Season 8, Story 2/5, Serial FFF: 6 x 25min episodes, 30th January to 6th March 1971
Writer: Don Houghton, Director: Timothy Combe, Script Editor: Terrance Dicks, Producer: Barry Letts
Writer: Don Houghton, Director: Timothy Combe, Script Editor: Terrance Dicks, Producer: Barry Letts
50dw50@50dw50 i have always thought of this as 2 three part stories that they have squished together, it is still fun though.
Simon Threadgold@dimwittedly Agreed. Good script, strong direction works wonders for keeping the oddly wedded plots together.
Doctor Who & his assistant Jo Grant arrive in Bessie at Stangmoor prison.
Jo thinks it looks like Dracula's castle. Didn't know he lived in Dover.
Simon Threadgold@dimwittedly This is Season 8 remember, so expect the Doctor to slap Jo across the face the next time she utters a word.Now in his third incarnation, the Doctor is tall and thin and beaky nosed with a lined young-old face and a mane of prematurely white hair.
He wears a ruffled shirt, an elegant burgundy smoking jacket and a flowing cloak. He's making the most of his exile to Earth as Scientific Adviser to UNIT.
"Smile, Jo, you're on camera!"
The colour recovery on The Ambassadors of Death wasn't quite good enough to convince me it isn't better in black and white. But this is a completely different kettle of fish. Although part 1 of Ambassadors in proper colour does look magnificent. Pertwee looks bloody amazing. @Babelcolour has worked an absolute miracle on this. Thank you!
50dw50@50dw50 this might sound like heresy but i liked it better in black and white!Simon Threadgold@dimwittedly Agreed. Most b/w suitable story of the 70s. Cold, gritty (for DW), prison violence, all just works better in b/w.50dw50@50dw50 VHS is BEST !
Caught mugging for the camera, the Doctor is rather sheepish when a prisoner officer arrives to check their passes.
With the passes "checked and satisfactory", they're waved in.
"Abandon hope all ye who enter here..."
Inside the prison, the reception is rather more hostile as the Governor is shown to one of the cells...
Ruther@Ruther2 in an alt universe this is the cast of PorridgeSimon Threadgold@dimwittedly Good job Barrowclough isn't on duty today; he'd let them all out. Wonder where Fletcher and Godber are during all this?Nicking tins of pineapple and rigging a boxing match for Grouty, I reckon.
Prisoner Barnham is going to be the first test subject of the new Keller process...
Professor Kettering is about to demonstrate the Keller Machine, creation of the absent Swiss scientist Emil Keller, which he claims can cure anti-social behavior by extracting evil impulses from the mind.
Chris@KosmicKris This whole story has a horrible edge to it. Don Houghton does a wonderful job!50dw50@50dw50 i like his writing, i always enjoyed his take on Sapphire and SteelChris@KosmicKris He wrote some brilliant Hammer films as well; Satanic Rites of Dracula & Legend of the 7 Golden Vampires are superb.50dw50@50dw50 he was definitely still writing for season 7, which is no bad thing.
The Doctor's come along to observe as he's got his concerns about the process.
Chris@KosmicKris I think the supporting cast are really well chosen as well. They all add to the sinister feel the story exudes.
50dw50@50dw50 Pertwee is amazingly unpleasant in this story no wonder the well mannered Master became so popular.
Simon Threadgold@dimwittedlyI love Pertwee's smug heckler schtick during the presentation. He knows he's the smartest one in the room.
M.R.Michael@The_Cybermatt It’s the kind of thing Ten and Rose would do.
Chris@KosmicKris I think the supporting cast are really well chosen as well. They all add to the sinister feel the story exudes.
50dw50@50dw50 Pertwee is amazingly unpleasant in this story no wonder the well mannered Master became so popular.
Simon Threadgold@dimwittedlyI love Pertwee's smug heckler schtick during the presentation. He knows he's the smartest one in the room.
M.R.Michael@The_Cybermatt It’s the kind of thing Ten and Rose would do.
Simon Threadgold@dimwittedly I s'pose I've never minded Doc's bad mood in S8 because from his point of view he's stuck on a rock full of idiots.
50dw50@50dw50 Pertwee, until more confident, always seems to mistake snappy with serious, his way of avoiding the comic label.
Tim Gambrell@Mr_Brell Pertwee is amazingly unpleasant through much of season 8. It's a strange production decision & VERY off-putting.
50dw50@50dw50 he can be a tit in series 7 but it is not quite so noticeable for some reason.
Perhaps it doesn't tend to come across so noticeably bullying when Liz is a stronger more confident companion and he tends to direct it more at arses like Stahlman. Kettering is set up a little bit that way here, I feel.
KrynoidPodCast@KrynoidPodCast I think his bile is aimed more at the regulars in season 8, so it feels worse.Tim Gambrell@Mr_Brell In 7 everyone else around him is a bit more straight-laced too which is why it feels more 'adult' I think, but Jo in particular suffers abominably from his pompous attitude in 8. No way would anyone reasonably stand for it.50dw50@50dw50 she was very tolerant!KrynoidPodCast@KrynoidPodCast We're supposed to believe that she admires the Doctor, but it's not clear why much of the time!A touch of Stockholm syndrome...?
As Kettering claims that the machine will drain the evil impulses from the human mind, the Doctor continues his incorrigible heckling.
50dw50@50dw50 Dr Who and the Coffee Maker of Doom!
The Doctor isn't too keen on the idea of storing up evil impulses in a suspicious looking glass tube. For all his high handedness up to now, you start to see his point.
50dw50@50dw50 Dr Who and the Coffee Maker of Doom!
His scepticism seems pretty justified when the machine overloads...
...and test subject Barnham is rendered comatose before Kettering can bring the machine back under control.
With what you have to assume is a titanic effort of willpower, the Doctor resists the urge to say I told you so, but Kettering is still snotty about the presence of UNIT.
The Doctor doesn't hold back. "UNIT was set up to deal with new and unusual menaces to mankind, and in my view, this machine of yours is just that!"
Dr. Summers attends to Barnham, with Kettering still in denial, when a phone call comes through that there's been another incident in the Process Room.
When the Doctor gets a look at the dead man, he notes strange marks on him, like bites and scratches...
The Doctor intends to call on the support of UNIT but Jo reminds him the Brigadier has a lot on his plate. She told him all about it, but in a twist that no one could have seen coming, he wasn't listening...
It's World Peace Day! Hurrah! UNIT are in charge of Security! Oh dear.
Simon Threadgold@dimwittedly "Are you sure about this, Sir?" "What do you mean?" "Well, it's just... we're a bit shit, aren't we, Sir?"
The Brig is incensed by Captain Chin Lee's accusation that the Americans have stolen some papers from the Chinese Delegate.
Chris@KosmicKris the actor who played Chin Lee (Pik-Sen Lim) was married to Don Houghton!
But it turns out that Chin Lee has the papers herself...
...and burns them in a nearby bin. Acceptable in the 70s. Or 80s. Whatever.
Sexist pigdog Mike Yates might think she's "quite a dolly", but she seems more like an automaton. In fact, it's as if she's being radio controlled...
Kettering refuses to believe that mucking about with people's minds is a dangerous business, so the Doctor tries to get through to the Governor instead.
The dead man was a medical student; one with a morbid fear of rats...
1970s sci-fi writers really had a thing about rats, didn't they?
Simon Threadgold@dimwittedly Luckily the other technician was off duty. He's terrified of being rogered to death by a prize winning marrow.
50dw50@50dw50 i am glad he did not have coprophobia
UNIT have turned the place upside down and inside out but the missing papers are, well, missing.
The Brig doesn't expect Chin Lee's latest complaint to be so serious, but the Chinese delegate's dead!
Soon, Kettering himself feels the effects of the machine...
...which acts up when the prisoners get rowdy.
Kettering soon finds himself drowning in a dry room...
50dw50@50dw50 coffee boiling over everywhere.
Simon Threadgold@dimwittedly Kettering's fear of stock footage was his doom.
50dw50@50dw50 its a nicely creepy idea.
Whoer Pete@whoer_pete I've been to Kettering, I know what they're getting at here.
The Brig decides to check out Chin Lee's story.
Simon Threadgold@dimwittedly The Brig's on the ball in scene. It's a long way down to the gibbering buffoon of 'The Three Doctors'.
The governor agrees to suspend all use of the Keller machine but not to have it scrapped.
He also relates that the machine was installed nearly a year ago, by Professor Emil Keller and his assistant, a "rather attractive Chinese girl."
Corporal Bell confirms the Brig's suspicions:
Chin Lee has had a missing episode!
Barnham seems physically recovered when Jo drops in to check.
Dr. Summers admits it's too early to say how his mind may have been affected.
The prisoners are kicking off again, just as the Doctor's examining the machine...
Soon he too experiences his worst fears...
...a world destroyed in flames!
Chris@KosmicKris Always think there is something brutal about the fire here - this really is quite dark.
Simon Threadgold@dimwittedly Brilliant call-back. Funnily enough Houghton wrote 'Inferno' too.
Absolutely sterling work by all involved; including 1st time round of course! It's an odd blend though; far more season 7 in tone than anything else in season 8.
50dw50@50dw50 it is an amazingly good production, well designed and directed, the prison is amazing considering it is a studio set.
The machine's effect is dispelled by Jo's arrival.
The Colour Recovery's not as good as the recolouring on episode 1, but vastly superior to the results on Ambassadors.
The Doctor tells Jo "We believe what our minds tell us to." and tells her that "I witnessed a terrible catastrophe. A whole world just, just disappeared in flames."
Jo urges him to destroy the machine, but "those idiots in authority won't let me!"
The report on Kettering confirms the Doctor's suspicions that the Professor was also attacked by the machine.
Mike's attempt to frogmarch the Doctor back to the Brig is met with some "Venusian Karate"!
Simon Threadgold@dimwittedly This bit upset me on first viewing. It's a nasty and contrived altercation that makes me dislike the Doctor. Also, this right here, is when Yates decided to betray everyone.
Chris@KosmicKris Lots of nasty elements in this story. I like it in isolation but glad it wasn’t the permanent direction.
Chin Lee seems to somehow use the machine's power to hobble stalker Benton.
Benton's got a headache. Probably Dudley's music.
Simon Threadgold@dimwittedly I like her. Benton's a tit.
50dw50@50dw50 i suppose i am a bit of a heretic but i quite like Mike Yates.
Simon Threadgold@dimwittedly Just a coincidence. Benton was trying to do maths in his head. Poor fool.
"You're too delicate for intelligence work, Benton. You'd better go and lie down." BURN.
Simon Threadgold@dimwittedly Benton is the Barnham of UNIT.
The Doctor arrives to find the Brigadier in his "usual sweet affable mood", as the military man dispatches Yates with an irate "When you've quite finished grinning like a Cheshire cat, Captain Yates!"
While Benton mopes off with his tail between his legs...
...Yates has a terrible lion up his end.
Crikey! That telephone engineer is really the Master!
Simon Threadgold@dimwittedly Whhhaaaaaaaa.....?????
Is that tent his TARDIS? Bit small on the inside.
Simon Threadgold@dimwittedly Oddly enough, when I was a kid - before seeing this on VHS - I thought workmen's tents were TARDISes.
The Master gets himself even more comfortable in the back of a chauffeur driven limousine.
The Doctor wins the Brig's support to havethe Keller programme shut down, and agrees to meet with the new Chinese delegate.
"Cheshire Cat, Captain Yates, Cheshire Cat!"
The Master eaves drops as Yates continues with plans for the missile convoy and soon spots the Doctor and the Brigadier arriving at the Chinese Embassy.
The Brig doesn't make a great first impression...
...but of course compulsive namedropper Doctor Who is right in there...
...letting slip that Mao Tse-Tung is a personal friend, natch.
50dw50@50dw50 good old Dr Who and his mass murdering personal chum.
M.R.Michael@The_Cybermatt Dr Who: the truth behind his exile from Gallifrey - he’s the Ken Livingstone of the Time Lords.Simon Threadgold@dimwittedly "You see, the thing about Morbius, before he went mad..."
Prisoner Vosper is put to work cleaning a cell in preparation for a new occupant. Seems a good move, and definitely not an opportunity for him to plant a gun there so the new arrival can stage a breakout or anything.
50dw50@50dw50 but has found his mp3 player.
Simon Threadgold@dimwittedly Dr Summers has been fleecing Barnham at cards all morning. Naive dope.
Tough nut Mailer arrives at Stangmoor. Looks like he's going to be trouble.
Simon Threadgold@dimwittedly Great character, great performance. Worthy of a spin-off.
Back at the Embassy, the Doctor is invited to a dinner of dried squid and stewed jellyfish. Pass.
Mailer gets the drop on his guards. That didn't take long.
He's soon running the show at the prison, with Jo and Dr. Summers taken hostage.
Back at UNIT HQ the Brig isn't as willing to connect the death of the Chinse delegate to the Keller machine as the Doctor.
When the Brig complains about Benton losing track of Chin Lee, the Doctor makes a further connection: "Coincidence my foot!" Like there's only one Chinese woman on the entire planet.
Whoer Pete@whoer_pete *with a currently approved equity card.
Simon Threadgold@dimwittedly Great character, great performance. Worthy of a spin-off.
Back at the Embassy, the Doctor is invited to a dinner of dried squid and stewed jellyfish. Pass.
Mailer gets the drop on his guards. That didn't take long.
He's soon running the show at the prison, with Jo and Dr. Summers taken hostage.
Back at UNIT HQ the Brig isn't as willing to connect the death of the Chinse delegate to the Keller machine as the Doctor.
When the Brig complains about Benton losing track of Chin Lee, the Doctor makes a further connection: "Coincidence my foot!" Like there's only one Chinese woman on the entire planet.
Whoer Pete@whoer_pete *with a currently approved equity card.
That old chestnut...
Of course, Chin Lee really is under the influence...
Simon Threadgold@dimwittedly Master as London crime lord is spectacular.
Funnily enough, no one can get through to Jo at the prison.
The news comes through that Chin Lee's back on the scene.
Chin Lee invites the American delegate over, promising his time will not be wasted...
Simon Threadgold@dimwittedly "Guess I should mention this to security.... nah. What's the worst the Communists can do to me?"
Sure enough, the dopey delegate acts all surprised when it turns out she has an ulterior motive.
That being, to terrify himself to death by transmogrifying into...
Puff the Magic Dragon!
KrynoidPodCast@KrynoidPodCast Oh dear.
Simon Threadgold@dimwittedly Presumably the plan was to make him die laughing.50dw50@50dw50 bless it.
The Doctor & the Brig arrive just in time to save the Senator.
Why do they see Chin Lee as a dragon? Why is the Senator afraid of dragons anyway?
KrynoidPodCast@KrynoidPodCast I think it's supposed to represent his fear of Chinese communism. Not sure why Chin Lee transmogrifies though. Inconsistent.
Simon Threadgold@dimwittedly Who's not afraid of dragons? Especially small pink ones that amble slowly towards you with little sense of direction?
The colour recovery has sadly taken on that bizarre orangey wash that plagued Ambassadors. *Surely* once the colour's recovered the picture can be balanced not to have quite so extreme an orange mess over it? Have to assume not, I guess.
The Doctor knows straight away that Chin Lee wasn't acting of her own free will.
He's interested to learn more about the elusive Emile Keller...
Dr. Summer's attempt at heroics is easily put down.
Summers is hauled off but Jo will have to stay put.
Loving that milk float. Now *that's* nostalgia.
"Don't tell me your problems, mate, I'm stood here in front of an unconvincing photographic blow-up of a missile!"
Simon Threadgold@dimwittedly You just know he's never invited to parties.
M.R.Michael@The_Cybermatt That did work so much better when it was just B&W.
The Doctor returns to HQ with Chin Lee to find the Brigadier sleeping on the job.
The Brig orders some coffee from Corporal Bell as if she's got nothing better to do, then hears from Yates that there's been a holdup with the "cargo".
The Master's tuned into UNIT FM. Why they started that up is anyone's guess. Probably Yates' fault.
KrynoidPodCast@KrynoidPodCast I tried it once. The playlist was crap and Yates was a terrible DJ.
Another one of those dodgy 70s DJs, eh?
50dw50@50dw50 "and now for all you dollies out there..."
Simon Threadgold@dimwittedly The Brig's hosting of 'Woman's Hour' was interesting, tho.
KrynoidPodCast@KrynoidPodCast And his apple crumble recipe was outstanding.
The Doctor deduces that Professor Emile Keller is none other than his own school chum, the Master!
Simon Threadgold@dimwittedly "Of course! That Time Lord bad guy who hates me and wants to rule the world who I trapped on Earth last week!"Ruther@Ruther2 the Master could have saved himself a lot of trouble if he'd just gone to Cambridge and looked up Prof Chronotis.This prison has more riots than prisoners.
Despite Summers' appeals, the Governor refuses to negotiate with Mailer.
The Doctor makes the case for Chin Lee's release...
...just as the news of Jo's predicament reaches the Brigadier.
Outside the Governor's office, Mailer has Jo at gunpoint.
When the bemused Barnham provides a distraction, Jo gets the drop on Mailer...
...delivering him at the feet of the astounded Governor!
"Professor Keller" rolls into Stangmoor.
He's come for a confab with the Governor...
...to assure him the Keller machine just needs an adjustment.
The Master recruits Mailer and tools him up with guns, smoke bombs and a gas mask. Bad Therapy.
He tells the criminal "You and I, Mailer, are going to create a great deal of havoc in this place." adding that they have a "powerful ally".
The Master's plan goes off without a hitch...
...as he makes straight for the phone system.
"Oh no, not again."
"Right, Doctor. Now I'm ready for you!"
Sure enough, the Doctor is honking impatiently at the entrance...
...where he's met by one of Mailer's cronies disguised as a prison officer.
The Master waves him through...
...to be met by Mailer.
"Don't point that thing at me, it might go off. Put that gun away too." Ba-dum-tish.
Simon Threadgold@dimwittedlyAnyone who can react like that to a shotgun in the face gets my vote. Doctor's too pissed off to be worried.Sure enough, the Doctor is brought before the new Governor...
Simon Threadgold@dimwittedly "Two people have died because of your machine. Have you tried turning it off and on again?"
Turns out the Master needs his help to get the machine back under control.
Mike plans to get the missile convoy back on schedule by truckin' through the night.
Simon Threadgold@dimwittedlyI love the Master in this. He's Moriarty, the Joker, Lex Luther, and Loki all rolled into one. But better cos it's Delgado.
The Doctor gives the Master the slip. So to speak.
Simon Threadgold@dimwittedly Cue the Benny Hill music.
50dw50@50dw50 i suppose these concepts were still original in this story
The Doctor locates Jo but is recaptured in the treatment room.
Simon Threadgold@dimwittedly The Master in a sharp suit, pointing a shotgun at point blank range at the Doctor. Never this cool again. Or homoerotic.
The Master leaves to set off a war...
...allowing the machine to have its' wicked way with the Doctor...
...subjecting him to a killer montage!
With the Doctor barely conscious, and his allies reeling from the machine's effects...
...the Master realizes he may have gone too far...
Simon Threadgold@dimwittedly Does this mean the Doctor now has far less evil impulses? 'Cos he happily guns down some Ogrons later...
Summers is hauled off to attend to the Doctor as one of his hearts had stopped.
Unlike the Doctor, Jo is surprised to see the Master. She's not got the hang of this season yet.
Simon Threadgold@dimwittedly One failing in the writing; Jo is sodding useless for long stretches.
50dw50@50dw50 when she is not almost single handedly squashing prison riots.
Tim Gambrell@Mr_Brell In many cases Jo is just subject to whims & caprices of the stories, alas, rarely driving things forward.
"Look at him, he needs a Doctor!"
"Hartnell or Troughton?"
The Master goes to rein in the Keller machine...
...but it's not as easy to tame as he expected.
His worst fear, it seems, is a giant, insane, incorporeal Doctor.
Seems perfectly reasonable to be afraid of that.
Simon Threadgold@dimwittedly Size issues. Typical.
Summers struggles to assess the Doctor's alien physiology.
Pertwee in a coma, I know, I know, it's really serious.
He wakes just in time to find Jo trying to kill him with a paracetemol, though.
The Master gives Mailer a good appraisal but tells him to keep the lads out of the processing room.
The Master takes Mailer into his confidence...
...and reveals his plan to have the inmates of Stangmoor to steal the Thunderbolt missile from under Mike Yates' nose.
"How about some breakfast?"
"What do you think this is, a holiday camp?"
"You must have some... Porridge?"
Somewhat recovered, the Doctor is ready to make an escape attempt.
The Master rallies the inmates, promising them a "passport to freedom!"
The Doctor and Jo escape by making a right Charlie of Charlie. And Vosper.
The Doctor decides to bide his time in the governor's office.
Simon Threadgold@dimwittedly Awkward moment when one of the Prison Governor's "nature pics" crops up in the slideshow.
Tim Combe's direction's outstanding.
Lovely camera moves & action sequences par excellence.
50dw50@50dw50 was this one that went over budget?
Think that was Ambassadors but wouldn't be surprised if this did too, to be honest.
"Trap One to Greyhound - What's all this 'Venus' and 'Jupiter' crap, Greyhound? Over."
50dw50@50dw50 the director was never used again as i recall.
Simon Threadgold@dimwittedly I think it's the UNIT/Prisoners fight at the castle. Certain shots missed so last minute reshoots were needed.
50dw50@50dw50 that rings a bell.
Cry HAVOC! Yates is as useless as ever.
Soon on the scene, the Brig orders up a mobile command unit...
...but tells Benton to keep the regular army out of it. No one outside of UNIT is supposed to know that the deadly nerve gas carrying Thunderbolt is on British soil.
The Brig twigs that the nearest place a the Black Maria vans would have come from... is Stangmoor prison.
The Doctor has figured out that the machine contains a mind parasite the Master has harnessed.
Simon Threadgold@dimwittedly Why exactly? Did he find stealing a missile a little tedious?
The treatment room's a great little set, isn't it? Sci-fi-ish in such an Earth-bound story.
Having nommed some tasty negative emotions from the rioting prisoners...
...the creature is now powerful enough to teleport the Keller machine around to go on a bigger binge.
Simon Threadgold@dimwittedly Oh no! Those poor murdering bastards!
50dw50@50dw50 thats a good idea to frighten watching the kids though, knowing that it could now go after them.
Mailer backs the Doctor & Jo into the processing room...
...so the machine takes the opportunity to attack.
It makes short work of Vosper as Mailer threatens Jo and the Doctor...
...then turns on them, allowing Mailer to flee as it begins to ravage their minds!
Simon Threadgold@dimwittedly Playing Radiohead loud can have that effect.
Tim Gambrell@Mr_Brell Houghton did suffer a bit from Hulke-syndrome, repeating cliff hangers too often, alas...
50dw50@50dw50 when i did my rewatch it felt such a relief after the comic strip Terror of the Autons
Tim Gambrell@Mr_Brell Terror Of The Autons is dreadful in my view, very little to recommend it but still incredibly popular
Ha, I love it. Great fun. :-D
The Doctor & Jo are surprised to find that they're suddenly released from the parasite's grip.
Just outside is Barnham. Coincidence?
The Brig goes up-tiddly-up in his whirlybird...
...so the Doctor and Jo give him a wave.
The commotion alerts one of Mailer's men, but he's easily overpowered by Barnham.
The Master/Mailer alliance is becoming a bit strained as their differing agendas clash.
Yates is pretending to be asleep so his ticket doesn't get checked.
Simon Threadgold@dimwittedly Yates is always doing this at work. That's why Benton gets all the crappy jobs.
...but tells Benton to keep the regular army out of it. No one outside of UNIT is supposed to know that the deadly nerve gas carrying Thunderbolt is on British soil.
The Brig twigs that the nearest place a the Black Maria vans would have come from... is Stangmoor prison.
The Doctor has figured out that the machine contains a mind parasite the Master has harnessed.
Simon Threadgold@dimwittedly Why exactly? Did he find stealing a missile a little tedious?
The treatment room's a great little set, isn't it? Sci-fi-ish in such an Earth-bound story.
Having nommed some tasty negative emotions from the rioting prisoners...
...the creature is now powerful enough to teleport the Keller machine around to go on a bigger binge.
Simon Threadgold@dimwittedly Oh no! Those poor murdering bastards!
50dw50@50dw50 thats a good idea to frighten watching the kids though, knowing that it could now go after them.
Mailer backs the Doctor & Jo into the processing room...
...so the machine takes the opportunity to attack.
It makes short work of Vosper as Mailer threatens Jo and the Doctor...
...then turns on them, allowing Mailer to flee as it begins to ravage their minds!
Simon Threadgold@dimwittedly Playing Radiohead loud can have that effect.Tim Gambrell@Mr_Brell Houghton did suffer a bit from Hulke-syndrome, repeating cliff hangers too often, alas...50dw50@50dw50 when i did my rewatch it felt such a relief after the comic strip Terror of the AutonsTim Gambrell@Mr_Brell Terror Of The Autons is dreadful in my view, very little to recommend it but still incredibly popularHa, I love it. Great fun. :-D
The Doctor & Jo are surprised to find that they're suddenly released from the parasite's grip.
Just outside is Barnham. Coincidence?
The Brig goes up-tiddly-up in his whirlybird...
...so the Doctor and Jo give him a wave.
The commotion alerts one of Mailer's men, but he's easily overpowered by Barnham.
The Master/Mailer alliance is becoming a bit strained as their differing agendas clash.
Yates is pretending to be asleep so his ticket doesn't get checked.
Simon Threadgold@dimwittedly Yates is always doing this at work. That's why Benton gets all the crappy jobs.
The Doctor's attempts to persuade Mailer that the Master is using him are met with pragmatism:
"So he's using me, I'm using him. Can you make me a better offer?"
How the hell did Cosworth get to be a Major?
50dw50@50dw50 friends in high places!
Simon Threadgold@dimwittedly Helps when there's only twelve people in UNIT and promotions are compulsory.
Simon G@SHGB001 If you get a promotion in UNIT you are extremely lucky, as you are alive. UNIT has a high turnover of personnel.
Good point!
Love this bit with the Doctor and Jo shushing the Master while they play checkers.
The Doctor gets beaten by Jo at checkers and K9 at chess, but he crushes Borusa at the game of Rassilon.
50dw50@50dw50 The Master should have produced a chess board from behind his back with shrunken guards and prisoners as pieces.
Simon Threadgold@dimwittedly What is this, Jo's second week in a new job? She's handling it well.
50dw50@50dw50 i always imagine that loads of time has passed between Autons and this story.
Simon Threadgold@dimwittedly Hope so. Makes Jo's devotion to the Doctor a little less odd.
50dw50@50dw50 plus the Master has needed time to set all this in motion.
The Brig and Cosworth plan to storm the prison on several fronts, using a Trojan and a secret passage. So to speak.
Benton just discharged himself. Eeeew.
Watch out, Yates is on the loose!
Agreeing to help the Master wrangle the Keller machine back under control...
...the Doctor plans to keep the creature confused with a kind of electromagnetic loop.
The creature fights back, attacking him more nightmare visions....
...and Zarbi.
Eventually, ably assisted by some timely knob twiddling from the Master...
...the machine is subdued.
"So he's using me, I'm using him. Can you make me a better offer?"
How the hell did Cosworth get to be a Major?
50dw50@50dw50 friends in high places!
Simon Threadgold@dimwittedly Helps when there's only twelve people in UNIT and promotions are compulsory.
Simon G@SHGB001 If you get a promotion in UNIT you are extremely lucky, as you are alive. UNIT has a high turnover of personnel.
Good point!
Love this bit with the Doctor and Jo shushing the Master while they play checkers.
The Doctor gets beaten by Jo at checkers and K9 at chess, but he crushes Borusa at the game of Rassilon.
50dw50@50dw50 The Master should have produced a chess board from behind his back with shrunken guards and prisoners as pieces.
Simon Threadgold@dimwittedly What is this, Jo's second week in a new job? She's handling it well.
50dw50@50dw50 i always imagine that loads of time has passed between Autons and this story.
Simon Threadgold@dimwittedly Hope so. Makes Jo's devotion to the Doctor a little less odd.
50dw50@50dw50 plus the Master has needed time to set all this in motion.
The Brig and Cosworth plan to storm the prison on several fronts, using a Trojan and a secret passage. So to speak.
Benton just discharged himself. Eeeew.
Watch out, Yates is on the loose!
Agreeing to help the Master wrangle the Keller machine back under control...
...the Doctor plans to keep the creature confused with a kind of electromagnetic loop.
The creature fights back, attacking him more nightmare visions....
...and Zarbi.
Eventually, ably assisted by some timely knob twiddling from the Master...
...the machine is subdued.
Job done, the Doctor is returned to the cells.
The Doctor begins to tell Jo about the time he was locked in the Tower of London with Walter Raleigh - he invented bikes didn't he?
Simon Threadgold@dimwittedly We find out in Colony in Space that Jo didn't believe the TARDIS was a space/time machine. She must think he's a loon here.
50dw50@50dw50 so thats why she is so tolerant of him, she is humouring a nutter.
Simon Threadgold@dimwittedly "On the contrary, sir, he happens to be a genius. And a nutcase, so watch it."
Love this little bit of music that plays on the approach to Dover castle.
The Brig's cockney delivery driver act is hilarious. "Provisions - nosh! Booze for the guv'nor!"
Simon Threadgold@dimwittedly This story is full of great moments for the regulars. But which is the Brig's real accent?
This whole sequence is rip-roaring stuff for Doctor Who.
Top marks to Tim Combes.
Totally worth it.
Simon Threadgold@dimwittedly Excellent sequence. Benton doesn't trip over his own feet or anything.
Slowly but surely...
...UNIT gain the upper hand.
Inside the prison, Mailer decides the Doctor and Jo are needed as hostages.
Jo's attempt to engineer an escape for the Doctor backfires, though...
...she's at his mercy, and Mailer has the Doctor at gunpoint.
Great cliffhanger; really looks like he's shot the Doctor.
Hurrah, it's the Brig!
The Doctor begins to tell Jo about the time he was locked in the Tower of London with Walter Raleigh - he invented bikes didn't he?
Simon Threadgold@dimwittedly We find out in Colony in Space that Jo didn't believe the TARDIS was a space/time machine. She must think he's a loon here.
50dw50@50dw50 so thats why she is so tolerant of him, she is humouring a nutter.
Simon Threadgold@dimwittedly "On the contrary, sir, he happens to be a genius. And a nutcase, so watch it."
Love this little bit of music that plays on the approach to Dover castle.
The Brig's cockney delivery driver act is hilarious. "Provisions - nosh! Booze for the guv'nor!"
Simon Threadgold@dimwittedly This story is full of great moments for the regulars. But which is the Brig's real accent?
This whole sequence is rip-roaring stuff for Doctor Who.
Top marks to Tim Combes.
Totally worth it.
Simon Threadgold@dimwittedly Excellent sequence. Benton doesn't trip over his own feet or anything.
Slowly but surely...
...UNIT gain the upper hand.
Inside the prison, Mailer decides the Doctor and Jo are needed as hostages.
Jo's attempt to engineer an escape for the Doctor backfires, though...
...she's at his mercy, and Mailer has the Doctor at gunpoint.
Great cliffhanger; really looks like he's shot the Doctor.
Hurrah, it's the Brig!
The Doctor's "Do you think that for once in your life you could manage to arrive before the nick of time?" is of course daftly ungrateful.
But really just set up to make the Doctor look a bit silly and the Brig super cool.
Simon Threadgold@dimwittedly Favourite moment in the story, possibly the whole era.
At the airfield, the Master arrives to check all's in order with his stolen missile.
Time to take aim...
Benton reports the prison secured, and has found Barnham, safe and sound.
Yates has made it to the mobile HQ and reports the location of the stolen Thunderbolt missile.
The Master sets about aiming the Thunderbolt.
Back in the processing room, the Keller machine begins to burn through the electromagnetic loop holding it back.
Benton is promoted to acting Governor. Jeepers!
Simon Threadgold@dimwittedly "Benton, have you ever considered a career outside of UNIT?"
But really just set up to make the Doctor look a bit silly and the Brig super cool.
Simon Threadgold@dimwittedly Favourite moment in the story, possibly the whole era.
At the airfield, the Master arrives to check all's in order with his stolen missile.
Time to take aim...
Benton reports the prison secured, and has found Barnham, safe and sound.
Yates has made it to the mobile HQ and reports the location of the stolen Thunderbolt missile.
The Master sets about aiming the Thunderbolt.
Back in the processing room, the Keller machine begins to burn through the electromagnetic loop holding it back.
Benton is promoted to acting Governor. Jeepers!
Simon Threadgold@dimwittedly "Benton, have you ever considered a career outside of UNIT?"
"Better brush up the old CV and see if there's any jobs selling 2nd hand cars, I guess..."
Simon Threadgold@dimwittedly "I am verry gud at falling over and my mum sez I can be wotever I want, so pleez may I be a juge on the ex factor...The machine breaks free...
...and goes on the rampage.
50dw50@50dw50 i thought this was a bit more spooky in black and white
Seems it doesn't take long for power to go to Benton's head; he's soon dismissing Barnham's innocent request to see Dr. Summers, even though the surly sarge just spoke to him on the phone.
The Doctor works on a way to keep the machine under wraps on a more permanent basis, only to find that it's already on the loose aboot this hoose.
The machine pops up to say boo again!
The Doctor finally clocks that Barnham's blank slate seems to completely negate the creature's power.
With the machine neutralised they can take the fight to the Master.
As Mike shovels down recovery sarnies, Cosworth and the Brig plan to take advantage of the Thunderbolt's self-destruct.
With the machine subdued, the Doctor takes the opportunity to get a closer look at the parasitic creature it houses.
Promoted to Prison Governor, Benton is really nothing more than a receptionist.
The Master rings up the Doctor for one of their cosy chats. Soon turns abusive.
Summers doesn't quite get it about Barnham keeping the machine cool...
...till he gets a free demonstration, that is.
The Doctor and the Master strike a deal...
...the missile for the dematerialisation circuit the Doctor stole from the Master's TARDIS last time out.
As long as the Brig doesn't plan anything daft, everything should go according to plan.
The Doctor decides that with Barnham keeping the machine neutralised he can use it to catch the Master.
As if the Master wouldn't forsee that someone that they'd try to use the Thunderbolt's self-destruct mechanism.
It's time for Barnham to get his show on the road.
The Brig is surprised the self-destruct didn't work.
The Doctor isn't: "The Master may be a scoundrel but he is a scientist."
Look at the size of that thing, Doctor...
The Master is amused to learn the Doctor's named his car Bessie.
Simon Threadgold@dimwittedly Did the Master just give the Doctor the "wanker" gesture? 'Cos in this story, it's justified.
The Doctor's plan is to detonate the missile in the middle of nowhere and polish off the machine...
...but things go awry.
While the Doctor scrabbles to restore the self-destruct circuit...
...Jo calls in their air rescue.
Not only does the Master escape...
...but he kills Barnham as he does, running him down.
50dw50@50dw50 Barnham is such a tragic character, only Jo is nice to him, even Dr Who bullies him then when Jo is sad about getting him killed selfish old Dr Who snaps "how do you think i feel" grrrr.
Simon Threadgold@dimwittedly Yes! Christ, she should slap him for that.
Jo & the Doctor watch from a safe distance as the missile is aborted...
...wiping out the mind parasite and the Thunderbolt with it.
50dw50@50dw50 and release the nerve gas...Simon Threadgold@dimwittedly Detonating it in England seems a tad dodgy.Meh, duck and cover, it'll all blow over.
Simon Threadgold@dimwittedly Where's the chauffeur? Is the chauffeur OK? I want the chauffeur back in the next story.50dw50@50dw50 he ran off with corporal Bell and is having a great timeSimon Threadgold@dimwittedly I'm happy for them.
The Master's making another prank call - having a lovely old gloat that the Doctor dropped his dematerialisation circuit, and he's free roam the universe once again.
"You'll never see me again - until next week!"
Simon Threadgold@dimwittedly The Master puts the phone down, steps out of the TARDIS and gets captured by Axos. D'oh!
"I'm stuck here on Earth - with YOU, Brigadier!"
Simon Threadgold@dimwittedly "Tell you what, Doctor. Why don't you get out of my f*cking office and go get yourself a proper job?"
TTFN! K.
Coming Soon... The Seeds of Doom
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