Doctor Who: Planet of the Spiders (Story 74)

 

 

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FOR a show like Dr. Who where several actors have played the lead role, There is always debate over who was the best. The general consensus with Doctor Who fandom is that Tom Baker was the best of the classic series Doctors while David Tennet is the best, so far, of the current series. That being said I respectfully submit that Jon Pertwee, the third actor to play the enigmatic time traveler, is ever bit the equal of Baker and Tennet and was, as they were, "Born to play the role".

Pertwee took on the role of Doctor who at the dawning of the 1970's (His first episode aired late December 1969) and looking back now he bore the weight of the entire series' future on his shoulders. There was great debate at the BBC over weather or not to continue on with the program given the expense of converting and filming the show in color. Add to that a looming strike at the BBC, and fickle fan base facing a new decade with new interest and a series cut way down in length do to budget constraints (the final Patrick Troughton series had seven stories comprising 43 episodes while pertwee's first series had just four stories comprising 25 episodes) and you had a recipe for a show lost in a wave of insurmountable odds and a show cut short before it`s time. Dr Who could have easily been relegated to a quirky little black and white show that ran for a few years back in the 1960's...releases decades latter on DVD in a "Shmultzee" little compellation box set with a toy Dalek. Or worse yet it could have been wipe away all together if the show had not survived past it's first decade.

Enter the great Jon Pertwee with his tall, imposing frame, Flaming white hair , James Bond persona and some Venusian Uja to boot. Pertwee took on the role with Gusto and made it his own and in some ways change the depth and propensity of Doctor who itself/himself. Not the old sage or the clown was Pertwee's portrayal of the Doctor but the hero; Or dare I say the super hero. So confidant was his portray of Doctor Who at times the viewer may have wondered if there was a big "S" under under his cloak and frill shirt and a red cape in the trunk of old Bessie.

Pertwee didn't just save the Earth from galactic evil-doers he saved the show it self from being a one-decade wonder and propelled the show to new heights and ultimately to the Iconic status the show now enjoys. So much of the shows dogma was either re-created or enhanced during the Pertwee era ( a pause here to also give a huge nod to the great Barry Letts who had a something to do with it as well). From the start we were given the Autons who became permanently ingrained in our sub-conscious with their frightening embodiment of lifeless object. They only appeared twice during the Pertwee era but their legacy will remain with the show to the end (The fact the the new series started with an Auton story proves this). Next of course the Pertwee era gave us The Master played with villainous vigor by the late, great Roger Delgado. Only The Daleks are more synonymous with Doctor Who than The Master and for many fans he is the Doctor's ultimate foe. The sub-terrain terrors the Silurian's and the Sea Devils were both created during the Pertwee tenure. Appearing during the Davison and Matt Smith eras, these two creatures still work as villains even today. The war-like Sontarians also first came to fruition while Pertwee was at the helm as did two of the best companions the show has ever seen in Jo Grant and Sara Jane Smith. The later of course still relevant and immensely popular today returning several time to the program plus staring in her own show the Sara Jane adventures. Last is the (then) emerging lore of the time lords themselves. The term Galifrey was coined during Jon Pertwee's The Time Warrior and the concept of the Doctor meeting his past incarnations came to be during Pertwee's fourth season opener The Three Doctors.

Alas, What does all this have to do with Planet of the Spider? In a word: Everything. Pertwee's finale brings together (for one last time) most of the elements of what made his ere so great: UNIT, a mostly Earth bound story, gadgets, a cheesy villain, a fellow time lord and one of the best chase scenes the show ever had. Is this episode a Five star classic like Caves of Andrazani or Pyramids of Mars? No. But from the opening scene's "gong" we immediately sense the approaching doom pulling the doctor to his ultimate fate. The story has a pace less suited to hasten the story and more to pay homage to it's star. The acting and character development for guests and regulars are solid in the story but the Star is Pertwee and he is given plenty of plot devices to make one final curtain call. Don't expect a classic monster here as the Spiders, and the giant spider herself, are some of the Cheesiest creatures the show has ever seen. If I can say one positive thing about them at least they weren't made of tin foil. While they do little to add to the story they certainly don't detract from it.

Long time fans , Pertwee fans and Completion-ists will of course buy this episode but to the newer, younger fans who maybe haven't seen it before I would say buy it. Planet of the Spiders is an essential part of the show's history. It is the last chance to see how Jon Pertwee took a show that was destined for greatness and then solidified it's greatness.... before passing it on to a worthy and equal successor....

Jon Pertwee gets a pretty good sendoff in the Planet of Spiders, Likely not as good as he deserved but still worth your time.

We see the Doctor FINALLY reach the blue planet that he has been talking about for two seasons. Yet it is a planet with problems, specifically it is being ruled by spiders who are enslaving the humans.

The plot turns involving the meditation center, the other timelord and Mike Yates are interesting, as is the final regeneration scene, I did take exception to one bit of the plot.

It seem strange that the Doctor knowing that the Queen Spider is about to doom herself, while trying to become the most powerful creature in the world would put himself into such danger to try to talk her out of it. If he succeeds she will continue to be a menace. This seems to forshadow Tom Baker more than the quite practical Jon Pertwee. The psycological factor is played well, but I still don't buy it.

Pertwee was a long running doctor, he would give way to the longest running (and in my opinion the best) doctor, and sometimes that gives him short shift in comparison. This is unfair. Pertwee was a class act, a class actor, and a class doctor.

Those who think thi one's drawn out or padded should re-view the tape again! This is one of the better story lines with an above-normal inter-woven plot and enough action to make each episode very interesting! And yes... the fact that the Doctor regenerates into TOM BAKER at the end makes the tape well worth owning! For those of you who didn't care for this one... What's your preference? Sesame Street? Jelly Baby, anyone?

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5.0 out of 5 stars The Doctor finally makes his way to Metebelis 3 but finds spiders in charge!
The Doctor back a UNIT headquarters is conducting experiemts into the human mind and help unlock its potenial for the Earth. Read more

Published 11 days ago by Jacob

4.0 out of 5 stars All praise to Classic Who
Growing up my favorite classic Doctor Who stories to watch were either Cybermen, multi doctor, or Regeneration episodes. Read more

Published 3 months ago by Zachary W. Dyer

5.0 out of 5 stars The Third Doctor's Last and Most Dangerous Adventure
2 discs, 150 minutes, 6 episodes, full frame video, English mono audio, English subtitles

In the Third Doctor's last and most dangerous adventure, a misguided group... Read more

Published 4 months ago by DJ PHILLY B?

4.0 out of 5 stars Not one of the best.
This is not one of the best Dr Who stories in my opinion. I bought this on VHS because I wanted to have something of DR Who and something of Jon Pertwee. Read more

Published on February 24, 2003 by Adam Paul Bailey

5.0 out of 5 stars Oh what a tangled web we weave
i have given this Jon Pertwee story five stars because in many ways it was one of the best stories that he, himself portrayed and must count as one of the best Doctor Who's... Read more

Published on October 9, 2002 by Junglies

5.0 out of 5 stars the last jon pertwee story.
this has to be one of jon pertwees best stories. it shows the doctor in a different light, well since he does regenerate into tom baker at theh end! Read more

Published on May 16, 2001 by jenny bradley

4.0 out of 5 stars This is NOT a review.
Actually I want to ask a question. What is the difference between the 1974 and 1975 versions of this video? Read more

Published on March 18, 2001 by Stephen Bailey

2.0 out of 5 stars "Oh dear, this is getting monotonous!"
"Planet of the Spiders" is an interesting idea that unfortunately does not succeed in realisation. Read more

Published on January 21, 2001 by Brian May

5.0 out of 5 stars Fantastic!
Planet of the Spiders(POS)Is fantastic. Even though the spiders are laughable the story is brilliant and will have you glued to the screen throughout. Read more

Published on July 8, 2000 by Mr. C. Lewis

4.0 out of 5 stars Enjoyable if you're not looking for serious sci-fi.
This is the kind of science fiction which is entertaining and worthwhile purchasing not because of its quality, but because it is so awful it's fun. Read more

Published on April 13, 2000 by G.Spider

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