Ep 1. Spearhead from Space: Part 1
- January 3, 1970
- 58 min
The show Classic Doctor Who season 7 episode 1, titled Spearhead from Space: Part 1, begins with the TARDIS crashing in the countryside of England. The Third Doctor, portrayed by Jon Pertwee, emerges from the blue police box and stumbles upon a group of army soldiers who are investigating a nearby meteorite that has crashed into the Earth. The Doctor quickly discovers that the meteorite is actually a crashed spaceship and that it contains a dangerous alien race known as the Autons.
The Doctor is taken to a nearby hospital where he encounters Liz Shaw, a brilliant scientist who works for a top-secret government organization called UNIT (United Nations Intelligence Taskforce). The Doctor is furious to learn that his fellow Time Lords have exiled him to Earth and that he is unable to travel through time and space in his beloved TARDIS. Despite his frustrations, the Doctor agrees to help UNIT investigate the alien invasion and stop the Autons from taking over the planet.
As the episode progresses, the Doctor teams up with Brigadier Lethbridge-Stewart, the head of UNIT, and his team of soldiers to locate the escaped Autons and their mysterious leader. The Doctor discovers that the Autons are able to reshape their bodies into any form they desire and that they are using mannequins in a local department store to carry out their plan of world domination. The Auton leader, a sinister creature known as the Nestene Consciousness, hopes to use these mannequins to create an army of plastic soldiers that will take over humanity.
Meanwhile, Liz Shaw continues to investigate the meteorite and discovers that it contains a strange substance called "living plastic" that is responsible for animating the mannequins. She also learns that the Nestene Consciousness is a powerful psychic entity that is able to communicate with the Autons telepathically. Liz and the Doctor work together to develop a device that can disrupt the psychic signal and neutralize the Autons.
As the episode reaches its climax, the Doctor, Liz, and the soldiers of UNIT launch a daring raid on the department store to destroy the Autons and put an end to the Nestene Consciousness's plan. The Autons put up a fierce fight, but the team is finally able to destroy the Nestene Consciousness and free the world from its grip. In the end, the Doctor decides to stay on Earth and work with UNIT to protect the planet from future threats.
Overall, this episode of Classic Doctor Who is a thrilling introduction to the Third Doctor's era and sets the stage for many exciting adventures to come. With its blend of science fiction, action, and suspense, Spearhead from Space: Part 1 is a must-watch for any fan of the series.