Terror of the Autons
"Terror of the Autons" is a four-part serial of the British science fiction television series Doctor Who, serving as the first story of its eighth season and originally broadcast weekly on BBC One from 2 to 23 January 1971.[1] Written by Robert Holmes, directed and produced by Barry Letts, and scripted under the supervision of Terrance Dicks, the serial stars Jon Pertwee as the Third Doctor, alongside Nicholas Courtney as Brigadier Lethbridge-Stewart.[2] It marks the debut of Roger Delgado as the Master, a renegade Time Lord and the Doctor's arch-enemy, who allies with the extraterrestrial Nestene Consciousness to facilitate an invasion of Earth via autonomous plastic replicas known as Autons and weaponized everyday objects like daffodils.[3] The narrative also introduces companion Jo Grant, played by Katy Manning, and UNIT captain Mike Yates, portrayed by Richard Franklin, expanding the Earthbound format established in prior seasons.[4] The story's production emphasized practical effects for the Autons' lifelike yet menacing plasticity, including scenes of animated mannequins and suffocating films, which contributed to its reputation for atmospheric tension amid criticisms of violence toward younger viewers.[1] Holmes's script reintroduced the Nestene threat from the 1968 serial Spearhead from Space, but innovated with the Master's manipulative presence, establishing him as a charismatic foil whose hypnotic abilities and strategic deceptions drive the plot's interpersonal conflicts.[3] Key sequences, such as the distribution of lethal daffodils at a public event and a factory takeover for Auton production, highlight themes of technological infiltration and vulnerability to synthetic lifeforms, reflecting 1970s anxieties over automation and environmental pollution.[5] Despite routine wiping of master tapes in the early 1970s—a standard BBC practice at the time—surviving copies were recovered, enabling commercial releases and enduring fan appreciation for its role in serializing the Master-Doctor rivalry.[6]Synopsis
Plot Summary
The Third Doctor, exiled to Earth and working with UNIT, investigates the theft of a Nestene energy unit and the sabotage of a radio telescope in episode one. Accompanied by his new assistant Jo Grant, he encounters the Master, a renegade Time Lord who has allied with the Nestene Consciousness to invade Earth using animated plastic Autons. The Master hypnotizes a local circus owner and sets a trap at the telescope site, but the Doctor receives a warning from a Time Lord about his old enemy's presence.[7] In subsequent episodes, the Master establishes control over a nearby plastics factory, producing lethal plastic devices including a strangling chair, a murderous doll, and hypnotic daffodils designed to asphyxiate victims via a radio signal. The Doctor and UNIT personnel, including Brigadier Lethbridge-Stewart, Captain Yates, and Sergeant Benton, uncover the factory's role in manufacturing Auton duplicates and confront attacks by the plastic creatures. Jo Grant falls under hypnotic influence and faces peril from the weapons, while the Master advances his plan to facilitate the Nestene landing through the radio telescope.[7] The climax unfolds as the Doctor disrupts the Master's scheme by reversing the Nestene activation signal at the telescope, repelling the invasion force and destroying the energy unit. The Master escapes capture but abandons his dematerialization circuit, stranding himself temporarily on Earth without the Doctor's assistance to retrieve it. The serial concludes with the Auton threat neutralized and the Doctor reflecting on the ongoing rivalry with his adversary.[7]Production
Development and Writing
Robert Holmes was commissioned to write the season opener on April 28, 1970, under the working title The Spray of Death, with full scripts delivered by June 12, 1970.[8] Holmes, who had previously introduced the Autons in Spearhead from Space the prior season, expressed reluctance at reusing the monsters but proceeded at the request of script editor Terrance Dicks.[8] The storyline focused on the Autons' return, orchestrated by a new Time Lord antagonist conceived by producer Barry Letts and Dicks as a Moriarty-like recurring foe to provide ongoing opposition rivaling the Daleks in the Earthbound Third Doctor era.[8] Significant revisions were necessitated by actress Caroline John's pregnancy, which led to the departure of companion Liz Shaw and the script's adaptation to introduce new UNIT personnel: Jo Grant as the Doctor's assistant and Captain Mike Yates as a junior officer, serving in part as a romantic interest for Jo.[9][8] Dicks contributed key additions, including Jo's discovery of the radio telescope factory and the bomb trap sequence, while altering technical details such as changing the bomb's trigger mechanism from a temperature sensor to a radio broadcast signal for dramatic effect.[8] Further modifications included depicting the Nestene Consciousness in an energy form during the finale, substituting a hypnotized human (Farrell) for an Auton as the Master's decoy, and excising the Doctor's vow to destroy the Master to preserve future narrative flexibility.[8] The title was ultimately changed from The Spray of Death to Terror of the Autons to better reflect the story's emphasis on the Auton threat, as the lethal plastic daffodils—a central killing method—did not appear until later in the script, diminishing the original title's relevance.[8] These adjustments aligned the serial with the production team's goals for Season 8, which emphasized compact six-episode arcs (though this was four episodes) and heightened Earth-based intrigue following the exile narrative.[8]Casting
Jon Pertwee reprised his role as the Third Doctor, marking the character's second season as the lead in the series following his debut in Spearhead from Space in 1970.[4] Nicholas Courtney returned as Brigadier Alistair Gordon Lethbridge-Stewart, the commander of UNIT, providing continuity to the Earthbound military-focused narratives established in prior stories.[4] Katy Manning debuted as Jo Grant, the Doctor's new assistant and a civilian aide assigned to UNIT by the Brigadier, replacing Caroline John's Liz Shaw to introduce a more youthful and less scientifically oriented companion dynamic aimed at broadening appeal.[10] Richard Franklin also made his first appearance as Captain Mike Yates, a UNIT officer serving under the Brigadier, establishing him as a recurring supporting character in subsequent serials.) Manning's casting emphasized an effervescent personality to contrast the prior companion's austerity, aligning with producer Barry Letts' vision for lighter ensemble interactions.[10] The serial introduced the Master, the Doctor's Time Lord arch-enemy, portrayed by Roger Delgado; producer Barry Letts specifically selected Delgado for the role due to his established screen history of suave villainy, having previously attempted to cast him in Doctor Who without success.[11] The character was devised by Letts and script editor Terrance Dicks during a production hiatus in August 1970 to serve as a persistent antagonist.[12] Guest roles included Michael Collins as the Auton operative Rossini, a plastic duplicate controlled by the Nestene Consciousness, and Stephen Thorne as factory owner Rex Farrel, whose hypnotized compliance advanced the plot's industrial infiltration.[2]| Actor | Role |
|---|---|
| Jon Pertwee | Third Doctor |
| Katy Manning | Jo Grant |
| Nicholas Courtney | Brigadier Lethbridge-Stewart |
| Roger Delgado | The Master |
| Richard Franklin | Captain Mike Yates |
| Michael Collins | Rossini |
| Stephen Thorne | Rex Farrel |