A Bluffer’s Guide to Doctor Who: Mission to the Unknown
That time they made a story without the Doctor.
Describe Mission to the Unknown in six words:
Daleks host meetings. Space 007 dies.
This is… the one without the Doctor (it’s mainly famous for that)
Episode 86
First broadcast: 9 October, 1965
What happens?
The Daleks host a meeting in preparation for their master plan of invading the solar system.
Some astronauts are fixing their spaceships on the planet Kembel. Unfortunately, that’s the planet the Daleks are on. Marc Cory turns out to be an agent from the Space Security Service and wants to warn Earth about the Daleks.
Marc Cory records a message on a cassette tape (The Future!) but before he can fire into space, the Daleks find him.
He is exterminated.
Any behind-the-scenes gossip?
Is gossip the word?
This is Verity Lambert’s last credited story as producer and as such, a whole lot of publicity photos exist of Verity Lambert posing with the alien delegates. Her short-term legacy was assured as John Wiles was about to inherit a 12-part Dalek story.
12 parts! That’s three months! Wiles was not happy.
The reason why this episode was made was due to some BBC budgeting drama which excites me but probably won’t excite you (it has to do with Planet of Giants being turned into a three-parter when it was originally going to be a four-parter). Still, it was a great opportunity for writer Terry Nation to plan a backdoor pilot for his Dalek spin-off. As such, this story does not feature the TARDIS team, with Hartnell, O’Brien and Purves getting a week extended to their holiday break. Instead, it features the Space Security Service which would feature in Nation’s scripts for his spin-off. That spin-off would never eventuate.
Production-wise, this story was considered the fifth part of Galaxy 4, so was directed by Derek Martinus.
Observations
“Constellation of Miros” — another example of Doctor Who confusing constellations with solar systems. Also, Earth is now centre of the solar system
Varga plants go form naturally occurring on Skaro to having been created synthetically in Dalek laboratories, in the same scene
Terry Nation’s vision of the future: Tape? (Not even triangular VHS like in Red Dwarf)
Daleks vs. 007-wannabe (“Licence to kill”) is engaging enough that the Doctor isn’t missed.
“Mission to the Unknown” is a classic teaser but also made due to several production reasons. One of them was Verity Lambert deciding to give her regulars an extra week break from the filming of “Galaxy 4”. Surely though, you’d give them a break just before 12+ weeks of recording? I’m just wondering, how different “Mission to the Unknown” reputation would be if the next episode was “The Nightmare Begins”?
But wait! You can watch this!
Yes, here’s a remount authorised by the BBC:
There’s also the Loose Cannon reconstruction as well as an animated funded by Ian Levine which resurfaces on the Internet now and then.
References / Further Reading: