Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Jun 7, 2019 13:38:49 GMT
The recent welcome announcement of a Big Finish adaption of Wally K Daly's The Ultimate Evil, {Spoiler}
and its Sil-like vilain Mordant makes me wonder why Nabil Shaban's original Sil character has been used so sparingly by BF.
Sil is one of the most memorable Who villains of the 80s, possibly ever. Even the shy and retiring JNT described him as 'more popular than the Daleks' at one stage. He has a very recognizable voice and distinctive laugh that makes him ideal for audio. As a parasitic, galactic sales-person ripe for political satire, he is a fascinating, untapped character. And let's face it, he is also a colossal sadist, taking genuine, child-like pleasure in the suffering of others.
And yet, he has only featured in two Big Finish stories. One, with all due respect, Mission to Magnus, is appalling. The other Antidote to Oblivion is far better but still only scratches at the surface of what could be done to further Sil's notoriety. Perhaps he is tied to writer and creator Philip Martin, and Martin demands payment in Marsh-minnows, which the BF staff resent storing in the fridge. Or perhaps Nabil actually is Sil, and demands two sacrifices to The Great Morgo for every hour in the studio. Or perhaps, unfathomably, Big Finish aren't really interested in the revolting Thoros Betan: that, I find hard to take.
Can I really be alone in wanting to hear more from this magnificent character? He is, after all, popular enough to star in a DVD spin-off nearly thirty-five years after his debut!
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Post by glutamodo on Jun 7, 2019 13:53:02 GMT
My two favorite non-lead characters from Colin's era were Glitz and Sil. I guess Glitz was never going to happen for BF as Selby was not interested, but Shaban certainly was, very early on. So I've also wondered as to why we haven't seen more of Sil.
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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 Jun 7, 2019 14:15:14 GMT
My two favorite non-lead characters from Colin's era were Glitz and Sil. I guess Glitz was never going to happen for BF as Selby was not interested, Jon Culshaw as Glitz? I've been listening to the Kamelion trilogy this week and I can almost hear Culshaw as Glitz ... |
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Post by glutamodo on Jun 7, 2019 14:26:07 GMT
ooohh hah hah hah hah, Why the hell did I never think that Culshaw might be able to pull that one off!
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Post by doctorkernow on Jun 7, 2019 18:00:28 GMT
Hello again.
Sil would be great as a Gordon Gecko type character in the story set before the 1987 crash or the banking crisis in 2008. The Neil Hannon song The Complete Banker sums up the mindset perfectly.
Nabil Shaban's characterisation of Sil as slimy and repellent was one of the highlights of Colin Baker's era. More please.
Likewise Robert Holmes's final genius character the wheeler dealer Glitz. My favourite Glitz moment:
"Oh that's the beak is it? They're all the same, carved out of something hard and nasty"
Promptly followed by offering the Inquisitor a good deal on bits of the court!
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Jun 8, 2019 1:52:13 GMT
I've rapidly come round on the idea that the Master used Sabalom Glitz as a hired gun for a bunch of schemes prior to The Trial of a Time Lord (and after Ravelox), so if anyone's looking for a writing prompt...
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Post by glutamodo on Jun 8, 2019 2:20:10 GMT
I did like Glitz in "Trial"... then Colin got axed and Sylvester came along and I just didn't connect with his first season. Then suddenly Glitz shows up... I was initially very happy, thinking maybe this story might feel like Proper Dr Who again... alas, I guess this far removed from R. Holmes, the magic was gone.
The problem I see with recasting Glitz in the above Master scenario is that we'd also have to recast Ainley. And I suspect BF is reluctant to go hog-wild with impersonations by Culshaw...
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Jun 8, 2019 2:46:49 GMT
I did like Glitz in "Trial"... then Colin got axed and Sylvester came along and I just didn't connect with his first season. Then suddenly Glitz shows up... I was initially very happy, thinking maybe this story might feel like Proper Dr Who again... alas, I guess this far removed from R. Holmes, the magic was gone. The problem I see with recasting Glitz in the above Master scenario is that we'd also have to recast Ainley. And I suspect BF is reluctant to go hog-wild with impersonations by Culshaw... True, true... That said, what about a Short Trip? |
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bobod
Chancellery Guard
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Post by bobod on Jun 8, 2019 3:58:16 GMT
Perhaps he is tied to writer and creator Philip Martin I don't think there's any perhaps about that, is there? He's written every Sil appearance (unless I'm forgetting something). |
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Post by glutamodo on Jun 8, 2019 4:22:26 GMT
Well, either get PM to write some more stories or give BF the license to use the character as they see fit (and really, how could one not expect BF to deliver excellent results)
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Jun 8, 2019 7:13:43 GMT
I think there's potentially more to do with Sil and his race but I must say I'm looking forward to the Reeltime film more than a potential audio return, just to see Nabil back on screen, and the wonderful cast Keith has got. So exciting - get on the pre-orders if you haven't done already, the bluray is limited edition.
BTW, whenever anything tangental to Phil Martin comes up, I always mention, anyone who hasn't seen his show Gangsters you really should. It's why him writing for Who in the 80s was a big deal compared to a lot of the names who did so in the JNT era. Gangsters is a surreal, odd, meta crime thriller which starts out mostly straight but quickly adds elements of Kung Fu. Film Noir, Bollywood, Westerns....it's fascinating and quite unique. It should have made Martin the next Dennis Potter.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Jun 8, 2019 9:04:36 GMT
And I suspect BF is reluctant to go hog-wild with impersonations by Culshaw... In for a penny, in for a pound...  |
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