Episode #53 : The Ambassadors of Death

"No, no. You vanished first. I only seemed to have vanished because you went into the future, and I wasn't there yet."

Episode 53:   The Ambassadors of Death.
Companions: The 3rd Doctor and Liz Shaw.
Air Date:       Seven episodes. 21st March to 2nd May 1970.

The Doctor joins UNIT's investigation of the mystery surrounding Mars Probe 7. Space Control, headed by Professor Ralph Cornish, has had no contact with the astronauts on board since it started back from Mars seven months ago. Now the Recovery 7 rescue mission has run into similar difficulties.

The Ambassadors of Death is a difficult story to review. It features a mix of fairly typical science fiction elements along with aspects of conspiracy, first contact with extraterrestrials and action sequences. All together it is an odd mish-mash that also makes it tough to follow. The story deals with a first contact with an alien race who are never identified. For some reason it leads to a conspiracy on behalf of a military officer who first encountered them while part of the United Kingdoms space missions to Mars (though the aliens are not from Mars), who fears they are violent aggressors.

The alien ambassadors are not named and for some reason following the orders of the men who have captured them. These aliens are fed by radiation and can use it as a weapon to burn out electronics and even kill with a touch. They are not evil however, just being forced to serve.

Because the story is such an odd mish-mash it feels like it runs far too long when the length of the story overall is about right. The real problem is that the story just ends and you are left hanging with unanswered questions. What happens with our contact? Do they aliens leave or do they maintain contact with us? They are never mentioned again so I assume they leave, disgusted with mankind. A little explanation would have ended the story better.

This is another story to prove that the Whoniverse is not our own. The UK has its own space agency and in 1970 we have already reached Mars with manned craft, despite the Americans only just reaching the Moon a year earlier.

Overall it isn't a great story and it is another where I found myself looking to flick through books or whatever was at hand. Not a good sign.