It was the end of an era for Doctor Who. Katy Manning had left the show at the climax of season ten, and the whole production team of the show had had to cope with the shocking and immensely saddening death of Roger Delgado. It was mainly these two reasons that culminated in Jon Pertwee realising that maybe it was time for him to move on from Doctor Who. Producer Barry Letts as a thank you to Jon for his dedicated work over the past four years would listen to what Jon would like to have in his finale story. And what did we then, as the public and the fans, receive? Most definitely a story to remember for a long while after it screened.
From the outset Planet of the Spiders is suitably epic. There is a lot of action in this story, it never pauses for breath along its six-episode length. There are some superb choices of casting in this story too.
For beginners, Kevin Lindsay is the perfect choice as the apparent Tibetan Monk Cho-Je. He really treats the role with respect and dignity. I am pretty sure there will be many who will lambaste and lament the then often trait of casting British actors in foreign roles. But I would just like to point out just how many Tibetan actors were around in 1974? Doctor Who was always a tightly budgeted show too. They couldn't manage the million-dollar castings. With what he has to do in the role Kevin is never insulting. In fact, he fooled me when I was young as I truly believed him to be a foreign actor.
The casting of John Dearth as Lupton too is inspired. John is clearly relishing his role and his performance is extremely entertaining and he must rank amongst the long list of best baddie/villain parts in the show's long and wonderful history. There is even a massive and extended flight and chase scene at the climax to part two which some people have commented as to be nonsensical. They ask why doesn't the Metebelis spider immediately transport Lupton back to the Meditation Centre? I have a simple answer or theory as to why it doesn't do this. As an alien and malignant race this spider enjoys pressing its slave human to beyond breaking point, like every typical slave driver. That is why I believe the spider let's Lupton run instead of giving him the immediately easiest way out!
The other supreme piece of casting is in John Kane's role of Tommy. John should have been given a bafta for this performance. His care and attention to the role of the apparently intellectually stunted man is deeply moving and touching. He gives a a truly superb delivery, and it is a true delight when he looks into the Metebelis Crystal and it wipes his intellectual vacuum away. It's no wonder the story was praised at the time it was shown for this portrayal. It's no understatement to say John is sublime in the role and truly makes the character one of my favourite ever. His interactions with Lis Sladen's Sarah too are poignant and leave a real lump in the throat. To me this is little more than a sign of mesmeric and powerhouse acting. It is little surprise that John actually went on to become a very successful writer and novelist in his later career. But Tommy ranks as the high point performance of his acting career.
Kismet Delgado, the widow of Roger, is also sublime in her voicing of the Spiders. Together with Ysanne Churchman they give the Spiders a brilliant sibilant voice that is really creepy and makes the Spiders a force to be reckoned with. And the look of the spiders too, considering the budget of the show, is incredible. They really creeped me out to the max when I first watched this story.
It's a shame then with all these sublime castings that the people who are cast as the inhabitants of Metebelis Three somewhat let the side down rather hugely. Even an actor of the stance of Gareth Hunt under performs and is less than gripping in his portrayal of Arak. But the saddest performance is the frankly cringe worthy one given by Jenny Laird as Neska. Her performance is so at odds with all other performers so that it sticks out like a sore thumb. It's a true shame as most of the rest of the cast as stated are amazing.
The regeneration scene though, for Jon Pertwee and Lis Sladen in particular, is beautifully done. This gorgeous goodbye scene to Jon was one scene of the show that on my first viewing made me well up with tears. I was heartbroken as the Doctor fell out of the TARDIS onto the floor and then began to change into a new man. I could not have asked for a better climax to the Jon Pertwee era than this incredibly moving and impactful scene.
Aside from a few weak performers though, Planet of the Spiders remains a firm credit to the Pertwee era. It strikes all the right notes of being wonderfully plotted, with a sublime villain and some terrific performances that leave one feeling there was no better way to end this lovely era of the show. Jon Pertwee was such an awesome incarnation of the Doctor. It's no wonder there were so many who took some little time to take to Tom Baker as he stepped into the role as Jon left. But what Jon left us with is the taste of an era that succeeded on every front. The Third Doctor's era was sparkling, magical, and insanely delicious as the first era to be shown in colour.
Long may Jon and the Third Doctor's era be held in the rightful esteem it deserves. It truly was one of the Golden Ages of Doctor Who.
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