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Post by Deleted on Apr 15, 2019 3:18:28 GMT
A lovely write-up again, number13 . I'm really enjoying this Bidmeadian retrospective! To me, Castrovalva, Four to Doomsday and Kinda were still part of Series 18's brilliant and idiosyncractic style, before The Visitation took us on a less interesting but more populist journey via Eric Saward. That Castrovalva was a last-minute replacement is, as you say, incredible, when it proved to be such a clever and imaginative tale. The Master, hurtling the TARDIS back to Event One, knowing the Doctor would escape, is terrific. Never underestimate the Ainley model. So to build a secondary trap in the form of a world created entirely from Adric's mathematic computations - and then get trapped in it himself - is utter genius!
My only disappointment at the time was the studio-bound setting of Castrovalva itself. The ideas of a dwelling of simplicity with elastic dimensions and surrounded by beautiful countryside were slightly stifled by the brightly-lit sets. But then, that was how television was made at the time, and it is only a tiny issue.
Thanks paz, I'm having fun writing them and it makes me think more about the stories as I watch them, if that makes sense? Yes, he's a terrific scheming Master in this trilogy which is really his trilogy with the Doctor caught up in it; 'Planet of Fire' and 'Survival' are my other favourites for showing him at his worst & best. (And 'The Five Doctors' is just fun all round. )
The lighting of the dwellings of Castrovalva is interesting - they were presumably going for the 'Tuscany' look of the real place as drawn by Escher, with the clear blue studio sky and strong lighting. But if this is a small village with a marketplace under sunny skies - where are the strong shadows? The night scene has very clear shadows, from those wall torches presumably, so why not all the daytime scenes too?
I'm sure you're right and the answer is - that's how they made TV then because setting up lighting effects took a lot of time and there were lots of shots of daytime Castrovalva to get through. But I like to imagine the real answer is that in the very peculiar internal geometry of Castrovalva, there are no shadows from the sun since every direction is the same...
Can I just say, these write-ups have convinced me to upgrade the Blu-ray collection from a "maybe" purchase to a "definitely". Before I'd even seen the remastering work and I'm stunned by how far we've come technically since the early DVD releases. Hope you're contributing something to The Meaning of Big Finish, love to read it.
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Post by number13 on Apr 15, 2019 11:06:43 GMT
Thanks paz, I'm having fun writing them and it makes me think more about the stories as I watch them, if that makes sense? Yes, he's a terrific scheming Master in this trilogy which is really his trilogy with the Doctor caught up in it; 'Planet of Fire' and 'Survival' are my other favourites for showing him at his worst & best. (And 'The Five Doctors' is just fun all round. )
The lighting of the dwellings of Castrovalva is interesting - they were presumably going for the 'Tuscany' look of the real place as drawn by Escher, with the clear blue studio sky and strong lighting. But if this is a small village with a marketplace under sunny skies - where are the strong shadows? The night scene has very clear shadows, from those wall torches presumably, so why not all the daytime scenes too?
I'm sure you're right and the answer is - that's how they made TV then because setting up lighting effects took a lot of time and there were lots of shots of daytime Castrovalva to get through. But I like to imagine the real answer is that in the very peculiar internal geometry of Castrovalva, there are no shadows from the sun since every direction is the same...
Can I just say, these write-ups have convinced me to upgrade the Blu-ray collection from a "maybe" purchase to a "definitely". Before I'd even seen the remastering work and I'm stunned by how far we've come technically since the early DVD releases. Hope you're contributing something to The Meaning of Big Finish, love to read it. Thanks Wolfie and I should add that the new extras are very well worth having, the 'Behind the Sofa' half-hours are especially fun. And there's an entertaining new 'Making Of' for Castrovalva with the TARDIS four+Mark Strickson back on location, as just one example. They have clearly put a lot of work into these sets to give them 'added value' far beyond simply the latest picture+sound quality, great though it is to have that.
And I'm loving that more stories in each season now have 5:1 sound; about 3 per season and generally the best ones. For me that gives the experience a filmic quality that transcends the 4:3 picture I'm seeing, if that makes sense? I'd highly recommend bagging 18+19 when funds allow after seeing what happened to the price of 12 !
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Post by tuigirl on Apr 16, 2019 7:26:52 GMT
Giving the Deadly Assassin another chance. I still think it is overrated. On the plus side, Tom is amazing in this one, he really sells it and it might be one of his best performances. On the down side- I REALLY hate how Gallifrey is portrayed here. This has nothing to do with the Gallifrey shown in the War Games, which, for me, was the first and the last time this was done right. In addition, I thought the Master was a bit of a let-down. But that might just be me.
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Post by Whovitt on Apr 18, 2019 11:49:11 GMT
The Macra Terror (in B&W, obviously ) That was a pretty good animation of the story. It's not my favourite animation, but it wasn't bad either. Other than the well-known scene removal (as well as sections of dialogue that led into that scene), there were a couple of alterations that were a little off for me (even if they were only minor changes - this was the first missing episode CD I owned, so I know this story backwards!). The end of Episode 2 didn't really need the Macra attacking the screen, though I suppose it helped improve the cliffhanger somewhat (for audiences who were none the wiser, anyway), and they actually removed the last few lines of dialogue from the story; it now sort of ends of a mild 'cliffhanger' which I thought was a odd choice. The opening of Episode 1 is also extended by a considerable amount! It allowed for an establishing shot of the colony, but it doesn't really represent the story as it was. Speaking of representing the story as it was, that first censored clip... I mean, I get it, they wanted to make the story more accessible to new audiences so they've re-edited it to make it more visually impressive, but if (in the very unlikely circumstances) this story is ever found, there is no way it will live up to newer fans expectations. The Macra crawling on the roof in Episode 3 is another good example of adding atmosphere but sacrificing authenticity. On the whole I enjoyed it, but I do hope they go for a little more authenticity in the future. Having said that, I also watched the first half of the un-narrated recon (purely so I could see the 'Rough and Tumble Machine' scene) and it was fantastic! Worthy of Loose Cannon themselves! (Unless this was actually produced by someone associated with LC, in which case it's up to their usual standard )
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Post by Deleted on Apr 21, 2019 15:54:49 GMT
Rose.
Just ruddy brilliant. Fast moving, funny, eerie, silly, dramatic, emotional. Great character in Rose, who we all fell in love with straight away round our house, and The Doctor, daft and brave and blunt and Northern! Alright, it's convenient that Clive, who Rose finds on the internet, lives close by; it's hard to believe Rose didn't recognise the new plastic version of her boyfriend. But who cares? "I AM TALKING!" No wonder 10 million people tuned into this. Doctor Who is vibrant, different, unique, great-looking and fast-paced. Lovely.
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Post by project37 on Apr 22, 2019 0:05:49 GMT
I've been watching The Ambassadors... *ZWANG*
of Death!
It's crazy to think that this aired only twelve months after stories like The Space Pirates and The War Games. What a dramatic change in style! It's got action (great stunt work by HAVOC), the British Space Programme playing a central plot point, and some seriously great cliffhangers. For me, it still feels a bit padded but is still a worthwhile viewing experience in the superb Season 7.
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Post by Deleted on Apr 22, 2019 4:22:37 GMT
I've been watching The Ambassadors... *ZWANG*
of Death!
It's crazy to think that this aired only twelve months after stories like The Space Pirates and The War Games. What a dramatic change in style! It's got action (great stunt work by HAVOC), the British Space Programme playing a central plot point, and some seriously great cliffhangers. For me, it still feels a bit padded but is still a worthwhile viewing experience in the superb Season 7.
It's a very cool story and an inspired idea to follow up a story about terrestrial troubles with otherworldly visitations. I think the padding occurs juuuust in the middle between the swap from David Whitaker's original scripts to Malcolm Hulke's additions for Episodes 4-7. Author-wise, the previous season's Seeds of Death was much the same, starting off with Brian Hayles and ending with Terrance Dicks. The result here, as there, is a cool mix of styles. Starting off with Whitaker's Bondian spy games then slowly transitioning through to Hulke's astronomy-based space adventure in the second half (Episode 3 being the handshake).
What do people think of the unique way the title sequence was handled here? The logo, a reprise of the previous episode, then *PTOW!* the title cards (OF DEATH)? I've always had a fondness for them myself. I wonder why it wasn't chosen as the standard? Difficulty in editing, maybe?
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Post by number13 on Apr 22, 2019 12:09:35 GMT
The Greatest Show in the Galaxy
I hadn't seen this one since it was broadcast and I don't think I ever saw one of the middle episodes so this was almost like watching a new Seventh Doctor show. And I enjoyed it very much! The circus setting was a natural for Sylvester McCoy's Doctor and I couldn't imagine any of the others being quite as good in it as he is - the tricks, the escapology, the hints of the clown - but he's really the manipulating 'ringmaster' of events and of course it was his show all along...
It's appropriately colourful, action-packed and filled with showy, larger-than-life characters who fit the setting perfectly. I got a definite 'Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome' vibe from bits of it; the desert setting, the stallholder, Nord the biker, the ring where acts perform for their lives - even Mag's hair might have been done by Auntie Enitity's stylist! I guess they were both products of the 80s which explains it, but I had fun imagining the links. Would it be going too far to imagine Kingpin, Mags, Bellboy and Flowerchild as older analogs for the 'lost children' of that film? (But I can't see the Doctor as Max! Seven's much more powerful - and when he needs to be, more dangerous too.)
The guest cast is large and quality - T.P. McKenna and Peggy Mount were impressive 'name' castings and Ian Reddington steals the show with every gesture, a clown who isn't joking, great stuff. And a fine set of young actors playing the formerly happy hippies of the Psychic Circus; the emotional connections between them and their struggles against the dark power which has taken over their world made a very good contrast with the action. I also noticed the contrast in acting styles strongly in this one, something which I think shows up from around halfway through the Davison years - older actors with their theatrical backgrounds, younger actors trained more in a naturalistic TV style. A unique cross-over period between performance 'eras' and one which works very well here where there's such a range of characters from different backgrounds.
Jessica Martin's Mags is one of those guest characters who could easily have walked into the TARDIS for a run of TV stories; it's really good she's joined the BF audio TARDIS (which I'd never have imagined) but I think she'd have made a great on-screen TARDIS team with Ace. (On the other hand, 'Whizz Kid' is the one low point of the story for me - and is he simply a dig at super-keen Who fans? If so, talk about biting the hand that feeds you!)
The 'dark circus' twist is a beauty which I don't think anyone would have seen coming, a group of bored immortals luring people in to help while away eternity with fifteen seconds of fame before they leave the ring forever... But the Doctor is the 'act' who never runs out of material and he'll bring the house down every time...
The 'big bang' finish is a spectacular one and I admired Sylvester McCoy's coolness in strolling through the shot, umbrella swinging, while the Circus blew to bits just behind him!! I loved all the sets, costumes and effects in this showy story - except Ace deserved far more fireworks when she zapped the clowns. On the other hand the bus-conductor's spectacular demise was just the ticket... (Groan: 0, 0, 0 for Number13 )
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Post by barnabaslives on Apr 23, 2019 4:28:03 GMT
The Greatest Show in the Galaxy
I hadn't seen this one since it was broadcast and I don't think I ever saw one of the middle episodes so this was almost like watching a new Seventh Doctor show. And I enjoyed it very much! The circus setting was a natural for Sylvester McCoy's Doctor and I couldn't imagine any of the others being quite as good in it as he is - the tricks, the escapology, the hints of the clown - but he's really the manipulating 'ringmaster' of events and of course it was his show all along... I really like the way you put all this, and thank you. I've always had trouble making my peace with episodes from the Seventh Doctor era that seem clownish or farcical, which for me includes a few - I may enjoy them but it always tries to seem like an over-arcing theme born out of the clash between trying to be children-friendly and trying to be serious adventure that adults can appreciate, as if someone thought the perfect compromise was killer clowns, or cartoonish villains in general. It's never occurred to me before to try taking that as integral part of the Seventh Doctor's character and a strength of the Seventh Doctor era, rather than a shortcoming. (It didn't help of course that I had no idea what they were really trying to do with Happiness Patrol until a year or two ago when I first saw some of Sylvester's comments about it. I still have yet to watch it and really take it as was intended because of my long-standing erroneous first impressions of it).
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Post by Deleted on Apr 23, 2019 17:51:29 GMT
Having greatly enjoyed BF's recent The Monsters of Gokroth, I thought I'd watch The Greatest Show in the - hang on, number13 has beaten me to it, and put into words many of my feelings about the show too! The Psychic Circus is the perfect setting for the Seventh Doctor: an eccentric and comedic appearance, housing a far darker heart beating inside.
Episode One is the perfect set-up - some well-visualised silliness aboard the TARDIS, and a closely cut series of strange characters are then introduced. A love story, still a rarity in those days in Doctor Who, and The Chief Clown's mesmerising first appearance aboard a black car that soundlessly glides sleekly across the haze; mad Nord, threatening to do 'somethink orrible' with Ace's ears, and boorish Captain Cook and his (mostly silent except for a rip-roaring scream at the end) companion Mags.
And then there is Whizzkid. It's never really confirmed he's a send-up of the bratty Who 'fans' who were tearing the show to shreds in their little fanzines at that time, but it's pretty clear. I think he's great although could have been played a little better. Is it really biting the hand that feeds? I would say only slightly so - these people were watching the show anyway, just so they could be the first to slate it (how times have changed!!). Perhaps Whizzkid's unpleasantness could have gone further. He's not a pastiche of Doctor Who viewers, I would say, or even Doctor Who fans in general. Rather a swipe at the entitled armchair nasties who were saying some horrendous, even libelous, things about 'their favourite show' and its cast and crew at this time.
Anyway, I don't want to let my opinion of The Greatest Show to get too ... opinionated! I understand it is the highest rated Seventh Doctor story, if that even means anything. Series 25 ends in a triumphant manner. Such a shame the half the viewers drifted away at the start of the following series.
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Post by Deleted on Apr 23, 2019 19:37:23 GMT
The Macra Terror (in B&W, obviously ) That was a pretty good animation of the story. It's not my favourite animation, but it wasn't bad either. Other than the well-known scene removal (as well as sections of dialogue that led into that scene), there were a couple of alterations that were a little off for me (even if they were only minor changes - this was the first missing episode CD I owned, so I know this story backwards!). The end of Episode 2 didn't really need the Macra attacking the screen, though I suppose it helped improve the cliffhanger somewhat (for audiences who were none the wiser, anyway), and they actually removed the last few lines of dialogue from the story; it now sort of ends of a mild 'cliffhanger' which I thought was a odd choice. The opening of Episode 1 is also extended by a considerable amount! It allowed for an establishing shot of the colony, but it doesn't really represent the story as it was. Speaking of representing the story as it was, that first censored clip... I mean, I get it, they wanted to make the story more accessible to new audiences so they've re-edited it to make it more visually impressive, but if (in the very unlikely circumstances) this story is ever found, there is no way it will live up to newer fans expectations. The Macra crawling on the roof in Episode 3 is another good example of adding atmosphere but sacrificing authenticity. On the whole I enjoyed it, but I do hope they go for a little more authenticity in the future. Having said that, I also watched the first half of the un-narrated recon (purely so I could see the 'Rough and Tumble Machine' scene) and it was fantastic! Worthy of Loose Cannon themselves! (Unless this was actually produced by someone associated with LC, in which case it's up to their usual standard ) Just a quick aside on the subject of the telesnaps recon. Did anyone else spot the edited screen-grabs from Caves of Androzani being utilised in episode 1? Made me assume it was indeed from Loose Cannon, as its the sort of thing they do when necessary.
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lidar2
Castellan
You know, now that you mention it, I actually do rather like Attack of the Cybermen ...
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Post by lidar2 on Apr 25, 2019 13:28:56 GMT
Meglos
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Post by Deleted on Apr 25, 2019 18:03:13 GMT
Midnight.
Not the first time I've mentioned this, I know, but it is magnificent. RTD's own Blink, I'd say.
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Post by sherlock on Apr 27, 2019 18:07:22 GMT
The Time Meddler
A story that typifyies the best and the worst of Hartnell’s era. The whole TARDIS crew are very nicely characterised, under Spooner’s writing the Doctor seems to be enjoying himself a lot of the time which Hartnell really sells. Unfortunately much of the running time is given to stereotypes of Saxons and Vikings running and grunting, and the fight sequence was really not great. The Monk himself makes a solid debut, you can’t help but feel a bit sorry for him at the end, so it’s quite easy to see why that character endures.
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Post by mark687 on Apr 27, 2019 21:18:29 GMT
Planet of the Spiders
(Had an urge toview a Regeneration story blind picked this again)
Regards
mark687
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melkur
Chancellery Guard
Likes: 3,971
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Post by melkur on Apr 27, 2019 23:21:03 GMT
After work I watched 'Timelash' - 'Not felt great for most of the evening and, you know what? This has oddly perked me up a bit..!
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ljwilson
Chancellery Guard
It's tangerine....not orange
Likes: 5,063
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Post by ljwilson on Apr 28, 2019 19:25:49 GMT
The Lodger from Matt Smith's tenure, which was good fun.
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melkur
Chancellery Guard
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Post by melkur on Apr 28, 2019 23:54:42 GMT
'Vengeance On Varos' and 'Mark Of The Rani', that kind of evening...
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melkur
Chancellery Guard
Likes: 3,971
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Post by melkur on Apr 29, 2019 23:59:17 GMT
'Revelation Of The Daleks' (my second 'Classic' story). I'm noticing a theme here...
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Post by Whovitt on Apr 30, 2019 11:58:34 GMT
Bad Wolf/The Parting of the Ways
I've never really watched the RTD era critically. It was what Doctor Who was as far as I was concerned. Sure, I'd seen all the Classics, but the Doctor Who airing when you're a kid is the definitive sort of Doctor Who for you, if people understand my meaning, so there was never anything 'wrong' with it.
Looking at this story a bit more critically, isn't it just fantastic! It doesn't set a foot wrong, explaining every possible detail away (e.g. Why doesn't Jack continue using his big laser? 'Cause he burned the power out destroying that one Dalek, explained in a single brief line, but that's all that's necessary to get the story across). And the scale! Seriously, what's the largest number of Daleks ever seen onscreen prior to this story? Four? Maybe six? Possibly eight in Remembrance? Barring Remembrance, this story beats them all with at least seven actual, real Daleks on set. And then you get the shots of the Daleks pouring out of their ships. It's Doctor Who on a scale that had simply never been possible before, and the story seems to revel in the fact that it's capable of doing what it's never been able to do but always wanted to. And it's justly deserved, as everything about it is just brilliant.
Eccleston is almost unmatched in his performance here. Knowing what we know about the Doctor's past now, everything he went through and (thinks) he did in the Time War, he conveys all of that perfectly without possibly knowing what backstory would be filled in later. I also recently rewatched Aliens of London - Dalek, and both of these stories also accentuate just how amazing he was in the role. A particularly beautiful moment comes in World War Three, when Rose gives the Doctor the permission to do what he has to do to stop the Slitheen; the look in his eyes is that of a man who's forgotten what it's like for someone to have absolute faith in him and the realisation that he's found someone new who does. It's a perfect performance, and I'm so sad that we're unlikely to ever seen his incarnation onscreen again. (Even in Big Finish do one day get him on board, a lot of what made Eccleston's performance so strong was his visual acting, so there will always be something missing from him in audio adventures)
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