wonderful video! my grandmother loved Dr.Who since she moved to England in 1970 and she always loves these videos. She's been in and out of chemo for a long time, and she rushes to watch these when i send her the links for new videos and it just generally makes her happy. So thank you, you're doing good work.
Thank you so much! That is genuinely one of the most wonderful comments I’ve ever had. It means so much to me that my little videos bring you and your grandmother such joy. I wish you both all the best!
Heres hoping these vids continue to give your gran peace and happiness , they'recertainly essential viewing, I used to think I had some knowledge of the original series but I always learn loads from each instalment👍👍
One of my favorite Brigadier lines is, and I may end up paraphrasing, "Just once I'd like to meet a monster that wasn't immune to bullets". I love that his final appearance in Classic Who has him defeating the monster...with bullets. Special bullets, but still bullets.
What I liked about The Brig was that although on the surface he seemed a stereotypical British Army officer, he wasn't two-dimensional. He respected and admired The Doctor, looked after his men, and even had flashes of deadpan humour. He came across as an actual human being and a decent person, not just a comedy stuffy Establishment foil for the Doctor to critique.
Though in truth you could not fire an SLR like that coz that weapon had a kick like a mule, that was one thing I couldn't suspend my disbelief on as I 1st came across the weapon at Swinderby.
2011 was a hard year for the who universe losing first the Brigadier and then Sarah Jane. Two actors which gave so much to Doctor Who and will never be forgotten.
@@Demortixx the actress Elizabeth Sladen passed away in 2011 but the character Sarah Jane Smith actually survived into 2019, maybe 2020. Her funeral was apart of a short story released on TH-cam in 2020 called 'Farewell Sarah Jane' which was made over the first UK lockdown
@@vashna3799 and both were introduced in the Third Doctor's era! Fittingly, the Golden Era of Dr Who produced not only two of the best Doctors, but also two of the best side characters 😊
One of the very best of all companions to the Doctor. Never has there been someone as long-standing and enduring as the Brig himself. The legacy of Nicholas Courtney's performance is felt through every era of the show. Another brilliant video for such a brilliant character. Hats off to you, Richard!
The fact that the show tried to bring him back through his daughter is a testament to how well loved he is. Unfortunately, she couldn't compare because Nicholas Courtney's Brigadier is irreplaceable.
Matt Smith's scene where he hears about the Brigadier's death is a beuatiful scene, and is probably my favourite scene from The Wedding of River Song that doesn't have Gantok in it. It's almost as if the Brig was advising his old friend from beyond the grave, telling him he's got to go through with what he's desperately trying to avoid. Better than the bloody Cyberbrigadier, that was a bloody bad idea in practice, though I can understand what they were going for.
Now seeing the context for his friend’s history it makes the scene sadder. When I watched it originally it was before I watched the classic who episodes. 😢
I honestly think it's one of the gentler missteps in the capauldi era in comparison to the MANY preceded and followed it. Not to mention the horrible lot Jodie got. (poor woman deserves better writers, she's trying her best)
@@ritzexists2201 Yes, I feel so sorry for her. No personal dislike for Chibnall, I just don't think his stuff was to my taste. I wish Whittaker could stick around for a series under Russell T, but such things are not to be.
"Get off my world." "Pitiful, can this world do no better than you as their champion?" "Probably! I just do the best I can" God damn that's a hell of a line. Really shows how heroic the Brigadier was. No super-powers, no magical alien, he's not the Timeless Child, he's not a robot. he makes mistakes and screws up. But he's out there, doing his best to save the day.
One of my favorite moments from the new series is when the Tenth Doctor states he wishes the Brigadier was there and then realized the Colonel he's working with might take it as an insult. Instead the man completely agrees, knowing the Brigadier's (or Sir Alistair, as he calls him) reputation.
I'm glad that the same day the news of Russel T. Davies coming back comes out, we also get some more videos from Clever Dick Films. Today is a good day.
A companion loyal and true, right to the very end. And a man, great in his acting and accepting/loving of the fan base that followed him. Rest In Peace Nicholas Courtney.
What saves that final scene for me, is that it has the doctor, as far as I know for the one and only time, give a genuine military salute out of respect. Knowing his dislike for soldiers and authority figures, the Brig couldn't get a bigger vote of approval from anyone. That being said, I would love a team-up between him and River. That should make sparks fly :)
Big Finish are doing precisely that, though of course with Jon Culshaw voicing the Brig. He's actually quite good, does a good young Brig, but his older Brig is all over the place unfortunately
In the context of the episode it works. I would have probably avoided doing it more because of missy's almost immediate return, which makes that final blast look like he was obeying an order to teleport missy away rather than one last rescue.
The Brigadier is one of my favourite companions and its a shame I never had the chance to meet Nicholas Courtney when he was alive, as I didn't know about comic cons in the 1990s, 2000s and early 2010s. May he rest in peace.
Agreed, one of my faves...in reality its been 10yrs since he left us..then At 36:55 Moffatt paid the respect to the man/character,by having the 11th ring him up at the nursing home just to be told he had passed a few months back....😔 Matt looks crushed...and yeah we all were too while watching lol..'he always made us pour an extra brandy,in case u came around one of these days. Well done Brigadier,well done.🥃✌
Met him in a few times at conventions in the late 90's sadly didn't make much of an impact. I got the impression he was there for the money. Elizabeth Sladen on the other hand was lovely.
This perfectly encapsulates what everyone loves about the Brigadier. Thank god that the original actor for The Web of Fear pulled out, so that we could be treated to this Who legend.
I, like many but far too few, had the honour to meet Nicholas Courtney once. An absolute and utter gentleman. His legacy both in front of the camera and behind, whatever the show, is well deserved. We should all be lucky enough to have a friend as dedicated as the Brigadier was to the Doctor and vice versa.
As an American. I remember watching Dr.Who with my Dad as a kid, and always hearing the Brigadier's voice. I was too young to understand the show,but his character always stands out as a distinctive memory. It's only recently after my father's passing that I really started getting into the show. The Brigadier still stands out, and is one of my favorite characters. Cheers
I definitely agree that “misguided” is the best word for what happened in the Series 8 finale. You can tell that the writers had a lot of love for The Brigadier, and wanted to honor him, but the execution was definitely a bit tone deaf.
I've always felt the Brigadier was deserving of his own classification. He's not a traditional companion. He has a unique role in the story which is exemplified by the need to give him a complete set of stories with every Doctor. It's one of the great friendships in fiction. It very much fits that he stays behind when The Doctor travels off. Protecting Earth is his duty and he'd never shirk that. I agree the Cyberman thing was a misstep, but I think it was done with good intentions.
As an American fan since the late 70's, I have a great deal of fondness for Lethbridge Stewart, and you've done a cracking job in both informing us about and honoring the character, and the late Nicholas Courtney himself. Thank you so much!
Excellent review as always. The way the Moffat era handled the Brigadier’s legacy was very mixed, but it’s good to look back and remember he’s always been there for the series, and always will be. I’ve been watching you since the Sixth Doctor retrospective, and I appreciate your dedication and professionalism towards the series in these videos, as much as the history and analysis. I’m very excited for the Eleventh Doctor video, since that was my doctor. 🎀
I feel that Courtney was a bit unlucky with the timing. When the show first came back and his health not too bad there was a (perhaps) understandable reluctance to overdo links to the classic series (which had been seen as a joke for years in British pop culture). I still dont see why he could not have appeared in the Sontaran two-parter though. Moffat (and Gatiss especially) seems to have been a bigger fan of the character than RTD was and was presumably keen to use him but of course it was already too late by then. Gatiss playing his grandfather is in many ways the perfect loveletter to the character (rather than the cyberbrig silliness). There is a wonderful documentary on the Season 10 blue ray set where Gatiss and Moffat essentially just fanboy all over the UNIT era and how much they loved and and why Petwee, Katy Manning and Courtney are so fantastic
Honestly got very emotional watching this. I've always enjoyed watching season by season while exploring classic Who and having the brigadier as a constant source of stability and contrast with the new doctors and companions has always been fun. He is a character we will likely never see the like of again in Doctor who!
Excellent work yet again, sir. Nicholas Courtney raised the tone of the entire decade. Let's not overlook his natural charisma, which was evident in his role as the Brigadier. As a former child, I found the 1970 reboot a bit of a shock but was sold on the Brigadier and Caroline John as Liz Shaw even before the Doctor regained consciousness.
Smith was my first Doctor, so when they made mention to Lethbridge Stewart I was confused, but knew he had to have massive importance to the Doctor.. Imagine my surprise when I found out he was a character who'd been in the series basically since the beginning, and they were paying tribute to the actors passing. This show never fails to surprise me with the love that goes into its characters, and the actors behind them for more than just a cheap nod. It makes me smile knowing one day, generations from now we could see an older David Tennant suiting up and putting on his Brainy Specs to help out a far-future reincarnation of the Doctor, re-introducing the term "Allons-y" to a newer fanbase.
Brilliant video as always and really teared up during that scene where the 11th Doctor learns of Lethbridge Stewart's death more so then when the episode aired. One small note though, The bit with the Brigadier at Unit in The Five Doctors was not an earlier version then the one seen in Mawdryn Undead and it is a Unit reunion not his retirement. This is how he is able to recognise Tegan later in the Tomb of Rassilon.
Awesome as usual Richard. The Brigadier has always been a key character most especially in classic who. Courtney's performance as the Brigadier was great.
The Brigadier was one of the characters that inhabits my childhood memories of Pertwee’s tenure of “Doctor Who” despite me being old enough to have been aware of the show from the start. UNIT was my era before Tom Baker & Nu Who. So as a casual fan I’m ok with the fact that the Brig saves the day again, is raised from the dead but retains his heroism even if trapped in the metal body of a Cyberman. After all it’s SciFi so perhaps we yet haven’t yet seen the Brig’s final farewell. In SciFi anything is possible.
and the follow up from one of the big finish plays in which an alien is attacking Paul McCartney and his band: 'Chap with Wings there, Five Rounds Rapid.'
The Brigadier was an inspired creation, and it's hard to imagine the Pertwee era without him. It would have otherwise had to be a variety of different military leaders that the third Doctor dealt with, wasting valuable time on introducing them to the audience each story, or simply leaving them as military stereotypes without much back story (that went so well as we can see as UNIT was phased out during season 13!). Instead we had the wonderful creation of the Brig, who varied in seriousness and intelligence depending on what best suited the story, but who gradually built a warm relationship with the Doctor to the extent that they're out socialising by the time we get to Planet of Spiders. Nick Courtney was born for that part and played it to perfection. The character worked perfectly for the earthbound third Doctor stories, but less so as the Doctor's travels expanded again, and it was understandable that he was written out during the fourth Doctor's time, as was UNIT. But what a great time we had with the character (and with UNIT) for the first half of the 1970s. :-)
As an American, I always found the Brigadier to be the most quintessentially British character. He was subtly funny. My favorite of the classic male characters.
You're back ! Huzzah ! I shall have a basinful of this with a cup of tea and a custard cream for sure. Good old Brig - one of the best - giving Sarah Jane a run for her money as the best Who companion - and thats really saying something. Thank you - I am sure it will be a delight to watch. 😀
The Brigadier is one my favourite companies of classic Dr who and I love all of the doctor Who story he has been in I love the invasion because It set up the future of classic doctor who
The wait is worth it and it is a great honor to do the wonderful soldier. Nick was for sure a dashing, sexy leading man in the British Show Biz. He was a darling of the Doctor Who genre. After his passing in 2011, he is still missed with Liz Sladen. In the Afterlife, Courtney is having tea with Liz Sladen, Deborah Watling, Pertwee, Troughton and Hartnell. Cleverdick great work once again.
The Yeti Do - gotta love the mentality that equates an alien invasion with an office drinking sesh. I know Season 8 is when the family really comes into its own, but Season 7 is one of my all-time. The conflicting loyalties between the Dr and the Brig and poor Liz caught in the middle. Great stuff.
Another fantastic video Richard, and you've really done the late, great Nic Courtney justice. Brigadier Lethbridge-Stewart is undoubtably one of Doctor Who's greatest characters, arguably just as iconic as the Doctor him/herself. He is a true legend, a hero to generations old and new. I remember being devastated in 2011 when I heard of both his and Liz Sladen's passings. To quote Tom Baker "there are many Doctors, but there is only one Brigadier". Congrats on the video, and looking forward to Part 12.
Ligitemitly cried when the 2011 thing came up. I already knew about it of course but I've recently started exploring the classic era in full and I've grown very attached to the brigadier like so many others, so that scene just broke my heart.
When the show came here to the states when I was a kid, I saw the Brigadier with Tom Baker, Sarah Jane Smith, and Harry Sullivan, so for me he is not only one of the first things I ever saw on the show, but one of the best. Fantastic character and Nicholas Courtney was wonderful in the role, still sad he's gone.
Today reveiw : 1. Early morning 2. Nice day at college 3. Realising its Friday 4. Jay Exi posts 5. Russell T Davies confirmed to return as showrunner to fix the mistakes of Chibnall 6. Clever Dick Filims posts So overall I give this day 9/10 it looses points for me spilling my coffee...
" Russell T Davies confirmed to return as showrunner to fix the mistakes of Chibnall" he's not fixing anything though because there's nothing to fix. Also RTD loves the Chibnall era, and is a great friend of Chibnall himself so I imagine he'll be respectful toward this era when crafting his new era which is good.
Thanks for this, brought tears to my eyes several times, memories of a childhood hiding behind a sofa or cushion on Saturday tea times. I hope I can speak for fans to say that we were privileged to have Nicholas Courtney bringing Briagdier Sir Alastair Gordon Lethbridge-Stewart to live. RIP Sir, and thank you for giving me such wonderful memories as I grew up.
Another astonishingly high quality documentary with an attention to detail and level of professionalism befitting the actor who embodied those very same traits.
@@EdmundJohnson The Dæmons is also my favourite Pertwee story - in all media :) I've read the Target novelisation dozens of times over the years, and the audiobook (narrated by Barry Letts, no less) is great.
I like the fact, the Brigadier know one other character who have stay with the doctor for a big time, and was insane , and are scot too. Jamie McCrimmon.
This was an amazing video, keep up the good work! Interesting Brigadier fact, if you don't count Clara jymping into the Doctors timeline (which I don't) then the Brigadier has met more incarnations of the Doctor than any other companion in the shows long run - Doctors 1-7 all met on screen . Despite this he NEVER once travelled in the Tardis, this is normally a pre-requistie to be considered a 'companion' but Who fans make an exception for the Brig.
One of my absolute favorite Doctor who stories is the big finish audio drama sympathy for the Devil. The alternate Brigadier was just phenomenal. Its followup drama where he is a companion proper was just absolute wish fulfilment.
What i always liked about the Brigadier was that he was essentially an uncomplicated person. All problems involving aliens on earth required a military solution. Preferably, five rounds rapid!
ngl the ending of the video got me really emotional. Nicholas Courtney may be gone but he'll never be forgotten, he has left behind such an incredible legacy which will be remembered forever! Beautiful video!
I'm glad I wasn't the only person who had issues with Cyber Brig in Death in Heaven. Whilst I think making an effort to acknowledge his contribution to the show was admirable, I thought that the call made by the 11th Doctor to the Nursing Home was a suitable acknowledgement. All I could think of when seeing the Cyber Brig was a decaying corpse inside (which may say more about me I guess!)
Thank you, Richard, for the best TH-cam tribute to Nicholas Courtney since Babelcolour's and Doctor Who Anime. The scenes from Downtime are especially nice to see again. Please continue with all your worthy contributions.
Not going to lie. I shed a tear here and there. Such a wonderful character and actor. I'm rewatching Pertwee's era as we speak, and the Brig is as wonderful as I remember. I wholeheartedly agree that his send-off in Death in Heaven was tone-deaf. In fact, it left a bitter taste in my mouth that put me off the series going forward. Still, one flaw on an otherwise wonderful tapestry.
Put me right off as well. I'd watched all of Eccleston's year and a good chunk of Tennant 's first year only, and have not kept up after that. I was thinking of dipping back in, when TH-cam presented me with a clip about that, and now I have zero interest at all. As far as I'm concerned, there are seven doctors and no more. :-/
I love this channel, I was a new fan from the show and didn't understand when people meant eras, this channel helped understand and love even more this show. Keep up the outstanding work!
Beautiful work as always! Thank you so much for the nod to the Paradise of Death and Ghosts of N-Space, I love those stories and sometimes think I'm the only person to even remember them!
Very well done, dare I say, I salute you! and quite agree about the major misstep with that cyberfiasco at the end. a rare lapse of judgement for this show. can't wait for your next documentary!
I love it! The Brigadeer has always been a favorite of mine. And I always noted how he seemed to have interacted with more Doctors than any other. But I had no idea that the Actor ALSO interacted with the First Doctor (Hartnell)! Very cool.
That was wonderful. I was introduced to Dr Who in the Pertwee era (although Tom Baker is MY Doctor) but The Brigadier was always a great character. Thanks and please do more.
The Brig is genuinely one of my favorite television characters of all time, and I'm usually not too fussed about the military types. I remember thinking it was odd that he didn't appear in The Android Invasion. Without him there, it seemed like a weak ending to that era of UNIT. His appearance in the Sarah Jane Adventures and the subsequent tribute at the end of Series 6 were a fitting coda to the character. I agree that it should have been left there -- as the CyberBrig is the only moment of Doctor Who I twist my headcanon in knots to get rid of. Such an ill-conceived idea. I think it's the worst thing to ever appear in Doctor Who! Thank you for producing such a wonderful tribute to the character, and to Nicholas Courtney, the actor who portrayed him so brilliantly!
Agreed 100%. I'm an old-school fan who had watched 9th Doctor and some of 10th, and was thinking about getting back into it, and when I found out about that, I just completely put the brakes on it. I have zero interest now, none whatsoever. Definitely the worst idea in television, not just this show.
I believe the part in the Android Invasion was written for him but he wasn't available (needing to pursue work elsewhere as his regular gig on Doctor Who was over). I think there was also plans to use him at the end of the Seeds of Doom too but again, he wasn't around
Another great video... as a child of the 70's there is just something so enduring and special about the Brigadier (and even the other UNIT regulars). I have been rewatching Jon's first few seasons, he was just the rock that so much of the shows brilliance revolved around, during that time.
I recently watched the other early 1970s Letts/Dicks sci-fi drama Moonbase 3. I enjoyed it overall, but Barry and Terry later admitted that they had got the grimness of the lunar environment right but had not focused sufficiently on the wonders of science, rendering the series less effective. However, they got respect for trying hard and taking risks, and Moonbase 3 is fondly remembered.
this really is fantastic! the first time I saw Brigadeer was during "the five doctors" special and even then as a kid I knew there was something special! Over time I found his history in the show and was a great character. Thank you for this amazing video
I have yet to really watch the classic series, except what I can find on TH-cam, but I've always liked the Brigadier and his deadpan delivery. I disnt think I would like this much but it was a very well planned and moving. Thank you for making this! I love your videos on Dr. Who. I learn so much. Dr. Who has changed my life in a meaningful way they he has yours and your passion for the show is so evident.
Thank you, Richard, for another glorious celebration of Doctor Who in the form of one of the most wonderful supporting characters to ever lend a dignified presence to the programme. Your series always reminds me why I loved the show so much and highlights why it simply isn't the same nowadays... However, this and the joyous news of the return of the man who I would credit as being responsible for bringing it back to the heights of it's former greatness fills me with new hope that things can turn around again, the Master's account of the "Timeless Child" will be revealed as some sort of elaborate hoax and the Doctor will become, once again, a Time Lord, long lived but not immortal and regain the "humanity" that is lost when the character can just live endless lives without the vulnerability to death which we all share. As usual, a brilliant analysis, Richard. Now, how long till your review of the Matt Smith era? Yours expectantly....
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wonderful video! my grandmother loved Dr.Who since she moved to England in 1970 and she always loves these videos. She's been in and out of chemo for a long time, and she rushes to watch these when i send her the links for new videos and it just generally makes her happy. So thank you, you're doing good work.
Thank you so much! That is genuinely one of the most wonderful comments I’ve ever had. It means so much to me that my little videos bring you and your grandmother such joy. I wish you both all the best!
Heres hoping these vids continue to give your gran peace and happiness , they'recertainly essential viewing, I used to think I had some knowledge of the original series but I always learn loads from each instalment👍👍
These are memories for this grandmother, too. Give her love from a septuagenarian in Annapolis. All the best to you both.
4:40 For your German viewers you really could had mentioned that the man had been also stationed in WEST - Berlin as this photo shows
As someone having spent all of his highschool years on a German Gymnasium there I just recognized the sign
"There have been many Doctors, but there's only one Brigadier." -Tom Baker
Wonderful chap. All of him.
What about Bambera? There were two
One of my favorite Brigadier lines is, and I may end up paraphrasing, "Just once I'd like to meet a monster that wasn't immune to bullets". I love that his final appearance in Classic Who has him defeating the monster...with bullets. Special bullets, but still bullets.
What I liked about The Brig was that although on the surface he seemed a stereotypical British Army officer, he wasn't two-dimensional. He respected and admired The Doctor, looked after his men, and even had flashes of deadpan humour. He came across as an actual human being and a decent person, not just a comedy stuffy Establishment foil for the Doctor to critique.
"Chap with the wings there: five rounds rapid". Brilliant!
Though in truth you could not fire an SLR like that coz that weapon had a kick like a mule, that was one thing I couldn't suspend my disbelief on as I 1st came across the weapon at Swinderby.
That line is so British it just re-heated my cold tea.
2nd doctor: *starts singing*
Brigadier: are you in pain?
2011 was a hard year for the who universe losing first the Brigadier and then Sarah Jane. Two actors which gave so much to Doctor Who and will never be forgotten.
Wait Sarah Jane is gone?
@@Demortixx Yes, over 10 years ago now
They’re the two best loved characters of the lot.
@@Demortixx the actress Elizabeth Sladen passed away in 2011 but the character Sarah Jane Smith actually survived into 2019, maybe 2020. Her funeral was apart of a short story released on TH-cam in 2020 called 'Farewell Sarah Jane' which was made over the first UK lockdown
@@vashna3799 and both were introduced in the Third Doctor's era! Fittingly, the Golden Era of Dr Who produced not only two of the best Doctors, but also two of the best side characters 😊
I'm suddenly very aware that in the 70s there must have been a small portion of the budget set aside just for stick-on 'staches.
Nick was always proud of the fact that by The Five Doctors and Battlefield he'd finally grown his own 🤣
Based on the shonky special effects I think majority of the budget must have been assigned to moustaches alone.
One of the very best of all companions to the Doctor. Never has there been someone as long-standing and enduring as the Brig himself. The legacy of Nicholas Courtney's performance is felt through every era of the show. Another brilliant video for such a brilliant character. Hats off to you, Richard!
Thanks so much! Glad you enjoyed!
The fact that the show tried to bring him back through his daughter is a testament to how well loved he is. Unfortunately, she couldn't compare because Nicholas Courtney's Brigadier is irreplaceable.
@@robinlarge1630 Definitely one of my favourites, but certainly not as enduring
Truly! I myself joined with the 11th Doctor and even I know how important and loved the brigadier was!
Matt Smith's scene where he hears about the Brigadier's death is a beuatiful scene, and is probably my favourite scene from The Wedding of River Song that doesn't have Gantok in it. It's almost as if the Brig was advising his old friend from beyond the grave, telling him he's got to go through with what he's desperately trying to avoid.
Better than the bloody Cyberbrigadier, that was a bloody bad idea in practice, though I can understand what they were going for.
I've heard a bit about that Cyberwhatever business, and as an official Old, I refuse to acknowledge it.
Now seeing the context for his friend’s history it makes the scene sadder. When I watched it originally it was before I watched the classic who episodes. 😢
I honestly think it's one of the gentler missteps in the capauldi era in comparison to the MANY preceded and followed it. Not to mention the horrible lot Jodie got. (poor woman deserves better writers, she's trying her best)
@@ritzexists2201 Yes, I feel so sorry for her. No personal dislike for Chibnall, I just don't think his stuff was to my taste. I wish Whittaker could stick around for a series under Russell T, but such things are not to be.
@@TheSmart-CasualGamer yeah it's a shame
"Get off my world."
"Pitiful, can this world do no better than you as their champion?"
"Probably! I just do the best I can"
God damn that's a hell of a line. Really shows how heroic the Brigadier was.
No super-powers, no magical alien, he's not the Timeless Child, he's not a robot. he makes mistakes and screws up. But he's out there, doing his best to save the day.
One of my favorite moments from the new series is when the Tenth Doctor states he wishes the Brigadier was there and then realized the Colonel he's working with might take it as an insult. Instead the man completely agrees, knowing the Brigadier's (or Sir Alistair, as he calls him) reputation.
I'm glad that the same day the news of Russel T. Davies coming back comes out, we also get some more videos from Clever Dick Films. Today is a good day.
Today is a great day, whatever naysayers may say...👏🏻
A companion loyal and true, right to the very end. And a man, great in his acting and accepting/loving of the fan base that followed him. Rest In Peace Nicholas Courtney.
What saves that final scene for me, is that it has the doctor, as far as I know for the one and only time, give a genuine military salute out of respect. Knowing his dislike for soldiers and authority figures, the Brig couldn't get a bigger vote of approval from anyone.
That being said, I would love a team-up between him and River. That should make sparks fly :)
Big Finish are doing precisely that, though of course with Jon Culshaw voicing the Brig. He's actually quite good, does a good young Brig, but his older Brig is all over the place unfortunately
In the context of the episode it works. I would have probably avoided doing it more because of missy's almost immediate return, which makes that final blast look like he was obeying an order to teleport missy away rather than one last rescue.
The Brigadier is one of my favourite companions and its a shame I never had the chance to meet Nicholas Courtney when he was alive, as I didn't know about comic cons in the 1990s, 2000s and early 2010s. May he rest in peace.
Agreed, one of my faves...in reality its been 10yrs since he left us..then
At 36:55 Moffatt paid the respect to the man/character,by having the 11th ring him up at the nursing home just to be told he had passed a few months back....😔
Matt looks crushed...and yeah we all were too while watching lol..'he always made us pour an extra brandy,in case u came around one of these days.
Well done Brigadier,well done.🥃✌
Met him in a few times at conventions in the late 90's sadly didn't make much of an impact. I got the impression he was there for the money. Elizabeth Sladen on the other hand was lovely.
@@the_lichemaster I sadly never had the chance to meet Elizabeth Sladen when she was alive too but I'm not the only one.
The line "I just do the best I can" was my yearbook quote
This perfectly encapsulates what everyone loves about the Brigadier. Thank god that the original actor for The Web of Fear pulled out, so that we could be treated to this Who legend.
I, like many but far too few, had the honour to meet Nicholas Courtney once. An absolute and utter gentleman.
His legacy both in front of the camera and behind, whatever the show, is well deserved.
We should all be lucky enough to have a friend as dedicated as the Brigadier was to the Doctor and vice versa.
As an American. I remember watching Dr.Who with my Dad as a kid, and always hearing the Brigadier's voice. I was too young to understand the show,but his character always stands out as a distinctive memory. It's only recently after my father's passing that I really started getting into the show. The Brigadier still stands out, and is one of my favorite characters. Cheers
I definitely agree that “misguided” is the best word for what happened in the Series 8 finale. You can tell that the writers had a lot of love for The Brigadier, and wanted to honor him, but the execution was definitely a bit tone deaf.
I've always felt the Brigadier was deserving of his own classification. He's not a traditional companion. He has a unique role in the story which is exemplified by the need to give him a complete set of stories with every Doctor. It's one of the great friendships in fiction. It very much fits that he stays behind when The Doctor travels off. Protecting Earth is his duty and he'd never shirk that. I agree the Cyberman thing was a misstep, but I think it was done with good intentions.
**notices that this popped up in my sub page**
As the Brigadier would say:
"Well, here we go again"
As an American fan since the late 70's, I have a great deal of fondness for Lethbridge Stewart, and you've done a cracking job in both informing us about and honoring the character, and the late Nicholas Courtney himself. Thank you so much!
Excellent review as always. The way the Moffat era handled the Brigadier’s legacy was very mixed, but it’s good to look back and remember he’s always been there for the series, and always will be. I’ve been watching you since the Sixth Doctor retrospective, and I appreciate your dedication and professionalism towards the series in these videos, as much as the history and analysis. I’m very excited for the Eleventh Doctor video, since that was my doctor. 🎀
I feel that Courtney was a bit unlucky with the timing. When the show first came back and his health not too bad there was a (perhaps) understandable reluctance to overdo links to the classic series (which had been seen as a joke for years in British pop culture). I still dont see why he could not have appeared in the Sontaran two-parter though. Moffat (and Gatiss especially) seems to have been a bigger fan of the character than RTD was and was presumably keen to use him but of course it was already too late by then. Gatiss playing his grandfather is in many ways the perfect loveletter to the character (rather than the cyberbrig silliness). There is a wonderful documentary on the Season 10 blue ray set where Gatiss and Moffat essentially just fanboy all over the UNIT era and how much they loved and and why Petwee, Katy Manning and Courtney are so fantastic
Honestly got very emotional watching this. I've always enjoyed watching season by season while exploring classic Who and having the brigadier as a constant source of stability and contrast with the new doctors and companions has always been fun.
He is a character we will likely never see the like of again in Doctor who!
Excellent work yet again, sir. Nicholas Courtney raised the tone of the entire decade. Let's not overlook his natural charisma, which was evident in his role as the Brigadier. As a former child, I found the 1970 reboot a bit of a shock but was sold on the Brigadier and Caroline John as Liz Shaw even before the Doctor regained consciousness.
Smith was my first Doctor, so when they made mention to Lethbridge Stewart I was confused, but knew he had to have massive importance to the Doctor.. Imagine my surprise when I found out he was a character who'd been in the series basically since the beginning, and they were paying tribute to the actors passing.
This show never fails to surprise me with the love that goes into its characters, and the actors behind them for more than just a cheap nod.
It makes me smile knowing one day, generations from now we could see an older David Tennant suiting up and putting on his Brainy Specs to help out a far-future reincarnation of the Doctor, re-introducing the term "Allons-y" to a newer fanbase.
Love that you're still doing these in between Doctor Who Era videos.
The Brigadier is one of my favorite Dr. Who characters, and the reason is Nicholas Courtney. He was perfect. Thanks for another great video
I had no idea how many Doctors Courtney had been around. Including the 1st!
Brilliant video as always and really teared up during that scene where the 11th Doctor learns of Lethbridge Stewart's death more so then when the episode aired.
One small note though, The bit with the Brigadier at Unit in The Five Doctors was not an earlier version then the one seen in Mawdryn Undead and it is a Unit reunion not his retirement. This is how he is able to recognise Tegan later in the Tomb of Rassilon.
Awesome as usual Richard. The Brigadier has always been a key character most especially in classic who. Courtney's performance as the Brigadier was great.
probably your best companion piece yet! I love the Brigadier. So glad you chose to tackle him
Thanks so much! That means a lot!
The Brigadier was one of the characters that inhabits my childhood memories of Pertwee’s tenure of “Doctor Who” despite me being old enough to have been aware of the show from the start. UNIT was my era before Tom Baker & Nu Who.
So as a casual fan I’m ok with the fact that the Brig saves the day again, is raised from the dead but retains his heroism even if trapped in the metal body of a Cyberman. After all it’s SciFi so perhaps we yet haven’t yet seen the Brig’s final farewell. In SciFi anything is possible.
A wonderful tribute.
I was lucky enough to work with Mr. Courtney a few times back in the 90's. He was a lovely man.
“Chap with wings there, five rounds rapid” - one of the best lines in Doctor Who.
and the follow up from one of the big finish plays in which an alien is attacking Paul McCartney and his band: 'Chap with Wings there, Five Rounds Rapid.'
The Brigadier was an inspired creation, and it's hard to imagine the Pertwee era without him. It would have otherwise had to be a variety of different military leaders that the third Doctor dealt with, wasting valuable time on introducing them to the audience each story, or simply leaving them as military stereotypes without much back story (that went so well as we can see as UNIT was phased out during season 13!). Instead we had the wonderful creation of the Brig, who varied in seriousness and intelligence depending on what best suited the story, but who gradually built a warm relationship with the Doctor to the extent that they're out socialising by the time we get to Planet of Spiders. Nick Courtney was born for that part and played it to perfection. The character worked perfectly for the earthbound third Doctor stories, but less so as the Doctor's travels expanded again, and it was understandable that he was written out during the fourth Doctor's time, as was UNIT. But what a great time we had with the character (and with UNIT) for the first half of the 1970s. :-)
As an American, I always found the Brigadier to be the most quintessentially British character. He was subtly funny. My favorite of the classic male characters.
Such a lovely man. He visited my school’s Doctor Who club back in the very late 80s. He is sorely missed.
You're back ! Huzzah ! I shall have a basinful of this with a cup of tea and a custard cream for sure. Good old Brig - one of the best - giving Sarah Jane a run for her money as the best Who companion - and thats really saying something. Thank you - I am sure it will be a delight to watch. 😀
The Brigadier is one my favourite companies of classic Dr who and I love all of the doctor Who story he has been in I love the invasion because It set up the future of classic doctor who
The wait is worth it and it is a great honor to do the wonderful soldier. Nick was for sure a dashing, sexy leading man in the British Show Biz. He was a darling of the Doctor Who genre. After his passing in 2011, he is still missed with Liz Sladen.
In the Afterlife, Courtney is having tea with Liz Sladen, Deborah Watling, Pertwee, Troughton and Hartnell.
Cleverdick great work once again.
The Yeti Do - gotta love the mentality that equates an alien invasion with an office drinking sesh.
I know Season 8 is when the family really comes into its own, but Season 7 is one of my all-time. The conflicting loyalties between the Dr and the Brig and poor Liz caught in the middle. Great stuff.
Another fantastic video Richard, and you've really done the late, great Nic Courtney justice. Brigadier Lethbridge-Stewart is undoubtably one of Doctor Who's greatest characters, arguably just as iconic as the Doctor him/herself. He is a true legend, a hero to generations old and new. I remember being devastated in 2011 when I heard of both his and Liz Sladen's passings. To quote Tom Baker "there are many Doctors, but there is only one Brigadier".
Congrats on the video, and looking forward to Part 12.
Ligitemitly cried when the 2011 thing came up. I already knew about it of course but I've recently started exploring the classic era in full and I've grown very attached to the brigadier like so many others, so that scene just broke my heart.
Thank you brig for being such a huge part of my childhood. Rest in peace old chap you are irreplaceable....
Awesome as ever. But I've got to say I absolutely loved this covering my favourite of the Doctor's companions Alistair Gordon Lethbridge-Stewart.
When the show came here to the states when I was a kid, I saw the Brigadier with Tom Baker, Sarah Jane Smith, and Harry Sullivan, so for me he is not only one of the first things I ever saw on the show, but one of the best. Fantastic character and Nicholas Courtney was wonderful in the role, still sad he's gone.
When they need him the most,
The king has returned.
Today reveiw : 1. Early morning
2. Nice day at college
3. Realising its Friday
4. Jay Exi posts
5. Russell T Davies confirmed to return as showrunner to fix the mistakes of Chibnall
6. Clever Dick Filims posts
So overall I give this day 9/10 it looses points for me spilling my coffee...
Davies huh! That is good news.
Let's hope he can save the show!
@@grochomarx2002 yes! Check the BBC twitter I think it was or if its not look it up...
" Russell T Davies confirmed to return as showrunner to fix the mistakes of Chibnall" he's not fixing anything though because there's nothing to fix. Also RTD loves the Chibnall era, and is a great friend of Chibnall himself so I imagine he'll be respectful toward this era when crafting his new era which is good.
Damn coffee.
@@TheSmart-CasualGamer Yes! so true...
Thanks for this, brought tears to my eyes several times, memories of a childhood hiding behind a sofa or cushion on Saturday tea times. I hope I can speak for fans to say that we were privileged to have Nicholas Courtney bringing Briagdier Sir Alastair Gordon Lethbridge-Stewart to live. RIP Sir, and thank you for giving me such wonderful memories as I grew up.
The Brigadier is by far my most favorite recurring character in classic Who. He played him perfectly.
The Web of Fear and The Invasion are two of my absolute favourite serials, and the Brigadier was a vital part of rejuvinating the show
Another astonishingly high quality documentary with an attention to detail and level of professionalism befitting the actor who embodied those very same traits.
The Daemons is my favourite Doctor Who story for this era, my Grandfather is in it though, so I'm slightly byest. Another great video!
I presume it was your grandfather who beat up Mike Yates and nicked the helicopter? Cool!
@@ftumschk yes it was! Went out in a blaze of glory
I'm not biased and for me it's the most memorable 3rd doctor story by far.
@@EdmundJohnson The Dæmons is also my favourite Pertwee story - in all media :) I've read the Target novelisation dozens of times over the years, and the audiobook (narrated by Barry Letts, no less) is great.
Pure gold, and a fitting tribute to Nicholas Courtney. Thank you.
One of my all time favourite characters in the series.
This videos are magnificent. Your hard work is definitely appreciated. I can't wait for the Mat Smith episode.
Definitely one of the most legendary Doctor Who characters.
It made me cry. Nice overview of the Brigadier.
I like the fact, the Brigadier know one other character who have stay with the doctor for a big time, and was insane , and are scot too. Jamie McCrimmon.
Brigadier Lethbridge Stewart was and still is one of my all time favourite Dr. Who characters.
This was an amazing video, keep up the good work! Interesting Brigadier fact, if you don't count Clara jymping into the Doctors timeline (which I don't) then the Brigadier has met more incarnations of the Doctor than any other companion in the shows long run - Doctors 1-7 all met on screen . Despite this he NEVER once travelled in the Tardis, this is normally a pre-requistie to be considered a 'companion' but Who fans make an exception for the Brig.
Another terrific overview - really interesting and heartwarming.
That scene with Matt Smith gets me every single time. So glad they included it.
How these videos are not on the BBC and DVDs, it escapes me... fantastic work... enjoying all your videos :) Thank you :)
One of my absolute favorite Doctor who stories is the big finish audio drama sympathy for the Devil. The alternate Brigadier was just phenomenal. Its followup drama where he is a companion proper was just absolute wish fulfilment.
What i always liked about the Brigadier was that he was essentially an uncomplicated person. All problems involving aliens on earth required a military solution. Preferably, five rounds rapid!
I wish these companion videos got more views. I love em. Overlooked perspective. It's easy to focus on the Doctor
ngl the ending of the video got me really emotional. Nicholas Courtney may be gone but he'll never be forgotten, he has left behind such an incredible legacy which will be remembered forever! Beautiful video!
I'm glad I wasn't the only person who had issues with Cyber Brig in Death in Heaven. Whilst I think making an effort to acknowledge his contribution to the show was admirable, I thought that the call made by the 11th Doctor to the Nursing Home was a suitable acknowledgement. All I could think of when seeing the Cyber Brig was a decaying corpse inside (which may say more about me I guess!)
Thank you, Richard, for the best TH-cam tribute to Nicholas Courtney since Babelcolour's and Doctor Who Anime. The scenes from Downtime are especially nice to see again. Please continue with all your worthy contributions.
I bought Downtime back when it was released. I remember not being that impressed by it, disappointed in fact.
Not going to lie. I shed a tear here and there. Such a wonderful character and actor. I'm rewatching Pertwee's era as we speak, and the Brig is as wonderful as I remember. I wholeheartedly agree that his send-off in Death in Heaven was tone-deaf. In fact, it left a bitter taste in my mouth that put me off the series going forward. Still, one flaw on an otherwise wonderful tapestry.
Put me right off as well. I'd watched all of Eccleston's year and a good chunk of Tennant 's first year only, and have not kept up after that. I was thinking of dipping back in, when TH-cam presented me with a clip about that, and now I have zero interest at all. As far as I'm concerned, there are seven doctors and no more. :-/
They should have let the poor guy rest in a deservedly respectful death rather than “live” on in a hellish existence. What were they thinking?
I love this channel, I was a new fan from the show and didn't understand when people meant eras, this channel helped understand and love even more this show. Keep up the outstanding work!
A brilliant video, as always. A fitting tribute to the character and Nicholas Courtney.
A wonderful piece on the great Nicholas Courtney. As usual your videos are well worth waiting for. Many thanks for this.😊
The Brigadier is one of the greatest characters in the history of the show and will always have a special place in my heart
This whole series has been a great joy to behold. Kudos to you, sir, and your passionate fandom.
Beautiful work as always! Thank you so much for the nod to the Paradise of Death and Ghosts of N-Space, I love those stories and sometimes think I'm the only person to even remember them!
Glad you’re back, mate. I’ve been missing GOOD Who reviews.
Very well done, dare I say, I salute you! and quite agree about the major misstep with that cyberfiasco at the end. a rare lapse of judgement for this show. can't wait for your next documentary!
I love it! The Brigadeer has always been a favorite of mine. And I always noted how he seemed to have interacted with more Doctors than any other.
But I had no idea that the Actor ALSO interacted with the First Doctor (Hartnell)!
Very cool.
Oh I love your deep dive who content! 💛
Absolutely amazing. I was looking forward to your next video, and I'm so glad it was about the Brigadier! Please keep up the awesome work.
That was wonderful. I was introduced to Dr Who in the Pertwee era (although Tom Baker is MY Doctor) but The Brigadier was always a great character. Thanks and please do more.
The Brig is genuinely one of my favorite television characters of all time, and I'm usually not too fussed about the military types. I remember thinking it was odd that he didn't appear in The Android Invasion. Without him there, it seemed like a weak ending to that era of UNIT. His appearance in the Sarah Jane Adventures and the subsequent tribute at the end of Series 6 were a fitting coda to the character. I agree that it should have been left there -- as the CyberBrig is the only moment of Doctor Who I twist my headcanon in knots to get rid of. Such an ill-conceived idea. I think it's the worst thing to ever appear in Doctor Who!
Thank you for producing such a wonderful tribute to the character, and to Nicholas Courtney, the actor who portrayed him so brilliantly!
Agreed 100%. I'm an old-school fan who had watched 9th Doctor and some of 10th, and was thinking about getting back into it, and when I found out about that, I just completely put the brakes on it. I have zero interest now, none whatsoever. Definitely the worst idea in television, not just this show.
I believe the part in the Android Invasion was written for him but he wasn't available (needing to pursue work elsewhere as his regular gig on Doctor Who was over). I think there was also plans to use him at the end of the Seeds of Doom too but again, he wasn't around
There will never be amazing character like The Brigadier
"The moment had been prepared for." 😆
That was far more amusing than it had any right to be.
Another great video... as a child of the 70's there is just something so enduring and special about the Brigadier (and even the other UNIT regulars). I have been rewatching Jon's first few seasons, he was just the rock that so much of the shows brilliance revolved around, during that time.
I recently watched the other early 1970s Letts/Dicks sci-fi drama Moonbase 3. I enjoyed it overall, but Barry and Terry later admitted that they had got the grimness of the lunar environment right but had not focused sufficiently on the wonders of science, rendering the series less effective. However, they got respect for trying hard and taking risks, and Moonbase 3 is fondly remembered.
One of the my favourite characters from Doctor Who. The Brigadier was awesome!
At least we got to see Nicholas Courtney with William Hartnell as we got to see what the 1st Doctor might have looked like with The Brigadier
this really is fantastic! the first time I saw Brigadeer was during "the five doctors" special and even then as a kid I knew there was something special! Over time I found his history in the show and was a great character. Thank you for this amazing video
Brilliant as ever Richard. Every time I watch one of these I end up watching them all again. Looking forward to the next one already
That was a joy filled trip down memory lane thank you so much for doing this
I have yet to really watch the classic series, except what I can find on TH-cam, but I've always liked the Brigadier and his deadpan delivery. I disnt think I would like this much but it was a very well planned and moving.
Thank you for making this! I love your videos on Dr. Who. I learn so much. Dr. Who has changed my life in a meaningful way they he has yours and your passion for the show is so evident.
Thank you, Richard, for another glorious celebration of Doctor Who in the form of one of the most wonderful supporting characters to ever lend a dignified presence to the programme. Your series always reminds me why I loved the show so much and highlights why it simply isn't the same nowadays...
However, this and the joyous news of the return of the man who I would credit as being responsible for bringing it back to the heights of it's former greatness fills me with new hope that things can turn around again, the Master's account of the "Timeless Child" will be revealed as some sort of elaborate hoax and the Doctor will become, once again, a Time Lord, long lived but not immortal and regain the "humanity" that is lost when the character can just live endless lives without the vulnerability to death which we all share.
As usual, a brilliant analysis, Richard. Now, how long till your review of the Matt Smith era?
Yours expectantly....
Brilliant video as always, very impressed with the quality and love you put into all your work.
Do K9, Sarah Jane and Clara next!!
They’re my favourite companions!!