Terror of the Autons

Jon Pertwee's first season as the Doctor was a gamble, but it paid off. The show's audience didn't balk at seeing the Doctor confined to his new position as UNIT's scientific advisor. But instead of resting on their laurels, the show's production team decided to make a few more changes. The Third Doctor's original companion, Liz Shaw, got the boot. In her place came the sunny Jo Grant. UNIT got expanded as well, with Capt. Yates joining the team. But the biggest addition to the series came in the form of a new adversary, the Master. Much like the Meddling Monk and the War Lord, the Master was another renegade Time Lord. The Master was the Doctor's intellectual equal, possibly even his superior. But while the Doctor continually used his intelligence and cunning to help people, the Master was always bent on conquest and destruction. The Master proved to be a popular character that would continue to pop up and oppose the Doctor throughout the classic series and into the revival series as well. Beyond the cast expansions, Terror of the Autons is notable for the controversy it generated surrounding the level of violence in the serial. While some others objected to the scenes where the Autons disguised themselves as police officers, commenting that it would undermine the audience's trust of authority. Not bad for a kid's show.

Rating: I like being childish%