Doctor Who - Colony in Space (VHS, 2003)

Since the new Dr. Who series has been shown in early 2006 on the SciFi channel in the US, we've been remembering the great Dr. Who series of yesteryear. This episode features Jon Pertwee, who played the Doctor in the early 1970s. In our opinion, this is the first "modern" Dr. Who series.

Exiled to Earth without the ability to travel in time and space, the Third Doctor becomes an archetypal 1970s “Danger Man”. He’s bold, charming, fearless and very very cool! Even more than Tom Baker (the Doctor that most people recognize), this is our favorite interpretation of the character. Every episode of Jon Pertwee’s tenure is a rollicking good time, and sheer entertainment (especially if you were around during the time when those clothes and those attitudes were the New Big Thing!) *LOL*

This is a rare story arc in which the Third Doctor is permitted to leave Earth to solve a dilemma aboard a space colony. As such, it illuminates this Doctor's link to both his past and future selves. It's a special pleasure to see this Doctor doing something un-earthly. One of the real joys of the Doctor's character(s) is seeing him convince skeptical and narrow-minded bureaucrats (on Earth or elsewhere) that he is an authority on whatever is bothering them, and convincing them to accede to his wishes in order to save themselves.

In most of the Third Doctor's stories, there is a buffer between the Doctor and Earth bureaucracy in the form of U.N.I.T., a military organization dealing with paranormal events. But in this episode, we can see the Doctor at his finest, right on the edge and taking complete command of the situation. Given Jon Pertwee's tendency for scenery chewing (and his undeniable charisma and confidence), it's a great story arc, which we're highly recommending.