Story: Robot
Written By: Terrance Dicks
Length: 4 Episodes
Year: 1975
"Robot" is the last story under the reign of Terrance Dicks and Barry Letts, who had served as Script Editor and Producer respectively since the beginning of the Pertwee era. So there is the first problem. Dicks isn't actually Script Editor here, he had passed the duties onto his successor Robert Holmes, but he wrote the script so it still feels under his watch.
The problem is the show needed to immiately head off in a new direction, but Phillip Hinchcliffe didn't take over as Producer until the next story. That said this story, while not terribly good...isn't the worst...and it sort of ends the Doctor's continuous work with UNIT, as he decides to take a more "whenever I can I'll show up approach". Tom Baker is manic...completely deranged, and it works wondefully to set him apart from the more straight laced and put together Jon Pertwee.
His introduction is decent, but overall the story of the serial is rather weak. The Robot of the title is kind of clunky looking. The best moments of the story beyond the initial post-regeneration silliness from Baker, is really the final scene. In which the Doctor invites Sarah along to leave UNIT for good, and go off wandering in time and space...and he invites the Dr. Harry Sullivan to come along for the ride as well, thus beginning the continuous arc-like story line that continues up until the Season 13 opener "Terror of the Zygons".
NEXT TIME: The Wirrrn Dawns
Written By: Terrance Dicks
Length: 4 Episodes
Year: 1975
"Robot" is the last story under the reign of Terrance Dicks and Barry Letts, who had served as Script Editor and Producer respectively since the beginning of the Pertwee era. So there is the first problem. Dicks isn't actually Script Editor here, he had passed the duties onto his successor Robert Holmes, but he wrote the script so it still feels under his watch.
His introduction is decent, but overall the story of the serial is rather weak. The Robot of the title is kind of clunky looking. The best moments of the story beyond the initial post-regeneration silliness from Baker, is really the final scene. In which the Doctor invites Sarah along to leave UNIT for good, and go off wandering in time and space...and he invites the Dr. Harry Sullivan to come along for the ride as well, thus beginning the continuous arc-like story line that continues up until the Season 13 opener "Terror of the Zygons".
NEXT TIME: The Wirrrn Dawns
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