Spearhead From Space - Episode 3

I didn’t think until now that its unusual really to have a cliffhanger which uses a character that the regulars haven’t come into contact with. If almost being wiped out by an Auton wasn’t a sign that his future in the story wasn’t going to last much longer then you would be in for a surprise.

I like how the Doctor is manipulating Liz into trying to get away. As he doesn’t have the key to the TARDIS, he persuades Liz to get the key of the Brigadier and give it to him. This shows that Liz Shaw has become a friend of the Doctors and instantly becomes someone that the viewer can trust as well. The fact that Liz does the Doctor’s bidding shows that whilst she might work for the Brigadier (in a sense), she doesn’t really like all the military orders stuff. When the Doctor tries to take off in the TARDIS we learn that the Doctor’s exile is exactly that. This shows the viewer that the Doctor isn’t going anywhere soon and that for the foreseeable future the adventures are going to be set on earth. I like this idea for some reason and think that the adventures we are going to have would only work on earth and not on some alien world.

The Spheres are now called energy units and Channing is missing one of them and it’s the swarm leader. That’s always the way isn’t it? Your missing one piece and its quite an important one. I think that Channing is a really good character and the moment when he’s staring at the Brigadier through that weird looking glass was a brilliant moment as does a good job in continuing to show that Channing isn’t as human as he looks.

I continue to like the Seeley’s. In particular the wife who I think stumbles through the events of this episode. She comes across the trunk that has the sphere in it and it leads to her exit from the story. There are several moments which are impressive in this episode. The scene where the Auton is walking slowly towards Mrs Seeley was one of them. The lack of expression on the Auton’s face is brilliant and it works so well with the shock and terror of Mrs Seeley. Another great scene with the AUton is when it rips its way into the tent that Ransome is resting in and within a moment kills him and makes him blow up into smoke. The final impressive moment is actually the cliffhanger and its where General Scobie opens the door to see his mannequin looking at him and starts walking towards him. It’s an effect that’s well realised and also it’s a creepy ending.

Even though it’s a four part adventure, it doesn’t feel like it. I know what happens in the story and so feel that it seems like Robert Holmes has been keeping our attention with other stuff until he gets into the final episode. That’s OK as the stuff so far has been entertaining and I think that despite some characters who haven’t quite worked (Munro & Ransome), I have enjoyed this story and my feeling about this season being my favourite continues to be the case.