Things I've Learnt from Watching My Favourite Doctor Who Stories: Part 46 - Planet of Evil

46. Planet of Evil

Science comes with responsibility

Planet of Evil is a cautionary tale on how being a scientist brings responsibility to ensure that those around you are kept safe. Well, meet Professor Sorensen, a dedicated scientist who's searching for a new energy source to replace dying sun of his own planet. And he thinks he's found it in rocks from a planet, Zeta Minor. However theft is theft and the planet doesn't want him to take them and will get it's own back... 

That's probably the worst description of the plot of this story but the idea of a scientific example of the ends justify the means is quite interesting. In a way, it's unfortunate that this moral dilemma is pushed to back in favour of chills and thrills as director David Maloney cranks up the tension and focuses on the Jekyl and Hyde aspect of the story. It's a flipside of what Doctor Who usually says in that science is a force for good and advancement. In Horror of Fang Rock, Leela speaks of how the Doctor has taught her science is better than superstition. Most mysteries and phenomena explored in Doctor Who have a scientific explanation to them. For example, the Loch Ness Monster is an armoured cyborg controlled by aliens under the Loch. The Great Fire of London was caused by an explosion in a bakery caused by alien reptiles intent of wiping out the whole population with genetically modified plague rats. 

As a scientist, Sorensen won't listen and his arrogance and professional pride almost kills him. His pride and fall does result in the death of other innocent characters but not his own. He also kills off Salamar, the commander of the ship that's come to rescue him, (but Salamar's a twit and probably only in charge cos Daddy's the commander of the fleet, so we're not that bothered about him!)

(Hence, Vishinky's letter to the commander of the fleet "Dear sir, you misread my letter. I said I wanted to work on a ship with a salad bar!"*) 

Into all this comes the fourth Doctor and Sarah-Jane. Elisabeth Sladen mentioned this was her favourite story and it's not hard to see why. The relationship between Sarah and the Doctor is one of the most popular ever in the classic series and she even gets the better of the Doctor, when she's worked out that they can escape while the Doctor's just sat there! 

Their easy going banter is the work of good writing and encouragement from the director and producer, but also a strong working relationship between the two actors. As demonstrated in this gem:

DOCTOR: I met him once, you know.

SARAH: Who?

DOCTOR: Shakespeare. Charming fellow. Dreadful actor.

SARAH: Perhaps that's why he took up writing.

DOCTOR: Perhaps it was.

It's a delightful scene, in the middle of an alien jungle as they're being persued by a robot tracker and the Morestran crew. When I first saw it that scene, I laughed out loud. Unfortunately it was at a convention so someone sat in the aisle oppose glared angrily my direction, not realising I was laughing with the programme, not at it. 

My first encounter with this story was the repeat in the summer of 1976 at my grandparents house in Scotland. I just remember the reprise of part three where the Doctor is attacked by the "pretty lights" as my three year-old self called them. 

No mention of Planet of Evil can be complete without mentioning the magnificent studio jungle at Ealing Film Studios. Roger Murray Leach brings a truly alien and exotic landscape to life with clever lighting and David Maloney's direction. A truly alien landscape, filmed at Ealing Studios with depth and vibrant colours. (which we didn't see at my grandparents who had a black and white telly, well into the 1980s!) It's a fantastic achievement and well worthy of inclusion in my Top 60 list! 

Next Time: Favourite doesn't necessarily mean the Best!

*I did this joke on the commentary I did for Joe Ford's wonderful Hamster with a Blunt Penknife podcast, so apologies if you've heard it already!