DVD Release Date:  13 Mar 12
Original Air Date:  29 Jan – 19 Feb 1977
Doctor/Companion:  Four, Leela
Stars:  Tom Baker, Louise Jameson
Preceding Story:  The Face of Evil (Four, Leela)
Succeeding Story:  The Talons of Weng-Chiang (Four, Leela)

I’m not sure why I didn’t really take to Robots when I first saw it a few years ago. I liked it better during the Marathon, and better yet this time. (This trend can’t continue…) I guess part of the reason I’m enjoying it so much these days is that I can see how well it stands the test of time, especially compared to some other stories. The plot is pretty timeless, and as pointed out in some of the extras, the more retro design keeps that from looking dated, too.

At its most basic level, Robots is a cross between an Agatha Christie-style locked room murder mystery and an Isaac Asimov-inspired future-of-robotics thriller. But there are both deeper and more superficial ways to look at it, too. Is it a commentary on our society’s attitudes towards class? Is it a just a great way to get Leela into the swing of traveling with the Doctor? It all depends on how the viewer chooses to approach it.

One thing that particularly struck me, as a Neowhovian, was how blatantly the Heavenly Host from Voyage of the Damned were modeled off the robots here. The tone of voice, the pleasant visages, the creepiness of it all when their programming is subverted all can be traced directly back to this Sandminer. It’s almost insultingly obvious, once you see it.

For my money, though, these robots are better. There’s more character there. I love, for example, how one of them carefully watches the Doctor consume a jelly baby, and then tracks the bag through the air and to the ground as it’s knocked from his hand. The characterization extends to the whole culture, too. This society is clearly utterly dependent on the existence of these robots as a servant class. They’ve even defined a mental illness springing from irrational fear of robots (“Grimwade Syndrome” was actually named as an in joke, as the well-regarded production manager was named Peter Grimwade).

Another thing I enjoy about Robots is that the relationship between the Doctor and Leela seems to develop more. He gets to “explain” dimensional transcendentalism to her, and she gets to say what the audience hasn’t dared to think: “that’s silly!” Her cleverness is further evidenced by how, though the Doctor has only begun to explain his climactic plan, she readily grasps the thrust of it. His attitude toward her seems, to me, to be appropriately affectionate and avuncular, as a teacher toward an apt student.

There are a multitude of details I could highlight, but it makes more sense to leave them to you to discover (or point out yourself). Suffice it to say, I’m putting this on the list of stories to show the Ladies in the future.

DVD Extras (highlights)

Commentary Track 2

One of the added features for the Special Edition (as opposed to the original release in September 2001) is a new commentary track. I chose to view with this track, rather obviously, because the participants were Michael Briant (director), Pamela Salem (Toos), Louise Jameson (Leela), and Tom Baker himself (Four). Baker is in fine fettle throughout, sharing stories of all sorts and telling tall tales at every opportunity. All four clearly had a great time both working together originally (with the usual caveat about Jameson & Baker’s then-tense relationship) and in watching again for the commentary. They cover a widely (sometimes wildly) varying set of topics, and almost all of it is highly entertaining.

The Sandmine Murders

Some of the details covered in this “making of” documentary include where the story idea originated, why Briant was chosen as the director, the designer’s influence on the end product, and how the costumes came out of the set design. There’s also mention of how Briant was keen that the crew should have a “cosmopolitan feel” (that is, individuals of various races and cultures comprise it). While it’s not even whispered as an influence, I find it hard to believe he hadn’t noticed that Star Trek did it ten years previously.

Robophobia

Hosted by Toby Hadoke, this piece covers a bit of the history of robotics and – in more detail – a history of robots in science fiction, Doctor Who in particular. You may notice that the name of the Czech playwright who coined the term robot in 1921 (Karel Čapek) is awfully similar to that of the villain of the piece (Taren Capel) – and purposely so.

I think stories about robots or other “nearly-us” creatures will always fascinate people. It’s a reflection of how we’re simultaneously fascinated by and frightened of people we find different (until we get to know them and realize they really are the same in the ways that count). Because this one happens to be quite well executed in design, writing, acting, and direction, it should continue to grab viewers for years to come.