Doctor Who: 8 Jon Pertwee Serials You Need To Revisit In January
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 Hey, its in colour now!) and a new look (Hey, its all on film due to a strike!) to boot. Who wouldnt 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 cant help but pull faces when hes 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. Its great action, too. The Autons bursting out of the shop windows are downright creepy in a way theyll never be again, though their human(?) catspaw Channing, as played by Hugh Burden, is even creepier. Theres 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 ones definitely worth celebrating.
Tony Whitt has previously written TV, DVD, and comic reviews for CINESCAPE, NOW PLAYING, and iF MAGAZINE. His weekly COMICSCAPE columns from the early 2000s can still be found archived on Mania.com. He has also written a book of gay-themed short stories titled CRESCENT CITY CONNECTIONS, available on Amazon.com in both paperback and Kindle format. Whitt currently lives and works in Chicago, Illinois.
