Not being able to work today means I got to watch all of Quatermass & the Pit. I’ve seen it a couple times, as well as the movie, but still got caught up in the plot all over again. The finale may be a little quick but overall it’s so well paced, the mystery expertly revealed bit by bit throughout the 6 episodes. I can only imagine how exciting it must have been watching this back in 1958/9. Especially given the central idea which could have been controversial at the time.
The influence on Doctor Who is pretty obvious.The narrative itself, which focuses on both supernatural & religious themes having alien origins & extraterrestrial intervention in human history/evolution - ideas we’ve seen in many Doctor Who stories.
Also during episode 1 in a meeting about military bases & weapons on the Moon, the exacerbated Quatermass replies “…All this means is that from the very start we’ll be going into space with one thought. War. We are on the verge of a new dimension of discovery. It’s the great chance to leave our vices behind us, war first of all. Not to go out there dragging our hatreds and frontiers with us.” You can easily imagine the 3rd Doctor having a similar response during a UNIT meeting. It also highlights how good André Morell is in the lead role.
There are also lovely character moments here & there, not just from the main cast but smaller supporting roles. Not all essential to the plot but that’s why I like them. They really flesh out the world of the story & make it feel lived in & authentic. Nigel Kneale was not only great at sci-fi ideas but also at succinctly establishing characters.
Also of note is that, like the previous 2 stories this was live. There are some pre-filmed scenes, which look the best on the Blu-Ray restoration, but a lot of it was rehearsed in the preceding week & performed live. & all the acting is really good, in fact I’d say better than the rare modern attempts at live drama.
At the risk of overstating things & raising expectations for those unfamiliar with the show, I will say that IMHO Quatermass & the Pit is one of the greatest TV shows of the 20th century.
I’d recommend it to everyone, especially Doctor Who fans.
I would not recommend looking at the wiki page. It immediately spoils the entire plot!