UNIT:Assignment Earth
- Thread starter nezza
- Start date
Doctor Who: Re-Risen
2 x 45 Minute Episodes 7-14th September 1985
Brigadier Angela Reynolds: Judi Dench
Captain Mark Fisher: Paul McGann
Sgt James "Jock" Wallace: James Cosmo
Dr Rachel Jones: Carmen Munro
The Doctor (Brian Blessed) and Peri receive a message on the chrono-communicator from Earth, specifically from UNIT. They are invited to a 20 year reunion. Landing in the HQ grounds the Doctor is delighted to see Major-General Lethbridge Stewart and Professor Liz Shaw. Benton and Yates are sadly unavailable. Meeting up with the new UNIT command team the Doctor is amazed to see how much has changed. Not just in terms of staff but with weapons and Technology. Brigadier Reynolds tells the Doctor that UNIT has become both Earth and Space's first line of defence. The Doctor reflects on how much more danger there is now.
During the meeting Fisher is called away. When he returns he tells Reynolds that a UNIT away team has been found dead some 20 miles away near a cave complex. Reynolds leaves and asks Fisher to keep their guests company.
The Doctor is worried. When Peri asks what's wrong he simply says "They're back"
L-S and Liz come over after noticing the Doctor's mood. He looks at the group and says "Silurians". Both L-S and Liz are taken aback.
2 x 45 Minute Episodes 7-14th September 1985
Brigadier Angela Reynolds: Judi Dench
Captain Mark Fisher: Paul McGann
Sgt James "Jock" Wallace: James Cosmo
Dr Rachel Jones: Carmen Munro
The Doctor (Brian Blessed) and Peri receive a message on the chrono-communicator from Earth, specifically from UNIT. They are invited to a 20 year reunion. Landing in the HQ grounds the Doctor is delighted to see Major-General Lethbridge Stewart and Professor Liz Shaw. Benton and Yates are sadly unavailable. Meeting up with the new UNIT command team the Doctor is amazed to see how much has changed. Not just in terms of staff but with weapons and Technology. Brigadier Reynolds tells the Doctor that UNIT has become both Earth and Space's first line of defence. The Doctor reflects on how much more danger there is now.
During the meeting Fisher is called away. When he returns he tells Reynolds that a UNIT away team has been found dead some 20 miles away near a cave complex. Reynolds leaves and asks Fisher to keep their guests company.
The Doctor is worried. When Peri asks what's wrong he simply says "They're back"
L-S and Liz come over after noticing the Doctor's mood. He looks at the group and says "Silurians". Both L-S and Liz are taken aback.
I love the fact that Brian Blessed is the Doctor.
Who is the Producer on Doctor Who?
By the end of the 21th season, JNT choices as the show Producer were very bad.
The OTL 6th Doctor outfit was a perfect example. JNT like the multi Color Coat even though every one hated it.
I been trying to come up with a alternate choice for Producer after the 20th season. But I can not think of any one.
Who is the Producer on Doctor Who?
By the end of the 21th season, JNT choices as the show Producer were very bad.
The OTL 6th Doctor outfit was a perfect example. JNT like the multi Color Coat even though every one hated it.
I been trying to come up with a alternate choice for Producer after the 20th season. But I can not think of any one.
"Assignment Earth" made me think it was going to be something more like: the USS Enterprise travels back in time to 1968 where Kirk and Spock encounter a mysterious individual calling himself the "Seventh Doctor".
Since he's only armed with his sonic fountain-pen, he enlists their help and warns that a nuclear war will ensue if they don't.
Since he's only armed with his sonic fountain-pen, he enlists their help and warns that a nuclear war will ensue if they don't.
For the producer I've decided on Philip Hinchcliffe
Assignment Earth is pretty much a misnomer seeing as there's a moonbase in the new series.
The sixth docs costume:
There was Colonel Charles Crichton, who appeared in The Five Doctors (1983), as the UNIT-UK OC after Lethbridge-Stewart.
Indeed, Juliet Bravo started in 1980. And their were Corporals Caroline Bell and Maisie Hawke in Third Doctor era UNIT.
ETA: I'd forgotten about The Gentle Touch described as "The first British series to feature a female police detective as its leading character" and which not only preceded Juliet Bravo but was more popular.
Last edited:
Re-Risen Continued:
Reynolds and the team are outside the cave complex where the UNIT crew was found dead. Jones states that they were killed by an energy blast. Munroe and a small armed unit approach the opening.
Back at HQ The Doctor has told Peri about the Silurians and is concerned that if UNIT interferes then there could be bloodshed. L-S says he has an idea. Following him to a storage area The Doctor is astounded to see Bessie in mint condition. L-S said one of his last requests before he left UNIT was to keep her safe.
The Doctor, Peri, Liz and L-S drive towards the caves and park half a mile away from the UNIT team. Recalling his third incarnation the Doctor leads the team into the caves via another route.
Meanwhile UNIT start to recce the complex to find the Silurians. Fisher feels that the threat is viable and should be neutralised. Reynolds castigates him saying "that is what happened the last time"
Meanwhile The Doctor's team find a generator and 4 hibernation capsules. They are all open. Suddenly they are intercepted by a group of heavily armed Silurians….
Reynolds and the team are outside the cave complex where the UNIT crew was found dead. Jones states that they were killed by an energy blast. Munroe and a small armed unit approach the opening.
Back at HQ The Doctor has told Peri about the Silurians and is concerned that if UNIT interferes then there could be bloodshed. L-S says he has an idea. Following him to a storage area The Doctor is astounded to see Bessie in mint condition. L-S said one of his last requests before he left UNIT was to keep her safe.
The Doctor, Peri, Liz and L-S drive towards the caves and park half a mile away from the UNIT team. Recalling his third incarnation the Doctor leads the team into the caves via another route.
Meanwhile UNIT start to recce the complex to find the Silurians. Fisher feels that the threat is viable and should be neutralised. Reynolds castigates him saying "that is what happened the last time"
Meanwhile The Doctor's team find a generator and 4 hibernation capsules. They are all open. Suddenly they are intercepted by a group of heavily armed Silurians….
Interesting. There seem to be elements of Doomwatch and some of the darker classics of '80s UK series like Blood Money, Codename Icarus, Bird of Prey, The Mad Death, Edge of Darkness, The Day of the Triffids et cetera.
Exactly. I feel this is often forgotten in Who timelines.
Also there was more nuclear proliferation, actual orbital launches from the UK, at least one mission into 'deep space' around 1980, the WTC was built earlier1, the internet arrives earlier (C-Day in '66). Other novels (The Devil Goblins from Neptune and Who Killed Kennedy?) have the UK governed by a Liberal PM in the early seventies leading a parliamentary coalition.
It's also possible that the OTL Third Agricultural Revolution either didn't happen at all or was less effective, given the vast interest in the earlier stories in alternate food production.
1. An obscure factoid from the novel Salvation that may be canon. Or not.
For the record Roy Castle did present one edition of The Generation Game in the 1970's when Bruce Forsyth was ill.
I was aware of that, he was never asked back...
So was Record Breakers dropped?
God knows why because it was awful. I've always thought that Juliet Bravo was the more influential, as it featured a woman as boss.
Brian Blessed should always be written as BRIAN BLESSED! Also a character called Gordon is needed.
another option would be Paul Darrow (Avon from Blake's7)
one moment had he not ? yes !
from Doctor Who and the Silurians (Captain Sam Hawkins)
Last edited:
I thought the Federation killed him on Gauda Prime?another option would be Paul Darrow (Avon from Blake's7)
one moment had he not ? yes
from Doctor Who and the Silurians (Captain Sam Hawkins)
Re-Risen (Conclusion)
Reynolds receives a message saying that Bessie has been located half a mile from their position. She tenses up. The Doctor's party are being interrogated by the Silurians. One of them recognises Liz from their encounter in 1970. (*) He then realises that the team with the exception of Peri was those responsible for their re-interment. The order come through for their execution.
UNIT have entered the opening near Bessie and have started to track down the Doctor's team. Fisher is still concerned about the threat to Earth but Reynolds once again lectures him.
Meanwhile the Doctor is trying to persuade the Silurians that they are no threat. The lead Silurian says that their legacy as masters of Earth was destroyed by the humans. He intends to have the team executed. L-S states that he was the individual responsible for sealing the cave in 1970. He was ordered to do so and has regretted it since. If the Silurians wish to avenge themselves that he will put his life on the line so the rest can go free.
The lead Silurian scoffs at this saying that L-S is trying to warn the humans by allowing the others to reinter them. The Silurians aim their weapons and prepare to fire. At that moment the UNIT team enter the chamber. The Doctor and L-S plea with both sides to lower their weapons.
Reynolds puts her revolver on the floor, walks over to the Silurians and makes a statement that shocks all. It turns out that the cave complex had been secretly monitored since 1970 and have been aware that the Silurians have awoken. The away team was sent by Reynolds under the highest secrecy to see if they had left the complex. Her orders were to ensure that the Silurians were kept safe.
Under other circumstances she would have ensured her orders were kept secret, however she felt it was necessary to inform UNIT, particularly after Fisher's constant interjections to reveal the truth.
The Doctor tells the Silurians that the humans are honourable people and are not afraid to admit when they were wrong. The Silurians lower their weapons. An offer is made to help the Silurians but they tell the Humans that they are still an immature race. The Doctor suggests that the Silurians are re-frozen and their stasis chambers programmed to open in 10,000 years. By that time the humans will have progressed....hopefully.
The chambers resealed. Everyone returns to UNIT HQ. Farewells are made and the Doctor and Peri leave. As the TARDIS dematerialises. Reynolds is called to the command centre where a message is being received. She picks up a phone and simply says "UNIT". (**)
NB:
I. It is unclear how the Silurians recognise the Doctor
II The ending theme tune is the new UNIT theme
Reynolds receives a message saying that Bessie has been located half a mile from their position. She tenses up. The Doctor's party are being interrogated by the Silurians. One of them recognises Liz from their encounter in 1970. (*) He then realises that the team with the exception of Peri was those responsible for their re-interment. The order come through for their execution.
UNIT have entered the opening near Bessie and have started to track down the Doctor's team. Fisher is still concerned about the threat to Earth but Reynolds once again lectures him.
Meanwhile the Doctor is trying to persuade the Silurians that they are no threat. The lead Silurian says that their legacy as masters of Earth was destroyed by the humans. He intends to have the team executed. L-S states that he was the individual responsible for sealing the cave in 1970. He was ordered to do so and has regretted it since. If the Silurians wish to avenge themselves that he will put his life on the line so the rest can go free.
The lead Silurian scoffs at this saying that L-S is trying to warn the humans by allowing the others to reinter them. The Silurians aim their weapons and prepare to fire. At that moment the UNIT team enter the chamber. The Doctor and L-S plea with both sides to lower their weapons.
Reynolds puts her revolver on the floor, walks over to the Silurians and makes a statement that shocks all. It turns out that the cave complex had been secretly monitored since 1970 and have been aware that the Silurians have awoken. The away team was sent by Reynolds under the highest secrecy to see if they had left the complex. Her orders were to ensure that the Silurians were kept safe.
Under other circumstances she would have ensured her orders were kept secret, however she felt it was necessary to inform UNIT, particularly after Fisher's constant interjections to reveal the truth.
The Doctor tells the Silurians that the humans are honourable people and are not afraid to admit when they were wrong. The Silurians lower their weapons. An offer is made to help the Silurians but they tell the Humans that they are still an immature race. The Doctor suggests that the Silurians are re-frozen and their stasis chambers programmed to open in 10,000 years. By that time the humans will have progressed....hopefully.
The chambers resealed. Everyone returns to UNIT HQ. Farewells are made and the Doctor and Peri leave. As the TARDIS dematerialises. Reynolds is called to the command centre where a message is being received. She picks up a phone and simply says "UNIT". (**)
NB:
I. It is unclear how the Silurians recognise the Doctor
II The ending theme tune is the new UNIT theme
Re-Risen averaged 8.3 million viewers although its highly probable that some of the audience were interested in seeing old faces. Doctor Who Magazine lauded the episode as a fitting ending to Liz's story.
At the time however reactions were more mixed. The Doctor, Peri, L-S and Liz were effectively in enhanced cameos whilst the main focus was on the UNIT team. The BBC had made it clear that the story was to be an introduction to the new spin off.
Yet the positive response was welcomed at Broadcasting House and the future for the new UNIT was set fair.
At the time however reactions were more mixed. The Doctor, Peri, L-S and Liz were effectively in enhanced cameos whilst the main focus was on the UNIT team. The BBC had made it clear that the story was to be an introduction to the new spin off.
Yet the positive response was welcomed at Broadcasting House and the future for the new UNIT was set fair.