Exiled to Earth and now working for UNIT as their scientific advisor, the Doctor is summoned to the underground Wenley Moor nuclear research facility to investigate a series of inexplicable power losses. He soon discovers they are being caused by the Silurians, the former rulers of the Earth.
Awaking from a hibernation which has lasted millions of years, they are now intent on reclaiming the Earth from Mankind…
Rate and review below:
One of the best stories this franchise will ever produce. Have loved this story since I first saw it a decade ago - to me, this is everything I love about classic who. Also it takes place in Derbyshire where I come from, so that’s an extra point.
I do think season 7 is insanely strong to me this is the weakest out of them. But it is still a great story.
3 is absolutely amazing playing his role as an ambassador between the two species and Everytime he makes some headwind unit screws it
up. Especially the ending 
Even though what he does you can make sense of I’m glad the doctor and the brig aren’t BFFs from day 1 and there is actual tension and hurt between the two. Especially his actions at the end
The Silurian costumes are so classic effect horrible who but they are a bit endearing at the same time, I like the way that they operate and have extra powers here. For an introduction to this monster it does do a good job
Idk why my favorite line makes it so sound hopeless “may be spared” for the workers but
DOCTOR: Stop! Stop! I said there was to be no more killing! Stay where you are! This centre is now in the hands of the Silurians. They need the use of the generator. Now if you follow carefully the instructions, I shall give you, your lives may be spared.
SILURIAN JR: Remove the bodies.
BRIGADIER: Doctor, what do you think you’re doing?
DOCTOR: Trying to save your lives. Now keep out of the way and keep quiet.
After settling into the series with the autons, this story feels like it focuses more on conflict within established groups, who are trying to reach the same goal but not necessarily in the same way. The Silurians who want peace and the Doctor seem optimistic that they can reintergrate into society and humanity will accept them (or after certain events, will do after the Silurians have had a long nap at least). On the other hand, the Silurians who are more skeptical of this and UNIT appear to believe they are past the point of no return and peace just isn’t feasible.
I’m not sure this story needed 7 episodes, and the attacking noise the Silurians make feels like it’s still ringing in my head now. Nevertheless, the plague storyline pushed the stakes to another level and I think the ending was perfect for framing the Doctor’s relationship with UNIT. He may work for them on an advisory basis, but he will never be one of them.
Weakest story of this season, too repetitive, not enough plot to justify the number of episodes.
I still think this holds up as one of the best stories the entire franchise has put out, and a story I desperately need to rewatch
This is one I really like! I think that while spearhead is a Liz and the doctor ep, this one focuses on the brigadier and the doctor, and they act like an old married couple (joke)
Good story and good monsters though the music is goofy asf. Another hit for s7!
Okay… let’s see if I can get through this without getting yelled at (iykyk 
)
Spearhead In Space was Third’s introduction as a character, and while it definitely established the aesthetics of the UNIT era alongside, I’d argue that this is the point where the era truly took hold. I just love its approach to the Doctor both as a scientist with him and Liz working on the cure (the scene of them both in the lab, I distinctly remember as the exact moment I realised I loved the hell out of this entire story) and as an ambassador. DAVIS has had quite a few nonsense takes, but I genuinely agree with him on the Doctor shaking the Silurian’s hand as “the show growing up in real-time”. One of my all-time favourite Doctor moments, and one that (admittedly on rewatch) solidified Third as my go-to Classic Doctor.
It’s also a great initial showing of just how much the Doctor sticks amongst his reluctant allies. Him continually pushing for a peaceful resolution to all this, at a point where (as heartbreaking as that ending is) it is unfortunately understandable why UNIT and the British government overall would be so hesitant at the possibility of such an outcome. The Doctor and the Brigadier are arguably at their peak here as an on-screen duo, just so much great and well-earned tension between them.
It’s the kind of story that’s optimistic and hopeful, but not blind to the tremendous obstacles in the way of its ideals. Fighting the good fight against heavy sociopolitical odds; hell yeah!
It drags a bit at parts but it does a great job at establishing The Doctor’s dynamic within UNIT, showing how him and the Brigadier conflict. There’s some fun little bits in this serial and I appreciate this as the introduction of the Silurians.
Between Spearhead and this serial, I was immediately hooked on 3’s era. I love the complicated morality of it all, and how the Doctor and the Brigadier are constantly at odds. It’s so interesting to see their dynamic in contrast with the Brig’s dynamic with 2. An all-around great serial, I’d give it like a 7.5 out of 10.
is it a hot take to say that this is the best story of Season 7? i absolutely adore it and it’s often maligned score, funky scores are my fave and this score certainly is funky
Pretty good innit.
I especially like the crazy Silurian with the goofy voice.
Making the first serial of a new era good is a challenge, which they did against low odds, but the real challenge is following it up. This is an excellent second serial. While not as good as the first, Spearhead, it establishes the dynamics of the Doctor and UNIT, and how the world which the Doctor finds themselves in works.
My only gripe, and why it doesn’t rank higher is that its 7 episodes, and about half-way through it starts to feel its length. It manages to get me back by the end, but it does drag a little in the middle. Still, this is a real highlight of the first Third Doctor season.
4/5
5.0 Perfect/Fav
4.5 Excellent/Fav
4.0 Very Good
3.5 Good
3.0 Enjoyable
2.5 Meh
2.0 Bad
1.0 Very Bad
I love this story, although someone could fairly criticise the music and some of the CSO effects, I think it adds to the charm of the story.
Whilst the music is definitely an acquired taste, I would argue that anyone criticising the CSO is ignoring the context of when the story was made and how, at that time, CSO was cutting edge and Doctor Who was one of the earliest shows to adopt it, as I understand it.
I think its quite charming, all the while I think it would have been appealling to some fans if they touched up the CSO errors on the blu-ray boxset - I was surprised that none of Season 7 got new CGI now I think about it…
A lot of the budget went on restoring the colour as that was extremely poor in The Ambassadors of Death (and possibly The Silurians).
I don’t think you know fans very well /lh /j - fans like stories to be exactly as they were warts and all.
In that case, Power of Kroll better bring back the black bar!
It was an interesting episode but it was also really cool how this episode had significant long lasting impacts on the story and relationships, not only between the Doctor and UNIT, but also ramifications for the Brig that comes up again.
The silurians were interesting but I do agree the biggest drawback is that at times the serial feels too long. It would have benefited from being a bit shorter.
