I'm noticing a lot of Pertwee talk at the moment, which got me thinking about The Daemons. This story seems to have fallen out of favour somewhat. It used to be held in a very high regard whereas now not so much. This is, no doubt, due in part at least to the Pertwee backlash from popular writers (most evidently Paul Cornell) during the 90s. It now seems to have a more middling to quite good consensus. Do people agree with this or is it time for a re-reappraisal?

You can literally cast your vote here: http://thetimescales.com/Story/story.php?audioid=1027

I've always loved the Daemons. It wasn't one of Pertwee's most groundbreaking stories but it was one of his most enjoyable. I think what worked best about it was that, after Pertwee's era had been defined by this point as more scientific and grounded, more of a spy thriller than before, this story suddenly threw the Third Doctor into a much mote mystical and supernatural setting where demons and deities supposedly haunt the village. Add to that the usual charm of early 70's Who, with Pertwee's dashing outfits and strangly appealing arrogance, Jo's naive but lovable innocence, the Brigadier's "alien or not, as long as it's a job" attitude, Benton's loyal but mischevious personality, and a man in a cheap costume running around pretending to be a monster, and basically enough to define that era of the show, I find it difficult not to love. It also had some of the sharpest dialogue and the cast did some of their finest performances.

I never realised it had went down in popularity myself.

Despite the fact I hate the Exile Scenario, this still is the best story of the Pertwee Era for me. It just summed up everything about the Pertwee Era, all the regulars had something to do, Roger Delgado was superb as The Master and what makes it different from the other Earthbound stories is the magical/mystical theme which covers every episode.

Throw in the village setting, which I love, and even Bessie getting in on the act, then I think all the ingredients are there for a superb story.

For me, this was the absolute peak of the UNIT Era, it never seemed or felt the same after this story, not that I minded that much as I prefer the outer space stories.

Not only that but Azal was a superb adversary, what he lacked in the special effects department was more than made up for with Stephen Thorne's superb vocals.

I also like this story as it had a certain 'BBC Three' in it, many years before it became a reality!

Finally, Episode Three had a cliffhanger featuring The Master in peril. I can't ever think of any other time that the villain in a story had a end of episode like that!

It is an amazing story from start to finish. One of my favourite stories.

I actually like the exile scenario, at the time it was very new, The Doctor spent little time on Earth in the past, so being exiled there didn't seem to be bad in that regard. I also loved the interactions with UNIT, and the brilliant stories in the era kept everything feeling unique.

Pertwee's era may have been grounded on Earth for most of its run, but it certainly wasn't short on interesting concepts and compelling stories that secured the show's usual magic and charm.

Aside from the really long 7 parters of Season 7, I think the stories set on Earth were good within themselves, it's the concept I disagreed with. The show is supposed to be about The Doctor whizzing about time and space in the TARDIS with the occasional story here and there set on Earth.

Suddenly that was all taken away; as I said above, it went against everything the show was about. That doesn't mean the show itself was crap but I hated the tone and feel of Season 7 in particular.

Later Seasons would be more of a mix and that's something I liked better and coming after The Third's Doctor's initial trip into space The Daemons feels fresher and provides a neater contrast to the immediate story before it.

The daemons is my personal favourite of the pertwee era. Its also the first story i can remember watching as a child. Just a big shame that the bbc refuse to show or release commercially episode 6 of the story. http://missingepisodes.*********.com...ools-throwback

For me a great piece of television. So much of it has a great feel and atmosphere, it is very mysterious in the early episodes.
There is a genuine threat and peril running through it, from people taking pot shots at the Doctor and being swooped down on by a Helicopter to the eeriness of the setting in and around the village.
The atmosphere of the later episodes with all the villagers and almost being burnt at the stake, and how he gets out of it with the help of Miss Hawthorne, a superb guest character. Add in the setting of an old village it just has a great feel for tension and threat that a lot of Pertwee's era has not got.
Speaking of characters, this is a great performance any Roger Delgado, and used brilliantly during the story, keep apart from the Doctor, Jo and the UNIT regulars until episode 4 if I remember adds to the story, particularly as it is the fifth story in a row containing the Master in it's original run.
When Azal does arrive in person later on in the story is a very convincing threat, much like Sutekh from Pyramids of Mars. So all in all the finest story of this era for me.