What is so fascinating about the micro world that almost every sci-fi franchise has been inspired to include an episode where the characters shrink to the size of insects? The Doctor’s first foray into diminished circumstances came pretty early: William Hartnell’s second-season opener, Planet of Giants, sees the original TARDIS crew taking on giant bugs, deadly water faucets, and a ruthless killer indifferent to a looming environmental catastrophe. Seen through a magnifying glass, Doctor Who feels like an entirely different show. That’s not necessarily a bad thing, but it’s hard to see that “less is more” in this case. Maybe we just need to squint.
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Story Essentials
Season 2, Serial 1
Story number: 9, per the The Pull To Open Codex
Production Code: J
Writer: Louis Marks
Producer: Verity Lambert
Aired 31 October – 14 November 1964
Pull To Open: Planet of Giants
Season 3
Episode 38
Hosts: Pete Pachal and Chris Taylor
Feedback loop and interlude music: Martin West/Thinking Fish
Outro music: Chronos by Alexander Nakarada
Small World (Reducing “Planet of Giants”)