|
|
Post by nucleusofswarm on Jun 1, 2018 23:48:24 GMT
Doubt I'm alone in thinking these stories sometimes get smooshed together because of similar stories, themes and having two bulky monsters who tried to be the 'new' Daleks. But which serial did it better?
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Likes:
|
Post by Deleted on Jun 2, 2018 9:41:59 GMT
I like both of these stories and don't quite understand the amount of flak they get. Dominators - lots of good location filming, good use of the regulars, 'interesting robots' in the Quarks, lots of explosions and a great turn from Ronald Allen. And yet, I think I prefer The Krotons, because it is (to my mind) genuinely creepy. The Gonds are about as interesting as the most of the characters in The Dominators (ie: not hugely so), but the enclosed spaces and direction help make the Krotons and their chambers pretty unsettling. And those wonderful, booming voices! (Also, there's a favourite Troughton moment involving The Doctor faffing about whilst putting on his headset for the Kroton's 'test'.
|
|
|
|
Post by omega on Jun 2, 2018 9:55:39 GMT
I like both of these stories and don't quite understand the amount of flak they get. Dominators - lots of good location filming, good use of the regulars, 'interesting robots' in the Quarks, lots of explosions and a great turn from Ronald Allen. And yet, I think I prefer The Krotons, because it is (to my mind) genuinely creepy. The Gonds are about as interesting as the most of the characters in The Dominators (ie: not hugely so), but the enclosed spaces and direction help make the Krotons and their chambers pretty unsettling. And those wonderful, booming voices! (Also, there's a favourite Troughton moment involving The Doctor faffing about whilst putting on his headset for the Kroton's 'test'. Plus The Krotons has that adorable rivalry between the Doctor and Zoe with their scores on the teaching machines. I like their dynamic, in how they are both highly intelligent, but the Doctor is more open-minded and intuitive about it while Zoe approaches it from a logical standpoint. The Doctor is more ad hoc, but there's no friction between him and Zoe. Actually, that's the thing with the Second Doctor. It's when he's playing about with his recorder or something that he's not so dangerous. It's when he's quiet that you should worry. That mannerism carried over to the Tenth and Eleventh Doctors, where when they aren't prattling on is when you're in trouble. |
|
|
|
Post by Sir Wearer of Hats on Jun 2, 2018 10:56:41 GMT
Either race could be very effective as a threat should they be returned in the 21st century.
I like the idea that the Denominators are a weak, dying species wearing exo-suits to survive, but the Krotons are genuinely alien.
|
|
|
|
Post by mark687 on Jun 2, 2018 13:09:06 GMT
The Dominators
Pat and Frasier have fun with it. The Dominators are unintentionally hysterical, they remind me of a more homicidal Blackadder and Baldrick!
Regards
mark687
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Likes:
|
Post by Deleted on Jun 3, 2018 0:11:06 GMT
I quite like the croutons (they do come out of a sort of soup don't they?). Sorry - Krotons.
Not much to add here beyond what has been said above - excellent interplay from the regulars and it is a Robert Holmes script after all. I wasn't taken with it in the Five Faces season in 1981 but do return to it for an easy Second Doctor re-watch periodically. It's simplicity is a strength in my opinion, and Patrick Troughton does seem to enjoy the material.
The Dominators though - I have read things in it's defence on this forum that I had forgotten about, only having watched it a couple of times without engaging fully. I guess I should give it another watch before qualifying to pass any judgement on it. I don't dismiss it, I merely overlook it in favour of other 2nd Doctor stories.
Having re-evaluated lesser rated and viewed 1st Doctor stories recently, and having enjoyed them more than ever before, I suspect it's probably better than I remember.
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Likes:
|
Post by Deleted on Jun 3, 2018 1:14:07 GMT
The Dominators and their Quarks are rather fun (I still think there's a story there for the robots overthrowing their controllers), but I've got a soft spot for the titular Krotons. I really enjoy the idea that for the first little bit, the Doctor is actually fighting the dynatrope itself. This ship of thought that's been running the Gond society in preparation for its masters' arrival. The Krotons themselves don't have to interfere until he's done their work for them. Their birth (resurrection?) feels like the sci-fi equivalent of an ancient horror rising from its tomb (which in many ways, I suppose they are). I will admit though that I've maybe been influenced by what's been done with them since the original serial. That might've tipped the balance for me a bit.  
|
|
