Doctor Who classic moments: The most fun sword fight ever (The Sea Devils)
By James Aggas
Swords! Banter! Sandwiches! This classic moment from Jon Pertwee Doctor Who story The Sea Devils has it all!
While writing about the Third Doctor yesterday and looking at what made him so brilliant – particularly the action and dandy sides to his character – I was reminded of one of my favorite moments from his era. Specifically, a sword fight from the classic Doctor Who story, The Sea Devils.
I absolutely love The Sea Devils. It deals with very similar themes to Doctor Who and the Silurians, but it’s a lot more fun. The sword fight between the Doctor and the Master in this story a key example of this.
Keep in mind, this isn’t a dark and gritty battle to the death between ancient enemies. While the Master is outwardly trying to kill his former friend, this honestly feels far closer to the two just having fun. The fact that the Doctor practically stops the fight just to have a sandwich really highlights this, as you can see in the clip below.
A friendly sort of battle
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What’s so great about this moment is that it’s a perfect example of what makes the relationship between Pertwee’s Doctor and Delgado’s Master so special. At this point, while they’re definitely enemies, their relationship isn’t quite as nasty as it later becomes. From The Deadly Assassin onwards, the Master is far less playful or friendly in his encounters with the Doctor, even during Anthony Ainley’s era.
But at this point, while the Master is still a harsh psychopath at times, the conflict between him and the Doctor is still in its relatively early stages. They’re hardly the friends that they once were, but they’re not quite the deadly enemies that they will become.
More than that – they both seem to enjoy battling each other. Especially the Doctor. At this point, he’s currently exiled on Earth in the twentieth century, unable to leave in the TARDIS unless the Time Lords want him to do their dirty work for them. As a result, he’s constantly bored and is always looking for something exciting to distract him.
So the Master showing up at this point is, rather than something he’s panicking about, almost a relief. He even admits after Terror of the Autons that, after their first on-screen battle, he’s “rather looking forward” to their next meeting.
The Sea Devils‘s sword fight scene perfectly illustrates why the Doctor and the Master were so fun to watch at this point. Yes, it’s a cool fight scene (for British Seventies TV, anyway). But the playfulness of it really helps to add something special. It’s a genuinely classic moment.
Next. Jon Pertwee – Dandy Doctor. dark
Are you a fan of The Sea Devils? Do you think the sword fight is a highlight from the story? What do you think of the Doctor’s and the Master’s relationship at this point? Let us know in the comments below.