Peter Davison’s final season as the Doctor on screens was a far stronger affair than the season before. Indeed, I believe I have seen it recorded that Peter himself has said if his final season had been his second, he would have stayed in the role longer. So, what is it about the stories of his final season that is of far higher quality than the one before? Well, there are a lot more originally themed stories for a start. The season before had focused on bringing back some famous old foes, like the Mara, The Black Guardian and Omega. This season, apart from the one single appearance of the Daleks, was a completely innovative one for new alien creatures for the Doctor to face off against.
Frontios is at the forefront of this. In his writing of this story Christopher H Bidmead gives us an extremely interesting new set of foes. The huge woodlouse like Tractators. And though they may never be the most awesomely designed and realistic looking creature the show ever had; they are at least highly original in concept. In that they employ gravity as an actual; weapon. And throughout the story the way the Tractators use their gravitational technology to influence the struggling humans above ground on the surface is really something.
Peter Davison is definitely now showing us just how good his more human edged Fifth Doctor can be. He leads the ensemble very well and I find him a brilliant actor to watch. When we get given a decent story for him to act in, he proves his mettle as the Time Lord.
And there is far far more to this story than just the interesting conception of the Tractators and Peter’s acting. On the whole scope of the acting front there are some superb performers. One of the finest has to be William Lucas as Mr Range. He plays this character sympathetically, and so it’s very easy to root on his side for proceedings. Lesley Dunlop as his daughter Norna is very special indeed. I’ve always had a soft spot for Lesley, she’s a great actress and it is so brilliant to see her in my favourite show ever. She would go on also to appear in The Happiness Patrol.
I have seen many people criticize the performance of Peter Gilmore as Brazen. He is not, in my view, remotely off in his performance. Brazen is officious and aloof, but not completely soulless as many other characters have been on the show before. Peter gives a great performance, which comes as no surprise to me. He was always a first class and reliable actor.
Mark Strickson too as Turlough has a rare shining performance in this story. He has a deep-rooted ancestral memory of the tractators, and his acting fearful and afraid is superb. He is for once given something meaty to do in the story, and this story clearly shows when he is given a meaty script, he’ll show you what he can do with it. I always think he never gets the appreciation he deserves as Turlough. I think he always was never less than brilliant in the role of the slightly opaque and untrustworthy man from Trion. I loved how he got just a tiny little more scrap of back story and this really helps elevate his great character even more.
Janet Fielding too does her usual effortless performing jewels as Tegan. She is brilliant when she thinks the Doctor is insulting her in one area of the story, her look could melt an iceberg. And though she may be the least well served of the regulars in this story she is never less than brilliant.
John Gillett as the leader of the Gravis is excellent in his vocal delivery. He really is creepy with a sibilant voice. The procurement of humans to drive the gravity machines of the Tractators too is a gruesome image. The scenes with the grey, ashen form of Captain Revere is very stark and nasty. Lending the cliffhanger to part three a readily unpleasant and gritty feel. The effects of how the earth survivors of the wrecked spaceship are on the whole really well achieved, though in the very first minute of the story we have the lovely goof of a pen or pencil sticking up through the moving ground too!
Frontios stands as a really original slice of Doctor Who. It’s a shame that the Tractators have never re-appeared in the show since. They have at least had a lost story revived by Big Finish, which was also penned by Christopher H Bidmead. I must just say that that follow on story is also excellent, and should be sought out by anyone who loves Frontios.
The direction by Ron Jones too is markedly improved from some of earlier Doctor Who efforts, where he seemed to not really be interested in the stories. Here at least he gets some very good and solid performances from the whole cast, and seems to have garnered a bit more ompff in his attack. It’s great to see. This has none of the sometimes-flat scenes of Time Flight. Everyone here gives it their all and this culminates in making the story a standout of Season 21.
The action resolves with the TARDIS suddenly being gripped by an unknown but powerful force. What could lie in wait for our intrepid TARDIS team? Well, that, of course, is another story!
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