this post was submitted on 04 Jul 2023
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It's interesting that you come away with the impression of the Third Doctor being humourless, bearing in mind that Pertwee was a fantastic comedic actor (and, I believe, when he was announced as the Third Doctor, some fans were concerned he would turn the show into a comedy).
Three is very much in that late 60s/early 70s famboyant gentleman detective that was popular at the time (Adam Adamant/Jason King/John Steed etc) and Pertwee was keen to lean in on the super-spy aspects as well. Just keep an eye on the twinkle in his eye that suggests Pertwee's not taking it too seriously and enjoying all the romp. Also, I don't think we'd get a Master without this doctor (the Master is more or less a Fu Manchu analogue to the Third's Nayland Smith).
Not being able to use the TARDIS until Season 10 IS a definite issue and my enjoyment of his adventures pick up after that. Personally, I don't think that Liz Shaw is a good companion for him (too intelligent) and he's better suited by Jo Grant - although Sarah-Jane Smith is best-suited to counter his arrogance.
I'd say that my favourites are similar to you: Inferno, The Time Warrior, The Green Death, The Claws of Axos and the Daemons.
Also, I'm fond of Planet of the Spiders (it's actually pretty awful) as it's my earliest memory of watching Doctor Who as a small child. Look out, Doctor! There's a huge spider on your back! He's been killed! He's changing! He's someone else!
That's true about Pertwee's comedic background and I'd never knock his actual acting - if anything he brings a lot more warmth and humour to the part than the script sometimes would have it on paper. He certainly seemed to be a warm person in real life and was an actual spy, so I bet he really did love those espionage moments!
It's just those moments of Pertwee stories where he's boasting about knowing the nobility or like Day of the Daleks where he's poncing it up with some port and stilton that I really just get irritated with his character.
On the plus side I started watching Mind Of Evil tonight and that's turned out to be pretty amazing!
Is that the one where he's having a sword fight with the Master and eats and drinks during the fight - just to prove what a fabulous swordsman he is?
No that's the Sea Devils - I remembered watching that on the BBC2 repeats in the 90s because it was the first time I saw Delgado's Master.
There's a really weird edit in that fight scene as well - everything goes into something like speeded up stop motion for no reason for a few seconds
Mind Of Evil is set in a prison and a machine that kills people with their worst fear. The Master is chewing on a cigar in a limo for most of it so far. It really suits him. The Doctor has name dropped Chairman Mao so maybe he's not a pompous Tory after all but a Communist now?