My Seventh Doctor viewing thread. Thoughts and opinions.

[Aldo]

I had started talking about my viewings of the Seventh Doctor's serials in my thread talking about Ace. Since that thread has gotten so far off topic I figure I'll start this one. Especially now that I've decided to watch his stories in order. Anyways, here's what I had to say about "Time and The Rani" from that other thread:

Oh, and beware of Mels scream. It will teach you to hate.

'Time and The Rani' is my introduction to Mel. And it's not a good first impression I'm afraid

As for the story itself, I enjoyed it mostly, it did start off a bit slow. But it kept me entertained throughout, and it was fun seeing Seven trying on the different costumes, before deciding on the one he'd wear throughout his tenure. So aside from Mel, I'm really not seeing why this episode is derided so.

One small bit that stood out to me, and that I think is why I really like The Doctor as a character: when the Tetrap that was chasing the Doctor gets caught in the Rani's trap and perishes, Seven takes his hat off to him. Despite being an enemy of his, The Doctor still takes the time to mourn the passing of a living being. I just love that

 

[Sindatur]

Moved from Ace Thread:

Yea, I actually like the story, and think it's only weighed down by Mel. She does grate less by Dragonfire (her exit and Ace's entrance), but, she is definitely an acquired taste. I gained a new appreciation for her with the Audio "Doctor Who Unbound" He Jests at Scars, but, you need to watch the previous Season "Trial of a Timelord" with her introduction in Colin Baker's Final episodes first.

 

[Aldo]

I considered picking 'Trial of a Timelord' up when I was out yesterday. But the price they were asking for it was a bit more than I wanted to pay at the moment (I just treated myself and two friends to a movie). And since I've wanted to see more Seven stories, it just made sense to pick up his first story.

I'll get to it eventually

 

[klingonmaquis]

Ahh the McCoy era. Personally for the longest time he was my favorite Doctor. I still enjoy the heck out of his run as it did try to bring back mystery to the character.
Mel...poor Mel. I never hated her by no means she simply wasn't my favorite companion. The Big Finish audios, much like what they did for the 6th Doctor have gone a long way to change Mel for the better. I actually await more stories from them with her.
Time and the Rani is still a decent story and the fact we get a new villian for the Doctor is a plus.

 

[Guy Gardener]

I considered picking 'Trial of a Timelord' up when I was out yesterday. But the price they were asking for it was a bit more than I wanted to pay at the moment (I just treated myself and two friends to a movie). And since I've wanted to see more Seven stories, it just made sense to pick up his first story.

I'll get to it eventually

Get engaged.

(Too late?)

Register for that Trial of a Time Lord filth, and all the other many DVDs you need.

You just have to find an easily divorcable woman with no interest in your media collection.

Hell.

Get her in on the act.

She can register for her hobbies as well.

As long as you don't accidentally fall in love, you're golden.

 

[C.E. Evans]

Yeah, they really did try to put the "Who?" back in Doctor Who with the Seventh Doctor, but I don't think that really started until the 25th-anniversary. By the time that was over, I wasn't entirely sure if the Doctor had always been a champion for good...

 

[23skidoo]

My only problem with the McCoy era when it first aired here in Canada was that I couldn't understand what was being said. This was back in the day when stereo broadcasting was being rolled out and our cable company had its head up its butt and wasn't sending the proper signal. As a result there were whole episodes of Doctor Who (and other shows like Twin Peaks and Star Trek TNG) in which dialogue was muted and I remember watching episode 1 of Curse of Fenric and only the music track was heard!

I've heard other folks make mention of this, and it did tend to negatively color one's opinion of the show, especially if you got the double whammy of being unable to properly hear dialogue in a complex storyline like Ghost Light or Fenric. Fenric was a great example - it wasn't until a decade later, when I was reading a transcript, that I was made aware that the Doctor was reciting the names of his companions during one sequence. All I could ever hear on the broadcast was the mumble. And it was the broadcast because I videotaped the story and the videotape had the same issue no matter what TV I played it on, so it wasn't the TV acting up. And I never got around to seeing any rebroadcasts on PBS or anything, so for the longest time the McCoy era sort of had short shrift for me. I did read a number of the novelisations, and that helped, though in that pre-Amazon era it was hard to get hold of those books, and they were expensive - Time and the Rani was $7.50 at a time when the average DW paperback was $3.50 (this was due to a low Canadian dollar and some tariffs the government of the day put on imported books).

Now that that stories are on DVD I haven't had a chance to get too many McCoys yet, but I have picked up Remembrance of the Daleks and Delta and the Bannermen, and the stories are much better now that I can understand what's being said.

Alex

 

[Iamnotspock]

Fenric was a great example - it wasn't until a decade later, when I was reading a transcript, that I was made aware that the Doctor was reciting the names of his companions during one sequence. All I could ever hear on the broadcast was the mumble.

That's not hugely clear even with the right sound mix, and arguably not at all to the average viewer.

 

[C.E. Evans]

Fenric was a great example - it wasn't until a decade later, when I was reading a transcript, that I was made aware that the Doctor was reciting the names of his companions during one sequence. All I could ever hear on the broadcast was the mumble.

That's not hugely clear even with the right sound mix, and arguably not at all to the average viewer.

Agreed. All this time I never knew that was going on.

 

[Aldo]

My first McCoy story was 'Curse of Fenric' and even with great sound I'm embarrassed to say I had trouble following the story.

Going back over it again I was able to follow it fine, but that first time a lot of stuff was presented without any real explanations (at least that's how it felt to me).

 

[Guy Gardener]

I didn't understand all that Sophie looks like a boy bullshit.

As an 11 year old, I was intoxicated by her loveliness.

 

[Aldo]

She's the hottest boy I've ever seen.

 

[Guy Gardener]

In the context of the show?

Who is there to compare her to?

Adric?

Good lord, frazer was 22 when he started as Jamie?

was he supposed to be playing younger or older?

Wendy was 3 years his junior...

 

[23skidoo]

I didn't understand all that Sophie looks like a boy bullshit.

As an 11 year old, I was intoxicated by her loveliness.

At the time I still had the hots for Nicola Bryant, but I never thought of Sophie Aldred as a boy. I remember there was some chatter about her being a lesbian (because of course any female who acts manly is automatically gay ) but that went away after she was shown coming on to that Russian soldier in Fenric, which ranks as one of the sexiest moments the series had seen since Zoe took a ride on the TARDIS console merry-go-round!

Alex

 

[Guy Gardener]

Winner, winner! Chicken dinner!

 

[Pindar]

I have just Rewatched The Happiness Patrol.

Even trying to watch it ironically I can't kid myself, it's awful.

Probably the worst ever Who story.

 

[Aldo]

I received 'Paradise Towers' in the mail the other day. Haven't had a chance to watch it yet but I think I'll take a look at it tomorrow. Should post my thoughts around then too

 

[Pindar]

Don't let the awfulness of Paradise Towers put you off the rest of the 7th doctor stories, it's another stinker.

 

[C.E. Evans]

I can forgive the Seventh Doctor's first series because it was very much a learning curve. It also serves as a sharp contrast to what would come later, IMO. It seems like during his first series, they wanted the Seventh Doctor to be comical and his stories to be fairly light-hearted, and then started heading in a different direction for his second series. If nothing else, the further you go with the Seventh Doctor, the more you'll notice the difference from his early stories.

 

[Sindatur]

Don't let the awfulness of Paradise Towers put you off the rest of the 7th doctor stories, it's another stinker.

I like Paradise Towers and The Happiness Patrol. Really, the only story I have a difficult time enjoying is Delta and The Bannermen