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Post by nucleusofswarm on May 11, 2019 10:24:25 GMT
Okay, sentient green wang aside, how does everyone feel about this one? I think there's some positive: episode 1 is pretty compelling and sets up a strong sense of dread. Chris Barry's direction is pretty solid and shooting the jungle set on film was a great call: it adds a lot to the (partial) pulpy jungle adventure vibe.
I even like the Tibetan gag.
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Post by Deleted on May 11, 2019 11:06:08 GMT
I love it. I really do. But it would have been so much better, in my view, as a three-parter. Part four seems tacked-on for the most part, with the most interesting elements of story having been put to rest in episode three.
What do I love? The terrific forest setting (one of Doctor Who's most convincing sets, surely), Lalla Ward as an imperious Romana, the wolf weeds, Myra Francis and Eileen Way (what a tremendous double act - I could imagine a BF box set featuring these two trouble-makers), Geoffrey Bayldon and, yes, that lovely great big blobby bulbous flacid (!) creature. The story had a fairytale quality that I always enjoy in Doctor Who and also, of course, featured Tom Baker at his effortless best.
If only they'd got rid of episode four!
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Post by Sir Wearer of Hats on May 11, 2019 11:17:29 GMT
It does have a lot going for it, some big ideas and an attempt to create a few genuinely alien concepts (a world with not metals for example). The Doctor gets a chance to be snarky and condescending to people who deserve to be condescended to.
But, something sort of drags it down, the GGC (Great Green Co....ahem) is clearly “we’ve run out of cash but we honestly do not want to abandon this idea” hard work for little reward from the production crew.
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Post by nucleusofswarm on May 21, 2019 13:23:20 GMT
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Post by doctorkernow on May 22, 2019 20:31:59 GMT
Hello again.
Ah Season 17, high concept sci-fi played for laughs? Well, having watched it all on Twitch recently this is partly true. Inflation and having to compete with Blakes 7 for resources took their toll. Having said that, there is much to enjoy.
Even in Destiny, the Doctor makes fun of the Daleks' lack of stair climbing ability and then there's the whole stalemate due to Daleks being 'robots' or at least slaves to their battle computers. City of Death is the obvious highlight, but still everything has this humorous undercurrent.
Nightmare of Eden is hilarious, mainly due to Tryst's eccentric scientist and the cute Mandrels but the story contains some interesting sci-fi ideas.
Creature from the Pit continues the hilarity. The ideas are interesting and Lady Adrasta is a great villain. The idea of a huge alien beast dependent on chlorophyll is a good one but unfortunately the on screen version is disappointing. I also liked the Wolf Weeds. I found the band of robbers a bit odd though.
Horns of Nimon was a great Romana story but oh dear the performances were all over the place. The idea of space locusts was great and the use of the Minotaur myth carried on the theme of reusing Greek myths as in Underworld.
It was such a shame, Shada was lost. It meant Graham Williams last season ended on a bit of a pantomime. I still enjoyed Season 17, even with all the ridiculous bits, it is the end of an era.
It was also my first ever complete season as a five year old Dr Who viewer and from there I watched everything until Survival.
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