This month Andy and Alex tackle the former's 'birth story' The Sea Devils. As usual, the pair find much to enjoy here but have lots of questions too...
How can one take a motorbike or walk ten miles over open country between an island and the mainland?
What are the ingredients of kai?
Is is easy to drive a hovercraft without any training?
and
What is in Jo's aubergine handbag?
They both struggle with Pertwee at his most pompous, and how here the Doctor is not so very different from the stories other privileged establishment white male characters: Trenchard and Walker. They are also disappointed that more is not made of the obvious parallels with colonialism and the eradication of indigenous people. However, they both 'love a Sea Devil' and appreciate Jo when she gets the chance to be intrepid, even if her cream outfit must have been a nightmare for the continuity people.
All this and 'sexing a Sea Devil', capes to wear 'about town', and a detailed analysis of 'Sandwich-Gate'.
The episode is peppered with reflections from director Michael E. Briant whose autobiography Andy edited and published back in the day and is still available from Amazon: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Who-Michael-Briant-Memoir-Director/dp/0956100066/
Next Time: The Five Doctors
view more