The Ambassadors of Death Episode 4

The one where the ambassadors start killing people...

Although Liz is now a prisoner of Reegan's at the secret laboratory, that doesn't mean she becomes compliant and fearful. Far from it, Liz gives as good as she gets and remains as defiant as ever. When Reegan tells her to "start making yourself useful", she spits: "What if I don't?", and later when she is manhandled by Masters (the second Masters in as many stories!) she struggles to free herself, and snarls: "Don't touch me!" A Doctor Who girl with a fighting spirit (perhaps the first?).

I love how dismissive the Doctor is of General Carrington and his wild theories. First he tries to convince the Brigadier and the Doctor that the radioactive astronauts have been abducted by foreign powers to use as weapons, then tries to back this up by saying that the men's bodies found at the gravel pit had newspaper cuttings on them written in a foreign language. His additional attempt to compound his xenophobic theory with the use of foreign hair combs is ludicrous, and the Doctor sees this too.

Pertwee approaches scenes like this with just the right amount of bemusement and suspicion. The Third Doctor has little respect for authority figures, and is almost amused by the lies and collusions such men display to hide their true actions. Remember his treatment of Dr Quinn in Doctor Who and the Silurians, and now both Carrington and Taltalian here. There's a ready distrust of politicians and people in positions of authority, and Pertwee handles these confrontations masterfully. The dismissiveness with which he treats Carrington, and then the uncompromising glare he gives Taltalian after he receives the phone call threatening Liz's life.

Actually, why is Taltalian back at work? The last we saw of him he was holding the Doctor, the Brigadier and Liz at gunpoint before escaping, so quite why he's accepted back at work after doing that is puzzling. He's a man not to be trusted, and whether he was acting under the orders of Carrington or not, he really ought not to be let back in to such a position of power.

Also, why is the Doctor seemingly so unbothered by Liz's abduction? He expresses only mild interest in her welfare, and when Reegan threatens to kill her unless he stops interfering, he simply continues with his "interfering" work. In previous episodes the Doctor has shown great concern for Liz (after being attacked by the Silurian, and held at gunpoint by Taltalian), but here he seems almost callous.

While there are some interesting developments in this episode, there are also moments which puzzle me, such as why Cornish would even entertain the idea of the Doctor - to all intents and purposes, a complete stranger of around 50 years old - piloting Recovery 7. And anyway, surely the Doctor hasn't got time to be piloting space shuttles if he's awaiting a very important shipment of scientific equipment all the way from Japan so that he can build the alien device? Plus, how can Taltalian be chatting to the Doctor at the space centre at the same time as Liz is escaping from the secret bunker, as well as be on his way to the bunker in order to apprehend her? The timing is all out!

Liz's escape from the bunker is mere padding (frustratingly so) but does afford some development between her and Lennox. Reegan also proves himself to be a cold customer when he rigs Taltalian's briefcase bomb to explode in his face (ta-ta Bruno), then starts using the alien communication device to direct astronaut "Van Lyden" to attack space control and Sir James Quinlan. The ambassadors are relentless, rather like Cybermen, and their silent, implacable approach is chilling (director Michael Ferguson uses a similar trick with sunlight on location as he did with the Ice Warrior in The Seeds of Death). The underlying radioactive fizzing sound they make is also quite disconcerting.

There's another solid cliffhanger as the Doctor is approached from behind by an ambassador of death, its radioactive gloved hand outstretched toward him as the sting comes in. It's obvious how this will be resolved, because we know the Brigadier is somewhere close behind, but it's an arresting image to be left with all the same.

First broadcast: April 11th, 1970

Steve's Scoreboard
The Good: Great cliffhanger!
The Bad: The return of Taltalian is unconvincing, and Liz's escape attempt is obvious (and frustrating) padding.
Overall score for episode: ★★★★★★★☆☆☆

"Now listen to me" tally: 3
Neck-rub tally: 0

NEXT TIME: Episode 5...

My reviews of this story's other episodes: Episode 1; Episode 2; Episode 3; Episode 5; Episode 6; Episode 7

Find out birth/death dates, career information, and facts and trivia about this story's cast and crew at the Doctor Who Cast & Crew site: http://doctorwhocastandcrew.blogspot.com/2014/04/the-ambassadors-of-death.html

The Ambassadors of Death is available on BBC DVD. Find it on Amazon - https://www.amazon.co.uk/Doctor-Who-Ambassadors-Death-DVD/dp/B008H2JK5Y.