Having given homage to Forbidden Planet, Hammer's Mummy cycle, Frankenstein and Invasion of the Bodysnatchers, Phillip Hinchcliffe's non-stop B-movie fest that is Season 13 uses The Thing from Another World as it's starting point. However, like much of the rest of Hinchcliffe and Holmes' work, it's little more than a launch-pad for a unique story. And they don't come much more unique than "The Seeds of Doom".

Considering that for his previous script, "Terror of the Zygons", Robert Banks Stewart turned in a competent but very archetypal 'monsters invade Earth' story, "The Seeds of Doom" is surprisingly radical. The Doctor's role is highly unusual... He's called in by a civil service department to check out a new plant specimen found at the North Pole, and then spends the next few episodes charging around thumping people and carrying a gun. Tom Baker clearly relishes being given a chance at being an action hero, and it somehow actually works, the Doctor never seeming like a violent person, just doing what he has to in order to stop the Krynoid.

The story's anomalous format doesn't end there. It's actually very much like a trio of two-part stories - two episodes concern the discovery of the Krynoid pod in Antarctica, the middle brace generally cover the attempts of The Doctor and Sarah to recover the pod from Harrison Chase's estate, and the final two concern the battle against the germinated Krynoid. It results in that rare beast - a six-part episode that doesn't drag. The pace is perfectly judged throughout, with the North Pole episodes gently building suspense, and the other four at a breakneck pace with a number of twists. The ending, too, is a break from convention - the RAF simply bomb the Krynoid. It's marvellous, because after half-a-dozen years of the military being largely incapable of doing any damage to any alien menace, it's probably the last thing to be expected.

"The Seeds of Doom" also benefits from two of the most skilfully crafted supporting characters in the show's history. First of all, there's the villain of the piece, plant enthusiast Harrison Chase. Tony Beckley's performance is the real key - Chase could have easily been one of the forced eccentrics from a Tara-era Avengers episode, but Beckley plays the role deadly straight. Chase's obsessive care for plants is downright chilling, especially when he meditates with them. Compare his outrage at The Doctor and Henderson spraying murderous greenery with his emotionless detachment as he pulverises Henderson a few minutes later.

Also superb is John Challis (yes, Boycie off Horses) as tough-talking mercenary Scorby. A professional soldier and thug, Scorby is a well-defined character, almost the complete opposite of The Doctor, a malicious heavy who only cares that he gets paid, and unwilling to question the motives of his employer. The rest of the cast are also excellent, with Michael Barrington imbuing Thackery with the right amount of exasperation; Seymour Green excels as the unflinchingly loyal Hargreaves; Mark Jones is just the right amount of pathetic as the squeamish Keeler; Sylvia Coleridge is given just the right amount of rope as Amelia Ducat. Even Winlett and Moberly are fully-fleshed out characters.

There are a couple of minor faults. Firstly, the final stages of the Krynoid are pretty poor effects-wise, even by mid-1970s Who standard. Secondly, UNIT feel a little redundant, especially Sgt. Henderson, who serves little purpose beyond getting killed by Chase. I'm quite happy that the new character of Major Beresford had to be devised, as it'd be a shame for the Brigadier to be lumbered with such a small, ineffectual role.

In the end, though, "The Seeds of Doom" is a big, action-orientated adventure that never quite loses sight of being Doctor Who, despite some very interesting divergences.

Review written: 12/05/2006