This is my absolute personal favourite era in Dr Who: Pertwee on Earth with UNIT, especially with the introduction of Roger Delgado's definitive Master. Wonderful stuff.
This is the only classic Doctor Who story that can be watched in True HD, and that is definitely noticeable. Visually this is the best looking Classic Doctor Who story ever in my opinion. The blu-ray release of this story is gorgeous looking!
It's hard to overstate just how big of a change all of this was. I mean they essentially wrote the TARDIS out of the show for goodness sake, the thing that was the original core premise. It was a big risk
That "tentacled squid" Nestene was the result of a comparatively late change. The original design had Pertwee wrestling with what looked like a giant condom.
This is my top classic Who story. Maybe because its all shot on film and its my first definte WHO memory of seeing pertwee in the wheelchair escaping from the auton ambulance crew. Also Ranson to me looks like ayoung Tony Blair
I actually went to a halloween party dressed in a blue boiler suit and plastic mask with a badge saying “Joe”, I did have to explain the joke to s few people. Btw Jon Pertwee trained in Aikido for his part with the Late Technical Director of what is now the British Aikido Federation
I won't say how much further ahead I am with regards to these videos. Basically, I currently have more time to watch than I do to film so the watching is ahead of the filming. Not by loads though, I'm still on Pertwee...
Spearhead is one of those episodes I have reevaluated so many times over the years. My first PBS recorded tape of Who had The Five Doctors on it, so I was already familiar with Pertwee when our local PBS looped back from the then current airing of season 21 back to season 7. Spearhead always looked so odd and unsettling when we first recorded it, being on film rather than the video tape quality I was more familiar with, and the autons and Channing were very terrifying and effective. However, my child self would often skip over this story to jump to my personal favorite of The Silurians. But as I grew older, Pertwee kept climbing higher and higher in my favorites, and that brought me back around to Spearhead with a new appreciation.
I think it's so shockingly (not in the negative way) different that it can serve to unsettle a little bit. Not in a way that means it's unlikeable necessarily, but I can see that it would take some getting used to. I first watched it in isolation so it was just 'another Doctor Who story' to me as a kid but when I do marathons I can appreciate its impact far more
Although I have very sketchy memories of The Mind Robber and The War Games, Spearhead was the story where I became a fan of the show. To the 8 year old me in 1970, Jon Pertwee was the perfect Doctor. Now I’m almost 62, and he still is. Serious, intense, authoritative, but not without a sense of humour, JP is everything I want in a Doctor.
This is went I started watching as a kid. At the time knowing only knowing Pert wee as the doctor.He is why I loved the show it as been years since I watched this .Afraid that it would not compare against Today's WHO. It was brilliant Pert wee is still my Doctor
Spearhead is where Robert Holmes proved he really got Doctor Who. He was the perfect writer to transition to a new era. Also it has that sort of cinematic quality due to it all being on film. Great stuff!
Interesting, I actually think he demonstrated a decent grasp in his Season 6 stories, even if they were a bit lacking in other departments. But here I think it's a case of him getting the show and the producers really getting him, so his contributions from this point on work in a way those previous 2 stories may not do...
@@chris_stokes that's true. I think there's flashes in his first two stories but neither really did it for me. This one just works but I think he also benefited massively from the new format for a while.
I have a pretty special relationship with this one. And it's not because of the amazing script, performances, chemistry, the super creepy Autons (who never look this good ever again), it's simply because this was my introduction to Jon Pertwee's Doctor. How is this you ask, when you consider I can't possibly be old enough to have seen it on first transmission...? (I assume you did think that, because I'm not!) Back in '88, when I was getting into Who proper, Spearhead came out on VHS (omnibus edition, mind, and yes I did buy the uncut version a couple of years later), and to this day whenever I see the cover, I go on pure nostalgia overload. As for 'unhand me, madam', I'll raise you 'shoes, must find my shoes'. Love, love, love. Also, is it just me, or is Liz at this point more or less a copy of Anne? A look at what might have been had Anne stuck around? (Liz's introduction to the Doctor and the Brig notwithstanding.) - AFA
I think this story is very much a statement of intent rather than a great story for me, but it lays all the ground work for the era going forward. I really love this era although I didn’t when I was younger.
The last minute change to filming this story on location (instead of videotape within the studio) probably resulted in a little of the awkwardness you sense in this story. But it’s a tantalizing peek at what could have been had this production approach been retained moving forward. Imagine having the entire Pertwee (and Baker) era on high definition film instead of standard definition videotape.
Going from black and white to colour must have been quite a treat Its remarkable how a colour can change a story. It reminds me of an interesting story i picked up many years ago. Apparently when in production of “the happiness patrol” it was intended to be a film noire style and was going to be intentionally black and white ( which is why the costumes and sets are somewhat bright colours to help give the grey contrasts). However they decided it maybe a risk. After hearing this I adjusted my T V so i could watch it in Black and White and I found it really changed my viewing.
It's due to go up on Monday but I sort of admit in my Ambassadors of Death video that I always get tempted to continue the whole marathon in black and white once I finish The War Games...
I've only gone through the classic era once so far, but my feelings on the Pertwee era mirror yours. I think it boasts some of the show's strongest and most consistent writing, fronted by a Doctor I like but don't love.
Spearhead is a weird one - as a statement of intent for a new era it's great, as an actual narrative the parts are better than the whole. Mind you Pertwee's first season is a weird one - very dark and apocalyptic in a way the rest of his era mostly wouldn't be - very Doctor Who Does Quatermass. Liz is a great character that the series doesn't seem to know what to do with. It's all very conspiracy thriller, X Files etc etc. I think there's some great stuff here, but you can see why they pivoted to a more comic book glam rock tone!
I rate this story just the same. But it's possibly because the first three episodes move at the pace of The War Games -- epic and lovely-- but then the last one does the opposite of every Troughton era episode except perhaps the Tomb of the Cybermen and part six of Enemy of the World-- it rockets! It's the last three episodes of a 60s Who six-parter in one. While some people love that, i find it both exciting and a bit messy. It's all big set pieces and several aren't great. Famously one feels really ridiculous-- a bit better than just a few years earlier with WOTAN and Sea People and Macra -- but it's so fast you don't have to notice that much. If you don't want to, that is. For stylish new eras of Who season opening stories, i rate it high, but Leisure Hive and Deep Breath I rate just a tad higher.
3 minutes in and I'm not listening to whatever you're saying - but wondering "Has Chris dislocated his shoulder?" Boy that looks an uncomfortable stance. The Autons coming to life and smashing through shop windows is actually one of the most mis-remembered things about the series, and doesn't actually happen until Rose. Clever footage and sound effects was all that was needed in late 69 when filmed. They may have created the moment in Thirty years in the TARDIS documentary though.
Yes I think they did do it in 30 Years in the TARDIS. Not that it's a massive shame they couldn't do it in Spearhead, there's still the impact of them walking the streets and gunning people down, which does pack a punch.
I have a pretty special relationship with this one. And it's not because of the amazing script, performances, chemistry, the super creepy Autons (who never look this good ever again), it's simply because this was my introduction to Jon Pertwee's Doctor. How is this you ask, when you consider I can't possibly be old enough to have seen it on first transmission...? (I assume you did think that, because I'm not!) Back in '88, when I was getting into Who proper, Spearhead came out on VHS (omnibus edition, mind, and yes I did buy the uncut version a couple of years later), and to this day whenever I see the cover, I go on pure nostalgia overload. As for 'unhand me, madam', I'll raise you 'shoes, must find my shoes'. Love, love, love. Also, is it just me, or is Liz at this point more or less a copy of Anne? A look at what might have been had Anne stuck around? (Liz's introduction to the Doctor and the Brig notwithstanding.) - AFA
No I think Liz could have been Anne, definitely. In fact, I wouldn't have minded that all. Had it happened, we'd never know what we were missing if we didn't get Liz. But I love Liz so much that I am glad it happened this way - we get both of them in the show!
This is my absolute personal favourite era in Dr Who: Pertwee on Earth with UNIT, especially with the introduction of Roger Delgado's definitive Master. Wonderful stuff.
This is the only classic Doctor Who story that can be watched in True HD, and that is definitely noticeable. Visually this is the best looking Classic Doctor Who story ever in my opinion. The blu-ray release of this story is gorgeous looking!
Oh was this episode shot on film?
@@HOTD108_ Yes. This and one Troughton story were the only ones shot on film. Unfortunately I think that Troughton story is lost
It's hard to overstate just how big of a change all of this was. I mean they essentially wrote the TARDIS out of the show for goodness sake, the thing that was the original core premise. It was a big risk
That "tentacled squid" Nestene was the result of a comparatively late change. The original design had Pertwee wrestling with what looked like a giant condom.
Makes sense, given the whole "living plastic" thing.
@@HOTD108_ Yes, I think that must have been the idea.
This is my top classic Who story. Maybe because its all shot on film and its my first definte WHO memory of seeing pertwee in the wheelchair escaping from the auton ambulance crew. Also Ranson to me looks like ayoung Tony Blair
I actually went to a halloween party dressed in a blue boiler suit and plastic mask with a badge saying “Joe”, I did have to explain the joke to s few people. Btw Jon Pertwee trained in Aikido for his part with the Late Technical Director of what is now the British Aikido Federation
Your marathon is starting to catch up to my personal marathon. I need to get cracking so I can stay ahead!
I won't say how much further ahead I am with regards to these videos. Basically, I currently have more time to watch than I do to film so the watching is ahead of the filming. Not by loads though, I'm still on Pertwee...
The factory here is the same one used for "The Invasion " two years earlier 🎩
Spearhead is one of those episodes I have reevaluated so many times over the years. My first PBS recorded tape of Who had The Five Doctors on it, so I was already familiar with Pertwee when our local PBS looped back from the then current airing of season 21 back to season 7. Spearhead always looked so odd and unsettling when we first recorded it, being on film rather than the video tape quality I was more familiar with, and the autons and Channing were very terrifying and effective. However, my child self would often skip over this story to jump to my personal favorite of The Silurians. But as I grew older, Pertwee kept climbing higher and higher in my favorites, and that brought me back around to Spearhead with a new appreciation.
I think it's so shockingly (not in the negative way) different that it can serve to unsettle a little bit. Not in a way that means it's unlikeable necessarily, but I can see that it would take some getting used to. I first watched it in isolation so it was just 'another Doctor Who story' to me as a kid but when I do marathons I can appreciate its impact far more
Although I have very sketchy memories of The Mind Robber and The War Games, Spearhead was the story where I became a fan of the show. To the 8 year old me in 1970, Jon Pertwee was the perfect Doctor. Now I’m almost 62, and he still is. Serious, intense, authoritative, but not without a sense of humour, JP is everything I want in a Doctor.
This is went I started watching as a kid. At the time knowing only knowing Pert wee as the doctor.He is why I loved the show it as been years since I watched this .Afraid that it would not compare against Today's WHO. It was brilliant Pert wee is still my Doctor
I tend to agree with you on the 3rd doctor's era. And much like you, I find new things to appreciate on a rewatch
Yes, I find the "unhand me, madam" hilarious aswell
It's so good. UNhandMEmadam. Amazing rhythm to it
I like Ransom's over the top acting. He's just seen walking mannequins so he's going to be freaking out somewhat!
Spearhead is where Robert Holmes proved he really got Doctor Who. He was the perfect writer to transition to a new era. Also it has that sort of cinematic quality due to it all being on film. Great stuff!
Interesting, I actually think he demonstrated a decent grasp in his Season 6 stories, even if they were a bit lacking in other departments. But here I think it's a case of him getting the show and the producers really getting him, so his contributions from this point on work in a way those previous 2 stories may not do...
@@chris_stokes that's true. I think there's flashes in his first two stories but neither really did it for me. This one just works but I think he also benefited massively from the new format for a while.
I have a pretty special relationship with this one. And it's not because of the amazing script, performances, chemistry, the super creepy Autons (who never look this good ever again), it's simply because this was my introduction to Jon Pertwee's Doctor. How is this you ask, when you consider I can't possibly be old enough to have seen it on first transmission...? (I assume you did think that, because I'm not!) Back in '88, when I was getting into Who proper, Spearhead came out on VHS (omnibus edition, mind, and yes I did buy the uncut version a couple of years later), and to this day whenever I see the cover, I go on pure nostalgia overload. As for 'unhand me, madam', I'll raise you 'shoes, must find my shoes'. Love, love, love.
Also, is it just me, or is Liz at this point more or less a copy of Anne? A look at what might have been had Anne stuck around? (Liz's introduction to the Doctor and the Brig notwithstanding.) - AFA
I think this story is very much a statement of intent rather than a great story for me, but it lays all the ground work for the era going forward. I really love this era although I didn’t when I was younger.
The last minute change to filming this story on location (instead of videotape within the studio) probably resulted in a little of the awkwardness you sense in this story. But it’s a tantalizing peek at what could have been had this production approach been retained moving forward. Imagine having the entire Pertwee (and Baker) era on high definition film instead of standard definition videotape.
I actually like the makeshift UNIT lab in this story the most out of any of the subsequent sets I think
Going from black and white to colour must have been quite a treat Its remarkable how a colour can change a story. It reminds me of an interesting story i picked up many years ago. Apparently when in production of “the happiness patrol” it was intended to be a film noire style and was going to be intentionally black and white ( which is why the costumes and sets are somewhat bright colours to help give the grey contrasts). However they decided it maybe a risk. After hearing this I adjusted my T V so i could watch it in Black and White and I found it really changed my viewing.
It's due to go up on Monday but I sort of admit in my Ambassadors of Death video that I always get tempted to continue the whole marathon in black and white once I finish The War Games...
Liz Shaw is SO underrated,but this maybe for her modest 4 story total🎩
I've only gone through the classic era once so far, but my feelings on the Pertwee era mirror yours. I think it boasts some of the show's strongest and most consistent writing, fronted by a Doctor I like but don't love.
Spearhead is a weird one - as a statement of intent for a new era it's great, as an actual narrative the parts are better than the whole. Mind you Pertwee's first season is a weird one - very dark and apocalyptic in a way the rest of his era mostly wouldn't be - very Doctor Who Does Quatermass. Liz is a great character that the series doesn't seem to know what to do with. It's all very conspiracy thriller, X Files etc etc. I think there's some great stuff here, but you can see why they pivoted to a more comic book glam rock tone!
the first episode star bit slow at first before story gets fast going by episode 2
I rate this story just the same. But it's possibly because the first three episodes move at the pace of The War Games -- epic and lovely-- but then the last one does the opposite of every Troughton era episode except perhaps the Tomb of the Cybermen and part six of Enemy of the World-- it rockets! It's the last three episodes of a 60s Who six-parter in one. While some people love that, i find it both exciting and a bit messy. It's all big set pieces and several aren't great. Famously one feels really ridiculous-- a bit better than just a few years earlier with WOTAN and Sea People and Macra -- but it's so fast you don't have to notice that much. If you don't want to, that is. For stylish new eras of Who season opening stories, i rate it high, but Leisure Hive and Deep Breath I rate just a tad higher.
3 minutes in and I'm not listening to whatever you're saying - but wondering "Has Chris dislocated his shoulder?"
Boy that looks an uncomfortable stance.
The Autons coming to life and smashing through shop windows is actually one of the most mis-remembered things about the series, and doesn't actually happen until Rose. Clever footage and sound effects was all that was needed in late 69 when filmed.
They may have created the moment in Thirty years in the TARDIS documentary though.
Chris is 5"1.
Yes I think they did do it in 30 Years in the TARDIS. Not that it's a massive shame they couldn't do it in Spearhead, there's still the impact of them walking the streets and gunning people down, which does pack a punch.
@@HOTD108_ I'm not discrediting this because I like the idea of people watching these videos thinking that
when you get to end of season 7 1970 ask which is most underrated and which will say overrated
I have a pretty special relationship with this one. And it's not because of the amazing script, performances, chemistry, the super creepy Autons (who never look this good ever again), it's simply because this was my introduction to Jon Pertwee's Doctor. How is this you ask, when you consider I can't possibly be old enough to have seen it on first transmission...? (I assume you did think that, because I'm not!) Back in '88, when I was getting into Who proper, Spearhead came out on VHS (omnibus edition, mind, and yes I did buy the uncut version a couple of years later), and to this day whenever I see the cover, I go on pure nostalgia overload. As for 'unhand me, madam', I'll raise you 'shoes, must find my shoes'. Love, love, love.
Also, is it just me, or is Liz at this point more or less a copy of Anne? A look at what might have been had Anne stuck around? (Liz's introduction to the Doctor and the Brig notwithstanding.) - AFA
No I think Liz could have been Anne, definitely. In fact, I wouldn't have minded that all. Had it happened, we'd never know what we were missing if we didn't get Liz. But I love Liz so much that I am glad it happened this way - we get both of them in the show!
@@chris_stokes Absolutely. And Liz develops in her own way, some of which (in expanded media) Anne would never have gone.
@@chris_stokes Absolutely. And Liz develops in her own way, some of which (in expanded media) Anne would never have gone.