UNIT attempt to get into the bunker to stop Miss Winters setting off the world's nuclear missiles but first they have to get past the K1.UNIT attempt to get into the bunker to stop Miss Winters setting off the world's nuclear missiles but first they have to get past the K1.UNIT attempt to get into the bunker to stop Miss Winters setting off the world's nuclear missiles but first they have to get past the K1.
- Soldier
- (uncredited)
- UNIT Soldier
- (uncredited)
- Director
- Writers
- Terrance Dicks
- Sydney Newman(uncredited)
- Donald Wilson(uncredited)
- All cast & crew
- Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaThis episode was watched by 9 million viewers on its original transmission.
- GoofsIn its original broadcast the giant robot suffered from the use of CSO (blue screen) because the screen it stood in front of reflected in its silver sheen, causing large parts of the robot to randomly vanish as it moved around, particularly its lower legs, however, this has been largely corrected in later releases.
- Quotes
Doctor Who: You know, what you need is a change.
Sarah Jane Smith: Hmm.
Doctor Who: How about a little trip in the TARDIS? I'm just off.
Sarah Jane Smith: Wait, you can't just go!
Doctor Who: Why not? It's a free cosmos!
Sarah Jane Smith: The Brigadier!
Doctor Who: The Brigadier? Wants me to address the cabinet? Have lunch at Downing Street, dinner at the Palace, and write seventeen reports in triplicate! Well I won't do it. I won't, I won't, I...
Doctor Who: [pounds his fist on the table] won't!
Sarah Jane Smith: [startled] Ooh!
Doctor Who: Why should I?
Sarah Jane Smith: Doctor, you- you're being childish!
Doctor Who: Well of course I am! There's no point in being grown up if you can't be childish sometimes.
- ConnectionsFeatured in Bite Back: Episode #1.19 (1993)
The plot does contain some holes of course, and some moments of silly convenience just to move things along, but mostly it works. It does so because it builds well, playing different cards as it goes; but it also works because it does have a good base of ideas behind it. The idea of a robot fighting Prime Directive logic is pretty well done, and the 'monster' of the serial is far from being just a lumbering beast. This is unfortunately not to say that it is as smart as I would have liked, or really gets the viewer to struggle with moral conflict over its fate and nature, however it is at least interesting compared to how it so easily could have been played out.
The cast are decent and fit the narrative pretty well. Baker makes an immediate impact with a much lighter touch than Pertwee, and a nice sense of the wild edge of childishness. I will be honest and say his flippantness did put me in mind of the recent incarnations, and it worried me a little and did seem silly for the sake of it – although the change of pace was nice. Sladen in support was good, and worked well with the robot (which had decent voicework from Kilgarriff). Courtney and his UNIT usual are solid (although Levene never has much of a character). I was not a fan of Marter, so it did bug me to see him (I assume) become the new companion to make a trio again. Burhham is good in a so-so character, and generally the supporting roles do what they should (including those UNIT soldiers being killed with abandon).
A solid serial then, with good pace, some nice aspects, and generally a lively start to a new season and a (slightly too silly) new Doctor.
- bob the moo
- Sep 26, 2015
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