Doctor Who

[Space Renegade Ulala]

I'm interested in why the Tardis doesn't like Clara and also why she was willing to fly solo. The Tardis doesn't have much of a history of that and I was surprised it passed without comment from the Doctor.

Perhaps it watched Emmerdale and was a big fan of the copper she murdered.

[El Pibe]

"Hello sweetie!"

I really don't think she is. She has a wide, annoying face.

Anyway, I've not seen Saturday's episode yet, but glad to hear it was good.

More importantly though, when is Sprite going to start in on the Tom Baker years!?

Madness! She's lovely and...those boobs!

[zxcvbnm]

I loved the bit when they entered the Tardis and Clara said he should have somewhere to put the umbrella - his response was perfect.

[Sprite Machine]

Robot

(Blog has pictures.)

I may not have seen any of these old Doctor Who episodes, but it's hard to miss how popular Tom Baker is. Many consider him the "Definitive Doctor", the one to beat. I am very much looking forward to seeing how he pans out over the next few seasons.

[Picture: The newly regenerated Time Lord awakens...]

My initial impression is that he is a bit mad! Dressing up as a clown, skipping, offering people sweets, grinning with that wide-eyed expression that says both "I'm having a laugh" and "don't mess with me". But at this point, it's hard to judge him because all new regenerations are a bit mad at first, they take time to settle in, get into a rhythm, adjust to their new character. For now, it seems as though he has transformed from an old man into a child, in much the same way as he did when he went from Hartnell to Troughton. It's a positive change, if you ask me. After all, there's no point being grown-up if you can't be childish sometimes!

[Picture: The Doctor is examined by the doctor. Thump-thump, two hearts.]

This story is not a space epic but a more down-to-earth adventure. The threat is from a local group who have built a deadly robot and stolen an advanced military weapon and nuclear launch codes. A perfect warm-up for the new Doctor, then. It's your typical monster story, except the monster is an indestructible robot with a conscience, and a design straight out of a B-movie. It's fairly good, but when it introduces the idea of living metal and the robot becomes enormous, it stretches believability a bit (okay, a lot). There's also the coincidence problem again, as Sarah Jane just happens to visit a scientific group called Think Tank, who just happen to be the ones behind the robot. The plotting is too convenient.

[Picture: The group known as Think Tank has a super secret meeting in which they reveal all of their plans.]

There's a lot new to enjoy here. The new Doctor, of course, and an even better title sequence – but also former writer Robert Holmes now on script editor duties, which bodes very well for the series going forwards. There's also a new companion, UNIT's medical officer Harry Sullivan, who appears to be joining the Doctor on his travels, which should make for more interesting stories. Finally, the biggest change in this serial is a visual one, as all of the outdoor shooting was done on videotape for the first time. While it loses the cinematic feel of celluloid, it does create a smoother, cleaner and more consistent look, and integrates better with the ambitious special effects sequences in part 4. Once I got over the "home video" look, I found it quite easy on the eyes.

[Picture: When the robot is referred to as "K1", my first thought was "when do we get to see the ninth?"]

So, all in all, a thumbs up. The story wasn't anything special, but it looked good and was the right length. Moreover, Tom Baker is entertaining in all of his scenes, gets some great lines, and is such a refreshing change from Pertwee. He has an energy and enthusiasm that carries his scenes well, and I'm eager to see more.

[Davros sock drawer]

I think it's safe to say that you ain't seen nothing yet.

I wondered if you'd pick up on the change to Outside Broadcast Video Tape. It was the thing that struck me when I watched this story recently, because you don't get that awful clash between Film and Videotape. It gives the programme quite a modern sheen, at least it did on the DVD version.

The other comment I'd make is that I think they kept the first story Earth and UNIT based so as not to alienate the viewer. After this things open up considerably and the Pertwee UNIT family is left far behind (with notable and enjoyable exceptions).

[AceAceBaby]

"Huw" because it's BBC Wales, isn't it.

I didn't like the TARDIS hologram bit, I thought the one episode that Gaiman wrote was distinct in literally giving voice to the blue box, but if it's going to be some recurring Holly style quippersnapper for when the plot inadvertently moves the Doctor out of exposition range, then meh. A door that won't unlock, a change in temperature, the sullen red blinking of certain lights, those are the ways I'd prefer to see the TARDIS personality come through.

[SqueakyG]

I think it's safe to say that you ain't seen nothing yet.

I wondered if you'd pick up on the change to Outside Broadcast Video Tape. It was the thing that struck me when I watched this story recently, because you don't get that awful clash between Film and Videotape. It gives the programme quite a modern sheen, at least it did on the DVD version.

It's only Robot that uses tape for the outdoor scenes, isn't it? Then it goes back to film as usual? I guess it's because they had to do quite a lot of chroma effects in the outdoors shots, so they had to use tape.

[Yartek]

It's only Robot that uses tape for the outdoor scenes, isn't it? Then it goes back to film as usual? I guess it's because they had to do quite a lot of chroma effects in the outdoors shots, so they had to use tape.

Yeah, it pretty much goes back to video inside/film outside until season twenty-four when they went all video.

[Yartek]

And to echo Davros' comment, yeah, Robot is very much a changeover episode between procustion teams, it all kicks off in the next story. I can happily sit and watch any story between Robot and Horns Of nimon and know I'm going to be entertained, even if the actual story is a bit dodgy. I'm grinning just thinking of some of the stories you've got coming up soon.

[Davros sock drawer]

The Sontaran Experiment is 100% on OB video as well, but yeah it goes back to film. Lots of nice work on the sound stages at Ealing.

[Davros sock drawer]

I just put Pyramids of Mars onto my phone to watch on the way home, but couldn't resist watching the opening and the first scene in the Tardis. Love it.

*Paces up and down waiting for Sprite's write up on The Ark in Space*

[Sprite Machine]

*Paces up and down waiting for Sprite's write up on The Ark in Space*

It's alright, I rather enjoyed it!

The Ark in Space

(Blog has pictures)

Leaving Earth and UNIT behind, the Doctor, Sarah and Harry depart in the Tardis and wind up thousands of years in the future, on a space station filled with the last of humanity, cryogenically frozen, orbiting the Earth, awaiting their wake-up call.

[Picture: The last of humanity, preserved in stasis while the Earth is hit with solar flares. There's more than a hint of mythology about it.]

Obviously, things go wrong: the humans have overslept and an alien lifeform is oozing itself around the Ark, infecting humans and turning them into hosts for its offspring, resulting in some rather excellent and scary make-up effects, and some rather rubbish looking insect costumes.

[Picture: The Wirrn's adult phase.]

This is a strong serial on its own terms. The close-quarters environment and small roster of characters in a perilous situation makes for compelling viewing, and pleasingly wraps itself up in just four parts. However, the trouble with having seen every episode is that some of the concepts start getting recycled. Aliens infecting humans in a spaceship has already been done countless times, and the whole 'ark full of the last humans' idea was already done rather brilliantly in the Hartnell four-parter 'The Ark', which had the added bonus of a time-travel-induced twist.

[Picture: A partially-transformed Noah. Close-up, that looks like green bubble-wrap. Still, it does the job.]

So, it's the execution that matters, and this was a more standard monster story, with some interesting ideas, like the monsters (the Wirrn) being able to accumulate knowledge from their hosts and pass it to their offspring. The Ark sets were also pretty good with a sterile futuristic aesthetic, which is matched by the cold and unfeeling personalities of the chosen humans.

[Picture: The Ark... in space.]

The Doctor is, again, a pleasure to watch. He's never patronising, he's quite blunt with people about their prospects for survival but he does it with a cheerful smile. He also has some good banter with Harry; the part where they're trapped behind the table with the sentry gun is good fun. The cast of companions is more rounded now, but this has put Sarah Jane in the position of the "scared girl" who nobody listens to and gets captured (aside from the end where she helps run a cable through a tight conduit). I hope this doesn't continue. Why should Sarah be panicking while Harry is calm and cheerful about the situation? It should be more of a shock to him.

[Picture: The set design is great, but this curved corridor doesn't appear to match the shape of the exterior.]

The story ends with the Ark saved and the aliens ejected in a shuttle, but the Doctor's work is never done, as he 'beams' down to planet Earth with Sarah and Harry to check out its viability for life, leaving the Tardis in orbit.

[Davros sock drawer]

I think as Philip Hinchcliffe's first story as producer The Ark in Space is a good strong start whilst not being an out and out classic. The Hinchcliffe/Holmes team goes from strength to strength after this, and is considered by most people to reach its peak in seasons 13 and 14. But I always enjoy The Ark in Space whenever I watch it, and the set is really clever. Did you notice the use of mirrors in the Cryogenic chamber to make it look like there were more sections than they had? Simple, but effective.

The Wirrn could have been more frightening I guess, but I think the guy playing Noah did a good job with some bubble wrap and the power of acting. There's another well known 'Man into Thing' transformation coming up, and that's handled even better and with more horror, I think.

Tom's great though isn't he? Some really great lines, and although I get your point about Sarah being the damsell in distress I love the way he encourages her by criticising that exact trait. He also delivers a bit of a fan favourite, the "Homo Sapiens...indomitable" speech, which would have been easy to mess up. He doesn't.

The other thing that fans are keen on saying is that the Ark in Space might have inspired Alien, but on reflection I can't see it myself.

Anyway, keep up the good work Sprite. Are you looking forward to each episode more now that you like the main character/actor a bit more?

[Sprite Machine]

Yes, Baker's enthusiasm and charisma make for much better viewing than the old grump before him.

[Davros sock drawer]

Baker has his grumpy moments as well, but he's cool with it.

[Lag]

I love Tom Baker even though he never replied to my email asking him if he fancied a pint. A story that makes me chuckle is is about when he was in bed with a woman - just prior to entry he said, "Tom's putting it in now," which looks boring on the page but if you do an impression of him it will make you laugh. Still my favourite Doctor.

I don't think Harry Sullivan is supposed to be particularly bright, despite being a Royal Navy surgeon; he is a stoic, old-fashioned stiff-upper-lip kind of chap who just gets on with it. Perhaps he represses his fears and only releases them when he's punished by the dominatrix at the weekends.

But yes, Sarah Jane seems a bit weak.

[Iain]

Indomitable!!

[Sprite Machine]

The Sontaran Experiment

(Blog has pictures)

The Sontaran Experiment is an interesting detour, following on directly from the previous serial, but telling its own self-contained story. Human colonists who arrived on the deserted Earth have been attacked and experimented on by a Sontaran scout, in preparation for a galactic invasion. Big story, wrapped up in two parts. It's refreshing!

[Picture: The Doctor stands in the circle of transport beacons on an unspoilt new Earth.]

What it shows is that you don't need to spread a plot thinly over six episodes to make it good – brevity is often a virtue. The only reason most serials spread themselves so thinly is because of budget requirements. But I think The Sontaran Experiment also shows that you don't need a big budget to tell a compelling sci-fi story either. This takes place entirely on some hills (no sets), and reuses some old costumes. And yet, it's a compelling tale of human survival, Sontaran wickedness and Time Lord cunning.

[Picture: The Sontaran's robot scout captures the colonists.]

I could have done without the Doctor's Miraculous Escape From Death™, but for the most part he outwits the Sontaran, Styre, with skill and intelligence. He also gets angry, calling Styre an unspeakable abomination as he tries to throttle him one, which adds believability to the Doctor's character. He gets some funny lines too, explaining to Harry how you should never throw anything away and then moments later telling him to never clutter his pockets with stuff. Meanwhile, Sarah Jane gets captured again. Sigh.

[Picture: Styre examines his captives.]

The Sontaran head prosthetic looks a little different from the last time it was used (despite Sarah mistaking Styre for Lynx) – more rubbery, but I think it's an improvement. There's also an excellent effect when Styre is killed and his head deflates like a balloon, which is wonderfully freaky. Sontarans are good villains, inhuman, remorseless, but bound by routine and procedure. His experiments on the human colonists are not malicious or evil, he simply does not care about them, blithely describing the procedures in his log, which makes them all the more frightening.

[Davros sock drawer]

Yeah, it's a nice little story. I prefer the mask in The TIme Warrior, because it seems more detailed and hairy, but apparently the actor found it difficult to wear so they re-designed it. Believe it or not he's played by Kevin Lyndsay who played the monk Cho Je in Planet of the Spiders.

I'd forgotten that Sarah gets captured (and tortured) in this one. I can see how she might come across as a bit wet, but she's better when it's just her and the Doctor I think.

I used to have a Tom Baker Years VHS which was basically him being made to watch a clip from every story in order, and to give his recollections (often fuck all, as no doubt he spent the end of every day in the local boozer). When Styre's head deflates they showed Tom Baker in a little box out, laughing hysterically at the effect. Convincing enough for the kids though.

It's a pretty nasty episode as well don't you think, in terms of violence? The tortures/experiments are pretty strong for 5.30pm on a Saturday, and this tone continues for all of Philip Hinchcliffe's production run. I like it, Mary Whitehouse didn't.

A six parter next, but oh what a six parter!

[Mr Cochese]

Tom's putting it in now.

[Harsin]

Imagine the worst thing ever.

No worse than that.

Captain Jack met River Song and now, they want a spinoff.

John Barrowman, the man who brought Captain Jack Harkness to life on "Doctor Who" and its spinoff "Torchwood," told The TV Addict that he and Alex Kingston, who plays River Song on "Doctor Who," met at a party and instantly hit it off.

"We didn’t even say anything, we just looked at each other and went, 'Aaaaaahhh! My god!' We got a glass of champagne and started talking about how it would be great if River and Jack -- actually, she said River and Jack should have their own TV show," Barrowman said. "Then as we talked more, we realized that we're both born on the same day. We're both March 11 babies and we have so much in common. We like a lot of the same things and our attitude towards stuff is very, very similar. It struck a chord with us because that’s why River and Jack are very similar characters, in their attitude and their fun and their aggression, we are the same in real life -- which is really ironic."

[Commander Jameson]

Ooh. Limited edition DVD box set "Regeneration" with collectors' book.

This beautifully-packaged limited edition coffee table book-styled collectors’ album is every Doctor Who fan’s dream possession. Individually numbered and boasting six DVDs with over 1000 minutes of Doctor Who footage, it brings together every Doctor’s regeneration episode: from the first Doctor, exhausted from battling the Cyberman, to Jon Pertwee’s Third Doctor suffering from radiation unleashed by the Great One (a giant spider); and from the spectacular transformation of the Ninth Doctor to David Tennant’s emotional farewell as the Tenth. The album is adorned with superb photography from across the era and features detailed and informative accounts of every regeneration. And if that wasn’t enough, new to DVD is The Tenth Planet featuring the Doctor’s first regeneration – beautifully restored with the missing fourth episode now brought to life with stunning animation. Utilising the original soundtrack, off-screen photographs and a short surviving sequence of the Doctor’s regeneration the episode has been now reconstructed in animated form, incorporating the restored version of the surviving sequence.

Stories included are:

• The Tenth Planet

• The War Games

• Planet of the Spiders

• Logopolis

• The Caves of Androzani

• Time and the Rani

• Doctor Who: The Movie

• Bad Wolf & The Parting of the Ways

• The End of Time

http://www.bbcshop.com/doctor-who/doctor-who-regeneration-box-set-dvd/invt/bbcdvd3801/

[Mogster]

Oh nice. I haven't got five of those serials either, so that's a must buy for me.

[Davros sock drawer]

The only really decent one is Androzani though.

[El Pibe]

Just watched a load of regenerations on YouTube.

Pertwee to Baker is hilarious!

[AK Bell]

Imagine the worst thing ever.No worse than that.

We're both March 11 babies and we have so much in common. We like a lot of the same things and our attitude towards stuff is very, very similar. It struck a chord with us because that’s why River and Jack are very similar characters, in their attitude and their fun and their aggression, we are the same in real life -- which is really ironic."

Jack and River? Or the usage of ironic?

[Meh]

I really liked the last episode. Part of me is a bit ROLLEYES at the whole lovey-dovey angle, but it was very entertaining for the most part.

[whizzo]

Just watched a load of regenerations on YouTube.

Pertwee to Baker is hilarious!

the worst one is Tennant into smith.

[Exidor]

McCoy to McCoy is pretty bad.

[Davros sock drawer]

Davison to Colin Baker broke my heart at the time.