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Post by Whovitt on Apr 8, 2018 15:04:21 GMT
Judging by the synopsis of Hour of the Cybermen this team are coming back with the Sixth Doctor since Blake Harrison is in that as well and it's a UNIT story. I agree on BF with UNIT, with the exception of their team with Chaudhry, Hoffman and the Brig and Kate Stewart's team they haven't been very faithful to supporting casts. The same could be said of the TV series, like who remembers Colonel Mace suddenly being replaced by Colonel Oduya in Torchwood, or Bambera and Crichton fading into obscurity. That's a totally unfair accusation, I'll have you know that we had Captain Erisa Magambo for... *squints eyes* ...two episodes. And one of those was a parallel universe  |
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Post by Whovitt on Apr 17, 2018 7:14:47 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Apr 17, 2018 7:46:31 GMT
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Post by number13 on Apr 17, 2018 8:00:43 GMT
The PDF Script is now also available in subscriber download accounts.
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Post by mark687 on Apr 17, 2018 11:16:17 GMT
To paraphrase the song "Would it'd been Acceptable in the 80s".
UNIT are very Un-UNIT in fact I wouldn't have been surprised if "For King or Queen and Country" had been mentioned and I think the 5th Doc is perhaps the only one who'd tolerate this attitude .
The other plot once it gets going is decent.
Solid story a good in cannon reason for the 80s Docs avoiding contact with the "current" UNIT structure.
Regards
mark687
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Post by saxty on Apr 17, 2018 11:52:38 GMT
To paraphrase the song "Would it'd been Acceptable in the 80s". UNIT are very Un-UNIT in fact I wouldn't have been surprised if "For King or Queen and Country" had been mentioned and I think the 5th Doc is perhaps the only one who'd tolerate this attitude . The other plot once it gets going is decent. Solid story a good in cannon reason for the 80s Docs avoiding contact with the "current" UNIT structure. Regards mark687 UNIT seemed pretty sketchy locking people up for the rest of their lives in Mastermind and that Torchwood episode Fragments in quantanamo like conditions. Make me wonder about the Kate Stewart takeover. |
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Post by sherlock on Apr 17, 2018 11:58:42 GMT
To paraphrase the song "Would it'd been Acceptable in the 80s". UNIT are very Un-UNIT in fact I wouldn't have been surprised if "For King or Queen and Country" had been mentioned and I think the 5th Doc is perhaps the only one who'd tolerate this attitude . The other plot once it gets going is decent. Solid story a good in cannon reason for the 80s Docs avoiding contact with the "current" UNIT structure. Regards mark687 UNIT seemed pretty sketchy locking people up for the rest of their lives in Mastermind and that Torchwood episode Fragments in quantanamo like conditions. Make me wonder about the Kate Stewart takeover. The practice of wiping Atkins' memory every day is pretty sketchy too, the novelisation of The Day of the Doctor actually expands on the grey area of morality that is. So the Kate Stewart era didn't eradicate all the sketchy elements. I'm looking forward to this one now, a more sketchy take on UNIT sounds interesting. |
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Post by Audio Watchdog on Apr 18, 2018 1:22:14 GMT
I'm two episodes in and liking it thus far. I guess because he almost always seemed to have the most crowded TARDIS but 5 traveling alone seems like such a novelty to me.
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Post by sherlock on Apr 18, 2018 14:17:50 GMT
I quite enjoyed that. An interesting take on UNIT and the Doctor's relationship with them.
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Post by barnabaslives on Apr 19, 2018 13:54:21 GMT
I think this really was the top-notch story and audio all round that I'd been hoping. As enamored as I am with Nyssa and Adric, I didn't mind something different for this one and Daniel turned out to be as likable as I'd hoped, and I'm glad that groundwork was laid that could lead to a future story.
I'm not sure I liked the way some of UNIT were conducting themselves here but of course the point of it was that I'm not supposed to like it.
(I got a little bit choked up at the mention of Daniel's predecessor, too. Nice touch).
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Post by TinDogPodcast on Apr 20, 2018 6:58:13 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Apr 21, 2018 10:28:03 GMT
I really enjoyed The Helliax Rift. It marks a change of pace from the larger regular cast Fifth Doctor stories. Somehow, hearing a rare story featuring this Doctor on his own puts a fresh emphasis on his character, and I get the impression his polite and charming veneer gets closer to cracking the more he is pushed around by UNIT's latest, wearied, rain-soaked soldiers. I like this new take on UNIT. To be honest, this bunch are more real to me than the strangely lifeless version we've seen recently on television. The Doctor's resolution to it all (in rather a touching finale), rising above the thug-headed mentality of the bullying military, is where Doctor succeeds as others fail; Davison is terrific here.
I like the way Scott Handcock's concisely-paced episodes reveal new details about the story a bit at a time.
I can't remember music and sound designers Joe Kraemer and Josh Arakelian being credited before, but their music for this terrific for the most part, only lapsing for me by brief lapses into 'comedy' music any time someone steps into the TARDIS for the first time, or whatever. That kind of accompaniment is unnecessary and slightly irritating to me. A blight on an otherwise excellent score.
That's my take on it; thanks for reading all my nonsense.
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Post by davygallagher on Apr 21, 2018 17:26:48 GMT
No-one's mentioned the rather lovely joke where Peter Davison seems offended to be mistaken for a vet in the 1980s.  I liked this one. I always like a story that evolves as it goes on and when you look back you realise it's quite organically become something different in it's second half than the first. That very much happened here. The fun banter with Davison toying with UNIT gave way to quite a poignant little story. |
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Post by Audio Watchdog on Apr 22, 2018 17:24:38 GMT
No-one's mentioned the rather lovely joke where Peter Davison seems offended to be mistaken for a vet in the 1980s. I liked this one. I always like a story that evolves as it goes on and when you look back you realise it's quite organically become something different in it's second half than the first. That very much happened here. The fun banter with Davison toying with UNIT gave way to quite a poignant little story. I’d echo David’s comments. It is really nice when a story starts as one thing and them morphs into something totally unexpected. Congratulations Scott Handcock on a great script and on the start of your tenure of the producer for Doctor number 5. |
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Post by number13 on Apr 24, 2018 1:15:52 GMT
For me the most excellent part of The Helliax Rift was Daniel and the Doctor, their characters brilliantly written by Scott Handcock and played just as perfectly by Blake Harrison and Peter Davison on top form. Has the Doctor ever been more obviously cultivating a new Companion than here? He seems to be testing Daniel in a Companion practical exam when he's placed in Daniel's 'custody'. The Doctor first leads him to the TARDIS (initial reaction to that is always useful to know!) and then nudges him to do the right thing in the scene where he pushes to see if Daniel will drive them in the Jeep against Price's orders - or shoot him. And Daniel passes every test with flying colours, saying as he gets in to drive the Jeep (and accepts the Doctor is basically in charge): 'You’ve done this before, haven’t you?' The Doctor:'Once or twice…'  And finally, an invitation to join the TARDIS crew, the highest honour the Doctor can give. No doubt Daniel would have accepted a few years earlier, but not now he has his happy family life on Earth. That reason and (easy) decision by Daniel was one more piece of clever character writing, picking up the themes of family, and responsibility to one's family, which are at the heart of the main story. The Helliax assumed the form of Annabel's dead husband Jonathan to deceive and "seduce" her; human law would use a much stronger term and I'm amazed the Doctor didn't have far more criticism for the Helliax's actions, or for Annabel, luring in and vivisecting innocent aliens 'in a good cause' to try to help her son. (And wasn't she lucky they didn't lure in a few Juddoon, or a Sonataran assault squad or a couple of Ice Warriors - or a Dalek! Convenient, wasn't it? ) The original hybridising experiment was abandoned when the Helliax found himself becoming emotionally attached to the human subject. But at least he eventually lives up to his responsibilities as the father and the Helliax Rift (an emotional rift, very nice twist) with Annabel is healed for the sake of Adam, with some help from the Doctor of course. Finally, Lieutenant-Colonel Price. (Properly addressed as Colonel but not fit to be even a Lieutenant - or a Private.) The script describes him as 'professional action man' and I could see him as that at first - a bit rough around the edges and an obvious control freak but maybe no worse than that. Then he threatens to shoot the Doctor - for the first time... This seems inexplicable even for a Colonel Bligh and I wondered if he was a traitor in the ranks or just plain certifiable? But as time goes on it becomes clear: Price is a total xenophobe (he'd deny this, he's just defending the Earth against 'hostiles' of course) who views all aliens as "things" and "animals" (these 'things' are interstellar travellers and therefore advanced way beyond humanity) and finds the idea of a human/alien hybrid "disgusting". How he got past UNIT's psychological screening is beyond me - to have such a person in charge of First Contacts will, sooner or later, get your planet atomised. And despite all he's read in the UNIT files, Price clearly views the Doctor as just one more alien "thing". When the Doctor tries to persuade him the Helliax is no threat, Price replies: 'You’re an alien too, you would say that.' Us and Them, xenophobia pure and simple. Then to top things off, Price gives in to the desire he's clearly had all along and orders his troops to shoot the Doctor 'however many lives you have left' simply because he's standing by the Helliax, Adam and Annabel, none of whom are posing any threat. Only after a dangerous (to him) standoff develops does Price stand down and allow the Doctor to leave with the Helliax family, almost incredibly trying to cover his defeat by giving the Doctor permission 'as our scientific adviser'. Right after attempting to murder him. Who does he think he's fooling? Probably himself. What a [deleted]!! And he'll be back in a few months in a story with the Cybermen. Perhaps he's being set up for some kind of Lytton-like heroic redemption? Or they could just Cyber-convert him in Episode 1. It might even be an improvement... |
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Post by shallacatop on Apr 24, 2018 16:40:17 GMT
I’m glad everyone else enjoyed this one because it didn’t really click for me.
It felt like a runaround that doesn’t really go anywhere, or live up to its potential. It seems like it’s going to, especially in the last few moments of parts 2 and 3, but it just never does. We go back and forth without any substance. It listens like an average story that is happy to bathe in its averageness. I’m not sure that’s the case, I think the actual issue is the previous three stories were so good and this sticks out as being very lacking in comparison.
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Post by mrperson on Apr 24, 2018 21:52:12 GMT
Generally good, but not quite up to the level of some of the recent ones. I voted 4 since I don't like rounding down for BF, but it was more of a 3.5 for me.
I did find Price quite irritating after a while. It didn't make all that much sense even if Price was generally xenophobic.
The Doctor had previously built up a very positive reputation with UNIT over the three prior incarnations. The Brigadier is still around by Battlefield. He would have been around in-universe for Heliax Rift even if the actor himself had passed. Even if he was on vacation in Heliax (he isn't even mentioned, is he?), why on Earth would there be this Price guy running around openly hostile to the Doctor? And of course, by the time UNIT reappeared in the new series, they're downright worshipful as is seemingly just about everyone, culminating in the "President of Earth" **** that annoys me so much.
It just seemed odd. 5 could have said, "yeah...just call the Brig and see. I'll wait" or something. Instead we had Price inexplicably getting in the way the whole time.
Anyway, that mixed with a general agreement with the post above mine is why it didn't do a whole lot for me.
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Post by sherlock on Apr 24, 2018 22:05:55 GMT
Generally good, but not quite up to the level of some of the recent ones. I voted 4 since I don't like rounding down for BF, but it was more of a 3.5 for me. I did find Price quite irritating after a while. It didn't make all that much sense even if Price was generally xenophobic. The Doctor had previously built up a very positive reputation with UNIT over the three prior incarnations. The Brigadier is still around by Battlefield. He would have been around in-universe for Heliax Rift even if the actor himself had passed. Even if he was on vacation in Heliax (he isn't even mentioned, is he?), why on Earth would there be this Price guy running around openly hostile to the Doctor? And of course, by the time UNIT reappeared in the new series, they're downright worshipful as is seemingly just about everyone, culminating in the "President of Earth" **** that annoys me so much. It just seemed odd. 5 could have said, "yeah...just call the Brig and see. I'll wait" or something. Instead we had Price inexplicably getting in the way the whole time. This is set in the 1980s so the Brigadier's retired at this point, and the rest of the original UNIT crew have moved on as well. Therefore there's probably few left in UNIT who have actually met the Doctor in person, so Price and alike only have the documentation about the Doctor somewhat reluctantly helping them. Without the personal experience presumably Price views the Doctor as something of a loose cannon, and nothing the fifth Doctor does here dispels that notion. Modern UNIT's attitude towards the Doctor varies. In Aliens in London the Doctor seems reluctant to get involved with them, presumably knowing run ins with UNIT without the Brigadier involved can be a bit on edge. Colonel Mace in Series 4 certainly seems to respect the Doctor, but similarly to Price is prepared to outright ignore him to do his job. Then Kate Stewart, who has heard of her father's personal experiences with him, takes over and UNIT's relationship with him is at he 'President of the Earth' levels. |
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Post by mrperson on Apr 24, 2018 22:45:13 GMT
Generally good, but not quite up to the level of some of the recent ones. I voted 4 since I don't like rounding down for BF, but it was more of a 3.5 for me. I did find Price quite irritating after a while. It didn't make all that much sense even if Price was generally xenophobic. The Doctor had previously built up a very positive reputation with UNIT over the three prior incarnations. The Brigadier is still around by Battlefield. He would have been around in-universe for Heliax Rift even if the actor himself had passed. Even if he was on vacation in Heliax (he isn't even mentioned, is he?), why on Earth would there be this Price guy running around openly hostile to the Doctor? And of course, by the time UNIT reappeared in the new series, they're downright worshipful as is seemingly just about everyone, culminating in the "President of Earth" **** that annoys me so much. It just seemed odd. 5 could have said, "yeah...just call the Brig and see. I'll wait" or something. Instead we had Price inexplicably getting in the way the whole time. This is set in the 1980s so the Brigadier's retired at this point, and the rest of the original UNIT crew have moved on as well. Therefore there's probably few left in UNIT who have actually met the Doctor in person, so Price and alike only have the documentation about the Doctor somewhat reluctantly helping them. Without the personal experience presumably Price views the Doctor as something of a loose cannon, and nothing the fifth Doctor does here dispels that notion. Modern UNIT's attitude towards the Doctor varies. In Aliens in London the Doctor seems reluctant to get involved with them, presumably knowing run ins with UNIT without the Brigadier involved can be a bit on edge. Colonel Mace in Series 4 certainly seems to respect the Doctor, but similarly to Price is prepared to outright ignore him to do his job. Then Kate Stewart, who has heard of her father's personal experiences with him, takes over and UNIT's relationship with him is at he 'President of the Earth' levels. Battlefield aired in Sept. 1989, so that really doesn't leave much room. He was supposed to be retired by then, but it was still "if doctor, get brigadier". It would have worked much better for me if this was set in some other part of the world where UNIT didn't have a sustained presence, and he was dealing with some other country's forces. |
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Post by sherlock on Apr 24, 2018 22:59:12 GMT
This is set in the 1980s so the Brigadier's retired at this point, and the rest of the original UNIT crew have moved on as well. Therefore there's probably few left in UNIT who have actually met the Doctor in person, so Price and alike only have the documentation about the Doctor somewhat reluctantly helping them. Without the personal experience presumably Price views the Doctor as something of a loose cannon, and nothing the fifth Doctor does here dispels that notion. Modern UNIT's attitude towards the Doctor varies. In Aliens in London the Doctor seems reluctant to get involved with them, presumably knowing run ins with UNIT without the Brigadier involved can be a bit on edge. Colonel Mace in Series 4 certainly seems to respect the Doctor, but similarly to Price is prepared to outright ignore him to do his job. Then Kate Stewart, who has heard of her father's personal experiences with him, takes over and UNIT's relationship with him is at he 'President of the Earth' levels. Battlefield aired in Sept. 1989, so that really doesn't leave much room. He was supposed to be retired by then, but it was still "if doctor, get brigadier". It would have worked much better for me if this was set in some other part of the world where UNIT didn't have a sustained presence, and he was dealing with some other country's forces. Think the expanded media has since placed Battlefield as being set in the 1990s. Maybe this encounter is why they established the 'if Doctor, get Brigadier' rule, so he could mitigate tensions between the Doctor and commanding officers. Alternatively this story could be set early in the 1980s whilst the Brigadier's got amnesia courtesy of the events of Mawdryn Undead, so calling him about the Doctor would be useless. I would be kind of curious to see other countries' UNIT divisions. DWM's comics did feature UNIT Australia and UNIT Japan during their Tenth and Eleventh Doctor runs. |
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