Seeds of Doom (Dr. Who 13.6, 1976

Today Matt, Todd, and would‑be companion Mike travel through spacetime and land in the Antarctic for the 6th serial of the 13th season of the classic BBC series Doctor Who.

“Seeds of Doom” originally aired from January 31 to March 6, 1976, and if you’re a fan of John Carpenter’s The Thing, Howard Hawks’ The Thing From Another World, or classic sci‑fi horror in general, you’re going to feel right at home. This is one of the earliest and most effective examples of British TV doing icy paranoia and creeping body‑horror on a shoestring.

Even if you only know Doctor Who from its 21st‑century resurgence starting with Christopher Eccleston, this story is anchored by perhaps the most iconic Doctor of all time: Tom Baker. His mix of alien aloofness and manic energy are as legend as his scarf is iconic.

The adventure begins at a remote Antarctic research base where a mysterious seed pod is unearthed; one that quickly draws the attention of Harrison Chase, a criminally unhinged botanist / eco‑terrorist / millionaire played with comic‑villain perfection by Tony Beckley. And every great villain needs a henchman: John Challis delivers a Whit BIssell-winning performance clean sweep as Scorby; a man who looks like he was born to menace people in cold climates.

Whether you’re a longtime fan, a newcomer, or just someone who loves classic sci‑fi horror with a dash of British eccentricity, Seeds of Doom is one of the high points of the Tom Baker era. It’s atmospheric, creepy, funny, and surprisingly intense, definitely one of our highest recommendations.