Close Menu
Doctor Who's Tragical History TourDoctor Who's Tragical History Tour
  • Nu-Who
    • Ncuti Gatwa
    • Jodie Whittaker
    • Peter Capaldi
    • Matt Smith
    • David Tennant
    • Christopher Eccleston
  • Tweeners
    • John Hurt
    • Paul McGann
    • The Master List
    • Regeneration X
    • The Mystery Guest
    • The Hand of Fear
  • Colo(u)r
    • Sylvester McCoy
    • Colin Baker
    • Peter Davison
    • Tom Baker
    • Jon Pertwee
  • Monochrome
    • Patrick Troughton
    • William Hartnell
  • Tour du Jour
    • On This Day in Doctor Who History
    • The House of Holmes
    • 60 for 60
    • 50 for 50
    • The Randomizer
    • THT Rand-o-pix of the Day
    • The Feast of Steven
    • Tour Notz
    • The Watcher
    • Contact the Tour
X (Twitter) Instagram Tumblr RSS
Doctor Who's Tragical History TourDoctor Who's Tragical History Tour
X (Twitter) Instagram Tumblr RSS
  • Nu-Who
    1. Ncuti Gatwa
    2. Jodie Whittaker
    3. Peter Capaldi
    4. Matt Smith
    5. David Tennant
    6. Christopher Eccleston
    7. View All

    The Demon Barber of Story Beats

    May 12, 2025

    The Sunday Stratagem

    May 4, 2025

    Five Regenerations Past Midnight

    April 27, 2025

    RTD Has His JN-T Moment

    April 20, 2025

    60 for 60 — The Greatest Stories in Doctor Who History — (24→19)

    November 10, 2023

    Who Told You There Wouldn’t Be Any Math?

    December 5, 2022

    B-Bye Bradley

    October 6, 2022

    Svelte 16

    May 8, 2022

    2024Kristmas #4 – Twice Upon the First

    December 21, 2024

    60 for 60 — The Greatest Stories in Doctor Who History — (18→13)

    November 13, 2023

    60 for 60 — The Greatest Stories in Doctor Who History — (36→31)

    October 12, 2023

    60 for 60 — The Greatest Stories in Doctor Who History — (42→37)

    October 5, 2023

    60 for 60 — The Greatest Stories in Doctor Who History — (12→7)

    November 17, 2023

    60 for 60 — The Greatest Stories in Doctor Who History — (24→19)

    November 10, 2023

    60 for 60 — The Greatest Stories in Doctor Who History — (30→25)

    October 28, 2023

    60 for 60 — The Greatest Stories in Doctor Who History — (48→43)

    September 28, 2023

    2024Kristmas #3 – The Man With All The Toys

    December 16, 2024

    2024Kristmas #2 – It’ll Be a Wild Blue Christmas

    December 10, 2024

    2024Kristmas #1 – Seasons Beastings

    December 3, 2024

    Pre-Embering the Fireplace

    May 5, 2024

    60 for 60 — The Greatest Stories in Doctor Who History — (24→19)

    November 10, 2023

    60 for 60 — The Greatest Stories in Doctor Who History — (42→37)

    October 5, 2023

    The Dark Jacket Dimension

    November 13, 2021

    The (W)hole Ruth

    January 31, 2020

    The Demon Barber of Story Beats

    May 12, 2025

    The Bearable Light-ness of Doctoring

    May 10, 2025

    The Sunday Stratagem

    May 4, 2025

    Five Regenerations Past Midnight

    April 27, 2025
  • Tweeners
    1. John Hurt
    2. Paul McGann
    3. The Master List
    4. Regeneration X
    5. The Mystery Guest
    6. The Hand of Fear
    7. View All

    Hurt So Good: A Doctor and His Umbrella

    April 27, 2023

    Who Told You There Wouldn’t Be Any Math?

    December 5, 2022

    Svelte 16

    May 8, 2022

    Ten’ll Get You Five

    September 4, 2020

    Double Doctor Dastardly Danger

    April 25, 2024

    60 for 60 — The Greatest Stories in Doctor Who History — (60→55)

    September 15, 2023

    McGann Before McGann

    May 26, 2023

    … And All That Yaz

    November 16, 2022

    The Demon Barber of Story Beats

    May 12, 2025

    The Bearable Light-ness of Doctoring

    May 10, 2025

    The Sunday Stratagem

    May 4, 2025

    Five Regenerations Past Midnight

    April 27, 2025

    Ghost Re-Write

    November 16, 2021

    The (W)hole Ruth

    January 31, 2020

    Dup-topia

    January 29, 2020

    The Glue Guy

    June 24, 2018

    Doctor on Doctor ACTION!

    November 19, 2017

    The Wheel in Cheese

    August 10, 2014

    The Hurt Locker

    May 25, 2013

    The Demon Barber of Story Beats

    May 12, 2025

    The Bearable Light-ness of Doctoring

    May 10, 2025

    The Sunday Stratagem

    May 4, 2025

    Five Regenerations Past Midnight

    April 27, 2025

    The Demon Barber of Story Beats

    May 12, 2025

    The Bearable Light-ness of Doctoring

    May 10, 2025

    The Sunday Stratagem

    May 4, 2025

    Five Regenerations Past Midnight

    April 27, 2025
  • Colo(u)r
    1. Sylvester McCoy
    2. Colin Baker
    3. Peter Davison
    4. Tom Baker
    5. Jon Pertwee
    6. View All

    60 for 60 — The Greatest Stories in Doctor Who History — (36→31)

    October 12, 2023

    A Studio Film (or rather a film in the studio)

    June 9, 2023

    … And All That Yaz

    November 16, 2022

    Fivey at Forty: The First Companion Death of 1982

    March 16, 2022

    Sweet, not Effete

    April 5, 2025

    Arguably Arguable

    August 19, 2024

    60 for 60 — The Greatest Stories in Doctor Who History — (48→43)

    September 28, 2023

    60 for 60 — The Greatest Stories in Doctor Who History — (60→55)

    September 15, 2023

    The End of Enlightenment

    January 13, 2025

    What’s in a Number? Occasionally Everything

    November 23, 2024

    A Spot of Gray in a Sea of Color

    November 19, 2024

    ⅔ of a Magic Number, but None Too Shabby Either

    October 1, 2024

    The Truth That Supports the Lie

    March 15, 2025

    The Golden Sweep of Tom Baker Begins

    December 28, 2024

    Déjà Who, All Over Again

    February 8, 2024

    XCited for Tom

    January 27, 2024

    Living Day-to-Day with The Candy Man

    July 31, 2024

    60 for 60 — The Greatest Stories in Doctor Who History — (6→1)

    November 23, 2023

    60 for 60 — The Greatest Stories in Doctor Who History — (30→25)

    October 28, 2023

    60 for 60 — The Greatest Stories in Doctor Who History — (48→43)

    September 28, 2023

    The Demon Barber of Story Beats

    May 12, 2025

    The Bearable Light-ness of Doctoring

    May 10, 2025

    The Sunday Stratagem

    May 4, 2025

    Five Regenerations Past Midnight

    April 27, 2025
  • Monochrome
    1. Patrick Troughton
    2. William Hartnell
    3. View All

    Stock(s) Company

    September 9, 2024

    60 for 60 — The Greatest Stories in Doctor Who History — (18→13)

    November 13, 2023

    60 for 60 — The Greatest Stories in Doctor Who History — (24→19)

    November 10, 2023

    60 for 60 — The Greatest Stories in Doctor Who History — (36→31)

    October 12, 2023

    The TARDIS whirled on it’s way again…

    December 24, 2024

    Have a Feast @ Doctor Who’s Tragical History Tour!

    December 6, 2024

    Quarter Zip

    July 21, 2024

    Roll Without the Rock, or the Schlock

    July 15, 2024

    The Demon Barber of Story Beats

    May 12, 2025

    The Bearable Light-ness of Doctoring

    May 10, 2025

    The Sunday Stratagem

    May 4, 2025

    Five Regenerations Past Midnight

    April 27, 2025
  • Tour du Jour
    • On This Day in Doctor Who History
    • The House of Holmes
    • 60 for 60
    • 50 for 50
    • The Randomizer
    • THT Rand-o-pix of the Day
    • The Feast of Steven
    • Tour Notz
    • The Watcher
    • Contact the Tour
Doctor Who's Tragical History TourDoctor Who's Tragical History Tour
Tour Updates Classic Capitology Tom Baker Jon Pertwee

Not Itsy, Not Bitsy

By -- DSWAugust 3, 201303 Mins Read
Share
Twitter Tumblr

In an odd bit of serendipity, the Classic Capitology minions have capped a regeneration story just in time for this regeneration ‘announcement’ weekend with the Tour’s cap addition of Planet of the Spiders.

Pertwee’s swan song was typical of his era in way that Logopolis and The Caves of Androzani weren’t, and also was typical of six-part stories during the 70’s in that they almost were always (about two episodes) too long.  When the distinguishing memory taken from the story is that of an almost episode-long chase sequence (the second episode for those unfamiliar) which itself was done as a concession to Pertwee’s love of gadgetry and various modes of ‘exotic’ transport, then you know there are problems with the storytelling.

Having said that, there are a number of nice moments within the story.  It’s the most subtle appearance of another Time Lord in series history with the combination of K’Anpo/Cho-Je but also quite important for those viewers at the time who had forgotten about the regeneration process (after all Pertwee had been there five years and an on-screen regeneration hadn’t occurred in eight).  When that happens in the last episode ahead of Pertwee’s own, it prepares the viewer for what is to come.  In this way it was Logopolis before Logopolis.   Planet of the Spiders also turned left well before Turn Left with the spider on the back, but here it is merely a representation of possession.

Anyone who’s a fan of CSO will be very happy with Planet of the Spiders.  Almost all of Metebelis 3 (properly pronounced here as opposed to recent references in Hide) is a CSO festival, complete with halo, fringe effects for Pertwee, Sladen, et. al., but this is the way things were done back in 1974, and would remain a staple of Doctor Who for quite some time to come

In watching Planet of the Spiders you definitely get the feeling (almost guiltily) that it was time for Pertwee to go. Much like the tiredness that had crept into Troughton last season, there’s a general sense of ennui to Season 11 that only a regeneration would cure (in hindsight).  Ironically Pertwee was keen to continue for a sixth season, but the BBC disagreed, at least at his asking price.  It’s certainly impossible to think of Genesis of the Daleks with Pertwee holding the wires of Dalek Doom.

The new caps for Planet of the Spiders are almost an entirely pure add for the Tour.  I wonder where Classic Capitology will wander off to next?

Short Hops:

Resistance is Feudal The Un-Birdable Lightness of Benton Tenth to the Power of One
Planet of the Spiders Hide Classic Capitology Turn Left Tour Updates Tom Baker Jon Pertwee 1974 Elizabeth Sladen The Caves of Androzani Logopolis Genesis of the Daleks regeneration
Share. Twitter Tumblr
Previous Article(Colin) Baker’s Dozen
Next Article The Twelfth of Everywhere
‘The Interstellar Song Contest’ begins in …
0
Years
:
0
Months
:
0
Days
:
0
Hrs
:
0
Mins
:
0
Secs
THT Rand-o-Pix of the Day
THT Rand-o-Pix of the Day THT Rand-o-Pix of the Day
Gallery Gateway

Tom Baker

The Master List

Christopher Eccleston

Jodie Whittaker

William Hartnell

Sylvester McCoy

Jon Pertwee

Peter Davison

Matt Smith

Jo Martin

Paul McGann

Richard E Grant

Peter Capaldi

Colin Baker

David Tennant

Ncuti Gatwa

Patrick Troughton

John Hurt

THT on Instagram
THT Rand-o-Pix of the Day THT Rand-o-Pix of the Day
THT Rand-o-Pix of the Day THT Rand-o-Pix of the Day
THT Rand-o-Pix of the Day THT Rand-o-Pix of the Day
THT Rand-o-Pix of the Day THT Rand-o-Pix of the Day
THT Rand-o-Pix of the Day THT Rand-o-Pix of the Day
THT Rand-o-Pix of the Day THT Rand-o-Pix of the Day
THT Rand-o-Pix of the Day THT Rand-o-Pix of the Day
THT Rand-o-Pix of the Day THT Rand-o-Pix of the Day
THT Rand-o-Pix of the Day THT Rand-o-Pix of the Day
THT Rand-o-Pix of the Day THT Rand-o-Pix of the Day
Series 15 Dynamic Ratings Table
  1. 1. The Story & The Engine
  2. 2. The Well
  3. 3. Lucky Day
  4. 4. The Robot Revolution
  5. 5. Joy to the World
  6. 6. Lux
On This Day in Doctor Who History

May 2025

Saturday May 17

1969: The War Games [5]
Recurs yearly
2008: The Unicorn and the Wasp
Recurs yearly
2025: The Interstellar Song Contest
Recurs yearly

Sunday May 18

1968: The Wheel in Space [4]
Recurs yearly
1974: Planet of the Spiders [3]
Recurs yearly
2013: The Name of the Doctor
Recurs yearly
2024: Boom
Recurs yearly

Monday May 19

1973: The Green Death [1]
Recurs yearly
2007: 42
Recurs yearly

Tuesday May 20

1967: The Evil of the Daleks [1]
Recurs yearly
1972: The Time Monster [1]
Recurs yearly
2006: The Age of Steel
Recurs yearly
2017: Extremis
Recurs yearly

Wednesday May 21

1966: The Gunfighters [4--The OK Corral]
Recurs yearly
2005: The Empty Child
Recurs yearly
Random Thoughts

Trailer Park Spark

By -- DSWMarch 22, 2024 Tour Updates 1 Min Read

Ga(t)wa the Tut-Tut-Tut

By -- DSWDecember 29, 2023 Tour Updates 3 Mins Read

Two … for the Show

By -- DSWFebruary 22, 2022 Roundel Roundabouts 2 Mins Read
X (Twitter) Instagram Tumblr RSS
Last Ten Updated Galleries
  1. ► The David Tennant Miscellany
  2. ► Meglos
  3. ► The Story and the Engine -- Screen Captures
  4. ► The Story and the Engine
  5. ► The Colin Baker Miscellany
  6. ► City of Death
  7. ► The Giggle
  8. ► Planet of Fire
  9. ► Lucky Day -- Screen Captures
  10. ► Lucky Day
Tour Categories
  • Tour Updates (484)
  • New Who for You (187)
  • Roundel Roundabouts (240)
  • Tangential Tardis (41)
  • HD Re-classic-ation (45)
  • Modern Recap-itulation (46)
  • Classic Capitology (101)
  • Who Not Who! (42)
  • Xmas Marks the Spot (86)
  • 60 for 60 (11)
  • 50 for 50 (58)
  • Off the Reservation (16)
  • Ncuti Gatwa (22)
  • Jodie Whittaker (46)
  • Peter Capaldi (91)
  • Matt Smith (121)
  • David Tennant (126)
  • Christopher Eccleston (38)
  • John Hurt (14)
  • Paul McGann (28)
  • Sylvester McCoy (40)
  • Colin Baker (40)
  • Peter Davison (71)
  • Tom Baker (107)
  • Jon Pertwee (67)
  • Patrick Troughton (68)
  • William Hartnell (88)
  • Richard E Grant (7)
  • Jo Martin (3)
  • Series 15 (5)
  • Series 14 (20)
  • Series 13 (16)
  • Series 12 (13)
  • Series 11 (9)
  • Series 10 (21)
  • Series 9 (17)
  • Series 8 (25)
  • Series 7 (17)
  • Series 6 (20)
  • Series 5 (14)
  • Series 4 (25)
  • Series 3 (9)
  • Series 2 (15)
  • Series 1 (19)

Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.