| TV-Commentary - Doctor Who |
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Best Episodes: Robot
This was the very first Tom Baker episode. It featured evil scientists using a giant robot to do its bidding. The robot had it's "Safeties" removed so it could kill people, and it was programmed to get the components for a giant disintegration gun.
If that wasn't bad enough, the evil scientists gained access to a missile base and threatened to launch the missiles if their demands weren't met.
The Doctor was on top of the situation early, figuring out he was up against a robot, and the Robot wasn't wholly bad--it had a thing for Sarah Jane. In the end the Doctor just barely stopped the bunker computer from launching the missiles.
One main thing was unclear about this episode--why did the robot require such radical reprogramming before it could be made to kill? Couldn't that be as simple as flipping a switch?
The robot was very imposing, with it's giant flailing arms and torso. Almost as good as the "danger danger" robot from Lost in Space.
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posts on 8/1/2006 8:32:49 PM
This episode was was written by Terrance Dicks (script editor during the Pertwee era) and produced by Barry Letts (his final story in that role). I can only say - it shows. It definitely has a flavouring of a Jon Pertwee story, complete with both Bessie and UNIT. There are also some very Jon Pertwee-sounding lines in particular:
Benton: Whatever was down there wasn't able to breathe
Doctor: Whatever was down there didn't need to breathe
(I'm not sure that quote is precise, but you'll recognise it when you here it.) Tom Baker shines through, nevertheless. He adopts his outfit, complete with "that" scarf, and his line about the titanic paves the way for many such comments in the future. As far as the story goes, Dicks seemed to be trying to fit too much material into one story. The introduction of the new Doctor (and his new companion, Harry Sullivan) detracts from the actual plot. Nicholas Courtney holds up his part well, as does Elisabeth Sladen. The acting performances manage to keep this story worth watching (something hardly new to a science fiction show with such a moderate special effects budget) but it is by no means the best Doctor Who story, or even the best Tom Baker story.
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cybercontroller
posts on 2/8/2006 4:13:54 PM
To the commentator BOB, you can go onto amazon.co.uk and robot is being sold for £11- £17
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Cybercontroller
posts on 1/22/2006 4:22:56 PM
Ah Robot. The first tom baker episode I watched on video. I found it in a library! Then I never saw it again. Memories pour back and finally own it! a great story well worth the money
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Me
posts on 12/25/2005 9:11:30 PM
Yes, "Robot" was always one of my favourites, admittedly it's a parody of "King Kong" in essence, but I think it holds, even so.
Should be released on DVD!
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The commentator Bob
posts on 9/21/2005 8:05:35 PM
The "Robot" story contains a lot of memories for me, being the first one I proplerly remember seeing broadcast in the 70's as a little kid, and I still think it's among the best ever adventures. It really should be re-released on DVD now for U.K. fans, I'd love to see it again but can't find it anywhere even on VHS. Dunno if anyone can help me here???
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Anonymous
posts on 4/24/2005 7:07:23 AM
I think the Action man tank superimposed in episodes thREE and four was somewhat rubbish as well. Also Sarah's interview being releavant is too much of a coincidence and UNIT aren't that clever if they can't notice SRS's logo is a robot face! It is so clearly a ru of the mill UNIT/Pertwee style story crow barred into Baker's opening season.
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