Doctor Who "Doctor Who and the Silurians - Episode 3" (1970)

The pace is starting to pick up in this episode. The Brigadier and the Doctor arrive at the barn to discover Liz unconscious in the hay, battered and shaken but no worse for the wear. I have to say that this is a very sweet scene between her and the Doctor. He hovers over her almost father-like and tells the Brigadier to give her a moment as he starts to question her before she is even fully lucid. He cradles her head in his hands and helps to her feet after she awakens. I'm not saying that the current Doctors can't do this but so much sexual tension has been thrust into the mix that it overshadows the deep bond the Doctor has grown to have for his companions when compared to how the First Doctor regarded Ian and Barbara in the beginning. Instead of racing about with the UNIT soldiers trying to capture the elusive creature he sits with Liz and only beginning to question her when she has calmed down a bit from her ordeal. It's a nice sentimental scene amidst all the military action and shows that the Doctor is not of single-minded purpose is learning about the creatures when one of his friends has been attacked.

This turns out to be the last episode to feature the charming portrayal of Dr. Quinn by Fulton Mackay. We start to see his grow obsession with obtaining the knowledge the creatures have promised him going to so far as to hold hostage the one that he was sent to rescue from the UNIT troops until it tells him what he wants to know. It's a shame we do not get to see more of his character however his death will heighten the fear of the creatures in the episodes to come as they have now killed someone who was aiding them. The last scene between him and the Doctor (while he is alive) is a brilliant scene and is described in more detail below.

Dr. Lawrence and Major Blake begin to take on more prominent roles with the loss of Dr. Quinn and even though Dr. Lawrence's role seems to be of the perpetual thorn in the Brigadier's side as he tries to continue his investigation he is played well by Peter Miles who manages to exude a selfish and eccentric demeanor without marking him as a one-dimensional character. We also get to see Major Blake's own obsession with the creatures grow as he recuperates from his injuries in the previous episode and demands to speak with the Brigadier and be released from the infirmary. All this and we get out first full body glimpse of the creature as the Doctor discovers Dr. Quinn's corpse in his cabin.

Favorite moment: the aforementioned scene between the Doctor and Quinn that takes place at his cabin. As Quinn continues to utilize his unassuming and innocent charm on the Doctor when he drops by unexpectedly while Quinn is hiding the creature the two exchange pleasantries which immediately devolves into tones of menace and suspicion as the Doctor coyly infers that he is aware Quinn is holding the creature merely by suggesting that it's unusually warm in the cabin. Quinn's realization of what the Doctor is saying and his restrained panic of the Doctor ruining his plans perfectly match the Doctor as he keeps up the charming facade that Quinn has quickly abandoned. Before leaving the Doctor tells Quinn point blank that he should accept his help before Quinn hustles him out of the cabin. The last shot of Doctor peeking through the window as Quinn crosses the room is unintentionally hilarious but serves as a further reminder that the Doctor never fell for his act and is actually worried something will happen to Quinn. Those concerns are realized when he discovers Quinn's body during his next visit. He taking the time to close Quinn's eyes shows that even though he disagreed with Quinn's methods he is regretful he was unable to save him.