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In 1972-73, Piccolo Books published a book written by Malcolm Hulke, The Making Of Doctor Who. In addition to a potted history of the origins of the programme, short bios of the three actors to have portrayed the Doctor on tv at that time, plus a brief recap via The Timelords files and UNIT memoranda of the Doctor’s adventures up to and including this story, it had features on Inside A Television Studio and script/production extracts of the making of The Sea Devils. I got it via a book token for my birthday in 1973 and I believe it was the impetus for some of the people who would later work on New Who to pursue tv writing, direction and production as careers.

This story was the most repeated in the 1970s and a scheduled repeat for cricket in 1974 allowed me to take some black and white photos of the transmission including the shot of Jo looking into the diving bell at the cliffhanger.

Don't know how familiar, if at all, either of you are with Keeping Up Appearances (one of the BBC best selling global products btw) but one of the Submarine guys goes onto to play Emmet, Hyacinth's long suffering musical neigjnour. ..question is, what's worse, being menaced by a Sea Devil or being sung at by Hyacinth Bucket !

Just what is it, with blustering Old Boy Poshos being given important jobs in this world ! Chinn, Trenchard, do they all drink in the same club with Tubby Rowlands? Its jobs for the boys ! Would never happen in real life....oh. wait. It totally does.

I remember the 90s repeat and this cliffhanger well , it freaked me out, the sudden zoom into Jo's face , just what was she looking at ?!

I'm sure Pertwee's service in the Navy during the war might have had a little something to do with the Navy being so helpful during this.

Delgado is my favourite Master - he hasn’t tipped over the edge yet. Derek Jacobi BF stories show him as a suave Master but completely and chillingly insane.

Yes this one rattled by, lots of pace and “moments”, definitely more scope for a sandwich subplot though (were they fish paste I wonder). Quite a different cliffhanger from what we’re used to thus far, a mystery rather than a monster reveal or direct threat. For some reason I always think it ends with the reveal we see in the next episode (which would also make an equally strong cliffhanger IMO).

There was the reference to Liz's departure in this episode (from 12:55) but you completely talked over it!

Love the sea devils weapons great design it definitely has fantastic parts in this story. Yes had great sets around this era no the crappie sets around the 4th doctors last few seasons

The death of Trenchard is quite a poignant moment. Although he initially comes over as an overpromoted old buffer, he turns out to be shrewder than the viewer initially suspects and is genuinely convinced he is doing the right thing, even though of course he is still putty in the Master’s hands. Captain Hart is another good supporting character, and an effective Brig substitute - it’s a shame Edwin Richfield would not enjoy anything like as dignified a role when he returned to the show 12 years later! Not sure if you have spotted this, but Hart’s assistant is played by June Murphy, previously seen in Fury From the Deep succumbing to Oak and Quill’s halitosis attack…

This episode is worth it for the sonic screwdriver getting time to shine on the beach.

As the Doctor and Jo go through the minefield you can see the boom mic at the bottom left.

Thomas' light show is very akin to the pulsing lights from Tim in the Seventies "The Tomorrow People". After the replay of the swordfight in the last episode the pace really rattles along here, and if this were a 5 part story it would be a rollicking ride.

On, no! Never noticed the sandwich continuity blunder.

It's been said before but stands repeating, Delgado is the quintessential Master; suave, charming and always with a dastardly plan up his sleeve yet without the psychotic nonsense the new series introduced. One can believe that the Delgado Master could persuade people to his viewpoint, even without using his hypnotic powers, while the Simm Master was so obviously deranged it just didn't make sense that anyone would ever buy into his plans.

Nero didn't burn Rome, therefore Doctor never was there, therefore he isn't real probably (like if he was, he wouldn't miss an opportunity to visit ancient Rome, right?) . Sorry kids. 😆😆

Cliff bottom hanger just sounds wrong.

What type of sandwich???

With modern effects it would be nice to see the Sea Devils jump out of the water like dolphins or sea lions. Legend of the Sea Devils disappointingly didn’t really show them underwater. The new spin off may redress this issue.

Don't you love how they exposed their own top secret sub by telling the BBC how their propellers look?

The 4D experience has encouraged facial hair!

In a similar vein to the BBC accidentally guessing the design of the classified sub, DC comics was visited by the US government during WWII and told in no uncertain terms they could not publish a certain story until after the war because they had Lex Luthor using an atomic bomb, which they had based on pulp science fiction stories that used theoretical science and without any knowledge of Project Manhattan.

I hope the sea devils will be more like this version in the new unit spin off series than the awful whitikar versions

It is precisely because he isn’t manic and chewing the scenery that Delgado is my favourite Master - suave, measured villainy is so much more effective than the OTT kind, in my book. He and the Doctor do spend a lot of time together in this one. Indeed, I would say that Hulke is more interested in their relationship here than he is with the Sea Devils, who in spite of their impressive design lack the characterisation and depth that Hulke gave to the Old and the Young Silurian. The Sea Devils do look great coming out of the water, though.

I have the first two War Master box sets and they’re great. The first one is called “Only the Good” and the second one is “The Master of Callous”.

1:37 talk about a "pork butt sandwich" 🤯🤣

How they did the trick with the knife,it was already in the door and before they shot that scene Jon Pertwee just touched the handle with his fingers,so when they started the scene the knife was still vibrating. A simple little trick!

I've never liked the NuWho Joker/Riddler version of the Master. It never seemed close enough to the original conception. But I suppose there is some precedent for it among the later versions in classic Who. Derek Jacobi, by the way, first played the Master in the "Scream of the Shalka" animated show, which predated NuWho by several years.

Forget the sandwich,notice the carpet...

I really don’t understand the widespread hate for this one it’s unapologetically one of my favorites

The re-cap sword fight scene is the main reason why I think this story needs trimming and would work better as a five part story,

When Doctor Who was good.

Just a point of note, Ben Kingsley is actually half Indian

My two predominant interests are Doctor Who and the NFL

I think the scene where the Brigadier orders Sgt Benton to "carry him in here if you have to but get him!" is one of my favourite ever scenes in Doctor Who! By the way, this is the last ever story to have no specially composed incidental music.

Great design the sea devils pity their future apperances didn't live up to this story solid 9.5

It’s a very good story, definitely one of my top 10 Pertwee era stories. And yeah, the misdirection with the Ice Warriors adds tons to it. A good cast, it’s very Shakespearean at times. The high point of the season for mine

Top Pertwee/Delgado.

When Jon finishes eating and puts his hand on his hip is hilarious, and also his device blowing up and the resignation on his face

This story is the halfway mark for the Pertwee era. For the swordfight, Roger Delgado was doubled by stuntman Derek Ware in certain shots. Roger was an expert swordsman, but had hurt his back so it was felt safer to have Ware step in for him.

The Doctor with his rapier wit.

Because the Silurians didn’t look naked at all.😊

A great Pertwee story - in the middle of a very good run of episodes.

My favourite 3rd Doc tale has “Space” in the title and we’re not there yet. JP is just right here, charming and likeable still with a little pomposity but in a more endearing way. Master on top dastardly form, although I am now wondering if he was capable of going on an occasional jolly with Trenchard is his TARDIS really that unattainable? Regarding sea-devil attire, Somebody’s gotta to find a use for all that plastic in the sea, like to think there’s some submarinal boutique for your more discerning Eocene not keen on going full frontal on beach trips.

Tis said Pertwee played the part very straight + serious, to prove himself a serious actor after a comedy career previously. He always plays the serious moral moments very well. But he certainly plays comedy here around his radio gadget, and with the sandwich gag

Alpha Centauri isn't a 'she'...

My first encounter with this story was the 1992 repeat season. I recall they chose quite well with the first batch, not so much with the second which had all been released on VHS by that point. But I do remember eagerly waiting for each episode of this story, at the tender age of... 12, I believe.

Wait until Thomas sees 'Warriors of the Deep'...

The duel is a fabulous scene, I never get tired of watching it