Doctor Who Television Review: Pyramids of Mars

Episode: Pyramids of Mars
Story Number:  82
Season: 13
Screenwriter: “Stephen Harris” (Robert Holmes and Lewis Greifer)
Director: Paddy Russell

Thoughts:

The Doctor and Sarah Jane are returning to UNIT headquarters, something I find surprising when I watch this story because it seems like it’s been a couple of seasons (and a regeneration) since The Doctor was based at UNIT.  A time anomaly forces the TARDIS to land at an English estate in 1911 on the site where the UNIT headquarters will be built in the future.  The owner of the estate, archaeology professor Marcus Scarman (Bernard Archard) has been turned into an animated corpse and become the servant of Sutekh (Gabriel Woolf).

In the Doctor Who universe, Sutekh is a member of a powerful race of aliens called the Osirians, and is the influence for the God of Death, Set, in Egyptian mythology. Scarman is plotting to release Sutekh from under a pyramid on Mars where he was imprisoned by his brother Horus millennia ago. Naturally, he is aided by robots that look like mummies.  The Doctor and Sarah have to try to stop them with some limited assistance from Scarman’s brother Laurence (Michael Sheard).

Influenced by Hammer horror films, Pyramids of Mars is atmospheric and has a strong script.  There’s a lot about Sutekh and the plot that doesn’t make a lot of sense.  But that’s easy to set aside since Sutekh is a truly scary antagonist and a believable challenge for The Doctor.  The dialogue between The Doctor and Sutekh is particularly strong.  Plus, the chemistry between The Doctor and Sarah Jane is strong, with several good moments for the companion.

Score: 8 of 10

Doctor Who Television Review: School Reunion

Episode:  School Reunion
Story Number: 170
Series: 2
Screenwriter:  Toby Whithouse
Director:  James Hawes

Thoughts:

When I first watched this episode back in 2011, I had no idea who Sarah Jane was other than long-time fans loved her. This episode marked her return after last being a regular companion in 1976, and I soon loved her as well.  The idea of a robot dog sounded silly, but I soon loved K9 as well.  This episode marked the new Doctor Who interacting with the show’s own past in a new way. Traditionally the Doctor moved on from his companions without ever looking back (except for the 20th anniversary special), but now a former companion arrives to challenge him on how he disposes of his friends.  I love also how the relationship between Rose and Sarah Jane, while initially adversarial, swiftly becomes friendship as they bond over shared experiences.  This is also a good episode for Mickey who thus far has mostly been the goofy boyfriend Rose leaves behind but he also begins to assert himself.  The main plot of the vampire-like Krillitanes taking advantage of school children for scientific research is largely background to all the interpersonal relationships.  This was also Toby Whitehouse’s first script for Doctor Who.  He would grow to be unpopular in the fandom and I have to admit this is probably his best story (although I should probably rewatch “The God Complex”).

Rating: 8 of 10