Last Classic Who Story you watched

[diankra]

The second part was even originally broadcast without sound effects or musical score.

Not in the UK: it went out properly here. But BBC Enterprises somehow got a copy which was music/FX-less from partway through the second half.
At a guess, the dubbing team had paused and a copy was made then; it's noticeable that at the same point in the original Uk version the sound effects get confused (the sounds for the space station and Dalek trooper guns suddenly swap).

 

[The Borgified Corpse]

The Dominators

First: the costumes were atrocious. Ok with that out of the way, a lot of people seem to have a problem with this one. Yes, it was a bit pedestrian but I didn't mind it. I thought the script and pacing were tight and the dialogue pretty good, especially the tension between the two Dominators themselves. And yes the problem here is the Quarks. They were designed for the toy market, but on-screen they weren't practical. Their boxy-ness and squeaky voices made them more "cute" rather than "dangerous". And if would have helped if the Dominators weren't so dependent on them. Its kinda like if Han Solo sent C3PO to handle the dirty work. But as usual Troughton is always a delight and Jamie had a lot of action and explosions.

I just love how the bad guys' plan is, as much as anything else, foiled because the flunky is more interesting in blowing shit up than in actually completing his mission.

I have finished watching "The Awakening". Having seen the episodes in order, I can feel the decay in the quality of the franchise as it entered the mid-80s. There were so many things going wrong for the franchise. I have liked some of the episodes, like "Enlightenment" and "Snakedance"; however, other episodes left me baffled, like "The Visitation" and "King's Demons".

I enjoyed both The Visitation and King's Demons greatly. The program did eventually start to decay, but it hadn't started at this point.

I'm not fond of either of the Mara stories-- "Kinda" or "Snakedance." The Peter Davison years also subjected us to crap like "Four to Doomsday" & "Mawdryn Undead."

On the other hand, "The Visitation" is a perfectly serviceable story. "The King's Demons" works really well too, although it sometimes feels a bit rushed since it's a 2-parter.

Revenge Of The Cybermen, good resuse of the Nerva beacon sets, I loved the music and the landscape on a drum at the end. Really though it's a pretty ambitious storyline with pretty of location work and some good editing and some good characters and sets, but I can understand why many fans don't like it though. The ending is rushed and that was pretty normal for that era though.

Worth it if only for "Harry Sullivan is an imbecile!"

For the decay, Grant used the footage of a person doing a martial arts move against the Myrka in "Warriors of the Deep" for evidence that Doctor Who should be retired.

Who's Grant anyway?

I'm assuming he's talking about Michael Grade, the asshole BBC exec that tried to have the show canceled during the Colin Baker years. (Although, "Warriors of the Deep" was pretty dismal from start to finish and the karate attack against the Myrka is towards the top of Doctor Who's biggest WTF moments.)

 

[diankra]

The Dominators:

I just love how the bad guys' plan is, as much as anything else, foiled because the flunky is more interesting in blowing shit up than in actually completing his mission.

Or... the Dominators lose because the senior Dominator stops his junior killing everyone in sight (after the first time).
If they had just killed everyone in sight, then the Quarks could just have kept on drilling, rather than spending ages chasing people around the island, failing to kill them, getting blown up by the people they've failed to kill, etc etc.
It's an unfortunate example of a story where the 'ruthless' villains would have won if they'd just lived up to their reputation and said "Oh, OK, just kill them all," right at the start.

 

[Mr Awe]

I enjoyed both The Visitation and King's Demons greatly. The program did eventually start to decay, but it hadn't started at this point.

I'm not fond of either of the Mara stories-- "Kinda" or "Snakedance." The Peter Davison years also subjected us to crap like "Four to Doomsday" & "Mawdryn Undead."

On the other hand, "The Visitation" is a perfectly serviceable story. "The King's Demons" works really well too, although it sometimes feels a bit rushed since it's a 2-parter.

Tastes vary, but Mawdryn was awesome. Four to Doomsday, while not a classic, was still entertaining in a quiet sort of way.

I actually didn't care for the Kinda stories back when they originally aired. But, when I saw them again recently, I really enjoyed both. I got much more out of them. I was particularly blown away by Snakedance!

Mr Awe

 

[DarthPipes]

The Dominators

First: the costumes were atrocious. Ok with that out of the way, a lot of people seem to have a problem with this one. Yes, it was a bit pedestrian but I didn't mind it. I thought the script and pacing were tight and the dialogue pretty good, especially the tension between the two Dominators themselves. And yes the problem here is the Quarks. They were designed for the toy market, but on-screen they weren't practical. Their boxy-ness and squeaky voices made them more "cute" rather than "dangerous". And if would have helped if the Dominators weren't so dependent on them. Its kinda like if Han Solo sent C3PO to handle the dirty work. But as usual Troughton is always a delight and Jamie had a lot of action and explosions.

I just love how the bad guys' plan is, as much as anything else, foiled because the flunky is more interesting in blowing shit up than in actually completing his mission.

I enjoyed both The Visitation and King's Demons greatly. The program did eventually start to decay, but it hadn't started at this point.

I'm not fond of either of the Mara stories-- "Kinda" or "Snakedance." The Peter Davison years also subjected us to crap like "Four to Doomsday" & "Mawdryn Undead."

On the other hand, "The Visitation" is a perfectly serviceable story. "The King's Demons" works really well too, although it sometimes feels a bit rushed since it's a 2-parter.



Worth it if only for "Harry Sullivan is an imbecile!"

For the decay, Grant used the footage of a person doing a martial arts move against the Myrka in "Warriors of the Deep" for evidence that Doctor Who should be retired.

Who's Grant anyway?

I'm assuming he's talking about Michael Grade, the asshole BBC exec that tried to have the show canceled during the Colin Baker years. (Although, "Warriors of the Deep" was pretty dismal from start to finish and the karate attack against the Myrka is towards the top of Doctor Who's biggest WTF moments.)

Revenge of the Cybermen also has that great bit in the beginning where Harry asks the Doctor if he can keep the time bracelet. The Doctor tells him to go ahead but it disappears before Harry can grab it. Harry looks at him and says "You knew that was going to happen, didn't you?" The Doctor's smile there was great.

 

[Eliczo]

Currently watching the The Mysterious Planet, its pretty good so far. I'm lucky to have all the classic dvds, but still plenty more to watch (10 for 4th Doctor, 7 for 5th Doctor and 3 for 6th Doctor) once thats finally done I will look into soundtracks for the missing episodes.

Never mind all the Big Finish's I need to listen to, recently listened to a few 6th Doctor's, (Legend of the Cybermen & The Nightmare Fair, I didn't think too much of them to be honest, which suprised me as I adore the Magic Mousetrap and do enjoy 6th on audio, Arrangements for War is one of my favourites)

 

[Turtletrekker]

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").

 

[DWF]

Earthshock, I've always loved this story it was a return for the Cybermen, Peter Grimwade's direction and Malcolm Clarke's music helped to make it a great classic story. Some of the story's complaints is it's stunt casting and the strange use of the robots in part one. But I've always loved the March Of The Cybermen by Clarke and the trick of putting the Cyberman in the door. James Warwick played Lt. Scott and he later appeared on Babylon 5 in Exogenesis and it took a way to realize it was him in that ep.

 

[diankra]

James Warwick played Lt. Scott and he later appeared on Babylon 5 in Exogenesis and it took a way to realize it was him in that ep.

Had just played the lead in The Nightmare Man, a 1981 BBC SF serial which is worth watching if you can track it down: other key cast are Celia Imrie and Maurice Roeves, while the script and direction come from Robert Holmes and Douglas Camfield.

 

[Starkers]

When I was younger the casting of Beryl Reid used to grate a little, but these days I think it's great that this battered old freighter is effecively run by two mature ladies, so much more original than the stock crusty old (male) seadog or the smart arse Han/Mal alike that you'd usually get captaining that kind of thing. I'm not sure they pass the Bechdel test but it's still a nice touch.

 

[DWF]

When I was younger the casting of Beryl Reid used to grate a little, but these days I think it's great that this battered old freighter is effecively run by two mature ladies, so much more original than the stock crusty old (male) seadog or the smart arse Han/Mal alike that you'd usually get captaining that kind of thing. I'm not sure they pass the Bechdel test but it's still a nice touch.

Beryl Reid had no idea what science fiction was about. June Bland would return in Battlefield though. I do find it funny that they didn't give Matthew Waterhouse a script right away, he had to steal a look at somebody else's script to learn he was going to be killled off.

 

[kirk55555]

The Ribos Operation was pretty good. Romana seems like she'll be an interesting companion, and the story itself was entertaining. The supporting cast was good, and likeable (except the evil former emperor and his minion, but they weren't supposed to be likeable anyway) and the Fourth Doctor had some great lines/moments, especially while interacting with Romana. The two con-men reminded me of more likeable versions of Glitz and Dibber from The Mysterious Planet, another Robert Holmes story. This was a good start to the Key to Time arc.

 

[DWF]

Frontios, I've always thought this was an underrated story but then it was rushed though production wise. Still I've always liked the idea of the Tractators and the story gave us some backround detail on Turlough even if his breakdown was over the top.

 

[kirk55555]

The Pirate Planet was decent. I liked the idea behind the planet, although it seemed convenient that its next victim was going to be Earth. The pirate captain was really over the top, and even though it had an explanation it was a bit too distracting at times. Still, overall it was an entertaining story.

 

[Timewalker]

I enjoyed both The Visitation and King's Demons greatly. The program did eventually start to decay, but it hadn't started at this point.

I'm not fond of either of the Mara stories-- "Kinda" or "Snakedance." The Peter Davison years also subjected us to crap like "Four to Doomsday" & "Mawdryn Undead."

On the other hand, "The Visitation" is a perfectly serviceable story. "The King's Demons" works really well too, although it sometimes feels a bit rushed since it's a 2-parter.

Tastes vary, but Mawdryn was awesome. Four to Doomsday, while not a classic, was still entertaining in a quiet sort of way.

I actually didn't care for the Kinda stories back when they originally aired. But, when I saw them again recently, I really enjoyed both. I got much more out of them. I was particularly blown away by Snakedance!

Mr Awe

I loathed Mawdryn Undead for the stomach-turning parts of it, although it was wonderful to have the Brigadier back. It was also a great start to Turlough's story arc and the return of the Black Guardian.

Didn't Snakedance introduce the most ridiculous of Nyssa's costumes (other than the underwear she left in)?

The Pirate Planet was decent. I liked the idea behind the planet, although it seemed convenient that its next victim was going to be Earth. The pirate captain was really over the top, and even though it had an explanation it was a bit too distracting at times. Still, overall it was an entertaining story.

Pirate Planet (part 1) was the first - and almost the last - complete episode I ever saw. The only thing that kept me watching was a promise I made to a friend that I'd try one story to see if I liked it. Thank goodness The Stones of Blood was so good, and that's what got me addicted to the show.

 

[Sybok Was Wrong]

The Pirate Planet was decent. I liked the idea behind the planet, although it seemed convenient that its next victim was going to be Earth. The pirate captain was really over the top, and even though it had an explanation it was a bit too distracting at times. Still, overall it was an entertaining story.

I like the motor boat/sky car; the superspeed transport; the parrot- K9 battle; the tacky 70's look; the humor; Mary Tamm; Tom Baker's confident performance, tho his dog bite is distracting. One of my very favorites- definitely!

Just finished "Shada"- the last gasp of fun before JNT started to ruin the show, in my opinion!

 

[Emperor-Tiberius]

Just finished "Shada"- the last gasp of fun before JNT started to ruin the show, in my opinion!

The JNT, Tom-Baker-narrates version, or the edited version of Ian Levine's version that circulates the internet?

 

[FrankT]

Remembrance of the Daleks.

I also tried to watch The Five Doctors Special Edition recently, but there were other things on my mind then and I didn't get very far.

 

[Doctorwhovian]

Yeah, the reconstructed Shada by JNT is a bit weird. It's got the regular footage but it also has a Keff McCollough score and early 90's digital effects which make it almost feel like a McCoy story.

 

[Emperor-Tiberius]

Yeah, the reconstructed Shada by JNT is a bit weird. It's got the regular footage but it also has a Keff McCollough score and early 90's digital effects which make it almost feel like a McCoy story.

I feel the McCollough score is actually a suitable bridge between the 70's and 80's Who eras... it feels like neither, but it also makes it more part of its own beast, so I don't hate it like others do.

The Levine re-edit though is more balanced, music-wise. Its overall the best version, and I adore it.