Continuing to Discover Doctor Who

[S. Gomez]

Unfortunately, the library didn’t have “The Deadly Assassin” on the shelf where it was supposed to be when I went to pick up “The Seeds of Doom”; they put it on ‘Trace’, which means I’ll probably never get to see just why the Time Lords were calling the Doctor until the DVD release.

Seek it out! A very good story, which sets up a few future Baker stories.

The only option I seem to have is a single copy on eBay which can be purchased (rather than bid on), but it would cost around $40. I mean, it would probably be worth it just to see. But still, $40...

I also have another request for title recommendations. I've pretty much picked out which remaining Tom Baker stories I'll get this time around, but I'm having trouble with the next three Doctors. Part of the problem lies in the relatively slim pickings for the final two. These are the ones out on DVD.

Peter Davison ("Castrovalva" is part of the New Beginnings box, which I'm certainly going to buy)
The Visitation
Earthshock
Time-Flight/Arc of Infinity
The Five Doctors
Warriors of The Deep
Resurrection of The Daleks
The Caves of Androzani

Colin Baker
Vengeance On Varos
The Mark of The Rani
The Two Doctors
Timelash
Revelation of The Daleks

Sylvester McCoy
Remembrance of The Daleks
Ghost Light
The Curse of Fenric
Survival (Kind of already set on getting this, since it's the last of the original show)

 

[The Nth Doctor]

These are my recommendations to get started on:

Peter Davison
Castrovalva
Earthshock
Resurrection of The Daleks
The Caves of Androzani

Colin Baker
Vengeance On Varos
The Two Doctors

Sylvester McCoy
Remembrance of The Daleks
Ghost Light
The Curse of Fenric
Survival

 

[Captain Pike]

Warriors of the Deep is pretty bad. Actually, that's rather an understatement.

 

[Tomalak]

The only option I seem to have is a single copy on eBay which can be purchased (rather than bid on), but it would cost around $40. I mean, it would probably be worth it just to see. But still, $40...

In that case, don't bother. There must be *other* ways of seeing it more cheaply?

These are my recommendations:

(The Visitation - entertaining, but not essential)
Earthshock
The Five Doctors
Resurrection of The Daleks (I think it's rubbish, but important for the Davros storyline)
The Caves of Androzani


The Mark of The Rani
The Two Doctors (not the best, but worth it for Troughton)
Revelation of The Daleks

Remembrance of The Daleks
Ghost Light
The Curse of Fenric
Survival

Luckily, all of Sylv's stories are excellent, so get them all if you can. If not, Ghost Light is probably the least urgent, even though it's still very good. Fenric's one of the best ever, and Remembrance could have been writen by RTD.

 

[Captain Pike]

Luckily, all of Sylv's stories are excellent,

Depends what you are used to. Personally I find them barely watchable, but that's me..

Remembrance could have been writen by RTD.

Is that a glowing recommendation or a warning to stay away at all costs

 

[S. Gomez]

The only option I seem to have is a single copy on eBay which can be purchased (rather than bid on), but it would cost around $40. I mean, it would probably be worth it just to see. But still, $40...

In that case, don't bother. There must be *other* ways of seeing it more cheaply?

Well... There is another way and I'm sure we've sort of thought about it without saying anything; board rules prevent me from discussing in detail. Not only is it illegal, but it's also doesn't appear to be technically feasible on my Mac.

ETA: Oh, I just remembered. "Black Orchid" comes out on August 5 in Region 1. It also kind of sucks that "Trial of A Time Lord" isn't out until October, as that would for sure be a prime candidate for me to get. But by that time I'll hopefully be saving up to get a season set of <gasp!> the new show.

 

[Tomalak]

Black Orchid is a nice enough story, but I wouldn't go out of your way to see it.

Is that a glowing recommendation or a warning to stay away at all costs

Depends on how much you like Russell's stories.

 

[jbny67]

I was never interested in Doctor Who due the 1980's, for what ever reason it was. But I got around to watching "Genesis of the Daleks" - and thought it was awesome.

I don't think Genesis was in the 80's...

For the record it was Season 12. Tom Bakers first season. 1974

 

[Cutter John]

Awww, I think RTD would've done a much better job than Remembrance. Its not an awful story, just the directing is rather lazy. I will admit though that the ending usually makes me tear up a bit.



My list of must buys (or avoid like the plague)

Peter Davison
Earthshock
Time-Flight/Arc of Infinity (I'd skip these, as they're both pretty mediocre)
The Five Doctors
The Caves of Androzani



Colin Baker
Vengeance On Varos
The Mark of The Rani
Timelash (Generally considered one of the worst DW stories ever)

Revelation of The Daleks (Good, but strange. I don't think theres a single really likeable character in the entire story)

Sylvester McCoy
Remembrance of The Daleks
The Curse of Fenric

Ghostlight (Not really bad, but a lot of people find it rather confusing)

 

[Timewalker]

I also have another request for title recommendations. I've pretty much picked out which remaining Tom Baker stories I'll get this time around, but I'm having trouble with the next three Doctors. Part of the problem lies in the relatively slim pickings for the final two. These are the ones out on DVD.

Peter Davison ("Castrovalva" is part of the New Beginnings box, which I'm certainly going to buy)
The Visitation
Earthshock
Time-Flight/Arc of Infinity
The Five Doctors
Warriors of The Deep
Resurrection of The Daleks
The Caves of Androzani

Colin Baker
Vengeance On Varos
The Mark of The Rani
The Two Doctors
Timelash
Revelation of The Daleks

Sylvester McCoy
Remembrance of The Daleks
Ghost Light
The Curse of Fenric
Survival (Kind of already set on getting this, since it's the last of the original show)

You will definitely want Castrovalva, since that continues the story of the Doctor's regeneration in Logopolis -- and takes up about 10 seconds from where the previous story leaves off. Castrovalva is also the continuation of a loose arc of stories involving the Master, and the beginning of Nyssa's odd habit of permanently losing track of her clothing. Oh, and we find yet another use for the sonic screwdriver (please, don't anybody spoil it for S. Gomez, as it's worth a giggle!).

Of the rest of the Peter Davison stories, those I would consider essential are:

Earthshock (a Companion leaves and Tegan utters her famous self-descriptor: "I'm just a mouth on legs!")

The Five Doctors -- includes Companions from waaay back in the '60s, and nicely mixes up the Doctors and Companions. Also, there is a hilarious Doctor Who/Survivor spoof on the 'Net that uses elements of this story. The spoof isn't canon Who by any means, just a really fun read.

Basically, any story that deals with a Companion arriving/leaving, and the Doctor's regeneration -- they're all powerful stories. And I would also suggest Enlightenment, as that's an important part of Turlough's character development.


The Colin Baker stories... well, the regeneration ones, of course, although he never shot one to regenerate into Sylvester McCoy. The only one I consider a "must-see" is The Two Doctors, because of Patrick Troughton and Frazier Hines (as Jamie McCrimmon -- still young-looking and sexy after all this time! ).

Sylvester McCoy's stories... Unpopular opinion, here, but I LOVED Paradise Towers. If you like "Britcoms", there are two terrific actors in this one -- Richard Briers from "Good Neighbors" and the woman who played Daisy in "Keeping Up Appearances."

My favorite McCoy story is Battlefield, because of the return of Brigadier Lethbridge-Stewart, the introduction of Brigadier Winifred Bambera (she would have made a wonderful Companion!), and the way UNIT is finally shown to be a truly multinational organization. Really, this is a definite must-see story.

 

[Tomalak]

Sylvester McCoy's stories... Unpopular opinion, here, but I LOVED Paradise Towers. If you like "Britcoms", there are two terrific actors in this one -- Richard Briers from "Good Neighbors" and the woman who played Daisy in "Keeping Up Appearances."

Briers is a lovely actor, but abysmal in Paradise Towers. He seemed to think he had to send up the show, which is never a good idea. The worst of JNT's stunt casting. At least Kenn Dodd was in character!

I actually quite like the story, but the direction and casting could have been a great deal better.

 

[S. Gomez]

So I was originally planning to skip "Destiny of The Daleks" for this round of purchasing, mostly because the reviews I've read on Amazon say it isn't that great. Maybe it is, and maybe it isn't, but is it one of the 'essential' stories? I know it has a controversial regeneration of Romana, and the Daleks described more as robots, and obviously Davros.

 

[Timewalker]

I consider it one of the essentials of the Baker era. The First Romana regenerates into the Second Romana, and the controversy involves the question of whether she burned through several regenerations frivolously because she was trying to find a body that the Doctor would approve of (that's not as 'naughty' as it sounds ), or whether she just had extraordinary control over her regenerative abilities.

I'm of the opinion that she simply had finely-tuned regenerative abilities -- after all, it had been established before (and has since, with Tennant's Doctor) that each new regeneration takes a bit of time to "get settled." Therefore, Romana could "try on" several bodies in the course of a few minutes before finally deciding on which one to keep.

(and you just have to see the parade of bodies -- you should see the rejects, and the Doctor's reaction to them! )

This story is an important chapter in Dalek history, and establishes the sort of interpersonal relationship the Doctor and this new Romana will have. I think you should find it quite enjoyable.

(but I'm biased -- Romana II is my favorite Companion )

 

[Australis]

I never cottoned to the second Romana. Never much liked 'posh totty', as I've heard her described., And her choice in husbands isn't great.

 

[The Nth Doctor]

I never cottoned to the second Romana. Never much liked 'posh totty', as I've heard her described., And her choice in husbands isn't great.

What's wrong with Tom Baker and Richard Hawkins?

 

[Timewalker]

I never cottoned to the second Romana. Never much liked 'posh totty', as I've heard her described., And her choice in husbands isn't great.

What does it matter who Lalla Ward married? That's got nothing to do with a character she played on TV DECADES before she married her current husband.

As for "posh" -- she does come by it honestly -- both as her character and in real life. In the Who universe, Romana is a Time Lady -- the aristocracy of Gallifrey. In real life, Lalla Ward is a minor -- very minor -- member of the British Royal Family.

When you consider how her character was developed over the seasons, you can see real changes -- Romana (in either incarnation) is definitely not a flat, two-dimensional character like some Companions.

 

[Australis]

Manybe it's the proletarian in me. She seemed far too... I dunno... toffee nosed, I believe the expression is.

TB threw his weight around to get her on as new Romana, and Dawkins... man, I just don't get him. That's a whole other conversation.

But in context of Who, I found her character dull and aloof, after original Romana.

Hey ho, might just be me. Don't take it personal, guys.

 

[The Nth Doctor]

TB threw his weight around to get her on as new Romana

Uh, no. They didn't get married until after she left the show.

 

[PlainSimpleJoel]

The episode wasn't that bad.

Currently I'm watching The Sea Devils.

 

[Australis]

TB threw his weight around to get her on as new Romana

Uh, no. They didn't get married until after she left the show.

True, but they were an 'item', as they used to say. He deeply wanted her after her first appearance. Uh. On the show