Grand Who Review: Warriors of the Deep
Title: Warriors of the Deep (by Johnny Byrne, 1984)
What is it? It’s episode 1 of series 21.
Before this it is advisable to have seen: Doctor Who & the Silurians, The Sea Devils
Doctor: Fifth
Companions: Tegan, Turlough
—-
The plot: 7.5/10. An entertaining romp, with good ol’-fashioned laser effects and 80s monster suits galore. Not very taxing for the brain, but sometimes that’s what I like in my sci-fi! Also a quite considerable amount of Tegan-kidnapping or -threatening, from doors to sea captains, but she does some fairly badass stuff also so it’s forgiveable.
The ~feelings: 7/10. The cliffhangers aren’t bad. If it weren’t blatantly obvious that they’re not going to kill off the main characters in the middle of a season (except for, you know, the times when that does happen now and then) they might even be worrying! Also the fourth episode is very emotion-packed for something pre-2005 - all the moral agonising one might expect with a Silurian-based plot. Except for Turlough, who’s a sourpuss throughout.
Anything else to add?
I do wish the female companions of the past had chosen to wear slightly more sensible shoes / outfits, Tegan goes clattering about the corridors with her shirt floppin’ off her shoulders in a manner not at all suitable for dangerous time/space travel! Why does no one ever think to just put on a pair of tracksuit bottoms and trainers?
But much more importantly - so many Peter Davison puppyfaces. I mean, really, there’s an incredible amount. Truly. Basically the entire fourth episode consists of Peter Davison puppyfaces. And… Okay let’s be honest, I’m sayin’ Peter Davison’s face is a lovely face, and the point I’m making is that it’s particularly lovely during this serial and I’m allowed to think these things because I’m 20, all right, it’s one of the privileges of adulthood
This is ranked as a Who Winner - the best of the best, yo
