"Mission to the Unknown" is the only episode in all 30 seasons of "Doctor Who" which doesn't feature the Doctor or any of his companions. It was written as sort of a primer for the 12-part epic that would come around a month later, and is an enjoyable one-episode action/adventure story with plenty of atmosphere to spare, solid performances from the guest cast, and some fun Daleks (and a little addition to the Skaro mythology with something doubtless inspired by "Day of the Triffids").
As far as I know based on any reading I've done, viewers had no idea that the Doctor and his companions were not going to appear in this story, so that must have come as quite a shock! There's some outrageously stupid plot contrivances but the Daleks are back to being fearsome and evil (although I love "The Chase" and loved them in it), and the human characters are interesting enough for this extremely short "Doctor Who" story to work.
7.5/10
As far as I know based on any reading I've done, viewers had no idea that the Doctor and his companions were not going to appear in this story, so that must have come as quite a shock! There's some outrageously stupid plot contrivances but the Daleks are back to being fearsome and evil (although I love "The Chase" and loved them in it), and the human characters are interesting enough for this extremely short "Doctor Who" story to work.
7.5/10