|
Post by omega on Apr 28, 2018 23:43:45 GMT
DOCTOR WHO - MAIN RANGE » 60. MEDICINAL PURPOSESReleased August 2004SynopsisEdinburgh, 1827. The infamous body snatchers William Burke and William Hare are at large. The local prostitutes dull their fear with cheap whisky. The graveyard owls are hooting. Business is good. When accidental tourists the Doctor and Evelyn Smythe stumble upon one of Britain's most lurid, illuminating chapters in history, a simple case of interest in the work of dedicated man of science Doctor Robert Knox, quickly turns sour. Just what is that time bending Scots mist? Whatever it is may put the very fabric of the universe under threat. As always. Written By: Robert Ross Directed By: Gary Russell CASTColin Baker (The Doctor); Maggie Stables (Evelyn Smythe); Leslie Phillips (Doctor Robert Knox); David Tennant (Daft Jamie); Glenna Morrison (Mary Patterson); Kevin O'Leary (William Burke); Tom Farrelly (Billy Hare); Janie Booth (Old Woman)
|
|
|
Post by omega on Apr 28, 2018 23:46:16 GMT
|
|
|
Post by Hieronymus on Apr 29, 2018 15:20:10 GMT
There were elements in this story that were well executed by the actors. But the writing and some structure of the story were irksome. The actors put their all into this, but you can only put so much into a leaky old pail of a script.
|
|
|
Post by fingersmash on Apr 29, 2018 15:39:30 GMT
God I hate this story. A Burke and Hare story and THIS is what they come up with?
|
|
lidar2
Castellan
You know, now that you mention it, I actually do rather like Attack of the Cybermen ...
Likes: 5,811
|
Post by lidar2 on Apr 30, 2018 9:40:39 GMT
Haven't listened in a while but I recall at one point the Dr takes a rather "end justifies the means" approach to Burke and Hare's bodysnatching when talking to Evelyn. That didn't sit well in terms of where his his relationship with Evelyn was at, coming right after the Pirates/ Project Lazarus / Arrangements for War arc. This story would work better before Pirates.
Otherwise a good solid tale. Not a classic but a pleasant way to pass a couple of hours.
|
|
|
Post by barnabaslives on Apr 30, 2018 12:38:12 GMT
Haven't listened in a while but I recall at one point the Dr takes a rather "end justifies the means" approach to Burke and Hare's bodysnatching when talking to Evelyn. That didn't sit well in terms of where his his relationship with Evelyn was at, coming right after the Pirates/ Project Lazarus / Arrangements for War arc. This story would work better before Pirates. Otherwise a good solid tale. Not a classic but a pleasant way to pass a couple of hours. Agreed, The Doctor's characterization probably seems a little off in a couple of places, but I still find it an engaging story with some interesting surprises and it's of course a treat to have David Tennant on board. Every time I listen to this I get extra enjoyment from trainspotting for lines from David or Colin that seem ironic after Tennant landed the Doctor role (or making up a few here and there). :-)
|
|
|
Post by Ela on Apr 30, 2018 19:19:45 GMT
I hated this story, mostly because I didn't like the subject matter and how it was executed. It's one of those stories I have no desire to ever listen to again.
|
|
|
Post by eric009 on Apr 30, 2018 19:39:37 GMT
I like it, the story could be better but it could have been a lot worse Written By Robert Ross his next 2 are 78. Pier Pressure
108. Assassin in the Limelight
|
|
|
Post by fingersmash on May 1, 2018 1:02:15 GMT
I like it, the story could be better but it could have been a lot worse Written By Robert Ross his next 2 are 78. Pier Pressure 108. Assassin in the Limelight And they progressively get worse
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Likes:
|
Post by Deleted on May 1, 2018 9:59:13 GMT
I like it, the story could be better but it could have been a lot worse Written By Robert Ross his next 2 are 78. Pier Pressure 108. Assassin in the Limelight And they progressively get worse Unfortunately, they do.
|
|
|
Post by slithe on May 4, 2018 19:19:43 GMT
I liked this story. However, this might be because I am quite interested in this area of history and enjoyed the banter between Leslie Philips, Colin Baker and Maggie Stables (I think this is a highlight of Assassin in the Lime Light). It certainly isn't a 'classic' and the lightheartedness of the story does undermine some of the more serious issues that could have been explored. Colin Baker could easily have done a more 'darker' Doctor approach here - certainly after the Project: Lazarus story from the previous year. It does seem a bit of a wasted opportunity. I often wonder if this story was made more lighthearted due to the fact that the TV show was going to launch the following year, which seemed, initially in my view, to take the wind out of the sails of the Monthly Range (I think The Harvest is the only significant release in 2004).
I'd forgotten that David Tennant was in this! I think the story gets more attention because of him being cast as the 10th Doctor than anything else. I found his 'Daft Jamie' character rather irritating after a while.
The Dr Knox character could have been developed more in this one. Leslie Philips is a great voice actor and they could have really explored the character. He comes across more of a 'pantomime villain' than anything else. Doesn't really seem to fit with the darker idea of 'body snatching' and Burke/Hare.
|
|
|
Post by mrperson on May 4, 2018 20:28:54 GMT
I don't remember being particularly happy with it, but don't recall actively despising it as some seem to.
|
|
|
Post by Timelord007 on May 5, 2018 7:23:20 GMT
I enjoyed this as the horror aspects are right up my street, yeah it's by no means a classic but it's a grim (oh dear he's off) dark moody audio drama featuring the legendary David Tennant as Daft Jamie & Leslie Philips as the charming Dr Knox.
Plus Colin & Maggie warm chemistry as The Doctor & Evelyn.
4/5.
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Likes:
|
Post by Deleted on May 5, 2018 20:04:18 GMT
I have yet to listen to this one. I had previously been under the impression that it was generally well liked.
On a tangent - i am surprised no reference has been made to 'The Doctor and the Devils' - an 1985 film on about Burke and Hare with Timothy Dalton. I have not seen it since renting it on VHS back then, but wonder to what extent (given the obvious title) it may have had an influence as a potential Doctor Who story.
Is anyone aware of any sense that the writer may have drawn upon this source knowingly or otherwise? Just curious.
|
|
|
Post by number13 on May 8, 2018 10:39:01 GMT
I like pseudo-historicals a lot, so that obviously helps, but I enjoyed this (deliberately) confusing and word-dense mystery all round - except for one significant fail I'll mention in a bit, which is why it was 4* for me instead of 5. The 'Gothic' atmosphere of 'Auld Reekie' in the 1820s came through very strongly - Edinburgh filled with darkness, disease, depravity - and death. A city where the dead don't stay buried - or even stay dead... I got very confused in the first half of the story and was then pleased to discover that we were supposed to be confused , trapped in a time bubble where perceptions are hazy and the reset button is pressed again and again. Where characters come and go and roles are exchanged as the story plays out - again and again... And only Time-sensitive 'Daft Jamie' sees through the Scotch mist to the repeating realities. I thought David Tennant was excellent as the tragic character, a doomed but honest man in a dark and confusing place. 'Carnival of Monsters' is a favourite Third Doctor story of mine and I remembered the people of the S.S. Bernice while I was listening to this. For though this is the real Edinburgh being looped round in Time, 'Doctor Knox' is just another cheap showman using alien technology he doesn't really understand, to create a 'peep-show' occupied by living people. I liked that his supposedly noble medical motives turned out to be just a secondary 'cover' - there's nothing noble about this Knox or his associates. He's brilliantly played by Leslie Phillips and the (happily) quite lengthy conversational scenes between him and the Doctor and Evelyn were highlights of the story for me. And I did enjoy the deep irony of the Doctor telling Knox off for having a stolen TARDIS! This is 'the one with Burke and Hare' and for me they were another "highlight", a properly disgusting pair of hypocritical villains, claiming to be aiding 'science' but with no regard for anything beyond money and Knox's orders. And certainly with no regard for human life - as shown not only in the infamous murders but also their revolting attitude towards Mary, a 'lady of the night' who's clearly far better than either of them. Which brings me to what I thought was the significant 'fail' of the story. The Doctor is not only fascinated to meet two notorious figures from history, he lavishes praise on them for their grave-robbing (in the name of 'science' - when for them it's in the name of money!), refers to the dead as 'lumps of meat' and doesn't seem too bothered that when 'supplies' ran short, Burke and Hare took the living as well as the dead. This is simply wrong for his character and imo should never have reached the final script. We know that Time Lords respect and honour their dead, with caskets and storing their memories in the Matrix, so even if the Doctor wasn't compassionate about death (which of course he is), his own culture would be as revolted as ours by what the 'resurrection men' did. And nobody values life and the right to life more highly than the Doctor. He'll try to save even his worst enemy and never believes 'the end justifies the means'. Whatever the scientific benefits of their 'work' might be in time, Burke and Hare were murderers and the Doctor would never, ever congratulate or praise people like them. So that was the one problem with this story for me, otherwise I thought this was another very good story in the Evelyn sequence, a darkly atmospheric historical with a Time twist. 4*
|
|
|
Post by mark687 on May 30, 2018 9:19:29 GMT
Must admit I'm surprised by the reaction to this story IMO its Robert Ross's best.
Leslie Phillips and DT are both very good as are Colin and Maggie. Strong Cast straightforward story and engaging (if only I could say that about the other stories penned by him).
Regards
mark687
|
|
|
Post by Tim Bradley on May 31, 2018 6:53:42 GMT
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Likes:
|
Post by Deleted on May 31, 2018 9:38:19 GMT
Must admit I'm surprised by the reaction to this story IMO its Robert Ross's best. Well, it is... but that's not really saying much.
|
|
|
Post by mark687 on May 31, 2018 9:45:19 GMT
Must admit I'm surprised by the reaction to this story IMO its Robert Ross's best. Well, it is... but that's not really saying much. I thought it was fairly inoffensive at least Knox served a purpose unlike in Assassin.
Regards
mark687
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Likes:
|
Post by Deleted on May 31, 2018 9:50:33 GMT
Well, it is... but that's not really saying much. I thought it was fairly inoffensive at least Knox served a purpose unlike in Assassin.
He did, but the general story itself was a bit tame I thought, although it was a lot better than Assassin. (I doubt many people wold argue about that!)
|
|