Classic Doctor Who 13x01 "Terror of the Zygons" eps 3-4 full reaction

Terror of the Zygons is such a great story, you can stick this one on at any time and have a blast. It's just about the perfect start to season 13, which is my second favourite season of classic Who after seasons 7. Phillip Hinchcliffe and Robert Holmes had already begun to put their stamp on the show in the previous season, but it's with this story that the gothic horror tone they wanted to bring to Doctor Who truly took off. There's such a creepy, unnerving atmosphere that pervades this whole story. Particularly the scene in the barn with Sarah and Harry, which is the stuff of nightmares. It's a brilliantly directed scene, but this whole story looks great thanks to Douglas Camfield, one of the finest classic Who directors. I also like how the these first six 4th Doctor stories tie together with the Doctor and companions leaving UNIT HQ at the end of Robot and ending up on the ark and then leaving the ark without the TARDIS and each subsequent story leading straight into the next, and then coming full circle with them ending up back on the ark at an earlier point in time and finding the TARDIS at the end, leading straight into Zygons. It's neat. The Zygons are a terrific creation, coupled with the interior of their spaceship, they're easily one of the most convincing alien races in classic Who because clearly there's been some thought put into them. Their creepy, sibilant voice and disgustingly organic design makes them truly memorable. It's no surprise they were so fondly remembered by fans despite only appearing in this one story during the whole of classic Who. David Tennant, who would've been watching the show at this point, has stated the Zygons are his favourite monsters and regretted never facing them during his own era. Obviously the main reason Moffat brought the Zygons back during the 50th is because they're a very fondly remembered monster that everyone wanted to see back one day, but part of it was also just a gift to Tennant. I also love how this story is a gentle parody of the alien invasion stories that were so common during the Pertwee era. It's really funny how the Doctor pokes holes in Broton's plans, it shows that he's heard it all before and is almost bored of the entire thing. I like how this works as both a celebration of a story format that worked so well during the Pertwee years, but also explains why Hinchcliffe and Holmes wanted to move away from it and try to take the show in a weirder, more experimental direction. Now with Harry gone, Sarah and the Doctor are alone, free to travel the universe. This marks the beginning of perhaps the greatest Doctor/companion duo run in the show's history. The other stories I think you'll be reacting to from this season, Pyramids of Mars, The Brain of Morbius and The Seeds of Doom, are all brilliant and I'm really looking forward to them.

Azmat Mahmood