Planet of the Spiders

Directed by

UK Viewers

10.1 million

Appreciation Index

Synopsis

While the Doctor carries out an investigation into ESP, Mike Yates asks Sarah to look into some strange goings on at a meditation centre he's attending.

Part Two

First aired

Saturday, May 11, 1974

Runtime

25 minutes

Written by

Directed by

UK Viewers

8.9 million

Appreciation Index

Synopsis

Lupton forms an alliance with the spider to steal the Doctor's blue crystal, while Sarah and Mike attempt to alert people to what they've seen.

Part Three

First aired

Saturday, May 18, 1974

Runtime

25 minutes

Written by

Directed by

UK Viewers

8.8 million

Appreciation Index

Synopsis

The Doctor and Sarah head to the meditation centre to try and get the crystal back while Lupton prepares to return it to Metebelis Three. But all their plans are disrupted when it is stolen by Tommy.

Part Four

First aired

Saturday, May 25, 1974

Runtime

25 minutes

Written by

Directed by

UK Viewers

8.2 million

Synopsis

Sarah is captured by the spiders' guards while the Doctor tries to help Arak and the others strike back against the spiders.

Part Five

First aired

Saturday, June 1, 1974

Runtime

25 minutes

Written by

Directed by

UK Viewers

9.2 million

Synopsis

The Doctor escapes from the spiders' larder only to encounter the Great One, while Sarah makes a deal with the Queen Spider.

Part Six

First aired

Saturday, June 8, 1974

Runtime

25 minutes

Written by

Directed by

UK Viewers

8.9 million

Appreciation Index

Synopsis

K'Anpo persuades the Doctor he must face his fear and return the crystal to the Great One.But first they need to get past Barnes and his men.

Characters

Third Doctor

Jon Pertwee

Sarah Jane Smith

Elisabeth Sladen

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Planet of the Spiders (VHS)

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8 reviews

This review contains spoilers!

Probably my favourite of season 11. We get all the unit regulars, car/boat chases, and giant spiders. Yates gets his redemption, there is another time lord who regenerates, which of course also happens to the Doctor as he is drained with usage of the blue crystal and from his battle with the Great One. Pertwee is my favourite classic Doctor, so it's sad to see him go, but season 11 probably was his weakest and it's always exciting to see the next Doctor.

Scottybguud

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Review last edited on 9-05-25

A fun end to the Third Doctor era. The effects for the spiders are very good-looking, and the story is a fun romp through the classic tropes that define this era. I'll miss you, Jon Pertwee. ;)

A. Maybe B.

Azurillkirby

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Review last edited on 14-03-25

This review contains spoilers!

I have to be honest, I had a pretty awful time with Planet of the Spiders. I have largely enjoyed the Third Doctor era, even with its cheesy effects, the spiders just plain look awful here. This production team was not ready for something like this. Beyond that, I was kind of just bored with the story. Normally the charms of this era just work but everything kind of feels tired here. I know Pertwee was in a lot of pain at this time. And with Delgado having tragically died, while Jo long gone, it does feel like the Third Doctor's time here had run its course. Even the sets and filming feels confined and uninspired. I'm not much of a fan, and its my least favourite regeneration story, though there is definitely a feeling that change is needed by this point because the formula the show found in its first colour era was starting to get stale.

Still, it's not without any kind of merit. It still has the Brigadier and Sarah Jane, so it can only be so bad. Still, though, it's not a story I'm really eager to revisit any time soon.

dema1020

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Review last edited on 14-02-25

wish this was the finale game

Rock_Angel

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Review last edited on 24-11-24

This review contains spoilers!

When I started Jon Pertwee's era I wash full of energy and excitement towards this Doctor, after making my way through his five seasons I suppose I have a more measured opinion. I have certainly found his time in the TARDIS inherently more watchable than that of his 1960s counterparts, this is owing to higher production values, the completeness of the archive and for the most part (there are plenty of exceptions) the writing being a little more complex. Jon's Doctor has been energetic, emotional and very wise, but at the same time, five seasons of him I has left me yearning for Patrick Troughton's warmer and less "showy" interpretation of the character. Jon can be patronising and obnoxious to his companions - which is not a trait which I have ever warmed to.

Episode two of Planet of the Spiders (and this is the only episode I am going to slate) pretty much embodies everything I have found troubling about Pertwee's era. The self indulgent chase scene took up the entire episode, it seemed to be made for Pertwee himself rather than the audience. They could have cut it down to best five minutes, or added some narrative and it would have been thrilling - but instead they padded it out beyond belief and there was no real purpose to the chase. This is not a story without padding, each episode recap takes about two minutes for no good reason and the ending of part five doesn't fully recap until ten minutes(!) into part six.

Planet of the Spiders was certainly no failure though. There are bucket loads of redeeming and intriguing features which bring it up to "must watch" status. This is not solely because it is Pertwee's final outing, although he is on fine form throughout his more heroic and subtle moments. His Houdini inspired escape from the spider's web is a perfect example of the kind of playful humour he brought to this story.

This is potentially Mike Yates' best story. Initially I found it odd that Sarah Jane was chatting with him like a pal when her only other story with him he had turned out to be a misguided baddie. Once over this there was a lot of enjoyment to have and I felt that his character was well redeemed, the twist in the previous story having built him up and made him more interesting.

Tommy is a very well handled character. His "simple" nature could look embarrassing with modern eyes, it's certainly playing with fire, but it was very well written and acted. I found myself very invested in this one off character and was glad to see him take on a far greater intelligence. The transition (reading the book and correcting his language) was spine tingling.

There is no doubt that it is the writing and acting which shines best in this story. To get the most out of Planet of the Spiders you have to ignore the CSO, immobile monsters and lack of location filming. Pertwee deals with these challenges admirably - one of his best ever acting moments being when he faces the Great One.

I'm glad that this Doctor regenerated around Sarah Jane and the familiar UNIT crew. Even Jo got a lovely nod in the first episode which helped sign off the era nicely. The Time Lord Buddhist monk regenerating helped prepare The Doctor's age old friends with what was about to happen. The ending of this story could not have been more perfect. The Doctor has a new face again!

I obviously can't wait to see what happens next.

15thDoctor

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Review last edited on 14-11-24