The Claws Of Axos (1971) Review

"What do you mean you threw the manual into a supernova?!?!"

The Claws Of Axos is the first time my opinion of a story has been completely turned around. It starts out awfully, with a slapdash direction and story and develops into a pretty fun and imaginative runaround.

PLOT

The wholly organic Axons offer the Earth a mineral ostensibly capable of anything. Before UNIT can blink an eye, however, the Axonite turns into a mass of organic matter and starts to destroy everything in sight. The Doctor makes a deal with the Master(who was held captive by the Axons) to repair his TARDIS and there's a chicken-leg eating, grandpa base commander on the loose!

Admittedly, it's still pretty nuts, but it's a lot of fun and the Axons really are ahead of their time. It still has a cheap feel to it in the end, but it actually manages to entertain very well. It's like the anti-Seeds Of Death, which was saved by great direction and acting alone.

CHARACTERS

I don't imagine I'll ever like Jon Pertwee's Third Doctor that much. His strong-willed, self-interested persona had as much to do with shaping the modern Doctor as Patrick Troughton did, but he's just not as memorable or enjoyable to watch. He just doesn't have that special something to make him stand out like many of the others do.

But despite this, he is a great actor and his interactions with the Master(hell yeah!) and the Brigadier are hilarious. I loved the way the two Time Lords worked together, as if it took little effort at all. There's a matter-of-fact , not really hateful relationship they have that I don't think ever reappeared in later Master stories.

And Roger Delgado is still a dictionary example of class.

I like Chinn. He's a stubborn old goat, the worst of his kind, but really, he's so pathetic he kind of earns my pity a little.

What was up with that tramp at the start?! What show did he think he was on?!

Bill Filer is pretty useless and has a dodgy American accent.

And Jo Grant is still the worst companion yet.

NOTES

*The TARDIS console room receives a very lukewarm reintroduction. I don't doubt it was still in the public consciousness, but it should've been a bigger event.

*Also, the new console room is plain bad. For one, the console looks much cheaper. For two, it's bizarrely tucked into a corner and the room itself has a very odd shape.

*I like the round scanner though. It looks more advanced than the little TV.

*Hey, the Master has a laser gun! Is that what gave him the screwdriver idea later on?

*I'm not really sure what the galactic yo-yo thing means... can he leave temporarily and then come back?

*Why did Jo think the Doctor would return in the end?

*I love the way the Master just sort of exits the plot in his TARDIS.

*The beautiful TARDIS hum is STILL there!! I totally expected it to be gone by now.

*Unfortunately, the door sound has been replaced by that other one used on the SIDRATs and the Drahvins ship and someplace else.

*Also, only one of the doors seem to work.

BEST LINE

"Just remember, it's your head on the block, not mine!"

CONCLUSION

Nothing great, but a fun diversion, Pertwee style.