Doctor Who and the Silurians

Directed by

UK Viewers

8.8 million

Appreciation Index

Synopsis

The Doctor and Liz are summoned to the Wenley Moor Research Centre by the Brigadier, after several staff members suffer nervous breakdowns.

Episode 2

First aired

Saturday, February 7, 1970

Runtime

25 minutes

Written by

Directed by

UK Viewers

7.3 million

Appreciation Index

Synopsis

The Doctor attempts to convince people there are monsters in the caves, prompting Major Baker to start shooting at a reptile man.

Episode 3

First aired

Saturday, February 14, 1970

Runtime

25 minutes

Written by

Directed by

UK Viewers

7.5 million

Appreciation Index

Synopsis

The Silurians contact Quinn for help in retrieving the creature while the Doctor and the Brigadier organise a search of the moors.

Episode 4

First aired

Saturday, February 21, 1970

Runtime

25 minutes

Written by

Directed by

UK Viewers

8.2 million

Appreciation Index

Synopsis

With Quinn dead, the Brigadier decides to take an armed party into the caves, prompting the Doctor to contact the Silurians himself.

Episode 5

First aired

Saturday, February 28, 1970

Runtime

25 minutes

Written by

Directed by

UK Viewers

7.5 million

Appreciation Index

Synopsis

Worried about the Old Silurian's growing friendship with the Doctor, the Young Silurian has the scientist infect Baker with a virus and then release him.

Episode 6

First aired

Saturday, March 7, 1970

Runtime

25 minutes

Written by

Directed by

UK Viewers

7.2 million

Appreciation Index

Synopsis

While the Doctor and Liz try to find a cure to the virus spread by Baker, the Young Silurian kills the Old Silurian and takes control of his people.

Episode 7

First aired

Saturday, March 14, 1970

Runtime

25 minutes

Written by

Directed by

UK Viewers

7.5 million

Appreciation Index

Synopsis

While Liz distributes the cure to the virus, the Doctor discovers the Silurians now plan to wipe out humanity by destroying the Van Allen Belt.

Characters

Third Doctor

Jon Pertwee

Liz Shaw

Caroline John

How to watch Doctor Who and the Silurians:

Watch on iPlayer

DVD

The Monster Collection: The Silurians

DVD

Beneath the Surface

VHS

Doctor Who and the Silurians (VHS)

Blu-Ray

The Collection Season 7 (Limited Edition Packaging)

Reviews
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7 reviews

Just as good as Spearhead. Season 7 is a strong start for the third Doctor. Despite being 7 episodes it doesn't drag at any point. The Doctor's sympathy for the Silurians being the original inhabitants of Earth makes for an interesting change of villains. His bickering with people in authority is fun to watch. Great story.

Scottybguud

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Review last edited on 2-04-25

The first five episodes were pretty great, but then it completely lost the plot. Episode 6 changes the story to be about stopping an epidemic, and then Episode 7 ignored the theme of creating peace.

Azurillkirby

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Review last edited on 27-03-25

This review contains spoilers!

I found the first few parts kinda boring to be honest, but I binged the latter half and it was really gripping, I really liked the plot with the plague epidemic, and that ending really caught me off guard.

WhoTheoryYT

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Review last edited on 4-01-25

I was so bored… good ending though

Rock_Angel

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Like Liked 1

Review last edited on 17-11-24

This review contains spoilers!

Another great and memorable monster for this story - a superb start to Pertwee's tenure. The show continues to move at wildly faster pace than ever before. It is obvious that they have decided to revamp and relaunch the show entirely, it is aimed at a new action loving audience. Jon Pertwee is undoubtedly my favourite incarnation of The Doctor so far and his energetic initial 11 episodes could not have been more of a gift for him. He looks like he is having the time of his life playing this role, I feel really invested in his portrayal.

I am loving the regular cast of UNIT, the Brigadier is a wonder, and I am comfortable with the new form of the show. Perhaps Doctor Who can be set just on Earth after all. I believe that it is because of these features that the first two stories of season seven have been able to enter a more adult and thoughtful territory. The display of workers being driven insane by mysterious circumstances and a woman dying of fright are unprecedentedly dark themes. The deaths in this season feel "more real" than before.

The concept behind the Silurians is my favourite for any monster in the show so far. The idea that they have always been inhabitants of Earth and that they are a highly developed race is really subversive and is a great starting point for this story. The writing also allows for the monsters to be seen with greater nuance - some of them are good, some of them are bad. I particularly enjoyed being able to see the world through their eyes, the "three eye camera" moment helps make them a terrifying creeping menace (and is some great direction!) The Silurian caves, with their human prisons look brilliant and give you an other worldly sense that I was worried this Earth bound season would be missing.

Where the Silurians start to become less impressive is when they are revealed and speak for long periods of time. They are unfortunately written to sound like children ("now I am the leader!") when we are told that they are a highly developed race. On top of this I feel that no effort has been put into their movement, which is clunky throughout these scenes. In terms of their costumes, the way they are realised is fine and they work well when they are not on screen for too much time but when their screen time increases mid-way through the story their long conversations with rubber mouths look terrible and do not help sell the plot. It is for this reason that Part Four is much worse than the surrounding six episodes.

My only other criticism of this otherwise excellent story is that Liz Shaw is still too stern and pensive, she just seems slightly annoyed all the time. I am delighted that the writers have decided to write an outwardly feminist character, reflecting its diverse audience - but I don't feel that they are particularly great at writing for women. Its as if they think that women who are not damsels in distress must be resistant to fun!! Perhaps its down to the fact that we are moving into an action based "James Bond" territory that her characterisation simply doesn't suit this testosterone fuelled environment. The caveat I would like to add to this is that I truly believe that Caroline John is doing very well considering the part she is given. I bet she could be great fun given the chance.

The ending of this story is excellently handled. The Brigadier destroys the Silurians underground base against The Doctor's instructions.
This pits our two favourites against each other in a dramatic twist. The Doctor's dream of a peaceful unity between the two races is destroyed. The Doctor, quite rightly is horrified at this act of genocide.

15thDoctor

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Review last edited on 22-08-24