I was looking forward to Talons of Weng Chiang
- Thread starter Starfleet Engineer
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nuWho should remake "Talons" as a forty-one minute episode. They wouldn't have to cut much story, just a lot of redundant incident. 
nuWho should remake "Talons" as a forty-one minute episode. They wouldn't have to cut much story, just a lot of redundant incident.
Don't worry. As far as nuWho is concerned, "story" is not on the top of their list of importance...
Yep, there were a lot of complaints about the violence, especially during the Phillip Hincliffe/Early Tom Baker era (In fact, that's one of the reasons Phillip left, I believe-"Talons" interestingly was his last story).
Also the Colin Baker stories were considered very violent, such as the Doctor dropping two guards into an acid pit.
Here's a clip show of some of old WHO's most violent moments, from the creator of the WHO anime:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OUwGgRD51JA
It's exaggerated it a bit (The guy doesn't like the new series)
Also the Colin Baker stories were considered very violent, such as the Doctor dropping two guards into an acid pit.
Here's a clip show of some of old WHO's most violent moments, from the creator of the WHO anime:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OUwGgRD51JA
It's exaggerated it a bit (The guy doesn't like the new series)
Interesting. I was aware that it was considered a scary show for kids - the frequent remarks about "watching from behind the sofa" and so on.
You've watched Doctor Who and you've never heard of Mary Whitehouse?
But in the minds of some yes it was overly violent and that went back to the 60s (the director on Tomb Of The Cybermen made a comment about it on his intro the the VHS release) and then there was scene from the Deadly Assasain where the Doctor is being drowned that got Whitehouse and her crowd up tight.
Some trivia. There was an episode of The Goodies from 1971 called Sex and Violence that spoofs Mary Whitehouse and her crowed using a Desire Carthorse. Carthorse was played by Beryl Reid who 12 years later would play Captain Briggs in Earthshocl.
I'm in America - just because PBS imported Doctor Who for us doesn't mean that any of the cultural surround came with it.
Anyway, thanks to the miracle of Google I am now somewhat versed in Mary Whitehouse. Thanks.
I've probably not seen as much as twenty-five percent of oldWho, and that concentrated in the Pertwee/Tom Baker era with smatterings of Colin Baker, Troughton and a wee few episodes of McCoy and Hartnell (and not, IIRC, a single complete Davison adventure, oddly enough). A close friend and collaborator, Dave Bischoff, was the first American real fan of DW who I knew, and he'd direct me from time to time to stories that he thought particularly good. I liked oldWho, but would never have considered myself devoted to it in any way - and sometimes I confess I felt rather like the proverbial spouse required to endure hubby's Star Trek obsession. Maybe it gave me a little empathy for my wife's situation all those years.
I'm an absolute fan of nuWho - it's really my favorite skiffy show since BTVS.
Worst piece of casting ever.
Could they have run back and forth between those two locations more pointlessly a couple of more times?
I'm not entirely sure whether you're joking or not. The answer is ... yes, they could. There are entire stories where the only thing that happens is the characters run from one set to another, back and forth. Deadly Assassin has one episode where there's almost no dialog, it's just Tom Baker running around pointlessly.
Guys... settle. Kiss and make up.
Harsh stuff Dennis. We get it, you don't like classic Who.. much.
Next!
Harsh stuff Dennis. We get it, you don't like classic Who.. much.
Next!
I don't like all that I've seen of it, and I don't care enough to make apologies for the bad parts.
And I love nuWho.
Next.
Fair nuff. I feel much the same way, just inverse of that... 
Dennis,
You sound like a new Dr. Who fan so let me fill you in on how it works. Dr. Who fandom is not like Star Trek or BSG. We don't put each other or our respective Doctors down. If you want to debate something, that's fine, but you do it in a courteous manner without being insulting.
Being a life-long Star Trek fan I know the kind of bickering we Americans do over the series...and in my opinion it's pretty stupid that we do it. The Brits don't do it and we have a lot to learn from them.
Now you'd enjoy Dr. Who a lot more if you'd stop looking at the show as a critic and just enjoy the ride. And you'd better get moving, you've got 30 season to catch up on.
Orignally I hated Henry Gordon Jago but over the years I've come to understand him and like him. I've also come to like the nods to Phantom Of The Opera, My Fair Lady and Sherlock Holmes. And the dragon at the end was a great work of art, I wish I could get a good picture of it, it's a shame they had to tear it down the day after they finished filming the final ep.
Well put, I hate this notion of being insulting to Doctors you don't like. In fact the only thing I hate more than that is the Sixth Doctor.
I'm sorry, so sorry. I just couldn't resist!
In fact the only thing I hate more than that is the Sixth Doctor.
I'm sorry, so sorry. I just couldn't resist!
And that's when I shot him, Madam Inquisitor.
You should see the hatred for McCoy that exists out there. Seriously, it's not quite as melodramatic as Star Trek fans, or those Star Wars losers moaning about George Lucas raping their childhoods, but it's there.
As for Talons, it's probably the best Doctor Who story of the seventies. It does what Doctor Who does best, blending pulp fiction and pop culture with sci-fi and comedy. It's a smashing slice of Victoriana, blending Plantom of the Opera, Jack the Ripper, Fu Manchu, and of course Sherlock Holmes.
I think it's Baker's best performance as the Doctor, thanks to a very entertaining script, a superb cast, and his favourite director, David Maloney. It's not flawless - the rat is shite, and it's too long, as with all six-parters - but when you have characters like Jago and Litefoot, performed by two great actors, John Bennett, Louise Jameson (the best companion the fourth Doctor had), and eminently quotable dialogue, it's the best story of the Tom Baker era, and probably the whole of the classic run.
"Made in Birmingham, yes that's the main requirement..."
No offence to any deluded Six fans intended...honest!
Don't worry. We'll get you. And your little dog, too!
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