Frontier in Space

Directed by

UK Viewers

9.1 million

Synopsis

The Doctor and Jo land on a spaceship in the far future as it is attacked by Ogrons, which the human crew see as Draconians. The Doctor and Jo are taken to Earth as spies.

Episode Two

First aired

Saturday, March 3, 1973

Runtime

25 minutes

Written by

Directed by

UK Viewers

7.8 million

Synopsis

The Doctor and Jo are taken to Earth, where both humans and Draconians believe them to be a spy for the other side.

Episode Three

First aired

Saturday, March 10, 1973

Runtime

25 minutes

Written by

Directed by

UK Viewers

7.5 million

Synopsis

The Doctor is sentenced to life imprisonment at a lunar penal colony while Jo encounters an old enemy.

Episode Four

First aired

Saturday, March 17, 1973

Runtime

25 minutes

Written by

Directed by

UK Viewers

7.1 million

Synopsis

The Master rescues the Doctor from the lunar penal colony, aiming to take him and Jo to the Ogrons' planet, and the Doctor's attempt to escape leaves him stranded in space.

Episode Five

First aired

Saturday, March 24, 1973

Runtime

25 minutes

Written by

Directed by

UK Viewers

7.7 million

Synopsis

The Doctor, Jo and the Master are taken to Draconia, where the Doctor tries to convince the Draconians of the truth.

Episode Six

First aired

Saturday, March 31, 1973

Runtime

25 minutes

Written by

Directed by

UK Viewers

8.9 million

Synopsis

The Doctor, Williams and the Draconian Prince head to the Ogrons' planet to find evidence of the Master's actions but the Master tricks Jo into leading them into a trap.

Characters

Third Doctor

Jon Pertwee

Jo Grant

Katy Manning

How to watch Frontier in Space:

Watch on iPlayer

Blu-Ray

The Collection – Season 10

DVD

Dalek War (Frontier in Space & Planet of the Daleks)

VHS

The Pertwee Years (VHS)

VHS

Frontier in Space (VHS)

Reviews
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13 reviews

I'm honestly amazed on how I've been consistently enjoying the Third Doctor stories till now. This one, per example, a political thriller about polarization and how a third party may be the cause and the possible winner of a xenophobic induced fear between tho species (peoples). Doctor Who is political and, as we see it here, has always been.

ErickSoares3

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Review last edited on 8-06-25

I'm not really quite sure what to make of this one. It's kind of nothing. There's no real plot, with most plot intrigue solved in the first few minutes of part 2 and the rest in part 3, leaving 3 parts where all that's driving the story is just trying to convince characters of what's going on, and that's resolved in part 5! The story is so lavish, there's no sense of urgency, even when Jo is kidnapped in the eleventh hour under threat of death, the stakes never increase as none of the characters really seem to care, as everyone knows she will be alright. On top of that there's not even really an ending to the story, as a twist right at the end causes the doctor to stop caring about the plot we've been following, literally sending the side cast off screen telling them to sort it out themselves. We don't know what happens in the central plot of the last ~2 and a half hours, we don't know if our hero's succeed or if everyone dies in a fiery war, as the final part is basically just a part one for the next story forgetting to finish the story it actually belongs to.

In short, this story is just 2 and a half hours of characters just existing. And I will say, this isn't necessarily bad. 3 and Jo are always fun, bouncing off each other effortlessly, with Jo being especially incredible, she's really come into her own since season 8. Unfortunately they spend most of the story separated, but the moments they have together are great. The side cast are unfortunately dull as hell, meaning that when Delgado shows up in part 3 with surprisingly little fanfare it's like a shot of energy into the story. He's so good with the main cast, it's maybe his finest hour, and it's a massive tragedy that this was his final outing as it truly feels like he's mastered (excuse the pun) the role. Still, it's not quite enough to make me rank the story as good.

Overall it's not really bad, in fact it's very fun at times, it's just kind of nothing. There's nothing driving what little story there is meaning I struggle to get invested. I had to force myself to sit down and finish the story rather than watching it because I was enjoying it, something that I haven't done since the Space Pirates. Thankfully this one isn't bad like Space Pirates is, just not engaging in any real way. 4/10

JeffreyMoo

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Review last edited on 6-06-25

I like to call this serial the jail Hokey Cokey as it quickly turns into 'who's going to end up in what prison cell next' Delgado!master is such a cringefail little guy i'm not ready to let go of him yet, like you know you're failing hard as a big bad when you have to make your victim hallucinate that you're another big bad to try and scare her and even that doesn't work.

kawaii2234

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Review last edited on 28-05-25

This review contains spoilers!

A good 70s space opera. Humans and Draconians are on the verge of war due to each believing the other of constantly stealing each other's cargo ships. The Master, Delgado's last time in the role, with his Ogron minions and some device that makes them look like a human or Draconian, is trying to start the war. And then we find out it's not just the Master's plan but also the Daleks. Two of the Doctor's biggest enemies meeting should of been better than it was, and it might have been in the next story if Delgado hadn't passed away

Scottybguud

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Review last edited on 25-04-25

Man, other than The Sea Devils, seasons 9 and 10 have been straight bangers.

I really loved the central conflict of two sides on the brink of war, led to believe that the other is an aggressor. Very well done.

A+.

Azurillkirby

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Review last edited on 24-04-25