The Space Pirates

Directed by

UK Viewers

5.8 million

Appreciation Index

Synopsis

Space beacons are being destroyed by pirates, who are salvaging the argonite metal. When the Doctor, Jamie and Zoe arrive on one of the beacons, they are mistaken for pirates.

Episode Two

First aired

Saturday, March 15, 1969

Runtime

25 minutes

Written by

Directed by

UK Viewers

6.8 million

Appreciation Index

Synopsis

With the Doctor, Jamie and Zoe trapped on a beacon segment, Hermack becomes suspicious of the unruly prospector Milo Clancey.

Episode Three Missing

First aired

Saturday, March 22, 1969

Runtime

25 minutes

Written by

Directed by

UK Viewers

6.4 million

Appreciation Index

Synopsis

The Doctor, Jamie and Zoe flee from the Space Corps with Clancey, who decides to seek refuge on Ta.

Episode Four Missing

First aired

Saturday, March 29, 1969

Runtime

25 minutes

Written by

Directed by

UK Viewers

5.8 million

Appreciation Index

Synopsis

The Doctor, Jamie and Zoe are held prisoner by the space pirates while Caven comes up with a plan to throw suspicion onto Clancey.

Episode Five Missing

First aired

Saturday, April 5, 1969

Runtime

25 minutes

Written by

Directed by

UK Viewers

5.5 million

Appreciation Index

Synopsis

Madeleine is revealed to be working with Caven, who comes up with a way to kill the Doctor and his friends whilst framing them for the piracy.

Episode Six Missing

First aired

Saturday, April 12, 1969

Runtime

25 minutes

Written by

Directed by

UK Viewers

5.3 million

Appreciation Index

Synopsis

With Clancey and Issigri trapped aboard the LIZ, the Doctor, Jamie and Zoe try to convince Madeleine to help them before Caven destroys Ta.

Characters

Second Doctor

Patrick Troughton

Jamie McCrimmon

Frazer Hines

How to watch The Space Pirates:

Watch on iPlayer

DVD

Lost in Time

VHS

The Troughton Years (VHS)

Reviews
Add Review Edit Review

Sort:

4 reviews

This is a perfectly fine serial. In fact, I'll go as far as to say that it's pretty good! It felt gritty, realistic and grounded. The setting felt well-developed and interesting, as well as somewhat realistic, and lots of the characters are great (Milo Clancey in particular). There's also some nice twists, subversions of expectations and dramatic irony which I really like. I liked the pacing.

Like Liked 0

Review last edited on 17-12-24

banger utter banger I will not allow anyone to say otherwise

Like Liked 2

Review last edited on 17-11-24

Dull, boring, and with little redeeming qualities. The acting doesn't work. The pacing doesn't work. This is the kind of serial that non-Who fans think the rest of DW is like. There is a germ of an interesting story here, but sadly it is bogged down by the other 95% of the content.

My biggest complaint is that the TARDIS crew are minor characters in their own show.

Like Liked 2

Review last edited on 13-09-24

This review contains spoilers!

The Space Pirates are plundering space beacons owned by the Issigri Mining Corporation for valuable argonite, blowing them up in the process. Both of these sides have distinctive and interesting characters with believable motives you can invest in. As with much of this season, there is a "spy thriller" feel running through some of the plot - can we trust Milo Clancey? Should The Doctor and co. be trusted by anyone?

The scenes where the space beacons are pilfered and destroyed are especially good, full of drive which keeps you hooked in the moment. This is helped by the fantastic model scenes - alongside the fantastic sets in The Web of Fear this is some of the best production we have seen in the series so far (lets hope they keep this up into the 1970s!)

This is a story which I would especially like to see returned in its entirety to the archives.

Like Liked 1

Review last edited on 21-08-24