"Doctor Who" Terror of the Autons: Episode 1 (1971)

Note des utilisateurs:

7.2/10   

Réalisateur:

Barry Letts

Scénariste:

Robert Holmes (written by)

Série TV:

"Doctor Who" (1963)

Original Air Date:

2 janvier 1971 (Season 8, Episode 1)

Genre:

Aventure | Drame | Sci-Fi

Plot:

Plot Keywords:

Military Officer | Lions | Ditz | Master | Reverse The Polarity Of The Neutron Flow

Avis des utilisateurs:

Very good story which introduces The Master (#55, Terror of the Autons)

Ensemble

Jon Pertwee	...	Doctor Who
Nicholas Courtney	...	Brigadier Lethbridge-Stewart
Roger Delgado	...	The Master
Katy Manning	...	Jo Grant
Richard Franklin	...	Captain Mike Yates
John Levene	...	Sergeant John Benton
Michael Wisher	...	Rex Farrel
Harry Towb	...	McDermott
David Garth	...	Time Lord
Frank Mills	...	Radio Telescope Director
Christopher Burgess	...	Professor George Phillips
Andrew Staines	...	Goodge
John Baskcomb	...	Rossini
Dave Carter	...	Museum Attendant

Durée:

UK:25 min

Pays:

UK

Langue:

Anglais

Couleur:

Noir et Blanc | Couleur (original broadcast)

Son:

Mono

Emplacements De Pelliculage:

Ecomold, Luton Road, Dunstable, Bedfordshire, England, UK

Anecdotes:

The first appearance of The Master, Jo Grant and Mike Yates.

Guillemet:

[repeated line.]
The Master: I am The Master and you will obey me!

Very good story which introduces The Master (#55, Terror of the Autons)

I love Robert Holmes, I love the Autons, I love The Master, I like Jo Grant, and I quite like this story, though it really could have been a lot better. "Terror of the Autons" is a very good story but not a flawless one, this is a story which suffers from a rushed ending, silly plot devices, and even some inexcusable Scooby Doo-like moments in which masks are pulled off to reveal the *yawn* unexpected.

The best part of this story, which is surprisingly light on any of the Auton-induced terror which its title promises (nothing here even comes close to the Autons attacking London in "Spearhead from Space", other than maybe that doll *shudder*), is undoubtedly the first appearance of The Master. Now, The Master may have been remembered by much of the mainstream as a pantomime villain (and apparently Russel T. Davies, who wrote John Simm as an annoyingly flamboyant and silly villain), but that is due to future interpretations of the character. Roger Delgado is nothing short of BRILLIANT as The Master. Cold, menacing, charming, deceptive, and intelligent, this is a proper VILLAIN. Delgado's death was a major loss for Doctor Who.

The Autons and Nestenes are fairly disappointing in this story as they are not really the villains. It would be their last appearance in Doctor Who right until the first story of the revived series "Rose". "Terror of the Autons" is well-written overall although not among Holmes' absolute best. The direction by the uncredited Barry Letts is okay. Katy Manning gets a good start in this story playing Jo Grant, an underrated companion in my opinion.

Episode Ratings:

Episode 1: 8/10 Episode 2: 9/10 Episode 3: 8/10 Episode 4: 7/10

Overall: Average rating amounts to 8/10 and I will stick with that rating for this story across its four episodes