I think it should be remembered that one of the Silurians - a warlike one that gained control of this particular tribe - released a plague designed to wipe out Humanity... On this level, the Brigadier's actions are quite justified, if brutal.
I love the Silurian design in this one. They nailed it on their first try. The whole peace treaty storyline was great and well handled by the Doctor. A great first outing for the 3rd Doctor! - Corey
I love doctor who and the silurians it is amazing and Liz Shaw is amazing in series 7 of classic doctor who i give it ten out of ten i first watched it all the way through very resaly and I am really excited to visit it again on dvd
This story is always the story I think of when thinking about the current pandemic. It's such a strong story and heavily overlooked because of the other stories in this near perfect season.
The Silurians was originally broadcast from 31 January to 14 March 1970. Fast forward exactly 50 years and that's when the pandemic was really starting to spread. And to top it off, there's the scene where Lawrence refuses to take the injection because he doesn't believe that the epidemic is real.
Your review of this story is very timely, as I just finished watching 'The Silurians' a couple of nights ago (having read the rather different Target novelisation as a boy but never previously seeing the TV version). I found it a very enjoyable story, that avoids the typical "monster invaders of the week" and in some ways gives some sympathy to the Silurians. After hamming it up a bit in 'Spearhead From Space' (excusable with regeneration trauma), Jon Pertwee really slips into his character in this one, setting the template of what we'll come to associate with the Third Doctor. Liz has less to do in this one; she's a good character and a nice change from typical "screaming companion", but I feel the various writers never really grasped how to use her to full potential. The story held my attention throughout, though at seven parts I did feel it could have been tightened to a five parter, as it does take a while to get going in Part 1. I did feel the final part left a few minor loose ends (we never actually get to see the plague being treated, for example). Overall a good story, and one that sticks in the memory, I'd give it an 8.5.
I support the brigaders decision, the silurians had no empathy for even their own, they killed many men already without any hesitation, released a deadly disease to cause genocide and readily accepted murder within their own ranks, then they were happy to murder all life on earth not just humans. It's just that the strategy of randomly bombing seemed kind of ridiculous, how would they know definitively that the silurians had been defeated in the explosions. Should've destroyed them 1 by 1 and made sure of it, they were a literal threat to the entire planet, one that tried almost succeeded in killing everything already.
For me the depth of the support cast is one of the reasons why Season 7 stands out. Here characters like Dr Quinn, Lawson, Lawrence, and more plus the Brigadier himself present a challenge for the Doctor and Liz. Some people love the Cary Blyton soundtrack I find it a bit heavy handed. That said the sound design for the story is top notch from the Radiophonic Workshop. Well balanced story with a nice twist to intensify the final two episodes. Brilliant ending which started light hearted like the opening garage scene before the Doctor and Liz’s final reactions. Major thumb up. 95/100
YES! This is brilliant, it’s almost rare to find top 5-10 lists without this being mentioned. Like that you took note of the Brigadier’s role here, it’s not a surprise he takes action by blowing them up at the end since this is a story by Malcolm Hulke who came from a far left, communist background and projected his views of the military through the Brigadier. It helps too that the Silurians aren’t perfect either; they’re simultaneously aggressive and peaceful creatures and that makes trying to answer the questions posed all the more difficult to answer. As for the mystery when the people start going crazy: it’s been a while since I’ve seen this but I recall that it has to do with the Silurians’ psychic influence. I think they were attacking the base or specific people and it was starting to make some of the humans crack under all the pressure. That whole part of their reawakening early in the story gets lost because of how dense the story is as a whole. Hopefully that makes sense.
Oh, and one thing I like about this story is this unfortunate anecdote about the cave sets. They had commissioned the stalactites and stalagmites from a prop production company who were apparently really good at it, but they were taking a long time to work on them and the props arrived early in the morning on the *first studio day*. The designer, expecting, y’know, proper looking rocks, was shocked to find at 7 am that they delivered flat fiberglass sheets instead. Barry Letts had to call his superiors to explain the emergency; the BBC apparently were way more charitable back then because by 8 they had every available designer clocked in at their studio to work on a new set. By 10 am they had the sets we see now.
Yeah, that makes sense. You’re right, I think I just missed a couple details with that part of the story. Also, wow! That’s crazy how quickly they had to put that set together, it’s hard to imagine having so little time to finish something before filming began.
I haven't seen a lot of Pertwee, only his 2 first stories... but I must say I don't like them... I know a lot of people do but I don't... sadly... I really want to enjoy them tho, hope for the next ones... Yet, great video, again ;)
@@DalamReviews I've started to enjoy them a bit more (not as much as the Hartnell's and Troughton's but still) I think I just needed to get used to it 🤷♀️ Anyway I'm looking forward for your next video 😁😁
@@elgoog-the-third I have finished his run a while back now and I must say that I have grown to appreciate season 7 more now that I've watch more classic who, my opinion on these stories have changed 😁 But yeah they definitely aren't representative of his run, that's for sure!
Off topic- where can I see old episodes of Doctor Who. Netflix had them a few years back then dropped it because the BBC was trying to create their own service. I know Retro has them but I really don't want to mess with that. Just have cable currently.
BritBox has most of Classic Who, it’s 6.99/mo and available in both the US and UK. It’s the least expensive method I know of, I wasn’t able to afford watching the show until they had it. But if your only method is cable, then sadly I wouldn’t know.
Everyone: Jon Pertwee is the James Bond of doctors
The Third Doctor: Sits in a lab and creates a cure for a deadly disease for a few episodes
I’m so glad you said this
I think he's more of a cross between james bond and sherlock holmes
I think it should be remembered that one of the Silurians - a warlike one that gained control of this particular tribe - released a plague designed to wipe out Humanity... On this level, the Brigadier's actions are quite justified, if brutal.
From Autons to Silurians! :O Love this story!! :D Great review! :)
I love the Silurian design in this one. They nailed it on their first try. The whole peace treaty storyline was great and well handled by the Doctor. A great first outing for the 3rd Doctor! - Corey
Oh absolutely, I love seeing The Doctor try his absolute best to get everything to work in this story
I love doctor who and the silurians it is amazing and Liz Shaw is amazing in series 7 of classic doctor who i give it ten out of ten i first watched it all the way through very resaly and I am really excited to visit it again on dvd
Great review! You are extremely underrated!
Thank you! :)
Quite a good story, creating another iconic foe which has survived the test of time; (no pun intended).
This story is always the story I think of when thinking about the current pandemic. It's such a strong story and heavily overlooked because of the other stories in this near perfect season.
Oh, absolutely. And yeah, people don’t give this one as much credit as it probably deserves, very good stuff
The Silurians was originally broadcast from 31 January to 14 March 1970. Fast forward exactly 50 years and that's when the pandemic was really starting to spread. And to top it off, there's the scene where Lawrence refuses to take the injection because he doesn't believe that the epidemic is real.
Your review of this story is very timely, as I just finished watching 'The Silurians' a couple of nights ago (having read the rather different Target novelisation as a boy but never previously seeing the TV version). I found it a very enjoyable story, that avoids the typical "monster invaders of the week" and in some ways gives some sympathy to the Silurians.
After hamming it up a bit in 'Spearhead From Space' (excusable with regeneration trauma), Jon Pertwee really slips into his character in this one, setting the template of what we'll come to associate with the Third Doctor. Liz has less to do in this one; she's a good character and a nice change from typical "screaming companion", but I feel the various writers never really grasped how to use her to full potential.
The story held my attention throughout, though at seven parts I did feel it could have been tightened to a five parter, as it does take a while to get going in Part 1. I did feel the final part left a few minor loose ends (we never actually get to see the plague being treated, for example). Overall a good story, and one that sticks in the memory, I'd give it an 8.5.
I definitely agree on this one, there's a couple areas this serial could've improved on, but the majority of it is thoroughly entertaining
I support the brigaders decision, the silurians had no empathy for even their own, they killed many men already without any hesitation, released a deadly disease to cause genocide and readily accepted murder within their own ranks, then they were happy to murder all life on earth not just humans. It's just that the strategy of randomly bombing seemed kind of ridiculous, how would they know definitively that the silurians had been defeated in the explosions. Should've destroyed them 1 by 1 and made sure of it, they were a literal threat to the entire planet, one that tried almost succeeded in killing everything already.
For me the depth of the support cast is one of the reasons why Season 7 stands out. Here characters like Dr Quinn, Lawson, Lawrence, and more plus the Brigadier himself present a challenge for the Doctor and Liz. Some people love the Cary Blyton soundtrack I find it a bit heavy handed. That said the sound design for the story is top notch from the Radiophonic Workshop. Well balanced story with a nice twist to intensify the final two episodes. Brilliant ending which started light hearted like the opening garage scene before the Doctor and Liz’s final reactions. Major thumb up. 95/100
Race memory malaise in The Silurians is explained in the original Target novel of the story.
YES! This is brilliant, it’s almost rare to find top 5-10 lists without this being mentioned. Like that you took note of the Brigadier’s role here, it’s not a surprise he takes action by blowing them up at the end since this is a story by Malcolm Hulke who came from a far left, communist background and projected his views of the military through the Brigadier. It helps too that the Silurians aren’t perfect either; they’re simultaneously aggressive and peaceful creatures and that makes trying to answer the questions posed all the more difficult to answer.
As for the mystery when the people start going crazy: it’s been a while since I’ve seen this but I recall that it has to do with the Silurians’ psychic influence. I think they were attacking the base or specific people and it was starting to make some of the humans crack under all the pressure. That whole part of their reawakening early in the story gets lost because of how dense the story is as a whole. Hopefully that makes sense.
Oh, and one thing I like about this story is this unfortunate anecdote about the cave sets. They had commissioned the stalactites and stalagmites from a prop production company who were apparently really good at it, but they were taking a long time to work on them and the props arrived early in the morning on the *first studio day*. The designer, expecting, y’know, proper looking rocks, was shocked to find at 7 am that they delivered flat fiberglass sheets instead. Barry Letts had to call his superiors to explain the emergency; the BBC apparently were way more charitable back then because by 8 they had every available designer clocked in at their studio to work on a new set. By 10 am they had the sets we see now.
Yeah, that makes sense. You’re right, I think I just missed a couple details with that part of the story. Also, wow! That’s crazy how quickly they had to put that set together, it’s hard to imagine having so little time to finish something before filming began.
I like Doctor Who and the Silurians
9/10
I haven't seen a lot of Pertwee, only his 2 first stories... but I must say I don't like them... I know a lot of people do but I don't... sadly...
I really want to enjoy them tho, hope for the next ones...
Yet, great video, again ;)
This is a fair take! Hopefully he has some stories for you, and if not that's absolutely fine as you're entitled to your opinion. :) And thank you!
@@DalamReviews I've started to enjoy them a bit more (not as much as the Hartnell's and Troughton's but still) I think I just needed to get used to it 🤷♀️
Anyway I'm looking forward for your next video 😁😁
@@amorferam5704 I'm glad to hear that, and thank you! I'll have a ranking video Sunday, then it's back to the Classic Who reviews :)
@@elgoog-the-third I have finished his run a while back now and I must say that I have grown to appreciate season 7 more now that I've watch more classic who, my opinion on these stories have changed 😁
But yeah they definitely aren't representative of his run, that's for sure!
Off topic- where can I see old episodes of Doctor Who. Netflix had them a few years back then dropped it because the BBC was trying to create their own service. I know Retro has them but I really don't want to mess with that. Just have cable currently.
BritBox has most of Classic Who, it’s 6.99/mo and available in both the US and UK. It’s the least expensive method I know of, I wasn’t able to afford watching the show until they had it. But if your only method is cable, then sadly I wouldn’t know.
Why’s the Ambassador of Death set to private?
It’s out now, I (almost) always release the classic reviews on Sunday :)