The Ark In Space, featuring the iconic Fourth Doctor (Tom Baker), Sarah Jane Smith, and Harry Sullivan, is arguably one of the definitive stories of that era. Part of a string of continuous adventures spanning from Robot to Terror of the Zygons, Ark is almost a self-contained highlight reel for the Fourth Doctor era.
The plot, set on a ship carrying the cryogenically-frozen last survivors of the Human Race in a far-flung future, is in line with the claustrophobic, gothic horror typical of stories from this period in the show's history. The tension, the creeping terror, the relative quiet, and the idea of the implacable alien menace among us was so effective that it later served as inspiration for the Alien series. It also featured, in my opinion, one of the best TARDIS team lineups in the history of the show- the chemistry between Four, Sarah Jane, and Harry made for some supurb and unforgettable moments.
The show is probably best known for this scene, where the discovery of the ship's purpose leads the Doctor to remark on the strength and tenacity of the human spirit:
I would go so far as to say, if you're interested at all in exploring Classic-era Who (which is to say, 1963-1989), I would suggest starting with The Ark In Space.
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