Twin Dilemma vs Time and the Rani

Time and the Rani. Twin Dilemma actively sabotages Colin Baker by having him strangle Peri and generally spend four episodes being incredibly unlikable. Time and the Rani just makes McCoy seem a bit silly, but doesn't leave him irreparably tarnished.

Oh tough one as I don't think either is as bad aa most people think, (Eleventh Hour once Adult Amy turns up on the other hand!)

Rani but again the only thing that makes Twins slightly below average are the Twins, they're just a dull plot device.

Regards

mark687

Both have a pretty decent story trying to get out. If we're just talking the serials themselves... As much as I like the potential of The Twin Dilemma (so much so I've done a fan-edit here), I have to go with Time and the Rani for its pacing, cohesion and Kate O'Mara. The competition just takes so much time to get going, we should've been well and truly on Jaconda from "Part Two" forward.

If we're talking about the DVDs, though, I honestly want to say Twin because of the audio commentary. Brilliant listening to Colin Baker, Nicola Bryant and Kevin McNally chat about those early days behind the scenes and their general impression of the story. It's also really sweet having the two leads wanting McNally to hop aboard the TARDIS as a regular by the end. They've all the makings of a mid-80s trio like Two, Jamie and Zoe.

Time and the Rani at least is entertainingly bad. The Twin Dilemma is just dull, and when stuff does happen it's utterly cringeworthy. 

Hello again.

Time and yer Auntie every time. Episode 1 of Twin Dilemma is probably my least favourite Classic Who episode that I watched at the time.

It is completely out of character for the Doctor to attempt to strangle his companion and drag her to some god-forsaken spot in the middle of nowhere.

The closest is the shooting of the Timelotd in Hell Bent.

Time and yer Auntie is the silliest piece of fluff ever to go out as Dr. Who. The Rani pretending to be Mel, the sci-fi babble plot, the neverending clowning... However, it has a charm that is singularly lacking in Twin.

Maybe it helps that I have never seen the ending. I missed episodes 3 and 4!

This is Who to watch on Boxing Day as Doctor Who - The Pantomime. Look out Mel it's behind you!!

I enjoyed watching Twin Dilemma when it came out on VHS as 'Woolworths Exclusive' (perhaps WH Smith refused to stock it!) as I had no problem with it at the time. The Doctor is 'possessed' or having some form of breakdown when he attacks Peri and immediately decides to become a hermit to atone for this sinful act (tough luck on Peri to have to tag along though).

The sets are bacofoil and fake wood wallpaper effect and the whole thing looks like a Lenny Henry or Victoria Wood sketch, but it is at least played straight, which makes it easier to get into than, say, The Gunfighters, which breaks the fourth wall by turning into a Generation Game skit at times.

Time and the Rani, I taped off air and payed the first episode several times the week of transmission, as I was thrilled by the CGI Titles and FX, its just a shame that I went a bit camp after that, with a growing sense that this could not surely be the new Dcotor. I felt Sylvester was not up to the task as an actor from this early performance. Watching him present the 'Years' compilations a few years later, I was struck by his natural bonhomie, and wished he had just played himself from the start, no comedy or hidden depths.

So on balance, I can re-watch Twin Dilemma for Colin and Nicola putting their all into limited materials, whilst Time and the Rani frustrates me as it should have added up to more than the sum of its parts, given the clear investment in production values it received.

But no, I don't hate or particularly dislike either, whats the point of that? I just don't see the need to ever watch either again. Life is too short and we now have the luxury of instant playback of 'any' story from the series.