Robot - Episode 2

After the up in the air style of the opening episode, it’s time to get involved into the main plot. Due to the reveal at the end of the previous episode we don’t have to have any secretive POV shots. I liked it when Sarah decides she wants to see the new robot after Winter’s tries to scare her. It’s the beginning of a good episode for Sarah Jane who forms an emotional bond with the robot. It’s very much like King Kong. It’s rare to have two strong female characters.

There is a good CSO shot when the robot comes through the wall of the MP’s house. That’s a rare example of CSO working and benefiting the story. The idea of this robot being used by Winters makes more sense in this episode though it’s hard to believe that in the previous episode that it could dig its way out of something due to the fact that its mobility is somewhat restrictive.

Kettlewell created the robot and there is a lovely scene where he’s talking to it and it’s like a father and son talking which is a weird thing to introduce into this show. I still think that the character of Kettlewell is a very interesting character and is played very well by Edward Burnham. Whilst Kettlewell is very good in this episode the same can’t be said for the Doctor’s new companion. Harry’s only purpose in the episode is to pretend to be some civil servant that goes to Think Tank. Even Winter’s thinks that it’s a bit odd. The problems with the character of Harry are already showing themselves in this episode.

Scientific Reform Society (SRS) is mentioned in this episode and they are considered to be a small but seemingly popular group (cant think that would happen today). After a short but good scene, we are left in no state of confusion that there is something about SRS that is important.

There is a shot of the Doctor driving Bessie which is very odd indeed and I think only happens in this serial. Bessie should have been only used by Pertwee because it was his car and he didn’t use it during his last season. Tom Baker discards it after this serial and so I don’t quite know why they bothered with it.

The cliffhanger is rather good with the new Doctor being put in danger. I don’t really like this but I think that because the Doctor is still new, there is a question as to just how he is going to get out of this particular situation. It’s a relatively good episode but it does feel like a Jon Pertwee story and so its hard to imagine that this will be in my top 10 of Tom Baker stories come the end of this era of the show.