‘Sea Devils’ – Then & Now….
by Bernie Bell - 08:30 on 10 December 2025
‘Sea Devils’ – Then & Now….
The BBC, very wisely, broadcast the original (though re-edited) episodes of ‘Dr Who The Sea Devils’ ……
https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/m002nct3/doctor-who-19631996-season-9-the-sea-devils
……before broadcasting the new series…..‘The War Between The Land and The Sea’.
I remember the original Dr Who series in which the ‘Sea Devils’ were definitely the baddies, the idea being that they used to rule the Earth and were set on re-claiming it, viewing humans as some kind of up-start monkeys to be eliminated, so I was interested to see how the new series presented them.
We recorded both the old and new series and have started to watch them – NOT as a binge as is the fashion - but divided in time, giving space for thought in between each episode.
Jon Pertwee is OK as The Doctor but, for me, The Doctor will always be William Hartnell as he had gravitas and kindness. William Hartnell wouldn’t have eaten Jo’s sandwiches – but I’m getting ahead of myself.
Some of the incarnations of The Doctor simply annoyed me. Those who ‘worked’ - for me - are….Christopher Eccleston and David Tennant. Matt Smith was OK – but always seemed a bit ‘young’ to me. Just my view!
And so, I’ll start with my response to the original series….
For me, it was nostalgic in various ways. Right at the beginning of the first episode the doctor’s companion, Jo, is wearing a jacket and I remember that fashion for jackets with ‘tulip’ collars and contrasting colours – for example, a purple jacket with dark blue pockets and trimmings – one of my friends had exactly that combination!
It’s generally a reminder of a different time. In the first shot of the office of the Commander of the Naval Base, in the foreground a WREN ( remember, she’s a member of the Armed Forces) in the role of Secretary, is taking notes perched on the edge of a desk, legs crossed, showing a nice stretch of black-stockinged leg! Cue Benny Hill.
The Master is shown watching an episode of ‘The Clangers’. Remember ‘The Clangers’? He thinks it’s a programme about an alien life- form, until he’s told that it’s a puppet show for children. Most Excellent.
The head of a high-security prison is driving around in a Citroen 2CV – which would now be a Classic Car – as are many cars of my youth!
It’s possible to tell where the original half-hour episodes ended – usually on a tense moment – you can almost hear the music…
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=75V4ClJZME4
It’s worth bearing in mind that these episodes were broadcast at the rate of one a week – no ‘streaming’ back then – you had to wait to find out what happened. A good lesson to learn.
The whole story would be scuppered by the use of mobile phones, as communications being ‘down’ directs the action.
It’s very different from today’s telly and is very entertaining. It has an innocence that today’s telly lacks.
One touch that I particularly liked…when The Doctor realises what their adversary is, Jo says…
“That was the race of Super-reptiles that had been in hibernation for millions of years, wasn’t it?”
Priceless!
To be continued……
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