Invasion of the Dinosaurs, simply titled Invasion in Part One, is the second serial of the 11th season of the British science fiction television series Doctor Who, which was first broadcast in six weekly parts on BBC1 from 12 January to 16 February 1974.
The Third Doctor and Sarah Jane Smith arrive in a deserted London, where they discover that dinosaurs are inexplicably appearing all over the city, causing havoc, but no one can account for their sudden appearances and disappearances.
The Doctor suspects that someone is deliberately tampering with time and with the help of his colleagues at UNIT, he starts to formulate a plan. They are introduced to Sir Charles Grover MP, and General Finch. In a hidden laboratory, Professor Whitaker is operating secret Timescoop technology. The dinosaurs are being used to compel the authorities to evacuate the city. It turns out that Whitaker is being aided by a disillusioned Captain Yates.
Sarah conducts her own investigations, but is captured by Grover, who is in league with Whitaker. She awakens and is astounded to find herself on a vast spaceship. The crew explain that they are en route to a distant Earth-like planet, explaining that Mankind can begin again on “New Earth”, closer to nature and without the overpopulation and pollution of Earth. When Sarah tries to explain that they’re still on Earth, they condemn Sarah to be re-educated into thinking the way they do.
Operation Golden Age is revealed to be a broad conspiracy including Mike Yates of UNIT, with Whitaker, Grover and Finch as its coordinators. They have emptied London, so that the chosen people on the “spacecraft” (a dummy ship hidden in a bunker under London) will be the only people within range of the Timescoop when it’s activated. Whitaker has discovered how to reverse time, so that only the chosen elite will ever have existed.
Meanwhile, Sarah escapes from the bunker, but is apprehended by Finch. Her escape alerts some of the passengers to the deception. Yates reveals their plans to the Doctor, Benton and the Brigadier. Yates is overpowered, and when Finch tries to stop the Doctor and the Brigadier’s efforts, Benton incapacitates him in a struggle.
The Doctor and the Brigadier confront Grover and Whitaker, just as the duped environmentalists from the fake ship arrive and demand an explanation. The Timescoop is activated, but, as the Doctor is a Time Lord, the machine’s effect on him is limited, allowing him to switch the device off.
Finch is arrested and court martialled, and Grover tries to use it again, but, as the Doctor has reversed the machine’s polarity, it sends only itself, Whitaker and Grover into the past.
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To view the list of other Doctor Who serials, please click this link
Doctor Who Episode Guides for Sale on Amazon
Step aboard the TARDIS and journey across the universe with every incarnation of The Doctor in this series of unofficial Doctor Who episode companions.
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Once you have clicked the link, choose which book you want, and then whether you want to buy the Kindle (eBook) or Paperback versions.
Previews are available before you buy.
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