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| What: | Earthshock (BBC classic series DVDs/Blu-rays) |
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| By: | Huw Davies, Taunton, United Kingdom |
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| Date: | Saturday 4 July 2009 |
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| Rating: |   9 |
My review for this story goes back a few years, when I borrowed Earthshock from the local library and was disappointed, mainly by the poor effects like the infamous pink and black lasers and the freighter crash at the end of episode 4. However, my now more technologically-adept self, on slipping my own copy of this story into my DVD player, discovered that it has some great new CGI effects, which end years of hatred of the story.
Otherwise, it is a good show - cracking Cybermen and a good story; Beryl Reid is great as the freighter captain; with a truly shocking ending.
Story: 10/10
Extras: 8/10
Overall: 9/10
| What: | Time Reef (Big Finish: The Monthly Adventures) |
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| By: | Doug, Pocono Summit, PA, USA |
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| Date: | Sunday 28 June 2009 |
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| Rating: | 7 |
After Marc Platt's last two showings here, the confusing and forgettable Skull of Sobek, and the disasterously poor Valhalla, I was questioning whether Time Reef would be another disappointing story. Thankfully, with Time Reef, Platt is back near the top of his surrealistic game, at least in this listener's opinion. Here we have another really strange environment for the characters - a very improbable coral reef suspended in some kind of time bubble in the wastes of the vortex, or something..., upon which a ship and its crew have run aground, in a sense... Go with it and listen to what the production makes of it... you'll just have to judge for yourself. Along with the interesting rukh creature that's caught there as well, and Platt's favorite activity of putting the TARDIS interior through the ringer, this becomes one of those really trippy tales that only Marc Platt can craft.
The characters are fairly well-acted throughout, and the fact that this is a three-parter means, in this case, that it hasn't been inappropriately padded out. As far as the production goes, there needed to be much better volume leveling here. Maybe the limiter wasn't set properly in post this time... What this means for the non-technical is that if you want hear the whispers, you may be diving to yank down the volume a few seconds later.
The one-part A Perfect World, cowritten by Marc Platt with Jonathan Morris, is brief add-on that thankfully gets rid of Thomas Brewster - hurray! It's rather non-Whoish, or maybe feels more like an Eighth Doctor and Lucie story. It's actually a very sweet little piece, though I disagree with the moral of the story, which is that a perfect world would be a horrible thing, somehow. If we really *need* pain and struggle and hardship to make people nice and to make life joyful somehow, that's just further evidence to me of how fundamentally screwed up humans are.
"Interesting..."
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 | When sci-fi meets the Middles Ages |
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The Time Warrior is innovative in several aspects: it introduced the great companion Sarah Jane Smith, the warlike Sontaran (an outstanding alien) while the Doctor’s home planet, Gallifrey, is named for the first time. Moreover, for the first time “Episodes” were called “Parts” and a new title sequence and logo are introduced. All these innovations are enough to make it a reference story in the show’s history. However it is innovative even in terms of plot, thanks to its intelligent and original premise: an alien crash-lands on Earth (Middle Ages) and abducts scientists from the 20th century in his effort to repair his damaged star ship.
Since the beginning Time Warrior sets itself apart from other historical serials: We witness a peculiar alien’s (Sontaran Linx) contact with people of the Middle Ages beside his damaged ship and then the action is transferred to a 20th cen. scientific complex. Scientists are kidnapped, while a quarrelsome and greedy bandit called Irongron allies with Linx in his attempt to gather powers in the war against the people of Wessex Castle. It is an amazing blend of historical setting and science fiction, shot in the location of Peckforton Castle. This is not the trite alien invasion that had characterized sci-fi movies in the 50s or other DW serials. The Sontaran Linx seeks to repair the ship and leave and not to conquer or research anything. Irongron and his men are the ones that exhibit here their ambitions to conquer.
Thus, Time Warrior shows us the alliances between men and an extraterrestrial creature and the clash against their enemy: between Irongron's army and the Sontaran (this alliance being shallow) and between the people at Wessex Castle and the Doctor. It is a typical story of the show's non-violent nature, because although both the Sontaran and Irongron are warlike enemies, the Doctor does not have recourse to force against them, neither he nor Sarah Jane get injured and even when Wessex Castle is besieged no one gets injured and in fact no melee combat occurs. The Time Lord serves at the same time as the mysterious defender of this castle and as the saviour of the abducted scientists. He uses various gimmicks to outwit his opponents and fulfill his goals, including a strange gas he prepares to repel the enemies.
E. Sladen makes her debut here as reporter Sarah Jane Smith and, along with the Sontaran and Irongron, she steals the show. Bold and curious, charming and eccentric, she inadvertently finds herself in the TARDIS and in the Middle Ages thus taking part in her first adventure. The scene in which she speaks to the Doctor and discovers the Time Lord’s nature is one of Time Warrior’s classic moments. The Sontaran (K. Lindsay), with his toad-like brownish head, the great outfit, the humanoid and yet so alien appearance, is a striking creature, wonderfully designed by Robert Holmes. It is no wonder that Sontarans were used again and that they have made their comeback even in the new series (Sontaran Stratagem/Poison Sky). When it comes to the bossy Irongron, perfectly played by D. Daker, he is one of the series’ most memorable and imposing one-off characters, albeit annoying at times, because of his irritable and vociferous disposition.
On the minus side, some of the story’s action scenes appear funny because poorly executed: for example, the Doctor’s chase in the end of Part 2 or the shooting scene in Part 4 in which, not to our surprise, the Doctor doesn't get a scratch. The plot includes some basic flaws: why doesn't the Doctor try to use the TARDIS to transport the scientists back to the 20th cen.? Since men of the 20th cen. can repair the ship, why does Linx negotiate and ally with some of the medieval people? Not only he does not ignore them but he also very eagerly seeks to talk to them, gives them guns, constructs a robot knight for them and makes promises to them like a politician, whereas he knows they cannot help him. It could be said that they give him a shelter, Irongron’s castle, which houses the ship is but this was pointless. In fact in the end, the ship takes off while still in the castle and it obviously explodes as it crashes into its inner walls!
Despite a few flaws, Time Warrior stands as a solid and of course original title of the classic series. I recommend its DVD, which although not one of the richest ones in terms of extras, features extras of the usual BBC quality.
Two reviews down from mine is Matt from Poole's. Matt, you are a swine. I generally don't buy new releases, I usually wait until the price starts tumbling, but I read that review and bought the top drawer AotC on the strength of it. But had I not read that review I might not have noticed the vile score on this otherwise fantastic release. But in fairness I probably would have as it really is piss poor and easily the worst I've ever heard on Doctor Who. In fact I'd buy a special edition with the music removed tomorrow even having only bought this a week ago. But that's where my complaints start and finish because this is 80's Doctor Who at its gritty, tense, disturbing, violent and brilliant best. It makes a strong case for the forty-five minute format too. Imagine being back, Alex Drake-style, in the 80s. You could be watching this and positively frothing in anticipation of the equally gripping concluding episode after part one and then a couple of years later crying your eyes out after the opening episode of Delta and the Bannermen at the thought of it being nearly another month until things might get better (which in fact they wouldn't until a year later, again down Totters Lane). At least less good stories like DatB would have been over quicker. As far as I can gather quite a few people aren't as keen on Attack as I am, but I'm a massive fan of Saward's work and enjoyed his exploration of the Cyber back-story as well as the fanboy-pleasing location of the TARDIS' first landing in this story, two elements that others gripe about. Baker and Bryant are great value as ever, the latter's costume change midway through doing her no harm at all after the unflattering pink ensemble she was sporting to start with and (bizarrely, now I think about it) it was left to the Cybermen to recommend she wear more suitable clothing for the icy climes of Telos. Just a shame the Mondasians' answer to Gok Wan couldn't have sorted Number Six out with something a bit more tasteful as well. I reckon something like the Ninth Doctor's style of dress would have suited Colin Baker much better than that pantomime patchwork mess I always have to look past (but always see a great performance behind) when I watch his stories. And you can't ever go far wrong with the Cybermen, who are a tad brighter than in The Five Doctors and more vicious than in Earthshock. The Cyber Controller looks like he could do with losing a few pounds and I suspect he's been abusing his position by utilising Telos' expansive freezer space to keep his Vienettas (very 80s) and frozen curries. Or maybe he's the "upgraded" version of the Fat Controller from Thomas the Tank Engine. In all seriousness though, Kilgariff is good, just not as good as David Banks. Maurice Colbourne as Lytton and Brian Glover's bewildered, money-hungry crook Griffiths are the stand-out supporting acts. The extras aren't at all bad either. All in all I was always bound to like this but thanks to Matt for tipping the balance and convincing me to buy it, it's top stuff.
This was a story that pretty much broke new ground in 1966, a precursor to the "present-day" Earth-bound stories of the Troughton era and beyond, after years of travel across the furthest reaches of time and space. WOTAN's machines are out and about on the actual streets of London, a concept entirely new for the show at the time of broadcast. If the likes of The Invasion, Doctor Who and The Silurians, Rose and Army of Ghosts are your thing, then this is essential viewing for you. It's where it all started; the first Doctor Who story with The Enemy On Your Doorstep. The Post Office Tower is as recognisable a landmark as St Paul's Cathedral or Canary Wharf (sorry, Torchwood Tower). The news bulletins warning the residents of London of the threat outside are as chillingly effective here as in Turn Left and the whole story feels so fresh throughout,despite being a loose template for so many subsequent stories you've already seen. Billy bumps his head six minutes into part four(ok that isn't an important part of the plot but it is amusing and I had to mention it). Michael Craze as the swashbuckling Ben "Action" Jackson and gorgeous Anneke Wills as Polly give terrific debut turns alongside a strong supporting cast and an effervescent Sir William Hartnell. These four episodes are just glorious and yet it's a minor miracle we even have the chance to savour this piece of DW history; the excellent extra feature WOTAN Assembly tells a more than impressive tale of many people's determination, passion and skill required to piece this absolute classic back together. Massive thanks are due to each one of those who managed it. Tony Benn's tour of WOTAN's base is an enjoyable little add-on too,the look on his face as he revisits the top of the tower and its stunning view of London so long after his ministerial days is a real treat; but then so is the whole package here. Whatever era of the show you favour there's plenty to enjoy and recognise from this, the original you might say, in so many ways.
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| Uninvolving or irritating |
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In this book the Doctor swans around patronising people and acting like an impatient know-it-all. Whenever he's supposed to be deep the author uses the words 'intense' and talks about deep sadness while he stares for a bit. He does this about three times, like a moody teenager. Donna fares better, but is sidelined to some extent from the main action. This does at least allow her to have some quiet moments with Ghandi, whose presence merely serves to emphasis the Doctor's failings, which are pleasant asides.
The idea behind the plot makes the most of the time and location but the resolution is rushed and has one of those unsatisfying endings where the good guys win almost by accident.
And I still can't get over how annoying the Doctor is in this one.
fantastic, cool what can i say easly contented
oh yes its the story you have been waiting for oh yes the land of fiction reterns and with a bigger bang than the creation of the univerce sorry omniverce buy this book
| What: | The Deadly Assassin (BBC classic series DVDs/Blu-rays) |
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| By: | Trevor Smith, Nottingham, United Kingdom |
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| Date: | Thursday 18 June 2009 |
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| Rating: | 10 |
One of the famous (some would say infamous) episode is now out on DVD. And what a corker it is. Highly recommended.
| What: | Image of the Fendahl (BBC classic series DVDs/Blu-rays) |
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| By: | Trevor Smith, Nottingham, United Kingdom |
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| Date: | Thursday 18 June 2009 |
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| Rating: | 9 |
I make no bones about it, this is my favourite era of Dr Who & this is a really great, classic story. The extras are a bit thin but otherwise an essential DVD.
The Chaos Pool certainly moves along at a good clip, and throws in a couple of interesting switcheroos regarding "Madam President" and all that has to do with her... (I won't ruin the surprise by describing them). But what we have here is a bad case of melodrama, including some silly/disgusting aliens, and we also probably have Lisa Bowerman's style of directing to thank for an overall feel of a sort of hyperactive unrealism throughout. It's hard to take this production very seriously - hard to feel like it's much more than a popcorn audio play, but if that's what you like, fine - it's not bad for what it is. Of the characters, other than the silly/disgusting aliens, I found Amy in particular to be too unrealistic, though given what she actually is, I suppose that should be forgivable. I tried this one on its own to see if it would be worth checking out the first two Key2Time installments, like reading the last chapter of a book to see if it might be worth reading the whole thing. I don't think I'll bother with the rest, but don't let me discourage you.
| What: | Kingdom of Silver (Big Finish: The Monthly Adventures) |
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| By: | Doug, Pocono Summit, PA, USA |
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| Date: | Friday 12 June 2009 |
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| Rating: | 7 |
Judging from the somewhat low rating here, I didn't expect a lot from Kingdom of Silver. I was pleasantly surprised.
This is a well-paced story, with some nice character development without overdoing it. The story and dialogue flow very nicely, and I found myself drawn into the world of Tasak, with its formerly warring houses drawing together to move forward in peace, unaware of the looming Cyber threat that is about to unfold, and the off-world visitors who happen to be there, getting caught up in the events taking place. When I find the episodes are suddenly already over without me expecting it, I know it's a good story.
The sound design here is excellent, with some superb voicing work for the Cybermen, including a very interesting transformation scene... Which brings me to the one point here that is a problem for me - this story in a small way makes the Cybermen like the Borg, which I feel is a mistake. This is not the way the Cybermen have ever done things, and is inconsistent with their basic characteristics. And we have another dire musical score here, if it can be called that, akin to The Death Collectors, which is okay, but leaves me with a mixed opinion on it. It seems that the brief for these stories of the companionless-Seventh-Doctor-near-the-end-of-his-life is to frame him in a dark, dire, serious atmosphere.
The single-episode Keepsake is something of an encore for Kingdom of Silver, or a little addendum. I found it somewhat confusing to the ear/brain because two of the primary actors from the previous story appear here as well, with basically identical voicing and acting, as different characters. And as a final comment, it's really kind of interesting to realize just how much modulation has been used in the voicing of Davros by Terry Molloy in other stories, because he sounds really different here. You'd never know it was the same actor. And he does a fine job, by the way.
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| Pestering you to listen on |
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Simpling amazing the only words you can use to describe this. David reads this brillantly, the scenes were Donna and the Doctor talk are really good.
This could be a audio play but who cares.
A Doctor Who Classic in its own right
a must read for sci fi fans
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| Gritty, real and gripping |
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From the get go, you feel like stepping on Skaro for the first time, then Genesis of the Daleks but still feeling original. Hex and Ace's plot moves along but with a real feeling of the price and impact of traveling with the doctor. The only negative is some feeling of Brother Hood of the Daleks, research centre etc. Otherwise a real ripper.
| What: | The Claws of Axos (BBC classic series DVDs/Blu-rays) |
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| By: | Huw Davies, Taunton, United Kingdom |
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| Date: | Monday 1 June 2009 |
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| Rating: | 8 |
This is a really fun story - as the DVD booklet says, classic Pertwee. The episodes are driven by the hilarious Mr Chinn, and also the brilliant Master. Unfortunately we have only had one more taste of Delgado's brilliance recently with the Sea Devils, but with Frontier in Space up soon, we'll all be in for some more Master magic!
As for the extras, they are relatively poor, a few boring documentaries and some other stuff.
Story: 4.5/5
Extras: 3/5
Final: 8/10
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| The end of Who's gothic era |
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| What: | Image of the Fendahl (BBC classic series DVDs/Blu-rays) |
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| By: | Huw Davies, Taunton, United Kingdom |
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| Date: | Monday 1 June 2009 |
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| Rating: | 9 |
People are always on about things "going out with a bang", and in the case of Doctor Who's gothic period, in my view my favourite era of the show, this story saw it out well.
The story is well written by the super Chris Boucher, writer of one of my faves, The Robots of Death, and the mystery of the ancient skull keeps the ball rolling all the way through. And although the monster is visually disappointing, its effect on the story is momentous and this makes up for it I think.
In the case of the extras, they are rather limited - a good making-of documentary, and some interesting deleted scenes.
Story - 5/5
Extras - 4/5
Final score - 9/10
| What: | Orbis (Eighth Doctor Adventures audios) |
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| By: | writingbluebear, Jersey |
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| Date: | Sunday 24 May 2009 |
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| Rating: | 4 |
After the amazing run and cliff hanger of the last session, I waited hoping for something amazing to answer my many questions. Jelly and Shell fish wasn't top of my list, and whilst the handling of the seperation of the Doctor and his companion is done well, the rest just comes across as weak. This is the mid session light hearted romp we like from time to time. It was just too silly and at the wrong time for fans.
After the horrific opening to the new Session Hothouse was a welcome return to normality. Whilst not original, the introduction of an old foe in a modern context, was handled well. The underlying subplot of the doctor and lucy attempting to re establish thier relationship is very strong.
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| A "Legendary" End To The Hartnell Era? |
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Watching The Tenth Planet some four plus decades after its original broadcast makes for some interesting viewing for any Doctor Who fan. This is for two reasons: the first because of its legendary status it has in Doctor Who fandom, because it contains two of the elements of the show's longevity: the Cybermen and the Doctor's ability to regenerate. The other is reason is to view it from the production values of the time and its realization of those two items of interests to fans. In fact, it's those values that make this an interesting story to view. So how does The Tenth Planet actually rank so to speak?
Well this was of course William Hartnell's final Doctor Who story and judging from this story's three surviving episodes (and episode four's reconstruction on the VHS release) his time had come. Whether it was by design in the script or the fact that Hartnell was ailing, the first Doctor does very little in his final story. In fact the first Doctor's final story consists almost entirely of him being either a captive or (as in the case of episode three) being unconscious. It's a shame really, considering that Hartnell shows that even in his final story he is still capable of bringing authority to his Doctor with the emotions speech to the Cybermen in episode two. As I said, it is a shame that the first Doctor can only react to the events around him and not be more proactive like in earlier stories.
The upside to the underwhelming Hartnell is that the companions get to shine. In particular, Michael Craze gets to show some chops as Ben. This is no more evident then in fighting a Cyberman in episodes two or episode three where he in fact becomes the focus of the episode. Anneke Willis plays up her role as 60's secretary Polly for the most part though even she gets some good scenes like the scene with her and others in the tracking room talking to the Cybermen in episode two. While Hartnell might not have shinned very brightly in this story, his companions sure did.
The supporting cast though is a mixed bunch. There is the pompous and over-the-top performance of Robert Beatty as General Cutler, who lacks any realism is and more like a walking talking cliche. On the upside there, is David Dodimead's wonderful Doctor Barclay who is as underplaying and believable in his role as Beatty is over the top. That in fact makes Dodimead the best of the supporting cast. While the supporting cast is mainly a group of nameless technicians, there is another group of supporting cast that stands out: the Cybermen.
These Cybermen may look rather silly physically with their cloth faces and car lights attached to their heads but there is potential in them that would later be realized and it is in fact these Cybermen's voices that really stand out some four plus decades later. These Cybermen may also lack the physicality of later stories like The Invasion or Earthshock, but one should keep in mind that these Cybermen are a product of their time. That said, while the Cybermen would have better stories later in the 60's (especially The Tomb Of The Cybermen and The Invasion) they make a striking debut here.
In fact, it is the Cybermen and the regeneration that raise up this whole story. Without both of them I suspect this would be just another average 1960's "Doctor/companions/supporting cast all under attack" story. Looking at the writing of this story in terms of both plotting and dialogue, there is really little stand out material except the dialogue introducing the Cybermen's background and lack of emotions in episode two. While it is not a bad story by any means, it lacks many elements of the "classic stories".
So how does The Tenth Planet hold up? Well, it has an underwhelming final show by the first Doctor, a good showing by his companions, a mixed supporting cast, the first appearance of the Cybermen, the first regeneration and an average script. It is true that while The Tenth Planet does have some stand-out elements, it is not a classic story. In fact, is rather average in many ways and a little undeserving of its legendary status in my opinion. In short: average but not great.
