Personally, I don't think Adric's death is crucial to Earthshock. Its an astonishingly powerful set - episode one alone is a masterclass in suspense, horror and surprise. It had "people puddles" for goodness sake!

I have to agree that Adric's death is (sort of) bolted on at the end (and referenced very fleetingly in the next story). But the truth is classic Doctor Who simply wasn't equipped to deal with the death of a major character in the way modern Who is. So I think we have to cut the story some slack on that point.

But I don't agree that the success of the story depends on the death of a companion. Even if Adric survived, Earthshock would still be a very well remembered, well loved classic story. I just don't think it is dependent on what happens in the final three minutes of episode 4.

I only watched Earthshock recently.

Even within the 4 episodes I was glad Adric died. He had this weird delivery of lines and then would hover toward the main camera and switch his eyes right to left, and back.

Adric reminded me of a hammer-head shark.

On the DVD Extras they kind of laugh about how hated he was as a Companion.

The reason Sarah Sutton and Janet Fielding buried their heads in each shoulders to cry during Adric's death scene is because they were trying to hide the fact they were laughing. Seriously.

You know, I almost said that word for word the other day?!

We are absolutely right, though, sometimes I wish Adric hadn't died in that particular story as it does create this impression for some that it's all Earthshock is remembered for.

I think Time-Flight would have been a better story for him to have gone, that story really did need some beefing up with something, much as I really like it. I think another loss at the hands of The Master really would have added some dramatic emphasis after ruining Nyssa's life completely, and in a way it may have fitted in with Adric's time as The Master's prisoner in Castrovalva as well.

Meglos. I sat through it and wondered what the hell happened. I didnt get the point of the earthling even being in it. Utter nonsense of a story which left me completely baffled but gets overlooked in a worst story list