Last Classic Who Story you watched

[kirk55555]

Ok, so, The Stones of Blood was bad. The story was stupid, the aliens were bad, and the supporting cast were all just terrible. It was really painful to get through this one, heck about halfway through episode 1 I basically couldn't stand it. Outside of The Doctor, Romana and K-9 I basically hated every moment of this story. Its not the worst 4th Doctor story (for example, The Android Invasion and The Robots of Death were both a lot worse) but this was still very bad.

 

[Lakenheath 72]

I finished watching "The Trial of a Time Lord".

This season was a mess because there was no plan for the story arc. Because there was improvisation in the story arc, it falls apart upon hindsight. Colin Baker felt the Season was an indictment of BBC's treatment of Doctor Who, which he felt was the wrong approach. I agree.

A constant issue I see with season long story arcs is in the planning. This is why I wasn't happy with this season and the past series of NuWho. Before putting "pen to paper", there should be a plan which everyone is in agreement with and, if something happens (like someone's death), the people who take up the arc aren't in the fog. Another important point I learned, don't make your story arcs complicated. Keep them simple.

 

[Emperor-Tiberius]

Actually, I find season 23 to be fairly decent. Yeah, the execution of the arc wasn't as good as it sounded on paper, but at least it was a huge improvement over season 22, probably the second worst season of all of Doctor Who.

 

[Doctorwhovian]

The season was heavily toned down from the previous as well-the violence/gore was practically nonexistent, and even the darker elements got a 'happy ending' (Peri). Although the cliffhanger at the end of the season (The Valeyard having survived and taken over the Keeper of the Matrix) was never resolved (At least on TV).

Colin's Doctor was also less abrasive (except with the Valeyard and parts of "Mindwarp")-sort of leading a bit into the Big Finish version of the Sixth Doctor (Although those plays had for the most part, far better writing).

I think this was the first season to be pretty much entirely on video (Which would continue into the entirety of McCoy's era not counting the TV movie beginning), which sort of gave it a cheaper than usual look despite some good FX such as the station intro (Although Tom's first season was also mainly on video with the exception of Genesis of the Daleks and Revenge of the Cybermen's location filming, and some of Tom's later stuff like Seeds of Doom and Stones of Blood also was entirely video).

 

[kirk55555]

Actually, I find season 23 to be fairly decent. Yeah, the execution of the arc wasn't as good as it sounded on paper, but at least it was a huge improvement over season 22, probably the second worst season of all of Doctor Who.

I don't know, I thought Season 22 was ok. The Two Doctors, The Mark of the Rani and Attack of The Cybermen are better than any of the Trial of a Time Lord stories (AotCM and TWD are my two favorite 6th Doctor stories). I think ToaTL is ok for what it is, although it obviously had big problems. I found the 7th Doctor was when the writing just gave up for the most part.

Heck, not even the worst 6th Doctor story (which, for me, is Timelash) can beat The Greatest Show in the Galaxy as one of the worst things I've seen, period. I do think Season 22 gets a bad reputation. It certainly had more good stories than Seasons 24-25, which had combined one good and two passable episodes combined (Delta and the Bannerman being the good episode, and Remembrance of the Daleks and Silver Nemesis the passable). Season 26 had the very good Battlefield and the passable Survival (although I do wonder if I give Survival more points because I love Ainley's Master).

Colin Baker's two seasons had problems, but I honestly think the writing got even worse after he was fired.

 

[Volpone]

I just watched "Spearhead From Space", and was struck by the fact that a lot of the dialogue sounded like it would have been more appropriate for the Second Doctor (like referring to the Timelords as "mean").

That can be the case for regeneration stories. Look at "Robot." UNIT. Bessie. Secret eeevil organization bent on world domination. Pretty much a straight up Pertwee story. The only thing lacking is Venusian Akido.

Anywho, as for the thread title, working on "Claws of Axos" on Saturdays and tonight is more of "The Invasion of Time." What's the one before ...Axos--"Mind of Evil"--you really see what a condescending douche The Doctor could be to the Brigadier. It's a wonder he put up with it. As for Invasion..., I was going to say "The Horror of Fang Rock" was the last good Tom Baker story, but I'll provisionally allow up to at least Invasion... . "The Sunmakers" is fairly enjoyable and I liked "Image of the Fendahl" quite a bit too.

 

[Doctorwhovian]

Axos is interesting in that it's probably the most psychedelic Doctor Who story ever.

 

[Captain Dago]

Finished "Enemy of the World" last night. We were impressed with Barry Letts' direction. He kept a good pace. It's one of the few six episode adventures that never feels padded. Troughton does terrific work in the double role. Debbie Watling managed to be less of a wimp while still looking adorable. And Frazer Hines is STILL the best male companion.

 

[Doctorwhovian]

Yeah, I liked it much better than Web of Fear. It's kind of weird, before the episodes were rediscovered (with the exception of episode 3 of Web) "Web" was often considered the better story, while "Enemy" was considered a so-so story (Both had one episode surviving before the recent finds). However with the full story finally out it seems that has been reversed. I'm guessing part of it was because Web featured a familiar nemesis and of course introduced Lethbirdge-stewart (Although as a colonel) , while Enemy was a more experimental, Bond-inspired story (and of course the Letts produced Pertwee era had some Bond elements in it as well). It's also the only story in the season to not have some form of monster or base under siege plot IMO.

 

[DarthPipes]

Yeah, I loved Enemy of the World. It was worth is alone to hear Troughton do that Salamander accent. But it's a terrific spy story with great work by Troughton and one that looked like it spent some money (ie the helicopter scene). And yes, Jaime is one of the all-time great companions.

 

[starsuperion]

I just watched the curse of Peladon, what a great story. I loved the xenophobia and nod to blind superstitions, in this tale of political intrigue, and murder. It has a king, Martians, two other aliens, an earth alliance, and The doctor! Joe Grant was magnificent as a galactic princess and diplomat.. what a good story. Pertwee is amazing in his fight scenes, and does an impeccable job! I love how Joe Grant digs him about his love of being mistaken as a delegate of Earth's Government. it is a great episode, one I would watch again.

 

[starsuperion]

Axos is interesting in that it's probably the most psychedelic Doctor Who story ever.

Most definitely.. But I liked how the Axons looked, they had a very freaky and "Logan's Run" quality about them.. very unique story. Robot was a very Pertwee story indeed. I would have to say tho, that the fourth Doctor and his personality shattered the mold there, and really showed how his acting style needed the writers to change his surroundings and place him back on the path to space and time. It wouldn't be the fourth doctor without the great stories.. think about Baker's run, and how it changed the Doctor's directions immensely.. the Key to Time saga, the Gallifreyan stories, Karn and the sisters of Karn which could be felt all the way into the Matt Smith era, to include the 8th doctor and not to mention the infamous and amazing Genesis of the Daleks, and the Movellans story lines that fed into the rest of the series, and Davros return. Pertwee, was a fitting book end to Hartnell and Troughton as a Doctor Who era. Baker ushered in the rest of what we have seen, even his influences from his era as the Doctor is still felt even today. Some stories are lack luster to be sure, but overall, Tom Baker's era as the Doctor and the stories associated with him brought a new and crazy direction to Doctor who..

 

[DWF]

I just watched the curse of Peladon, what a great story. I loved the xenophobia and nod to blind superstitions, in this tale of political intrigue, and murder. It has a king, Martians, two other aliens, an earth alliance, and The doctor! Joe Grant was magnificent as a galactic princess and diplomat.. what a good story. Pertwee is amazing in his fight scenes, and does an impeccable job! I love how Joe Grant digs him about his love of being mistaken as a delegate of Earth's Government. it is a great episode, one I would watch again.

It was a great twist that the Ice Warriors weren't the baddies in this one. And I liked David Troughton as the king, he would return for Midnight. I like The Monster Of Peladon better though, but both stories are pretty good.

 

[kirk55555]

The Androids of Tara is so hard to get through. I like the 4th Doctor, but when his stories are bad, they're some of the absolute worst. I'd almost rather sit through something like The Curse of Fenris or Revelation of the Daleks again than finish this one (although its not nearly as bad as stuff like Greatest Show in the Galaxy), but I'm going to push through. People give Trial of a Timelord a lot of grief, but its about a 1000 times better than Key to Time, if for no other reason than that its much shorter.

Plus, it had at least two good stories, and so far The Ribos Operation is the only good part of Key to Time, outside of The Doctor, K-9 and Romana. I wish they'd gotten some stories of the quality of the earlier 4th Doctor seasons, I like the dynamic between The Doctor and Romana. It makes sense that the only good story so far was a Robert Holmes story, maybe that means that The Power of Kroll will also be good, which gives me more incentive to struggle through The Androids of Tara.

 

[Sindatur]

The Androids of Tara is so hard to get through. I like the 4th Doctor, but when his stories are bad, they're some of the absolute worst. I'd almost rather sit through something like The Curse of Fenris or Revelation of the Daleks again than finish this one (although its not nearly as bad as stuff like Greatest Show in the Galaxy), but I'm going to push through. People give Trial of a Timelord a lot of grief, but its about a 1000 times better than Key to Time, if for no other reason than that its much shorter.

Plus, it had at least two good stories, and so far The Ribos Operation is the only good part of Key to Time, outside of The Doctor, K-9 and Romana. I wish they'd gotten some stories of the quality of the earlier 4th Doctor seasons, I like the dynamic between The Doctor and Romana. It makes sense that the only good story so far was a Robert Holmes story, maybe that means that The Power of Kroll will also be good, which gives me more incentive to struggle through The Androids of Tara.

Anyone but you, I would caution you about getting your hopes up about The Power of Kroll, you may like it though, considering your opposite reaction to some stories (Your dislike of Robots of Death and appreciation for The Twin Dilemma, for example). I personally like all of Key to Time, except for Kroll.

 

[kirk55555]

Anyone but you, I would caution you about getting your hopes up about The Power of Kroll, you may like it though, considering your opposite reaction to some stories (Your dislike of Robots of Death and appreciation for The Twin Dilemma, for example). I personally like all of Key to Time, except for Kroll.

Well, "appreciation" of The Twin Dilemma might be overstating it, but I thought it was ok. I'd say The Key to Time's bad parts are probably as bad as Robots of Death, although they're bad in different ways.

 

[Mr Awe]

Robots of Death is one my absolute favorites. The writing in that one is fantastic! The way that an entire society is brought to live with just the few characters is amazing. The setting is really cool too.

Mr Awe

 

[Doctorwhovian]

Isn't Androids Of Tara sort of a spin on Prisoner of Zenda?

 

[Sindatur]

Isn't Androids Of Tara sort of a spin on Prisoner of Zenda?

And Power of Kroll is a spin on

Spoiler: Power of Kroll

King Kong, IMHO

 

[DarthPipes]

The Androids of Tara is so hard to get through. I like the 4th Doctor, but when his stories are bad, they're some of the absolute worst. I'd almost rather sit through something like The Curse of Fenris or Revelation of the Daleks again than finish this one (although its not nearly as bad as stuff like Greatest Show in the Galaxy), but I'm going to push through. People give Trial of a Timelord a lot of grief, but its about a 1000 times better than Key to Time, if for no other reason than that its much shorter.

Plus, it had at least two good stories, and so far The Ribos Operation is the only good part of Key to Time, outside of The Doctor, K-9 and Romana. I wish they'd gotten some stories of the quality of the earlier 4th Doctor seasons, I like the dynamic between The Doctor and Romana. It makes sense that the only good story so far was a Robert Holmes story, maybe that means that The Power of Kroll will also be good, which gives me more incentive to struggle through The Androids of Tara.

The Power of Kroll is garbage. Very thin story too. Even Holmes wasn't too thrilled about it. I enjoyed The Androids of Tara a lot, particularly Peter Jeffrey as the villain Count Grendel.

I very much enjoyed most of the Key to Time storyline but I would call it a storyline in the loosest possible terms. You could easily taken the Key to Time plot point out of the first five serials and not have it affect the plot. If there had been another person involved in the quest to find the Keys against them (say the Master) I think the story arc could have been a whole lot more suspenseful and interesting.