Who Reviews The Green Death by Matt Rabjohns

A story that shines amongst a season of other hugely popular and amazing stories. Yet there is something about the Green Death that sets it apart from all the other stories of season 10. And I do believe I know what it might be that gives this story its unique feel, and it’s not just a single reason.

The first reason is that this is grounded on Earth, and actually there are no alien monsters or foes of that sort. What we get in the Green Death is an expertly crafted story where it is human error that is the major error. Poisoning of the land, which was of course a major passion of producer Barry Letts, and quite right too. The mess we have made of this planet is totally appalling.  Another aspect of the uniqueness is this is most certainly a story that is not farfetched at all. In fact, in some places of the world the mutation of wildlife and crops really does happen and is totally horrendous and so sad. The moral core of the Green Death is a tremendous strength. It is rather like Season 7 with its far more adult method of story weaving and the effort that goes into making a brilliant story like this one is.

The second reason this story stands out is because the farewell to Jo as a companion is so beautifully handled. It is understated and not stupidly over the top and the final scenes of the Doctor's leaving with a single tear cascading down his cheek is just a totally superb way to end the season. It’s an emotional end to a brilliant and innovative season of the show. And it is a testament to the production team that a story exploring pollution and simple human mistakes works so superbly.

Michael Briant always was a very reliable Doctor Who director. His input towards the show was amazing and all of his stories I really enjoy. The Green Death I think I would easily call him crowning achievement with the show. The sense of inherent realism and drama woven throughout this story is utterly astonishing.

The Cast of the story are all just perfect too. There is not one feeble performance. The standard of the performances enhances a brilliant script from Barry Letts and Robert Sloman so much in fact that this story still oozes the same feeling and resonance with me today.

Jerome Willis is cast so three dimensionally as Stevens. He makes the part totally real. He is devilishly good in the role, and a character you easily love to hate. But what Barry and Robert do with Stevens is a lovely little flip. In the final scenes of Steven's when he has gazed into the Metebelis Crystal and seen the error of his ways, you actually do feel a pang of remorse for him when the camera zooms in on his tear rimmed eyes the moment before he dies and takes the mad computer BOSS with him.

John Dearth's voice is used to utterly brilliant heights as BOSS. He is totally the right choice for the computer with his megalomaniacal streak. And yet he gives the computer a ful character, and when he is humming or singing or getting angry you think, yes, this thing has grown sentient and its deadly. BOSS is one of the best uses of computers in the show ever.

Stewart Bevan is also remarkable as Clifford Jones. You totally side with his characters fierce moral stance on what muck we are poisoning the planet with. Lessons of conservation and preservation of life need to be heeded and understood. And this story just brings this moral fibre to us in such an engaging and believable way. The scenes where he comforts Jo over the loss of Bert down the mine are utterly beguiling and the warmth in the heart of this fan viewer is near to boiling and bubbling over with joy at the brilliance of Katy Manning and Stewart.

It is also great to see Mike Yates get the chance to go undercover and its obvious Richard Franklin is relishing the opportunity to do something a bit different with the character. He does a fantastic job in this story and his character is given some really good scenes indeed. This is a very good story for his character indeed.

Then our reliable and adorable Sergeant Benton comes up with the answer to the situation of the maggots. "Could it be something it ate?" he remarks and then Nancy strikes gold and points to the Professor's hybrid fungus on the table.

The Maggots in this story are also one of the finest designs of the Jon Pertwee era. They look so real and their hissing is a brilliant touch. It strikes fear into my heart even now when the maggot springs on Hinks and the Professor. They are never seen as less than a very palpable threat. The underground mine shots of the maggots growing and hissing at the climax to part Two is another of those classic Doctor Who cliff-hangers. The maggots look vulgar and nasty all the way through the story. Even the dragonfly isn’t that bad either, and looks extremely impressive actually.

Perhaps the only tinniest of quibbles comes with UNIT not thinking to post a guard on the egg when it’s brought back to the Nuthutch. This is just not a scenario that rings true. If you had an egg that big and had already seen the maggots and how malignant they are, no way on earth would you leave it unguarded. And to think that not even the Doctor seems to think of this does seem a little bit strange. Mind you, when in the middle of such an adventure maybe some things would accidentally slip from your mind, so maybe I am just being a bit picky.

But one tinsey little niggle does not withhold this story from one of the absolute die hard best stories the show ever put on screen. It is one of the best paced six parters in the show’s history, it not once feels laboured or slow. In fact, it all feels so breathtakingly real and present even to this day.

Yes, the Green Death still has its lessons to teach. The themes raised are even more relevant now than ever. One last thing of note is the Blu Ray Collection 10 Boxset is wonderful for the Behind the Sofa segments where it’s so beautiful to see Katy Manning and John Levene and Richard Franklin openly relishing the chance to watch these gems again. The way they get emotional at the climax is so heart-warming. The Green Death too must have been so difficult what with the shock of Roger Delgado's death still sinking in and what with Katy leaving.

That The Green Death is cited often as a classic is no mistake. It must totally is one absolute belter of a Doctor Who story. It succeeds on every possible level.