This set of The Sensorites from the B&M Exclusive Character Options Doctor Who range for 2021 was provided to us free of charge by Character Options and their PR team. The views and content in this review remain our own. We thank Character for allowing us early access to review this set.
The 2021 Summer B&M exclusives features two new History of the Dalek Sets, and two new 3-Packs - and it is one of these, The Sensorites, that we are reviewing here. My son is a huge Doctor Who fan and he has also played with and explored the figures and his comments are included in the review for a child's perspective on the set. He even did his research by watching The Sensorites DVD ahead of the figures arriving.
The three packs have now moved to a true story-based theme and while the packaging style remains consistent with the blue & silver design of previous releases, there are subtle changes including the card back which is now a diorama image from the episode. We also get a write-up of the episode on the back of the box. I still stand by my usual feedback that these backgrounds go too far in covering the entire story rather than being a hook to get collectors to go and explore the story for themselves.
The TARDIS materialises onboard an Earth Ship and find the crew seemingly dead. Their initial concern for the crew changes though as they seem to revive but remain groggy. It seems they are suffering from telepathic interference from a telepathic species called the Sensorites that hail from a nearby planet called the Sense Sphere. The TARDIS lock is removed by the Sensorites, but Susan communicates with them and finds the aliens are merely being cautious as they feat an attack by the humans. Ian falls ill and the Sensorites say it's the same illness affecting them. Traveling to the Sense Sphere the Doctor seeks to cure the illness to which the Sensorites and Ian have succumbed but finds it is caused by deliberate poisoning. The situation is then made worse by the political maneuvering of the Sensorite Administrator who seeks to discredit the TARDIS crew in an effort to isolate the Sensorites.
As you unpack the box we find the three figures with a white cotton tie around the arms which are not easy to untie so will need to be cut. They have then used a clear elasticated tie around the legs which is no immediately obvious. It can mark the paint if you pull the figures out without cutting this strap. The set features two accessories that are taped in place.
The card back is a gorgeous recreation, in colour, of the ship interior from the story and while it has plain cardboard sides - it is not too far away from being a workable display piece for your figures.
"The only thing that really matters is that they look like the Sensorites, and they do. The head sculpt is amazing and the feet are rounded like the episode. The addition of the communicator is cool, it looks like it's been glued on.
We start with the Sensorite Elder who looks to use the body from the Axon figure from 2013, cast in a blue base colour. The circular communication disk has been added to the body and a silver line painted up and over the shoulder to recreate the cable - the disc is not removable.
The head is brand new and is a good recreation of the on-screen costume with a large beard and bald head. With the Sensorite Elder painted with a deeper skin tone to the other Sensorite and a grey/white beard texture. The lower legs and screen-accurate circular feet are also new and have a touch of weathering with some brown paint applied around the edges. I can't place the hands as they differ from the Axon and may also be new.
"The only thing that really matters is that they look like the Sensorites, and they do. The head sculpt is amazing and the feet are rounded like the episode. The addition of the communicator is cool, it looks like it's been glued on
The body is that of the axon with new hands, head, and feet. A communicator is stuck on the axon body. It is a good match to the attire of the Sensorites"
The sash is an extra piece added to the figure in black plastic. In the intro video for the series, Al Dewar indicated the sash was something that could be removed and could allow you to adjust your figures to make other Sensorites like the Second Elder. I can confirm the production figure does not allow this as the sash is one piece and it cant be removed without taking off the head and possibly the arms. Having re-watched Al's video, I see he is potentially talking about you carefully cutting away parts of the sash rather than it being removable as I had first thought.
The 1st Doctor figure uses the existing standard William Hartnell body with varying colours added to differentiate from previous releases. The trousers are checked brown, similar to the 13 Doctors Boxset, while the waistcoat is a cream colour with neatly applied vertical lining. The tie is blue and is less neatly painted with some bleeding onto the white collar of the shirt.
The likeness to Hartnell is good within the aesthetics of the line and the figure fits in with all the previous releases. The facial paintwork is neat and crisp, and the added paint makes this one of the best Hartnell figures to date in terms of overall head execution.
The costume is perhaps not exact to what Hartnell wore in The Sensorites. If you look at coloured images from the serial, the costume in the Sensorites was very much that of the original Hartnell figure. While the argument is either to release a screen accurate Doctor, but something a number of collectors would have. Or to do what they've done and create a look for the Doctor that is different but not necessarily episode-specific.
The generic Sensorite uses the exact same body, head, hands, and feet as the Elder with the same blue tone uniform and silver communication disc. The head is given a lighter skin tone and there is more beige in the beard to differentiate the two. There is also some trim added around the sleeves in a dark blue. The three rings indicate this is Warrior Sensorite so is essentially an army builder if you want to go down that route.
"The two Sensorites are slightly different, the elder is a tan colour and the normal is much paler with a darker beard to the elder whose hair is white and grey. There looks to be a brown wash on the feet possibly recreating mud. And the wire for the communicator is a painted silver line"
The two Sensorites are provided with their paddle-like weapons which are cast in silver plastic and are designed to fit in the right hand of each figure. The handle is perhaps a touch soft and is easily bent so be careful when posing these. While the Elder never uses these on screen, it is good to have the choice by including two in the set.
Articulation on the Who line has always been around the 16 point mark and has always used rudimentary pinned joints rather and all three of these figures follow the same principles although the two Sensorites have an extra two joints because of how their new feet pieces have been added and this then allowing an ankle rotation.
All of the joints work well, and do what they are designed to do - but like most Who figures you are a little limited to neutral stances and arm gestures. The Sensorites can raise and point their weapons or hold out their open left hand as a gesture.
Considering the Who line is now 16 years old, it is fantastic to see both Character and B&M developing new sets and figures and doing it in a way that cleverly recycles older figures and therefore keeps the sets affordable at around the £20 price point for 3-figures (pricing not yet confirmed).
"Overall the Sensorites are good and screen accurate. I like the set very much and cant wait for the others"
I love that the 3-packs have now evolved fully to Story Specific sets with the background and the synopsis on the reverse and for The Sensorite set itself, there is little to criticise at the price point and it demonstrates the passion and knowledge of Al and the Character team to bring us these 1960's aliens over the potentially more recognisable Dalek & Cyberman variants. Well done Character and well done B&M for continuing to support the line.
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About Me : As a child of the 70's and 80's I grew up in a golden age for action figures and in my youth bought and sold myself through collections of Star Wars, G.I. Joe (Action Force) and M.A.S.K. while also dabbling in He-Man, Transformers and Ghostbusters. Roll forward and I am now reliving that Youth with the action figures of today and am a collector and fan of the larger 6-8 inch figures from my favourite movie and TV licences - including the ones mentioned above, but also the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Doctor Who and the Aliens. I launched The Mephitsu Archives in 2015 with a view of creating a UK focused site or these figures where fans can pick up the latest action figure news, read reviews and get information on where to buy their figures and what is currently on store shelves. I hope I am delivering that to you guys...
action figures, reviews, review, articulation, doctor who, dr who, character options, sensorites, 1st doctor, 1964, B&M, Exclusive