Frontios [TV/1984.1.26 ~ 2.3]

★★★★☆

  Peter Davison is on fire here. If the Tractators, with their instantly recognisable design and moving appendages, aren't memorable enough for you, I bet my hat that you've more likely than not come out of Frontios with his incredible performance seared into your mind. It's no wonder Davison himself stated on multiple occasions that this is where he thought the writers got what he envisioned the Fifth Doctor should be... this is truly a seasoned wanderer, with a touch of mischief as he all but begs the inhabitants of Frontios not to tell anything to the Time Lords, who is often impatient, quick on his feet, and fiercely intelligent. 

  Frontios is one serial that truly feels like an end-of-the-world scenario. A colony is being bombarded by asteroids, a society is in ruins and civil unrest is at an all-time high, the TARDIS is utterly destroyed and at least one of the Doctor's two companions is becoming delirious. That last point is a huge boon in my eyes, since Mark Strickson (who has also been vocally supportive of this serial) gets a chance to really show his acting chops; look at Turlough as he breaks down completely as his race memory kicks in, it's haunting. Ron Jones directs these actors, including the wonderful Janet Fielding, with much gusto, and under his polish the serial feels incredibly tight and fast-paced. I have no idea what Davison is on about when he bemoans the pace of this thing, I've always felt it to be positively airtight in execution and presentation. I suppose the human drama of the majority of the first two episodes is eschewed in favour of some proper Dr. Who monster action for the latter half, but the Tractators are such fascinating villains that I don't really care. I absolutely adore Frontios, and I'll always revisit if I'm in the need for a fast-paced, doom-laden fix with the brains to complement it. Christopher H. Bidmead creates a vast, detailed world with complex conflicts and characters... how could you not love his writing?