Last Classic Who Story you watched
- Thread starter Pindar
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At least one Big Name from 1970s fandom is on record as saying he thought 'The Gunfighters' was the worst story ever (but that Season 3 was otherwise The Golden Age).
The big "received wisdom" is the idea that it got Doctor Who's lowest ever ratings, which it didn't. (Ironically one letter to DWAS newsletter 'Celestial Toyroom' in 1990 alleged that no one should criticise Season 26 because the alternative was 'The Gunfighters' and ratings disaster. No one had the heart to tell him that 'Battlefield' got half of 'The Gunfighters' ratings.)
The big "received wisdom" is the idea that it got Doctor Who's lowest ever ratings, which it didn't. (Ironically one letter to DWAS newsletter 'Celestial Toyroom' in 1990 alleged that no one should criticise Season 26 because the alternative was 'The Gunfighters' and ratings disaster. No one had the heart to tell him that 'Battlefield' got half of 'The Gunfighters' ratings.)
Genesis Of The Daleks on the Dalek DVD.
Stragnely it took a while to see though this time, watching the new shows slowed down viewing of it. But it's still a great story with an apocalypic ending to it, with several Nazi like parallels and Michael Wisher was the best of all the Davroses, he's calm voice was even more menacing than his screaming. And Peter Nyles as Nyder was the perfect toadie.
Stragnely it took a while to see though this time, watching the new shows slowed down viewing of it. But it's still a great story with an apocalypic ending to it, with several Nazi like parallels and Michael Wisher was the best of all the Davroses, he's calm voice was even more menacing than his screaming. And Peter Nyles as Nyder was the perfect toadie.
In the past week I've watched both 'Spearhad from Space' and 'The Twin Dilemma'
As is quite obvious, they're both the respective Doctors introductory story and also the firs time I've seen either Doctor in their own story (I saw the Third Doctor in 'The Five Doctors' and the sixth Doctor briefly after the Fifth Doctor regenerated).
I quite liked both stories, I think 'Spearhead from Space' actually looks better, with lots of location work and what appears to be a pretty decent sized budget. I don't generally like Doctor Who stories that primarily take place on Earth, but at least with the third Doctor we have an explanation. I'm curious, do they mention why the Time Lords exiled the Doctor on Earth?
As for 'The Twin Dilemma' the story really gripped me, what with the kidnapping of the two boys. It took me a while to get used to Colin Baker though, I think it was the writing of his Doctor, as most people complain about I notice. I didn't really dislike the strangling scene, as it makes sense in the context of the story. I do think the sixth Doctor is a bit too arrogant, but he mellows out a bit near the end. I'm definitely going to keep up with him, I'm interested in seeing more of his stories now.
Almost forgot, I really like the Third Doctor as well, but then again I haven't met a Doctor I haven't liked yet. Now I just need to see a story or two with the Second Doctor.
As is quite obvious, they're both the respective Doctors introductory story and also the firs time I've seen either Doctor in their own story (I saw the Third Doctor in 'The Five Doctors' and the sixth Doctor briefly after the Fifth Doctor regenerated).
I quite liked both stories, I think 'Spearhead from Space' actually looks better, with lots of location work and what appears to be a pretty decent sized budget. I don't generally like Doctor Who stories that primarily take place on Earth, but at least with the third Doctor we have an explanation. I'm curious, do they mention why the Time Lords exiled the Doctor on Earth?
As for 'The Twin Dilemma' the story really gripped me, what with the kidnapping of the two boys. It took me a while to get used to Colin Baker though, I think it was the writing of his Doctor, as most people complain about I notice. I didn't really dislike the strangling scene, as it makes sense in the context of the story. I do think the sixth Doctor is a bit too arrogant, but he mellows out a bit near the end. I'm definitely going to keep up with him, I'm interested in seeing more of his stories now.
Almost forgot, I really like the Third Doctor as well, but then again I haven't met a Doctor I haven't liked yet. Now I just need to see a story or two with the Second Doctor.
In the second Doctor's final story The War Games he was put in trial for interfering in the affairs of others, but he convinced them that there were evils in the universe that needed to be fought. So they changed his appearance and exiled him to earth in the late 20th century.
The Twin Dilemma is concidered one of the worst stories in the history of the show and the sixth Doctor is generally disliked, falling at the bottom of a recent poll. And really IMO The Twin Dilemma was bad next to Peter Davison's final story.
Well, as someone who thought The Twin Dilemma was ok and who loves the Sixth Doctor and his era, I'd recommend anyone watching him for the first time to go in with an open mind, and judge his run for himself, and not get scared away by the people who hate him (or, to be fair, be overhyped by the people who love him).
Anyway, I just finished watching The Daleks. It was pretty good, and for a 7 episode serial it really didn't feel padded until the last two episodes (the long cave scenes got boring). Besides that, it was a nice story and I think I can see why the Daleks took off like they did. I liked seeing Ian have to ride in a Dalek, it was funny. The Daleks themselves were a bit wimpier then they would be later, but they still felt threatening. Overall, I thought it was a good story, and a good introduction to a classic group of villains.
Anyway, I just finished watching The Daleks. It was pretty good, and for a 7 episode serial it really didn't feel padded until the last two episodes (the long cave scenes got boring). Besides that, it was a nice story and I think I can see why the Daleks took off like they did. I liked seeing Ian have to ride in a Dalek, it was funny. The Daleks themselves were a bit wimpier then they would be later, but they still felt threatening. Overall, I thought it was a good story, and a good introduction to a classic group of villains.
Colony Sarff inspired me toi go shake the digital cobwebs off my copy of Snakedance. What I like with the classic episodes is that they run with it and inhabit their settings. They do their best to bring you into the culture and life that the characters inhabit. Martin Clunes does a great job as bored disaffected royalty and Janet Fielding tries hard to bring some acting chops and looks great running around in her nightie
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Yeah, that cave sequence was filler and not appealing filler. I've very much enjoyed all the seven-parters that I've seen (The Daleks and the three that Jon Pertwee did) but each serial does feel like it should have been told in six parts.
I was not a huge fan of the Pertwee 7 parters really, mostly because they felt like they had even more filler than The Daleks, even when the basic story was good. For example, The Ambassadors of death probably has more filler than any other Classic Who serial I've ever seen. I think it could have been a great 4 parter. As a 7 parter, its the most boring Pertwee serial I've seen, and up there as the most boring Classic who serial (though I think The Android Invasion still has it beat in that category).
The Daleks managed to be a good story regardless of length, but it could have easily cut out all of the cave stuff and lost nothing even remotely important to the story.
The Daleks managed to be a good story regardless of length, but it could have easily cut out all of the cave stuff and lost nothing even remotely important to the story.
Just finished the 1st Doctor serial The Edge of Destruction. It was ok, and it was interesting to see an episode set completely on the TARDIS so early in the show, but I don't think its "make everyone paranoid and trapped and see how it works out" story worked very well. It had some good moments, but the paranoid stuff was goofy and the explanation for it (the TARDIS itself made them paranoid to alert them to a mechanical problem it was having, or at least that's how I understood what happened) was pretty stupid. Overall, this was ok, but could have been more coherent.
I've always considered The Edge of Destruction as part of The Daleks. Its just too... loose to consider it as a serial of its own.
Anyway, I've been doing my BBC/BF chronological run, and I've started the Seventh Doctor run.
After BF's The Brink of Death gave a lovely, fitting end for the Sixth Doctor, watching the actual regeneration scene in Time and the Rani was less grating, as Sixth finally had his due and watching McCoy doesn't feel like Baker was given the boot unfairly (which still happened, of course). The story does improve a little, on that respect.
But, its still the worst DW story I've ever seen. I mean, aside from Kate O'Mara, nothing works at all. Its just...
And thats that.
The rest of season 24 is easily better than this, but I found myself liking Paradise Towers even less - but, the alternate score certainly made it easier to sit through. The other two are relatively great, but in truth they're terribly flawed. But at least they're entertaining, so that makes season 24 alone better than the dreary 22nd.
So yeah, season 24 was slightly better than before, because of the Big Finish audios, but the season on its own is of the weakest of the show's history, ever.
Anyway, I've been doing my BBC/BF chronological run, and I've started the Seventh Doctor run.
After BF's The Brink of Death gave a lovely, fitting end for the Sixth Doctor, watching the actual regeneration scene in Time and the Rani was less grating, as Sixth finally had his due and watching McCoy doesn't feel like Baker was given the boot unfairly (which still happened, of course). The story does improve a little, on that respect.
But, its still the worst DW story I've ever seen. I mean, aside from Kate O'Mara, nothing works at all. Its just...
And thats that.
The rest of season 24 is easily better than this, but I found myself liking Paradise Towers even less - but, the alternate score certainly made it easier to sit through. The other two are relatively great, but in truth they're terribly flawed. But at least they're entertaining, so that makes season 24 alone better than the dreary 22nd.
So yeah, season 24 was slightly better than before, because of the Big Finish audios, but the season on its own is of the weakest of the show's history, ever.
Oh good. No one's mentioned Delta and the Bannermen's alien puppet that then turns into a green painted human baby in a onesie!
After becoming a fan through the new series, the majority of stories I got into on the classic show was actually McCoy's first season, since I really enjoyed his Doctor in the tv Movie.
Boy what a shock when I went back and watched earlier serials, I figured the show was fairly low budget because of the stuff McCoy was given, but man the earlier stuff was so much better, in fact the third Doctor's introductory serial alone looks much more expensive than most of what McCoy was doing.
Boy what a shock when I went back and watched earlier serials, I figured the show was fairly low budget because of the stuff McCoy was given, but man the earlier stuff was so much better, in fact the third Doctor's introductory serial alone looks much more expensive than most of what McCoy was doing.
That's because the Third Doctor's debut was shot on film.
That said, speaking of "Spearhead..." and watching the early Pertwee stories, Pertwee hamming for the camera when he is being menaced by a special effect is easily some of the funniest stuff on television.
I'd have loved to see Pertwee and Shatner do something together in their prime to see who could chew the most scenery.
I'd have loved to see Pertwee and Shatner do something together in their prime to see who could chew the most scenery.
OMG Imagine had they done a 3rd Doctor story with Kirk and him together.. haha that would have been special.
I disagree about Pertwee, actually. I think he consistently took the part overtly seriously. The only moments I might say he was hammy were in some rather of the monsters' attacks, where he had to find ways to sell it because the department wasn't always up for it.
Kirk and the Third Doctor would have kicked some serious ass!
I agree that Pertwee seemed to play the Doctor a lot more seriously, especially during the first two seasons of his run. His Doctor could be a downright asshole to the people around him.
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