Spearhead from Space - Episode 1

Wow! Is this Doctor Who? Sure don't look it. It looks all glossy and filmic and nifty. And in color! The reintroduction of UNIT and Brigadier Lethbridge-Stewart is very welcome. I've always liked the Brig and UNIT. There's some wonderful camera work in this episode, too. And that Channing guy, he's very creepy. The arrival of the Doctor is handled well. Keeping him sort of "hidden" from the audience for the most part is effective, keeps the mystery up. It's only when the Brigadier arrives to see him that he "wakes up" and we finally really see Jon Pertwee as the Third Doctor. The bit about the shoes is funny. Then the bad guys try to kidnap the Doctor but he escapes only to be shot by a UNIT soldier. Oh, no! I can't help thinking, though, what Doctor Who would have been like if it had always been made on film from here on out, instead of reverting back to videotape after the strike or whatever it was that forced them to film this all on location. This is a good first episode for the new Doctor.