Mission to the Unknown

I just finished watching the Loose Cannon reconstruction of Mission to the Unknown aka The Dalek Cutaway. Considering it was a) a one off story/teaser for the epic The Daleks' Masterplan and more importantly b) it doesn't feature the Doctor or his companions I was rather intrigued to see this before the epic that followed it.

I was rather surprised how good it was. Considering that the whole story revolves around two characters it was amazing to see just how well those two characters (Space Security Agent Marc Cory and crew member Gordon Lowery) were brought to life by actors Edward de Souza and Jeremy Young respectively. The Daleks also get some good use as they not only pursue Coy and Lowry but make plans of their own which lead into Masterplan.

The story has very effective moments. In particular is the use of the Varga plant and its effect on the third member of the ship's crew Jeff Garvey (played briefly by Barry Jackson). While the Varga plant is a definite piece of sixties BBC wizardry and not quite convincing the concept wins out. The story also features a very nice jungle set as well that when combined with both the black and white filming of the era, the Varga plant and the Daleks makes for great atmosphere. Sadly that isn't the case with other aspects.

As with many sixties Doctor Who stories it is the technology that dates the story. The linchpin of this story (and in fact its real link to Masterplan is a message on an audio tape. One can't help but wonder why (even in 1965) nobody would have realized that the audio tape would be practically extinct forty years after broadcast let alone by the year 4000. But that could just be a modern-day fan looking on the past...

As a teaser Mission to the Unknown works well. It has interesting characters in an interesting situation and wets the appetite for what is sure to come. While it isn't perfect it sure is fun to watch.

The classic series format made this episode possible, in some ways I miss the 25 minute episodes and in others I don't.

Mission to the Unknown happened for no other reason then to set as a taster for the upcoming Dalek marathon 'The Daleks' Master Plan.'

A brave and totally unique episode, it's still the only episode in the show's history no feature no Doctor or companion.

Directed by Derek Martinus and written by Terry Nation, watched by 8.3 million viewers, tragically the episode is lost. It must have been a strange watch for the viewers, they'd previously seen Galaxy 4, a typical 4 part story, the only true link for the viewers at the time would have been the appearance of the Daleks.

On the inhospitable planet Kembel a Dalek force has assembled, it's sole purpose to assemble a team of allies in order to conquer the Solar System. On Kembel are a small team from Earth, Corey, Garvey and Lowery. First Garvey, then Lowery fall victims to the Vargas, plant like creatures cultivated on Skaro. Eventually Corey is exterminated, but not before he's left a taped recording of the Dalek's alliance and plan to conquer.

I think it was wonderfully brave, a huge gamble, that for my money paid off. I've always wondered why the Delegates used here differ from those eventually used in Master Plan. 10/10 Original, entertaining and unique.

Mission To The Unknown

This is a self contained one episode story, although it is also a prequel to a story a little later in the season (The Dalek Master Plan).

Interestingly, and bravely, it does not feature the Doctor or his companions at all! This is the only episode to not feature ANY of the regular characters. This fact is even more surprising given that fans at the time had no warning or explanation of this whatsoever!

The only way to discern this is a Doctor Who story is that it features the Daleks. Some fans are turned off by this lack of the Doctor or companions but I am quite happy with it as a preview of the later story.

The Daleks themselves are presented well with an evil scheme taking shape to conquer the Solar System amongst others. The other races of aliens are also presented well and are very interesting.

The human characters are decent and the story is absorbing so all in all this is a very good sci-fi adventure and an excellent introduction to the later Dalek story. It also deserves points for sheer bravery at screening an adventure with none of the TARDIS crew appearing.

Another notable aspect is that this is the last episode produced by the show's original producer Verity Lambert who had served 'Doctor Who' so so well. Thanks to her Doctor Who was a success in the first place.

My rating: 8.5/10.

"Mission to the Unknown" is the only episode in all 30 seasons of "Doctor Who" which doesn't feature the Doctor or any of his companions. It was written as sort of a primer for the 12-part epic that would come around a month later, and is an enjoyable one-episode action/adventure story with plenty of atmosphere to spare, solid performances from the guest cast, and some fun Daleks (and a little addition to the Skaro mythology with something doubtless inspired by "Day of the Triffids").

As far as I know based on any reading I've done, viewers had no idea that the Doctor and his companions were not going to appear in this story, so that must have come as quite a shock! There's some outrageously stupid plot contrivances but the Daleks are back to being fearsome and evil (although I love "The Chase" and loved them in it), and the human characters are interesting enough for this extremely short "Doctor Who" story to work.

7.5/10

This is an incredibly unique piece in Doctor who, being the only story to not feature the doctor and being a prequel set up, something that would be done endlessly in new who. But its also the time of big changes for the show, this would be Verity Lamberts last story and it's important to thank her for not only keeping the Daleks alive from day one but transforming the show to its full potential/what it is today. This also offers us a glimpse into what a Dalek spinoff could look like. I truly love this story, it's almost like a short horror film or a twilight zone episode. The constant screeching noise in the forest adds to this tense horror, proving loud music isn't always needed. We follow the survivor Lowery and security agent Corey as they try to warn earth of the Daleks incoming plans. I love seeing these characters desperation with the horrors around them, seeing one of there crew be transformed into a Varga and the dalek search party looking for them. Just imagine being in a huge Forest, it's near pitch black and your constantly hearing and seeing things, plus the daleks are coming for you. That idea has always sacred me as a kid, with today's ability it's a shame it hasn't been done. The Daleks are great here, seeing them team up with other creatures to conquer the galaxy is so exciting and I loved the shot of the sucker landing on earth to be first. The aliens are a mix of cool/odd designs with some voices not being the most convincing. The ending is also such a great cliffhanger and a cruel end to our characters, Corey records a message to warn earth but the Daleks swarm him and kill him, the message destroyed too. It just builds/adds to the fear/danger of these Daleks/story's. I do think the characters don't get any real development time but for the storys sake they work fine and I did really enjoy seeing them all fail building up to this very bleak/dark dalek story. But unlucky kids because next week you have to watch an incredibly awful historical. Season 3 is all over the place and treats some of its companions very poorly, so this a great surprise for that season.

Rating: 4/5 7/10.