Just got through watching all the Third Doctor stories, from Spearhead through Spiders. My overall impression is that the stories were too long (to watch in one sitting anyway) and I found it a complete slog. Also, too many UNIT and Master stories (the Master was the worst addition to the show after K9. Pantomime villain...yawn). And, to top it all, no Cybermen stories. This is the really disappointing factor in this era coming after the Troughton Era when there were 4 Cybermen stories and 2 really good Ice Warrior stories. The 2 Ice Warrior stories in the Third Doctor Era were anemic and forgettable. Anyway, here are my top 5 5 The Sea Devils - one of the many stories of this era that suffers from being overlong at 6 episodes and the boring Master puts in yet another appearance. But the story was okay and the Sea Devils were creepy-ish. 4 Frontier in Space - I found this a good, involving story. But the absence of any suitably scary villains and yet another appearance of the ubiquitous Master means this isn't one of the greats. And too long at 6 episodes. I would find it hard to watch again. It would be far more watchable if it were 4 episodes. 3 Planet of the Daleks - a really enjoyable romp on the planet Spiridon with a realistic jungle setting. Good action and suspense. Good story! Don't agree with the negative reviews I've seen. I've never found the Daleks particularly creepy and don't understand their enduring appeal. But they conveyed a sense of menace and that's okay. 2 Spearhead from Space - good story, action-packed, and perfectly measured at 4 episodes. I'm sorry but I don't find shop window dummies coming to life as creepy as many seem to. Creepy, yes, but low on the Creepometer. 1 Dr Who and the Silurians - my 3 conditions for a good DW yarn are 1. There should be a suitably creepy villain/s. 2. Failing that, or in addition to 1, there should be an interesting storyline 3. It shouldn't be too long. This story ticks the first 2 criteria. Unfortunately, at 7 episodes, it's a shade too long. The Silurians were the creepiest villains of the Pertwee Era by a country mile, and that includes their voices, not just appearance. It hits that uncanny valley spot of them being human-like yet alien. Definitely my favourite Third Doctor story. Sorry for overuse of the word 'creepy' by the way.
Nice list. I always felt like the odd duck out lol because my favorite Pertwee story is Planet of the Daleks. Pertwee is also my favorite Doctor. My top five is: 5. The Daemons 4. Inferno 3. Spearhead from Space 2. Carnival of Monsters 1. Planet of the Daleks
Just got through watching all the Third Doctor stories, from Spearhead through Spiders. My overall impression is that the stories were too long (to watch in one sitting anyway) and I found it a complete slog. Also, too many UNIT and Master stories (the Master was the worst addition to the show after K9. Pantomime villain...yawn). And, to top it all, no Cybermen stories. This is the really disappointing factor in this era coming after the Troughton Era when there were 4 Cybermen stories and 2 really good Ice Warrior stories. The 2 Ice Warrior stories in the Third Doctor Era were anemic and forgettable. Anyway, here are my top 5
5 The Sea Devils - one of the many stories of this era that suffers from being overlong at 6 episodes and the boring Master puts in yet another appearance. But the story was okay and the Sea Devils were creepy-ish.
4 Frontier in Space - I found this a good, involving story. But the absence of any suitably scary villains and yet another appearance of the ubiquitous Master means this isn't one of the greats. And too long at 6 episodes. I would find it hard to watch again. It would be far more watchable if it were 4 episodes.
3 Planet of the Daleks - a really enjoyable romp on the planet Spiridon with a realistic jungle setting. Good action and suspense. Good story! Don't agree with the negative reviews I've seen. I've never found the Daleks particularly creepy and don't understand their enduring appeal. But they conveyed a sense of menace and that's okay.
2 Spearhead from Space - good story, action-packed, and perfectly measured at 4 episodes. I'm sorry but I don't find shop window dummies coming to life as creepy as many seem to. Creepy, yes, but low on the Creepometer.
1 Dr Who and the Silurians - my 3 conditions for a good DW yarn are 1. There should be a suitably creepy villain/s. 2. Failing that, or in addition to 1, there should be an interesting storyline 3. It shouldn't be too long. This story ticks the first 2 criteria. Unfortunately, at 7 episodes, it's a shade too long. The Silurians were the creepiest villains of the Pertwee Era by a country mile, and that includes their voices, not just appearance. It hits that uncanny valley spot of them being human-like yet alien. Definitely my favourite Third Doctor story.
Sorry for overuse of the word 'creepy' by the way.
5th - The Dæmons
4th - The Green Death
3rd - The Sea Devils
2nd - Inferno
1st - Frontier In Space
Ooh, Frontier In Space and The Daemons making a list is good to see, I feel like they often get bad wraps
Nice list. I always felt like the odd duck out lol because my favorite Pertwee story is Planet of the Daleks. Pertwee is also my favorite Doctor. My top five is:
5. The Daemons
4. Inferno
3. Spearhead from Space
2. Carnival of Monsters
1. Planet of the Daleks
Yeah, I feel like Planet of The Daleks is overlooked - it's great. Solid list, although personally I prefer The Time Warrior over The Daemons