DW STORY #69 – THE GREEN DEATH [THIRD DOCTOR]: The fifth and final story of the tenth season was a six-episode adventure broadcast over six Saturdays from May 19th to June 23rd, 1973. PLOT: The story starts with the Doctor and Jo Grant headed in separate directions – the Doctor heading off to the planet Metebelis Three and Jo heading to South Wales (to Llanfairfach) to meet a famous environmentalist: Professor Clifford Jones. U.N.I.T. is also sent to Llanfairfach because of a dead mining inspector that had emerged from a local mine glowing green. After the Doctor returns from Metebelis Three with a blue crystal (and with quite a few scars to show he earned it), he, too, heads to Wales. It turns out that a company there – Global Chemicals – is pumping toxic waste into empty mine shafts and the waste is causing fly larvae (maggots) to grow to a gigantic size. It is this same waste that killed the mining inspector. However, it also turns out that the head of Global Chemicals is just a puppet – he is working for a supercomputer housed at the company named BOSS (Biomorphic Organizational Systems Supervisor). The Doctor, working with U.N.I.T., Professor Jones, and Jo must find a way to kill the maggots, put an end to Global Chemicals, and stop BOSS. However, it is Jo who accidentally finds a way to kill the maggots. In the end, the Doctor and his allies succeed … but he loses Jo – she has fallen in love with Professor Jones and the two plan to marry. Despite being sad about it, the Doctor makes a good-faith gesture by giving Jo the blue crystal from Metebelis Three as a wedding gift. This is, in my opinion, easily the best story of the tenth season (and perhaps the best Third Doctor story overall). It is well-written, moves at a believable and engaging pace, deals with issues relevant to our modern world, and is, well, just enjoyable. Moreover, Jo Grant’s decision at the end is genuinely sad to watch – and very well-filmed. This is classic Doctor Who at its best. If you haven’t seen “The Green Death” yet – do so. COMPANIONS IN THIS STORY: Jo Grant (remains behind to get married) (also: Brigadier Lethbridge-Stewart, Captain Mike Yates, and Sergeant Benton) Up next: “The Time Warrior” … ~ CL
Posted on: Sun, 09 Jun 2013 22:10:33 +0000
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