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FishyFish

By FishyFish
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Flub

Flub

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If Sprite Machine (Or indeed anyone) wants a very good series of books about basically everything Doctor Who with loads of essays about a massive range of different and often very interesting topics you should look into the About Time series. They're currently 7 books in and all the way up to 2006. They're perfect books to dip into and contain massive amounts of info about continuity, production, behind the scenes stuff and more for every single episode.

http://madnorwegian.com/category/books/doctor-who/

They're all available on Amazon. They get two Flub thumbs up.

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Sprite Machine

Sprite Machine

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Survival

(Blog has pictures)

Seven hundred and one episodes. Twenty-six years of television in the space of sixteen months. My epic journey through time and space with the iconic Doctor has finally reached its end (or, at least, its last major milestone). Survival is not a proper finale like you would expect these days (it's not even a monotone finale like we had in 1969), but in its own way, it is rather poignant. It deals with the theme of survival, which is appropriate given the show was killed off. A harsh wilderness, survival of the fittest, survival of a planet, and survival of the Master. It's Anthony Ainley's final appearance as the Master, Sophie Aldred's final appearance as Ace and the last time we see that iffy purple swirling galaxy.

[Picture: The Master is more dangerous and unpredictable in his animal-like state. It's something he wants rid of, but then learns to control it.]

Survival is not the best, but the continuation of Ace's character-building that started earlier in the season is much appreciated and has hints of the modern style that the show now uses in its revived incarnation. Here, Ace returns to her home of Perivale to reunite with "the old gang". There's a kind of sadness to these scenes, of lost youth, good times that have passed, friends that have moved on, and things that will never be the same again. It's relatable. Then they get abducted by a race of teleporting cheetah-people from a dying planet, and it becomes a bit less relatable.

[Picture: Hale and Pace make a cameo appearance as shopkeepers, telling that joke about outrunning the lion, while the Doctor stocks up on cat food.]

Survival is quite a personal story. It's not about some universe-ending disaster. Admittedly, the cheetah-people's world is falling apart, but it's really just a story about a group of people trying to escape, trying to stay human, the Master using the Doctor as bait, the Doctor trying to bring Ace back from the point of transformation, and Ace coming to terms with what it means to survive, developing a doomed friendship with Karra, and learning what she truly calls "home".

[Picture: The cheetah-people do look unfortunately cuddly for what are supposed to be scary hunters.]

Nevertheless, the ending does have a whiff of "we need a spectacular finish" to it. The exploding motorcycles are ridiculous (did the production have excess dynamite to use up?), more so that the Doctor survives the blast without a scratch! The final (brief) battle with the Master is like something out of Star Wars, but I did enjoy that. And the Doctor's closing lines to Ace, about all the wonders of the Universe that are still out there for them to see, are very nicely done, and really hammers home that this is the end. I understand this speech was a late addition once the producers knew it was all over. Although Sylvester McCoy would return to TV as the Doctor a couple more times, this is basically the end of his run, and I will have more to say about him shortly.

[Picture: The alien planet is well-realised for its time, using digital video effects.]

For now, I finish the main bulk of my Doctor Who marathon with a sort of sadness that it's all over. I never experienced it on its first broadcast, so I can only imagine what it must have been like for the fans still tuning in every week to suddenly realise it was to be no more. Although there are still hints of the cheesy old pantomime / stage drama style, the show's twenty-sixth season has seen it turn into something vastly improved. Had it continued, I could well imagine a gradual transition into the 2005 series, and I would have traced that change back to here. Alas, it seems the show was not fast enough to adapt, and thus not fit to survive.

Picture: "There are worlds out there where the sky is burning, where the sea's asleep and the rivers dream, people made of smoke and cities made of song. Somewhere there's danger, somewhere there's injustice and somewhere else the tea is getting cold. Come on, Ace, we've got work to do."

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Mogster

Mogster

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Alas, it seems the show was not fast enough to adapt, and thus not fit to survive.

Well put. :)

I've really enjoyed these write ups. It's made me want to do a big watch of my own at some point, although maybe not with the reconstructions.

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Mogster

Mogster

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I finished The Light At The End today, and really enjoyed it. I haven't listened to as much Big Finish stuff as I'd like, but this was certainly one of the better ones I've heard. The interplay between the Doctors was great, and the story was a clever take on the mandatory "time has gone wonky and thrown us all together" plot.

It was also the first time I've heard Colin Baker in a Big Finish play, and he's surprisingly great in it. He still has some of the aloofness he had in the show, but he's much more rounded (pun not intended!) and, well, not a git. Tom Baker sounds like he never left. :D

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Plissken

Plissken

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Cheers for writing these Sprite. They have all been great reads, and I've looked forward to your review of each new story.

I now understand just why I loathe original Who as much as I do - my formative years were spent trying to watch it when it was scraping the barrel in the Colin Baker years, and each time I gave it a new go, I'd pick yet another dud. I'll not go back (it also ingrained in me a life-long intolerance for cheap special effects) but at least I understand it now.

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Sprite Machine

Sprite Machine

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Here you go. Sorry if the formatting gets messed up:


The Seventh Doctor: Summary + Best Episodes

To say that Sylvester McCoy’s turn as the Doctor got off to a bad start is something of an understatement. Season 24 is dreadful, following on from two seasons that are almost just as dreadful. That he managed to turn things around is a testament to his talent as an actor and of the skill of the writing and production team, and thankfully it means that Doctor Who ended on a reasonably high point.

Seasons 25 is the turning point, throwing up a couple of good serials. Season 26 is where the show blossoms into a confident and modernised version of itself. There are definite hints of the current era show in these stories, particularly the final three that focus on Ace’s character. The lack of studio shooting also lends a more natural visual style to these episodes, more in line with what we expect on TV these days. These seasons are also the closest thing I have to “my era” of Doctor Who, with some vague memories of McCoy in his hat and umbrella, Dalek claws and chalk circles having stayed in my head for the past 25 years.

I’ve already commented somewhat on Mel, a total non-entity that the Doctor is lumbered with for his first season. That her departure coincides with the panto style being phased out is surely no coincidence. As for Ace, I like her as a character – her short temper and “act first, think later” style reminds me of Leela – but Sophie Aldred’s acting often verges on the cringeworthy, with lines like “oi, wotch it, tin ‘ed!” and “yeah, brill!” dominating much of her dialogue. That said, when she’s written well, like in Curse of Fenric or Survival, she is perfectly watchable, and a good companion for the Doctor.

Thoughts on the Seventh Doctor

In some ways, each successive actor has an easier time playing the Doctor, because they have increasingly more inspiration to draw from. In McCoy’s physicality and facial expressions, I see hints of Jon Pertwee. In his friendly professor-like tone, I’m reminded of Peter Davison. In his mannerisms and expressions, I see hints of Patrick Troughton. In his darker threatening side and righteous rants, I see hints of the Bakers. He even carries himself in a “dignified elderly gentleman” way that reminds me a little of William Hartnell. He’s basically all the best bits of the Doctors throughout history, but somehow makes this style his own.

He has a few quirks. McCoy retains his own accent, which makes me wonder why David Tennant never did. Perhaps they thought it would more difficult to understand a Scottish accent in other countries? Admittedly, McCoy does have a tendency to mumble through some of his lines, making them hard to hear, but I his actual voice is great. I like how he rolls all of his arrs (Rs? Rrrs? Arse?) to such an extent that he makes a big thing about it, intentionally choosing words with Rs in them and rrrrrevelling in the lovely arriness of them.

McCoy has a lot of range, too. He can be the “pratfalling fool”, but also be a commanding presence, or calmly talk a gunman out of shooting him by delivering a somber speech about death. I can’t think of anything that he’s done wrong or handled badly. He had to put up with some terrible scripts early on, but he has really surprised me on the whole. I’m torn over whether I like McCoy more than Troughton. I think it’s a close call, and Troughton just about pips it, but maybe I’d have to revisit some of those early serials again to refresh my memory. Regardless of ranking, I consider the seventh Doctor a more than successful portrayal, and I doff my panama hat to Sylvester McCoy.

Tom Baker > Patrick Troughton > Sylvester McCoy > Peter Davison > Colin Baker > Jon Pertwee > William Hartnell

Episode Highlights

It’s safe to say that I will be discounting anything from season 24 in my best of list. Dragonfire was the only one remotely worth watching, but seasons 25 and 26 top that easily, with the “Ace Trilogy” being a particular highlight (although since I would have to watch Ghost Light several times before I could consider it a favourite, I’m afraid it doesn’t make the top three this time).

Remembrance of the Daleks (4 parts)
This smartly-written story uses some great misdirection, while exploring themes like racism. It makes amends for so many bad Dalek stories up until now.

The Greatest Show in the Galaxy (4 parts)
This is a creepy story made on a small budget, but the performances and direction make it work remarkably well.

The Curse of Fenric (4 parts)
Like watching a different show entirely, The Curse of Fenric is classy, well-produced and features the most dramatic Doctor/companion scene since… well, ever?

Thoughts on the entire show, 1963 to 1989

On the whole, I am glad I embarked on this journey through time and space. My intention was to familiarise myself with the whole story of “The Doctor” from beginning to end, and I by watching every single episode, I have done just that.

However, as is the case with many TV shows, the quality does vary. In Doctor Who’s case, the quality varies a lot, and watching every single episode is like an exercise in masochism. That’s why I made a note of my favourite serials while going through them. For anyone with a more casual interest in the show’s early years, it’s probably better to watch the “highlights” and ignore the rest. Maybe I’ll revisit some of these stories and revise my lists accordingly, but for the time being, I think my favourite picks for each Doctor hold up well enough. You can see them on the ‘Summary’ link next to each Doctor on the Episodes page.

As any show that goes on for as long as Doctor Who has done, there are changes over the years. Black and white to colour, film to video, stage to location, a range of styles from humour to tragedy, melodrama to hard science, fantasy, history, monsters and characters. Changes of actors, changes of tone, changes in theme, of music and directing and editing. An Unearthly Child couldn’t be much more different from Survival, and yet the core threads of humanity and adventure run through them.

Despite all these changes, there is one consistency that makes “Old Who” difficult for many new fans to digest. I don’t want to come across as superficial, but unfortunately studio video productions like this have a certain look and feel to them that is decidedly un-modern. It’s not just the “video look” of the picture, but by shooting a multi-camera production in a three-walled set-up like that, you have certain limitations. It feels more like a stage play, particularly in the early days where they rarely did any retakes. Everything is shot straight through. Everyone tilts their bodies towards the cameras. Dramatic angles are few and far between, and the lack of additional takes makes for some unconvincing edits, particularly where monsters are involved. Lighting looks artificial, sets look like sets. There were times when some directors pushed the boundaries and tried something visually interesting, but it’s quite telling that they usually went over-budget and weren’t brought back. There’s a reason that Spearhead from Space is still a pleasure to watch, and it’s not just Robert Holmes’ script – the studio strike was a blessing in disguise.

Nevertheless, despite all its issues, despite all of its cheapness, its low budgets, its melodramatic style, Doctor Who is still a science fiction show with some great ideas, some great writing, and some great performances, you just have to dig a little to find it. Over the course of this adventure, I have crammed in so much content in such a short space of time, that it’s difficult to digest it all, but I think Tom Baker’s era will remain my favourite. He is a superb actor that made the role of the Doctor his own, and it coincided perfectly with a writing and production team that took some risks and weren’t afraid to make Doctor Who scary and memorable.

This isn’t quite over yet. Doctor Who is still alive and well today after 50 years, and I want to revisit the 2005 reboot and onwards to see if I have a fresh perspective on it now. I also have one more chance to enjoy a new appearance from Sylvester McCoy in the Paul McGann TV movie, which I actually saw when it was first shown, but I cannot remember much about it.

But this point now officially marks the end of “stuff I haven’t seen before” and anything else will just be a catch up. Preferably over a nice cup of tea with some crumpets.

Edited by Sprite Machine
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Davros sock drawer

Davros sock drawer

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Bravo Sprite. I've thoroughly enjoyed your reviews, and I'm chuffed that you'll be continuing, even if I'm more a fan of Old Who than Nu.

Sylvester is really good, and deserves his top three placing. I think Troughton does trump him, not least because he had the un-enviable job of recreating the lead character for the first time, but I think I'd agree that he's better than the other 4. If you do decide to revisit him though, then what better way than by watching the two recently re-discovered stories?

Edit: How about your top 10 stories overall ?

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SqueakyG

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Despite all these changes, there is one consistency that makes “Old Who” difficult for many new fans to digest. I don’t want to come across as superficial, but unfortunately studio video productions like this have a certain look and feel to them that is decidedly un-modern. It’s not just the “video look” of the picture, but by shooting a multi-camera production in a three-walled set-up like that, you have certain limitations. It feels more like a stage play, particularly in the early days where they rarely did any retakes. Everything is shot straight through. Everyone tilts their bodies towards the cameras. Dramatic angles are few and far between, and the lack of additional takes makes for some unconvincing edits, particularly where monsters are involved. Lighting looks artificial, sets look like sets.

Yes, the two hallmarks of Classic Who that always stick in my mind are the studio sets and the acting. The problem with the sets is that you can always see the flat studio floor, which makes it look like Blue Peter. Also the lighting is uniformally white and bright. I have a soft spot for the streaks that lamps and candles leave on the video when the camera pans :)

The other big barrier to entry is the acting. Over the last 20 years, British TV has modernised and adapted to allow more "natural" acting styles, with actors who may be urban, working-class, or otherwise not traditionally trained in stage acting. But in the time of Classic Who, all actors were "legit" RADA-trained hard-working stage actors. That doesn't mean they were good actors, but it meant they were all trained in exactly the same style of performance -- RP, rolled R's, projected voice, etc. It makes Doctor Who very stagey.

It's also interesting to see TV before the "youth" boom that now requires actors to look like teenagers. Classic Doctor Who is filled with middle-aged, grey-haired old dears from RADA who have been squeezed into silly PVC space costumes, and they're playing it just like Shakespeare :)

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Davros sock drawer

Davros sock drawer

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I think that's a bit of a generalisation. There are some incredible performances in Classic Who, and the set design is often impressive when you consider the limitations. Something like The Ark in Space springs to mind, with its clever use of mirrors to give the impression that there are more chambers than in reality existed. And although the lighting in that particular serial is clinical and white (effectively so, in that case), to say that the lighting was uniformly white and bright throughout the show's entire history is demonstrably untrue.

Also it was scary, which Nu Who isn't. Partly this is because the Doctor is now a massive bighead and all-powerful Jesus figure who never gives the feeling that he's under threat for one minute, paired with cocky, smug assistants. Partly it's because they went all out for scares, upping the ante to the chagrin of media watchdogs like Mary Whitehouse.

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Sprite Machine

Sprite Machine

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Edit: How about your top 10 stories overall ?

Hmm, that's tough to decide. It's been over a year since I've seen the earlier black-and-white serials, and it's hard to compare them, particularly to newer ones that are fresh in my mind.

I've just compiled this list of twenty (taken from just my top picks per Doctor summary), and I think this is roughly the order I'd put them, from best to least best. However, since some good serials didn't make the original cut, I haven't included them in the shortlist, and I can't be bothered to reassess and compare with some of the weaker ones that did make the cut at the time. Erm, yeah. I could probably jiggle them around a little, but this will have to do for now.

I'm fairly certain about my top choice, though. :)

SPRITE MACHINE'S FAVOURITE DOCTOR WHO SERIALS, 1963-1989 EDITION!

RLLMUK EXCLUSIVE!

The Robots of Death

The Curse of Fenric

The Caves of Androzani

The Deadly Assassin

The Power of the Daleks

Pyramids of Mars

Remembrance of the Daleks

The War Games

The Tomb of the Cybermen

The Ark

The War Machines

The Greatest Show in the Galaxy

Spearhead from Space

The Sontaran Experiment

The Five Doctors

Day of the Daleks

City of Death

Mawdryn Undead

Invasion of the Dinosaurs

Enlightenment

----

Side note double-whammy post. I just watched Dimensions in Time.

Yes, it was awful, yes the camera movements made me feel sick, yes all the actors are old and past it and the whole thing is embarrassingly bad... BUT, it was for charity, and it's kind of nice to see all the Who things plus the kitchen sink stuffed into a 15 minute revival.

But, yeah, clearly something written on the back of a bar mat that is best forgotten about.

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Davros sock drawer

Davros sock drawer

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Yeah, in hindsight, I probably preferred Fang Rock to, say, Enlightenment or Dinosaurs, but Tom's Tops were too crowded to make the first shortlist, hence the disturbing imbalance in the force.

But, whatevs. It's just a rough list.

Mine would just be comprised of Tom Baker stories with two or three token nods to the others, so yours is probably a more balanced list. :D

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