Finally making its way to DVD, Planet of the Spiders marks the final outing of Jon Pertwees Third Doctor. Backed up by fan favourites Sarah Jane Smith (Sladen) and the Brig (Courtney), the Doctor and his friends find themselves faced with the arachnid inhabitants of Metebelis Three, an invasion of Earth and what could very well be the final death of everybodys favourite Time Lord.
At a Tibetan-style spiritual retreat deep in rural England, a clandestine circle of chanting brethren unknowingly call upon the evil powers of the Metebelis Spiders, whose quest for the perfect blue crystal leads them directly to the Doctor. Forced to travel to their alien homeworld to meet with the Great One, merciless ruler of her spiders and human slaves, the Doctor uncovers a sinister plot to take over the Earth.
Considering this is a regeneration story, its a shame so many of the problems that plagued Doctor Who of yesteryear are at work here. With six episodes to wade through, theres a fair amount of padding thrown in, occasionally throwing things out of focus. The production values are typically dodgy, perhaps more so than usual thanks to the ambitious arachnid planet and its inhabitants. Unfortunately, the eponymous spiders are also something of a disappointment, lacking any real threat or menace.
Thankfully, theres also a lot of good here, which makes this transitional serial more than bearable. Jon Pertwee is on top form as the Doctor, while Elizabeth Sladen is given more than enough to do as Sarah Jane Smith. All of UNITs key players are dealt healthy amounts of screen time and when the episodes arent suffering from lulls, the action feels busy and energetic. The inclusion of fellow Time Lord KAnpo is also a wise choice, adding a welcome pinch of sentiment to the proceedings that takes some of the sting out of seeing a popular incarnation of the titular time-travelling hero bite the dust.
Pertwees final moments as the Doctor are particularly moving, thanks to some genuinely heartfelt performances and stirring dialogue. Even with the hindsight of his successor Tom Baker in action, Pertwees final scenes are as effective as ever.
Whatever your feelings about the serial, this two-disc set comes complete with an impressive batch of extras. The commentaries are lively and engaging, with Elizabeth Sladen and the late Nicholas Courtney onboard along with director Barry Letts and script editor Terrance Dicks. Fans of the series will also enjoy a host of nostalgic featurettes, with The Final Curtain serving as the standout of this impressive enough release.
Overall Verdict: Essential viewing for the die-hard fan, Planet of the Spiders might alienate new viewers looking for a bit of vintage Doctor Who, but a clean transfer and impressive batch of extras make up for most of this serials shortcomings.
Special Features:
Commentary with actors Elisabeth Sladen, Nicholas Courtney and Richard Franklin, producer/director Barry Letts and script editor Terrance Dicks
Coming Soon trailer for forthcoming DVD release
Programme subtitles
Subtitle production notes
The Final Curtain documentary
John Kane Remembers retrospective featurette
Directing Who with Barry Letts featurette
Now & Then location featurette
Omnibus Edition unrestored omnibus edition
Omnibus Trailer
Photo Gallery
Radio Times Listings
Reviewer: David Steele