The Seeds of Death is a serial in the British science fiction television series Doctor Who, which originally aired in six weekly parts from January 25 to March 1, 1969.

Synopsis

In the future, a teleportation technology called "T-mat" has replaced all traditional forms of transport, allowing people and objects to travel instantly anywhere on Earth. Manned space exploration has ceased due to the ease of life on Earth.

When something goes amiss at a vital relay station on the Moon, the T-mat system breaks down. With communications out, and no way to reach the Moon without T-mat, those responsible for the system turn to Professor Daniel Eldred, who has been privately building a rocket in hopes of reigniting interest in space travel. In the absence of a space program to provide trained astronauts, the Doctor and his companions volunteer to crew the rocket.

When they arrive on the moon, they discover that the Ice Warriors, a militant Martian race, have taken control of the moonbase as a staging point for an invasion of Earth. The Ice Warriors have seeds, which they send to various parts of Earth using T-mat, of a fungus that will multiply and suck all the oxygen from the surrounding atmosphere, making it more comfortable for the Martians but uninhabitable for humans. They also use T-mat to dispatch a small advance force to seize Earth's weather control systems and ensure good conditions for the growth of the fungus.

The Doctor returns to Earth, recaptures the weather control system and summons rain, destroying the fungus which is used to the dry conditions on Mars. Having learned from a technician held prisoner on the moonbase that the main invasion force is following a homing signal to the Moon, the Doctor comes up with a plan for setting a false signal that will lure the invasion fleet into the Sun.

Notes

1. Steve Peters, who played an Ice Warrior, was billed simply as "Alien" in the Radio Times listing for episode one, so as not to spoil the surprise of the Ice Warriors' appearance.
2. Patrick Troughton does not appear in episode four as he was on holiday when it was being recorded. A double stands in for him in some shots where the Doctor is seen unconscious on the floor.

External Links

• Cast and Crew list, on the BBC website