Classic Who day by day
- Thread starter OmahaStar
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In many ways, Season 7 has always been a real treat to me in relation to the rest of Doctor Who.
On the one hand, it's remarkably adult fare for a "childrens/family" show of any era. On the other it comes across, at least to me, as a very "experimental" sort of series in the next three stories. It takes on some very adult themes,particularly the idea that the enemy is ourselves. Talk about "home grown" threats!
That said, IMO, there's a lot of padding. Let's face it, 7 episodes is a lot of material. My one problem with these next three stories is their sheer length. Later Who,particularly of the Baker era, would likely have taken Season 7 and turned it's 25 episodes into 4-4-6-4-6,thereby carving at least one more story out of the lot, while losing one episode. Today, they may turn Inferno and/or Ambassadors into a 3 part saga while Silurians gets 2 and Spearhead just one.
On the one hand, it's remarkably adult fare for a "childrens/family" show of any era. On the other it comes across, at least to me, as a very "experimental" sort of series in the next three stories. It takes on some very adult themes,particularly the idea that the enemy is ourselves. Talk about "home grown" threats!
That said, IMO, there's a lot of padding. Let's face it, 7 episodes is a lot of material. My one problem with these next three stories is their sheer length. Later Who,particularly of the Baker era, would likely have taken Season 7 and turned it's 25 episodes into 4-4-6-4-6,thereby carving at least one more story out of the lot, while losing one episode. Today, they may turn Inferno and/or Ambassadors into a 3 part saga while Silurians gets 2 and Spearhead just one.
There is padding, such as in the escape/recapture of Liz in Ambassadors, but in general I don't think it's excessive and I don't think it makes the stories sag. They never feel as leisurely as the first Dalek story, or perhaps Marco Polo.
Silurians is great because we get to see the crisis escalating. I love the scenes set in London with the commuters dropping down dead, and it's a real race against time to find a cure, with a lot of tension. I don't think it disappoints.
Ambassadors is a thriller, and it's a while since I've seen it, but I don't remember any dull bits. I just remember the characters being very good, and the length being used to show divisions between the conspirators. It helps that there are a load of big action set pieces peppered throughout the serial - the big warehouse gunfight, stealing the capsule, the car chase - they help to give it momentum. It's probably the biggest production in the classic series with all the hardware on show, and the camerawork is impressive.
Inferno doesn't let up for me because of the parallel universe curve ball that is introduced half way through. It's brilliant the way it takes the story, turns it on its head, and then destroys the world. Fortunately the Doctor is back to save ours.
Silurians is great because we get to see the crisis escalating. I love the scenes set in London with the commuters dropping down dead, and it's a real race against time to find a cure, with a lot of tension. I don't think it disappoints.
Ambassadors is a thriller, and it's a while since I've seen it, but I don't remember any dull bits. I just remember the characters being very good, and the length being used to show divisions between the conspirators. It helps that there are a load of big action set pieces peppered throughout the serial - the big warehouse gunfight, stealing the capsule, the car chase - they help to give it momentum. It's probably the biggest production in the classic series with all the hardware on show, and the camerawork is impressive.
Inferno doesn't let up for me because of the parallel universe curve ball that is introduced half way through. It's brilliant the way it takes the story, turns it on its head, and then destroys the world. Fortunately the Doctor is back to save ours.
I actually think the Pertwee seven-parters are less padded than some six-parters. I feel like when writers added two episodes, they just threw in a few more capture/escapes, but with seven-parters, they tended to add whole subplots that really worked with the stories.
The Silurians, episode 1
Written by Malcolm Hulke
Directed by Timothy Combe
Workers in a cave start hearing noises, dinosaur-like, and go off to investigate.
The Doctor has received his car, Bessie, and he's working underneath, getting her in tip-top shape. Liz comes in to deliver a message from the Brig. The two of them are being summoned, so off they go to meet up with their boss in an underground testing facility.
There are ... issues ... going on. Power losses, personnel disappearing, etc., and UNIT has been called in to investigate.
They go about their separate ways. The Doctor finds something, but the Brig ignores his report.
The Doctor goes into the tunnels to investigate. And there he finds a living dinosaur. Which comes straight for him!
* * *
I really have no fricken idea what the hell is going on in this story. So far, I'm not impressed. I hope it gets better - as in, a plot that I can see. At this point, it's just a series of random scenes. Maybe it's setting stuff up. I hope so, cuz this sucker is seven episodes long.
Written by Malcolm Hulke
Directed by Timothy Combe
Workers in a cave start hearing noises, dinosaur-like, and go off to investigate.
The Doctor has received his car, Bessie, and he's working underneath, getting her in tip-top shape. Liz comes in to deliver a message from the Brig. The two of them are being summoned, so off they go to meet up with their boss in an underground testing facility.
There are ... issues ... going on. Power losses, personnel disappearing, etc., and UNIT has been called in to investigate.
They go about their separate ways. The Doctor finds something, but the Brig ignores his report.
The Doctor goes into the tunnels to investigate. And there he finds a living dinosaur. Which comes straight for him!
* * *
I really have no fricken idea what the hell is going on in this story. So far, I'm not impressed. I hope it gets better - as in, a plot that I can see. At this point, it's just a series of random scenes. Maybe it's setting stuff up. I hope so, cuz this sucker is seven episodes long.
I'm very aware that I'm in the minority on this, but I think The Silurians is plain awful.
Well, honestly, I'm not fond of Inferno myself, Ambassadors is the best of this season. That said, I'm not overly fond of Season 7, although I still find it a real treat because it stands out as very different. Overall, I quite prefer the lighter, more "traditional" tone of Seasons 8 and 9. While I like Pertwee's, Doctor a lot I'm not overly fond of the stories in his era as a whole.
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Season 7 is probably my second-favorite season of the classic show. I love it when Doctor Who tries to be different from what it is.
The Silurians is one of the episodes I most vividly remember seeing as a child. I thought it was really sad
What was it that made you sad?
Good to know I'm not the only one.
I generally agree with the exception of The War Games, which is one of my favorite Doctor Who stories.
The Silurians, episode 2
A warning sound is heard and the dinosaur runs away. The Doctor also runs away and tells the Brig and Liz what he saw.
The Brig leads a party down below. They find nothing. The Doctor says he believes there are two types of monsters down there. One is possibly controlling the other, like when the dinosaur was called off.
One of the workers is working the the ... well, whatever kind of monster/alien it is (I'm assuming Silurian, but that isn't confirmed yet).
The asthmatic dino goes to sleep in a barn, then kills a guy. The Doctor and his team go to investigate. The farmer dude is dead. His wife identifies a drawing the Doctor makes. It's not a dino - it's a Silurian. So they are all asthmatics.
While the Doctor and the Brig question the widow, the Silurian attacks Liz.
* * *
Much better. Well, considering how bad the previous one was, anyway. Things seem to be happening. They do keep hiding the Silurian. I'm not sure yet. Either there is a big huge honking reveal coming up, or they think the costume is crap and they're trying their best to hide it. Both are equally possible.
A warning sound is heard and the dinosaur runs away. The Doctor also runs away and tells the Brig and Liz what he saw.
The Brig leads a party down below. They find nothing. The Doctor says he believes there are two types of monsters down there. One is possibly controlling the other, like when the dinosaur was called off.
One of the workers is working the the ... well, whatever kind of monster/alien it is (I'm assuming Silurian, but that isn't confirmed yet).
The asthmatic dino goes to sleep in a barn, then kills a guy. The Doctor and his team go to investigate. The farmer dude is dead. His wife identifies a drawing the Doctor makes. It's not a dino - it's a Silurian. So they are all asthmatics.
While the Doctor and the Brig question the widow, the Silurian attacks Liz.
* * *
Much better. Well, considering how bad the previous one was, anyway. Things seem to be happening. They do keep hiding the Silurian. I'm not sure yet. Either there is a big huge honking reveal coming up, or they think the costume is crap and they're trying their best to hide it. Both are equally possible.
Uncanny..
As for the Tardis key, all the Doctors have different personalities so different views on who should or should not have a key, so adjust the locking mechanism to fit.
Or something.
Another fanon explanation is that the Doctor had to break the lock open in The Dalek Masterplan, after the Monk had sabotaged it. When he put in a replacement, it was a rush job that didn't have the 21-position mechanism of the original.
The Silurians, episode 3
The attack didn't last long - Liz screams and it scrambles out of the barn.
Dr. Quinn is talking with Miss Dawson about a communications device. The whole time, he has this booger the size of a small planet dangling from his nose.
Quinn acts suspiciously, and the Doctor watches him, possibly looking for that booger.
The Doctor and Liz go to Quinn's office and start poking around. They find a small globe which shows the Earth as it was before the great continental drift millions of years ago.
Quinn has the Silurian locked up in his home. It will die if it's not returned to the caves. Quinn is holding it hostage, waiting for it to give up massive scientific knowledge.
The Doctor goes back to Quinn's home - Quinn is dead. The Doctor finds the comm device and turns it on. Seconds later, the Silurian enters.
* * *
Ok, this one didn't completely suck, unlike the previous two episodes. We do finally get to see the Silurian. It was ok. Not great, not sucky, just ok.
I've seen some stuff later on with Jo Grant as the companion. The difference between someone competent like Liz and an annoying little follower like Jo, is striking. I am starting to like having Liz around. She is in that Donna vein - a strong female character who is all but the Doctor's equal. I can't help but wonder if they patterned Romana after Liz?
Beyond that, the only thing I can think of that stands out here is the giant planet hanging from Quinn's nose. And that's kind of gross, so I'll refrain from commenting.
Third Doctor schedule -
12/21-12/24 - The Silurians 3-6
12/25 - holiday
12/26 - part 7
12/28 - 12/31 - Inferno, 1 through 4
1/01 - holiday
1/02 - Inferno 5
1/04-1/05 - Inferno 6&7
1/06 - 1/09 - Claws of Axos (all)
1/11 - 1/16 - Sea Devils (all)
1/18 - 1/23 vacation (convention)
1/25 - 1/28 - The Three Doctors (all)
1/29-1/30 - Carnival of Monsters 1&2
2/01-2/02 - Carnival of Monsters 3&4
2/03-2/06 - Frontier in Space 1-4
2/08-2/09 - Frontier in Space 5-6
2/10-2/13 - Planet of the Daleks 1-4
2/15-2/16 - Planet of the Daleks 5&6
2/17-2/20 - The Green Death 1-4
2/22-2/23 - Green Death 5&6
2/24 - Time Warrior 1
2/25-2/26 - vacation
2/27 - Time Warrior 2
3/01-3/02 - Time Warrior 3&4
* * *
Notes -
The "Dalek War" box set is released on 2/02. This contains Frontier in Space and Planet of the Daleks. I will be ordering them online. If for some reason the dvds arrive late, I'll do Green Death and then go back to FiS/PotD.
Time Warrior is the last Third Doctor story available on dvd. It looks like 3/03 will be the beginning of the Fourth Doctor stories.
The attack didn't last long - Liz screams and it scrambles out of the barn.
Dr. Quinn is talking with Miss Dawson about a communications device. The whole time, he has this booger the size of a small planet dangling from his nose.
Quinn acts suspiciously, and the Doctor watches him, possibly looking for that booger.
The Doctor and Liz go to Quinn's office and start poking around. They find a small globe which shows the Earth as it was before the great continental drift millions of years ago.
Quinn has the Silurian locked up in his home. It will die if it's not returned to the caves. Quinn is holding it hostage, waiting for it to give up massive scientific knowledge.
The Doctor goes back to Quinn's home - Quinn is dead. The Doctor finds the comm device and turns it on. Seconds later, the Silurian enters.
* * *
Ok, this one didn't completely suck, unlike the previous two episodes. We do finally get to see the Silurian. It was ok. Not great, not sucky, just ok.
I've seen some stuff later on with Jo Grant as the companion. The difference between someone competent like Liz and an annoying little follower like Jo, is striking. I am starting to like having Liz around. She is in that Donna vein - a strong female character who is all but the Doctor's equal. I can't help but wonder if they patterned Romana after Liz?
Beyond that, the only thing I can think of that stands out here is the giant planet hanging from Quinn's nose. And that's kind of gross, so I'll refrain from commenting.
Third Doctor schedule -
12/21-12/24 - The Silurians 3-6
12/25 - holiday
12/26 - part 7
12/28 - 12/31 - Inferno, 1 through 4
1/01 - holiday
1/02 - Inferno 5
1/04-1/05 - Inferno 6&7
1/06 - 1/09 - Claws of Axos (all)
1/11 - 1/16 - Sea Devils (all)
1/18 - 1/23 vacation (convention)
1/25 - 1/28 - The Three Doctors (all)
1/29-1/30 - Carnival of Monsters 1&2
2/01-2/02 - Carnival of Monsters 3&4
2/03-2/06 - Frontier in Space 1-4
2/08-2/09 - Frontier in Space 5-6
2/10-2/13 - Planet of the Daleks 1-4
2/15-2/16 - Planet of the Daleks 5&6
2/17-2/20 - The Green Death 1-4
2/22-2/23 - Green Death 5&6
2/24 - Time Warrior 1
2/25-2/26 - vacation
2/27 - Time Warrior 2
3/01-3/02 - Time Warrior 3&4
* * *
Notes -
The "Dalek War" box set is released on 2/02. This contains Frontier in Space and Planet of the Daleks. I will be ordering them online. If for some reason the dvds arrive late, I'll do Green Death and then go back to FiS/PotD.
Time Warrior is the last Third Doctor story available on dvd. It looks like 3/03 will be the beginning of the Fourth Doctor stories.
The Silurians, episode 4
The Silurian approaches. The Doctor changes his attitude completely, going almost deferential. He asks if there is anything he can do to help their people, if they are in trouble, how many are there, etc.?
The Silurian brushes past him, running outside. The Doctor warns it that without his help, the humans will destroy them.
The Doctor and Liz use a map he'd found at Quinn's place to navigate the caves. He uses the comm device to open a locked door. It's almost like a new sort of sonic screwdriver.
While exploring, they find the dino that had attacked the Doctor earlier. They also witness the Silurians waking another from hibernation. The Doctor says that explains the power losses.
O. M. Glee! Geoffrey Palmer shows up at the complex. He's playing Masters, the "permanent undersecretary" (whatever that is).
The Doctor tells the Brig and Masters what he suspects and knows. Miss Dawson then enters and confirms everything. Quinn was working with the Silurians - that's something the Brig notices, she wasn't there when the Doctor named them, so it's big time confirmation. The Brig orders men down into the caves to destroy the "aliens."
The Doctor goes down first to warn them. Naturally, the Silurians don't listen, and lock him up in a cage.
* * *
So much better than the first two episodes, it's like this is the treat they give you for making it through that torture.
Palmers - Yay! I know him mostly from the series "As Time Goes By," where he co-stars with The Judi Dench. He's had three parts so far in Doctor Who, including the captain of the Titanic in the modern series.
wtf is a "permanent undersecretary"?
The Silurian approaches. The Doctor changes his attitude completely, going almost deferential. He asks if there is anything he can do to help their people, if they are in trouble, how many are there, etc.?
The Silurian brushes past him, running outside. The Doctor warns it that without his help, the humans will destroy them.
The Doctor and Liz use a map he'd found at Quinn's place to navigate the caves. He uses the comm device to open a locked door. It's almost like a new sort of sonic screwdriver.
While exploring, they find the dino that had attacked the Doctor earlier. They also witness the Silurians waking another from hibernation. The Doctor says that explains the power losses.
O. M. Glee! Geoffrey Palmer shows up at the complex. He's playing Masters, the "permanent undersecretary" (whatever that is).
The Doctor tells the Brig and Masters what he suspects and knows. Miss Dawson then enters and confirms everything. Quinn was working with the Silurians - that's something the Brig notices, she wasn't there when the Doctor named them, so it's big time confirmation. The Brig orders men down into the caves to destroy the "aliens."
The Doctor goes down first to warn them. Naturally, the Silurians don't listen, and lock him up in a cage.
* * *
So much better than the first two episodes, it's like this is the treat they give you for making it through that torture.
Palmers - Yay! I know him mostly from the series "As Time Goes By," where he co-stars with The Judi Dench. He's had three parts so far in Doctor Who, including the captain of the Titanic in the modern series.
wtf is a "permanent undersecretary"?
