I was amazed at how different the Brigade Leader looked in "Inferno" by just giving the moustache the axe (and adding the eyepatch, of course).Moderator's Note: This is Mike's original Brigadier summary:
Ah, the Brig. He started off strong, especially in "Spearhead from Space" and "Doctor Who and the Silurians." By the time of "The Mind of Evil", though, he was just around to roll his eyes at the Doctor. I was happy to see him on the road to recovery in "Mawdryn Undead", and given a fine send off in "Battlefield."
Forgive my American ignorance, but how do men wind up with hyphenated names?
From their parents.
Or sometimes a couple might to choose both their surnames when married. So when George Harris marries Kylie Smith, both their last names might become Harris-Smith and this goes on to their children and so on.
6.30pm, Saturday 8th April, BBC2.
Nicholas Courtney gets second billing in a comedy series unseen for some 18 years. Opposite Frankie Howerd, no less. Which is a coincidence really, as anyone who has seen Old Nick live knows, he does a very good Frankie Howerd. "Oooh" he goes, before launching into many many more Howerdisms.
Battlefield could have been so much more exciting had he been allowed to mimic Frankie Howerd.
They have been showing Frankie Howerd's show "Up Pompeii" on the local PBS station in Dallas. It would certainly be interesting to see the Brigadier spouting sexual innuendoes and double entendres every five seconds to the camera, whilst being surrounded by scantily clad lovely ladies whose breasts defy the laws of gravity by not falling out of the little pieces of cloth suspending them. Oooh!
Better than the macho 'five rounds rapid' Brigadier, though? Probably not. But certainly interesting.
Would have made The Time Monster more interesting, especially if he had some scenes with Ingrid Pitt.
But then Graham Chapman would have to walk on and tell everybody to stop it because they're being silly.
This did get me thinking, though. The kid's show Rainbow once did an all-out rude episode with all the regulars - Zippy swore and Geoffrey hinted at sex and Bungle was a devout homosexual etc... There must be loads of outtakes from Who in which stars swear and cuss and say 'arse'. When is a Doctor Who Fluffs And Goofs Video going to come out? I know the first 'kept' fluff came from The Abominable Snowmen - apparently Jamie and Victoria slid past the camera. On the More Than Thirty Years video, there were goofs aplenty - with even The Doctor and Romana about to kiss. Not only do I want to know if there is an abundance of this stuff, but I also want to know if it can be regarded as canon.
So, then, did the Seventh Doctor really have cause to kiss Nimrod?
Oh, did anyone else see the Frankie Howerd comedy? It was lame, but did have a frankly freaky 'gag':
COURTNEY: You have agrophobia? A fear of open spaces?
HOWERD: Yes. I have a fear of battlefields. (Nudges Courtney knowingly and goes 'oooh')
3.65 million people would have got that subliminal joke and laughed.
I don't know about the later episodes, but a goof? was kept in Seeds of Death. Apparently the rocket was doing some unusual maneuvres and Jamie 'accidently' touched Zoe in an inappropriate area, or so it appears, I'm not sure exactly went on, but the girl playing Zoe was a little perturbed. They nearly broke out of character, but being professionals, the actors kept going. I guess videotape in those days was expensive.
I've seen a reel of goofs where Tom Baker says the 'f' word at K9, goes to kiss to Mary Tamm (ala 'More Than Thirty Years...'), etc, etc. It's been a long time since I saw it and I'd love to see it again.
I can't say I blame him, I would kiss Mary Tamm every chance I got...
Yes, I suppose it's allowable, especially as she later regenerated into his wife. As long as it's not canon ;)
Where did you originally come across the goof tape, Luke?
A friend of my dad had it.
He must have worked for the B.B.C then in the late 70's, then as it was an internal tape for B.B.C production staff, to watch when "Slightly Drunk" as they stated. Basically, it was a means for staff to let off steam. It was a tradition for a blooper tape to be made every yesr, for staff enjoyment. It included outtakes, bloopers & special film sequences.
It was discontinued in the early 80's, due to various reasons.
As far as hyphenated names go,the Brig's mother might have come from a family that was a bit better classwise than his father's and they might have adopted the name Lethbridge-Stewart since
Stewart was such a common name and the Lethbridges
were better off.
Ok,so that probably doesn't explain it too well,so
I shall use an example of my own.
My Irish great grandfather was a Studdert Kennedy.
His paternal grandparents were the Rt.Rev.Robert
M. Kennedy and Ann Studdert.Because Kennedy is such a more common name than Studdert and since
the Studderts were a better off family all of their sons eventually adopted the Studdert Kennedy
name.
I am not sure,but this is perhaps the way it could have also happened with the Brig's family as
well.
I mean with the British everything has to do with
Class in the end.
I was watching All Creatures Great and Small the other day and one of Herriott's clients had a small dog who ended up being put down and the owner subsequently committed suicide. Although the owner didn't look familiar, his voice gave him away as Nicholas Courtney within moments. I spent the whole episode studying the character trying to make out the Brig's features.
He probably didn't have a moustache, did he? I was amazed at how different the Brigade Leader looked in "Inferno" by just giving the moustache the axe (and adding the eyepatch, of course).
You're right, no moustache. Made a huge difference.
7 years without a comment about the Brig? Wow.
I've always wondered if Graham Chapman's British officer on Monty Python was a send-up of the Brigidier. He has a moustache and a similar uniform, and they were made around the same time in the early '70's.
Does anyone know for sure?
7 years without a comment about the Brig? Wow.
I know, we're a disgrace. But then, all he's had was one mention in Sontaran Stratagem, and an appearance in SJA: Enemy of the Bane. If only New Who had had the sense to BEG Himself to grace them with his presence, we wouldn't have had to wait four years for UNIT to FINALLY produce someone adorable, viz, Malcolm.
I've always wondered if Graham Chapman's British officer on Monty Python was a send-up of the Brigidier. He has a moustache and a similar uniform, and they were made around the same time in the early '70's.
I'd assume that they were BOTH based on some cliched idea of the upper-class patriotic moustached British officer.
The answer was staring me in the face and I didn't realize it.
Graham Chapman's officer showed up in 1969-- not long before the Brig, but Lethbridge-Stewart didn't wear the green uniform until 1971, his second season. Until then, he was in the gray uniform sporting a beret, something completely different 
from Chapman's officer.
But I suppose both were somewhat cliched ideas of officers, while they were at it.
Interesting, isn't it, that in Green Death when the Doc has half an hour before the Brig blows up the mine on Stephens' orders, the Doc spends said time trying to dissuade the evil polluting nutcase, rather than trying to dissuade his second-best pal the Brig.
Sure, orders are orders and all that, but the Brig must have had SOME latitude - he's employed by the United Nations, not Global Chemicals. And if he'd declared the maggots an international problem (as indeed they are, what with the whole turning-into-flies thing) he'd surely have been entitled even to ignore a direct order from the British PM.
So why has the Brig not yet learnt to trust his Scientific Advisor? How can he not have realised that The Doctor Knows Best by now? He thinks the Doc nicked UNIT funds to build his TARDIS. He even - however briefly - believes the Doc may be behind the dinosaur invasion (unlike Benton, whose faith never wavers). Are there loads of unseen adventures where the Doc behaves like a complete moron/traitor/lunatic/pacifist or something, justifying this lack of trust?
Some sad news: Nicholas Courtney has died.
http://ca.io9.com/5767742/rip-nicholas-courtney-doctor-whos-trustiest-companion
Mike- already posted in the Doctor Who Cemetary. But thanks for the link.
It is a sad day--He will be missed.
I've ALREADY spent years missing him. UNIT would never have ended up sticking nukes under the Earth's crust or locking innocent Toshes up for life if HE'D been around instead of sunning himself in Peru for no readily apparent reason (and what did poor Doris think of THAT? She didn't even approve of him going off to meet the Doctor for a few hours in Battlefield).
How accurate is that article? 'The Brigadier was almost killed off in 1976's "The Seeds of Doom,"' - what the hell does Seeds of Doom think it IS!
'From his first appearance in 1965 to his final outing two years ago, he was the most trustworthy friend of that mysterious time traveler from another world.' - I'm pretty sure Bret Vyon wasn't the Doc's MOST trustworthy friend. Actually I'm not sure the Brig is. He had other loyalties - Britain, the army, the Government, the human race etc - unlike the likes of Rose who'd blow up ALL those things with a dimensional cannon if that'd give her two minutes more with her Doctor. I mean, in Invasion of Dinosaurs the Brig - unlike dear Benton - actually seemed to entertain the notion that the Doc might be the monster-maker.
Emily- can we merge the two Brig discussions (wherever you think is appropriate, here or cemetary)
Actually I rather like the idea of mourning the Brig on as many different threads as possible. He didn't exactly confine himself to a small corner of Who, after all. In fact, like Judi with the Web of Fear novelisation, we should all do something in memory of Our Hero so we can bewail his loss on still MORE threads. (At the moment the only thing I feel like doing is machine-gunning the nearest statue while screaming 'Chap with the wings there - five rounds rapid!' (even if said statue didn't have wings) - but I'm sure I'll think of something a bit...easier. (Though I WOULD be taking out a possible Lonely Assassin...two birds with one stone...)
Trust Moffat to have the perfect thing to say about our Brig:
His perfectly pitched performance as the Brigadier carved a very special place in the history of Doctor Who. Not just because he could be grave and funny at the same time, and wise and silly in the same moment, and not just because you could still love him when he was clearly in the wrong, or because he could point a gun at you and still somehow twinkle - but because out of all the people the Doctor has met, in all of space and time, Nicholas Courtney's Brigadier Alistair Gordon Lethbridge-Stewart was the only one who was ever his boss.
Somewhere out there, the Doctor just got a little lonelier.
Well I was rather chuffed that the next story in my series of Rodcasts was "Mawdryn Undead". Spooky.
Oh and Emily- I find it rather amusing that you move threads and posts willy-nilly but can't be arsed to move this one...
Well I was rather chuffed that the next story in my series of Rodcasts was "Mawdryn Undead". Spooky.
Go for it!
I find it rather amusing that you move threads and posts willy-nilly
Oi! I most certainly do NOT! I always carefully balance the fact a thread ought to be elsewhere against the unfortunate fact Nitcentrallers will squeal like pig-slaves being electrocuted if I DO move it...
but can't be arsed to move this one...
If you can come up with a clinching argument as to whether the dead Brigadier should go in the 'dead' or the 'Brigadier' section, I'll reconsider...
If you can come up with a clinching argument as to whether the dead Brigadier should go in the 'dead' or the 'Brigadier' section, I'll reconsider...
Because Nicholas Courtney, the actor, died- we are discussing HIS passing, not that of The Brigadier. For all we know they'll keep referring to him throughout the series.
In North America, when a beloved actor dies, usually there character is killed off on the show they starred it.
I wonder if that will happen here. Maybe they'll have an episode of the Sarah Jane Adventures in which Sarah is shown mouring the Brig's passing.
Because Nicholas Courtney, the actor, died- we are discussing HIS passing, not that of The Brigadier.
That would be an EXCELLENT argument to use on anyone with a slightly better grasp on this 'reality' thing than me.
(Actually I'm feeling rather embarrassed about that, for the first time in my life. Just gave a friend's four-year-old his birthday present of a couple of model Cybermen (yes if there's got to be a kid in my life it's bloody well going to be a Who Fan OR ELSE) and he explained to me that they weren't REAL Cybermen. If I'd had my wits about me I'd've assured him they were only in hibernation, AS ON THEIR ICE TOMBS ON TELOS, and could wake up and delete him ANY DAY NOW. As it was, I was just in awe of the fact a munchkin had grasped the fact/fiction distinction that continues to elude me.)
For all we know they'll keep referring to him throughout the series.
That would be weird. AT LAST they can drop the tactful-and-wearing-EXTREMELY-thin 'Peru' excuse and use the d-word.
I wonder if that will happen here. Maybe they'll have an episode of the Sarah Jane Adventures in which Sarah is shown mouring the Brig's passing.
If RTG writes for it again, I bet we will.
Mawdryn Undead:
BRIG: Why should the creature want to regnerate?
DOCTOR: To extend its life.
BRIG: What for?
In the circumstances I'm finding this rather poignant. But in ANY circumstances I'm wondering when the Brig got so THICK.
The Brigadier changing from an open-minded, dynamic semi-efficient leader of men (seasons 6-8) to a parochial, reactionary desk-bound Monty Python military buffoon stereotype thereafter. Worst case of anti-character development ever seen.
Particularly jarring is how he accepts the TARDIS at face value based on the Doctor’s descriptions of it in The Web of Fear, fully accepting of it’s extraterrestial origins (and even, IIRC, the fact that it’s bigger on the inside), which is consistent with somebody who’d be open-minded enough to be put in charge of UNIT; indeed, consistent with the Brigadier as we seen him throughout Season 7. Flash forward to The Three Doctors, however, and he’s conveniently forgotten it all, just so he can marvel at the TARDIS being bigger on the inside
The Brigadier changing from an open-minded, dynamic semi-efficient leader of men (seasons 6-8) to a parochial, reactionary desk-bound Monty Python military buffoon stereotype thereafter. Worst case of anti-character development ever seen.
True, very true *sigh*. I suppose we just have to view our poor old Brig as spending YEARS having a quiet nervous breakdown, culminating in his Mawdryn collapse. Well, you can't really blame him - trying to be the Doctor's boss for years would be enough to give anyone mental illness, let alone coping with weekly alien invasions AS WELL.
OK, did anyone else get the impression that the Brig was utterly, totally, suicidally in love with Doris? Cos I certainly didn't from Battlefield, not to mention Planet of the Spiders, or the several-decade-gap between the two. He didn't tell her about the Doctor. He didn't hesitate to dump her and scarper at the first sight of said Doctor. He treated her as an unpaid skivvy and cook.
So the fact he spends the whole of Shadows of Avalon trying to top himself over her death A YEAR EARLIER is a bit odd. And when he thinks a nuclear bomb has exploded, he believes 'that in a glorious moment they would all be dust and he would be free' - 'they' includes THE DOCTOR. Don't tell me the Brig's death-wish is so strong he wouldn't even care about THAT.
Also it has the line 'The monsters from space, those shiny, scaly, obsessed things from other worlds, that had so delighted the Brigadier in his first youth...' - can't say I ever spotted him looking DELIGHTED at the latest invasion.
Moderator's Note: Moved from Audios: Companion Chronicles: Season Two:
JEREMY: The Brig can handle himself on his own, thanks.
EMILY: Since WHEN!
He became a brigadier before meeting the Doctor, so he must have been able to do SOMETHING right.
Actually he only became a Colonel before meeting the Doctor...and I'm not sure how much of THAT was due to obviously being from an upper-class military family.
I can't believe that NO ONE is defending the Brig from my slanders! (Libels. Whatever.)
I can't believe that NO ONE is defending the Brig from my slanders! (Libels. Whatever.)
Well, I would but I really don't know enough about his early history to make a good advocate.
However, he was obviously liked and respected by his troops, so I'd say they considered that he actually earned his rank instead of having it bestowed upon him by family connexions.
I really don't know enough about his early history to make a good advocate.
Come to think of it, none of us do.
The fact he was put in charge of Britain's entire military defence against an enemy that could destroy the country might suggest he was really good at his job, if only a) he wasn't a last-minute replacement for some bloke who died, and b) the entire scientific defence against an enemy that could destroy the country hadn't been put in the hands of the elderly nutcase who'd caused the problem in the first place, and his offspring (likely to inherit his insanity and - worse! - FEMALE!).
he was obviously liked and respected by his troops
How many troops survived more than one adventure with him? The only ones able to form a balanced picture are Traitor Yates and Gormless Benton.
But, OK, I like and respect him. It's not the Brig's fault that prolonged exposure to the Doctor drove him mad.
Moffat in DWM: 'For a long time, I kept having a scene at the very, very end [of Wedding of River Song] - after the end titles - of just two whisky glasses sitting on a table, and the Doctor saying, "That was a really mean trick, Alistair!"...but I thought that would just undercut it' - yeah, joyously relieved as I would have been...the utter tragedy of it was SO PERFECT. (Plus, wasn't it BRANDY?)
Invasion of the Dinosaurs:
'You'll never get it off the ground, Doctor. Wouldn't you rather have a jeep?' - which part of the Doctor's achievements over the last few years leave the Brigadier believing him incapable of running a funny-looking car?
'Maybe General Finch took her out to dinner' - is the Brigadier's explanation for Sarah's disappearance. I realise he doesn't know her yet, but surely ANYONE could tell at first glance that FINCH IS NOT HER TYPE? (And out to dinner WHERE in a deserted London anyway?)
'You have only got yourself to blame' 'Why should anyone want to kill HER' 'Yes of course, [an attempt on the DOCTOR'S life], that would be it' - blimey, does the Brig actually HATE SARAH'S GUTS or something? Did he get into trouble when someone FINALLY noticed he'd let a JOURNALIST into his top-secret scientist-guarding operation?
'Project abandoned, no further action to be taken. You see, Doctor' says the Brigadier. 'You'll forgive me, Minister, if I prefer to believe the evidence of my own eyes' - why doesn't the Brigadier trust the evidence of the Doctor's own eyes?
'Apart from your story, Doctor which - forgive me - is pretty unbelievable, there isn't a shred of evidence to suggest that this place exists. Now, you heard the Minister yourself - it doesn't exist.' - Really, you'd think after the Cromer incident he'd be a little less sceptical.
'What's the difference?' - between a brontosaurus and a t-rex? After WEEKS of monster-spotting the Brig is being INCREDIBLY thick.
'Don't you worry Miss Smith, those chains will hold it down' - is it just me or does the universe decide to teach the Brig a lesson EVERY TIME he makes a definitive statement like that?
I REALLY hope the Brig's bluffing about interrogating the Doctor to discover his base, names of his associates, etc.
After they discover Yates is a traitor: 'What about the Brigadier' - Benton. 'What indeed' - Doctor. Look, I know he's being a PIG-HEADED IDIOT and I know this is the story in which suspecting EVERYONE YOU MEET of being a traitor is the only sensible thing to do, but how DARE you! Who the hell do you people think you ARE!
The Brig asks the Doctor what else he can do but put through a call to UNIT HQ in Geneva. Quite why he needs the Doctor to suggest ATTACKING THE UNDERGROUND BASE I don't know.
'Are we inside this protective field' is the Brig's first thought on being informed that the whole of humanity outside said field will be wiped out. Selfish git.
'I still think we should wait for reinforcements' - which bit of the human race will be wiped out any minute is the Brig not quite getting the hang of?
'I never thought I'd find myself blowing up a tube station' - what, even after Web of Fear?!
'Still, I'll say one thing. Not many sergeants get the chance to punch a general on the nose' 'Just don't make a habit of it Benton' - ah, the poor Brig is actually expecting to get a PROMOTION for all this world-saving one day. Bet he wasn't expecting to wait QUITE so many decades...
ah, the poor Brig is actually expecting to get a PROMOTION for all this world-saving one day. Bet he wasn't expecting to wait QUITE so many decades...
Until 1922, the full title of the Brigadier's rank was brigadier-general. In some foreign countries, like the US, it still is. Nor is that just a name. In those countries, brigadiers are classed as a junior type of general.
I'm sure the Brigadier knows all about this.
Our Brig would SCORN to notice what LESSER COUNTRIES did with their army ranks.
After all, they're just foreigners.
As a senior British officer, it's pretty unlikely that the Brigadier never met any officers from our NATO 'allies' (and probably some from all the other countries in UNIT too). Fortunately for him, the French left NATO before his time, but he's probably had to sit through formal dinners with Italian, German, and American officers of his rank.
Considering the way certain Americans love to claim they won WWII single-handed, forgetting Britain''s finest hour, when we stood alone against Hitler while they partied, the Brigadier will have good reason to deploy the full weight of his scorn on them, including explaining how they were doing absolutely everything wrong. Unfortunately, to do that he does need to know the full list of everything they're doing wrong, including classing brigadiers as mere junior generals.
Also, I'm sure the Brigadier knows the full history of his regiment in exhaustive detail, including the name and tank of every single senior officer it ever had, such as the previous brigadiers. Thus, he'd be well aware that the British army used to do things differently - though, of course, they were right at the time, and right to change the practice when they did.
As a senior British officer, it's pretty unlikely that the Brigadier never met any officers from our NATO 'allies' (and probably some from all the other countries in UNIT too).
Hmm, that's a point. Given how aliens never bothered to invade anywhere else, the Brig would be in constant demand to explain to his foreign UNIT colleagues exactly why they should actually, y'know...EXIST.
Maybe that's why he's NEVER AROUND during the Season Thirteen invasions.
Come to think of it, they SHOULD all have been abolished and the money (and maybe, as in Battlefield, the foreign troops) should have been diverted to Britain.
he's probably had to sit through formal dinners with Italian, German, and American officers of his rank.
Well, I hope wore his skirt (sorry, kilt) to freak them out.
Maybe that's why he's NEVER AROUND during the Season Thirteen invasions.
He's always off to Geneva.
Do we ever find out what other nations have active branches of UNIT? IIRC we only ever see Bill Filer from the US during the Pertwee years, and 'Battlefield' adds Poles and Czechs (but suggests that they had multi-national teams operating on British soil back in the classic years, which they clearly didn't). Presumably the other permanent members of the security council would have permanent UNIT set-ups, but not every country in the UN could.
Though I like the idea that the UNIT staff at Geneva dress like Swiss Guards, and are therefore only slightly less ridiculous than the season 7 uniforms.
Do we ever find out what other nations have active branches of UNIT
There's a Soviet UNIT in Devil Goblins from Neptune. Of course, even before New Who started jumping up and down on the novels from a great height, there was nothing remotely convincing about anything in Devil Goblins from Neptune, from the title right down to Mike Yates' rampant heterosexuality.
IIRC we only ever see Bill Filer from the US during the Pertwee years
Filer's UNIT?! Obviously it's been decades since I inflicted that particular godawful pile of •••• on myself, I was sort of assuming he was FBI or something. He just didn't seem particularly clued-up about aliens.
Of course, half the time THE BRIGADIER doesn't seem particularly clued-up about aliens.
are therefore only slightly less ridiculous than the season 7 uniforms.
What's wrong with the Season 7 uniforms!
Filer's UNIT?!
He's Central Intelligence Agency in the novelisation...
Oh! That explains a lot.
I mean, usually it's only the Malcolm Hulke novelisations that I remember better than The Real Thing, but in Claws' case it wouldn't be surprising, the book MUST have been minimally less pointlessly tedious than watching The Claws of Axos on TV. Cos, let's face it, everything is.
I don't like the CIA. They covered up reports of a 1950s Soviet nuclear disaster because they were afraid that it might impact domestic American support for nuclear power plants. If they hadn't done that, we might not have had a Chernobyl...
'Cunning and ruthless. A typical CIA agent...' ;)
He's Central Intelligence Agency in the novelisation...
He's not on TV.
'Cunning and ruthless. A typical CIA agent...' ;)
'Inept and strangely-acted. A typical UNIT agent...'
'Inept and strangely-acted. A typical UNIT agent...'
Ooh!
When I think how often Our Heroes saved the world...when I think of our Brig (ignoring Three Docs), our Kate (ignoring Day of the Doctor), our Benton (ignoring Wartime) etc etc...the stupid inept American was just NOT TYPICAL.
ME in New Series: Season Eight: The Caretaker: Though to be honest, I don't remember any stunning feats of physical prowess from [the Brigadier].
ROBERT: Well, he was an officer. They aren't expected to get physical these days
Well, they were in the UNIT days, when the Brig frequently had all of about three soldiers at his command and had to go begging to the regular army if he wanted to foil an alien invasion, which was always awkward if their general happened to be an Auton.
but the Brigadier was at least as exceptional at officer type skills as Danny is at physical stuff - officer type skills being stuff like inspiring the soldiers serving under him and keeping the base running efficiently.
Was he REALLY that exceptional? I mean, leaving aside the fact we all adore and worship him. Just consider:
Well, they were in the UNIT days,
The Brigadier may have needed to get physical at times, but he wasn't trained for that. According to his training, the right way for him to deal with any physical problem would be to grab the nearest NCO, and order them to deal with it.
The high staff turnover.
That could be a good sign. If the army thought junior officers would benefit from a spell under the Brigadier, learning from his example, they'd rotate officers through UNIT pretty fast, so more of them would get that golden chance to serve under the Brigadier.
The mental health issues. ... he seems to be in denial about life on other planets
So was the entire British public, even after some pretty obvious alien invasions. Compared to the average British citizen, the Brigadier may be the picture of mental health.
His second-in-command attempts to destroy the human race.
While recovering from being mind controlled by a mad computer, not something for which the Brigadier was trained.
He lets UNIT's greatest asset - the Doctor - slip through his fingers.
Because he realises that if there's one thing you must never put in a box, it's the Doctor.
He can't even control Jo Grant
He doesn't really try. Since she's a civilian, she's not really under his authority, and being too forceful with her would alienate the Doctor.
He has little loyalty to UNIT once he's left
Of course. His loyalty is to queen and country, with his regiment in third place.
He mistrusts the Doctor for SEVERAL MINUTES in Dinosaur Invasion.
Thus demonstrating extraordinary mental strength. There aren't many sane humans who can withstand the Doctor's aura of authority that long.
He's pretty terrible at coping with the female half of the human race
Unfortunately, I suspect that's pretty normal for British military officers of his generation. Most of the generals may well have been even worse.
If the army thought junior officers would benefit from a spell under the Brigadier, learning from his example, they'd rotate officers through UNIT pretty fast, so more of them would get that golden chance to serve under the Brigadier.
On the other hand, that could well mean the creme-de-la-creme of British soldiery getting slaughted by alien invaders before they got the necessary seasoning. And the future of humanity put at risk because the newbies would be busy pointing and laughing at the 'men in rubber suits' because they simply didn't BELIEVE in alien invaions. (Well, the longer he spent at UNIT the less the Brig seemed to believe. Liz sneered at the idea of 'little green men', Jo spent MONTHS with Pertwee failing to believe his travels-in-space-and-time stories, Harry spent three weeks failing to notice his patient had two hearts, etc etc...)
So was the entire British public, even after some pretty obvious alien invasions. Compared to the average British citizen, the Brigadier may be the picture of mental health.
HE RUNS UNIT! HE'S EARTH'S FIRST LINE OF DEFENCE AGAINST ALIENS! WE CAN'T AFFORD FOR HIM TO START DOUBTING THEIR VERY EXISTENCES AFTER HE'S SPENT YEARS FIGHTING THEM ON A WEEKLY BASIS!
His second-in-command attempts to destroy the human race.
While recovering from being mind controlled by a mad computer, not something for which the Brigadier was trained.
The Metabelis Crystal washed Mike's mind clean of that particular hypnotism. He can't blame BOSS for the fact he fell under the influence of a crazy genocidal cult. If only he'd had more respect for his superior officer - and if only said officer hadn't given him so much time OFF after the BOSS business - it would never have happened.
Because he realises that if there's one thing you must never put in a box, it's the Doctor.
Oh. Yeah, good point.
Plus it's quite possible the Brig notices the drastic drop in alien invasions the minute the Doctor takes off...
He can't even control Jo Grant
He doesn't really try. Since she's a civilian, she's not really under his authority,
She's a member of UNIT and TOTALLY under his authority. At least, she SHOULD be. She defies the Brig with impunity because he's just not the strong leader he could be. He takes a 'Liberty Hall' attitude towards pratically everyone except Sergeant Benton. And as a result poor put-upon Benton is the faithful, stalwart backbone of the entire organisation. I never thought I'd say it, but maybe if the Brig had given Yates a good flogging the moment he nicked his helicopter before suggesting they dance round the maypole together, things would have turned out much better for all concerned.
and being too forceful with her would alienate the Doctor.
Nonsense, if he's got two braincells to rub together the Brig will be well aware that the Doctor would be MIGHTILY PLEASED if he forcibly prevented the 'fledgling's' attempted defection to a younger man.
His loyalty is to queen and country, with his regiment in third place.
He can be obsessed with bizarre 'queen and country' principles and STILL go to reunions more than every six years or so, you know.
Hell, he doesn't even have to GO anywhere, can you BELIEVE the git NEVER MENTIONED THE DOCTOR TO HIS OWN WIFE???!!! And then he has the bloody CHEEK to emotionally-blackmail the Eleventh Doctor into attempted suicide with his wretched brandies.
And not attending the Doctor's FUNERAL cos he's 'in Peru'!! Well Jo was in Latin America too but did she let it stop HER...??
He mistrusts the Doctor for SEVERAL MINUTES in Dinosaur Invasion.
Thus demonstrating extraordinary mental strength. There aren't many sane humans who can withstand the Doctor's aura of authority that long.
I...hadn't thought of it quite like that.
Alright, so he's demonstrating extraordinary stupidity, extraordinary treachery, and extraordinary mental strength.
Unfortunately, I suspect that's pretty normal for British military officers of his generation. Most of the generals may well have been even worse.
I don't doubt it, but THEY'RE probably not surrounded by women like Zoe, Liz, Jo, Isobel, Sarah, Bambera etc who keep coming up with world-saving ideas and whom it's therefore VERY DANGEROUS to give the brush-off to.
On the other hand, that could well mean the creme-de-la-creme of British soldiery getting slaughted by alien invaders before they got the necessary seasoning
It could, but if they didn't serve under the Brigadier, they'd die even faster.
WE CAN'T AFFORD FOR HIM TO START DOUBTING THEIR VERY EXISTENCES
He doesn't though, not while he's serving. He might be reluctant to believe he's on an alien planet, but he doesn't deny the existence of aliens outright until he gets amnesia.
He can't blame BOSS for the fact he fell under the influence of a crazy genocidal cult.
Even without the after effects of brainwashing, Mike's experiences with BOSS, and other mad science projects, would be enough to turn many people against technology.
She's a member of UNIT and TOTALLY under his authority. At least, she SHOULD be.
Not really. The British military likes to have a sharp line between civilians and the armed forces. Partly, it's easier for the officers if everyone under them is subject to the same code of military discipline, but mostly it's because if officers get used to bossing civilians around, they might start getting dangerous ideas.
the Doctor would be MIGHTILY PLEASED if he forcibly prevented the 'fledgling's' attempted defection to a younger man.
You sure about that? If the Doctor learned that Jo had only decided to stay with him because the Brigadier had put her on kitchen duties, at gunpoint, until she came to her senses, I can't see the Doctor being too happy.
He can be obsessed with bizarre 'queen and country' principles and STILL go to reunions more than every six years or so, you know.
Only if he gets the invitations. If anyone from UNIT had tried staying in touch with the Brigadier, they'd surely have noticed his amnesia, and tried to help, but they didn't.
I can think of two possible explanations for this. One gets us into the whole UNIT dating mess. The other is that someone must have been keeping everyone from UNIT from contacting the Brigadier.
Torchwood are the obvious culprit. Admittedly, they don't have any rational motive for doing this to the Brigadier, but a lot of their behaviour is pretty irrational.
And not attending the Doctor's FUNERAL cos he's 'in Peru'!!
An obvious cover story. He was probably actually on the moon base, or somewhere even more secret.
THEY'RE probably not surrounded by women like Zoe, Liz, Jo, Isobel, Sarah, Bambera etc who keep coming up with world-saving ideas
I'm sure a general's wife would be just as capable as any other woman. Indeed, quite a few generals probably get all their best ideas from their wives. then take undeserved credit.
but if they didn't serve under the Brigadier, they'd die even faster.
No, no, if they didn't serve under the Brig they'd be JUST FINE, the British Government weren't invading the Middle East all the time in THOSE days.
He might be reluctant to believe he's on an alien planet, but he doesn't deny the existence of aliens outright until he gets amnesia.
OK, so I was exaggerating very slightly, but it wasn't just the alien planet he was bizarrely in denial over (even to the extent of getting a quarry confused with a beach), he adamantly ignored the Doctor's word AND the evidence of Benton's own eyes and refused to accept that there were TWO wonderful Doctors running around.
Even without the after effects of brainwashing, Mike's experiences with BOSS, and other mad science projects, would be enough to turn many people against technology.
True, so why didn't he just go and join the Nut Hutch instead of attempting to USE TECHNOLOGY to WIPE OUT THE HUMAN RACE?
The British military likes to have a sharp line between civilians and the armed forces.
But surely if Jo is a MEMBER of UNIT she's an honorary soldier, or something? There's that extraordinary scene where she says something critical of the Brig and the Doctor's all 'HOW DARE YOU CRITICISE YOUR COMMANDING OFFICER!!' at her. Plus, there's a clear line between Sarah, who's able to go off and do as she likes cos she's not an official member of UNIT, and Jo and Liz, who shouldn't be able to (but do thanks to the Brig's complete inability to keep even a ditzy teenager in line).
If the Doctor learned that Jo had only decided to stay with him because the Brigadier had put her on kitchen duties, at gunpoint, until she came to her senses, I can't see the Doctor being too happy.
I can certainly see the Doctor PRETENDING not to be too happy but let's fact it, HE wasn't above messing up Jo's date with Cliff himself.
An obvious cover story. He was probably actually on the moon base, or somewhere even more secret.
They didn't mind telling a bunch of kids that Britain had a Moonbase, why would they lie about the Brig's whereabouts? And the Brig can barely MOVE by SJA: Enemy of the Bane - what exactly is he DOING?
the British Government weren't invading the Middle East all the time in THOSE days.
But they were getting invaded by aliens all the time. Training under the Brig helps prepare officers for that.
he adamantly ignored the Doctor's word AND the evidence of Benton's own eyes and refused to accept that there were TWO wonderful Doctors running around.
With all the doubles and hypnotism he's seen, he had good reason for doubt. One of the Doctor's could always have been a robot, or an Auton, or the Master in a mask, and Benton could have been hypnotised into believing he's seen almost anything.
True, so why didn't he just go and join the Nut Hutch
They'd probably turn ex-soldiers down, on principle.
But surely if Jo is a MEMBER of UNIT she's an honorary soldier, or something?
Depends on the exact rules and regulations, but if she was an honorary soldier, she should probably have been saluted, since assistant to the Doctor is quite a senior position. Did UNIT salute for Jo?
They didn't mind telling a bunch of kids that Britain had a Moonbase
Wasn't that a different 'they'. I don't recall the same people who mentioned the moonbase saying the Brig was in Peru.
And the Brig can barely MOVE by SJA: Enemy of the Bane - what exactly is he DOING?
Providing inspirational leadership. One US president managed to lead his country through a world war from a wheelchair, and anything a mere foreigner can do, the Brigadier can do better if he wishes, being the quintessential British army officer.
But they were getting invaded by aliens all the time.
And the regular army sensibly left it all to UNIT. Sure, it had to borrow some cannon-fodder sometimes, but the only time I remember regular army officers working alongside UNIT during weird goings-on was when General Finch (TRAITOR!) pulled a LOT of strings to meddle in things that wouldn't have been any of his business if he hadn't created the entire situation in the first place.
Plus they had to call in the RAF once when the Brig was hobnobbing in Geneva (as became increasingly frequent in later years, it was almost as bad as Peru) in Seeds of Doom but I don't remember any RAF officers being seconded to UNIT. Ditto for the Navy in Sea Devils - actually UNIT really SHOULD have gone on manoeuvres (or, um, something) with the Navy and Air Force so enough of its top brass were alerted as to their world-saving purpose to just do as the Doctor and/or Brig told them when push came to shove.
But ARMY officers on constant rotation in and out of UNIT - bad for everyone's morale and operational efficiency, surely.
With all the doubles and hypnotism he's seen, he had good reason for doubt.
But what ON EARTH made the Brig believe - with his knowledge of time-travel and all - that Pertwee turning back into Troughton was somehow SO MUCH more likely than Troughton turning up to assist Pertwee that he could dismiss the evidence of both Benton and Troughton himself?
One of the Doctor's could always have been a robot, or an Auton, or the Master in a mask,
Yeah, but this is CONSIDERABLY LESS LIKELY than at any OTHER time of their acquaintance.
Cos the robot or the Auton or the Master would have had to be carelessly imitating THE WRONG DOCTOR.
and Benton could have been hypnotised into believing he's seen almost anything.
Oi! Benton is HIGHLY RELIABLE.
They'd probably turn ex-soldiers down, on principle.
Hey! They were perfectly happy to invite the Brig for dinner.
Did UNIT salute for Jo?
No, but then the saluting rules bear no resemblance to what we Earthlings call LOGIC. I'm still waiting for an explanation for WHY THE HELL Captain Jack was saluting Martha...
I don't recall the same people who mentioned the moonbase saying the Brig was in Peru.
No, it was definitely the same drag-Sarah-and-co-to-the-Doctor's-funeral UNIT people.
And the Brig can barely MOVE by SJA: Enemy of the Bane - what exactly is he DOING?
Providing inspirational leadership.
To be frank, he didn't do a terribly good job with HIS OWN DAUGHTER...
RODNEY in New Series: Season Eight: Death in Heaven: The thought of our brig (who clearly has been on a diet since we saw him in SJA) being a cyberman is pretty awful.
I'm...torn. It DOES seem in painfully bad taste and potentially ruinous of our most beloved character.
On the other hand, the fact no New Who Doctor bothered to visit him didn't exactly make for a good send-off either and the always-pouring-a-brandy-for-the-Doctor-who-never-came was so heartbreaking that maybe it's BETTER he goes out as a Cyberman. I ADORED Capaldi saluting him. (Even if I'm a little surprised to discover this was actually the Brig's life's ambition.)
Though I'm worried about what happens next. Does he go up into the cloud and die like the others? Or does he jetpack round the universe like Kroton the Happy Cyberman?
And he wasn't necessarily on a diet - he was probably one of the Cybermen who got their consciousness downloaded into an ex-corpse rather than got their body stuffed in a suit like Danny.
In which case, presumably when he died years ago he'd've got greeted personally by Missy and then persuaded to delete his emotions by Seb. I just can't see him falling for EITHER of their lies.
It would have been more disturbing--and ultimately more effective--if he really had become a Cyberman, not a rogue who is immune to Cyber-control just because he loves his daughter. Did none of the others have loved ones? (Between him and Danny, and perhaps Yvonne, I guess a case could be made for knowing the Doctor somehow interferes with the process.)
It turns out that being turned into a Cyberman is the least of the indignities to be heaped posthumously on our Brig:
http://www.kasterborous.com/2014/12/legend-begins-colonel-lethbridge-stewart-new-adventures/
Well at least they're novels - the picture at the top of that page had me believing for a hideous moment that they were COMICS.
And Lance Parkin CAN write a really good book when he puts his mind to it.
And it's not as if it's the Brig's *shudder* SCHOOLDAYS in a Divided-Loyalties-type manner.
OR the Kroton-style adventures of CyberBrig.
And they can't be as bad as Turlough and the Earthlink Dilemma, after all...
And they can't be as bad as Turlough and the Earthlink Dilemma, after all...
That sounds like a challenge.
I wasn't throwing down a gauntlet.
I was stating an irrefutable (as I don't spot MICK LEWIS on the writers' list) FACT.
You read the novels; you listen to the audios. What have you got against the comics?
The Invasion:
The Brig doesn't know you can take photos in the dark? Bless!
'I'm sorry Doctor, but I think those crazy kids have gone off to the sewers to get pictures of the Cybermen' - isn't 'crazy kids' what you say in Scooby-Doo?
'I'm going to have to leave my two friends in your very capable hands' - which bit of the Brig accidentally mislaying said friends without even noticing is the Doctor in denial about?
(Admittedly the Brig's doing a lot better since his LAST alien invasion - when he got all his men killed, had a breakdown and tried to run away - but his hands are FAR from capable.)
'If the Doctor calls for help, give him everything you've got' - interesting how much more cooperative the Brig is early on in their acquaintanceship when he doesn't even have the foggiest who the Doctor IS. By Silurians it's more along the lines of 'Oh, leave him to die in the caves, he was asking for it.' Familiarity breeds contempt? Or he just doesn't love Pertwee the way he loves Troughton? (Join the club, mate.) Or what?
Since when has the Brig brought 'girls' into battle so that they can take photos - and so that he can keep an eye on them? (And since he IS happy to do so, why does he NEVER take his daughter to work...?)
The Brig doesn’t come to wave off the Doctor? Or beg him to stay as UNIT's Scientific Advisor? Or interrogate him about where he came from or anything??
isn't 'crazy kids' what you say in Scooby-Doo?
That would be meddling kids.
Ah!
If the Brigadier *had* brought his daughter into work, Pertwee would soon be asking the Master for his TCE to use on the little moppet.
Good point. Kids in Who are usually HIGHLY creepy, and after all, THIS one would grow up to try to nuke London...
Of course, reducing his offspring to a dead doll MIGHT put some strains on the Brigadier/Doctor relationship, but hey, it's not like the Brig took any notice of Kate ANYWAY. He might even have PREFERRED her action-man-sized.
Remember that time The Northern Echo was covering Nick Courtney's appearance at a convention and described his character as the Doctor's arch-enemy the Brigadier
Ha ha ha ha ha!
SOMEONE got scarred for life by Inferno...
And, of course, for the pig-ignorant it DOES sound as if a military man would be more likely to be the Doctor's arch-enemy than his, well, arch-friend...
And the Doctor never DID take well to having a boss...
Arch-friend just sounds wrong.
Camp-friend on the other hand...
Our Brigadier is NOT camp!
He TOTALLY REFUSED to dance round the Maypole with Captain Yates!
More's the pity.
Robot:
'Broken connection' - darling Brig, always assuming the best even when his spy breaks off in mid-report. Wouldn't UNIT be more successful in saving the world if they had a REALLY PESSIMISTIC leader?
'We hold two of your friends as hostages' 'That will not deter me' - OK, so...is he bluffing? Harry he could probably live without (let's be honest, I haven't seen him give a •••• about ANY of the men he's lost since Web of Fear) but Sarah is a member of the Fairer Sex! And the Doctor's sidekick to boot! It's blatantly obvious how much harder it's gonna be for UNIT to hang on to the Boggle-Eyed One - his tendency to play with Earth girls is about your only leverage...
So the Brig's left behind humiliatingly holding the Doctor's hat as the Time Lord charges to humanity's rescue. I KNOW it serves him right ('I think just for once we won't need the Doctor...') but seeing the UNIT era crumble before your eyes is rather sad.
It's blatantly obvious how much harder it's gonna be for UNIT to hang on to the Boggle-Eyed One - his tendency to play with Earth girls is about your only leverage...
Oh, just put an ad in the paper.
"Wanted
Young woman to hang around older eccentric and ask stupid questions.
Position comes with combat pay."
;-)
I BET Jo never got combat pay.
THAT would be for the MEN and NEVER MIND how often she had to jump in front of a Daemon or smash a jug over an Ogron's skull.
Well, Jo was a member of UNIT, unlike Sarah, so it is a possibility. Perhaps "hazard pay" would have been a better term to use?
More likely she was on their books as a tea lady (or ham-fisted bun vendor).
But she was trained as a spy (according to the novelization).
And Isobel was trained as a photographer, but 'this is no job for a girl like you...'
Watch the exciting adventures of Doctor Who as he valiantly tries to save innocent soldiers sent to war by the hideous villain known only as "The Brigadier"...
The hideous SILURIAN-MURDERING villain, to boot...
Would the Brig REALLY fall for Missy's 'delete your emotions' plan? WHY?
Cyber-Brig LIVES! This might be...interesting.
Tom Baker in DWM: 'At his bedside, I remember, I said to him - only trying to keep him going, and to stop myself from bursting into tears - "Nick, would you say, were you a tit man or an arse man?"...I could see that the nurses were horrified...This was not the proper conversation to be having with a dying man. But I could see him going. He was just about to die, I think, and this appalling question fetched him back from the brink. Nick leaned in to me and said, "I think...I think I was...I think I was both, Tom."'
The worst thing is, this feels like a better conclusion to our fallen warrior's life than that Cyberman stuff.
CyberBrig!
I am, quite literally, speechless.
One of the many things i ••••••• hate about "The Three Doctors" is how the Brig has turned from his actual character into Graham Chapman or Col. Blimp.
Yeah, if it had been part of a decades-long process of our Brig being driven slowly mad by all those bloody aliens in general and that bloody Doctor in particular - culminating in his Mawdryn amnesia - well, THAT would have been brilliant, but let's face it, IT WASN'T.
Mind you, there might be some sort of denial-chemical in the air at UNIT - Benton's never seen inside Sexy before Three Docs? Jo is astonished in Colony in Space to discover that the Doctor actually does travel in space and time? Mike thinks that slaughtering billions is a brilliant solution to all our problems?
So the Captain is either the Brig's granddad (says Gatiss) or his great-uncle (says the copyright owners).
Ah bless, are they trying to make Real Who fit in with the Lethbridge-Stewart novels or something? Cos I think THAT ship has sailed.
Nicholas Courtney's Brigadier costume was in three separate episodes of Monty Python according to a Bentham-ism.
So the Captain is either the Brig's granddad (says Gatiss) or his great-uncle (says the copyright owners).
You underestimate the copyright owners. In no time at all they've whipped up a few short stories to 'prove' that the Brig's supposed great-uncle is actually his secret grandfather!
Nicholas Courtney's Brigadier costume was in three separate episodes of Monty Python according to a Bentham-ism.
There WAS a marvellous military guy who kept interrupting Monty Python whenever it got too silly who always did remind me of the Brig...
That would be Graham Chapman.
SCOBIE: You destroyed that drug shipment?
BRIGADIER: Yes indeedy!
SCOBIE: that was my insulin!
DWM's Remembering Nicholas Courtney:
'William Nicholas Stone Courtney'?!
'His girlfriend at Colchester Rep fell pregnant. Neither Nick nor her were ready for marriage or parenthood, and after initially fearing that the girl's father would literally kill him they decided on a radical course of action. The baby was not born and they split up. Nick lived with guilt over the aftermath of their affair for the rest of his life' - BLIMEY. Also, no one will faint if you use the word 'abortion', y'know.
'The Courtney's' marriage continued to unravel, and in 1975 Nick discovered that Madeleine was seeing another man. In characteristic style he blamed himself for letting her down, and decided to end his life with an overdose of sleeping pills' - again with the BLIMEY (in lieu of a more appropriate word). Dammit this is all a bit too...REAL for DWM. (Also, is there any rule of this deep Christian faith you keep talking about that he DIDN'T break?)
'Ben Aaronovitch ignored the continuity established in Mawdryn Undead, restoring the Brigadier to a more esteemed position within a new-look UNIT' - no he didn't.
'Happy with the idea of a heroic demise, Nick turned down a six-month run in M Butterfly for what he expected to be the Brig's farewell appearance' - well, obviously ALL our regulars should ruin their careers for two minutes in Who but I'm just relieved to hear in the next paragraph that he was 'pleased to see that the production team had changed their minds' rather than demanding to be slaughtered and/or get his Madam Butterfly back. (Of course, if he'd known this would give The Moff the opportunity to turn him into a Cyberman it might have been a different matter...)
Courtney really was in the Army once, during the days of National Service when all young men had to serve in the Forces for a year or two, but in fact Courtney was only a Private.
Post-Terror of the Zygons, I think it was a mistake to not do at least one story a year with him and UNIT. Before Baker showed up, it was the Brigadier and Doctor show.
The new Production team that came in with Tom Baker felt that UNIT had been played out.
Whether they were correct is debated to this day.
I think Britain should bring back National Service.
Let's not.
I loved when the woman at the retirement home said the Brigadier set a glass for the Doctor every night. I do miss him. He made Doctor Who grounded. A comic relief with Troughton and a great friend to Pertwee.
Malcolm Hulke:
"Naturally the Brigadier is very loyal to his own background. He comes from a very old military family. Major General Fergus Lethbridge Stewart was one of the Duke of Wellington’s right-hand men at the Baffle of Waterloo. Other members of the Brigadier’s family have been in every major battle we’ve ever had since then. When he was a boy it was decided that he should go into the Army, and his upbringing was rigid and conventional. He was taught that two and two make four, and no question about it."
That's not exactly how the Lethbridge-Stewart novels portrayed him - he trained to become a maths teacher - but what the hell...
The quote is from the original edition of "The Making of Doctor Who" which was largely written by Hulke.
He was taught that two and two make four, and no question about it.
EVERYONE should be taught that. It's not a military only thing, it's a basic element of math.
All of us were taught that.
Yeah it's supposed to be a bit metaphoric.
Anyway I made Doctors and Companions in EUIV, as countries, and the Brig became that universe's counterpart to the Timurids.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fRxXe4FP_IA
Though I'm worried about what happens next. Does he go up into the cloud and die like the others? Or does he jetpack round the universe like Kroton the Happy Cyberman?
Well, according to Lethbridge-Stewart novel An Ordinary Man, 'you self-destructed. A final sacrifice to ensure you'd never be used against the world you had saved so often.'