Doctor Who Retro Review: ‘The Green Death’ Episode 1
By Leah Tedesco
The issues that we face as stewards of the Earth are highlighted in the classic Doctor Who serial ‘The Green Death,’ starring Jon Pertwee as the Third Doctor, Katy Manning as Jo Grant, and Nicholas Courtney as Brigadier Lethbridge-Stewart. The following is a review of Episode One.
*** This review contains spoilers. ***
One of the most important issues of our time is the environmental state of our planet Earth. Current United States Democratic Presidential candidate Senator Bernie Sanders hails climate change as “the single greatest threat facing our planet.” But concern for our collective home is not something new, as sustainability, pollution, and climate change have been topics of concern for decades. This is made evident in the classic Third Doctor serial ‘The Green Death.’
More from Doctor Who
- Ncuti Gatwa’s Doctor Who Christmas special is a “complete reinvention”
- Ncuti Gatwa is “so nervous” to take on Doctor Who role
- The Doctor and Donna are better than ever in “Wild Blue Yonder”
- Take the Black: House of the Dragon season 2 trailer hints, the Fallout show, and more
- Jodie Whittaker didn’t pick up on any of the hate for her version of the Doctor
The main focus of ‘The Green Death’ is the consequences of the energy sources that humans choose to use. The first episode opens with Director Jocelyn Stevens addressing local miners of a Welsh colliery that has been closed due to the increasing obsolescence of coal. He promises them that they will soon be back to work, but as employees of Global Chemicals Research Center, which is part of the petroleum industry. The workers are happy, but there is a group of protesters from an environmental activist commune called Wholeweal (dismissively known as the “Nuthutch”) in the crowd, raising concerns over the continued pollution. Professor Clifford Jones, a biologist and mycologist, is their spokesperson.
Meanwhile, the Doctor is repairing the TARDIS while he and Jo discuss where they are going to go next. He chooses Metebelis III, while she chooses to investigate what is going on at Global Chemicals Research Center, and to help Professor Jones in his cause. Soon after meeting him, they discuss alternative energy sources such as solar, wind, and hydroelectric — ones that are far superior to the antiquated ones in use that pollute the planet.
Global Chemicals claims that their pollution is “negligible,” but when Professor Jones reveals his suspicion that they are dumping large amounts of toxic waste into the old mines, we are easily able to deduce what has recently begun killing the miners. If that were not enough, there is also the visual evidence of green, glowing blotches on their skin.
Another topic touched on in the episode is sustainability of our food sources. This is foreshadowed in an offhanded conversation between the Doctor and Jo. While she is eating her breakfast, he says to her, “There’s precious little protein in an apple, you know? Protein is the thing for breakfast, Jo!” Her preference for plant-based eating (as mentioned in the novel Catastrophea) is expressed in the sentiment, “Eggs and bacon? Blegh!” While it is true that the average medium-sized apple contains only 0.5 grams of protein, there are many non-animal derived sources that contain much more.
One of the things that Professor Jones shows Jo in his lab is a “hybrid fungus” that is being developed for its high protein content. He comments, “The world’s gonna need something instead of meat.” As a vegan, I was impressed to hear this message in an episode from 1973.
(Article continues below the next post link.)
Check back soon for our review of Episode Two of Doctor Who‘s ‘The Green Death.’