The Doctor’s regeneration and recovery come at an inopportune time for the Brigadier, who has to try to solve a series of crimes related to the top-secret plans for a disintegrator gun. Sarah, researching a story about the equally top-secret Think Tank organization, is introduced to a gigantic robot which could be the perpetrator of the thefts and killings – despite the scientists’ horrifying demonstration that the robot could not kill Sarah. The Doctor, recovering slowly and aggravating the Brigadier with his unpredictable new personality, discovers that the Think Tank scientists are doing much more than research – they’re planning on taking over the world and culling the human herd of those not up to genius standards.
Season 12 Regular Cast: Tom Baker (The Doctor), Elisabeth Sladen (Sarah Jane Smith), Ian Marter (Harry Sullivan)
written by Terrance Dicks
directed by Christopher Barry
music by Dudley SimpsonGuest Cast: Nicholas Courtney (Brigadier Lethbridge-Stewart), John Levene (RSM Benton), Edward Burnham (Professor Kettlewell), Alec Linstead (Jellicoe), Patricia Maynard (Miss Winters), Michael Kilgarriff (Robot), John Scott Martin (Guard), Timothy Craven (Short), Walter Goodman (Chambers)
Broadcast from December 28, 1974 through January 18, 1975
LogBook entry & review by Earl Green
Review: Tom Baker’s first Doctor Who story isn’t really the best measure of his future excellence in the role, though it is very similar to some of the seventeenth season’s sillier moments. However, the Doctor’s recovery from his regeneration makes for several memorable moments as well as allowing the other members of the cast to take center stage, particularly Sarah. And I have to admire the design and sheer workmanship of the huge metal robot suit – and the strength and endurance of the poor soul who had to wear it. Ian Marter makes an excellent addition to the cast as Harry, who the Doctor later whisks away in the TARDIS. Considering the fact that the character of Harry was created to handle the action in the event that Jon Pertwee was followed by an older actor in the role of the Doctor, it’s quite a feat that Marter was able to make the character endearing and useful, even though Tom Baker was able to handle most of the physical challenges that his new male companion was intended to handle.