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Doctor Who
S20.E9
All episodesAll
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IMDbPro

Mawdryn Undead: Part One

  • Episode aired Feb 1, 1983
  • TV-PG
  • 24m
IMDb RATING
7.5/10
431
YOUR RATING
Mark Strickson in Doctor Who (1963)
AdventureDramaFamily

With the TARDIS trapped on a collision course with a strange, orbiting spaceship, locked in time as well as space, the Black Guardian recruits a deceitful and ill-natured British student to ... Read allWith the TARDIS trapped on a collision course with a strange, orbiting spaceship, locked in time as well as space, the Black Guardian recruits a deceitful and ill-natured British student to kill the Doctor.With the TARDIS trapped on a collision course with a strange, orbiting spaceship, locked in time as well as space, the Black Guardian recruits a deceitful and ill-natured British student to kill the Doctor.

  • Director
    • Peter Moffatt
  • Writers
    • Peter Grimwade
    • Sydney Newman
  • Stars
    • Peter Davison
    • Janet Fielding
    • Sarah Sutton
  • See production, box office & company info
  • IMDb RATING
    7.5/10
    431
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • Peter Moffatt
    • Writers
      • Peter Grimwade
      • Sydney Newman
    • Stars
      • Peter Davison
      • Janet Fielding
      • Sarah Sutton
    • 8User reviews
    • 1Critic review
  • See production, box office & company info
  • See more at IMDbPro
  • Photos6

    Peter Davison, Janet Fielding, and Sarah Sutton in Doctor Who (1963)
    Valentine Dyall and Mark Strickson in Doctor Who (1963)
    Mark Strickson in Doctor Who (1963)
    Nicholas Courtney in Doctor Who (1963)
    Nicholas Courtney, Peter Davison, and Mark Strickson in Doctor Who (1963)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Peter Davison
    Peter Davison
    • The Doctor
    Janet Fielding
    Janet Fielding
    • Tegan
    Sarah Sutton
    Sarah Sutton
    • Nyssa
    Nicholas Courtney
    Nicholas Courtney
    • The Brigadier
    Valentine Dyall
    Valentine Dyall
    • Black Guardian
    Mark Strickson
    Mark Strickson
    • Turlough
    Angus MacKay
    Angus MacKay
    • Headmaster
    Stephen Garlick
    Stephen Garlick
    • Ibbotson
    Roger Hammond
    Roger Hammond
    • Doctor Runciman
    Sheila Gill
    • Matron
    Russell Brook
    • Schoolboy
    • (uncredited)
    John Cannon
    • Police Sergeant
    • (uncredited)
    Mark McBride
    • Van Driver
    • (uncredited)
    Richard Olley
    • Mutant
    • (uncredited)
    • Director
      • Peter Moffatt
    • Writers
      • Peter Grimwade
      • Sydney Newman(uncredited)
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    Storyline

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    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      William Russell was originally scripted to reprise his role as Ian Chesterton, but was forced to drop out due to scheduling conflicts. This resulted in the choice to instead bring back the Brigadier.
    • Goofs
      In the info-text on the DVD it states that the Brendon school is not named onscreen until a much later episode. This is incorrect. When Turlough swerves the Humber to avoid hitting the other car, he passes a pole with a white directional sign that clearly says, " Brendon School."
    • Quotes

      Vislor Turlough: Am I dead?

      Black Guardian: Merely sleeping.

      Vislor Turlough: I don't think I'd really care if I were. I hate Earth.

    • Connections
      Featured in Who Wants to Live Forever? (2009)

    User reviews8

    Review
    Review
    Featured review
    10/10
    Brigadier Undimmed
    Review of all 4 parts:

    This brilliant story sees the return of Brigadier Lethbridge-Stewart, one of the most important friends in the Doctor's whole history and he returns in a full, very involved role not just a cameo. The story involves a complex plot with time travel/time loops which in modern day Whoniverse would be referred to as 'Timey Wimey'. It is brilliant.

    The TARDIS arrives aboard an alien spaceship in Earth year 1983 and The Doctor travels via a Transmat to Earth in that year but his companions following him in the TARDIS end up in the same place but in 1977. This brings about great. clever and interesting time related ideas with them meeting the Brigadier in both time periods and trying to reunite without the Brigadier meeting himself. There is only one flaw in the whole story which is that the 1977 period seems to clash with our understanding of the Brigadier's work with UNIT. It would have been better if they had used the Royal Wedding of 1981 rather than the Silver Jubilee of 1977 and maybe had a near future 1986 instead of 1983. Anyway it is insignificant compared to all the strengths of this adventure.

    As well as the time travel to two Earth years with the Brigadier in both and the complexities that introduces we also get two other strong plot aspects. First is the Black Guardian arc which begins with the mysterious villain influencing a young man Turlough to try to kill the Doctor. This is given further depth by the mystery surrounding Turlough himself. It is extremely intriguing and well done. Turlough is a great character and the Black Guardian is a suitably menacing figure.

    The other plot aspect is the alien travellers aboard the spaceship lead by Mawdryn. It brings further intriguing, exciting and sometimes macabre elements which further strengthen an already superb serial. Mawdryn himself is excellent and the events of all 3 plot threads move along fantastically well and come together cleverly.

    The added effects in a later re-release add wonderful sheen to the already high production standards but most importantly the storyline, dialogue and acting is of the highest quality. There are intelligent ideas, thrilling scenes, absorbing drama, strong characters and great camaraderie. The return of the Brigadier is a master-stroke with Nicholas Courtney as wonderful as ever.

    In addition to the Brigadier and new companion Turlough we get a top level performance from Peter Davison as The Doctor. Tegan and Nyssa are OK and are used well.

    Overall this is a 10/10 classic across all 4 episodes.
    helpful•2
    1
    • A_Kind_Of_CineMagic
    • Nov 13, 2019

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    Details

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    • Release date
      • February 1, 1983 (United Kingdom)
    • Country of origin
      • United Kingdom
    • Official site
      • BBC (United Kingdom)
    • Language
      • English
    • Filming locations
      • Trent Park Country Park, Enfield, Middlesex, England, UK
    • Production company
      • British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC)
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Technical specs

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    • Runtime
      24 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Mono
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.33 : 1

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