Planet of Giants [TV/1964.10.31 ~ 11.14]

★★★☆☆

  I have a huge soft spot for Planet of Giants. I grew up watching educational science television shows such as Bill Nye the Science Guy, Magic School Bus... not to mention I loved chapter books such as Andrew Lost, and similar educational pieces of fiction where the main characters are given first-hand looks at various scientific concepts. That nostalgia certainly comes into play whenever I play this Dr. Who adventure again. Fans of the film Honey, I Shrunk the Kids would find this serial to be similar territory, with our TARDIS crew shrunk down to the size of ants, and much like any other live-action work with an emphasis on small things suddenly becoming huge, the sets blow me away. There is such imagination and dedication to the set pieces here (the ant models, the seeds, pipettes and matches, kitchen sinkholes and telephones) that I can't help but have such fun. Despite the fact that one of the crew is taken ill in the narrative and another is taken ill in real life, the Doctor and co. seem to be having the time of their lives. As always, even the dullest moments are saved by the chemistry these four travellers share together. 

  Unpopular opinion incoming: I don't think the DN6 subplot (if it even is a subplot; it's technically the A-plot since everything revolves around its development and shady dealings in relation to its distribution) is dull at all. It's interesting enough for a three-parter, and the two baddie actors play their parts nicely. I am suddenly struck with the incredibly funny idea of an anniversary special down the line reintroducing British businessman Mark Forester out of the blue as the main antagonist... except DN6 is now deployed throughout the entire world killing millions! Yes, well, that would be a good laugh. I think Planet of Giants is a short and sweet experiment of a serial, proof that the William Hartnell era was one of the show's most ambitious and boundary-breaking eras of the show to this day.