Doctor Who and the Silurians (review)
"Doctor Who and the Silurians" was a seven-part serial, first broadcast on BBC TV between 31 January 1970 - 14 March 1970. It was written by Malcolm Hulke, and directed by Timothy Combe. It starred Jon Pertwee as the Doctor, Caroline John as Liz Shaw and Nicholas Courtney as Brigadier Lethbridge-Stewart.
*****
Season Seven continues on a considerable high note with the sublime "Doctor Who and the Silurians", a strong morality tale that shines in virtually every aspect. Malcolm Hulke's scripts were always full of genuine shades of gray for all sides involved in the central conflict. The finest example of Hulke's technique is most probably seen here.
For a seven-episode story, it is a taut one, engagingly told and always delivering new and fresh twists as it marches briskly to its conclusion. The length allows the basic storyline to expand, taking in the spread of the plague (an incredibly effective and horrific sequence) from the London railway station, and properly develop the conflict between the young and old Silurians. The characters also have time to breathe, to become more real, and the performances of the main guest cast are nothing short of fantastic. Fulton Mackay as the tragically misguided Dr Quinn is superb, as are Geoffrey Palmer as the conscientious Masters, Peter Miles as the ineffective, promoted-beyond-his-abilities, Dr. Lawrence, and Norman Jones as the bitter Major Baker.
The regular cast also gets a nice slice of the action. Jon Pertwee is absolutely marvelous as the Doctor - although I am as much a fan of his later performance, he is perhaps never better than in his first year. His impatience at the narrow-minded view of both humans and Silurians, and his ultimately fruitless attempts to play mediator between the two, are great. Caroline John continues to impress, with Liz being just as formidable as the Doctor, particularly when she uses his notes to synthesize an antidote to the Silurian virus. And Nicholas Courtney is at the height of his powers as the Brigadier as well - the military man as always, but here blessed with the ability to think constructively and he comes across as being just as skilled as the Doctor at his own craft.
The Silurian creatures themselves are also given personalities and moral conflicts, making the story much more than just an 'us-versus-them' battle as so many later Pertwee stories would. Despite obviously being men in rubber suits, the Silurians are strikingly designed, with their red third eye weapon being particularly memorable. They look their best in the shadowy caves - you can honestly believe they are real creatures, living their lives down there. The dinosaur roaming throughout said caves is slightly less effective, but it isn't that bad and doesn't really detract from the story.
Director Timothy Combe does an excellent job, and it's a great pity he directed only a few stories. The search on the moors makes for some stunning location work, as do the aforementioned plague scenes in London, involving the dying Masters. Combe creates some truly memorable and wonderful moments: the injured Silurian stepping out onto the moor, silhouetted by the sun, and the commuters collapsing at the railway station as the virus spreads. Carey Blyton's brass-oriented incidental score is quite good - including that weird and wonderful kazoo noise - and lends the story a unique atmosphere. Also of note is Barry Newbery's excellent design work, particularly the realistic caves - which is quite an achievement considering the set was accidentally demolished and had to be hurriedly re-built!
Few end on as downbeat a note as this one, with the Brigadier employing the ultimate solution by sealing the Silurians in the caves forever. The Doctor's disgust is excellently portrayed by Pertwee, even if the viewer can't help sympathizing with the Brigadier's methods. UNIT are arguably shown at their peak here - efficient and ruthless - and it's sad to think how the organization would later degenerate into little more than clichéd soldiers made up of bumbling twits.
Overall, "Doctor Who and the Silurians" is a superb epic, with a brilliant set of thought-provoking scripts complemented by solid direction, some astute and well-judged performances and good design work. It truly is one of the best Doctor Who adventures ever, and easily my all-time favorite Third Doctor story.
5 / 5 stars
*****
Season Seven continues on a considerable high note with the sublime "Doctor Who and the Silurians", a strong morality tale that shines in virtually every aspect. Malcolm Hulke's scripts were always full of genuine shades of gray for all sides involved in the central conflict. The finest example of Hulke's technique is most probably seen here.
For a seven-episode story, it is a taut one, engagingly told and always delivering new and fresh twists as it marches briskly to its conclusion. The length allows the basic storyline to expand, taking in the spread of the plague (an incredibly effective and horrific sequence) from the London railway station, and properly develop the conflict between the young and old Silurians. The characters also have time to breathe, to become more real, and the performances of the main guest cast are nothing short of fantastic. Fulton Mackay as the tragically misguided Dr Quinn is superb, as are Geoffrey Palmer as the conscientious Masters, Peter Miles as the ineffective, promoted-beyond-his-abilities, Dr. Lawrence, and Norman Jones as the bitter Major Baker.
The regular cast also gets a nice slice of the action. Jon Pertwee is absolutely marvelous as the Doctor - although I am as much a fan of his later performance, he is perhaps never better than in his first year. His impatience at the narrow-minded view of both humans and Silurians, and his ultimately fruitless attempts to play mediator between the two, are great. Caroline John continues to impress, with Liz being just as formidable as the Doctor, particularly when she uses his notes to synthesize an antidote to the Silurian virus. And Nicholas Courtney is at the height of his powers as the Brigadier as well - the military man as always, but here blessed with the ability to think constructively and he comes across as being just as skilled as the Doctor at his own craft.
The Silurian creatures themselves are also given personalities and moral conflicts, making the story much more than just an 'us-versus-them' battle as so many later Pertwee stories would. Despite obviously being men in rubber suits, the Silurians are strikingly designed, with their red third eye weapon being particularly memorable. They look their best in the shadowy caves - you can honestly believe they are real creatures, living their lives down there. The dinosaur roaming throughout said caves is slightly less effective, but it isn't that bad and doesn't really detract from the story.
Director Timothy Combe does an excellent job, and it's a great pity he directed only a few stories. The search on the moors makes for some stunning location work, as do the aforementioned plague scenes in London, involving the dying Masters. Combe creates some truly memorable and wonderful moments: the injured Silurian stepping out onto the moor, silhouetted by the sun, and the commuters collapsing at the railway station as the virus spreads. Carey Blyton's brass-oriented incidental score is quite good - including that weird and wonderful kazoo noise - and lends the story a unique atmosphere. Also of note is Barry Newbery's excellent design work, particularly the realistic caves - which is quite an achievement considering the set was accidentally demolished and had to be hurriedly re-built!
Few end on as downbeat a note as this one, with the Brigadier employing the ultimate solution by sealing the Silurians in the caves forever. The Doctor's disgust is excellently portrayed by Pertwee, even if the viewer can't help sympathizing with the Brigadier's methods. UNIT are arguably shown at their peak here - efficient and ruthless - and it's sad to think how the organization would later degenerate into little more than clichéd soldiers made up of bumbling twits.
Overall, "Doctor Who and the Silurians" is a superb epic, with a brilliant set of thought-provoking scripts complemented by solid direction, some astute and well-judged performances and good design work. It truly is one of the best Doctor Who adventures ever, and easily my all-time favorite Third Doctor story.
5 / 5 stars