The Seeds of Doom

"…the size of the St. Paul’s Cathedral.  After that it will multiply itself a thousand fold until it takes over your entire planet."

20th Century Earth.  A research team based in the Antarctic unwittingly digs up two mysterious pods which have laid buried in the snow for twenty thousand years.   Yet the identity of the pods is no mystery to the Doctor.  That they are Krynoid-a hostile, alien species of plant life, there can be no doubt.  And his fears are confirmed when one of the pods opens and attacks a scientist.  Unfortunately, the Doctor is not the only one interested in the seeds-an insane millionaire, Harrison Chase, is desperate to get his hands on a pod at any cost-even murder.  But why?   Events spiral out of control as the remaining pod reaches England, splitting open to reveal a ferocious Krynoid carnivore.  Can the Doctor arrest its development?   For, as its strength grows every moment, it threatens to turn Earth’s vegetation hostile too.  Its germination could jeopardize the security of mankind itself…

• If the Krynoid/Human looks at all familiar, that's because it is the same costume used in "The Claws of Axos" in 1972.  Back then it was red, but was repainted green to help with budget concerns.

• This story is probably the most physical you will see Tom Baker get as the Doctor.  His nemesis, Scorby, gets thumped so many times by the Doctor that you begin to loose count.

• Luckily for us, this 6 part adventure was put onto 1 VHS tape rather than 2 (as has become normal).  This makes it about $10 cheaper in most locations.  

• Watch for memorable performances from many of the cast including Tony Beckley as the herbiphalic Harrison Chase, John Challis as the sadistic Scorby, and Sylvia Coleridge as Amelia Ducat.

• U.N.I.T. is peripherally part of this story, although no regular U.N.I.T. cast members were involved in the production.  This would be the last U.N.I.T. story until "Battlefield" in 1989.

• Episode 1 was temporarily misplaced just before it was due to be transmitted.

• Originally intended as a 4 part story, it had to be extended to 6 episodes when another 2 part story fell through.  The events of episodes 1 and 2 are the result.