterizations in this story, but the characters themselves are wonderful. I love - LOVE - Peter Miles as the neo-fascist director of the facility. Dr. Lawrence and his comb-over of death - what a truly awful person.


Sarah -
Such a hideous, petty, dictatorial, self-serving bureaucrat. Miles’ performance is brilliant. The scene where he lunges for the Brig is so startling. In the end, of course, karma has its way with Dr. Lawrence. He really should have gotten the anti-viral inoculation.


Harry -
That was an epic death scene.  Then there's Quinn and his frustrated accomplice Miss Dawson. One of them sees the Silurians as something to exploit for his personal gain, the other sees them as something to annihilate.


Sarah -
I positively adored Fulton Mackay’s performance as Dr. Quinn. His smooth exterior never cracked and made me think of a line from a Billy Bragg song: “He’s got the bonhomie of a game show host.” Yet another in a long line of scientists who think they can control alien forces, his downfall is inevitable.

It was also fun to see the brilliant Geoffrey Palmer as Masters, the Permanent Under Secretary. His introduction the Doctor was one of my favorite exchanges:

Dr. Lawrence: "This is the Permanent Under Secretary."
The Doctor: "Yes, well, I've got no time to talk to under secretaries – permanent or otherwise."
Masters: "May I ask who you are?"
The Doctor: "You may ask!"


Harry -
Burn!

Another thing I like about these early UNIT stories is the array of officers we only meet once - like Captain Hawkins - before presumably they are reassigned somewhere else.


Sarah -
This story took it’s toll on the UNIT forces, didn’t it? I wasn’t keeping track, but it seemed they lost so many soldiers along the way.


Harry -
It was funny early on because virtually everybody except UNIT managed to slip down to the caves. Then UNIT went charging in and promptly got themselves trapped, complete with comedy music.

A brief aside on the subject of music.  I'm loving the hints of experimental scores that are to come in the Pertwee era. Granted, I'm not a big fan of the kazoo music that we hear each time the Silurians appear, but I like the thinking outside the box. I know there's a name for that instrument, and it harkens back to ancient times, but it's slipped my mind at the moment.


Sarah -
The Silurians' kazoo theme may just have been my least-favorite part of the entire story. It was so grating.


Harry -
Back to the story. I credit the Doctor for having the naivety to believe that these two endlessly squabbling civilizations could ever agree to share the planet. It was a characteristic moment when he extended his hand in friendship when confronted by the wounded Silurian (and could they not have had proper names?! "Old Silurian" and "Young Silurian" is something only those arrogant apes above ground would have come up with).


Sarah -
It was naïve, wasn’t it? Still, the ethical debate between the Doctor and the Brigadier was a pivotal scene. How did you feel about the Brig misleading the Doctor on what would happen to the Silurians?


Harry -
We have such warm, nostalgic feelings for the Brig these days that it's shocking to see him in this story. Barging around, upbraiding people left and right, shooting a Silurian, and ordering what is essentially a holocaust. I'll admit right now that my lasting image selection will be the mushroom cloud rising up from the destroyed caves. A freaking mushroom cloud! Alistair how could you?


Sarah -
He is a military man, through and through. There are many moments of tension between the Doctor and the Brig as they jockey for power. The Doctor isn't inclined to have someone else in charge -- and neither is the Brig.


Harry -
It was a shocking end to a very grown up story. The issues, the characters, and the portrayal of the Doctor as a determined peacemaker - something we haven't seen since he negotiated a peaceful settlement between humans and the chameleons in "The Faceless Ones."


Sarah -
One more slight complaint. I have to admit I was a bit disappointed in Liz's character development. In the early episodes, the brilliant Dr. Elizabeth Shaw has become "Miss Shaw" in a miniskirt. She finally gets to do science stuff later in the story and stands up the Brig with, "I'm a scientist, not an office boy." But the change is disappointing after her first story.


Harry -
For a seven-parter, it moved pretty quickly apart from Episode Six, which was a series of recurring set pieces: the Doctor in the laboratory working on an antidote; the Brigadier in his makeshift office working the phones; and Liz shuttling between the two. It's boring, but forgivable in that these scenes were meant to show the passing of time. Am I becoming a Malcolm Hulke apologist? Hah!


Sarah -
It's hard to make doing science terribly exciting, isn't it? The contemporary Doctors would just know the answer and be all smug about it. The Third Doctor needs to get there -- no matter how long it takes!


Harry -
I suppose, dear Sarah, you should ask how I feel after we've watched our tenth Pertwee six-parter.


Sarah -
I must admit that I did find myself thinking that it could have been an episode or two shorter.


Harry -
Another pair of seven-parters are straight ahead. Shall we wrap this one up and move on, whilst shaking our heads at the Brigadier?

Best Line: "I take it you're another member of the UNIT team?" "Yes, depressing isn't it?" Oh snap, Doctor!

Favourite Moment: the Doctor extends his hand in friendship to the wounded Silurian.

Lasting Image: the mushroom cloud.

8/10


Sarah -
Best Line: “That’s typical of the military mind, isn’t it? Present them with a new problem and they start shooting at it.”

Favorite Moment: Liz standing up to the Brig.

Lasting Image: The Doctor and the Brig driving in Bessie. It made me giggle.

7/10

Our marathon continues with Story #53: The Ambassadors of Death...

Story #51 - Spearhead From Space (1970)

Sarah -
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...

The Troughton Era - Final Thoughts

Harry -
Here we are, Sarah. A new year, and a new Doctor awaits us on this marathon.


Sarah -
I'm still basking in the glory of having reached our goal of finishing the Troughton era by year's end!


Harry -
Before we forge ahead, shall we have a few final thoughts on the Troughton era?


Sarah -
Oh yes, let's!


Harry -
It's a given that the Troughton era begins with his regeneration into the Second Doctor, but that moment is critical to the development of the character. The footage is lost, but we hear him say "It's over," with an almost devilish chuckle. The regeneration has worked and he's delighted.  Death has been thwarted.  He knows he has many lives and many more years ahead of him. I think this lends itself to the cheery and free-spirited Doctor that would be portrayed by Patrick Troughton.

No longer gruff and grandfatherly, the Doctor transforms himself into an enthusiastic schoolmaster or favourite uncle, leading his companions by the hand, off on another adventure. That's how almost all of his stories started, anyway. It was practically a template: TARDIS lands, Doctor and friends emerge, have a bit of fun, then the seriousness begins.

That's one of the things that I'll remember about the Troughton era. His stories always began with a sense of fun.


Sarah -
Loads of fun!

The general sense of fun is one of my favorite things about the era. The First Doctor could often be amusing, but his era lacks the joyful feeling of the Second Doctor.

Another change is the shift away from historicals toward more science fiction and, of course, loads of monsters. While the series will often find itself dipping into history, the emphasis on historical stories was never very strong from the Second Doctor on. One could argue that the Troughton era was when Doctor Who decisively became a science fiction series.

Also, I like monsters! What about you, Harry?


Harry -
I love some of the monsters this Doctor confronted. The Cybermen carried over from the Hartnell era, but the Second Doctor faced them no fewer than four times.


Sarah -
He's the Doctor I always most associate with the Cybermen.


Harry -
There were a couple of cracking Dalek stories too, and a bevy of new terrors from beyond. The Ice Warriors, the Macra and the Great Intelligence are menaces we have not seen the last of. To be fair, there were a couple of one offs that didn't work. The Quarks and Krotons were a flop, as were the chameleon beings in "The Faceless Ones." Gosh that one seems so long ago already.


Sarah -
Doesn't it though? Pauline Collins' Samantha Briggs is what I will probably remember most about that story.


Harry -
The swing from historicals to monsters-besieging-bases made Doctor Who both scarier and more fun. And I hope, someday, that the Doctor will get his wish and encounter... PREHISTORIC MONSTERS!


Sarah -
One can hope!


Harry -
It's a bit silly, but I'm finding it hard to let go of Patrick Troughton. He has shot up my informal ranking of the Doctors and I hope someday to be a mad, delightful uncle in his mold!


Sarah -
I'd say you're off to a good start, Old Boy.


Harry -
In the late 60s, the production crew took big steps forward in things like location filming, incidental music, and overall fun. But there are even bigger changes right around the next corner.


Sarah -
If you're going to be a Doctor Who fan, you've got to embrace change. It's the only constant.


Harry -
Unfortunately, we'll be without our friendly guides Rob and Toby for a spell. Volume One of Running Through Corridors comes to an end here, and Volume Two is not yet published. Can we forge ahead without them, Sarah?

Sarah -
I believe we can. I'm sure they'll catch up soon. Grab my hand, Harry. When I say run... RUN!