Watch Doctor Who: Warriors of the Deep

Doctor Who is a cult British science-fiction television series that spans back decades, and Warriors of the Deep takes place in the middle of its iconic run. This classic season of the long-running show, which aired in 1984, sees the enigmatic Doctor travel through time and space in his TARDIS, encountering aliens, dangerous foes, and nefarious plots.

Set in the future, Warriors of the Deep follows the seventh incarnation of the Doctor, played by Colin Baker, and his companion Tegan, played by Janet Fielding. The duo finds themselves on a military base during a time of war between the human race and a group of amphibious reptilian beings, the Silurians and the Sea Devils. These fearsome creatures are descendants of ancient Earth creatures that went into hibernation when the planet's climate changed, emerging in the future to reclaim their dominance.

At the same time, tensions are high between the human military personnel, led by Commander Vorshak and the scientific team under Dr. Solow. The humans want to destroy the Silurians and settle the conflict with violence, while the Doctor and his companions believe in a peaceful resolution to the conflict.

As the story progresses, the Doctor and Tegan join forces with the legendary Myrka, a giant cybernetic monster that guards the base's nuclear reactor, and a group of Sea Devils, who are willing to cooperate with the humans. But things take a turn for the worse when Dr. Solow turns out to be a double agent working with the reptilian aliens. She tries to hold the whole underwater command center hostage and launch the nuclear weapons from there.

The Doctor, Myrka, and Tegan are left with a tough choice: to let Dr. Solow have her way and destroy the Silurians or to stop her and risk annihilating the whole of humanity. The Doctor has to use all his wits to save the day and to prevent both the Silurians and the humans from causing mutual destruction.

Despite being filmed more than 30 years ago, Warriors of the Deep remains a favorite among Doctor Who fans. The show's creators managed to create a believable and convincing future scenario, with impressive special effects and excellent set design that included the underwater base and giant cybernetic monster.

While the Silurians and Sea Devils are not the most complex of Doctor Who villains, they represent something different from the usual aliens the Doctor faces. They have motivations and feelings that are understandable to the viewer, and it makes the conflict between the humans and the reptilian beings more nuanced and intricate. This creates an atmosphere of dramatic tension that is palpable throughout the episode.

Another strength of Warriors of the Deep is the performance of the cast. Colin Baker gives a solid performance as the Doctor, portraying the character's intellect, humor, and compassion. Janet Fielding does an excellent job as Tegan, giving us a strong, willful, and relatable companion for the Doctor. Nicholas Courtney, who played the recurring role of Brigadier Lethbridge-Stewart in the show, delivers a memorable performance as the Commander Vorshak, giving us a character who is ready to do whatever it takes to protect humanity.

Although it is several decades old, Warriors of the Deep is still a compelling and entertaining episode of Doctor Who. Its themes of conflict, mistrust, and diplomacy still resonate with audiences today, and its message of cooperation and unity in the face of chaos and danger is more relevant than ever. Infused with a sense of adventure, humor, and heart, Warriors of the Deep proves that Doctor Who remains one of the most compelling science fiction shows ever made.