OVERALL EPISODE NUMBER: 280
STORY NUMBER: 055
TRANSMITTED: 09 January 1971
WRITER: Robert Holmes
DIRECTOR: Barry Letts
SCRIPT EDITOR: Terrance Dicks
PRODUCER: Barry Letts
FORMAT: DVD: Doctor Who: Mannequin Mania Box Set - Spearhead from Space / Terror of the Autons
Episode Format: 16mm b&w film recording recoloured using 525 off air video
The Doctor throws the bomb into the river where it detonates. He frees Jo from the Master's hypnotic influence. The Master demonstrates a new plastic chair to McDermott which folds up and kills him. Later the Master & Rex Farrel are visited by his Father, who isn't impressed with the Master. Farrel leaves with a sample of the Master's new toy troll doll. Unit tracks the missing Philips to Rossini's circus which the Doctor Visits, being captured by Rossini and strongman Tony. Jo knocks Tony out and frees the Doctor. They are threatened by a grenade wielding Philips. The Doctor tries to free Philips, who dies when he sets the grenade off. The Doctor enters the Master's Tardis and steals his dematerialisation circuit. Menaced by the circus performers the Doctor & Jo are rescued by the police. When they are driven to a remote quarry the Doctor asks to see their warrant cards. The Policeman turns round and is unmasked as an Auton.
This story is a distinct change of pace from the last season moving a long at a fair lick. In some ways it almost feels like a bunch of set pieces strung together and essentially it is: The Master is setting a series of traps for the Doctor: "escaped the bomb I sent you? Never mind here's my grenade wielding hypnotised scientist. Got out of that too? I've sent some Auton Policeman to get you!"
Joining us this episode is Roy Stewart, as Tony the circus Strong Man, who memorably played Toberman in The Tomb of the Cybermen while George McDermott is played by Harry Towb who was (rather briefly) Osgood in The Seeds of Death
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