The Tenth Planet (1966) Review

"Emotions! Love, pride, hate, fear! Have you no emotions, sir?"

The Tenth Planet is a very big story. Leaving aside the obvious regeneration and Cybermen intros, there's the new planet showing up, the threat of a giant nuclear weapon, the astronauts lost in space... unlike most other stories, there's a feel of reality here, like the Doctor and his foes have actually materialized out from the show and are waging war on our own world. I must compliment this story for that powerful feel, especially since it has dated so much in details.

However, I must equally criticise it for a lack of interest in the main characters and too much focus on the astronauts' plight. At times, it's like watching Apollo 13. On a BBC budget. In black and white. In 1966. I know it was meant to be realistic(that's what made it good), but it becomes tedious after a short while. Besides the astronauts, there's a big focus on General Cutler, a man so incapable of properly dealing with an emergency that it's a wonder he even got the job. On the other hand, I rather liked Barclay, the scientist. What a nice guy. The point is, I'd much rather watch our heroes argue with them, not them arguing amongst themselves and occasionally going to the backroom to exchange a few words with the Doctor.

William Hartnell has relatively little to do in his swansong, but he does have several memorable moments here and there. When Beatty(Cutler) does the ad-lib "I don't like your face. Nor your hair!", just look at his face. It's hilarious. His confrontation with the Cybermen: "Emotions! Love, pride, hate, fear!" is definitely one of his finest moments. And good lord, the regeneration... Hartnell couldn't have done it better. That look of fear and resignation on his face says everything.

Ben and Polly are quickly becoming rather forgettable, which is a shame, considering that they were pretty good in The War Machines. But here, Polly is again relegated to putting the kettle on(first time it was funny, but here it's pathetic) and Ben has to try and support the crew's side of the plot without his strong suit: his interaction with Polly. Without her, he's almost like an extra. I miss Steven.

The Cybermen were great. I loved the sing-song voices(though it got old around Episode 4) and the fact that they weren't evil or computer-ish at all. They were just like us... just really, really logical. Best example: "If you wish to communicate with them(the astronauts), I have no objection." They were much like Data from Star Trek in the sense that they couldn't be annoyed or deterred in any way.

And finally, the regeneration scene itself. I loved the way the TARDIS operated by herself. Besides being a little creepy, it was actually heartwarming to see the old girl take care of the Doctor like that. Think of that sentence and watch that scene again, will you? The regeneration effect was brilliant(they could've toned down the light juuust a little, but it was brilliant). I am thoroughly satisfied.

NOTES

*Possibly the last Hartnell fluff: "Speak up, will you? I'm deaf."

*I usually don't mind the racism in early Who, but the Italian guy was really distracting.

*I don't know what's worse: the overacting of General Cutler or the blandness of Lieutenant Cutler.

*So this is the Base Under Siege, huh? I hope they're more engrossing and less focused on the guest stars.

*I liked that Ben didn't immediately heal from the fall.

*The theme song when the Cybermen first show up is really cool.

*Krang is the original Cyberleader: he comes back from the dead.

*The whole energy-sucking plan was awfully risky(and didn't pay off). What would the Cybermen have done if there was no Z-Bomb handy?

*How does the twin planet thing work?

*So a planet hit with a nuclear bomb can turn into a sun? You learn something new every day.

*This story draaaags a loooot.

CONCLUSION

Where the Cybermen and the regeneration are concerned, The Tenth Planet is nothing short of brilliant. The actual thing is better taken one episode at a time and with a friend. It's really technobabble-ish and not in the good "metaphasic shielding" kind of way
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