Tread Perilously is a podcast in which hosts Erik Amaya and author Justin Robinson watch the “worst” episodes of popular TV shows, attempting to determine if they would continue to watch the series based on the most off-key moments.

This Week: Doctor Who‘s “Spearhead from Space”

Tread Perilously finds its way back into the TARDIS for an extra attempt to tread Doctor Who safely with “Spearhead from Space.”

When the Time Lords exile the Doctor to Earth in the 1970s or ’80s, he teams up with Brigadier Lethbridge-Stewart and UNIT to investigate mysterious glowing meteorites. The orbs turn out to be control modules of the Nestene Consciousness, which has been forming a spearhead in a plastics factory for the last six months. Meanwhile, the Doctor gets his bearings, finds a new costume, and meets new companion Liz Shaw. It all leads to a Madame Tussauds exhibit and a showdown with a tentacle monster.

Erik believes “Spearhead from Space” is a good entry point for Doctor Who. And his belief is put to the test as he and Justin combat a glacial pace, a local color couple from a Monty Python sketch, and the imbalanced dynamic of the Doctor, Liz, and the Brig. Both fall in love with the lush cottage hospital featured in the story, but discover many of the scenes taking place there could be easily cut. Justin is surprised to learn this was Jon Pertwee’s first story, and Erik offers a long-winded history of the Doctor’s exile on Earth. A tangent into James Bond country reveals both Erik and Justin love Jack Lord’s Felix Leiter. They also do terrible impressions of Terry Jones’ old lady character.

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