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Post by mark687 on Nov 14, 2019 14:49:02 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Nov 14, 2019 16:36:09 GMT
I remember not being too disappointed that this was never made into a television story when I read the synopsis in Doctor Who Magazine many years ago. The villain, originally called Dwarf Mordant, seemed very much in the vein of the superlative Sil, but without Nabil Shaban's excellence, and the story seemed rather cliched and old fashioned. Sorry about that.
But after certain moments in the episode one, I found myself thoroughly enjoying this. It is an enthusiastic old style slab of sci-fi very much in mould of the old 1930s Flash Gordon cinema series, fashioned into the Doctor Who style on the mid-eighties. True to form, the Doctor and Peri spend an inordinate amount of time aboard the TARDIS in the early moments. Peri asks stupid questions, so the Doctor behaves like a jerk. Or put another way, the Doctor behaves like a jerk so Peri asks stupid questions. Such scenes accomplish nothing except some attempts at eccentricity, whilst elsewhere supporting characters build up the story and acquaint us with the adventure into which Young Sixie and Perpugilliam are about to embark. Luckily Colin and Nicola's warmth shines through here, and they are both more agreeable once the story begins.
Director Helen Goldwyn has made Mordant as unlike Sil in the casting as possible, it seems to me. Robin Sebastian's rich and plummy tones give the character an identity all of his own. The rest of the cast are also very good. There's a twist revealing the character of a familiar-sounding Mariana (I found myself searching the casting details when she first appeared) that is a little trite, but ultimately (hehay!), I found myself enjoying this a lot more than I thought I would.
Very glad they made this.
Edited to add: forgot to mention Nigel Fairs terrifically chunky electronic sound design and music. Always nice to see his name on a BF credit.
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Post by mark687 on Nov 14, 2019 22:55:04 GMT
Its very 80s straightforward enough plot, very verbose 6th, capitalist villain, overall flashy fun.
Regards
mark687
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Post by chronotis on Nov 15, 2019 0:53:05 GMT
Just finished listening. Not quite sure how I feel about this one.
As an historical artifact it is a fascinating listen. On the other hand, as a piece of drama....
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Post by stcoop on Nov 15, 2019 14:25:33 GMT
If I wasn't cursed with the completionist's disease I'd be leaving this one on the (metaphorical) shelf.
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Post by mark687 on Nov 15, 2019 14:35:05 GMT
If I wasn't cursed with the completionist's disease I'd be leaving this one on the (metaphorical) shelf. Its not awful its just a bit meh in places, the big issue is Nicola Bryant knows its meh so she phones it in a bit.
Regards
mark687
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Post by Star Platinum on Nov 15, 2019 21:32:21 GMT
This one was decidedly average. Mordant feels like budget Sil.
There's the seed of a really good idea in this, a war merchant deliberately starting a war in order to peddle his wares works really well, and would fit in nicely along side the previous seasons Vengence on Varos.
I think the writers execution is where the story struggles a bit. The characters and the world feels overly thin, and mordant himself feels overly flimsy as a villain.
One thing that really annoyed me was the ending, it definitely fizzled out in the end. A quick chat with mordant (though, I did find it fitting that the man causing so much violence, was dealt with in a completely non-violent manner). Escovar was disposed of like a finished piece of business. Solving the war brewing by shooting peace rays felt particularly flimsy.
It was ok, not outrageously bad, but ok.
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Post by coffeeaddict on Nov 15, 2019 22:01:25 GMT
I found the first episode was weak - boring at times. The second part was much better. On the whole it was enjoyable.
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Post by muckypup on Nov 15, 2019 22:21:18 GMT
only done part one.....was a bit of a slog to be honest...….
Colin try's to be the 80's doctor but cannot help but feel he is worth better than this
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Post by elkawho on Nov 17, 2019 0:31:24 GMT
I agree with much that's been said here. There are some really good scenes and individual moments, but the story is so very thin. the excesses and feeling that it's "over the top" seem like it trying to make up for a poor story. I agree that the idea isn't a bad one. That being said, it did feel very much "of the era". Whether that's a good or bad thing is up to the individual listener.
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Post by axelotl38 on Nov 17, 2019 13:58:48 GMT
This reminded me of a....well, a radio drama (funnily enough). But kinda of the tones of say, a combination of Slipback, and a hammy superhero 1930's serial, with incredibly basic concepts. That is to say, the story was incredibly thin. But it was also really fun. Nigel Fairs' music, Helen Goldwyn's directing, was all brilliantly done. The cast was hammy in the most appropriate amounts, and all in all it made for a story that feels dated. To the point that there was the ocassional moment where I forgot I was listening to Big Finish and listening to a BBC Production!
My one big complaint (other than the story being thin, though they somehow pull that off due to the direction and sound design) is that it does take quite a while to get the story started. The first quarter (over 35 minutes) is just exposition. But once it gets to the story proper, it's fun.
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Post by tuigirl on Nov 17, 2019 20:28:03 GMT
Now this was fun! This was never going to be the BF version of Citizen Kane. I bought this to listen to Colin hamming it up. I was not disappointed. There is also some great Doctor/ Peri banter and of course some awfully cheesy villains (complete with evil cackling).
{Spoiler}
And it is also great that Colin does not hold back in playing a slobbering rabid beast.
All the overacting serves this story well.
So yes, I enjoyed this very much as a bit of light-hearted fun, it certainly is very entertaining.
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Post by chronotis on Nov 17, 2019 21:40:32 GMT
I initially gave this 2/5 as a piece of nostalgia. I now see I was wrong. That rating is too high. Nostalgia only gets you so far. 1/5. Even that feels too high.
Perhaps I would have been more generous if it hadn't been released in the same week as Daughter of the Gods and Nightmare Country. Two of my favourite releases of the year.
Oddly, I think Nightmare Country succeeds for the same reason Ultimate Evil fails. They both feel like perfect recreations of their eras. The problem is that S21 with the exception of Twin is phenomenal. S22 and most of S23.... I'll put this kindly.. isn't.
I'm sorry to say this as I love the work that Big Finish do, but it's just awful.
It gave me no joy writing that. I genuinely really wanted to love this.
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Post by tuigirl on Nov 17, 2019 21:51:20 GMT
I initially gave this 2/5 as a piece of nostalgia. I now see I was wrong. That rating is too high. Nostalgia only gets you so far. 1/5. Even that feels too high. Perhaps I would have been more generous if it hadn't been released in the same week as Daughter of the Gods and Nightmare Country. Two of my favourite releases of the year. Oddly, I think Nightmare Country succeeds for the same reason Ultimate Evil fails. They both feel like perfect recreations of their eras. The problem is that S21 with the exception of Twin is phenomenal. S22 and most of S23.... I'll put this kindly.. isn't. I'm sorry to say this as I love the work that Big Finish do, but it's just awful. For me, this definitely falls into the same category as the Two Doctors- it is so bad, it is actually fun and entertaining (at least for me).
In no way does this compare to Daughter of the Gods (which had just sublime performances). Ultimate Evil is very nearly the complete opposite, without any nuance or subtlety. It is hammy and full of overacting.
It is glorious.
Nightmare Country in the other hand did not grab me at all. But I have never been a fan of the 5th Doctor.
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Post by number13 on Nov 18, 2019 21:40:29 GMT
Right then, let me beam 'hypno-rays' at you all while I try to convince you how much fun TUE was!
Did I expect a deep, meaningful exploration of cosmic destiny and the humanoid condition? No I did not. (Fortunately  ) Did I expect a 'Saturday matinee' plot, a moustache-twirling villain and big pieces chewed out of the scenery at appropriate moments? Yes I did and I was not disappointed!
As others have said, it takes a while to get going, but when it did I was effortlessly transported back to mid-80s Who in a 'thought balloon' - even the looong TARDIS scenes and a little spot of bickering.  And the era-perfect sound design, spot on. I'd hoped Mordant wouldn't come across as a 'poundshop Sil' and he didn't - he was as smarmy and moustache-twirly as I could have wished for, with a laugh straight from the 'Hooded Claw' School of Villainy and quite right too!
War averted, lovers reunited, villain eventually defeated and forced to leave things better than he found them, I liked that. Happy endings all round. And let's be honest, this story's worth hearing for Colin Baker practically eating the sound booth during the 'hate ray' scenes!  After exploring 20 years worth of the subtle and brilliant BF Sixie, it was great hearing him unleash the inner 'Young Sixie' one more time and sounding like he was having a great time doing it. (And 'raaaaaarghhh' to you too, Doctor!)
4 stars. I don't think many would claim this to be a "classic", but I thought it was a lot of fun!
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Post by Star Platinum on Nov 18, 2019 21:55:32 GMT
Right then, let me beam 'hypno-rays' at you all while I try to convince you how much fun TUE was!
Did I expect a deep, meaningful exploration of cosmic destiny and the humanoid condition? No I did not. (Fortunately ) Did I expect a 'Saturday matinee' plot, a moustache-twirling villain and big pieces chewed out of the scenery at appropriate moments? Yes I did and I was not disappointed!
As others have said, it takes a while to get going, but when it did I was effortlessly transported back to mid-80s Who in a 'thought balloon' - even the looong TARDIS scenes and a little spot of bickering. And the era-perfect sound design, spot on. I'd hoped Mordant wouldn't come across as a 'poundshop Sil' and he didn't - he was as smarmy and moustache-twirly as I could have wished for, with a laugh straight from the 'Hooded Claw' School of Villainy and quite right too!
War averted, lovers reunited, villain eventually defeated and forced to leave things better than he found them, I liked that. Happy endings all round. And let's be honest, this story's worth hearing for Colin Baker practically eating the sound booth during the 'hate ray' scenes! After exploring 20 years worth of the subtle and brilliant BF Sixie, it was great hearing him unleash the inner 'Young Sixie' one more time and sounding like he was having a great time doing it. (And 'raaaaaarghhh' to you too, Doctor!)
4 stars. I don't think many would claim this to be a "classic", but I thought it was a lot of fun!
You know, I completely forgot to mention young sixie in my post. As much has Colin has grown in the role, I do enjoy the odd throwback to TV sixie. It's nice to see him play the role differently and it really highlights just how far he's come along in the 20 years since he's reclaimed his mantle. |
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Post by fingersmash on Nov 21, 2019 17:06:37 GMT
Fun and cheesy. I enjoyed it.
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Post by Ian McArdell on Nov 25, 2019 23:34:54 GMT
My tale on this lost "classic" is up at CultBox... as others have said above, some nice ideas but probably one for the completists. |
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Post by Timelord007 on Nov 27, 2019 7:55:13 GMT
I think we've been spoiled by the previous trilogy of Sixth Doctor stories in terms or writing & performances, this was tonally set up as a tv adventure where character development takes a step back & the acting is hammed up Shatner style.
Good ideas, decent audio drama, with excellent sound design but not amazing, i didn't feel Colin or Nicola as invested in this story.
3/5.
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Post by Hieronymus on Dec 1, 2019 21:31:48 GMT
It was alright. I'd read the novelisation, so I was already familiar with the basic story.
There were a lot of little clever and interesting touches in the story. I like the idea of a villain who hides in a panic room whenever someone calls. But there just wasn't enough story to fill out two hours properly, so for the first 30 minutes of the story, Peri and the Doctor are in the Tardis. Some of what happens there does relate to events later in the story, but it feels like padding when it happens.
Still, I'm glad this story was finally produced with a proper cast. It certainly reflects the era in which it was originally written and slots in well to that time. I was a fan of the Sixth Doctor at the time, and Colin Baker was true to his character.
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)
And the era-perfect sound design, spot on.
After exploring 20 years worth of the subtle and brilliant BF Sixie, it was great hearing him unleash the inner 'Young Sixie' one more time and sounding like he was having a great time doing it. (And 'raaaaaarghhh' to you too, Doctor!)
