The Silurians is slightly too long, but it has an interesting take on the alien threat and presents some very interesting concepts in its storytelling.
Story: 8
This story effectively puts a twist both on the base under siege and alien invasion story types. Here, humans invade the aliens' base and the aliens aren't aliens at all.
This story is known for its unusual take on the aliens - they're not hostile, just defending their home and the Doctor tries to do everything to let them live their lives. I like the way the Silurians are depicted and even if their ultimate goal is a bit on the clichéd side, it makes perfect sense.
The serial raises environmental questions and centres around pacifism, xenophobia and, above all, humans' total weakness against the forces of nature, It's still as effective and important today as 50 years ago.
Unfortunately, there is some. Padding and repetition in the middle, dragging the tempo down a hunch. During that time the story barely develops. But then there finally arrives a twist in the form of a deadly virus spread by the Silurians.
What stands out here is the ending showing how the Doctor and the Brigadier have very different world views. It raises the question of who the real Villain here is. The build-up to that is rather bland.
Acting: 8
Peter Miles makes a very memorable performance as Dr Lawrence. He reminds me a bit of the Penguin in Gotham. He was once considered to replace Jon Pertwee as the Fourth Doctor. His moment of madness in Episode, 6 is a great moment.
The main cast is great. I particularly like how well Pertwee captured the Doctors precarious position as an ambassador between mankind and Silhrians.
The high-pitched Sikhrina is lovingly over-the-top, bobbing his head frantically as he speaks.
The Doctor: 9
The Doctor shoes great compassion and understanding while trying to oppose military and scientific types who don't understand that everything alien isn't dangerous.
By now, the Doctor is ready to stand up for any mistreated and innocent species, human or otherwise. It's like open defiance of the Time Lords and their sentence. It does feel like it's the Doctor against the world in this one.
The Companions: 7
Liz Shaw strengthens her position as one of the more intelligent and educated companions, greatly standing up for herself. It's sad then that she is never given anything interesting to do, apart from Inferno.
The Monster/Villain: 7
There's a rather slow, but effectively creepy reveal of the Silurians. They are depicted as sophisticated, highly intelligent and deadly, but also peaceful by nature. This is the side the revived series has decided to focus on.
Dr Lawrence is only devoted to his work and position, refusing to believe that there's something strange going on. That makes his ultimate fate all the more satisfying.
Production: 6
The difference to the beautiful cinematography on Spearhead from Space is obvious - this is studio work shot on videotape and it doesn't look quite as good. The underground sets are pretty ugly.
The Siuarians look a bit silly. I'm happy they were given proper redesign in the revived series. Their voices are distinct at least, and Peter Halliday has a fun time voice acting them.
The music is pretty annoying here, it gives me a headache.
Pacing: 7
The story doesn't go off properly even after the Sikurians are introduced. It lacks a change of flow in its story progression, so there's very little build-up.
Atmosphere: 6
The serial starts with a sense of suspense and danger, but once the Silurians are realised it loses some. Of that. This is where the story starts its padding and drops sole. Of the excitement.
The effectively spreading virus is pretty horrifying and feels even worse during the COVID-19 pandemic. It gives the last two episodes a more sinister tone.
The cliffhangers are repetitive moments of Lertwee looking scared. Not very effective.
Impact: 7
The Silurians returned to a format closer to earlier Doctor Who while further establishing the new look and feel. Most importantly it introduced the Sikruains, creatures that have had quite an impact on the revived series.
Replay Value: 7
This isn't a story I would rewatch very often, but there's enough content in it to warrant further viewings.
Random Observations:
"You don't propose putting apart a machine worth fifteen million pounds using a screwdriver?" "Well, it's not worth fifteen million pins if it doesn't work!"
I wonder if the heavy breathing and the green colour filter of the point-of-view shots of the escaped Silurian were made to make the audience think it is the Ice Warriors that feature here.
The solution to the Episode 3 cliffhanger is pretty funny. It captures the Third Doctors personality quite well.
Are we supposed to believe from what the Doctor tells Liz in episode 6 that he is several thousands of years old? Wow, he ages fast!
The Silurians say they will be back in 50 years, sometime around 2020. The Series 5 story, The Hungry Earth/Cold Blood is set in 2020 and features the return of the Silurians.
Review by Theo KallströmVIP 6BlockedParent2020-06-09T10:02:46Z
The Silurians is slightly too long, but it has an interesting take on the alien threat and presents some very interesting concepts in its storytelling.
Story: 8
This story effectively puts a twist both on the base under siege and alien invasion story types. Here, humans invade the aliens' base and the aliens aren't aliens at all.
This story is known for its unusual take on the aliens - they're not hostile, just defending their home and the Doctor tries to do everything to let them live their lives. I like the way the Silurians are depicted and even if their ultimate goal is a bit on the clichéd side, it makes perfect sense.
The serial raises environmental questions and centres around pacifism, xenophobia and, above all, humans' total weakness against the forces of nature, It's still as effective and important today as 50 years ago.
Unfortunately, there is some. Padding and repetition in the middle, dragging the tempo down a hunch. During that time the story barely develops. But then there finally arrives a twist in the form of a deadly virus spread by the Silurians.
What stands out here is the ending showing how the Doctor and the Brigadier have very different world views. It raises the question of who the real Villain here is. The build-up to that is rather bland.
Acting: 8
Peter Miles makes a very memorable performance as Dr Lawrence. He reminds me a bit of the Penguin in Gotham. He was once considered to replace Jon Pertwee as the Fourth Doctor. His moment of madness in Episode, 6 is a great moment.
The main cast is great. I particularly like how well Pertwee captured the Doctors precarious position as an ambassador between mankind and Silhrians.
The high-pitched Sikhrina is lovingly over-the-top, bobbing his head frantically as he speaks.
The Doctor: 9
The Doctor shoes great compassion and understanding while trying to oppose military and scientific types who don't understand that everything alien isn't dangerous.
By now, the Doctor is ready to stand up for any mistreated and innocent species, human or otherwise. It's like open defiance of the Time Lords and their sentence. It does feel like it's the Doctor against the world in this one.
The Companions: 7
Liz Shaw strengthens her position as one of the more intelligent and educated companions, greatly standing up for herself. It's sad then that she is never given anything interesting to do, apart from Inferno.
The Monster/Villain: 7
There's a rather slow, but effectively creepy reveal of the Silurians. They are depicted as sophisticated, highly intelligent and deadly, but also peaceful by nature. This is the side the revived series has decided to focus on.
Dr Lawrence is only devoted to his work and position, refusing to believe that there's something strange going on. That makes his ultimate fate all the more satisfying.
Production: 6
The difference to the beautiful cinematography on Spearhead from Space is obvious - this is studio work shot on videotape and it doesn't look quite as good. The underground sets are pretty ugly.
The Siuarians look a bit silly. I'm happy they were given proper redesign in the revived series. Their voices are distinct at least, and Peter Halliday has a fun time voice acting them.
The music is pretty annoying here, it gives me a headache.
Pacing: 7
The story doesn't go off properly even after the Sikurians are introduced. It lacks a change of flow in its story progression, so there's very little build-up.
Atmosphere: 6
The serial starts with a sense of suspense and danger, but once the Silurians are realised it loses some. Of that. This is where the story starts its padding and drops sole. Of the excitement.
The effectively spreading virus is pretty horrifying and feels even worse during the COVID-19 pandemic. It gives the last two episodes a more sinister tone.
The cliffhangers are repetitive moments of Lertwee looking scared. Not very effective.
Impact: 7
The Silurians returned to a format closer to earlier Doctor Who while further establishing the new look and feel. Most importantly it introduced the Sikruains, creatures that have had quite an impact on the revived series.
Replay Value: 7
This isn't a story I would rewatch very often, but there's enough content in it to warrant further viewings.
Random Observations:
"You don't propose putting apart a machine worth fifteen million pounds using a screwdriver?"
"Well, it's not worth fifteen million pins if it doesn't work!"
I wonder if the heavy breathing and the green colour filter of the point-of-view shots of the escaped Silurian were made to make the audience think it is the Ice Warriors that feature here.
The solution to the Episode 3 cliffhanger is pretty funny. It captures the Third Doctors personality quite well.
Are we supposed to believe from what the Doctor tells Liz in episode 6 that he is several thousands of years old? Wow, he ages fast!
The Silurians say they will be back in 50 years, sometime around 2020. The Series 5 story, The Hungry Earth/Cold Blood is set in 2020 and features the return of the Silurians.
Score: 72/120