Doctor Who ducks the Spearhead From Space

Doctor Who - Spearhead From Space begins with our titular character exiled on Earth and in a hospital. At the same time, meteorites are falling, one of which contains an intelligence that can manufacture Autons, which it plans on using to take over the world. UNIT could really use the Doctor's help in dealing with the invasion, if only they knew where he was.

Spearhead From Space, the first serial of season seven, marks several important firsts. This is the first episode featuring Jon Pertwee as the Doctor, the Time Lords having forced the character's regeneration at the conclusion of the previous season. It is the first episode that Brigadier Lethbridge-Stewart (Nicholas Courtney), whom we'd seen before, is featured as a series regular. It introduces Dr. Liz Shaw (Caroline John) as the new companion. Additionally, the episode has a new title sequence, and marks the first time a Doctor Who serial was made in color. It was the first story aired outside of the series' normal Saturday night time slot.

With so much new, Spearhead from Space is as much a story about the Doctor as it is about the adventure the characters are undertaking. The concept of regeneration is a new one for Lethbridge-Stewart, who has a hard time believing this is the same Doctor he has worked with in the past, albeit in a different body. The process of the Doctor switching bodies is still relatively new to the series, and Lethbridge-Stewart serves as a nice vehicle for the audience to access the concept so vital to the mythology.

This serial also sets up the Doctor's next big arc. He is marooned on Earth at the whims of his fellow Time Lords. The Doctor isn't too pleased with the situation, but makes a deal with UNIT to make things more tenable. This is a character out of his element, which is always fun to explore. Pertwee seems to be the perfect actor to execute this particular plot.

It is interesting to me that a being of almost pure thought, who has escaped the bounds of a physical body, is still interested in controlling the rest of the world. Yes, the intelligence contains some powers that help it accomplish things it could not as a normal life form. But it seems so much less efficient to not have any limbs. And why is it so concerned with forcing others to its will? What does it need with Earth? Spearhead from Space is far from the only sci-fi story to ponder these questions, continuing one of the strangest themes in the genre.

Seeing that this is a Special Edition release, the Extras are plenty. There are two audio commentaries, one featuring Courtney and Shaw, and the other with script editor Terrance Dicks and producer Derrick Sherwin, as well as a Production Notes subtitle option. The typical photo gallery and PDF materials are joined by trailers for the serial.

Two featurettes give the fans what they are seeking. Eighteen minutes are spent discussing the challenges faced by converting the series to color. Another 22 minutes go behind the scenes with Pertwee, Dicks, Sherwin, Barry Letts, Robin Squire, and Christine Rawlins.

As usual, the picture and sound has been remastered. Also, as usual, it is far from perfect, but is a huge improvement over what has been available in the past, which is understandable, given the age and quality of film. In fact, this is the only serial shot entirely on film, rather than tape, and thus is the only classic Doctor Who story that even has a chance of a Blu-ray edition at some point. The way Doctor Who is consistently and lovingly restored is a testament to the importance of the series, and makes the extras icing on an already delicious cake.

Doctor Who - Spearhead from Space Special Edition is available now.

If you like my reviews, please follow me on Twitter! Check out my new website, JeromeWetzel.com! Article first published as DVD Review: Doctor Who - Spearhead From Space Special Edition on Blogcritics.