The Ambassadors of Death review: The Most Grounded Doctor Who

[@stevenmcnicoll5060]

My all time favourite Pertwee story. A jewel in a terrific season.

[@MidnightChimey]

Great to see appreciation for this story and season 7

[@gladiator652004]

V. interesting points. Love the realism of how the monsters aren't English-speakers, and that their species is not specified. I was thinking of the similarity between the 3rd and 13th Doctors lately in that other characters don't challenge their monopoly of virtue. I heard Delia Derbyshire did the superb incidental music; the scene with the barrier and the low winter sun is one of my favourites in the show's history.

[@MidnightChimey]

Oh yes, some nice atmospheric cinematography there

[@chrise7359]

I believe it was Dudley Simpson who did the incidental music for this one (as with most 70s scores). There are lots of great stings that really enhance the dramatic scenes. I remember first watching this and feeling there was lots of experimentation going on in the show at this time. Some of the organ music annoyed me when I first watched it as it felt too 70s, but I've warmed to it now. Also, breaking the opening theme music, and introducing a crash zoom for the titles was great stuff, and my liking for the story has only improved over time, despite the incredible amount of padding and convoluted motivations of the guest cast. It's all performed so well and has a bit of a spooky atmosphere which I love. Music is collected together here: kzbin.info/www/bejne/Zn3ddGdtZ8ikfpI

[@MidnightChimey]

There's definitely a feeling of experimentation going on, with the show not yet quite finding its feet in the '70s, but some of it really works

[@dashtoroya2838]

I hope the ambassdor returns to modern who. But due to the introduction of vashta nerada many people will confuse the ambassdor for it

[@MidnightChimey]

I guess they have a similar kind of aesthetic now I think about it

[@thaddeusr.3967]

It is quite amazing that something made in the 70s could still be relevant today.

[@MidnightChimey]

Definitely the case with this one

[@ponchoman49]

Season 7 remains one of my all time favorite eras of Doctor Who. There is just something about these episodes that was never quite replicated again in the later Pertwee stories. There were minor flaws in each serial but the writing, the companion in Liz Shaw and the way Pertwee played the role so strong and action oriented are vastly better than what we have seen in the past 5-6 years. Can anyone imagine any other Doctor besides Pertwee that would have handled all the crap thrown his way with such a rock solid performance.

[@MidnightChimey]

It's impressive how Pertwee got right into the role, and agree that this season in particular is quite unique in tone and feel, it's more grounded (quite literally) with cooler, more formal relationships between the main leads, but still with moments of warmth, especially between Liz and the Doctor

[@stevenmcnicoll5060]

Saw it on a seriously wonky pirate copy on vhs in 1983 and it immediately knocked my socks off. It was head and shoulders above the dreadful current series we were enduring at the time under the ghastly JNT era. His remark “The memory cheats” when people suggested the show was much better before he got his hands on it was blown out of the water for me. Great stuff. And a great piece. Thank you.

[@MidnightChimey]

Thanks, yeah the JNT era does have its moments, but overall the '70s episodes are stronger I would say

[@peterdixon7734]

The Ambassadors of Death is magnificent, not least for the fact that, back in the day, a returning space capsule would be given an escort of a few coppers on mopeds.

[@MidnightChimey]

Got to give credit for the effort that went into that action scene though!

[@peterdixon7734]

@@MidnightChimey Indeed.

[@matthewbolitho-jones]

I like The Ambassadors of Seath

[@richardgreeter4918]

I liked ambassadors of death honestly I enjoyed seasons 7 and 8 as a whole those 2 seasons were really great in the 3rd doctor era really enjoyed those 2 seasons

[@MidnightChimey]

It's a great period in Doctor Who history

[@seanryan3020]

Best season for the best classic Doctor!

[@MidnightChimey]

It's probably the most consistently good season

[@oscarl.ramirez7355]

Plus she can run in those Thigh High Boots and not skip a Beat.

[@MidnightChimey]

That is true

[@wattsiswhat]

Saw it all for the first time and I feel it's incredible. Yes, the script has holes, but, overall, yes brilliant sci-fi espionage...better than many Bond films. Pertwee was an incredible Doctor.

[@MidnightChimey]

He's great, been revisiting this season just recently

[@wattsiswhat]

@@MidnightChimey Yeah with New Who sliding down bottom and producing total ish, it is a delight to have so many decades to go back on. It's my goal to watch all Pertwee up to Capaldi in order.

[@MidnightChimey]

@@wattsiswhat Nice, that will take quite a while I imagine

[@wattsiswhat]

@@MidnightChimey Yup, and I hope by the time I'm done that the wokeness will be fully shaken out of new Who and I can carry on as if Jodi Whitaker and all that has followed to the present is only a memory.

[@MidnightChimey]

@@wattsiswhat I am kind of curious what you mean by wokeness? I don't tend to use that word myself as I find it's usually just a vague dogwhistle term pushed by bigots

[@DaleRibbons]

My first Doctor Who story, so it holds a special sentimental place for me.

[@MidnightChimey]

Good story to start with

[@Gallifrey1991]

Classic story. Very good

[@MidnightChimey]

I agree

[@ShamrockParticle]

Yeah, it's 4 episodes too long and has dated by relying on too many contemporary elements (space travel is new, is (for 1970) very near-future, etc)... Nice Jodie reference. Her era is underrated, but not perfect. Is there a perfect era?

[@MidnightChimey]

Probably not, though season 7 came pretty close for me, but as I say a lot of that is personal taste