Josh: Doctor Who Classic: Colony in Space

Jo takes her first trip in the TARDIS

Doctor Who - Season 8, Story Four - Colony in Space
Written between 6th and 7th May 2012
"I did a course in escapology...once."


Colony in Space is significant concerning Classic Who's history. It sees the first off-Earth colour narrative with a newly updated TARDIS interior and companion Jo Grant's first trip within it, the first of any companion to travel in it since Season Six's 'War Games'. Michael Briant makes his directorial debut for Who, soon going onto direct popular serials such as; 'The Robots of Death' and 'The Sea Devils'. The science fictional comment in the script by Malcolm Hulke is based on relations between European Settlers and Native Americans. Now let's explore this six part serial;
     The Master has stolen the Time Lord's secret file on the Doomsday Weapon so fix the Doctor's TARDIS so he and Jo materialise on planet Uxarieus in 2472. An excited Doctor free from exile and scared Jo off-world for the first time meet Ashe, the leader of a human colony who are struggling to survive. They have an uneasy truce with the Uxarien primitives, their crops are failing without reason and members are being killed by 'monsters'. They also fear losing their colony in favour of the Interplanetary Mining Corporation who want rid of the colonists so they can take the planet's rich source of duralinium. The humans not wanting to return to their repressive, polluted Earth object to IMC's wish for the much-needed mineral for profit. As Captain Dent from IMC calls for the Adjudicator to make a decision on who has rights to the planet, a man called Norton arrives claiming to be the last survivor of another colony attacked by the same monsters that are killing colony members. The Doctor investigates to find the monsters are actually holographic images produced by an IMC machine and the killings are a result of one of their employees. Norton's revealed to be an IMC agent who kills the colonist's chief scientists and vandalises their power supply as Dent tries to get the Colonists to evacuate.

Before Corrie, Helen Worth could act, and very well!

     As the IMC and the colony engage in armed hostility the Adjudicator, who's really the Master with falsified credentials, arrives secretly in search of the Doomsday Weapon. When Jo is taken hostage by the Primitives, the Doctor discovers the Guardian and the last of the ancient Uxariens. The Doctor, as long as he and Jo do not return to the Primitive city, manages to escape being executed. The Master rules in favour of the IMC which sees Dent threaten Ashe with execution for the colony's crimes unless they all leave. With no other choice, the colonists must leave in their spaceship whose conditions are so poor it explodes in flight before Jo and Caldwell, an IMC employee helping out the colony. Jo is then locked in a chamber in the Master's TARDIS and the Master threatens her death by gas if the Doctor doesn't help him find the Doomsday Weapon. So, the Doctor and the Master go to the Primitive city and in the Guardian's chambers find the Doomsday Weapon. The weapon can turn any sun supernova, and the Master wants universal control and offers the Doctor a partnership but he declines. The Doctor convinces the Guardian the weapon caused the fall of the Uxarien civilisation from greatly scientific to primitively religious. The Guardian lets the Doctor destroy him, the weapon and the city. Jo has been set free by Caldwell and the Master escapes in his TARDIS. Thanks to Ashe flying the ship alone, all of the colonists escaped and overpower the IMC. Confident the real Adjudicator will rule in their favour and the fact the radiation from the weapon caused their crop failure, the colony's future is now secure. The Doctor and Jo return to UNIT seconds after they left unbeknown to the Brigadier
     Colony in Space is one of season eight's more mixed serials. Whereas the previous three stories had the ability to be judged either as good or bad, Colony has some excellent moments balanced by scenes where I sat back thinking; 'Oh no...'. Colony is very clever and grapples with a challenging basis for a storyline excellently. The present day finds the concept of colonisation popular amongst scientists, to be seen as an option of what to do when things go wrong in the future. Though this serial was released in 1971, the script clearly identifies the possible problems humanity could face in the future. This is why I like Colony, because it delivers a brilliant exploration into the human agenda, how normal civilians behave when found in situations that cannot possibly control. Malcolm Hulke's script addresses an everyday, serious issue, merging the fiction of Doctor Who with what's going on in the real world. Colony's exposition of human nature is really what makes it satisfying to watch. Though, I can admit the usage of one of Classic Who's many quarries works well as the backdrop for this more, gloomy serial. Colony's adventurous attempts in CGI are very, well done for the time and because we're on another planet for the first time everything becomes very much more visually interesting.

The Guardian...the only Uxarien to speak...in a silly voice...

     So, though the aesthetics and examination of human nature makes Colony stand out from the previous three stories in this season there are several times where everything isn't going Who's way. Again, we were exposed to multiple use of Three's martial art skills. Yes, this can be acceptable when the character genuinely needs to escape a dangerous situation but several occurrences in this serial saw Pertwee's Doctor use of violence unnecessary on various occasions. His Doctor's violent attitudes to innocent Primitives and people damns his flamboyant image. Along with this, there seems to be a development of recurring ideas within this season. Each serial has seen a senseless array of gun-fights and takeovers from two forces alternately. After such an outstanding ending to season seven and the fantastically characterised introduction of the Time Lord villain the Master, season eight is letting itself down in this area. I'm become a little down-hearted that these stories are becoming to similar to one another and need more differentiation. With repeated storyline ideas all crammed into the same season, serial after serial, Season Eight becomes a little tiresome.
     Though I fully understand the integration of the character is essential, the Master's appearance for the fourth time in a row is becoming too predictable. His motive is usually the same and the coincidence of him and the Doctor meeting regularly is becoming most unlikely. Still, Roger Delgado's Master is great to watch. If there wasn't as many ridiculous moments such as Jo's claim to of done a course in escapology when she's tied up or the portrayal of the Guardian, then Colony could a much more enjoyable serial. I put off watching this for a while and there was a reason why. Colony isn't the most entertaining of Classic Who spectacles but it can be enjoyed in the sense that it's Pertwee's first off-world adventure. Not a very well executed but still a well-performed, gritty serial that leaves the Master available to reappear for the season's finale!

Thanks, Josh.