The Ambassadors of Death

Hang on, what's this story called? Eh? Eh? Music then no title? What's that about, then? 

We begin at a space control centre, with Prof Ralph Cornish talking his astronaut through a rescue mission. 

"How do we know they're still alive?" 
"They took off from Mars manually. They must have been alive then." 
"Something took off from Mars..." 

Woah - post-theme music pre-credits sequence then "The Ambassadors... TWAAAANNNGG!!!!... of Death"!! So Cool. 

Lee Mahon @Lee_JM75 · I love Ambassadors of Death! In fact I love all of season 7, one of my favourite periods of Doctor Who because it's so different. 

Yes, a very consistent, and consistently high quality, series. Easily one of the best. 

50dw50 @50dw50 · Ambassadors is my favourite Pertwee story, despite Dr Who being a total git in it
Martin Belam @MartinBelam · I like Ambassadors of Death but IIRC it's a seven-parter that only really needs four, no? 

Probably a fair cop for any of the longer stories! but yeah a bit of repetition in some later eps. 

Lee Mahon @Lee_JM75 ·  You could argue that no DW story needs more than 4 episodes I guess but season 7 makes the longer stories work.

This being the 1 true PAL colour studio-bound episode of Season 7, have to say it looks absolutely gorgeous. 

Beardy Davros news reporter tells us contact was lost with one capsule so another mission went up.  

The Doctor's watching on his snazzy colour telly. 

Is this the new console room? Different. 

Love this bit where Liz is "sent into the future". 

Great little moment as she grabs the console when he flicks a switch. 

"I suppose he's got to do something to occupy his mind now that he's blown up the Silurians." Some time has passed, but not a lot. 

The Space Centre Control room looks great. That is one massive TV screen they've got there. 

It's all gone a bit Whiter Shade of Pale. 

The Doctor's glued to the box... 

Not sure this slow motion upside down stuff really works, but this is tense. Holding my breath here. 

As Van Lyden opens the capsule there's an ear-splitting signal and contact is lost. 

The Doctor has heard that sound before but the Time Lords have blocked that part of his memory so it's off to the space control centre. 

KrynoidPodCast @KrynoidPodCast ·Ah, I like your take on it. I always wondered why he said that when nothing came of it. 

I always just assumed, never really occurred to me that he doesn't in fact explicitly blame the Time Lords, does he, just that the memories are blocked. 

Miss Rutherford seems to think there's still a chance they could have survived. 

The Doctor bursts in, starts a barney... 

...and then there's another high pitched signal. 

"The man's a fool... let me explain this to you in very simple terms." Pertwee's rudeness is hilarious.  

Cornish agrees to let the Doctor help, but before he can someone sends a reply to the signal...  

The signal comes from... London, and not 30 miles from Television Centre, oddly enough... 

Great stock footage of the radio telescopes here. No CGI required. 

"That machine will give you surface maps of every surveyed planet, but a map of London? No." 

The signal came from a warehouse, where some shifty types prepare to clear out. 

Having pinpointed the source of the signal, the UNIT boys go on a jolly boys' outing.  

Sammyc @Samanthacarey84 · Love the jazzy UNIT theme. Sounds a bit Jethro Tull. 

Daniel @Yetaxa_95 ·  Pity they never used it again. One of Dudley's best IMO!So much action in this warehouse battle; great direction. 

Lass Productions @21stcenturylass · It's more ITC than BBC and fab for it. 

Yes; all the better for being on film, of course. :-) 

Just when it looks like the shifty type has got the drop on the Brig, he bizarrely surrenders. 

The Doctor has to book some time on the computers to decode the messages... 

...but Cornish has other problems: a solar flare's coming, which means the astronauts will have to be brought down by remote signal. 

The Doctor arrives to use Taltalian's computer and is greeted with a gun! 

Actually felt a bit limp, that cliffhanger. Music was a bit slow off the mark, I think. 

*LOVING* the cliffhanger repeat being followed by the title & sting. 

The colourisation is nothing short of a miracle of course but regrettably it does still seem to be swathed in orange smearing and visible patches of black and white. 

I know this release was delayed but maybe they should have waited longer. I'm sure there'll be a better version in the future. 

The Doctor's conjuring trick is bizarre; are we really supposed to believe he stuck that massive reel up his sleeve? 

The Brig startles Taltalian, and he uses Liz as a shield to make his getaway. 

The Doctor produces the recording from his wizard's sleeve... 

The Brig needs a hand interrogating the captured man from the warehouse. 

The Doctor's "Stand to attention when you're talking to me and call me sir!" trick is great. 

In space centre control, Beardy Davros reports that Cornish and crew are attempting to bring their astronauts home safely. 

A mysterious gloved figure releases the Brig's prisoner. 

Next the Doctor finds the computer's knackered. 2 +2 = 5? That Taltalian's a wrong 'un. 

Still no word from the astronauts as the capsule re-enters the atmosphere. Very Quatermass this. 

The Doctor, the Brig and Ralph Cornish go for a location jaunt to pick up the capsule from the moors. 

Still no word from the astronauts inside... 

The UNIT mob are being watched though, by the same conspirators from the warehouse. 

Bessie's had a "rare" breakdown, so the Doctor's bringing up the rear when the convoy sets off.

Just as well, UNIT are soon under attack from arch nemesis HAVOC. 

These action sequences really are on another level to what Doctor Who is used to.

Lass Productions @21stcenturylass ·  Quality work from Michael Ferguson! 

Those gasmasks are weird though. 

HAVOC steal the capsule in a grandiose scheme masterminded by Mike Ferguson to monster the budget. 

But the Doctor's up to his old tricks & acts the old buffer to electrically glue the thieves to his car. As you do.  

For an encore, he takes the capsule back to the space centre just to see the look on the Brig's face. 

The Doctor and the Brig visit Sir James Quinlan to complain about Taltalian's hilariously fake beard. 

The Brig suggests they cut the capsule open, an idea which the Doctor dismisses. He'll change his tune soon. 

"What's the capital of Australia? How many beans make 5? That's Blockbusters!" 

"Right, cut it open!" What a cliffhanger. Beautiful. 

Having done what the Brig originally suggested and cut it open they find HAVOC have pulled another switch. 

Cornish only thinks to mention now that everyone was turned out for a "security check". 

HAVOC's leader, General Carrington, orders scientist Heldorf to up the radiation on the captured astronauts. 

The Doctor, Liz & the Brig visit Quinlan again and are introduced to Carrington... 

...who gives them some nonsense about security measures implemented because the astronauts signalled they were "infected" with radiation. 

He'll be claiming the moon's an egg, next. 

When the Doctor wants to see the astronauts for himself, they're conveniently abducted at gunpoint by thug for hire Regan. 

The Ambassadors' shimmery theme is wonderfully trippy. 

The "monsters" really are men in suits, although of course, the Ambassadors are not the real monsters here. 

Regan buries his now dead accomplices... 

...then activates a switch to disguise his van. 

Gordon Ridout @GordonRidout ·  in an otherwise gritty story, that bit is gloriously bonkers. 

Always a joy to have Cyril Shaps pop up. Wonder what Lennox's disgrace was, though.  

Quinlan is still stalling; Cornish is starting to run out of patience & wants to send up another rocket. 

Lennox looks to be in trouble when one of the astronauts stalks him up the stairs, but is reprieved. 

The astronaut collapses - they don't need less radiation, they need more! 

Regan receives photos of Liz Shaw and the Doctor with orders to get them out of the way. 

The Doctor plans to use the capsule they have to go back up and retrieve the astronauts. 

Liz takes Bessie to meet the Brig, but what's this - that's not the Brig following her... 

Hang on - if that message wasn't from the Brig... Look out Liz!  

She's done well keeping that hat on while she puts her foot down. Bessie can't half move.  

Blimey! More of a bridge-hanger than a cliff-hanger! End of part 3! 

Daniel @Yetaxa_95 · Still not sure why she threw herself over the edge. It's like the 1970s equivalent of the Dragonfire cliffhanger. 

Liz is hauled back up and taken to Regan's bunker. He's decided she might have her uses. 

Carrington has the corpses of Regan's accomplices uncovered with some stage managed evidence. 

But the Doctor's on to his dodgy comb straight away. 

Cornish has accepted Taltalian back to work but still doesn't trust him. Quite right.

The Doctor winds him up about their earlier encounter at gunpoint. 

Lennox accidentally on purpose leaves his key for Liz to attempt an escape. 

The Doctor urges Taltalian to pick an accent and stick with it. 

Liz tries to hitch-hike her way to freedom but is picked up by a now English-sounding Taltalian. 

Taltalian, back to whatever the hell accent that is, gives Regan a translator device. 

Regan's an uncommonly hard-edged real-world sort of character for Doctor Who generally. 

Something of the Michael Caine about him, but a bit more Get Carter than Italian Job. 

John Mark Frankland @JMFrankland ·  I like the way his ambitions don't go beyond breaking into Fort Knox. 

50dw50 @50dw50 ·  Regan is such a complex villain, clever and immoral.

"Contagious radiation indeed!" the Doctor calls shenanigans on Carrington's cover story. 

Regan gives Taltalian a suitcase bomb but rigs it to go off early on the sly... 

...but even so, Taltalian only manages to blow himself up. 

Regan has Liz working on communicating with the astronauts. 

Taltalian was blown to smithereens. The Doctor just has a minor scratch on his cheek. Nails. 

Quinlan has tried every delay in the politician's big book of stalling, but the Doctor will pilot the rocket himself. 

"This Doctor fella must have nine lives!" 

Regan's communication device's basically an old Megadrive controller. Up, left, A, A, B, B, left, right.. 

Regan uses the aliens to go on an evidence destroying spree... 

Zap! 

The slightest touch from the alien fries people with radiation. 

The Doctor makes a habit of getting dodgy phonecalls. Soon it'll be the Master trying to throttle him! 

Quinlan's had it... 

...so when the Doctor arrives the grabby Ambassador looms over him in a particularly cliffhanger-y way... 

Pertwee's got frilly doilies poking out of his sleeves. 

The Brigadier arrives to distract the astronaut, who turns and leaves, sealing them in but not harming them. 

Liz tries to appeal to Lennox's conscience once again. 

The Doctor volunteers to go up in the rocket as he can survive extra G-Force. 

The aliens are feeling peaky, but Regan's so pleased with their performance he starts to make bigger plans. 

Carrington claims they're being invaded, and that the aliens "murdered" Quinlan. 

Lennox is able to talk his way past the confuzzled guard. 

Benton shows him to the guest room. 

"You *can* see the sea, it's over there between the land and the sky..." 

The Doctor and the Brigadier say a touching au revoir, the Silurians all but forgotten it seems. 

Regan is less than amused that Lennox has made it to UNIT. 

CORNISH: We are now zero minus thirty, three oh minutes. 
DOCTOR: I take it you mean half an hour. 

Regan bluffs his way onto site to fiddle with the Doctor's pipes. 

Regan better watch out for Primords here. 

It's curtains for Lennox as he's served an isotope for his dinner. 

The Brig is too late to stop the countdown - the Doctor takes off; will he survive Regan's sabotage? 

50dw50 @50dw50 · some top class gurning from dame pertwee. 

Regan mixed Pertwee's fuel with extra Gurn-ox. 

The Doctor is eventually able to overcome the G-Force to reduce speed. 

He soon closes in on the capsule... 

...but a freaky looking spaceship is closing in on him!  

Advised to take evasive action, the Doctor cranes his neck to gawp at it. 

A wibbly voice assures the Doctor the astronauts are unharmed & a breathable atmosphere is ready for him. 

So wierd the way Pertwee just sinks down when exiting the capsule. Is that supposed to be a gravity thing? 

We've all seen matches like this. Crap reception, but England not worth watching anyway. 

The astronauts think they're on Earth; it's a bit like a reverse of the "spaceship" in Invasion of the Dinosaurs. 

Interesting that the aliens created the false perception as "necessary for their health". 

"Why have not you returned our Ambassadors?" These aliens are... er... whatever Yoda is.  Actually what sort of alien *is* Yoda? 

Now the truth is out - the aliens are ambassadors - the Doctor hopes to do a deal with the wibbly voiced leader. 

The astronauts must remain until the Ambassadors of Death are returned. 

So we've basically spent 2 episodes with the Doctor going into space to have a conversation with a TV screen 

The Brig's detective work has only been a process of elimination; he's not got much to show for it. 

The Doctor promises to explain all when he returns to Earth, but will now maintain radio silence. 

I'm sure that'll work out and he won't get snatched on his return or anything. 

Liz gets the first proper look at one of the alien ambassadors... 

50dw50 @50dw50 ·  thats quite grim no wonder they only show it briefly. 

Regan's back on site to twist some more pipes for the Doctor's homecoming. 

The Doctor lies back to avoid the Bends. Not a big Radiohead fan, then. 

But Regan's knocked him out with some gas and bungs him in a van. 

Carrington's back with another feeble attempt to sling mud; this time he's accusing the Doctor of being a saboteur.  

CARRINGTON: "Arm every available missile with atomic warheads & blast that thing out of our skies!" Calm down, dear! 

The Doctor awakes in Regan's bunker... 

...and while he's pleased to see Liz... 

...he's soon put to work. 

Though he's not exactly shocked that General Carrington is behind everything. 

Carrington just uses "it's my moral duty" as an excuse for everything.  Refused to put the bins out: It's my moral duty. Forgot your birthday: it's my moral duty.  Jumped a red light: it's my moral duty. Shot a man in Reno, just to watch him die: it's my moral duty. 

Surprisingly it's Regan that saves the Doctor, though it's for selfish reasons of course. 

50dw50 @50dw50 ·   i think he must have been in love with the bloke that got killed #backstory. I am probably wrong, it was 70's kids TV but i like the theory 

Definitely room for that interpretation. PTSD certainly, but could be more than that too if you're right. 

Regan sets the Doctor and Liz to work on a more refined communication device. 

Seems the Ambassadors of Death have popped down to their local isotope takeaway and don't want to pay. Swines! 

While Carrington plans to "do a Hopkins" and incite violence against the aliens... 

The Doctor lashes up a morse code device to send an SOS on the sly. 

Geoffrey Beevers - wonderful. "Everybody's picking it up, Sarge!" 

The Doctor seems to have got his translator working. The Ambassadors of Death want to know why they're being used to kill. Fair question, but come on, the clue's in the name, mate. 

David Hunter urges Davros not to give General Hopkins a platform for inciting violence against aliens. 

Carrington tries to have the Brig removed but he's able to get away to rendezvous with Benton. 

There's no jeeps apparently. Bloody funding cuts. 

So UNIT have to storm the place in Bessie!  

Cry HAVOC and let slip the budgetary terrors of Mike Ferguson! 

The Brig storms the bunker, shooting the gun from Regan's hand. 

It's Regan that suggests using the Ambassadors of Death to get into space control, and he wants full credit. You'll be lucky, mate. "By David Whittaker", if you notice. (interestingly corrected on the DVD cover). 

50dw50 @50dw50 ·  he is such a pragmatic sod, plus he survives, its a pity he was never a recurring villain.

The Doctor directs the Ambassadors into the space centre. "Once more with feeling, darlings!" 

Davros begins his intro spiel, ready for General Hopkins to give it what for. 

In the nick of time, the Brigadier pulls the plug. Must be 10 o'clock. 

Another *really* sudden end to a Mac Hulke script, here. 

It's really something different, this story. The ending feels really odd, but it's so right. 

Carrington allowed to keep his dignity, because the Doctor understands that he's got PTSD. 

His work done, the Doctor leaves Cornish and the Space Centre to get to work returning the Ambassadors.

Daniel @Yetaxa_95 ·  There's a disjointed feeling to Ambassadors & it's a bit too long, but somehow it's still very watchable. Season 7 was fab.  

TTFN! K.
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