Things I've Learnt from Watching My Favourite Doctor Who Stories: Part 11 - Terror of the Zygons

 11. Terror of the Zygons

If you think that Stag on the wall is watching you, it probably is... 

Another vote for nostalgia and another of those stories that were early video releases that were compilations rather than as nature intended. This was my Christmas present for 1989, the year after I got Talons and this was watched as avidly as that one over the Christmas holidays. 

Until the vhs broke with the tape inside. 

The tape suddenly stopped, just as the Caber was getting the steps ready for Sarah so she could climb up to the Duke of Forgill's secret stash of naughty magazines hidden behind books about the Loch Ness Monster. Nothing worked and the video recorder was sent off to be repaired.. I was 16 and trying to be brave but fortunately the tape was safely retrieved and the video recorder repaired and all was well. Funny the things you remember isn't it? 

Terror of the Zygons is from the same writer, director partnership of the Seeds of Doom, so you might be wondering why is this one higher? Both are brilliant of course, but this feels more intrinsically Doctor Who-ish, rather than an Avengers type story with the Doctor and Sarah Jane instead of John Steed and Emma Peel. Or Tara King if you prefer! The mix of film and video, as was so often used also makes it feel a bit more traditional, although we know Seeds was all done on video because of what went wrong on this serial. 

It starts like a Scottish version of the Green Death, with the radio operator on the oil rig mithering on about haggis within 10 seconds of the opening titles fading out. You know, just so we know he really is Scottish on case there was any doubt. 

The model work looks good as something destroys the oil rig and Geoffrey Burgon's flutey score settles down to that beautiful piece (Arrival in Scotland, according to the 50th anniversary album) and we see Sarah in the Doctor's hat looking cute, Harry wearing the Doctor's scarf and the Doctor himself looking as if he's expecting Brigadoon! I love these three and it's a shame this is their last full story together, apart from the Android Invasion which Harry doesn't really appear much as himself. 

For years, there was a brief snatch of the TARDIS sound effect and of course being a fan, I had read about an extra scene at that point, that was cut due to technical problems. 

Then in 2013, almost at the end of the dvd releases, came the news this scene would be reinstated for the DVD release! It felt unreal, to finally see this missing scene - a director's cut it was called. And what a lovely scene it is too. Such a great way to celebrate the 50th anniversary with an extra bit of Tom, Lis and Ian, made especially poignant given that Lis and Ian were no longer with us. It doesn't add anything to the plot and the Doctor's assertion he knows its Scotland simply because he's dressed for it, could almost have been written by Steven Moffat. Who doesn't watch that story now without that scene? If you do, tsk honestly, call yourself a fan? 

Then there's the cliffhanger where we see the Zygon for the first time and it's expertly done, we see a hand reaching for Sarah and in a second, she spins, she screams, that cliffhanger scream comes through and you see the malevolent alien that's like an embryo crossed with a cornish pasty made of lego. It is a brilliant design, expertly crafted and my favourite monster. 2013 was also the year the Zygons came back for the Day of the Doctor. Weirdly and sadly, the new versions were nowhere near as effective as they were back in 1975.

Broton played by John Woodnutt is the next in a long line of memorable baddies for Tom Baker to face. He keeps it low agd menacing with or without the Zygon costume. Unlike the modern ones, they use the voice of the actor in the suit and not an actor syching to Nicholas Briggs and it really makes a difference. The hissing and pointy teeth are a bit rubbish too. Probably the only monster revamp for the modern series that's been a failure in my eyes. 

And speaking of failure, I guess I have to mention the Skarasen. It's not that bad in the scenes where it's chasing the Doctor across Tullock Moor, but the scene of it in the Thames munching on the signal device is one of those that end up in clip shows along with the Mandrels and the Myrka. Oh well, as Douglas Camfield once said "You can't win them all!" 

But this one is a winner. If we judged all Doctor Who on a crap monster that doesn't quite convince then that's Genesis, Talons and Caves all screwed too. This is solid, scary fun and light years ahead of the competition on ITV. This story kicked off season 13 early to stem the opposition building up in the ratings. 

Unlucky 13? Not likely with a story this good! 

Next Time : Don't trust sat navs or fortune tellers