Stories Television Doctor Who Season 11 Serial: 1 2 3 4 5 Planet of the Spiders 1 image Overview Episodes Characters How to Watch Reviews 9 Statistics Related Stories Quotes 4 Transcript Overview First aired Saturday, May 4, 1974 Production Code ZZZ Written by Barry Letts, Robert Sloman Directed by Barry Letts Runtime 150 minutes Story Type Regeneration, Series Finale Time Travel Present Tropes (Potential Spoilers!) Human Colony, Ritual, The Doctor Falls Story Arc (Potential Spoilers!) Exile on Earth, Working for UNIT Inventory (Potential Spoilers!) Bessie, Sonic Screwdriver Location (Potential Spoilers!) Earth, England, Metebelis III Synopsis The blue crystal that the Doctor took from Metebelis III in a previous adventure is desperately sought by the Eight Legs, a race of mutated spiders, as the final element in their plan for universal domination. With help from an old mentor, the Doctor realises the only way to foil the plot is to make the ultimate sacrifice. The Doctor must risk death to return to the cave of the Great One and save the universe. Watch Watched Favourite Favourited Add Review Edit Review Log a repeat Skip Skipped Unowned Owned Owned Save to my list Saved Edit date completed Custom Date Release Date Archive (no date) Save 6 Episodes Part One First aired Saturday, May 4, 1974 Runtime 25 minutes Written by Robert Sloman Barry Letts Directed by Barry Letts UK Viewers 10.1 million Appreciation Index 58 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 Robert Sloman Barry Letts Directed by Barry Letts UK Viewers 8.9 million Appreciation Index 60 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 Robert Sloman Barry Letts Directed by Barry Letts UK Viewers 8.8 million Appreciation Index 57 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 Robert Sloman Barry Letts Directed by Barry Letts 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 Robert Sloman Barry Letts Directed by Barry Letts 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 Robert Sloman Barry Letts Directed by Barry Letts UK Viewers 8.9 million Appreciation Index 56 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. Show All Episodes Characters Third Doctor Jon Pertwee Sarah Jane Smith Elisabeth Sladen The Brigadier Nicholas Courtney Mike Yates Richard Franklin John Benton John Levene The Eight Legs First Appearance UNIT K'anpo Rimpoche Show All Characters (8) How to watch Planet of the Spiders: Watch on iPlayer DVD Regeneration DVD Planet of the Spiders VHS Planet of the Spiders (VHS) Reviews Add Review Edit Review Sort: Date (Newest First) Date (Oldest First) Likes (High-Low) Likes (Low-High) Rating (High-Low) Rating (Low-High) Word count (High-Low) Word count (Low-High) Username (A-Z) Username (Z-A) Spoilers First Spoilers Last 9 reviews 4 June 2025 · 76 words Review by kawaii2234 1 a fitting send off for Jon Pertwee's run full of car chases, religion, sci-fi, and a very emotional conclusion; he ultimately died as he was born: face planting out of the TARDIS. this serial perfectly deconstructs what his era was all about and everything it stands for. the spiders being an all female fascist monarchy made them immediately enjoyable for me despite their irritatingly shrill voices. 3 you will be remembered as the best dressed classic doctor kawaii2234 View profile Like Liked 1 9 May 2025 · 82 words Review by Scottybguud Spoilers 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 View profile Like Liked 0 14 March 2025 · 39 words Review by Azurillkirby 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 View profile Like Liked 0 14 February 2025 · 195 words Review by dema1020 Spoilers 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 View profile Like Liked 0 24 November 2024 · 6 words Review by Rock_Angel 1 wish this was the finale game Rock_Angel View profile Like Liked 1 Show All Reviews (9) Open in new window Statistics AVG. Rating464 members 3.55 / 5 Member Statistics Watched 877 Favourited 58 Reviewed 9 Saved 6 Skipped 2 Related Stories Other adaptations of this story: We define an adaptation as a recreation of a similar story but on a different medium or with different characters. Target Collection Doctor Who and the Planet of the Spiders Rating: 3.67 Story Skipped Book Reviews(1) More Actions View Sets Close Related Sets Set of Stories: Target Collection Add Review Edit Review Skip Skipped Unowned Owned Save to my list Saved Quotes Add Quote Link to Quote Favourite DOCTOR: I had to face my fear… That was more important than just going on living. — Planet of the Spiders Show All Quotes (4) Open in new window Transcript Needs checking Part One (Mike Yates, former Captain with UNIT, strolls along by a field of cows.) [Theatre] (It's cabaret time, but the Doctor and Brigadier don't appear to be having as much fun as the rest of the audience.) COMEDIAN [OC]: Here's a funny thing. Here's a funny thing. When Archimedes, you've heard of Archimedes, jumped out of his bath and ran down the road without his clothes on, he didn't shout Eureka, he shouted I'm a streaker! Show Full Transcript Open in new window
