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"Spearhead from Space" launched Doctor Who into the 1970s with not only a new Doctor, Jon Pertwee, but a new assistant, the scientist Liz Shaw (Caroline John) and a regular place in the show for UNIT and Brigadier Lethbridge-Stewart (Nicholas Courtney). It also marked the debut of the program in color and saw the Doctor stranded on Earth after Patrick Troughton's last adventure, "The War Games" (1969). Not only that, but it proved the only serial in the show's history to be entirely shot both on film and location, giving it a uniquely cinematic feel. Regenerating in a country hospital, the Doctor finds himself helping the Brigadier investigate an unusual meteorite and its links with a sinister doll factory. The Autons are cybernetic killers--anticipating The Terminator by some 15 years--and the sequence in which they break through shop windows to slaughter pedestrians remains a chilling highpoint of Doctor Who's entire history. Things do turn silly with a subplot involving a wax museum, while the ultimate battle with the Nestine consciousness is more likely to induce laughter than fear, but as vintage television nostalgia this is fast-moving, splendidly characterized entertainment. --Gary S. Dalkin
Customer Reviews
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By Valnastar
Format:DVD
John Pertwee is fun to watch and is one of the livelier actors to play the Doctor. However, this episode takes a while to get going and is slow at times, even for Dr. Who. It is good goofy fun like most Dr. Who, but it is not the most exciting episode and I've seen other Pertwee episodes that should have been on DVD ahead of this one. Dr. Who fans will still enjoy it, but if you're looking for your first Dr. Who episode to buy, try The Ark In Space or Tomb Of The Cybermen first.
Format:DVD
This brings to a close(temporarily) the space/time traveling freedom of Dr. Who. Patrick Troughton and William Hartnell's Dr.s misbehavior punishment falls on Jon Pertwee. Thier is good continuety between this and the War Games(even thought the two are totally different). Pertwee explains that he must "try to use his machine" but fails and then explains in less than flattering terms about the timelords. Spearhead also introduces the Autons and an excellent actor named John Woodnut who would appear in many following episodes with Tom Baker(namely Terror of the Zygons and Keeper of Traken). The first epsiode is a little slow (and it needs to be) to slowly introduce Jon Pertwee as Dr. Who. After that it picks up when he leaves the hostpitol and starts doing his job as Dr. Who and one who would then be offered the position of Unit's Scientific Advisor.
Format:VHS Tape
Spearhead From Space marks the start of a brand new era for the Doctor Who mythos, for the slate is pretty much wiped clean as is evident from the ending of 'War Games'. This was the first adventure to be shot in color, to be shot entirely on film, and features the newly regenerated Doctor, exiled to Earth, and now reluctantly has to rely on the resources and support of his old friend Brigadier Lethbridge-Stewart, and U.N.I.T. to give him shelter, while he continues to lend his remarkable intellect to defending the Earth against alien creatures. This remains a marvelous adventure as it also introduces the Nestene, the Autons, and a brand new companion in the form of independant, intelligent, Cambridge scientist, Elizabeth Shaw, the proverbial Scully to the Doctor's Mulder. This adventure, along with all of Jon Pertwee's adventures as the Doctor stand the tests of time, as it never feels in any way dated or time frame specific, considering it is the 1970's, but you never feel as if it is the 1970's in anyway. The Autons are highly effective creatures, serving both as foot soldiers, and as physical hosts for some of the Nestene energy within the pods that landed on Earth. Definitely highly recommended for Dr. Who fans.
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4.6 out of 5 stars
Most recent customer reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
Brilliant!
This is naturally one of the all time greats, the start of
season seven, one of Who's finest, along with seasons fourteen and twenty, it is an atypically dark, atmospheric,... Read more
season seven, one of Who's finest, along with seasons fourteen and twenty, it is an atypically dark, atmospheric,... Read more
Published on April 30 2004
4.0 out of 5 stars
The first Jon Pertwee episode, no epic but worthy
In this 4 part episode Jon Pertwee is introduced as the third Doctor.
This story is quiet average, like most introduction episodes. Read more
Published on Sep 3 2002 by "wkjun"
5.0 out of 5 stars
Exiled to Earth....
Jon Pertwee's first story is the best opening story of all of the Doctors, in my opinion.
The story has a very cinematic look, having been done entirely on film. Read more
The story has a very cinematic look, having been done entirely on film. Read more
Published on Jun 7 2002 by David L. White
5.0 out of 5 stars
Spearhead Good Choice To Jump Into Dr. Who
I don't write many product reviews, but I felt it necessary to do so here. This has to be one of the best-written and acted set of Doctor Who episodes. Read more
Published on Jun 2 2002 by Jude Giampaolo
5.0 out of 5 stars
It's Who, Dr. Who.
By the end of the 6th season of Dr. Who, the format of the series was getting pretty stale, so the writers used a brief hatus that the series was placed in [brought on by a... Read more
Published on May 21 2002 by Timothy E. Jones
4.0 out of 5 stars
Date blunder
This was shown on 4 January 1970, I don't expect you to submit this. I am telling you here because the "correct" facility doesn't do dates.
Published on May 10 2002
5.0 out of 5 stars
Who will ever look at mannequins like that again?
Spearhead from Space is a bit of a departure for the makers of Doctor Who. It seeks to highlight the individualistic, renegade streak of Doctor Who not only in regard to the... Read more
Published on Mar 27 2002 by Junglies
4.0 out of 5 stars
Looks gorgeous on DVD
I can hardly believe what a contrast this DVD is to the version still shown on PBS stations. The Doctor Who Restoration Team outdid themselves on this one. Read more
Published on Mar 12 2002 by Winston Engle
5.0 out of 5 stars
Welcome Pertwee to DVD
Jon Pertwee's immortal portrayal of the good Doctor has finally come to DVD and it is done very well. The quality of the video is crisp and clear. Sound is exceptional. Read more
Published on Mar 10 2002 by Chris Letempt
5.0 out of 5 stars
"So Brigadier what do you think of my new face?"
This episode marks the beginning of Jon Pertwees time as the good Doctor from Gallifrey. This series was incredibly fortunate that the men who replaced William Hartnell as the... Read more
Published on Mar 1 2002 by S.D.S
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