The Dæmons

Directed by

UK Viewers

9.2 million

Synopsis

Earth, the near future. When an archaological dig at the village of Devil's End goes disastrously wrong, an ancient power begins to revive. Can even the Doctor withstand the power of the Daemons? And just what is the local vicar up to in his spare time?

Episode Two

First aired

Saturday, May 29, 1971

Runtime

25 minutes

Written by

Directed by

UK Viewers

8 million

Synopsis

With the Doctor frozen by the energy release from the barrow, Jo calls Yates and Benton for help, but when the Brigadier tries to join them he finds the village surrounded by a heat barrier.

Episode Three

First aired

Saturday, June 5, 1971

Runtime

25 minutes

Written by

Directed by

UK Viewers

8.1 million

Synopsis

The Doctor explains to his friends that the Master is trying to gain the power of the last of the Daemons, a race who influenced Earth's development, while the Master brings the rest of the village under his control.

Episode Four

First aired

Saturday, June 12, 1971

Runtime

25 minutes

Written by

Directed by

UK Viewers

8.1 million

Synopsis

The Master orders Bert to set a trap for the Doctor at the village while a concussed Jo makes for the cavern.

Episode Five

First aired

Saturday, June 19, 1971

Runtime

25 minutes

Written by

Directed by

UK Viewers

8.3 million

Synopsis

The Master decides to sacrifice Jo to Azal and when the Doctor and his friends try to intervene they come under attack from Bok.

Characters

Third Doctor

Jo Grant

How to watch The Dæmons:

Watch on iPlayer

Blu-Ray

The Collection – Season 8

DVD

An Introduction to the Third Doctor

DVD

The Dæmons

VHS

The Dæmons (VHS)

Reviews
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10 reviews

This review contains spoilers!

I think The Dæmons gets better every time I watch it. It’s Doctor Who going full folk horror with a remote English village where the Master has set himself up as the vicar and is using the uncovering of a burial mound as a route to calling forth the Dæmon Azal. Barry Letts and Robert Sloman have written a story pulling between magic and science a la Clarke’s Law, with nearly everything on screen being explained with a “scientific” explanation despite having a character claim to be a white witch (Damaris Hayman as Miss Hawthorne is such a delight and the first important older woman stock character). Even with the explanations much of the serial is written with pagan tradition in mind, making it have this completely unique feeling for all of what Doctor Who would do.

The format being five episodes also gives it almost an archaic structure, adding quite a bit to the general folk horror feeling because everything intentionally feels off. It’s also the third season in a row that really attempted a big finale, though shorter than The War Games and Inferno, The Dæmons ends with the Master captured. Roger Delgado gets some of his best material, Barry Letts being one of the serial’s cowriters obviously helps, but the vicar material is just so captivating. Stephen Thorne gets to be his first big shouty villain for the series, though not his best. Jon Pertwee and Katy Manning are always a delight. Christopher Barry directs and makes liberal use of the location shoot, an incredibly ambitious shoot that really pays off. Plus the script is incredibly punchy and quotable.

Newt5996

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Review last edited on 21-04-25

The Doctor insisting something is science while other characters claim that it's magic is a bad trope. This story did very little for me, though it certainly isn't bad. I'm also just not a fan of this aesthetic.

Azurillkirby

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Review last edited on 18-04-25

My favourite from this season. Cool concept for the story and the Master gets a lot to do. As do a lot of the cast. Pertwee doesn't though tbf. But such a fun story.

Scottybguud

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Review last edited on 13-04-25

This is probably the most bonkers and silliest Doctor Who story I've seen in ages if ever and I love it. So fun!

BSCTDrayden

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Review last edited on 25-03-25

This review contains spoilers!

Am I even allowed to have this much fun? The Master summons a Demon, UNIT family banter, Ms Hawthorne is literally a witch and super clever, Jo Grant kills the Devil with the power of LOVE. It's just too much of a good time.

So, the Master is really set on ruling Earth now, huh? And literally just to spite the Doctor, because if he reeeeeally wanted to rule the Earth, he wouldn't do it in the 70's, within driving distance from where the Doctor is stranded. Like, he knows his address. He's doing it on propose and would never admit it. His disguise as vicar with those thick glasses is incredible, very stylish. I was legit a bit scared with his demon summoning chanting, sounded a bit too real. He wakes up this demon (who is of course actually an alien) and asks him to give him power to rule the Earth because he 'deserves it'. Fantastic stuff. These people at Devil's End are absolute lunatics. They were going to burn the Doctor alive in the public square in broad daylight! Ms Hawthorn, who is almost a second Doctor, is a goddamned genius, her plan to pretend the Doctor was a wizard was inspired.

The UNIT gang were stellar in this story. In parts 1 and 2 in particular it's very much a story about poor Alistair, single father of 3, who has an eccentric brother, the Doctor, who his children adore. Jo goes with him to Devil's End (who named this place) with no questions asked. Yates and Benton more or less steal the Brig's helicopter to go check up on the Doctor and Jo when things go down. Then they lose it, and it gets exploded. Rest in piece, UNITcopter. The Brigadier's reaction is lovely. Benton gets his ass kicked, Yates gets tied up, Jo is almost used as human sacrifice, the works. The whole of UNIT spend 15 minutes shooting at a "demon" made of stone and are upset it doesn't affect it. Then Yates says 'Benton, get the bazooka', and I thought 'No way they're gonna shoot it with a bazooka'. And then Benton shoots it with a bazooka and I felt so much happiness in my heart I can't express it. OH, and Original Osgood is there!!! He does a great job making that machine the Doctor (quite rudely!) asks for, because if it was me I would have just cried.

I love Jo Grant. She's kidnapped often and screams a bit, yeah, but really, she's a good character. She and the UNIT boys have a believable relationship, i.e. if she bats those big eyes of hers they'll die for her, but they also call her an idiot when she puts herself in danger. Same with the Doctor, who adores her. And everyone else they meet. In part 1, when they arrive at a pub and try to ask for directions, the Doctor gets nowhere by asking with his commanding, superior tone. Jo Grant uses her powers of infinite earnestness and gets the answer immediately. I won't be surprised if the Master also starts to care for her a bit in the future.

A great wrap for the Master season! I enjoyed it immensely.

mndy

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Review last edited on 24-01-25