N.B. there might (or might not) be spoilers in this article!
The Third Doctor’s bouffant is at its most magnificent here, which, given Planet of the Spiders is his swan song, is perhaps fitting.
As with The Tenth Planet, it’s with a mixture of thrill and melancholy that we reach the end of a Doctor’s run. Unlike that story, which introduces the Cybermen, or The War Games, in which we meet the Time Lords, there’s no big new alien race here, although there is a return to Metebelis 3, an attempt to wrap up some of the themes of the Third Doctor’s era and the Time Lords’ ability to change form gets a name: regeneration.
“Lupton, are you feeling all right? “
Barnes, Planet of the Spiders:
Part Two
Oddly though, it’s John Dearth’s performance in this story that has always fascinated me the most in Planet of the Spiders. Throughout Lupton is a mess of twitches, shuffles and mumbles – almost as if he’s ill-at-ease in his own skin. I can’t quite decide if it’s brilliant or terrible.
What’s definitely not terrible is John Kane’s turn as Tommy – initially it’s a sympathetic and sensitive portrayal of someone with learning difficulties but he handles the changes in character as a result of contact with the Metebelis crystal exceptionally well. He also gets one of the story’s best comebacks. When Sarah exclaims, a little insensitively it must be said, “You’re normal!”, his rebuttal is spot-on: “I sincerely hope not.”
The reprises in this story are all over the shop – to the extent that with final episode you feel as though you’re re-watching half of the previous one – that is, until you realise they’re actually showing you a several scenes that weren’t even in Part Five!
“A tear, Sarah Jane? No, don’t cry. While there’s life there’s …”
The Doctor, Planet of the Spiders:
Part Six
I like Planet of the Spiders. Not everything works as a celebration of an era – many of the human supporting characters on Earth and Metebelis 3 are quite dull, it goes on a bit too long (especially that chase scene or Part Two as it’s known) and the Brigadier and Benton aren’t really in it enough for it to be a full-on UNIT send-off.
But Yates gets a fitting conclusion to his story – echoing the theme of rebirth, if you will – and it’s nice to hear from Jo when she returns the Metebelis crystal the Doctor gave to her as a wedding present at the end of The Green Death. The regeneration scene is lovely too.
All things considered, another successful final story for a doctor.
***
Here, by the way, is my daughter’s depiction of the council of the Eight-Legs. Can you spot the queen? I love it!
"In Part Six of this story regeneration is finally called regeneration – nearly eight years after it first happened."
"In the beginning of Part Six in the reprise of what happened of Part Five, there are extra scenes and I don't know why!"
"In this story the word spider is forbidden on Metebelis 3. I guess the 'spiders' don't like it!"
Son of UT Rating: 9/10
