Frontier in Space feels like a precursor to all the vaguely political space operas of the late 1970s and early '80s, in the best way possible. Embassies, diplomatic relations and news reports of xenophobic protests... it's a surprisingly sweet marriage of the Quatermass-esque grit and government charade of Season 7 and the adventure-oriented alien stories of Season 8 onwards, and Jon Pertwee and Katy Manning seem to relish in this very special serial.
It's no wonder that Pertwee loved the Draconians; they're a sympathetic and noble (if chauvinist/sexist) race of diplomats and scholars, thinking too highly of themselves to resort to backstabbing and spying and proving not to be averse to sound reason. Judging from how well-written the Draconians were, I wouldn't have been surprised if the humans were written as the obvious block-headed fools (and judging from the state of the world in 2022, I wouldn't have argued) — but lo and behold, Malcolm Hulke realises the value of showing how two opposing empires slander and threaten each other almost to the verge of war until evidence of a third party's machinations is revealed, leading them to settle their differences and re-establish a peaceful diplomatic relationship. I commend Hulke for this; Frontier in Space has a few action set pieces, sure, but for the most part the Doctor acts as a peacemaker, mediating between two giant factions. In the way a mediator, not a warrior, is presented as the hero and role model, Frontier in Space has aged like fine wine.
*:･ﾟ✧*:･ﾟ
If I were to write an essay about the phrase 'larger than the sum of its parts', the opening page would have a poster of Frontier in Space slap bang in the middle of it. The Doctor and Jo are moved from one prison cell to another for six entire episodes (it's actually pretty funny how accurate this description is), but I'll be damned if it isn't addictively entertaining. The Doctor is confident, Jo is smart and mentally strong enough to resist both the perception manipulator and Time Lord hypnosis, and Roger Delgado gives one last glorious performance as the Master. It's sad, watching Delgado bring the role to life with such relish and suave, obviously enjoying his time in the show tremendously as he playfully dupes the Doctor every step of the way. He was a class act, Delgado, and he was taken away from us too soon. Rest in peace, great one.
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