The Sea Devils 2025 Mix

 Classic Doctor Who has reached that point where it’s been through so many different formats from the original broadcasts through releases on video, DVD, Blu ray and streaming, individually and in collections. The stories have been novelised, analysed and enjoyed multiple times.  Many have had updated effects and re-edits applied, others have had AI additions made by fans. So you could argue that the only option left is to allow a new generation to tinker with them enabling them to be more relatable for the TikTok generation for whom even ninety minutes is a very long time.

 

This is the latest wholly new edit of a classic era story following `The Daleks` and `The War Games`  though the first time the idea has been tried on a story that is already in colour and fairly fast moving. The results suggest that whatever way you slice it , `The Sea Devils holds up really well in 2025.

 The large amount of location filming, the high standard of sets and the large number of Naval extras available mean that it looks nothing like the more dated studio bound episodes of the day. Take away a handful of references (the radio playing has gone) and it could have been made any old time. More importantly the edit hasn’t altered the underlying themes of the story – there’s nothing as intrusive as some of the changes to the previous stories which sometimes unbalanced their original intent. The only thing I noticed as an actual reference to “the war between the land and the sea” though as the Sea Devils saying it is off camera it blends in fine. Though I do think we’re all overlooking the fact that a lot of the reptile do live on land. A short salvo of clips from `The Silurians` when the Doctor mentions the story isn’t necessary though.

The editing loses a lot less material than `The Daleks` or `The War Games` while assiduous merging of sequences helps rather than hinders. They were seven and ten parters whereas `The Sea Devils` is a six parter so probably about forty five minutes is gone.  Crucially every aspect that needs to be there is present. It’s the repeated moments and those bits where people are sneaking about that are cut but there’s still room for the sea Fort playing cards.  The superimposed dialogue over other action works better here than it has before, its less obvious now.

Amongst key scenes that have been cut are the original opening. The rather silly scene in which Trenchard sends a guard in whom the Master tries to hypnotise which shows too early that The Master is up to no god. Some of the submarine stuff and the Doctor’s incarceration is shortened as is the full extent of Walker’s breakfast though pleasingly enough of his behaviour is left in. There's also been some trimming to the stores scenes where the Doctor his helping The Master build that machine. There isn’t a lot that needed changing visually though a rather impressive looking shot of the Sea Fort from above is included, not sure if this is brand new or stock footage. The Clangers are still present however does the modern audience even know who they are? I thought they might use the opportunity to expand the number of Sea Devils rather than them parading about in gangs of six but I suppose that might have been difficult given the grainy quality of the outdoor filming.

In many respects the editing really pushes Jon Pertwee even more to the front as an action Doctor; losing some bits where he’s just talking means he is rarely still and he now occupies the same sort of prominence as modern Doctors. They also leave in his cool moments like when he starts nibbling a sandwich in the middle of his sword fight with the Master. What the story does remind you is that modern Doctor Who lacks enough memorable supporting roles.

The biggest bone of contention before broadcast was the news that Malcolm Clarke’s iconic discordant electronic music had been replaced which it actually hasn’t. Its been `enhanced`, somewhat subtly by Lorne Balfe. In some ways I’m still not sure it was necessary. Clarke’s score is wholly original and timeless unlike the less agile incidental music accompanying other stories of the time. Balfe’s additions seem to be trying to soften the edges a little but are generally sympathetic. Thankfully no attempt is made to add an orchestral sweep which wouldn’t suit this story.

As for the naming controversy, the story confirms that it’s actually poor old Hickman who first uses the term `Sea Devils`  something most of us have forgotten over the years. So it’s not their name that’s for sure. I often wonder why someone doesn’t ask them “By the way, what are you called?”  

Overall this is the best of these re-edited, shortened versions of classic stories so far and prove that a little less is a lot more and that however you re-arrange it Malcolm Hulke's story always rises to the surface.