One of Doctor Who's undisputed classics, The Ark in Space is a simple yet effective space opera horror.
Story: 11
Continuing directly from Robot, Robert Holmes throws viewers head-on into a new mystery aboard a seemingly empty ark in space. It's a bit like the beginning of The Wheel in Space. This is Nerva Beacon, one of the series most well-known settings.
The serial has a slow beginning but Holmes builds up the tension well by having the Doctor and Harry work together to solve problems in their path. In terms of both its build-up and its atmosphere, The Ark in Space is the The Tomb of the Cybermen of the Fourth Doctor era.
The ending is clean and simple, and above all satisfying. And it also leads directly to the next adventure.
Acting: 10
Thi serial has a small but great cast. Ian Marter immediately makes Harry his own. This is arguably the best TARDIS team since Troughton, Hines and Padbury in terms of acting.
The guest cast is very good, with Wendy Williams, in particular, standing out.
The Doctor: 10
The Doctor proves he has use for his outlandish clothing to solve problems he and his companions face. Still, he happily accepts help and contributions from his two companions, even he likes to think kit loud and gloat to show off his brilliance. Despite all friendly bickering, he respects and cares for his friends.
The Companions: 9
It's great to see another male companion in the show after Jamie, and Harry Sullivan in the perfect match for a brilliant mind like the Doctor and a journalistic soul like Sarah Jane. While Sarah goes and gets into trouble, Harry tries to take care of her while at the same time get a grip if what is going on.
The Monster/Villain: 9
The Wirrn really shouldn't work as well as it does, considering all the insect aliens the series has presented before and since. Yet, somehow, they remain the epitome of evil insect aliens.
Production: 11
Nerva Beacon is beautifully designed. It's clean, futuristic and perfectly mysterious. It also has an admirable sense of scale, which is unusual for Classic Who.
This serial is beautifully directed and filmed, preserving suspension until the right moment. The Wirrn bodies also look pretty good as does the rather complicated transformation process from human to Wirrn.
The Wirrn are essentially bubble wrap monsters, but they do look surprisingly realistic if a bit hilarious.
Pacing: 10
This is far from Holmes' swiftest four-parter, but it's a simple idea very well excited and the extremely likeable regular cast makes it a joy to watch nonetheless.
Atmosphere: 11
The Ark in Space is arguably one of the most atmospheric stories Holmes has ever written. It feels tense and exciting almost all the time, throwing new surprises in the mix. It works oddly effectively for an insect invasion on a spaceship.
What he have here is in many ways a light version if a space opera horror type of story, that was popular over by Alien (1979).
Impact: 12
The Ark in Space is very much a template for a Fourth Doctor story and the new type of base-under-siege that the show returned to during Bakers tenure. It immediately ushered the show into its golden era.
Replay Value: 12
This is immensely watchable over and over again, and one is the most watchable serials overall.
Random Observations:
The Doctor uses a yoyo to determine the gravity of the ark. The Twelfth Doctor uses a yoyo in Kill the Moon to check the gravity as well.
This is the story where the sonic screwdriver is starting to be used as a desk ex machine, being able to do this and that, according to the needs of the writer. This continues until the beginning of the Fifth Doctor's era when it will be written out for just that reason.
Interestingly, this story was originally going to be written by series veteran John Lucarotti, mostly known for his historical stories, such as Marco Polo and The Massacre. However, a postal strike in Greece, where Lucarotti resided at the time, made it impossible for him to send his script over to the UK. Script editor Robert Holmes had to two in and rewrite everything.
Poor Sarah. She seems to have to believe in every story now, that the Doctor has gone and died.
Review by Theo KallströmVIP 6BlockedParent2020-06-22T14:47:28Z
One of Doctor Who's undisputed classics, The Ark in Space is a simple yet effective space opera horror.
Story: 11
Continuing directly from Robot, Robert Holmes throws viewers head-on into a new mystery aboard a seemingly empty ark in space. It's a bit like the beginning of The Wheel in Space. This is Nerva Beacon, one of the series most well-known settings.
The serial has a slow beginning but Holmes builds up the tension well by having the Doctor and Harry work together to solve problems in their path. In terms of both its build-up and its atmosphere, The Ark in Space is the The Tomb of the Cybermen of the Fourth Doctor era.
The ending is clean and simple, and above all satisfying. And it also leads directly to the next adventure.
Acting: 10
Thi serial has a small but great cast. Ian Marter immediately makes Harry his own. This is arguably the best TARDIS team since Troughton, Hines and Padbury in terms of acting.
The guest cast is very good, with Wendy Williams, in particular, standing out.
The Doctor: 10
The Doctor proves he has use for his outlandish clothing to solve problems he and his companions face. Still, he happily accepts help and contributions from his two companions, even he likes to think kit loud and gloat to show off his brilliance. Despite all friendly bickering, he respects and cares for his friends.
The Companions: 9
It's great to see another male companion in the show after Jamie, and Harry Sullivan in the perfect match for a brilliant mind like the Doctor and a journalistic soul like Sarah Jane. While Sarah goes and gets into trouble, Harry tries to take care of her while at the same time get a grip if what is going on.
The Monster/Villain: 9
The Wirrn really shouldn't work as well as it does, considering all the insect aliens the series has presented before and since. Yet, somehow, they remain the epitome of evil insect aliens.
Production: 11
Nerva Beacon is beautifully designed. It's clean, futuristic and perfectly mysterious. It also has an admirable sense of scale, which is unusual for Classic Who.
This serial is beautifully directed and filmed, preserving suspension until the right moment. The Wirrn bodies also look pretty good as does the rather complicated transformation process from human to Wirrn.
The Wirrn are essentially bubble wrap monsters, but they do look surprisingly realistic if a bit hilarious.
Pacing: 10
This is far from Holmes' swiftest four-parter, but it's a simple idea very well excited and the extremely likeable regular cast makes it a joy to watch nonetheless.
Atmosphere: 11
The Ark in Space is arguably one of the most atmospheric stories Holmes has ever written. It feels tense and exciting almost all the time, throwing new surprises in the mix. It works oddly effectively for an insect invasion on a spaceship.
What he have here is in many ways a light version if a space opera horror type of story, that was popular over by Alien (1979).
Impact: 12
The Ark in Space is very much a template for a Fourth Doctor story and the new type of base-under-siege that the show returned to during Bakers tenure. It immediately ushered the show into its golden era.
Replay Value: 12
This is immensely watchable over and over again, and one is the most watchable serials overall.
Random Observations:
The Doctor uses a yoyo to determine the gravity of the ark. The Twelfth Doctor uses a yoyo in Kill the Moon to check the gravity as well.
This is the story where the sonic screwdriver is starting to be used as a desk ex machine, being able to do this and that, according to the needs of the writer. This continues until the beginning of the Fifth Doctor's era when it will be written out for just that reason.
Interestingly, this story was originally going to be written by series veteran John Lucarotti, mostly known for his historical stories, such as Marco Polo and The Massacre. However, a postal strike in Greece, where Lucarotti resided at the time, made it impossible for him to send his script over to the UK. Script editor Robert Holmes had to two in and rewrite everything.
Poor Sarah. She seems to have to believe in every story now, that the Doctor has gone and died.
Score: 105/120