N.B. there might (or might not) be spoilers in this article!

‘Orwellian’ is probably the most apposite way of describing The Macra Terror, although ‘Nineteen Eighty-Four with crabs’ is a strong contender.

“There is no such thing as Macra!”

Control, The Macra Terror: Episode 2

It’s pretty unnerving stuff from the off, starting with the persecution of Medok and the false bonhomie of the colonists. Then there’s the brainwashing of Ben, who really does lose his Cockney accent when he’s being controlled – I can’t believe I hadn’t noticed that before!

Ben’s ‘betrayal’ is very well-handled; the scene where he pursues Polly is particularly tense as is their terror at seeing the Macra. Aurally at least it’s properly scary.

Indeed, so is the implication that we are so easy-to-control in the first place. Ben has hardly been a weak-willed character to date, so it’s certainly a shock to have him turn on his friends.

I also love the increasingly deranged tone of Control’s tannoy announcements as his control unravels – it’s humourous and frightening at the same time. Even the seemingly jolly Chromophone Band (composed by Dudley Simpson, but realised by the great Delia Derbyshire) has always sounded both cheery and eerie to me. The melodic jingles that preface Control’s announcements are similarly sinister, becoming almost Pavlovian in their association with menace.

“Don’t just be obedient. Always make up your own mind.”

The Doctor, The Macra Terror: Episode 2

Of course, whilst such concepts are not original to Doctor Who, in its expression of Orwellian ideas for a Saturday teatime audience The Macra Terror is still mighty impressive.

Of all the surviving soundtracks The Macra Terror is the one I’ve listened to the most over the years. Like The Power of the Daleks, it’s a gripping and exciting tale throughout, especially after the underwhelming menace and the tedium on the moon.

Finally, as The Macra Terror represents the first point at which Doctor Who‘s opening credits changed (introducing a new logo and the now-famous face-in-the-credits concept), I’ve taken the opportunity similarly to tweak the look of new posts on Unearthly Times.

We’re still monochrome though – colour is a fair few stories off yet!