The Ark in Space

Directed by

UK Viewers

9.4 million

Synopsis

The Doctor's attempt to give Harry a trip in the TARDIS sees the two of them and Sarah Jane arriving onboard a space station in the far future, with some rather deadly security mechanisms.

Part Two

First aired

Saturday, February 1, 1975

Runtime

25 minutes

Written by

Directed by

UK Viewers

13.6 million

Synopsis

The Doctor and Harry revive the Ark's medtech, Vira, to help Sarah Jane. But when station commander Noah is revived, he becomes suspicious of the newcomers.

Part Three

First aired

Saturday, February 8, 1975

Runtime

25 minutes

Written by

Directed by

UK Viewers

11.2 million

Synopsis

Knowing that Noah has been infected by the Wirrn, the Doctor persuades Vira to halt the reviving of her people, knowing it will place them in danger as well.

Part Four

First aired

Saturday, February 15, 1975

Runtime

25 minutes

Written by

Directed by

UK Viewers

10.2 million

Synopsis

The Doctor tries to protect the humans still in cryogenic suspension from the Wirrn, who are determined to use Earth as their new breeding ground.

Characters

Fourth Doctor

Tom Baker

Sarah Jane Smith

Elisabeth Sladen

How to watch The Ark in Space:

Watch on iPlayer

Blu-Ray

The Collection – Season 12

DVD

The Ark in Space

VHS

The Ark in Space (VHS) (1st edition)

VHS

The Ark in Space (VHS) (2nd edition)

DVD

The Ark in Space: Special Edition

Reviews
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10 reviews

The kind of story we haven't seen in Doctor who for awhile. A monster on a spaceship, which turns the humans into one of them. The first two episodes are the stronger of the four, as we don't know what's going on. Harry is a great addition to the tardis team. It's a good story.

Scottybguud

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Review last edited on 15-05-25

This review contains spoilers!

I'm barely even going to mention the bubble wrap monster I think that's beside the point. If you can't get in the zone and find a guy writhing on the floor in green bubble wrap a little bit spooky then that's on you.

The Ark in Space is a very solid serial. The change in tone is immediately apparent - it's darker, it's more tense, and the monster of the week does so much worse than just kill people. Where Robot felt a bit like "the new guy does a Third Doctor serial", this feels like start of the Fourth Doctor's run finding its own identity.

My main complaint is something that comes up more than once in Classic Who. The plot is "Oh no! We have the stop the aliens killing these humans!", all said whilst quietly glossing over the fact that the aliens are taking revenge for something some humans did first. I think it would be more interesting to acknowledge this

greenLetterT

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Review last edited on 4-05-25

Good story! I don't have a lot to say about this one. The first part was very eerie. The effects were good. The sets were great. Insert a fourth fourth good thing here.

B. Maybe A.

Azurillkirby

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Review last edited on 24-04-25

This review contains spoilers!

Tom Baker is now in his settled form in this story, and what a delight it is. This is a moody, atmospheric story, that keeps up the mystery and always finds ways to change the story. We go from there being no crew members and finding the dead Wirrn to introducing the crew and then Noah is taken over by the Wirrn. Then two more people are revived, and one is killed off quickly. Harry is trying to be heroic but is bumbling and sexist, and Sarah Jane is put through it with the Doctor talking her down to get her angry enough to persevere. The Tom Baker era is in full swing!

Guardax

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Review last edited on 16-02-25

Wooden acting boring story god to hell n back it would be more fun

Rock_Angel

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Like Liked 1

Review last edited on 24-11-24