"Doctor Who"
The Brain of Morbius: Part 3 (1976)

Director:

Christopher Barry

Writer:

Robert Holmes (written by)

TV Series:

"Doctor Who" (1963)

Original Air Date:

17 January 1976 (Season 13, Episode 19)

Genre:

Adventure | Drama | Mystery | Sci-Fi

Plot:

Plot Keywords:

Man With No Name | Space Hero | Famous Opening Theme | Extraterrestrial | Multiple Actors For One Character

Cast

Tom Baker	...	The Doctor
Elisabeth Sladen	...	Sarah Jane Smith
Colin Fay	...	Condo
Cynthia Grenville	...	Maren
Gilly Brown	...	Ohica
Sue Bishop	...	Sister
Janie Kells	...	Sister
Gabrielle Mowbray	...	Sister
Veronica Ridge	...	Sister
Michael Spice	...	Morbius (voice)
Stuart Fell	...	Morbius
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Philip Madoc	...	Mehendri Solon

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Sound Mix:

Mono

"I, Morbius, who once led the High Council of the Time Lords, reduced to this - to the condition where I envy a vegetable." Great story.

*** This comment may contain spoilers ***

Doctor Who: The Brain of Morbius: Part 3 starts as the disembodied brain of Morbius is sure the Doctor (Tom Baker) has been sent by the Timelords to find out where he his so he can be destroyed, the brain of Morbius forces Solon (Philip Madoc) to go ahead with the operation & put his brain in an artificial brain case which will then be attached to the stitched together body created by Solon from various alien body parts. Solon forces Sarah (Elisabeth Sladen) to assist him in the delicate operation after he had to shoot Condo (Colin Fay), Solon is called away as Sarah regains her sight but behind her the monster created by Solon gets up & approaches her...

Episode 19 from season 13 this Doctor Who adventure originally aired here in the UK during January 1976, directed by Christopher Barry this is a great story during my personal favourite era of the show. The script by Terrence Dicks & Robert Holmes under the Robin Bland pseudonym has borrowed heavily from Frankenstein & none more so than in this episode, brains in jars, mad scientists performing operations, stitched together creatures & a dim assistant are all used with a sci-fi slant to great effect here. Solon is a good villain while the Morbius creature is one of the better & scarier monsters from the show, the character's are good as is the dialogue for a change although I'm still not sure about the mystic Sisterhood & I'd be willing to bet the scenes featuring them were the ones most heavily edited in the early 80's video & laser-disc releases because they aren't really necessary & the elixir of life sub plot isn't really needed although having said that it's fine as it is.

I'm not sure about Sarah's blindness here, I was impressed that the makers were brave enough to blind a companion but just stretching your arms out in front of yourself isn't an accurate representation of what it's like to be blind! I would have liked her to be placed in real peril & considering she's on an alien planet she gets used to be blind very quickly! I just wish this angle had been used more effectively. The costumes & make-up for the mystic Sisterhood are actually rather good & don't look as silly as a lot of Doctor Who alien costumes while the Morbius creature makes for a great monster. This episode also sees Solon shoot Condo with a huge bloody bullet hole appearing in his stomach, this is the only occasion I can remember in the entire series of someone graphically getting shot complete with gory bullet wound.

The Brain of Morbius: Part 3 is another great episode from a great story from a great series, it's as simple & straight forward as that.