REACTION: Doctor Who and the Silurians Episode 5 || S7E9
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Reaction to 1970 Classic Doctor Who Season 7, Story 2
Doctor Who and the Silurians - Episode 5
(Series 7, Episode 9)
With Jon Pertwee as the third Doctor
Companions: Caroline John as Liz Shaw
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The way the Silurian dialogue explains every concept, including being a scientist, as they go along and in simple short sentences, comes across very like a small kids' show of the period. Like the 2 sci-fi serials I remember within the reading show Look and Read - The Boy From Space and Cloudburst. Or like in Chigley or Camberwick Green showing you what each character's job was in a bit of narrated street dialogue.
But at least it's far less childish than damn Kill the Moon.
Today we found out that Thomas’ surname is Tha-uh-shuh
I think your post-episode discussion gets to the heart of why this is such a fine piece of drama. There is no simplistic good humans v. evil monsters here - instead, Hulke gives us shades of grey, showing that there is good and bad on both sides, with the Doctor caught in the middle trying his hardest to broker a peace while hotheads like the Young Silurian and Major Baker seek to undermine his efforts. There are no easy answers in this situation, and it is to Hulke’s great credit that the script doesn’t pretend otherwise.
The Young Silurian sounds to me like a very energetic young Canadian. It was a curious vocal choice by Peter “Packer” Halliday, but it does contrast sharply with the Old Silurian’s voice and helps to convey his impetuosity.
Interesting that although Hulke came from a socialist theatre background, he didn’t in his writings (as we have seen and will see in his Dr Who stories) depict those of that viewpoint as perfect, but as equally flawed in their attitudes and behaviours as those of diametrically opposed views - he was very much a realist, some might say almost jaded and world-weary of human behaviours, disagreements and motives. The Silurians have the same polarisation of opinions as the humans, the same inability to listen to others.
@@curmudgeone It’s interesting that Hulke had once been a Communist, which would suggest he had once been very idealistic. I suspect his later disillusionment with Communism led him to take a more cynical, realist view of life which we see reflected both here and in some other of his stories.
I think the intent was to have transatlantic or multi continental accents to reflect the different earth the Silurians came from.
The Plague shown here is probably the closest depiction we have to things like Spanish Flu and Covid-19.
I think it is particularly successful in showing how the general population can go about its daily business without a clue of the impending outbreak.
Another delight is seeing London in late 60s (when this was filmed) - a real archival moment.
It's especially relevant when you consider Dr. Lawrence's reaction in the next episode. It's quite astounding how Malcolm Hulke pretty much knew what would happen in such a scenario.
It’s amazing and I think reveals that Malcolm Hulke had his senses incredibly well adjusted and had observed and studied people so well that his writings are able to deliver real characters and real drama - so much so that it feels as frustrating as real life in how wrongheaded just about anyone can be.
There is something about seeing 60’s era London that feels really special. A little slice of time captured on film.
@@TheShallowProclamation It's similar to the WW2 devastation still all around in the 60's that was shown in Dalek Invasion of Earth (here reality itself added to the backdrop of the story).
Yes, it creates a great effect.
The Target novelisation of this serial 'DW & The Cave Monsters' (yuk) was a really good read as Hulke added so much more Silurian politics & backstory. Was really interesting to understand more about them instead of just seeing them as 'monster of the week'.
It would have been great if Kevin Stoney voiced the head Silurian.😊
😂Packer Silurian?
And Paul completely fails to recognise Peter “Packer” Halliday 😂
To think this part of the story was an after thought to pad it out to the dreaded 7-parter, but it really works and raises the stakes and the existential threat.
I'm pretty sure it was a different location for the hospital than in "Spearhead". Spearhead was mostly shot on location around the BBC training facilities in Evesham. I believe the hospital wasn't a hospital at all, but some other building. It might have been the Royal Horticultural Society building and grounds, but someone correct me if I'm wrong. The hospital in The Silurians was filmed at Milford Chest Hospital in Surrey, I believe. This information is coming from The Television Companion by Howe & Walker, but it doesn't specify the filming locations by scene.
I’m surprised you skipped it but the scene where the Doc confronts Baker “You are ill. You are very very ill” is a standout for me, not just this story but JP’s whole run. This new Doctor is not messing about (Patrick who?!).
It is slightly undermined moments later by Baker, having been in reasonably hale condition right up to this moment, does a total Rita Hayworth when he sees a rash on his wrist.
The cliffhangers have been getting noticeably tighter and better constructed this season but they just need something more to lead in to those closing titles, something with a bit of oomph to send little blighters behind their settees or cushions. I dunno some sort of “sting”?
Well, that’s twice that Norman Jones’s Major Baker gets compared to a siren of the golden age of Hollywood. You compare him to Rita Hayworth and Geoffrey Palmer/Nicholas Courtney have a funny discussion on the DVD commentary where the supine and unconscious Major Baker in potholer’s helmet and lamp is compared to Myrna Loy… 🤣
@@curmudgeone 😂 Jones delivers a nice performance simultaneously sympathetic and disagreeable but like a lot of guest artistes he has to have a “ moment”.
And a plague plot, some very poignant scenes in the next ep.
Who ever did the subtitles needs sacking. Some of them aren’t accurate at all to what was being said
It’s a constant gripe on both Britbox and iPlayer. But this story is the worst I’ve seen by far. It’s annoying for us but not exactly inclusive for those that might actually need them.