ljwilson
Chancellery Guard
It's tangerine....not orange
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Post by ljwilson on Dec 23, 2020 10:59:07 GMT
Just keeping kestrel busy in the New Year.
A second listen to The Juggernauts recently and thoroughly enjoyed it. What it delivers is an excellent Doctor Who story that ticks many boxes, including the return of Davros, albeit in a much changed persona for the first half.
There are many elements to it; Mel getting on with her life - and shining as a member of a scientific team - on a remote mining facility/research institute, where a kindly professor is developing the aforementioned Juggernauts.
Things are complicated by the arrival of a corporate delegation with agendas of their own and the Doctor, separated early on from Mel, finds himself press-ganged in to working with his mortal enemies, the Daleks, to uncover the true nature of the institute's work.
There are no great plot twists or turns, but The Juggernauts is an engaging story that is brought to life brilliantly by Steve Foxon's usual sound and music wizardry.
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Post by slithe on Dec 23, 2020 12:21:59 GMT
I find this quite a unique story. It's certainly not a 'typical' Dalek story and even the titled Juggernauts are not really that heavily involved in the plot. I like the characterisation in this - Mel comes across as very well scripted and builds a life in the scientific team well. Certainly, we do not see the 'screaming' fool that was often shown in the TV series. Mel's relationship with Davros is also interesting - especially how she 'turns on the kindly professor' in the end. I haven't listened to this release for a while, but I can recall even the Doctor being somewhat shocked at her actions - which, considering this is Sixie, suggests how out of character it is.
The subplot on addiction and mind manipulation is quite interesting. Are people actually who we think they are and to what lengths will people go to achieve their aims? I also like this story for trying to 'fill the gap' between Revelation and Remembrance, but not actually spending hours doing so.
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shutupbanks
Castellan
There’s a horror movie called Alien? That’s really offensive. No wonder everyone keeps invading you.
Likes: 5,661
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Post by shutupbanks on Dec 24, 2020 0:17:35 GMT
I think this was the second story in a row (the other being Catch-1782) where Mel was forced to wait for months for the Doctor to pick her up. I also objected to Mel being so wonderful that even Davros would try to save her (and I like Mel!). Really enjoyed the rest of it, though.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Dec 27, 2020 10:17:50 GMT
Just keeping kestrel busy in the New Year. A second listen to The Juggernauts recently and thoroughly enjoyed it. What it delivers is an excellent Doctor Who story that ticks many boxes, including the return of Davros, albeit in a much changed persona for the first half. There are many elements to it; Mel getting on with her life - and shining as a member of a scientific team - on a remote mining facility/research institute, where a kindly professor is developing the aforementioned Juggernauts. Things are complicated by the arrival of a corporate delegation with agendas of their own and the Doctor, separated early on from Mel, finds himself press-ganged in to working with his mortal enemies, the Daleks, to uncover the true nature of the institute's work. There are no great plot twists or turns, but The Juggernauts is an engaging story that is brought to life brilliantly by Steve Foxon's usual sound and music wizardry. I'll second that.  Although, there is a turn with Mel that I did not see coming at the time. The Juggernauts has a nice use of all its elements and, quite eagerly, I'd say it's a great jumping-on point for Mel's character. She really shines in her run with the Sixth Doctor on audio. They feel like an archetypal Doctor/companion team we lost out on with television. It's also got some compelling ongoing development for the deplorably nasty Dalek creator. It's not a straight sequel to either Davros or Revelation of the Daleks, but the scars of both are well and truly there. The effects of which we'll eventually get to see in Remembrance and Terror Firma. I can recommend it to those who enjoyed The Power of the Daleks and would like to see something of a similar tone. It's being offered via download at a markedly reduced price and it's great fun. |
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Post by Timelord007 on Dec 27, 2020 10:22:03 GMT
Tense, dramatic & suspenseful, a great audio drama which showcases a different side to Davros actually trying to save Mel.
4/5
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Post by whiskeybrewer on Dec 28, 2020 2:15:53 GMT
Love The BF Davros stories and this is no exception
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Post by Tim Bradley on Jan 15, 2021 20:35:59 GMT
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Post by nucleusofswarm on Jan 16, 2021 1:37:33 GMT
Can't say this one really worked for me: Woodard is aping Genesis really hard, but it lacks a lot of the depth and morality play that made Genesis shine. Nor does the constant echoing work in terms of some kind of meta commentary: it's just wearing the skin of a better story and adds nothing of its own. Terry and Colin are really good, of course, but it's just a standard pulp sci-fi runaround that makes me wish I was watching the better version.
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Post by Sir Wearer of Hats on Jan 16, 2021 2:15:37 GMT
If I were to have one complaint, it would be they should have kept Davros a bit more ambiguous - is he trying to redeem himself? Is he just vengeful? Have the discovery of the bleeding Mechonoid be the reveal of Davros being Davros.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Jan 16, 2021 8:33:07 GMT
Love The BF Davros stories and this is no exception Yes got to agree with you he is well served definitely and not over used like his creatures.This will be due a relisten soon in preparation for Dalek Universe saga |
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Post by Kestrel on Apr 7, 2021 7:14:14 GMT
Oh, man. I just lost a fairly long write-up on this story, and I really don't feel like trying to repeat it all. Especially considering I'm on mobile tonight, and writing all of this ni sense with my thumb and forefinger. Yikes.
On the bright side, I have become remarkably dexterous.
So, right. The Juggernauts. Let me sum up my thoughts as briefly as possible:
Its a fun story with great dialog and remains engaging to the end. But it also highlights one of the biggest problems with the Doctor Who media empire, which--thankfully, I'm sure--I won't get into here. And don't worry, I at least had the decency not to get into it (very much) in my original post, either.
But the character of Davros is an aspect of that problem, or a product of it. Simply put, the character has nowhere to go and basically just coasts by on the strength of its performances. Basically: Terry Malloy is great, his Davros is delightfully venomous, and that alone sells these stories.
the problem is that, as a character, Davros has nowhere to go. His story ended, with great finality, in Genesis of the Daleks. As soon as the Daleks were born, Davros ceased to be interesting, meaningful or relevant. Some stories (like the excellent I, Davros) get around this by setting themselves prior to Genesis, of course, but for the most part we're stuck with this post-Genesis version, which is more caricature than character. Snidely Whiplash twirling his mustache by the tracks, every time. What can Davros do in these stories? He can either replace the Dalek Emperor, himself an unnecessary and redundant character, and lead an army of Daleks on a warpath; or he can go Genesis himself some new Daleks.
And in Juggernauts we get the latter.
Its just... an incredible disservice to the series' most iconic villain. Davros could be so much more interesting! Davros should be so much more interesting! And Malloy is most-assuredly up to the task!
And please don't take this as an indictment of the episode--it's not! I enjoyed it!--but rather a (tangential) indictment of the prevailing creative attitudes that manage the Doctor Who IP. Stephen Moffat flirted with the idea of disrupting this status quo, once, but even he couldn't manage to fully commit himself.
One day, I promise, I'll stop whining about ignored potential. One day--but not today.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Apr 7, 2021 8:13:38 GMT
Just to go off-topic regarding Kestrel's post above: I love Davros. To me, he is Who's ultimate villain - but I also agree about his character having nowhere to go - with one exception.
Revelation of the Daleks - Doctor Who at it's darkest, and a side-step for Davros's story. Here he rants and raves, and plots and schemes, in his usual glorious way - but in a new environment, away from his 'children', the Daleks, and away from the continuity they brings with it. He's going back to basics with a new breed of more obedient Daleks, creatures made more in his own image. To me, this had added a new layer to Davros's conceit, ambition and madness - more Daleks, that this time have no allegiance to Skaro or Kaleds, but only to Davros himself. To me, he is far more interest here than when he is reduced to being The Daleks's 'pet.' If only The Doctor hadn't interfered!
Sorry - told you it was off-topic🙂
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Post by constonks on Apr 8, 2021 22:29:50 GMT
Just to go off-topic regarding Kestrel's post above: I love Davros. To me, he is Who's ultimate villain - but I also agree about his character having nowhere to go - with one exception. Revelation of the Daleks - Doctor Who at it's darkest, and a side-step for Davros's story. Here he rants and raves, and plots and schemes, in his usual glorious way - but in a new environment, away from his 'children', the Daleks, and away from the continuity they brings with it. He's going back to basics with a new breed of more obedient Daleks, creatures made more in his own image. To me, this had added a new layer to Davros's conceit, ambition and madness - more Daleks, that this time have no allegiance to Skaro or Kaleds, but only to Davros himself. To me, he is far more interest here than when he is reduced to being The Daleks's 'pet.' If only The Doctor hadn't interfered! Sorry - told you it was off-topic🙂 I would add Davros to that list as well. I'd love to see Davros appear without the Daleks again, lots of mileage there I think. |
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Post by Kestrel on Apr 9, 2021 22:09:13 GMT
Someday I'm definitely gonna have to go back and try to watch the "good" 6th and 7th Doctor stories... these days I'm pretty much audio-only, though I did recently rewatch Series 10, and found it to be much, much better than I remembered.
Anyway, Dalek was the one where the Doctor and Davros had a workplace comedy thing going, right? Yeah, that was definitely a fun story and one of the rare stories where they do something new with the character, but even so... characters are largely defined by what they want and what they're willing to do to get it, and even in that story Davros just a galaxy at war for no real reason other than the fun of it.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Apr 10, 2021 3:58:26 GMT
Someday I'm definitely gonna have to go back and try to watch the "good" 6th and 7th Doctor stories... these days I'm pretty much audio-only, though I did recently rewatch Series 10, and found it to be much, much better than I remembered. Anyway, Dalek was the one where the Doctor and Davros had a workplace comedy thing going, right? Yeah, that was definitely a fun story and one of the rare stories where they do something new with the character, but even so... characters are largely defined by what they want and what they're willing to do to get it, and even in that story Davros just a galaxy at war for no real reason other than the fun of it. Sort of, but not quite... He considers redemption in Davros, but he considers the logic of history and its patterns. It's not that he can't change, it's that he won't. To him, in his view, he can't afford to mend his ways because he sees it that someone will just betray him. His view of the universe is one defined by winners and losers. The supremacy of the Dalek idea and the "weakness" of other lifeforms. That's what makes him so deplorable. He sees the argument, recognises it, and actively refuses to change his behaviour. Because it would mean he would have to give up a sense of control. That's what he thinks power is. His ultimate aim is to smash it all and turn it into another Skaro. The world he grew up with. War and purges. Exterminations. That's Davros's view, what he believes to be the only way. The Doctor (and a few other characters), naturally, have a different perspective of the universe. One where cooperation, diversity and mutual understanding create better lives, not a bullet from a gun. Moderate reason (the Doctor) vs. blind extremism (Davros). Addendum: Having a think about it further... I think I can name a possible candidate to expand Davros's horizons. We bumped into it almost immediately the first time we saw Skaro -- you could probably do something with the Magnedon. That alligator of metal below. Their flesh was made of living metal, held together by a magnetic field (similar, albeit less subtle, to that seen in the human body). It's not carbon-based life, but it may mutate all the same, as the Daleks did.  |
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Although, there is a turn with Mel that I did not see coming at the time. The Juggernauts has a nice use of all its elements and, quite eagerly, I'd say it's a great jumping-on point for Mel's character. She really shines in her run with the Sixth Doctor on audio. They feel like an archetypal Doctor/companion team we lost out on with television. It's also got some compelling ongoing development for the deplorably nasty Dalek creator. It's not a straight sequel to either Davros or Revelation of the Daleks, but the scars of both are well and truly there. The effects of which we'll eventually get to see in Remembrance and Terror Firma.
