Battlefield

"You don't need to go on playing soldier anymore."

Writer: Ben Aaronovitch
Format: TV
Broadcast: 6-27 September 1989
Season: 26.01

Featuring: Seventh Doctor, Ace, Brigadier

Synopsis

The Doctor and Ace arrive on Earth in the late 1990s where they become involved in a battle between King Arthur and Morgaine. However, these are not the heroes of Britain's past, but warriors from another dimension – and they recognise the Doctor as the wizard Merlin. As usual, it is down to the Doctor and Ace to save the planet, but this time they find some help in the guise of the Doctor's old UNIT ally, Brigadier Lethbridge-Stewart.

Verdict

Battlefield was a very good way to kick off the twenty-sixth and final season of Doctor Who! It's a really solid opening from start to finish that has a lot riding on it and shows just what kind of direction the show was heading in before it was hastily retired. I think it's a big shame that Doctor Who didn't survive into the 1990s, but who knows what kind of show, if any, we would have now had it done so. This serial has the right levels of nostalgia and new with the return of the Brigadier being accompanied by an excellent storyline containing beings from another dimension. They had all the appearances of being from the tale of King Arthur which was very interesting and whilst I did really enjoy the concept, I felt a bit more explanation was required as to how they had got onto Earth and in our universe, and more importantly why they'd come through in the first place. Having them arrive at Lake Vortigern with all the historical significance that possessed was really good and I liked how seriously those from the other dimension were taking seriously the words of what humanity were meaning as comedy. The moment Morgaine stopped her soldiers to reflect and remember those that had fallen in the cemetery was a touching moment and showed that despite her evil intentions, this woman had the potential to be good which I thought was important. We were introduced to a brand new Brigadier in this story by way of rank in the form of Winifred, but I wasn't overly keen on her character if I'm being honest. She didn't exactly ooze the authority that Lethbridge-Stewart so effortlessly did. Seeing our Brigadier in a home environment planting in the garden and with his wife was a lovely scene that showed us that even Lethbridge-Stewart had a normal life despite everything going on with UNIT. When the Doctor discovered that the UNIT were on the case he'd picked up in the TARDIS, his letting Ace use a pass of Liz Shaw's was another wonderful moment of nostalgic continuity. It worked terrifically well. It doesn't seem right that someone with the rank of Brigadier at UNIT wouldn't know of the Doctor, but when Winifred is told of the Doctor and his regenerative capabilities her reaction is more than decent. It's clear to see she cannot believe it. The Doctor being mistaken for Merlin and the story that came with that was fantastic and I really liked that it was acknowledged that events here were possibly influenced from the future. May there have been a future tale from the Doctor of the future's perspective? One thing I was very impressed with throughout this serial was the set design. I thought that was of a really high standard which is obviously pleasing to say. The cliffhanger to part two really is tremendous with Ace on the verge of drowning and the Doctor knocked out, but the resolution with the Doctor turning out to actually be okay seemed a bit like cheating. Ancelyn was a really good character who shared some good relationships with both the Doctor and Brigadier. His coming sideways in time was intriguing but again needed some more explanation. The moment the Doctor and Brigadier are reunited is magnificent and I really did get a big feeling of nostalgia, perhaps because I know this is the last time they meet on screen which is a huge moment when you think of it. The arrival of the Destroyer was good, but a little too late to have much of an impact. He looked impressive that's for sure, but didn't seem to really live up to its name. The special effects when he was quite easily destroyed by the Brigadier and the silver bullets were really impressive though. Overall, a great little serial on the whole!

Rating: 8/10

The Face of Evil

"They say the Evil One eats babies."

Writer: Chris Boucher
Format: TV
Broadcast: 1-22 January 1977
Season: 14.04

Featuring: Fourth Doctor, Leela

Synopsis

The Doctor arrives on a planet where two tribes, the savage Sevateem and the technically brilliant Tesh, are at war. He meets Leela, an exile from the Sevateem, and discovers that their god of evil is apparently... himself?

Verdict

The Face of Evil was an excellent Doctor Who serial and a really strong introduction for Leela as the new companion! She had big shoes to fill following the departure of Sarah Jane Smith in The Hand of Fear, but she doesn't mess around in making a big impact. The story starts with her as the focus and that doesn't really change despite the plot centring on the Doctor and how he resembled the Evil One. That image of the Doctor's face in the mountains at the end of part one is excellent and I love the idea of the Doctor climbing down his own throat. Of course, it's not like The Invisible Enemy where he literally goes within himself, but the humour element is still there. The novelisation of this adventure would give the background on when the Doctor would have come to this planet before and set things in motion for what we see here. It turned out that he did in fact depart in the TARDIS briefly during Robot and with his post-regenerative state still very much playing a role, he ended up forgetting to take his personality print out of the computer Xoanon. The imagery of the Doctor's face booming on the screen and killing or hurting a number of individuals was fantastic. It really was fascinating to have the Doctor and his image representing something so evil. The Doctor is literally the epitome of what an opposite of the evil one would be. The backstory behind the Tribe of Sevateem is something I always enjoy with it of course just deriving from a survey team. There had been a lot going on in the past on this unnamed planet and the supposed relics of Xoanon were clearly just parts or devices from within a spaceship. I really enjoyed that. This is a serial I know very well having watched it a number of times and that didn't make it any less enjoyable. Neeva was a terrific character and that scene where he's dancing around the Doctor with the 'relic' was magnificent. I can't imagine that would have been easy to keep a straight face during takes! Tom Baker was on excellent form as the Doctor though. The opening with him exiting the TARDIS and addressing the camera works very well in the absence of a companion. Andor was a brilliant character and his role as leader of the Tribe of Sevateem was terrific. His banishing of Leela to beyond the border was intriguing as it didn't seem to be a decision he enjoyed making. Her father taking the test and not doing so well to save her sentence was quite sudden and that made a big impact, even for a character that we didn't know well at this point. Tomas had a good relationship with her and I liked that he was trying to stop her from leaving beyond the border. The setting of the jungles and within the Doctor's resembling face and the domain of Xoanon worked really well and there was always a lot going. The visuals were really impressive. The cliffhangers were pretty strong throughout which is always good and I thought the ending worked well and didn't seem too pacy which worked for this serial. It was actually a bit simple with the Doctor taking back his personality and Xoanon was back to what it always should have been. It now wanted trust and even put in a failsafe in having the ability for the Tribe of the Sevateem to make him cease to exist at any point. The ending with Leela barging her way into the TARDIS and as the new companion was marvellous. Overall, a superb serial!

Rating: 9/10

Terror of the Autons

"Death is always more fascinating when it strikes invisibly."

Writer: Robert Holmes
Format: TV
Broadcast: 2-23 January 1971
Season: 8.01

Featuring: Third Doctor, Jo

Synopsis

The Earth is endangered by a renegade Time Lord known as the Master, who steals a dormant Nestene energy. He reactivates it using the facilities of a radio telescope before using his hypnotic abilities to take control of a small plastics manufacturer, Farrel Autoplastics. There, he organises the production of deadly Auton artefacts ranging from plastic dolls, chairs and daffodils.

The Master has an evil scheme to destroy humanity and to silence his old foe, the Doctor, forever. He plans to awaken the awesome power of the Nestenes, a ruthlessly aggressive life form.

Verdict

Terror of the Autons was an excellent way to kick off the eighth season of Doctor Who! It really is a big story for a number of reasons. There's so much going on with the introduction of the Master who would go on to feature in every serial during this season, and he's played majestically by Roger Delgado. There's no waiting around for him to emerge or drip-feeding the audience details about his identity. He's thrust straight into action which I think worked brilliantly. We get to see the Master at his very best straight away which was excellent. If that wasn't enough, we had the return of the Autons which was done wonderfully well in conjunction with the debuting Master. They were sinister and their whole concept in of itself is just terrific. Making plastic scary is fantastically Doctor Who! It was done really well here with the daffodil toys and the phone wire for the part three cliffhanger. The expanding chair that then enveloped in on its victim was also pretty brutal! The importance of this serial doesn't stop with them though! We of course have the debut of Jo Grant as the companion and she arrives rather clumsily and much to the Doctor's annoyance. It's clear that they start to bond and the Doctor can appreciate what she can bring as his assistant as the story goes on which was nice. The Doctor also has contact with the Time Lords in this serial with a quite amusing encounter in part one. They were warning him of the Master's presence which was very interesting and I liked that through that we learned a little of the Doctor's past with the Master. Someone who was potentially superior when it came to intelligence! At least in cosmic science that is. The plot behind the story plays out really nicely and with an excellent pace. There's no dawdling around which I liked a lot. It's frantic, but just the right amount. The continuity from Spearhead From Space with the Master stealing the Nestene's energy device to send out a signal and bring Autons back to Earth was great. The Doctor's reaction when he was told that the Brigadier had allowed for it to be loaned to a museum was marvellous. Jon Pertwee definitely had a pretty strong outing as the Third Doctor. One thing I think was needed was a bit more of the Doctor and the Master together considering this was the latter's first appearance. It was a good moment when it came and I know we'll get more throughout the season, but that just seemed like it should have happened. The Brigadier and the rest of UNIT were good in this one and I think it worked well that they were encountering an alien threat they had history with. The cliffhangers were mostly strong with part two's certainly standing out. That blank image of the Autons is really good. I was surprised to hear them actually talk on the bus though! I'd forgotten that little anecdote despite this being a serial I know very well. Another positive I should mention regarding this story is the music that accompanied the Master and his dastardly ways. That was noticeable for all of the right reasons. The way things ended was decent and very pacy whilst creating tension with the impending airstrike. The comic nature of the individual that was shot just wearing a mask of the Master never fails to amuse me either. It's so barmy but brilliant. Just like the Colonel Masters facade really, he doesn't try hard to blend in! Overall though, a really great serial!

Rating: 9/10

Terminus

"Don't you want to be cured?"

Writer: Stephen Gallagher
Format: TV
Broadcast: 15-23 February 1983
Season: 20.04

Featuring: Fifth Doctor, Nyssa, Tegan, Turlough

Synopsis

Still under the malign influence of the Black Guardian, Turlough sabotages the TARDIS, placing the Doctor and his companions in grave danger. Nyssa disappears through an unstable interface with a nearby space liner, and the Doctor begins a desperate search for her aboard the ship.

When the liner docks at Terminus, a space station at the exact centre of the universe, the horrific truth starts to emerge. It may already be too late to save Nyssa's life, and the existence of the entire cosmos is now at peril...

Verdict

Terminus was another very good serial to continue the landmark twentieth season of Doctor Who and also carry along the Black Guardian trilogy already started in Mawdryn Undead. There was definitely less of the Black Guardian in this one which isn't all that surprising for the middle serial of a trilogy, but it really was noticeable how much he was lacking in appearance time for the two middle parts. I do hope that in the next serial he features more prominently and in more than just projections through Turlough. Tegan continuing to question whether she could trust her newfound companion was really good and the obvious answer was no. His being given Adric's room was quite an emotional moment even if he wasn't the best companion, but then again neither was Turlough. He was acting incredibly sketchy and I was surprised that she didn't end up telling the Doctor about his tampering with the roundel. That was of course what set the TARDIS on course to Terminus via the space liner. The skull-like artwork that was on a number of doorways looked good and I'd have liked to know more about it. I'm sure it was just there to indicate the danger on board with the diseased people. They were of course Lazars and the revelation that the ship the Doctor and co found themselves on was essentially a hospital ship worked well. The moment where a number of them emerged from their would-be cells was very reminiscent of New Earth and I can't help but think this serial is where that episode took inspiration from. Nyssa showing signs that she was infected was excellent and I liked the pace in which that was done and showed her deterioration. Olvir was a good character, but I was surprised when he just let Nyssa be taken because she was contaminated. It didn't sit right with me, but it did show just what this disease was thought of onboard. The mystery behind Terminus and it sitting right at the exact centre of the universe was superb and I was really fascinated. It had been a pretty solid serial up to that point, but from there my interest was peaked. I really enjoyed the concept and finding out that it was this ship jettisoning fuel into the time vortex that caused the Big Bang. There was one more fuel supply that needed jettisoning, and that meant the universe was at stake again. What created it could well destroy it. That's a lot at stake and something excellent to play around with. The different stages of sterilisation on the ship were interesting and I liked how the disease was used in conjunction with Terminus Incorporated and the greed of business. Nyssa soon found a way that those on board could be free of the company because she had been cured, and could synthesise an antidote for them that meant they would no longer rely on the supplies of Terminus that did just enough to keep them alive. I liked that. The radiation armour seen in the serial was very good and I have to say I thought the helmets looked pretty darn cool. The intrigue of the Forbidden Zone was great, but I did find it a bit humorous that with a name like that it was just marked off with tape! Bor was a very humorous character for his brief appearance being the right mix of friendly and delirious. A really nice chap. The Doctor's relationship with Kari was fantastic throughout and it was nice to see that develop from the start where he was pointed at with a gun. The Doctor seems to have a way of bringing people around. Tegan and Turlough spending a lot of time together was good and makes sense moving forward with this being Nyssa's farewell adventure. The way she departed was admirable and I really loved that she wanted to help and be able to use the skills she'd learned on Traken. I am sad to see her go as she is my favourite Fifth Doctor companion, but she'll do wonders. Overall, a fine serial!

Rating: 8/10

The Masque of Mandragora

"The great blade of our god thirsts for blood."

Writer: Louis Marks

Format: TV

Broadcast: 4-25 September 1976

Season: 14.01

Featuring: Fourth Doctor, Sarah Jane

Synopsis

An encounter with the living energy structure known as the Mandragora Helix leads the TARDIS to fifteenth century Italy. Between palace intrigue, the machinations of a sinister cult and a rogue fragment of Helix energy, the Doctor and Sarah have their hands full. There is not much time for when the Mandragora swallows the Moon, it will be time to strike.

Verdict

The Masque of Mandragora was a very good adventure to kick off the fourteenth season of Doctor Who! It's a very solid tale from start to finish and is all you want a from a four-part opener to be honest. It is of course Sarah Jane Smith's penultimate venture in the TARDIS, but there's no real indication of that and Elisabeth Sladen gives an accomplished performance in the companion role. I really liked that the story started with the Mandragora Helix being seen in space and it turning out that inadvertently the Doctor brought the damage to the fifteenth century on Earth. That setting was really good and it was quite refreshing to be in the Italian past rather than usual British. I really enjoyed the casualness with which the Doctor told Sarah how she could understand the Italians and it was a really good way to bring that into play when she actually spoke Italian when under control. Back to the start of the story and the introduction of the secondary control room which I thought was done relatively well. It's such a different design to the usual white that the viewers would have been so accustomed to at this point, but it is also a little refreshing. I do think the actual console should be a bit bigger though! The walk through the corridors and seeing the familiar white roundels throughout was excellent though. The arrival to Italy was good and I really liked how quickly the Doctor and Sarah were thrust into action and getting themselves in trouble. There was a pretty strong guest cast in this one with the likes of Count Federico and Hieronymous particularly standing out. The astrological nature of the latter was fascinating and whilst I am definitely not a believer in messages being told in the stars and how they're aligned, it's something that has always intrigued me. He was a brilliant character and his role in the fourth part when the Mandragora Helix really arrived with an impact was terrific. The cliffhanger at the end of part three with the blank face and the Doctor's comment about that in the following episode was brilliant. I was a big fan. Giuliano was also a good character and fitted in well to the story, along with the Brethren and their efforts to sacrifice Sarah Jane. The casual nature of the Doctor saving her was really good, but they were definitely persistent! The conclusion was pretty good and I really thought the twist with the Doctor being under the mask was fantastic, but I do think there needed to be a bit more clarity on what had actually happened with the Mandragora Helix. The energy squared comment didn't really say a lot, but of course we know that the Mandragora Helix is far from done in Doctor Who media. The special effects for it were decent for the time, but the most impressive element was the state it left one of its targets in once it had strikes and killed. That was pretty disturbing! The humour surrounding the Doctor wanting to meet Leonardo Da Vinci was great and I also really liked the cult nature surrounding Demnos. There probably ought to have been a little more than that. It was very good stuff. Overall, this was a terrific and very solid tale from start to finish. 

Rating: 8/10

The Mutants

"Their condition was incurable."

Writers: Bob Baker & Dave Martin
Format: TV
Broadcast: 8 April - 13 May 1972
Season: 9.04

Featuring: Third Doctor, Jo

Synopsis

The Time Lords send the Doctor and Jo on a mission to deliver a sealed message pod to an unknown party aboard a Skybase orbiting the planet Solos in the 30th century. They are caught quickly in a power struggle between the cruel Marshal of Solos and the young Solonian, Ky, over the future of Solos – a future that hinges on the contents of the message.

Verdict

The Mutants was a pretty average serial and sadly was the worst of the television stories I have been watching over the past couple of weeks. This one had a decent story at the heart of it, but it just went on for far too long. There was no need at all for this adventure to be six parts and I think it really did hurt it. The pace just wasn't there and it had a serious feeling of being dragged out. The story started well and dealt with the Doctor's earthbound exile by having a Time Lord message being delivered for him to deal with. I thought the premise of the circular object only being able to open for who it was intended for was excellent, but the revelation that it was meant for Ky seemed to come a bit soon. There should have been more of the story focused on finding the correct recipient, rather than knowing who it was and trying to find them. That took away a bit of the mystery in my opinion. I thought the Solos setting along with the Skybase worked pretty well and the shifts between the two were decent in shifting focus. Considering the story's title and the intriguing design, I really felt that we should have had more of the Mutants themselves instead of just the story behind how they got into the condition that they were in. There was definitely enough time for them to initially be thought of as a threat! They just didn't end up doing much which didn't quite seem right. The Doctor and Jo getting separated was good and I liked how the Marshall was pretending he had Jo in captivity being treated. I was intrigued because I had similar thoughts running through my head as I did with my recent blogging of Nightmare of Eden, in that I could clearly remember a number of details from the novelisation, Doctor Who and the Mutants, despite me blogging it six years ago! I think this story absolutely works better in prose. The cliffhangers on the whole were pretty much okay with none being particularly bad or amazing. One element of the serial I did enjoy was bookending the Doctor and Jo's arrival and departure in the TARDIS with the damaging of the door in storage area four. I liked that a lot. The Marshal made for a pretty good villain, but I wasn't overly impressed with the actor. That's not a knock against his performance, he just didn't seem intimidating despite his looking making him appear capable of such horrors that he planned to inflict on the planet. Too much was focused on him though. There really ought to have been more on the plans for independence, but they were quashed too quickly in my eyes which was a shame because I'd have liked to have explored that further. The relationship between the Doctor and Jo was lovely to see in this one and the former's face when she was shown to him alive and well was a joy to behold. He really does care for her. The arrival of the Investigator was fantastic and I really liked the idea of putting the Marshall to justice. Again, he probably should have come earlier as the feeling of the Marshall not having the upper hand seemed to come and go in a flash. That was a strange development. The Doctor pushing him into an outburst against the Muts that all but confirmed his guilt was very good though. I did enjoy elements of this adventure, but in this format it just runs far too long which is a shame because it really isn't bad.

Rating: 6/10

Mawdryn Undead

"Spare me the endurance of endless time."

Writer: Peter Grimwade
Format: TV
Broadcast: 1-9 February 1983
Season: 20.03

Featuring: Fifth Doctor, Nyssa, Tegan, Turlough, Brigadier

Synopsis 

A warp elipse draws the TARDIS off course. The Doctor's companions are separated from him, not in space but in time. He also has to deal with a treacherous schoolboy named Turlough. But why does the Doctor's old friend, the Brigadier, not remember him at all?

Verdict

Mawdryn Undead was an absolutely superb serial and definitely the best story I have watched thus far on my random BritBox watch mission. I really enjoyed everything about this one from start to finish and it was an easy one to watch the four parts pretty much back to back. It was gripping and intriguing from start to finish and I thought the format of so many different backstories worked wonders. There wasn't one scene that was disinteresting. This story is crucially important because we have the debut of Turlough, the Black Guardian back for revenge and the Doctor being reunited with the Brigadier for the first time in his fifth incarnation. It really is splendid. The introduction of Turlough is intriguing and if I was blogging this having watched without any knowledge whatsoever of events to come, I really doubt I would consider him a companion at this stage. He's a pawn of the Black Guardian's and I think that works well. Of course, there's more to come from that particular story which isn't just contained within this serial, but this serves as an excellent genesis. The moment the Doctor and the Brigadier meet again isn't initially as wonderful as it should have been due to the Brigadier having a memory block, but the reasons for that are soon explained. Nicholas Courtney gives a sublime performance in a dual role as two different versions of his Brigadier character six years apart. Splitting much of the first three parts between 1977 and 1983 was terrific and I really liked the differing dynamics of having scenes alternating between the two. We had Nyssa and Tegan in 1977 whilst the Doctor was in 1983. The moment the Brigadier revealed that he already knew Tegan was tremendous, but one of the story highlights for me was the flashback sequence of the Brigadier recalling a number of encounters with the likes of Yeti, Cybermen and previous incarnations of the Doctor. The way the Doctor mentioned a number of past companions to break through that mind block was also magnificent. Peter Davison was brilliant as the Fifth Doctor in this one and I was also happy with the cliffhangers. I loved the naturalness of the resolution at the start of part two whilst the cliffhanger for the third part was fantastic. Onto Mawdryn, and I thought he made a very good character. It was a tad farfetched to believe that his crisped body may have been the Doctor as his appearance was clearly not that of our Time Lord hero, but his efforts to convince the companions that he'd regenerated were tremendous. That was such a good concept. Mawdryn being a scientist attempting to discover the secret of regeneration was fantastic and that is something right up my alley in terms of what I would like. The fact that there were then a team of eight with the Doctor having eighth regenerations remaining tied everything up perfectly. It was a superb revelation and something wonderful to play with. Mawdryn had stolen the regenerator machine from Gallifrey (I'd love to know how) and that made it easy for them to get what they wanted. They had initially wanted immortality, but now they wanted to die. The Doctor was prepared to do that which was remarkable, but that was because of the mutation being passed onto Nyssa and Tegan in a disturbing ageing scene in the TARDIS that saw them revert to being children momentarily! This serial really did have it all. In my eyes, it's a hidden classic. The ending was brilliant with the two Brigadiers touching to bring about the Blaenovitch limitation effect and it was that power at the right time that gave Mawdryn and co what they wanted. Death. My only slight issue was that the Doctor didn't say a fitting farewell to the Brigadier and seemed more focused on Turlough. Overall though, a sensational serial!

Rating: 10/10

Nightmare of Eden

"I like to do the impossible."

Writer: Bob Baker

Format: TV

Broadcast: 24 November - 15 December 1979

Season: 17.04

Featuring: Fourth Doctor, Romana II, K9

Synopsis

A cruise ship loaded with passengers to the planet Azure collides with a trade ship as it comes out of warp, leaving the two ships merged but unstable. The Doctor, Romana and K9 arrive to help out, but soon discover there's also a problem with unidentified smugglers running a cargo of vraxoin – a forbidden organic drug that's as highly addictive as it is fatal.

Verdict

Nightmare of Eden was another great serial to continue my BritBox watch-a-thon! I followed straight on from where I left off with The Creature from the Pit and this will be the only instance that I will follow on with the next chronological serial as I am trying to judge each story in isolation regardless of any connections it might have. I've got the Black Guardian trilogy to come and that will not be watched back to back, but anyway I'll move onto the story at hand. This one felt very familiar which was quite strange as it has been three years this month that I read Doctor Who and the Nightmare of Eden, but I seem to have remembered an awful lot from the novelisation. I think that might have actually made me enjoy the story even more. It started strong and I absolutely adored the humour that was on show with the Fourth Doctor. Tom Baker was in stellar form with the lines which were written just wonderfully. Perfect characterisation for the fourth incarnation. The line about him not getting paid because his facade Galactic Corporation that he represented had been liquidated two decades prior to the events of this story was phenomenal. It was a real laugh out loud moment and I think a lot of that was down to the speed and bluntness of the reply. It was wonderful. I also loved his response to being asked about his date of birth and how he jokingly figured that they were asking for the date of birth of the drug smuggling culprit. I really liked the theme of the serial with it prominently being an anti-drug message which worked well. It's nice for Doctor Who to tackle real issues and putting it in an alien environment doesn't make it any less impactful in my view. The use of the vraxoin was terrific and I liked the pace in finding that the Mandrels were in fact the new source. Having recently watched Carnival of Monsters, the similarities to the base of that adventure were great, but this one seemed a bit more effective in my opinion. Tryst was a really good character as its owner and his relationship with the Doctor was great throughout. Well, up until the final part when he tried to escape. The issue of the two ships being merged was handled well and I liked the presentation a lot. K9 had another solid story, but I still find it off-putting without John Leeson voicing the robotic dog. That didn't have any impact on my rating for the story though! Romana was magnificent as always in this incarnation and her trepidation at the end of part two when she and the Doctor step into Eden was fantastic. Her fascination with the CET throughout the adventure was a really good point of interest. The design of the Mandrels was pretty good when put into context and the image of the part one cliffhanger was brilliant. I do think the story can perhaps go a tad long, but for the most part it runs smoothly. There was just probably one too many scenes with the Space Corps chasing after the Doctor or bursting in on him. However, having a branch of them return after The Space Pirates is some terrific continuity. Dymond was another decent character plotting the escape with Tryst, but Della was a standout in her protective nature. Stott was also a good character and his love story separation with Della came full circle in the end, maybe a tad too late though. Regardless, this was still a really good adventure and the conclusion was brilliant with how the Doctor had used the CET to get Tryst and Dymond before they could escape. Overall, a great serial!

Rating: 8/10

The Creature from the Pit

"What do we do when we find the monster?"

Writer: David Fisher
Format: TV
Broadcast: 27 October - 17 November 1979
Season: 17.03

Featuring: Fourth Doctor, Romana II, K9

Synopsis

The Doctor and Romana receive a distress signal and arrive on Chloris. It's a lush and verdant world with only small quantities of metals, all of which are controlled by its ruler, Lady Adastra. She keeps order with the aid of her Huntsman and his Wolfweeds – mobile balls of vegetation. A band of thieves, led by Torvin, organise raids on her palace to steal whatever metal they can. But the mine of Chrolis is something huge, a creature thrown into the pit to be forgotten... and the Doctor is about to join them.

Verdict

The Creature from the Pit was a very good serial and another good example of an underrated story in my opinion! I didn't really know what to expect going into this adventure, but I was pleasantly pleased with what I watched. This tale doesn't exactly have the best reputation and I can see why when it comes to Erato and the prop that was the giant green blob monster. Giving it that description makes it sound a bit targeted for children, but that wasn't the case at all here. I thought it was a bit strange for the creature to not have any real shape or noticeable features. It just looked a bit of a mess, but it was still imposing. I enjoyed the cliffhanger to part two with the Doctor seemingly being sucked up and going under the giant creature, but then the resolution at the start of the third instalment initially seemed poor as nothing much seemed to have occurred. Of course, we would soon loon that Erato was actually an ambassador and was on the planet to try and conjure up a trade agreement. With that being the case and finding that Erato had been trapped for fifteen years, it was made Lady Adastra even more of an evil villain. I actually thought she was a fantastic enemy and the scale of the story was really good. Rather than have the universe at stake, the TARDIS had just picked up a distress call. The way Romana had found the device that the Doctor had removed enabling them to receive calls, including Time Lord missions. The Doctor really wasn't very fond of those which was magnificent. I thought Tom Baker had a fantastic outing as the Fourth Doctor. A really great performance. Romana was also brilliant and she looked very high class in her white outfit. She was quite dazzling. I always seem to forget that for Season 17 K9 was not voiced by John Leeson and I have to say that it is a little off-putting in all honesty. It's just not right in this incarnation I have to say! K9 played a good role in the story though and I enjoyed how willing he was to stun a number of people. When the Doctor was essentially arrested, the moment he got a guard to itch his nose and then butt him to aid his escape was terrific. That was just wonderfully Fourth Doctor. Romana also had a moment to shine and show her superior intelligence when got the thieves and raiders to blow the whistle that would bring K9 to her side and bring her to safety. I really enjoyed that. Their obsession with metal was intriguing and I enjoyed their reaction to seeing that K9 was also metallic. His annoyance at being referred to as tin dog was magnificent. Another highlight of the adventure. Organon was an excellent character and his continued interest in the stars and their signs was lovely. His relationship with the Doctor was a joy to behold and I loved how he kept pressing him for the star sign of his birth. Sadly, he wouldn't get the answer. The conclusion to the story was pretty simplistic once Adastra was killed early on in part four and it just had the Doctor aiding Erato home whilst diverting a star. Just the small things! Where a creature that size had got a ship still in working order so quickly is beyond me though! Organaon foreshadowing the arrival of the TARDIS was a lovely way to end things as well. Overall, a really good adventure!

Rating: 8/10

Paradise Towers

"No funny business with the rulebook."

Writer: Stephen Wyatt
Format: TV
Broadcast: 5-26 October 1987
Season: 24.02

Featuring: Seventh Doctor, Mel

Synopsis

The Doctor and Mel decide to visit Paradise Towers, a residential complex that promises a peaceful life to its residents. However, the establishment is far from what its name suggests. A conflict persists among the Kangs, human-esque, multicolour beings who gather in opposing gangs based on which colour of the rainbow they bear. Furthermore, killer cleaning robots prowl the halls, and a secret in the complex's basement poses the greatest threat of all...

Verdict

Paradise Towers was a terrific story to continue my BritBox jump around! I enjoyed this one a lot more than my first viewing eight years ago and I have to say that this another example of a massively underrated adventure. I thought part one in particular was outstanding in establishing the scene and the setting of Paradise Towers itself was magnificent. I thought it was a really effective environment and it being some time since it was the paradise we would see in the advertisement through the Doctor's eyes worked very well. Things had deteriorated big time with the Kangs running wild from the Caretakers in charge of the place. I thought it was quite interesting to find out that the Cleaners were a late addition to the script because John Nathan-Turner found that there was a monster lacking. I don't think they filled too much of a void, but they looked pretty impressive I have to say resembling something of a War Machine. The Caretakers seemed suitable villains to me with the Chief Caretaker a great enemy to the Seventh Doctor. They contrasted their styles wonderfully, but to me the best guest character was the Deputy Chief Caretaker. The way the Doctor utilised the rulebook against them to escape as being prisoner was absolutely marvellous. That was a real highlight of the serial. Sylvester McCoy was on top form as the seventh incarnation and I also really loved Mel in the companion role. I thought the way she was used in the part two cliffhanger was incredibly disturbing and I'm pretty surprised it was allowed to go ahead. Tabby and Tilda definitely didn't hold back in their grip! As if that wasn't enough for Mel, she was then nearly drowned in part four by a weird machine within the water. She had a lot going on that's for sure. The fate that befell Tabby and Tilda was quite horrifying as well. Pex was a humorous character and I felt quite sorry for him when he was made fun of by the Kangs. The different Red and Blue factions of the Kangs were great, with Fire Escape of the former being a standout character. She really was tremendous. The way they spoke was also really good and showed the devolution of those within Paradise Towers really well. I particularly liked the way death was referred to as being unalive. The Doctor being mistaken as the Great Architect was very good and I liked how he was trying to defend himself even when it seemed helpless. The emergence of Kroagnon as the Great Architect and what it had evolved into was brilliant and an unexpected revelation. It worked well for the most part and his taking over of the Chief Caretaker was really good, even if the staggered walk and drained personality was a little off. The performance was outstanding though! The way Pex sacrificed himself to take out the Great Architect of Paradise Towers was good and admirable, even if the directing was a little poor in that moment. The quick transition to him being honoured by the Kangs at his funeral was fantastic. The TARDIS having been graffitied by the Red Kangs is also something I should mention which was excellent. This definitely had more of a modern series feeling which suited it. I was a big fan. Overall, a great serial!

Rating: 8/10

The Macra Terror

"There's no such thing as Macra!"

Writer: Ian Stuart Black
Format: TV Animation
Released: March 2019
Season: 4.07

Featuring: Second Doctor, Polly, Ben, Jamie

Synopsis

The Doctor and his companions arrive on a human colony in the far flung future which outwardly appears to be happy and carefree. But behind its cheerful exterior, the colony has been secretly infiltrated by a race of giant parasitic creatures called Macra. They brainwash the human colonists to mine toxic gas in the levels below the colony. Ruling the settlement from a control centre in the heart of the main city, they scuttle around at night looking for food. The Doctor's friend Ben is soon taken over by the Macra and under their malign influence, he turns against the Doctor. As their influence spreads, the Doctor sets out to bring an end to the Macra terror...

Verdict

The Macra Terror was an excellent animated reconstruction of the now long-lost Classisms adventure! When I first watched the recons from Loose Canon six or so years ago, this was probably one of my least favourite tales of the Second Doctor. However, the beauty of the animation reconstruction format was on full display here as I loved what I watched! This serial is the reason why Classic TV stories have dominated my blog over the past week or so as I have wanted to watch this one since it was released. Upon finding it was on BritBox, I couldn't help but take up the free trial and also blog a number of other stories. I must admit that if I had the preference before watching, I would have watched the animation in black and white but without such an option on the streaming service, I watched it in colour and I have to say I absolutely loved it. It really did feel like a brand new and modern Second Doctor animation which was magnificent. It looked very impressive! I do have one little issue with what we saw and that was in the design of the Macra itself. I felt it resembled a spider a bit too much and after looking at the image of the infamous prop used for television, I think it was a bit too big and wide. I can appreciate what was being attempted though for the remake. I really enjoyed Ben's story in this serial with him being subjected to the Macra and the brainwashing on hand from Control. Jamie waking up mid-brain wash was great and the dynamic of just having Ben being subjected was excellent. The atmosphere in the story was outstanding and the use of the music was terrific. It felt unlike any other Classic adventure which gave it a unique feel. The initial arrival to the Colony for the TARDIS quartet was really good and I thoroughly enjoyed the pace. It worked effortlessly well over the four parts and whilst the cliffhangers were somewhat similar, they were still effective. Polly's look is quite different to what I would normally associate her with and it's good for this animation to being able to fill the gap with some visuals. The story with Medok was good and I liked how quickly the Doctor was getting his hands dirty and not exactly staying quiet after his arrival at a clearly trepidatious environment. Ola was another good and conniving character and the animation for his face was impressive in capturing his obvious distain. The Pilot was magnificent throughout and it was fantastic for him to finally come around and go against Control. The way Control was handled throughout the serial was excellent and the desperation of the Macra in the fourth part was palpable. It was a sight to behold and when they caught on to what the Doctor's plan was whilst Ben had finally shaken off the Macra effects, they were practically begging for survival. The way they were used throughout the serial was actually sporadic and that made them pretty effective, but by the end they were quite amusing. I'd have loved to have seen that final scene for real from the 1967 story. As such, we are unable to do so, but this animation brings us something close which is a real treat.

Rating: 9/10

Horror of Fang Rock

"They always said the Beast of Fang Rock would be back."

Writer: Terrance Dicks
Format: TV
Broadcast: 3-24 September 1977
Season: 15.01

Featuring: Fourth Doctor, Leela

Synopsis

The cursed island of Fang Rock off the south coast of England is a place of rumour and tales of beasts from the sea. Three lighthouse men at the turn of the century face their fears when something comes from the sea to bring death to all it touches.

Verdict

Horror of Fang Rock was a very good serial to kick off the fifteenth season of Doctor Who! It's a really great example of using atmosphere and setting to enhance a story as in all honestly, there isn't an awful lot that actually happens and there's definitely a slow burner in place when it comes to revealing all the terrible goings on. That's not a bad thing at all and the adventure definitely does work. If I was telling of what my preference would be, I would say that the Rutan Host should have been revealed as the culprit in part three. Or at least as the cliffhanger! It just felt like they had taken a long time to finally arrive and then didn't get a huge amount of time to have a big impact. That was my only qualm with the story really, other than a date not getting explicitly mentioned. Of course, we can pinpoint it as somewhere in the early 21st century, but specifics would have been most welcomed. I really loved the lighthouse setting and there was no doubt that it worked. The atmosphere was eery and I thought the lighting of the interior was really effective in capturing the mood. Having horror in the title certainly did seem apt! I was a big fan of where this story took place. Some of the characters were good and the fate that befell Reuben was excellent. Having him go from dying and being taken beneath the water to then walking around the lighthouse was terrific. His sinister and blank look definitely added a fear factor which was necessary in this kind of story. In my opinion, this is one of Leela's best stories that I have blogged to date. She's wonderful throughout and initially doesn't seem so keen on what she thinks is Brighton. The Doctor wouldn't get there until The Leisure Hive, but they at least got to the right country by all accounts. Vince Hawkins was a great character and I really liked how he was pleased to have two newcomers that were soon joined by another three. His interaction with Leela when she was just nonchalantly undressing wanting his clothes as they appeared more comfortable was wonderful. I really did enjoy that. Adelaide was a pretty annoying character in all honesty and the moment Leela slapped her flat in the face after she needlessly screeched was outstanding. I absolutely loved that! A joyous scene. Tom Baker was pretty good as the Fourth Doctor in this one and the interaction he had with the Rutan on the staircase was decent, highlighting that these were the much talked about enemies of the Sontarans. I wasn't a massive fan of the Rutan voice as it seemed far too human, but I did love their abilities to take any form or shape. That provided a deadly threat and probably could have been utilised even better. Ben was another good character, but I was less keen on Palmerdale and Skinsale. I've never been a big fan of the gentry in my historical studies and this serial didn't change my opinion on seeing them in action. The Doctor's use of the lighthouse to end up defeating the Rutan was really good and an effective use of the setting which I really enjoyed. The idea coming from Leela was also great and it was amusing that she thought she'd gone blind and wanted the Doctor to kill her there and then. It was just the effects of the blast of course. It's quite harrowing that there are no survivors in this serial and it seems that the deaths don't have a huge amount of impact in the direction of the story which seemed strange. Nonetheless, a very good story!

Rating: 8/10

The Ambassadors of Death

"Who would want to kidnap three astronauts?"

Writer: David Whitaker

Format: TV

Broadcast: 21 May - 2 March 1970

Season: 7.03

Featuring: Third Doctor, Liz, Brigadier

Synopsis

The Doctor joins UNIT's investigation into the mystery surrounding Mars Probe 7. Space Control, headed by Professor Ralph Cornish, has had no contact with the astronauts on board since it started back from Mars seven months ago, and now the Recovery 7 rescue mission has run into similar difficulties...

Verdict

The Ambassadors of Death was a very good serial and one that I felt was steeped in realism. To me, this didn't quite feel like a Doctor Who story and that is absolutely fine. It just felt like something that might actually happen and in the end, it really is all just a big misunderstanding. Whether or not that was the right pay off after a lengthy seven episodes is here nor there, but it still stands as a very good tale. I really enjoyed Jon Pertwee's performance as the Third Doctor and I can imagine it was a story he quite liked being a part of. Liz is one of my all time favourite companions and I loved seeing her in this one. It's a shame that given the structure of Season 7 she only gets four adventures with the Doctor. She's really great and has a lot going for her with her scientific background. I'm a huge fan of hers so it was wonderful to revisit this story for the first time in eight years and see her again. And my word was her outfit and hair representative of the 1970s! That was fantastic history to see before my eyes. I thought the premise of this serial was really good and the only thing that hinders it is that is almost certainly a bit too long. The formula of wanting more answers as things goes on isn't sustainable for the seven parts, but it does do a very good job of keeping the viewer interested. I get the feeling that I'd really enjoy the Target novelisation of this one as the pace must be a bit more exciting. The Brigadier's involvement in the story was prominent which I'd expect of this era and it was good that after Doctor Who and the Silurians, there was another authoritative figure in the wrong this time. Well, there was more than one with a scheme going on involving the likes of Carrington, Taltalian and Collinson. For me, it was the former that was the most impressive villainous character of the bunch, but the collective effort did make for entertaining viewing and spread the story around which was very good. One thing I should mention is the unique format for the opening titles and it was somewhat reminiscent of what would become common in the modern era with the pre-titles sequence. Here though we had a mid-titles scene which was really intriguing! The Recovery 7 linking with Mars Probe 7 was impressive directing and I liked the idea of the whole story. Finding out that the Ambassadors of the alien race were just that was good, even if the title had given it away right at the start! Their abilities to kill by touch were devastating, but the revelation that they had no ill intentions was welcomed and it reminded us that it was members of the human race who were the villains in this one. The Ambassadors themselves had an excellent presence and again, with them not having any bad intentions I really liked the realism it provided. I thought the cliffhangers in this one were pretty decent for the most part, with part two's simplicity standing out for me. It was really effective without doing an awful lot. Despite its length, I was a little surprised with how much advancement of events occurred that we didn't get to see. That wasn't an issue, but it just goes to show how much was happening in the serial. The Doctor going up into space as the astronaut for the Recovery was excellent and I liked the dangers associated with that. His stubbornness in continuously standing by his statement that the astronauts were still in orbit was brilliant and I really enjoyed when he met them once he was up there. They believed they were in quarantine which was a fun revelation!  The ending worked out well and again, we didn't actually get to see the exchange of the astronauts for the Ambassadors, but we really didn't need to with everything all worked out. Overall, a very good tale that could have been even better in a condensed format.

Rating: 8/10

Snakedance

"Can you bear witness on what the Mara shows?"

Writer: Christopher Bailey
Format: TV
Broadcast: 18-26 January 1983
Season: 20.02

Featuring: Fifth Doctor, Nyssa, Tegan

Synopsis

The TARDIS makes an unplanned landing on Manussa, where preparations are underway to celebrate the defeat of the Sumaran Empire five centuries earlier. But the ancient evil of the Mara lives on, and Tegan, who has been haunted by disturbing dreams since her time under the Wind chimes on Deva Loka, is now a pawn in its plan to re-enter the physical world and subjugate the Manussan people.

Only the Doctor can stop the Mara – but first he must convince the authorities that he is not just a deluded fool who believes in children's fairytales...

Verdict

Snakedance was an excellent serial as part of the landmark twentieth season of Doctor Who! It serves as a brilliant sequel to Kinda and in my view, it is a much improved outing for the Mara. I am glad that I have had a little bit of time between watching the first story last week, but I definitely think it has helped to revisit the sequel so soon as well. The little reference to Arc of Infinity was also great and I enjoyed a lot of the continuity in this story. I thought the Manussa setting was outstanding and it was perfect to visit the world of the Mara at the time of the Legend of Return. It all tied in well and finding out that Tegan was the one who had shouted out the coordinates that was sending them on their way to the planet was magnificent. I have to say that I think this is one of Peter Davison's best performances as the Fifth Doctor. He was on point throughout and it was really good to show the urgency the Doctor had when it appeared that the Mara was on its way back. I absolutely loved the set design of the Mara home world and it really was excellent to get an insight into the history of the snake creature. The caves and the ornamental designs were terrific and it was also nice to see Nyssa in changed attire. She had an intriguing relationship with the Doctor in this one with him not noticing her clothes and then also him picking her up when she made it clear that it wasn't necessary. I thought she was good throughout though and a much improved third party over Adric as she didn't get to feature in the first Mara tale. Tegan was fantastic in this one even though she was pretty much subject to the Mara for the duration. It was a sublime performance from Janet Fielding, possibly her best. It was a touching moment at the story's conclusion with the Doctor comforting her and having his arm around her. The pair had something of a tumultuous relationship and you could see that at the start with the Doctor pushing her to act quickly about her bad dreams despite Nyssa's disapproval. But here, it was a nice moment for the pair and it showed that the Doctor really did care. Lon was a very good character as the son of the Federator and he was always wanting to show off and use his title. His mother was also good, but it was clear that he had the upper hand when it came to her. Ambril was also brilliant and I really appreciated how much he coveted the Mara artefacts and all that they signified. The moment the Doctor corrected him about the six faces of delusion was a standout moment though. You knew what was coming before it happened and it was still comedic brilliance. I enjoyed the cliffhangers for the most part, even if the resolution at the start of part four was somewhat weak and it wasn't like Nyssa to scream in a situation like that. That was my only major qualm. The threat of the Mara without actually appearing is an impressive attribute and I was definitely pleased with the special effects once it did arrive briefly in part four. Keeping it from a physical appearance undoubtedly improved its fear factor which was fantastic. The pace and storytelling was definitely much improved this time around. Dojjen's emergence after his records had featured prominently was really good and his contact with the Doctor was terrific. I was a big fan of him and what he represented. His walking off at the end when the Mara was destroyed was a powerful and poignant image. Overall, a really great serial!

Rating: 9/10

The Leisure Hive

"There will be no future generations."

Writer: David Fisher

Format: TV

Broadcast: 30 August – 20 September 1980

Season: 18.01

Featuring: Fourth Doctor, Romana II

Synopsis

The Doctor and Romana arrive on Argolis in search of a peaceful holiday at the famed Leisure Hive. Instead they become embroiled in both a takeover scheme by the Argolins' historic enemy, the Foamasi, and the machinations of Pangol, the child of the Generator...

Verdict

The Leisure Hive was a very good serial to open up the eighteenth season of Doctor Who! I always seem to forget that the opening titles I usually associate with the Fifth and Sixth Doctors actually debuts here as the infamous John Nathan-Turner era is ushered in with this unique little adventure. I thought some of the directing in this one was different to anything else in the Classic era and it was both good and bad. I wasn't a big fan of how at least the first minute of the first part captured the scene of the beach adjacent to Brighton Pavilion, only for the entire story to actually be set on Argolis over two hundred years in the future! That didn't make a lot of sense for me. I also wasn't too sure about K9 going into the sea, but the sudden nature of how he was basically fried the moment he touched the water was pretty impressive. Now, I have to start with my highlight of the story and that is undoubtedly the cliffhanger to part one. I honestly think it has to rank as one of the greatest of all time. It was that good. Some of my favourites aren't always obvious candidates and this one seems to have gone forgotten, but how can the Doctor possibly come back from having his limbs torn from his body? Especially after we had just seen the fate befall somebody else earlier in the episode. I was hugely impressed with it. Then, part two's cliffhanger was also absolutely fantastic as the Doctor emerged looking pretty darn old! I thought the makeup for that was really good and I have to say that Tom Baker had a decent performance as the Fourth Doctor. However, for me it was definitely Lalla Ward's Romana that stole the show for me. She was really great as the companion and whilst there wasn't so much of the humour that I often associate with her and the Doctor, especially in his fourth incarnation, the pair still did well together. The history of Argolis and the 20-minute War was really intriguing and I felt Pangol made a good villain. He was hellbent on his cause which was admirable despite its ruthlessness. I thought the emergence of the Foamasi at the end of part three was good and I quite liked their look, but I do feel they probably should have been around a little earlier after all the hints about their coming being dropped in across the earlier episodes. Seeing the Argolin way of death was very interesting and I thought it was a good move to have the chairman die early on. I almost thought he was going to regenerate at first with the grey effect taking over his face. That opened up something of a lack of authoritative figure despite Mena taking over in his position. Pangol was able to pounce and manipulate things to how he wanted. The Doctor being on trial for murder and his suggestion that his scarf be put on trial was a terrific moment and I also loved the moment where the court was sitting and he was practically bouncing up and down. Lovely stuff. The Argolins being a sterile race was something excellent to play on and their efforts for rejuvenation were completely understandable. If they couldn't produce more of their species to continue it, then they'd just have to get younger! Pangol entering the machine with the Helmet of Theon and then the multiplicity of duplicates actually being the Doctor back to his normal self was magnificent. That grin was all that was required! The ending could have been improved upon with the Doctor smashing everything up with one throw, but as a whole this was a good little story.

Rating: 8/10

The Greatest Show in the Galaxy

"Entertain us or die."

Writer: Stephen Wyatt
Format: TV
Broadcast: 14 December 1988 - 4 January 1989
Season: 25.04

Featuring: Seventh Doctor, Ace

Synopsis



Verdict

The Greatest Show in the Galaxy was a very good serial to conclude the milestone twenty-fifth season of Doctor Who! Whilst this is a great story, I do think that it could have been ever better as I felt the fourth part was actually the weakest of the bunch. The lead up to get there was really good and the setting of the Psychic Circus works fantastically. It's really a magnificent idea and it's such a unique environment to throw the Doctor and Ace into. The Seventh Doctor is just perfect for this kind of setting and the delight on his face when he is chosen as a surprise act has to go down as one of my favourite moments for this incarnation. A really great moment. This adventure is also a unique one for Ace as we are so used to seeing her boisterous and wanting to blow things up, but here she is really out of her comfort zone and has a relatively common fear of clowns. A circus setting then could be frightening for reasons beyond the traditional. She had a good story as the companion which I liked because I'm not the biggest fan of her as the companion in the televised format. I absolutely love the little songs that appear sporadically throughout the story as they're just so catchy and feel good. They are delivered really well which definitely makes a difference. I watched part one at 7am prior to starting my shift which is now at home and despite my tiredness thanks to some shenanigans from our kitten throughout the night, I found my foot tapping and I was just in a good mood. That was definitely a big bonus of the story. Another big positive was Mags who really is a tremendous character. I must admit that I didn't remember her too much from my first and only viewing some eight years ago, so all the attention she gets in Doctor Who fandom didn't perhaps go noticed by me. However, I loved her in this one and I think she'd make an excellent companion. It's no wonder that she has returned in other formatted stories. I look forward to encountering them to add to Hill of Beans which was a comic story I read last year. Her being turned into her natural state with the moonlight was very good and I found her relationship with Captain Cook most intriguing. He was a weird character in a good way as he didn't seem to be associated with the Psychic Circus at first, but it turned out he very much was. His reaction when the Doctor told him he was a bore was just sublime. He looked gobsmacked! I thought the cliffhangers were pretty strong throughout for this one with them actually being pretty simple. They still made me want to watch more which is always what you want. The Whizz Kid was a good character being a fan of Cook and the Psychic Circus, getting to live his dream before being turned to dust. I think it was quite powerful that we saw the reaction of Mags to him being killed rather than the actual death. Those glasses being left at the end was quite the image. I really liked the rare TARDIS interior scene with Ace donning the scarf of the Fourth Doctor. It's nice to know he had more than one after the Fifth Doctor tore it to shreds in Castrovalva! I was a big fan of the family holding up their scorecards that indicated their levels of entertainment, but when they were revealed as the Gods of Ragnorok, it seemed a tad underwhelming. They looked really impressive, but I found the sinister nature in the way their humanised forms held up the score cards much more imposing. I also felt the Doctor entertaining them went on a tad too long, but the destruction of the Gods and their surroundings looked fantastic. The image of the Doctor walking in front of the explosion was superb. Overall, a really good serial!

Rating: 8/10

Carnival of Monsters

"Roll up and see the monsters!"

Writer: Robert Holmes

Format: TV

Broadcast: 27 January - 17 February 1973

Season: 10.02

Featuring: Third Doctor, Jo

Synopsis

The TARDIS transports the Doctor and Jo to a cargo ship apparently on the Indian Ocean in 1926. In fact the have landed within the compression field of a banned Miniscope, which has miniaturised them. The peepshow-style device, containing alien species in natural habitats, is owned by Lurman entertainers Vorg and his assistant Shirna who are seeking their fortune on Inter Minor. A power struggle on the planet and when ferocious Drashigs are let loose in the Scope, the Doctor faces an uphill task to put things right.

Verdict

Carnival of Monsters was a decent tale that finally sees the Third Doctor travelling with his freedom, but sadly this wasn't quite as good as I remembered nor as enjoyable as the Target novelisation which I blogged some five years ago now. I remember enjoying that read on a train journey and I was looking forward to revisiting the serial on screen for the first time in eight years. I was unexpectedly delighted to find Ian Marter making an appearance prior to his casting as Harry Sullivan two seasons later. I had no recollection of this outing at all and I can't believe that I've never known this! He played a good role on the boat and I loved the initial arrival of the Doctor and Jo into the Miniscope. Jo was convinced the TARDIS had landed on Earth and gone back in time fifty years or so to 1926 which is what the calendar and newspapers indicated. Their surroundings indicated that she was right, but the Doctor was stubborn and convinced that things were not as they seemed. He was of course soon proven to be right as the stopped clock and repetitive nature of the ship's passengers and crew were revealed. I liked that premise a lot. The overall concept of the serial was actually pretty great, but the delivery could have been better. I absolutely adored the cliffhanger at the end of part one with a hand reaching down and just plucking the TARDIS out of the Miniscope. Imagine how much better and more shocking that would have been if we hadn't have seen anything from the outside beforehand. I really didn't understand why we got an insight into so much that was going on with Vorg and the Inter Minorians. There was far too much in my opinion and whilst the former character was rather amusing along with Shirna, I didn't care much for the grey-faced characters. The inner turmoil within their ranks came a bit late and they seemed to threaten a lot without actually doing a great deal. There's only so long that credibility can be maintained. As much as I enjoyed the first cliffhanger, I thought the resolution at the start of part two was pretty awful. If there was a bit of 'bric-a-brac' interfering with the mechanics of the Miniscope, why would Vorg put it back in? It didn't make sense! I also enjoyed the cliffhanger at the end of part three with the Doctor finally emerging from the Scope. The way he instantly took command of the situation and oozed authority was Jon Pertwee at his very best as the Third Doctor which was excellent to see. His relationship with Vorg was an interesting one as he was totally against what he had done and the 'livestock' he had captured within the Miniscope, but he needed his help against the Inter Minorians and to save Jo. The image of a Cyberman within the Scope was terrific and whilst I did actually really like the Drashigs as the main enemies, I think the familiarity of the Cybermen would have served as a better monster to set the carnival around. I enjoyed the Doctor's mentioning of Metebelis III and his desires to get there, but given what fate ultimately befell him on the planet I always find mentions of the planet by this incarnation bittersweet. The ending of this one was fast-paced but perhaps a little simplistic in nature after so long within the Miniscope. There's not a huge amount of explanation when it comes to the second phase regaining power and then the Doctor and Jo emerging. Overall though, this adventure still has a lot going for it to make it an enjoyable watch.

Rating: 7/10

The Invisible Enemy

"The physical envelope is of no importance."

Writers: Bob Barker & Dave Martin
Format: TV
Broadcast: 1-22 October 1977
Season: 15.02

Featuring: Fourth Doctor, Leela, K9

Synopsis

A three-man rocket crew are nearly done with their mission Titan Base until a course change puts the rocket in the path of a strange cloud in space. By the time they arrive, they have come under the control of a sentient virus which threatens the galaxy. When the TARDIS picks up an emergency message, it flues into the cloud which infects the Doctor. To save himself and others, he must undertake a dangerous plunge.

Verdict

The Invisible Enemy was an outstanding Doctor Who serial! Despite some very shaky special effects that unfortunately really do not age well, I love this adventure. It's a real gem and right up there with my favourites for Tom Baker's Fourth Doctor. It's an important serial in the show's history as well with K9 introduced and its a fine way for him to arrive. I thought part one was incredibly impressive in establishing where the story was going to go and having it end with the Doctor already infected by the Swarm was terrific. I feel that with the pacing that is traditional of the Classic era, this one could have easily been six parts. However, by making it four we had a very exciting and fast-paced adventure which was marvellous. I love the premise behind this serial with a sentient virus. With all that is going on in the world at the moment with Covid-19, that thought becomes a little more frightening given its scale! Of course, once the Swarm arrives into the macro-verse, it doesn't exactly look threatening despite the best efforts of John Leeson's voicing skills. I had never realised that he also voiced the enemy in this story along with K9 of course. Leela had an interesting adventure and it was Gemma's first time seeing her and she certainly had some questionable reactions to her somewhat skimpy attire. One thing I couldn't get over was how casually she knifed one of those infected in the knife and the Doctor didn't bat an eyelid. In fact he questioned whether she could do it to more people! That was extraordinary and so left field that it didn't bother me. I almost had an appreciation for it. Tom Baker put in an impressive performance as the Fourth Doctor and I enjoyed his scenes where infected. The speed at which the Swarm passed on its control around the rocket crew was impressive and it worked well that the nucleus was within the Doctor. Its ability to travel through the TARDIS console to infect him was great. I also loved how Leela was referred to as a reject because of her simple-minded way of thinking. That wasn't what it wanted. Professor Marius was a really great character and he seems like a logical choice to be the creator of K9. His scientific abilities were on show when he was able to quickly clone the Doctor and Leela, albeit into versions that would not last long, and miniaturise them allowing them access to the Doctor's insides. Their target was the Swarm and I just love the idea of the Doctor being inside of his own body. That really is excellent. There was a lot of humour there with Leela and I loved that he brought her along because of her tracking skills. That was really lovely. In a story where she was clearly being referred to as not intelligent, she was able to show her uses. Her relationship with K9 was wonderful and the moment they just look on stunned as the Doctor sprints past into the TARDIS and starts dematerialising is just magnificent. A hilarious moment. Leela also getting the last laugh and the Swarm being defeated by virtue of being blown up was terrific, especially with the Doctor trying to take the credit for the idea. That's brilliant writing for the pair just a fantastic way of showcasing their relationship. The journeys between Titan and the Foundation were interesting and allowed for some unique scenes in space. The crew's shared infection was really good and the Swarm being trapped at the conclusion and blowing to pieces after being trapped by the Doctor seemed a fitting end. I also liked his justification for killing the creature here because it did have every right to live, just not outside of the micro-verse. Overall, a superb serial!

Rating: 10/10

Kinda

"Our suffering is the Mara's delight."

Writer: Christopher Bailey
Format: TV
Broadcast: 1-9 February 1982
Season: 19.03

Featuring: Fifth Doctor, Adric, Tegan

Synopsis

The TARDIS visits the planet Deva Loka, where Nyssa remains behind in the TARDIS to recover from mild mental disorientation. Meanwhile, the Doctor, Tegan and Adric set off to explore. During their exploration, Tegan gets separated and is soon possessed by the evil force known as the Mara.

Verdict

Kinda was largely a mixed bag of a serial, with the first two parts being absolutely sublime before an unfortunate second half brought the rating down considerably. Obviously, it's still a good story but there really could have been more quality in those two final episodes. I haven't watched this serial in eight years and I didn't enjoy it much at all upon my first viewing and whilst it has definitely provided itself with a revised opinion in my head, I still don't think it deserves the praise it seems to get nowadays. I was very surprised to find that Nyssa didn't feature for more than two scenes bookending the story and it was quite intriguing to have a trio of the Fifth Doctor, Tegan and Adric. The latter showed me why he is such a dislikable companion though as he was always trying to go against the Doctor's wishes thinking he knew best. It was very annoying. The lack of sympathy he showed his fellow travelling companion in Tegan after the ordeal she'd been through with the Mara was atrocious. I really didn't enjoy that at all. It was completely unfair for him to blame here for all that had gone on with the Kinda, especially when he didn't know what she had been subjected to. I thought the first two parts were pretty sensational in all honestly and I was gearing up for what I would have revised as an instant classic. Tegan's scenes inside her own mind and the directing that went along with that were superb and I loved the different people that she encountered within. It was all a ploy of the Mara to break through into this reality. I quite enjoyed the concept of the Mara and it being a manifestation of evil, but I do think that it should have stayed in control of Tegan's form for much longer than it should have. Once the snake was passed onto Aris, I definitely didn't care as much which was very noticeable from a personal perspective. Hindle was a fantastic character who eventually ended up in charge of the expedition and seeing the stages of his mental breakdown was excellent. I was a huge fan of his character and I liked that he was in control of the Kinda. They as a species were pretty good, but I do feel they should have maybe looked a tad less human. Playing with telepathy is something that always interests me though. Todd was also a lovely character and I really enjoyed her relationship with the Doctor. It was clear that he appreciated her scientific abilities and it was nice for her to challenge those in charge. She probably knew a great deal more than them with her expertise. Upon researching the serial after watching, I was quite stunned to find that Nyssa didn't feature purely because the script was written prior to her casting. I felt sure that Todd was created to fill in for her! Some of the cliffhangers were pretty good and I did enjoy the comedic element of the resolution to the end of part two with the jack in the box similarities. Both myself and Gemma shared sentiments about part three being particularly drab and I also think it's a shame that the special effects at the end of part four are what they are. Fingers crossed that one day I will be able to watch the serial in Blu-Ray fashion where the Mara's form won't look like it belongs at a birthday party. I also didn't understand why the mirrors weren't tight against each other! That really irked me. The premise of the resolution worked well though and the connections with ancient and religious mythology was good. Overall, a decent story that sadly petered out after an impressive beginning.

Rating: 7/10

Colony in Space

"I want to see the universe, not rule it."

Writer: Malcolm Hulke
Format: TV
Broadcast: 10th April - 15th May 1971
Season: 8.04

Featuring: Third Doctor, Jo

Synopsis

The Time Lords discover that the Master has stolen their secret file on the Doomsday Weapon. They grant the Doctor a temporary reprieve from his exile on Earth to deal with the crisis. He and Jo arrive on the planet Uxarieus and become enmeshed in a struggle between an agrarian colony and a powerful mining corporation.

Verdict

Colony in Space was another excellent serial to continue my BritBox free trial of jumping around Classic serials that I am yet to blog! I remembered little about this story prior to watching and I was thrilled with what I watched. A really great adventure. It hadn't occurred to me that this was Jo's first venture into the TARDIS and with that her first visit to an alien planet. I thought that was handled rather splendidly and it suited her character at this stage in the series for her to be a little sceptical about what was going on. She just wanted to get back home. I found it quite humorous that she initially had never believed that the Doctor travelled around in time and space before his exile, with the Doctor visibly a little hurt by that statement. He'd love for nothing more than to not be stuck on Earth. Well, this time he had the Time Lords to thank for some respite away from Earth. I love the mystery that comes with the early appearances of the Time Lords and the continuity from The War Games in their appearance and manner is excellent. I'm a huge fan. Of course, Season 8 is renowned for being the one that introduces the Master and has him in every story, but he doesn't play a role in this one until the fourth part which worked well. His arrival as the Adjudicator is done magnificently and even though he's mentioned at the start of part one at having stolen the plans for the Doomsday Weapon that later comes into fruition in the concluding part, there is no indication that he would be the Adjudicator. A masterful disguise. I really enjoyed the premise of the battle for rights to the planet between the Colonists and ICM, with the latter not really having any rights and just attempting to bullying their way into gaining the mineral value on offer. They made for a brilliant group of villains and the use of business was quite refreshing. We had the alien presence of the primitives and those within the city, but they weren't major elements for most of the adventure. Norton's arrival to the dome was good and it was clear from the get-go that he would end up sabotaging things. Of course, he was with ICM and attempting to scare the Colonists away from the planet. Jo adapted to life on her first alien planet well and I enjoyed her relationship with Mary Ashe very much. Gemma's reaction to seeing an incredibly young Gail Platt from Coronation Street was a comedic moment in our household. The tension and intellectual battle between her father and Captain Dent was a real highlight of the serial and they made conflicting but intriguing enemies. They had very different intentions and morals and I thought it was good how that was explored. I really liked Caldwell's character and it was nice that despite having no issues with the odd lie or scare tactics to aid ICM's desire, he drew the line at murder. He ended up helping the Colonists and it was lovely that he got to stay with them once all was said and done. The Master doesn't offer a huge amount in the story, but his presence is more than enough. His search for the Doomsday Weapon should probably have come a little earlier, but the pace of the self destruction of the inner city and ridding the Master of all hope for his grand weapon was exciting. The way he slips away whilst there's a gunfight is marvellous as well. One thing I will say that was a negative for me about this story was the cliffhangers and their resolutions. They weren't bad by any stretch of the imagination, but they did seem a little repetitive and perhaps just shaken off as resolutions at the start of each episode. The guest cast continued to impress with Winton and Morgan also being strong characters who again were pretty much polar opposites. The scare tactics of ICM with their mining robot were good and I liked the idea of the evidence being presented to the Adjudicator. The apparent seriousness with which the Master was taking the trial was very good as well. Roger Delgado's calm persona is terrific. Overall, a brilliant serial!

Rating: 9/10