Joking about the sixth Doctor is like adding chocolate sauce to chocolate-filled chocolate.
Classic Who day by day
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Image of the Fendahl 1
Written by Chris Boucher
Directed by George Spenton-Foster
Presumably on Earth, scientists are arguing. They have found a skull that's 12 million years old, buried under a volcano, over 8 million years before it would have been possible.
Elsewhere, a scanning machine is turned on. As soon as it is, the skull seems to change shape, becoming a living female's face, while the female scientist watches.
On the Tardis, The Doctor and Leela talk about K9 and Professor Maris, when the Tardis gets redirected to Earth, where the Doctor tries to question several cows.
The female professor looks into a computer monitor and the camera pans in on the Doctor, who is standing in the woods, perfectly still.
* * *
So far, it seems like random scenes. Hopefully later episodes will pull the scenes together and we'll get a cohesive plot.
Written by Chris Boucher
Directed by George Spenton-Foster
Presumably on Earth, scientists are arguing. They have found a skull that's 12 million years old, buried under a volcano, over 8 million years before it would have been possible.
Elsewhere, a scanning machine is turned on. As soon as it is, the skull seems to change shape, becoming a living female's face, while the female scientist watches.
On the Tardis, The Doctor and Leela talk about K9 and Professor Maris, when the Tardis gets redirected to Earth, where the Doctor tries to question several cows.
The female professor looks into a computer monitor and the camera pans in on the Doctor, who is standing in the woods, perfectly still.
* * *
So far, it seems like random scenes. Hopefully later episodes will pull the scenes together and we'll get a cohesive plot.
That's what binman Eccleston, bland Davison, bumbling Hartnell, and prancing Tennant are for. So you don't have to resort to choosing a least favourite out of the good ones.
Yeah but all of those are better than Baker, he was just unlikable. They're all far better actors that CB as well I have to say (not that being a good actor is a prerequestite of being a good Who, Tom Baker was pretty much playing Tom Baker most of the time after all.)
Simple rule of thumb, take a look at the career of Davison post Who, Hartnell pre Who, and Eccleston/Tennantpre and post Who.
I think Moffat once said something along the lines that Davison was the best actor to play a classic Doctor (not sure if he was counting McGann in this or not) and that showed because he was the only one who had much of a post Who career.
Personally I think C Baker and McCoy were the weakest actors to ever play the part. That doesn't mean they were miscast, and they were hampered by the direction the show was going in. I think of both of them as the Doctor, and each of them has at least one story I adore (Varos, Fenric) but I think neither of them quite has the dramatic weight needed for the part.
Its all subjective though, and its not like Colin isn't popular. One of these days I am going to have a listen to some of the audios though.
And when I say unlikeable I don't mean Colin (who always seems really nice when I see him interviewed) I just mean his Doctor.
I think Moffat once said something along the lines that Davison was the best actor to play a classic Doctor (not sure if he was counting McGann in this or not) and that showed because he was the only one who had much of a post Who career.
Personally I think C Baker and McCoy were the weakest actors to ever play the part. That doesn't mean they were miscast, and they were hampered by the direction the show was going in. I think of both of them as the Doctor, and each of them has at least one story I adore (Varos, Fenric) but I think neither of them quite has the dramatic weight needed for the part.
Its all subjective though, and its not like Colin isn't popular. One of these days I am going to have a listen to some of the audios though.
And when I say unlikeable I don't mean Colin (who always seems really nice when I see him interviewed) I just mean his Doctor.
Yeah, I know you mean his Doctor and not him. But I don't think it's fair at all to call Colin's acting bad. To level that accustation at McCoy is perhaps fairer (I like his Doctor, but his performance was often a bit pantomine), but leaving aside what you may think of his character, I think Colin pretty much played the part perfectly.
And I'm for judging the actors on their acting in the part in question rather than for their careers as a whole. I certainly won't argue that Davison's a bad actor, but the character he was given was just bland, and he didn't add much more depth to that. As for Eccleston, he plays pretty much the same character in everything he's in (leaving aside his bit part in The League of Gentlemen). He may be good at playing his usual working class northerner, but not only was it not appropriate for the character of the Doctor (not his fault), but his performance often betrayed the fact he clearly didn't want to be there (as we know from rumours of his on set behaviour and the fact he didn't stay on).
What I really getting at is that you should judge someone's acting in a role from their acting in that role, and not from the rest of their career.
And I'm for judging the actors on their acting in the part in question rather than for their careers as a whole. I certainly won't argue that Davison's a bad actor, but the character he was given was just bland, and he didn't add much more depth to that. As for Eccleston, he plays pretty much the same character in everything he's in (leaving aside his bit part in The League of Gentlemen). He may be good at playing his usual working class northerner, but not only was it not appropriate for the character of the Doctor (not his fault), but his performance often betrayed the fact he clearly didn't want to be there (as we know from rumours of his on set behaviour and the fact he didn't stay on).
What I really getting at is that you should judge someone's acting in a role from their acting in that role, and not from the rest of their career.
Actually I'd call both Baker and McCoy somewhat pantomimy. In part that wasn't their fault it was the nature of the show at the time. McCoy was far more of a pantomine actor and both of them, when are form, are still good Doctors. I still maintain that just as there's never been a bad Bond, there's never been a bad Doctor.
Davison is my Doctor so I will defend him. I don't think he was bland really, and I liked the fact that he was imperfect (Smith seems to be a similar kind of Timelord) I would agree that Davison was less obviously the Doctor isntinctively, but he more than made up for this by acting into the role. I'd say the same about Eccleston to be honest. He might not have always been comfortable in the role, but I think he brought something very different to the part whilst still being the Doctor, and he isn't always the gruff working class Northener. Off the top of my head there's his eerie husband to Nicole Kidman in The Others and his ludicrous Scotsman in GI Joe
I see what you mean about judging someone as to how they played a specific role, but that does allow the get out that that person might just be being themsevles rather than actually acting. Though in fairness that accusation is more fairly laid at the other Baker's door!
Colin wasn't helped by the mood of the time, the outfit or the companions he had. I haven't seen all the Stranger stories but did see enough to realise that he should have been a far better Doctor than he was (and Nicola should/could have been a far better comnpanion.)
He'll always be Bayban the Butcher to me though
Davison is my Doctor so I will defend him. I don't think he was bland really, and I liked the fact that he was imperfect (Smith seems to be a similar kind of Timelord) I would agree that Davison was less obviously the Doctor isntinctively, but he more than made up for this by acting into the role. I'd say the same about Eccleston to be honest. He might not have always been comfortable in the role, but I think he brought something very different to the part whilst still being the Doctor, and he isn't always the gruff working class Northener. Off the top of my head there's his eerie husband to Nicole Kidman in The Others and his ludicrous Scotsman in GI Joe
I see what you mean about judging someone as to how they played a specific role, but that does allow the get out that that person might just be being themsevles rather than actually acting. Though in fairness that accusation is more fairly laid at the other Baker's door!
Colin wasn't helped by the mood of the time, the outfit or the companions he had. I haven't seen all the Stranger stories but did see enough to realise that he should have been a far better Doctor than he was (and Nicola should/could have been a far better comnpanion.)
He'll always be Bayban the Butcher to me though
Image of the Fendahl 2
The Doctor finds his way to the lab. The female scientist who had watched him on the monitor doesn't give any indication that she even remembers seeing him.
Generic period-style British drama, with a handful of random scenes of Leela in a house, or the Doctor in the lab to try to fill out the time slot. But mostly just generic drama scenes with the scientists.
Then back to the Doctor, who manages a cameo at the end of the episode. He finds the skull. As he stares at it, it lights up. he touches it and seems to be in pain. I can relate.
* * *
In Dress to Kill, stand up comedian Eddie Izzard does a bit where he talks about British movies that are sometimes remade for American audiences. Like this -
I can't blame they actors, they can only do so much with what they're given. And what they're given is heavy on the draaaaaahhhhh-muh. And light on the anything else.
The Doctor finds his way to the lab. The female scientist who had watched him on the monitor doesn't give any indication that she even remembers seeing him.
Generic period-style British drama, with a handful of random scenes of Leela in a house, or the Doctor in the lab to try to fill out the time slot. But mostly just generic drama scenes with the scientists.
Then back to the Doctor, who manages a cameo at the end of the episode. He finds the skull. As he stares at it, it lights up. he touches it and seems to be in pain. I can relate.
* * *
In Dress to Kill, stand up comedian Eddie Izzard does a bit where he talks about British movies that are sometimes remade for American audiences. Like this -
23 of the 23 and one half minutes of this episode were summed up with Eddie's quote above.
I can't blame they actors, they can only do so much with what they're given. And what they're given is heavy on the draaaaaahhhhh-muh. And light on the anything else.
Come on, it's not that bad! I rather like it, myself.
Project: Who - Image of the Fendahl 3 & 4
Leela rescues the Doctor. They wonder around for a few seconds, then talk to an old psychic lady.
Then they talk about the supernatural, split up, we focus on the scientists for 20 minutes, then they get back together just in time to see a monster.
*
The female scientist transforms into a slow-moving Axon.
The Doctor works with the other scientists to kill the Axos - sorry, the Fendahl.
They blow stuff up. The Doctor and Leela go back to the Tardis, and the Doctor seems to be having memory problems.
* * *
I got nothing. This was the first time I had seen this story, and while I can usually find at least some small part of a story to latch onto, something positive, there is nothing here. It's a waste of time, mine and yours. Bring on the Time Lords. (referring to the next story)
Leela rescues the Doctor. They wonder around for a few seconds, then talk to an old psychic lady.
Then they talk about the supernatural, split up, we focus on the scientists for 20 minutes, then they get back together just in time to see a monster.
*
The female scientist transforms into a slow-moving Axon.
The Doctor works with the other scientists to kill the Axos - sorry, the Fendahl.
They blow stuff up. The Doctor and Leela go back to the Tardis, and the Doctor seems to be having memory problems.
* * *
I got nothing. This was the first time I had seen this story, and while I can usually find at least some small part of a story to latch onto, something positive, there is nothing here. It's a waste of time, mine and yours. Bring on the Time Lords. (referring to the next story)
I rather liked The Image Of The Fendahl, it was a great sort of gothic horror story, it was also the first time I saw Wanda Ventham in anything, she was good her ebut much better on UFO. And if you ever wondered what happened to Rose, she became old and turned into Mother Tyler. 
Okay, I know it's not the best story ever, but..
It's got a clever, science-based story penned by Chris Boucher, it's got mystery, it's got a great gothic horror atmos (and as a child I found this genuinely quite scary), it's got some really good dialogue ("You must think my head zips up at the back" | "What kind of corpse?" "A dead one. What other kind is there?"), it's got great acting from Baker & Jameson as well as the guest stars, it's got some really good camera direction, and it's got Mother Tyler!
I mean, really, what more could you possibly want?
It's got a clever, science-based story penned by Chris Boucher, it's got mystery, it's got a great gothic horror atmos (and as a child I found this genuinely quite scary), it's got some really good dialogue ("You must think my head zips up at the back" | "What kind of corpse?" "A dead one. What other kind is there?"), it's got great acting from Baker & Jameson as well as the guest stars, it's got some really good camera direction, and it's got Mother Tyler!
I mean, really, what more could you possibly want?
A plot? Acting that didn't come straight out of Legally Blonde? Focus on the Doctor and/or his companion instead of a cameo for two episodes? Better writing?
I know Doctor Who fandom is very diverse but I just can't get my head round someone who watches the whole series of stories from Face Of Evil to Fendahl and gives the most praise to The Invisible Enemy!!!
I love this period of the show except Enemy which is unwatchable nonsense - to my mind Baker & Martin are the worst writers to work on the series in the whole of 70's Who.
You Colin Baker fans are an odd bunch!
I love this period of the show except Enemy which is unwatchable nonsense - to my mind Baker & Martin are the worst writers to work on the series in the whole of 70's Who.
You Colin Baker fans are an odd bunch!
Thank you.
The Invasion of Time, part 1
Written by Graham Williams and Anthony Read (credited as "David Agnew")
Directed by Gerald Blake
The Doctor meets with someone on an alien ship, leaving Leela and K9 on the Tardis. He returns, again not acting like himself. They head for Gallifrey, not knowing the planet is already freaking out over an "unknown time capsule" headed for them.
He says he's there to claim the Presidency. He spends time with one of his former teachers, Borusa.
Leela is paired with a guard, who at first tries to help her find suitable clothing for the Doctor's coronation.
At the ceremony, he's given direct access to the Matrix through a headband. As soon as he puts it on, he doubles over in pain.
* * *
I say he's again not acting like himself. At the end of the previous story, he was being all forgetful and stuff. I hadn't realized at the time that there were other stories between that and this, so maybe he was acting flaky for awhile. I dunno, I'll find out when they eventually come out on dvd.
The Doctor is acting completely out of character here, and is really rather a jerk to Leela and pretty much everyone around him. I know it's just for this story, but I really don't care for it. Here's hoping he shapes up soon.
Written by Graham Williams and Anthony Read (credited as "David Agnew")
Directed by Gerald Blake
The Doctor meets with someone on an alien ship, leaving Leela and K9 on the Tardis. He returns, again not acting like himself. They head for Gallifrey, not knowing the planet is already freaking out over an "unknown time capsule" headed for them.
He says he's there to claim the Presidency. He spends time with one of his former teachers, Borusa.
Leela is paired with a guard, who at first tries to help her find suitable clothing for the Doctor's coronation.
At the ceremony, he's given direct access to the Matrix through a headband. As soon as he puts it on, he doubles over in pain.
* * *
I say he's again not acting like himself. At the end of the previous story, he was being all forgetful and stuff. I hadn't realized at the time that there were other stories between that and this, so maybe he was acting flaky for awhile. I dunno, I'll find out when they eventually come out on dvd.
The Doctor is acting completely out of character here, and is really rather a jerk to Leela and pretty much everyone around him. I know it's just for this story, but I really don't care for it. Here's hoping he shapes up soon.
The Invasion of Time 2
The Doctor - now the President - is taken to his room. He wakes up and orders Leela expelled to the outside. She runs, knocking down several guards on the way.
With everyone gone, the Doctor puts on his normal clothes, the Sash of Rassy, and then puts on his scarf over it. He figures out how to open a second door in his room, and skips down the hallway outside ... and runs right into the camera. (seriously, it happens, right at 10 minutes in)
The Doctor returns to the Tardis with Leela following him. He goes inside, locking her out.
Leela meets a woman named Rhodan, a sort of interstellar traffic guard. She finds a ship on its way and orders the shields up - only the Doctor and K9 have taken them out.
The Doctor calls a meeting of the high council, where he says he's introducing them to their new masters. Then he laughs maniacally.
* * *
The Doctor's acting nuttier than a fruitcake. I don't like it. I know, it ends pretty soon, it's got to .. but for now, I just don't like him.
What I DO like, though, is K9 on film. I'm used to the way the prop looks on video, but on film, as shown here repeatedly, it looks SO much better than normal.
The Doctor - now the President - is taken to his room. He wakes up and orders Leela expelled to the outside. She runs, knocking down several guards on the way.
With everyone gone, the Doctor puts on his normal clothes, the Sash of Rassy, and then puts on his scarf over it. He figures out how to open a second door in his room, and skips down the hallway outside ... and runs right into the camera. (seriously, it happens, right at 10 minutes in)
The Doctor returns to the Tardis with Leela following him. He goes inside, locking her out.
Leela meets a woman named Rhodan, a sort of interstellar traffic guard. She finds a ship on its way and orders the shields up - only the Doctor and K9 have taken them out.
The Doctor calls a meeting of the high council, where he says he's introducing them to their new masters. Then he laughs maniacally.
* * *
The Doctor's acting nuttier than a fruitcake. I don't like it. I know, it ends pretty soon, it's got to .. but for now, I just don't like him.
What I DO like, though, is K9 on film. I'm used to the way the prop looks on video, but on film, as shown here repeatedly, it looks SO much better than normal.
Well, you wont find me defending this one.. though the Target novelisation is a bit better than the tv serial.
Such a shame that Leela's final story was a) a bit crap, and b) had her falling for a dork like Andred, who she had just met and had known for all of 5 minutes...
Such a shame that Leela's final story was a) a bit crap, and b) had her falling for a dork like Andred, who she had just met and had known for all of 5 minutes...
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