Doctor Who - The Creature from the Pit Reviews

Rating		Votes
10	0%	0
9	3%	2
8	24%	15
7	14%	9
6	35%	22
5	14%	9
4	10%	6
3	0%	0
2	0%	0
1	0%	0
Average Rating 6.4
Votes 63

Synopsis

From: http://www.bbc.co.uk/doctorwho/classic/episodeguide

The Doctor and Romana receive a distress signal and arrive on Chloris, a lush and verdant world that has only small quantities of metals, all of which are controlled by its ruler, Lady Adrasta. Adrasta keeps order with the aid of her Huntsman and his wolfweeds - mobile balls of vegetation - while a band of scruffy thieves, led by Torvin, organize raids on her palace to steal whatever metal they can.

The Doctor identifies the distress signal's source as a large eggshell-like structure in the forest. He is taken prisoner by Adrasta's guards and, in order to escape, leaps into the Pit - the entrance to a cave system into which all those who incur Adrasta's wrath are consigned to be devoured by an immense green globular creature living within. The Doctor, with the aid of the elderly soothsayer Organon, discovers that the creature is not an unthinking killer but an ambassador from the planet Tythonus, which has a lack of chlorophyll but an abundance of metal.

The Tythonians had hoped to trade with Chloris, but the first person their ambassador Erato encountered on arriving in his eggshell-like ship was Adrasta, who took his communicator device and trapped him in the Pit so as to preserve her monopoly on metal. Erato retrieves his communicator and kills Adrasta.

He then warns the Doctor that the Tythonians have set a neutron star on a collision course with Chloris in retaliation for his imprisonment. With the Doctor's help he is freed from the Pit and, out in space, spins an aluminium shell around the star, allowing for it to be pulled off course by the TARDIS's gravitational tractor beam and thus saving Chloris.

Has Prerequisite Story

0 out of 12 (0.0%) raters say this story requires a previous story.

Extended Ratings

Plot

6.8

(17)

Acting

8.0

(16)

Effects

6.3

(17)

Replay

6.7

(17)

4th Doctor

K-9 Mark II

Romana II

Lady Adrasta

Cast

The Doctor - Tom Baker

Romana - Lalla Ward

Voice of K9 - David Brierley

Adrasta - Myra Frances

Ainu - Tim Munro

Doran - Terry Walsh

Edu - Edward Kelsey

Guard - Phillip Denyer

Guard - Dave Redgrave

Guardmaster - Tommy Wright

Huntsman - David Telfer

Karela - Eileen Way

Organon - Geoffrey Bayldon

Tollund - Morris Barry

Torvin - John Bryans

Director:

Christopher Barry

Writer:

David Fisher

Reviews

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Doctor Who

Classic TV Series

The Creature from the Pit

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Reviewed By: adamelijahReview Date: 6/25/18 5:46 am

0 out of 0 found this review helpful.

The effects have problems and there are some scientifically dubious ideas in this story. Nevertheless, it's incredibly enjoyable. Tom Baker and Lalla Ward's performances make this story a delight. The Doctor treats the events with just the right mix of seriousness and silliness to make for good television. Geoffrey Bayldon has a nice guest appearance. Not great, but a fun watch.

Doctor Who

Classic TV Series

The Creature from the Pit

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Reviewed By: Lord NiiiimonReview Date: 1/27/18 10:16 am

0 out of 1 found this review helpful.

A cocking good story.

Doctor Who

Classic TV Series

The Creature from the Pit

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Unsure

Reviewed By: TCar96Review Date: 8/30/16 9:05 pm

1 out of 1 found this review helpful.

One where my opinion seems to diverge from general Doctor Who fan orthodoxy - sure, Erato has a phallic fopar but that aside Creature From the Pit is funny, witty and packed with Adamsian charm.

From the matriachal organs of power to the bizarrely democratic boorish metalhunters, astrologers and emasculated serfs, there's quirky characters abound played for laughs. A solid mystery eased out throughout all four parts intrigues and keeps viewers guessing, whilst varied plot elements (horror, mystery, high scifi) wrestle without once diminishing the playful tone.

In terms of the aesthetics, whilst Erato certainly is laugh, the large scale CSO shots impress and episode one in particular has some stunning film work. Everything in the jungle is shot in gorgeous film, richly lighted and with the camera free to be far more creative than usual. There's some great camera work and direction throughout with some seriously good lighting, even in some video segments - no mean feat.

Creature from the Pit for me at least feels tongue in cheek. This isn't a morbid idea gutted and done on the cheap, a-la early Williams (tail end of Series 15 in particular!), its a purposefully crafted romp and a really fun time. Give this one a reappraisal, I for one love it!

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