Planet of the Spiders: Part Six

Having previously betrayed UNIT to return the world to a golden age, Mike Yates goes to a meditation centre for peace of mind however, finding more than he bargained for, he brings along Sarah Jane to look into the place. Meanwhile the Doctor investigates ESP with someone gifted in this way. Both parties come together when they find connections to a blue crystal, and the intergalactic ambitions of a load of spiders on the planet Metebelis 3.

This is the last serial featuring Jon Pertwee's Doctor and in some ways it should be commended for its restraint because, as Theo Robertson observes, if this was the modern series then a regeneration would have to feature every creature from the series, at least 2 former companions, and several kitchen sinks. Planet of the Spiders doesn't go all out to be anything particularly different for its finale, but it does actually make an effort in one way – which is to deliver almost a potted summary of Pertwee's tenure. So the plot involves ideas, monsters, human corruption or moral weakness, martial arts, chases, bloody stupid vehicles, UNIT, and as ever – villains who are able to escape because nobody takes their keys when they get out of a vehicle. As a sort of tasters platter it is decent enough, but it has the weakness that all of the aspects do not work and, as is often the case with the 6-parters, it feels padded.

This is evident in some very weak "cliff-hangers" but can also be seen in other ways, such as an episode that is essentially one big long chase; sounds exciting but in reality it is comically silly. Speaking of which, the spiders really don't have the fear factor they should do – and I say this as one not a fan of them but yet totally unphased by events here. It does play out reasonably well, but it is always "okay" rather than really great. Pertwee himself is pretty good, although I didn't think again that Sladen had a great amount to do. Perhaps better is to come from her, but Sarah Jane is considered one of the great companions and being honest she has not made much of an impression on me yet, despite having had the whole season to do so. Good to see the regulars of UNIT back, and the main human villain (Dearth) was good.

All told, this eleventh season had its weaker moments, and generally after the first two serials it was not what it needed to be. This serial has a bit of everything for Pertwee fans before they refresh the production for season twelve. It doesn't all work and it does feel very padded out, but it is an enjoyable last go-around for Pertwee's Doctor, and his final moments of self-realisation and sacrifice are very well handled.

Review of all 6 episodes:

This may not be the very best of the Pertwee era but it is an excellent story and a fitting finale for the Third incarnation of The Doctor. It is exciting, beautifully scripted by Robert Sloman (+Barry Letts) and well acted with poignant final scenes for Pertwee saying a sad farewell before regenerating into Tom Baker's 4th Doctor.

The story involves Mike Yates, convalescing in a Buddhist retreat and finding some of the others there are seemingly attempting to gain dangerous mental powers. He calls Sarah Jane in to help investigate. Meanwhile The Doctor and the Brigadier are investigating a psychic whose powers are beyond his own understanding and this power combines badly with the crystal from Metebelis 3 which The Doctor shows him after it is returned to him by former companion Jo Grant. This psychic event causes a link to be made by huge, psychically powerful spiders on Metebelis 3 with the men in the Buddhist retreat. A spider joins with the leader of the group Lupton and causes him to steal the crystal.

The first episode has great dialogue and a very interesting set up. The second episode is very entertaining and continues just as strongly with lovely exchanges between Pertwee, Nicholas Courtney and John Levene plus the wonderful Lis Sladen. There is thoughtful drama and great humour. Halfway through the second episode changes pace with a huge, slightly pointless but action packed chase sequence on numerous forms of transport. This is great fun if a little gratuitous. The only real flaw for me in the opening 2 parts is that they have a striking coincidence that the different strands of the story happen to link up - Mike happening to be at the very place that people become psychically linked to Metebelis 3 seeking the Doctor's crystal. But this is a common storytelling feature and not a big criticism at all. The humour, action and drama is great.

The third and fourth episodes continue with the entertaining drama, excellence in script and great acting from the regular cast. They are only held back a little by the humans - '2 legs' - on Metebelis 3 who are a bit disappointing compared to the whole rest of the production which is superb. The spiders are not really ground breaking but are scary, pretty effective for the time and well voiced, making them great monsters.

Episode 5 builds in quality with striking scenes where Pertwee acts intense fear and dread as he confronts the 'Great One' and delightful scenes with the character Kan-Po Rimpoche, The Doctor's former mentor who is brilliantly portrayed and a fascinating addition to the series lore. Episode 6 is superb and brings a tremendous climax to the story as well as a wonderful, moving end for Pertwee's Doctor. There are numerous powerful scenes in this final part and the script is excellent.

Benton, the Brig, Sarah Jane and Mike are all on top form. Best of all, Pertwee is tremendous in his final story and especially his final couple of episodes. The character portrayal with him realising he has let his quest for knowledge cause death and danger is fabulous and more clever and subtle than the efforts to show 'the dark side' of the Doctor by Stephen Moffatt in the modern era.

A great send off for the Third Doctor and an excellent addition to the series as a whole.

My ratings: Parts 1 & 2 - 9/10, Parts 3 & 4 - 8.5/10, Part 5 - 9/10, Part 6 - 10/10. Overall 9/10.

Season 11 was a fantastic season, my second favourite Pertwee season after Season 7 and one of the top 10 seasons ever in my opinion. Terrance Dicks and Barry Letts had done a terrific job running the show throughout the Pertwee era, maintaining consistent high standards. Pertwee himself was a marvelous Doctor who still remains one of the best to many of us.

My Season 11 Average Rating - 8.9/10

My Pertwee era average rating - 8.82/10.

"Tear, Sarah Jane?"

Jon Pertwee's send off reminds me of David Tennant's, in the fact that, with a few minor and easy changes, it could've been perfect. Shortening the story to four parts is where I would start. The plot is interesting for the first and last part and both would receive an eight or nine on their own, but the four parts in between are stretched out and boring which sadly drags this regeneration story down way farther than I'd have liked. Also, for some reason, I found the colonies of Metebelis 3 demystifying compared to the dark and mysterious action shots we received in The Green Death. With all these nitpicks and problems, the Doctor dying due to his constant greed and interest in knowledge and science is an intensely alluring concept, and seeing another Time Lord from his past was also. The original plans for the Third Doctor's send off (with the Master finally 'defeating' him) leaves me disappointed and aching for more than we received, even though I understand that Delgado's exit was out of their control. These unsatisfying aspects comedically reflect the reasons Pertwee left in the first place. Anyways, with all that said and done, his thirty second goodbye hurt more than most of the speeches we get today.

Part One/Two/Three - June 28th Part Four - June 29th Part Five/Six - June 30th

The Doctor has to confront his primal fear, and confront The Great One.

The Doctor's undoing has been his thirst for knowledge, his desperation to do what he wants, such similarities to David Tennant's exit.

I do like The Doctor's showdown with The Great one, I admire the effects, and the realisation of the Giant Queen is well realised. She does go on a bit though.

They got away with murders here, repeating so much material from the last episode, almost seven minutes in and we're getting part five's cliffhanger.

Jon's final scene is incredibly moving, it shows why so many of us loved him so much, and consider The Pertwee era, as one of the golden.

Tom is my favourite Doctor if I'm honest, so I do love the scene where we see him for the first time.

It's a decent ending for Jon, I've always felt he deserved a better story. 7/10.