The Caves of Androzani, what a pleasant surprise (spoilers, I imagine)

[Aldo]

I've recently completed Smith's first season as the Doctor and that also happens to be the most current season Netflix has available, so in the interim I've gone back and watched some Classic Who that was available.

First up was The Caves of Androzani. Everytime I delve into classic Who I have to get used to how different it is from nWho, primarily the look and all. But once that's over with, I really get into it.

And this time was no exception, now I've seen a few of Davison's serials before, so I knew what I was getting into, but boy, was I shocked that this also happened to be the end for him. I expected the Doctor to pull through his getting poisoned, but it was nice to see a brief glimpse of Colin Baker (haven't seen any of his Doctor yet really).

As for the plot, I was surprised at how more adult it felt than many of the stories in nuWho, which have a "wacky fun for the family" feel most of the time, not that it's a bad thing mind you, but it just threw me.

And for people who complain that the Companions in nuWho overshadow the Doctor...well in this serial it seemed like the Doctor and Peri were merely bystanders in the show, which was a little disappointing, as I would have liked the Doctor to take more of an active role in the plot...especially considering this was Davison's final turn as the Doctor.

 

[Whofan]

Re: The Caves of Androzani, what a pleasant surprise (spoilers, I imag

For many (but not all) fans, "Caves of Androzani" is considered the pinnacle of original Doctor Who. It's written by Robert Holmes, who wrote many of the classic stories (Mostly for Pertwee and Tom Baker's Doctors, his Troughton era stuff was meh). The director even came back to do several Nu who episodes.

Both Harper and Holmes would also return the next season, but Holmes's "Two Doctors" is mixed and Harper's "Revelation of the Daleks" is really, really weird (But still well directed).


It's unfortunate that the series kind of faltered afterwards, although a few stories from the Colin Baker and McCoy years were decent. Both Doctors afterwards seemed to be a reaction to Davison-Colin was the opposite, a rude, mean and unstable Doctor at times although some of his later stories and audio dramas modify his character. McCoy is actually the flip side in a sense- he starts off kind of whimsical but then becomes one of the more moody and manipulative Doctors.

 

[Starkers]

Re: The Caves of Androzani, what a pleasant surprise (spoilers, I imag

As for the plot, I was surprised at how more adult it felt than many of the stories in nuWho, which have a "wacky fun for the family" feel most of the time, not that it's a bad thing mind you, but it just threw me.

This is very true, unfortunately there are some people on this forum you'll never convince of that

I think the fact that the Doctor and Peri are bystanders in Androzani kinda makes it even better. At the end of the day it isn't about saving the unverse/all of time/reality itself, it's just about saving Peri at the end of the day.

Most heroic regenration ever!

 

[Aldo]

Re: The Caves of Androzani, what a pleasant surprise (spoilers, I imag

I tell you though, the old style format of having a bunch of serials put together really works. I was literally on the edge of my after the first serial ended with the Doctor and Peri (supposedly) being shot.

 

[Mitty]

Re: The Caves of Androzani, what a pleasant surprise (spoilers, I imag

I haven't seen this story in ages I really must get a hold of it. I only saw it in it's original run back in the 80's and haven't seen it since. I don't think as a 14/15 year old kid I really appreciated it that much so this is one story I'd like to see again.

 

[Iamnotspock]

Re: The Caves of Androzani, what a pleasant surprise (spoilers, I imag

I tell you though, the old style format of having a bunch of serials put together really works. I was literally on the edge of my after the first serial ended with the Doctor and Peri (supposedly) being shot.

It's a real jaw-dropping moment isn't it, as the episode ends as the guns are firing, rather than just before.

 

[TedShatner10]

Re: The Caves of Androzani, what a pleasant surprise (spoilers, I imag

I personally think a lot of the original Doctor Who was overrated, poorly produced drivel that was a victim of its time, especially in the black and white era, but "The Caves of Androzani" cannot be recommended enough and it has clearly been emulated by RTD in some of his better scripts (like "Children of Earth", with a chillingly convincing murderously self-serving plutocrat as a villain). One of the best McCoy stories is "Remembrance of the Daleks". Collin Baker's "Revelation of the Daleks" is a bit poor, but watchable 80s kitsch.

 

[diankra]

Re: The Caves of Androzani, what a pleasant surprise (spoilers, I imag

I tell you though, the old style format of having a bunch of serials put together really works. I was literally on the edge of my after the first serial ended with the Doctor and Peri (supposedly) being shot.

It's a real jaw-dropping moment isn't it, as the episode ends as the guns are firing, rather than just before.

That, BTW, was a change in editing: the script ends with the bullets hitting and the bodies slumping, which is even more shocking in some ways, but does tend to give away that it's not really them...

 

[Chuckles]

Re: The Caves of Androzani, what a pleasant surprise (spoilers, I imag

And poor Peter Davison, his regeneration scene was hampered because more people were paying attention to Peri's heaving breasts than his regeneration!!!

 

[Aldo]

Re: The Caves of Androzani, what a pleasant surprise (spoilers, I imag

And poor Peter Davison, his regeneration scene was hampered because more people were paying attention to Peri's heaving breasts than his regeneration!!!

Guilty!

Although in my defense I had no idea this was Davison's last story as the Doctor, so I didn't expect him to regenerate.

So when this was originally aired back in the eighties...was it known ahead of time that this was his final story?

 

[Skellington]

Re: The Caves of Androzani, what a pleasant surprise (spoilers, I imag

^ Yep. It's actually the second-last story of season 21, with The Twin Dilemma providing a taste of Colin Baker before his first full season. This probably would have made it difficult to conceal even if they'd wanted to.

 

[Whofan]

Re: The Caves of Androzani, what a pleasant surprise (spoilers, I imag

Yeah, that Davison would be leaving and that Colin would be the new Doctor I think was known around the time of the 20th anniversary and the Five Doctors airing although I'm not 100% on that.


Funny thing is that if you watch the old press conference Colin says he wanted to outdo Tom Baker (No relation BTW) as the longest-running Doctor. That didn't exactly work out...

 

[Sindatur]

Re: The Caves of Androzani, what a pleasant surprise (spoilers, I imag

Yeah, that Davison would be leaving and that Colin would be the new Doctor I think was known around the time of the 20th anniversary and the Five Doctors airing although I'm not 100% on that.


Funny thing is that if you watch the old press conference Colin says he wanted to outdo Tom Baker (No relation BTW) as the longest-running Doctor. That didn't exactly work out...

Yea, even over here in the states watching reruns on PBS, I recall hearing Colin Baker basically saying he would stay as the Doctor forever.

 

[OmahaStar]

Re: The Caves of Androzani, what a pleasant surprise (spoilers, I imag

Yea, even over here in the states watching reruns on PBS, I recall hearing Colin Baker basically saying he would stay as the Doctor forever.

If only.

But he's still doing audios, and writing. And thank the television gods for that!

 

[Sindatur]

Re: The Caves of Androzani, what a pleasant surprise (spoilers, I imag

Yea, even over here in the states watching reruns on PBS, I recall hearing Colin Baker basically saying he would stay as the Doctor forever.

If only.

But he's still doing audios, and writing. And thank the television gods for that!

Ah, but, he didn't leave of his own accord. They made him leave because their damned cheap material for his costume kept shrinking

 

[JoeZhang]

Re: The Caves of Androzani, what a pleasant surprise (spoilers, I imag

Yea, even over here in the states watching reruns on PBS, I recall hearing Colin Baker basically saying he would stay as the Doctor forever.

If only.

But he's still doing audios, and writing. And thank the television gods for that!

Never liked his Tv appearances but oddly he's my favourite big finish Doctor.

 

[Anachronus]

Re: The Caves of Androzani, what a pleasant surprise (spoilers, I imag

Agreed, never really cared for his episodes, but his other Who material has been great.

 

[Iamnotspock]

Re: The Caves of Androzani, what a pleasant surprise (spoilers, I imag

So when this was originally aired back in the eighties...was it known ahead of time that this was his final story?

The only time it wasn't largely known ahead of time that a Doctor was going to regenerate was the first time it ever happened - Hartnell to Troughton - before it became a televisual institution. Thereafter and to this day, it was always a massive event, revealed in the press beforehand to ensure maximum ratings and publicity. When Matt Smith's casting was announced it was in a special half-hour edition of Doctor Who Confidential, Doctor Who Confidential: The Eleventh Doctor (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kl6lMClFu8c&feature=watch_response_rev), featuring a retrospective look at the previous ten Doctors and the unveiling of the eleventh with this interview.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zog-6SrGxE0

It got 6 million viewers. For a casting announcement.