 This story introduces the alien race known as The Macra – they would not appear again in the show for 40 years. This was in the 2007 Tenth Doctor story "Gridlock". In their second appearance in the show seemingly, billions of years of evolution had reduced them to nothing more than vicious predators. They were able to survive on the gas fumes of the exhausts from the cars of the New New York Motorway, in the capital of New Earth - the colony which humans live on following the eventual demise of the Earth.
Terence Lodge (who played Medok) returned to Doctor Who to play Orum in the 1973 Third Doctor story "Carnival of Monsters" and then again, as Moss, in the Third Doctor's last story "Planet of the Spiders" in 1974.
Ian Fairbairn (who played Questa) returned to Doctor Who to play Gregory in the 1968 Second Doctor story "The Invasion". He then played Bromley in the 1970 Third Doctor story "Inferno" and then Doctor Chester in the 1976 Fourth Doctor story "The Seeds of Doom".
The character Chicki was played by two different actresses. Sandra Bryant, who took the role for Episode 1, asked to be released from her contract so that she could accept another, more attractive offer of work. This was agreed, and so for Episode 4 (the only other episode in which Chicki appears) the part was recast, going instead to Karol Keyes.
This story is the first to use a new title sequence incorporating an image of the Second Doctor’s face. Innes Lloyd had for some time been contemplating revamping the opening title sequence, which had not been changed since the show's debut in November 1963. The services of Bernard Lodge, who had designed the original version, were once again secured. The introduction of The Doctors face was due to Bernard Lodge recalling that during test filming in 1963, he had stood in front of the camera and his visage had become incorporated into the electronic effect. Then-producer Verity Lambert had feared that the technique was too scary and forbade its use at the time. Innes Lloyd, however, liked the concept and agreed that a photocaption of Patrick Troughton's face should be used for the new credits; this would become a hallmark of all future Doctor Who opening sequences until the show was re-launched in 2005. Innes Lodge and engineer Ben Palmer created the new titles in early December 1966. It was originally planned to introduce them with "The Underwater Menace" but it’s introduction was held back until this story".
Only one Macra constructed for this story. Consequently, when recording the scene, in episode 3, where Jamie McCrimmon appears to be menaced by two of the monsters, Director John Davies was forced to employ out-of-sequence recording. All the scenes involving the Macra moving from right to left were taped first, followed by those in which the other Macra moves from the left to the right. The whole story was cleverly filmed using several camera angles and trick photography (not to mention a Macra attached to the back of a van!).
Medok seems to have named the creatures 'Macra', or heard the name from rumour, but the word catches on. The creatures are variously called insects, crabs and huge bacteria, and we never learn anything of their origins or organisation. We are led to understand that the gas they depend on is like their own atmosphere.
Anneke Wills (who plays Polly Wright) wore hair extensions for the first few scenes of this story, as she was sporting a new, shorter hairstyle. A haircut for her character was written into the story, as part of Polly's refreshment regimen at the colony.
In 2019 an animated version of this story, with the original soundtrack, was released on DVD in both black and white and in colour. A reconstructed version was also included in this DVD using the telesnap images and the existing clips from episodes 2 and 3.
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The Firsts:
The first appearance of the Macra.
The first Doctor Who story to use a new title sequence incorporating an image of the Second Doctor’s face.
The first Doctor Who story to be directed by John Davies.
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(Position = 102 out of 159)
(Position = 137 out of 200)
(Position = 150 out of 241)
