DVD Reviews

Doctor Who: Planet of the Spiders - DVD Review

By Jeff Swindoll May 26, 2011, 0:36 GMT

In the Third Doctor\'s last and most dangerous adventure, a misguided group of transcendental chanters forge an unnatural link with the evil spider rulers of Metebelis 3. ...more

1974 was a time to shed a tear for the era of Jon Pertwee, but 2011 brings another tear as Sarah Jane died much too young.  This fine edition pays tribute to the era of the dandy Doctor and how he went out with an adventurous bang.
 
Sarah Jane Smith (Elisabeth Sladen) is invited by ex-UNIT officer Mike Yates (Richard Franklin) to visit him at a Buddhist meditation centre, run by K’anpo (George Cormack), where he has been staying. A group of people there, led by a man named Lupton (John Dearth), are misusing the meditation rituals in order to make contact with powerful alien forces, which manifest themselves as a giant spider.

The spider is an emissary from the ruling council on the planet Metebelis 3, sent to recover the blue crystal that the Doctor (Jon Pertwee) previously found there and that has now been returned to him by a honeymooning Jo Grant.  The Doctor and Sarah journey to Metebelis 3 and aid its human colonists in an attempt to overthrow the 'eight legs'.

The tragic death of Roger Delgado put Jon Pertwee in the mind of bringing his tenure as the Doctor to an end.  To that degree producer Barry Letts decided to play to Pertwee’s proclivities to let him go out in a style that he wanted to.  So we’re treated to an expansive chase scene in episode two (no matter that it’s all pretty futile) with all manner of vehicle.   It’s Pertwee at his swashbuckling best.

I’m probably not an unbiased source as he has always been my favorite Doctor.  The production isn’t without its flaws (besides the aforementioned lack of a good reason for the star serving chase) as the show is largely set-bound on Metebelis 3 and they’re not the best.  The planet was shown earlier in a very evocative location shot.  It’s still a pleasure to see the “family” unit of Sarah Jane, the Brig and UNIT, and the Doctor going one last time around. 

On that note, I have to note the passing of Sladen at the much-too-young age of 63.  More shocking by the fact that her illness (cancer) was not something made widely aware.  Goodbye Sarah Jane.

Planet of the Spiders is presented in fullscreen.  Disc one features the episodes with commentary by Elisabeth Sladen, Nicholas Courtney, Richard Franklin, producer/director Barry Letts, and script editor Terrance Dicks.  There’s also an info text pop-up trivia track.  Disc two has the 37 minute “Final Curtain” about Pertwee’s final episode, the 12 minute “John Kane Remembers…” interviews the actor about his role in the show and his career, the 7 minute “Now and Then” revisits locations, a photo gallery, and a PDF of the Radio Times. 

There’s also the 1 hour 45 minute “Omnibus Edition” of the episode that stitches all the episodes together for a repeat and a 90 second trailer for this edition. 

Jon Pertwee went out in style and paved the way for old teeth and curls.  His final adventure has shown some age spots but it’s still a cracking adventure for his fans.  A wonderful heaping of special features only adds to the fun. 

This release also showcases Sarah Jane so soon after her passing and it may add some tears seeing her one last time.

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