Stories Television Doctor Who Season 8 Serial: 1 2 3 4 5 Terror of the Autons 1 image Overview Episodes Characters How to Watch Reviews 9 Statistics Related Stories Quotes 8 Transcript Overview First aired Saturday, January 2, 1971 Production Code EEE Written by Robert Holmes Directed by Barry Letts Runtime 100 minutes Story Type New Companion Introduction Time Travel Present Tropes (Potential Spoilers!) Earth Invasion, Face Off, Mind Control, Miniaturisation, Mission from the Time Lords, Reverse the polarity, Stranded on Earth, The Doctor’s Name Story Arc (Potential Spoilers!) Exile on Earth, Working for UNIT Inventory (Potential Spoilers!) Bessie Location (Potential Spoilers!) Earth, England, Tarminster, UNIT HQ Synopsis The Earth is endangered by a renegade Time Lord known as the Master, who steals a dormant Nestene energy unit from a museum. He reactivates it using the facilities of a radio telescope, then uses his hypnotic abilities to take control of a small plastics manufacturer, Farrel Autoplastics, where he organises the production of deadly Auton artefacts, including plastic dolls, chairs and daffodils. 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 4 Episodes Episode One First aired Saturday, January 2, 1971 Runtime 25 minutes Written by Robert Holmes Directed by Barry Letts UK Viewers 7.3 million Synopsis When a Nestene Energy Unit is stolen and a radio telescope sabotaged, the Doctor is contacted by a Time Lord who tells him his old rival the Master is responsible. Episode Two First aired Saturday, January 9, 1971 Runtime 25 minutes Written by Robert Holmes Directed by Barry Letts UK Viewers 8 million Synopsis Attempting to find out where Jo encountered the Master, the Doctor heads to the circus where he falls foul of Rossini. Episode Three First aired Saturday, January 16, 1971 Runtime 25 minutes Written by Robert Holmes Directed by Barry Letts UK Viewers 8.1 million Synopsis The Doctor and the Brigadier head to Farrel's factory but the Master and the Autons have already left and are distributing plastic daffodils around the country. Episode Four First aired Saturday, January 23, 1971 Runtime 25 minutes Written by Robert Holmes Directed by Barry Letts UK Viewers 8.4 million Synopsis The Doctor discovers the plastic daffodils are designed to fire a spray that asphyxiates people, causing havoc prior to the Nestene's arrival, but before he can alert anyone he and Jo are captured by the Master. Show All Episodes Characters Third Doctor Jon Pertwee Jo Grant Katy Manning First Appearance Autons The Master [UNIT Era] Roger Delgado First Appearance The Nestene Consciousness The Brigadier Nicholas Courtney Mike Yates Richard Franklin First Appearance John Benton John Levene UNIT The Time Lords Show All Characters (10) How to watch Terror of the Autons: Watch on iPlayer DVD Mannequin Mania (Spearhead from Space & Terror of the Autons) DVD The Monster Collection: The Master Blu-Ray The Collection – Season 8 VHS Terror of the Autons (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 8 April 2025 · 82 words Review by Scottybguud Spoilers This review contains spoilers! The Pertwee era continues to be strong and entertaining as we begin season 8. The first appearance of the Doctor's equal, The Master, played brilliantly by Delgado. The Autons aren't as good in this as they were in Spearhead, not as menacing or present. But, that's because they're just pawns for the Master. This is Jo Grant's first story as the companion, she goes on to be my favourite of Classic Who. Another UNIT regular starts here as well: Yates. A good story. Scottybguud View profile Like Liked 0 27 March 2025 · 31 words Review by Azurillkirby The Master! Really strong first appearance of the Master, and Jo Grant also had a surprisingly good introduction, as well. The Autons continue to be very compelling monsters. A+. Maybe A. Azurillkirby View profile Like Liked 0 3 January 2025 · 12 words Review by eldritchlamb 2 I love Jo Grant. And Master. That's all. I love them both. eldritchlamb View profile Like Liked 2 22 November 2024 · 36 words Review by Rock_Angel 1 Again a perfect start to the season Jo grant is a standout and first on screen appearance of Mike Yates in this timeline marathon too I love it oh and who could forget the master haha Rock_Angel View profile Like Liked 1 4 October 2024 · 147 words Review by ThetaSigmaEarChef 2 I'm afraid I don't have anything more coherent to say than "Now, that was Doctor Who!" I have always been the biggest Master fan, and I am very pleased to finally have watched his first story (and no, I will not tolerate any "what about the war games?" jokers). It was exactly what I expected - in a good way - and very much fit the format I've grown to recognise and love from Delgado era stories. Apart from the wonderful and (relatively) subtle homosexual undertones, the excellent use of Autons, and the general criticism of the military, the other thing I thought was done very well was the introduction of a new companion - Jo's character was established quickly and efficiently, and I found it was very easy to grow attached to her and worry for her wellbeing, even though this was her first story. Bravo! ThetaSigmaEarChef View profile Like Liked 2 Show All Reviews (9) Open in new window Statistics AVG. Rating564 members 3.80 / 5 Trakt.tv AVG. Rating650 votes 3.84 / 5 Member Statistics Watched 994 Favourited 95 Reviewed 9 Saved 3 Skipped 1 Related Stories Classic Who S7 • Serial 1 · (4 episodes) Spearhead from Space Rating: 4.20 Story Skipped Television Reviews(13) More Actions View Sets Close Related Sets Set of Stories: Doctor Who Season 7 Set of Stories: Doctor Who (1963-1996) Set of Stories: Third Doctor Add Review Edit Review Skip Skipped Unowned Owned Save to my list Saved Virgin Missing Adventures Who Killed Kennedy Rating: 4.01 Story Skipped Book More Actions View Sets Close Related Sets Set of Stories: Virgin Missing Adventures Add Review Edit Review Skip Skipped Unowned Owned Save to my list Saved 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 Terror of the Autons Rating: 3.82 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: How much are they paying you? ROSSINI: Come, come, Doctor. Gentlemen don't discuss money. DOCTOR: Nonsense, gentlemen never talk about anything else. — Terror of the Autons Show All Quotes (8) Open in new window Transcript Needs checking Episode One [Circus] (A little man in a bowler hat watches the customers enter the big top of the International Circus. He walks round the back, past the lion's cage and finds a quiet spot to light up a small cigar. We hear the sound of the TARDIS materialising and a motor horse box suddenly appears in the open ground before him. Agog, the man walks over and looks round it while a trim man in black suit and gloves, and with a neat beard gets out.) ROSSINI: (Italian) Who the heck are you? Well?MASTER: I am usually referred to as the Master.ROSSINI: Oh? Is that so?MASTER: Universally.ROSSINI: Well, I am Luigi Rossini, internationally, and conjurers I don't need. Okay?MASTER: Unfortunately I need you, Lew Russell.ROSSINI: (London) What did you call me?MASTER: Lew Russell. It happens to be your real name.ROSSINI: Now listen, Mister. Get off my pitch while you're still safe!.MASTER: Why, you insolent primitive.ROSSINI: Oh, so you it want the hard way, do you? Right. (Rossini goes to grab the Master, but it is his wrist that is taken in a vice-like grip. Rossini is forced to his knees and their eyes meet. After a few moments the Master lets Rossini go and walks a few steps, then snaps his fingers. Rossini gets up and follows.) Show Full Transcript Open in new window
