Dr. Who (The Early Years) - Part 33 "The Third Doctor In Review"

Notes: Jon Pertwee's tenure of Doctor Who was certainly a change from previous seasons. As promised the episode before, the Time Lords have marooned the Doctor on Earth. Fortunately, the Doctor runs into the Brigadier from UNIT who essentially hires the Doctor as a scientific advisor. Unlike his previous incarnation, this Doctor is a dandy and generally more hands on. What he couldn't solve by reversing the polarity of the neutron flow, he'd resolve with his training in Venusian Aki-Do. Though Jon sometimes would claim he left because he was refused a raise, he mostly left because things were changing too much. Barry Letts was leaving as Producer, Terrence Dicks was leaving as Script Editor, Katy Manning had moved on, Nicholas Courtney was being used less and Roger Delgado died. On top of all that, he felt he was getting typecast in the role. Towards the end of his regeneration, The Doctor had more freedom and was spending less time on Earth as a result of helping Gallifrey in the Omega incident. The Time Lords lifted his exile and it seemed Doctor Who had moved into a new era once again.
Name: The Doctor 1970-1974
Actor: Jon Pertwee
July 7, 1919 - May 20, 1996
Occupation: Time Traveller
First Seen: Earth 1970
First Episode: Spearheads From Space (Season 7)
Last Seen: Earth 1974
Last Episode: Planet of Spiders (Season 11)
Special Appearance: The Five Doctors (1983), Dimensions In Time (1993)


Notes: When the Brigadier first meets the third Doctor, he obviously doesn't recognize him. However, he knows he's an alien and the Doctor is very persuading, he ultimately accepts the truth. Even though he at times found the Doctor infuriating he ultimately came to regard the Doctor as a friend and respected his advice. The Brigadiers natural instinct was to blow up whatever was menacing UNIT, but he allowed the Doctor to try his approach many times, attempting a more peaceful solution. Nicolas Courtney was also the only actor in the original series to have been with the Doctor his entire regeneration.
Name: Brigadier Alistair Gordon Lethbridge-Stewart 1970-1974
Actor: Nicholas Courtney
December 16, 1929 - February 22nd, 2011
Occupation: Brigadier of UNIT
First Seen: Earth 1970
First Episode: Spearheads From Space (Season 7)
Last Seen: Continues to work with the 4th Doctor.


Notes: Before the Brigadier discovered the Doctor was exiled to Earth, Liz was hired to act as his scientific advisor. She initially scoffed at the idea of life on other planets, but the Nestene soon changed her mind. She became a valuable assistant to the Doctor, but that was a problem for her. Instead of being the top scientist for UNIT she became an assistant whose primary focus was to hand the Doctor test tubes and tell him how brilliant he was. It didn't take long for her to realize this and when she did, she left UNIT and went back to Cambridge. In reality, the producers realized she was probably too smart for her own good and they wanted someone with less intelligence, to ask the Doctor what people at home were likely wondering. "What's that Doctor?" The irony is, Caroline John was pregnant and was likely to leave the series anyway.
Name: Elizabeth Shaw 1970
Actor: Caroline John
1940 -
Occupation: Scientist
First Seen: Earth 1970
First Episode: Spearheads From Space (Season 7)
Last Seen: Earth, 1970
Last Episode: Inferno (Season 7)
Special Appearance: The Five Doctors (1983)


Notes: With Liz going back to Cambridge, the Brigadier decides to hire a new assistant for the Doctor. So he hires Jo Grant, who's Uncle pulled a few strings for her, and informs her she'll likely be passing the Doctor test tubes and telling him how brilliant he is. Jo and the Doctor don't get off on the right foot and his initial reaction is to let her go, but finds the actual task of doing so not very easy. He ultimately accepts her, despite her usual clumsiness. They become so close in fact, when she finally decides to leave UNIT to get married and travel the Amazon the Doctor is heartsbroken. Katy Manning is severely myopic so that actually aided her when she needed Jo to act clumsy. There are many times in filming you can actually spot her straining to see better.
Name: Jo Grant 1971 - 1973
Actor: Katy Manning
October 14, 1949 -
Occupation: Assistant to Scientific Advisor
First Seen: Earth, 1971
First Episode: Terror of the Autons (Season 8)
Last Seen: Earth, 1973
Last Episode: Green Death (Season 10)
Special Appearance: Death of the Doctor (Sarah Jane Adventures), 2010


Notes: Sarah is a journalist who'll stop at nothing to get a story. To infiltrate UNIT she poses as her Aunt Lavinia, a well known virologist. The Doctor immediately realizes she's an imposter but doesn't turn her in. Despite this, Sarah is unimpressed with the Doctor and when scientists go missing she convinces herself the Doctor is responsible. While searching for one of the scientists she stumbles into the Tardis and when the Doctor tracks down the missing scientists to an earlier century she is brought along (unknown to the Doctor). Eventually, she learns the Doctor is who he says he is and comes to trust him. With Jo gone, the Doctor welcomes Sarah to accompany him on several trips in the Tardis. She continues to do so even after he regenerates. As much as the Doctor came to like Jo, his affection for Sarah grows even more. In total, Sarah has met seven different regenerations of the Doctor. The character of Sarah Jane became such a hit, a spin-off series was attempted in 1981 and again in 2007 (this time successful). Elisabeth Sladen continued in the series until she passed away earlier this year.
Name: Sarah Jane Smith 1974 -
Actor: Elisabeth Sladen
February 1st, 1948 - April 19, 2011
Occupation: Journalist
First Seen: Earth, 1974
First Episode: Time Warrior (Season 11)
Last Seen: Continues to travel with the 4th Doctor


Notes: Unit is first on the scene after the Doctor has regenerated and stumbled out of his Tardis. They bring the Doctor to a local hospital and inform the Brigadier his 'blue box' has been found. During his third regeneration, the Doctor befriends many of the UNIT officers besides the Brigadier. Captain Mike Yates is friendly and dedicated to his cause, but later in his career he's somewhat brainwashed into cooperating with "Operation Golden Age". This projects goal was to revert the Earth to an earlier, simpler time. This included bringing dinosaurs forward through time. The result was Yates having to resign from Unit. Sergeant Benton is also a dedicated officer but loves to joke around, sometimes forgetting he's within the Brigadiers view who disapproves of the whimsical attitude from his officers. UNIT still has dealings with the Doctor from time to time, even long after the Brigadier retires.
Name: Unit - Brigadier Alistair Gordon Lethbridge-Stewart,
Captain Mike Yates,
Sergeant John Benton
Actor: (Yates) Richard Franklin,
(Franklin) January 15th, 1936 -
(Benton) John Levene
(Levene) December 24th, 1941 -
Occupation: Military Personnel
First Seen: Earth, 1970
First Episode: Spearheads From Space (Season 7)
Last Seen: Unit continues to work with the 4th Doctor.
Special Appearance: Yates appears in The Five Doctors (1983)


Next: The Giant Robot

Dr. Who (The Early Years) - Part 30 "The Green Death"

For the Doctors next trip, he plans to take Jo Grant to Metebelis Three, a beautiful 'blue planet'. But when the Brigadier requests the Doctor and Jo for assistance on a new project, Jo opts to follow the Brigadier despite the Doctors reminder he has a time machine and can be back before they even left. When Jo is insistent, the Doctor rushes off in a huff by himself to search for a famed blue sapphire, but discovers a less than hospitable planet.

Meanwhile, the Brigadier and Jo are off to visit Global Chemicals. The Brigadier has been charged with keeping peace and security, but Jo would rather visit Professor Jones who is speaking out against Global Chemicals and all the pollutants it produces for the Earth. Jo Grant falls immediately in love with him and his principals. In turn, Jones is smitten with Jo, despite her clumsy tendencies.

Things turn from bad to worse when miners start turning green and dying. Professor Jones believes it's the waste effects from Global Chemicals. For safety reasons, the mine is closed and an attempt is made to halt production at the factory but Stevens, the director, refuses to do so. Employees who side against him mysteriously become zombie-like loyalists or kill themselves.

After some investigative work on UNIT's behalf and the Doctors own infiltrations, its soon discovered Stevens is not the true director. He is actually a pawn for a sentient computer known as B.O.S.S. (Biomorphic Organisational Systems Supervisor). Boss's initial primary function was to maintain profits for Global Chemicals, but now seeks to enslave 'inefficient' mankind.

BOSS isn't the only problem. Another result of the Global Chemicals toxic waste are large maggots capable of infecting humans with the 'Green Death'. Problems intensify when it's discovered they can cocoon themselves and turn into flying dragonfly-like creatures, capable of spitting the venom. The day is solved when it turns out a special fungus grown by Professor Jones is deadly to the maggots.

BOSS is also destroyed when the Doctor is able to free the mind of Stevens from the computer, who sacrifices himself in order to destroy BOSS. Crises averted, the Doctor wishes to wisk Jo off on another adventure but is shocked to learn she has decided to leave with Professor Jones and get married. Somewhat heart-broken, the Doctor gives her the blue crystal he acquired on Metebelis 3 as an early wedding present. As Professor Jones' friends and the UNIT officers celebrate Jo's engagement, the Doctor slips off quietly.

WHO: Jo Grant

DEPARTURE LOCATION: Earth, circa 1973

REASON FOR DEPARTURE: Falls in love with Professor Jones, and decides to travel the Amazon with him.






NEXT: Time for Sara Jane Smith

Dr. Who (The Early Years) - Part 29 "Frontier In Space"

The Tardis has materialized inside a space craft in the year 2540. Currently, Earth and the Draconian empire are on the verge of war. The Doctor and Jo are accused of being Draconian spies. Things get confusing when the Earth men actually start to see Jo and the Doctor as Draconians. It turns out, some outside force is making the crew of the ship see what they fear most, apparently Draconians.

But the problem isn't limited to this ship alone. Both Draconian and Earth ships alike believe they are being attacked by each other. The Doctor sees through this illusion and realizes it's actually the Ogrons using a hypnosis device to trick Earth and Draconia into a war, neither truly wants. But the Ogrons are sort of intergalactic thugs out for hire. This isn't something they'd do on their own.

The Doctor and Jo are sent to Earth and separated, but are reunited by the true Master-mind of the devious plot. The Master has once again escaped incarceration and vows to see Earth and the Doctor destroyed. However the Doctor has influence in the Draconian empire and convinces the Emperor of the Master's plot.

As shown time and time again, the Master is not so easy to capture. Using his hypno-device which makes people see things they fear he escapes, though Jo fights through the illusion much to the dismay of the Master. Unfortunately, this is the last time Roger Delgado plays the Master. Several months after filming, the actor dies in a car accident. Instead of recasting someone new to play the Master, this is his last appearance in Doctor Who for several years.

As the Master makes his escape, he shoots the Doctor. Things look grim, but Jo helps the Doctor into the Tardis where he begin his recuperation. He also contacts the Timelords after finding out the Master was working with the Daleks all along. They have now begun to resurface and are bent on global domination once more. The Timelords direct the Tardis to the Daleks base of operation. This leads directly into the next story (not being reviewed by me next week).

WHO: The Master

DEPARTURE LOCATION: Ogron Homeworld - 2540

REASON FOR DEPARTURE: Never a part of the Tardis crew.








Next: It's Not Easy Being Green

Dr. Who (The Early Years) - Part 28 "The Three Doctors"

In 1973, Doctor Who was in it's 10th year. And to celebrate, the producers decided to do something a little different. First, we officially get the name of the Doctor's planet, Gallifrey. A mysterious force is draining power from Gallifrey and the Timelords realize they will require the assistance of the Doctor. Every other Timelord seems to be needed to combat the power loss.

Unknown to anyone, the culprit is Omega. The original Timelord who effectively harnessed the power of a black-hole, which is what gives the Timelords the power to travel in time. He became trapped in the black-hole and was thought dead, but regarded as a hero. Trapped alone in a world of anti-matter, Omega became bitter and angry feeling abandoned.

On Earth, Omega has begun to reek his vengeance on the Timelords, starting with the Doctor. Sending anti-matter blobs & formless creatures in an attempt to capture and bring him to the anti-matter universe. While with Jo and Benton, the Doctor is forced to flee to the Tardis (This is Benton's first visit into the Tardis).

Still in critical condition, the Timelords break their own rule of time and send a previous incarnation of the Doctor to help himself. This catches Jo by surprise as she was unaware of the Doctors ability to regenerate. The Brigadier and Benton warmly welcome the 2nd Doctor, as this was how he looked when they first met him. Understandably, the Brigadier is still confused.

The power on Gallifrey is almost exhausted, but when the two Doctors continue to argue with each other instead of help each other, the Timelords are forced to send the 1st Doctor also. With limited power, they are only able to send him in an advisory role. (Actually, the actor William Hartnell was too ill to perform as the producers would have liked). The Doctors finally put their heads together and devise a way to "nobble" Omega.

The Doctors realize Omega has been completely consumed by the Anti-matter and exists only because his will commands it. Now knowing he can never return to the real world, Omega vows to destroy the universe but the Doctors give him the only freedom he can ever have - destruction. Doing so, they reverse the power drain on Gallifrey and supply it with a complete new energy source. In gratitude, the Timelords release the Doctor of his banishment and supply him with a new dematerialization circuit.

Next: Mastering the Frontier

Dr. Who (The Early Years) - Part 27 "The Curse of Peladon"

Doctor Who was now in it's third season of having the Doctor marooned on Earth and it was obvious people were getting a little bored with the format. The Timelords were now (sort of, and secretly) sending the Doctor on missions. The year before they sent him on a mission and this year they have done the same thing. The Doctor believes he has fixed the Tardis and pilots it to Peladon, only later does he admit the Timelords must have sent him.

The Tardis has landed on a rocky cliff, and once the Doctor and Jo step out, the Tardis tumbles down the mountain. The Doctor assures Jo the Tardis is indestructible (This is the first mention of that). Making their way into the Peladon council, they are taken as Earth's delegates. It seems Peladon is considering joining the Galactic Federation, along with other noble races.

Alpha Centauri (the slug-like creature) is another delegate along with the Ice Warriors, much to the Doctors surprise. When several attempts are made on the delegates lives, the Doctor assumes the Ice Warriors are once again to blame. It turns out, however, they are not and claim to have renounced their warrior ways.

Another of the delegates arriving to discuss the possibilities of Peladon joining the Galactic Federation is Arcturus. He is actually in league with Hepesh of Peladon to try and stop Peladon from joining the Galactic Federation. Hepesh believes the Federation will exploit the planet of all minerals. And that's exactly what Arturus intends to do to Peladon if they don't have the protection of the Federation.

When Arcturus attempts to kill the Doctor, he is slain by Ssorg the Ice Warrior who is returning the favour when the Doctor saved his life earlier. Hepesh then initiates a coup and uses Aggedor to do his killing for him, but the Doctor has tamed the beast and turns on Hepesh instead. Crisis averted, the Doctor and Jo discreetly leave once the real Earth ambassador has arrived.


NEXT: The Three Amigos

Dr. Who (The Early Years) - Part 26 "Terror of the Autons"

Season eight of Doctor Who opens with a few changes. Yes, the Doctor is still trapped on Earth but he's got a new enemy to fight. A Timelord who calls himself the Master arrives on Earth. His Tardis is fully operations, complete with a chameleon circuit, allowing his Tardis to blend in with the circus he has landed in. Next to the Master is his Tardis in the shape of a horse-box.

While marooned, the producers wanted to give the Doctor a common enemy to fight. The Master became a sort of Moriarty to the Doctors Sherlock Holmes. But the Timelords have not completely left the Doctor in the lurch, one Timelord in particular arrives briefly to warn the Doctor of the Masters arrival. The Doctor isn't too worried, but he's warned the Master has learned a lot since the Doctor last met him. It's implied the Doctor knows who the Master is, but this is the first on-screen meeting of the two.

Along with a new enemy to fight, the Doctor gets a new assistant; Jo Grant. The Brigadier has hired her to replace Liz who has gone back to Cambridge, but the Doctor argues he needs a competent scientist, and Jo is not. The Brigadier reminds the Doctor how Liz always told him he only needed someone to 'pass him his test tubes and tell him how brilliant he is'. Jo indeed fits that role nicely, when she isn't being hypnotized by the Master.

Fortunately, the Doctor is able to snap Jo out of the Masters influence and they learn what his plan is. He's sided with the Autons in hopes of dominating the Earth. He takes over a plastics factory and begins to produce dolls, chairs, flowers and even telephone cords, all made of plastic and very deadly. Dolls and chairs come to life, flowers spray chemicals to asphyxiate people and telephone cords wrap themselves around people and strangle them to death.

Among his talents, the renegade Timelord is also a Master of disguise. He disguises himself to sneak into UNIT to replace telephone cords and when he's ultimately defeated he disguises someone else to look exactly like him. But the Doctor isn't fooled by the 'Old Man Peabody' routine. The Autons are defeated but the Master gets away. Only he can't use his Tardis as the Doctor has stolen his dematerialization circuit. The Master is now as trapped on Earth as the Doctor is.

WHO: Jo Grant

PLANET OF ORIGIN: Earth, circa 1970

REASON FOR JOINING: The Brigadier hires her as a replacement assistant for the Doctor.




WHO: The Master

PLANET OF ORIGIN: Gallifrey, circa unknown

REASON FOR JOINING: Despite being from Gallifrey, the Master is a renegade like the Doctor, but wishes to 'Master' the Universe and destroy all who stand in his way, namely, the Doctor.



NEXT: Cursing the Ice