Doctor Who: 8 Jon Pertwee Serials You Need To Revisit In January

By Tony Whitt /

8. Spearhead From Space (1970)

What a way to start off a new decade, eh? A new Doctor with a new supporting cast, a new alien menace, a new colour palate (as in €œHey, it€™s in colour now!€) and a new look (€œHey, it€™s all on film due to a strike!€) to boot. Who wouldn€™t love this story? In some ways, Spearhead From Space is Pertwee at his most subdued and therefore at his best. True, fans are never allowed to forget his background as a comedian, such as in the showering scene, and the man just can€™t help but pull faces when he€™s being attacked or even shot in the temple. But much like Tom Baker after him, he owns the role as soon as he gets past all the post-regenerative craziness, and that's when the action really begins. It€™s great action, too. The Autons bursting out of the shop windows are downright creepy in a way they€™ll never be again, though their human(?) catspaw Channing, as played by Hugh Burden, is even creepier. There€™s also a lot to be said for the story being done all on film - it generally gives everything a much more realistic edge than the stories of that era normally have. This one€™s definitely worth celebrating.