Third Doctor...
Episodes to Remember
Doctor Who & the Silurians (Episode 052) - Strange things have been happening at the nuclear research center near the caves of Wenley Moor. There have been mysterious power drains and an unusually high rate of mental breakdowns amongst the workers. One employee has been killed while exploring the caves and his partner so traumatized by whatever he saw that he has been reduced to drawing cave-man art on the walls of the ward. UNIT is called to investigate.
Inside the caves of Wenley Moor the Doctor discovers an intelligent reptilian species operating underneath the research center. They tell him they once had a civilization on Earth long ago, but that they went underground and built hibernation chambers for themselves after their scientists predicted a global catastrophe that would destroy the surface. The Doctor informs them that their catastrophe must have never happened, and that in their absence man has become the dominant species on Earth. He convinces the Silurian leader that it might be possible to share the Earth with mankind, but most of the other Silurians wish to take back all of the planet for themselves. Will there be negations between the two races, or will there be total war?
Inside the caves of Wenley Moor the Doctor discovers an intelligent reptilian species operating underneath the research center. They tell him they once had a civilization on Earth long ago, but that they went underground and built hibernation chambers for themselves after their scientists predicted a global catastrophe that would destroy the surface. The Doctor informs them that their catastrophe must have never happened, and that in their absence man has become the dominant species on Earth. He convinces the Silurian leader that it might be possible to share the Earth with mankind, but most of the other Silurians wish to take back all of the planet for themselves. Will there be negations between the two races, or will there be total war?
Inferno (Episode 054) - Although this serial does have some downsides like being long, and maybe not having the most succinct plot, it does have one thing going for it: it's extremely funny to watch. Random lava flow footage, a mustache- less Brigadier with an eye-patch, poofy haired Liz Shaw, crazy werewolf scientists, women-crazed engineers, insults (you sir, are a nitwit!); you name it, it’s got it.
While making a trial run with the TARDIS the Doctor accidentally slips sideways into a parallel universe giving him an awful glimpse of what will happen if Project Inferno, a mining operation, penetrates the Earth's crust. He escapes this terrible disaster only.... to have to do it again in his own universe. Will he have enough time to prevent crazed werewolf Professor Stahlman from completing his hellish plans, or will it be too late? Though this serial is not perhaps as significant as other stories in season seven, such as Spearhead from Space or The Silurians, Inferno is wonderfully written and is widely considered one of the greatest stories from the Pertwee era.
While making a trial run with the TARDIS the Doctor accidentally slips sideways into a parallel universe giving him an awful glimpse of what will happen if Project Inferno, a mining operation, penetrates the Earth's crust. He escapes this terrible disaster only.... to have to do it again in his own universe. Will he have enough time to prevent crazed werewolf Professor Stahlman from completing his hellish plans, or will it be too late? Though this serial is not perhaps as significant as other stories in season seven, such as Spearhead from Space or The Silurians, Inferno is wonderfully written and is widely considered one of the greatest stories from the Pertwee era.
Terror of the Autons (Episode 055) - This serial introduces three new characters; the Doctor's archenemy the Master, the Doctor's new companion Jo Grant, and UNIT Captain Mike Yates. It is also the second appearance of the Autons. In this serial, the Master allies himself with the Autons to conquer the earth. He hypnotizes a young businessman who owns a plastic factory and begins creating materials for the Autons to manipulate as well as snares for the Doctor to fall into.
Eventually, the Doctor is able to convince the Master that the Autons will not differentiate between the humans and him when the invasion comes. Together they close the frequency the Auton fleet is homing in on, effectively stopping the attack. However, before he can be properly arrested the Master escapes by driving off in a stolen bus. What the Master does not know is that earlier the Doctor had broken into his TARDIS and stolen his dematerialization circuit. This ensures they will soon meet again as the Master cannot leave Earth without it.
This story is famous for introducing the Master and Jo Grant, characters who will go on to dominate the show for the next three years. Terror of the Autons also marks the beginning of a very unique season in Doctor Who. It is one of the few seasons to have a story arc to it; every serial features the Master trying to conquer the Earth or take back his dematerialization circuit.
Honorable Mention: Spearhead from Space (Episode 051), The Curse of Peladon (Episode 061)
Eventually, the Doctor is able to convince the Master that the Autons will not differentiate between the humans and him when the invasion comes. Together they close the frequency the Auton fleet is homing in on, effectively stopping the attack. However, before he can be properly arrested the Master escapes by driving off in a stolen bus. What the Master does not know is that earlier the Doctor had broken into his TARDIS and stolen his dematerialization circuit. This ensures they will soon meet again as the Master cannot leave Earth without it.
This story is famous for introducing the Master and Jo Grant, characters who will go on to dominate the show for the next three years. Terror of the Autons also marks the beginning of a very unique season in Doctor Who. It is one of the few seasons to have a story arc to it; every serial features the Master trying to conquer the Earth or take back his dematerialization circuit.
Honorable Mention: Spearhead from Space (Episode 051), The Curse of Peladon (Episode 061)
Episodes to Forget
The Claws of Axos (Episode 057) - The Claws of Axos is by far the worst serial in season eight. The obvious problem with this story is that the antagonists are made entirely too vague. An Axon man describes Axonite as being able to, "... absorb, convert, transmit, and programme all forms of energy". What does this mean? Although the audience sees certain effects of Axonite, the writers never make clear what it can do and how it does it. Rather than being a mysterious yet intimidating monster, the Axons are simply nonsensically indescribable. They can appear as men in tight golden suit, they can look like spaghetti monsters, and if you accelerate a stream of Axonite particles through time you can force it to analyze itself.
These problems are not just the sums of their parts, though; they create ripple effects. Because the antagonists are so poor the action is harder to follow, and the significance of many of the plots points are ambiguous. The fight scenes with the Axons are more laughable than dramatic, particularly the scene with Yates and Benton in the jeep where the backdrop is a very unconvincing piece of blue cloth.
Dishonorable Mention: The Mutants (Episode 063), The Time Monster (Episode 064)
These problems are not just the sums of their parts, though; they create ripple effects. Because the antagonists are so poor the action is harder to follow, and the significance of many of the plots points are ambiguous. The fight scenes with the Axons are more laughable than dramatic, particularly the scene with Yates and Benton in the jeep where the backdrop is a very unconvincing piece of blue cloth.
Dishonorable Mention: The Mutants (Episode 063), The Time Monster (Episode 064)