The Android Invasion

Directed by

UK Viewers

11.9 million

Appreciation Index

Synopsis

The Doctor and Sarah return to Earth in the present day to find a strangely deserted village and woods stalked by white-clad figures.

Part Two

First aired

Saturday, November 29, 1975

Runtime

25 minutes

Written by

Directed by

UK Viewers

11.3 million

Synopsis

The Doctor suspects Crayford brought something to Earth in his rocket, as he and Sarah find themselves hunted by UNIT.

Part Three

First aired

Saturday, December 6, 1975

Runtime

25 minutes

Written by

Directed by

UK Viewers

12.1 million

Synopsis

The Doctor is captured by Styggron and left to die in the destruction of the fake village but Sarah escapes from the disorientation chamber to try and rescue him.

Part Four

First aired

Saturday, December 13, 1975

Runtime

25 minutes

Written by

Directed by

UK Viewers

11.4 million

Synopsis

The Doctor and Sarah reach Earth and try to warn the research centre about the Kraal invasion before Styggron unleashes his virus.

Characters

Fourth Doctor

Tom Baker

Sarah Jane Smith

Elisabeth Sladen

How to watch The Android Invasion:

Watch on iPlayer

DVD

U.N.I.T Files (Invasion of the Dinosaurs / The Android Invasion)

VHS

The Android Invasion (VHS)

Reviews
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5 reviews

This is the second time watching this story ever and even though I like it more then the first watch looking at the rating it isn’t saying much however I LOVED the clifhangers for all the parts

Rock_Angel

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Review last edited on 8-12-24

This review contains spoilers!

A Terry Nation script with an indistinct group of enemies with a somewhat interesting plan. Its a shame to not have Lethbridge-Stewart feature in this rare UNIT appearance and frankly Harry Sullivan (who it was nice to see) was grossly underused and given nothing to do.

So much of this tale was stuff we have seen before, most prominently being the cliche ridden "duplicates" plot device featured everything you'd expect - including a Doctor vs. android Doctor fight. Knowing that Terry Nation is capable of something as mind bogglingly brilliant as Genesis of the Daleks, why would he let this kind of material dribble out of his pen? The Androids at points are dressed like the Ambassadors of Death and they shoot out of their fingers like Autons... did Nation have no interest in trying to create something original and sparky?

Despite all this there are moments of fun and brilliance as you'd imagine there would be in a 4th Doctor/ Sarah-Jane adventure. I love them walking around the fake town and The Doctor's realisation that he is surrounded by Androids on a fake Earth on a never ending 6th July.

They hint that Sarah is leaving at the end of the episode. I can see that she's in the next story, I hope they do her final episodes justice.

15thDoctor

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Review last edited on 14-11-24

This is a very solid serial. The hook and initial mystery is solid and the resolution of this mystery and tension is well executed. It's nothing particularly special, but solid all the same.

Bongo50

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Review last edited on 8-11-24

Definitely the weakest story of Season 13 I think but it's entertaining enough and has its moments. The first episode is really good and I always think evil dopplegangers are a cool concept which this goes all the way with (which the Zygons episode never really did, though it is strange both of these stories ended up in the same season).

AndyUK

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Review last edited on 23-09-24

akjljfd;kljfsa;jg the doctor jumping out of that window. i relate to the doctor so much bc i to find light painful

mikeyatesapologist

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Review last edited on 14-06-24