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Post by Kestrel on Jan 20, 2021 9:26:04 GMT
My first foray into the 4th Doctor Adventures! I'd heard that the early volumes were a bit middling, but I found this story to be quite a lot of fun--but then again, I find it hard not to love any story with Louise Jameson as Leela, and then when you add Geoffrey Beevers' Master to the mix... perfection!
Honestly I've never really been the biggest fan of Tom Baker--maybe because I don't really think of him as "The Doctor" because I saw him in another childhood-defining role first. I certainly loved his era of the show, but I never felt that I needed to see more of him. When he regenerated into the 5th Doctor, I was fine with it: I was fully satisfied with the 4th Doctor and ready to move on.
Anyway, I really enjoyed this story. Leela was as delightful as usual--although she does say, "Nevermind your bloody tower," which seemed kind of out-of-character to me. 'Bloody' is an expletive in the U.K., right? Doesn't seem like it would be in her vocabulary.
The old man with the tank was great fun... and very ridiculous. It might seem a bit silly on the face of it, and maybe it's sillier across the pond, but over in the USA, at least, soldiers tend to steal a lot of military supplies, so there's quite a bit floating around (though maybe less, now?).
And speaking of U.K. slang, I've got to ask... "fellwalker?" Is that... a common term? Does it mean something unique, or is it just a fancy of way of saying... a walker who fell down.
I dunno. Really feelin' the clash of cultures on this one.
Well, what did y'all think of Trail of the White Worm? Was it one of the highlights of the early 4DAs, or a dud? Did Beevers' Master meet or exceed your expectations?
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Post by Sir Wearer of Hats on Jan 20, 2021 9:32:54 GMT
A Fellwalker is IIRC someone who walks through swamp-y areas. Think the poor sod the Febdahleen eat in “Image of rhe Fendahl”.
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Post by timegirl on Jan 20, 2021 13:53:22 GMT
I just listened to this recently, it was cute nothing that special. I did like the sympathetic take on the worm and Leela got good fish out of water content. The Master was just kind of there, I like crispy master but I have seen him used far better. I feel like I had high expectations of this one as I love the movie, Lair of the White Worm. This audio didn’t reach the heights of that movie.
Side note: Perhaps I was just missing young Peter Capaldi playing the bagpipes (like in Lair of the White Worm)?!🤔😄
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ljwilson
Chancellery Guard
It's tangerine....not orange
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Post by ljwilson on Jan 20, 2021 15:50:50 GMT
A Fellwalker is someone who walks on the fells, which is a British term for a hill or hills in rural areas. For instance, I grew up within view of 'Longridge Fell and Parlick Fell' and we have a lot of Fellrunners in the area; hardcore fitness fanatics who run over them. en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parlick |
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Post by number13 on Apr 27, 2021 1:18:32 GMT
Leela was as delightful as usual--although she does say, "Nevermind your bloody tower," which seemed kind of out-of-character to me. 'Bloody' is an expletive in the U.K., right? Doesn't seem like it would be in her vocabulary. Your instinct is right. Leela wasn't being rude.  The Bloody Tower is an (aptly named, given its history) part of the Tower of London and the Doctor had just referred to it, somewhat irrelevantly, which is why Leela tells him to nevermind it and get on with the job! It was just part of the imo overdone humour.
I thought this story sank under the weight of not-great jokes and massively OTT caricatures, from the barking mad ex-general (who in the U.K. would have been locked up for a few decades for holding a stash like that) to the local yokels with their dogs and guns shooting at people in the woods, to the young would-be punk off to London who thinks nothing of turning to crime. I get the feeling that some people really don't like the English countryside very much...
The most probable new guest character imo was the shapeshifting alien worm. 
The Master deserved a much better story, especially the superb Beevers Master. He was sidelined and woefully underused. I've yet to hear the conclusion of the four-parter, but I hope it's better than this half!
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Post by Chakoteya on Apr 27, 2021 8:32:35 GMT
I really liked this one, being very familiar with the Peak District where it is set. Yup, fell-walkers abound on the Pennine trail. Can't help feeling that Worm should really be Wyrm, though, like the Lambton one... |
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Post by Deleted on Apr 28, 2021 11:58:34 GMT
Leela was as delightful as usual--although she does say, "Nevermind your bloody tower," which seemed kind of out-of-character to me. 'Bloody' is an expletive in the U.K., right? Doesn't seem like it would be in her vocabulary. Your instinct is right. Leela wasn't being rude. The Bloody Tower is an (aptly named, given its history) part of the Tower of London and the Doctor had just referred to it, somewhat irrelevantly, which is why Leela tells him to nevermind it and get on with the job! It was just part of the imo overdone humour.
I thought this story sank under the weight of not-great jokes and massively OTT caricatures, from the barking mad ex-general (who in the U.K. would have been locked up for a few decades for holding a stash like that) to the local yokels with their dogs and guns shooting at people in the woods, to the young would-be punk off to London who thinks nothing of turning to crime. I get the feeling that some people really don't like the English countryside very much...
The most probable new guest character imo was the shapeshifting alien worm.
The Master deserved a much better story, especially the superb Beevers Master. He was sidelined and woefully underused. I've yet to hear the conclusion of the four-parter, but I hope it's better than this half!
I agree with this entirely. Possibly the most notable thing about this story is the title, surely a (big) nod to Ken Russell's Lair of the White Worm. I can't remember the last time this author wrote something that wasn't pretty bad, to be honest - it's a shame nobody nearby suggested that maybe his ideas simply weren't very good, both in their treatment of the returning villains (my heart went out to Geoffrey Beevers in this), and the 'humour' which was nowhere near as funny as the writer seemed to think it was. I wish you luck with The Oseidon Adventure (let's pick a title that sounds a little like something else: that'll have 'em rolling around). You might need it! |
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Post by Deleted on Apr 28, 2021 12:12:29 GMT
Your instinct is right. Leela wasn't being rude. The Bloody Tower is an (aptly named, given its history) part of the Tower of London and the Doctor had just referred to it, somewhat irrelevantly, which is why Leela tells him to nevermind it and get on with the job! It was just part of the imo overdone humour.
I thought this story sank under the weight of not-great jokes and massively OTT caricatures, from the barking mad ex-general (who in the U.K. would have been locked up for a few decades for holding a stash like that) to the local yokels with their dogs and guns shooting at people in the woods, to the young would-be punk off to London who thinks nothing of turning to crime. I get the feeling that some people really don't like the English countryside very much...
The most probable new guest character imo was the shapeshifting alien worm.
The Master deserved a much better story, especially the superb Beevers Master. He was sidelined and woefully underused. I've yet to hear the conclusion of the four-parter, but I hope it's better than this half!
I agree with this entirely. Possibly the most notable thing about this story is the title, surely a (big) nod to Ken Russell's Lair of the White Worm. I can't remember the last time this author wrote something that wasn't pretty bad, to be honest - it's a shame nobody nearby suggested that maybe his ideas simply weren't very good, both in their treatment of the returning villains (my heart went out to Geoffrey Beevers in this), and the 'humour' which was nowhere near as funny as the writer seemed to think it was. I wish you luck with The Oseidon Adventure (let's pick a title that sounds a little like something else: that'll have 'em rolling around). You might need it! Alan Barnes? I suppose he has written a couple of bad stories but i tend to enjoy his writings and work (although granted, this is not one of thoes good ones) |
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Post by number13 on Apr 28, 2021 12:40:53 GMT
Your instinct is right. Leela wasn't being rude. The Bloody Tower is an (aptly named, given its history) part of the Tower of London and the Doctor had just referred to it, somewhat irrelevantly, which is why Leela tells him to nevermind it and get on with the job! It was just part of the imo overdone humour.
I thought this story sank under the weight of not-great jokes and massively OTT caricatures, from the barking mad ex-general (who in the U.K. would have been locked up for a few decades for holding a stash like that) to the local yokels with their dogs and guns shooting at people in the woods, to the young would-be punk off to London who thinks nothing of turning to crime. I get the feeling that some people really don't like the English countryside very much...
The most probable new guest character imo was the shapeshifting alien worm.
The Master deserved a much better story, especially the superb Beevers Master. He was sidelined and woefully underused. I've yet to hear the conclusion of the four-parter, but I hope it's better than this half!
I agree with this entirely. Possibly the most notable thing about this story is the title, surely a (big) nod to Ken Russell's Lair of the White Worm. I can't remember the last time this author wrote something that wasn't pretty bad, to be honest - it's a shame nobody nearby suggested that maybe his ideas simply weren't very good, both in their treatment of the returning villains (my heart went out to Geoffrey Beevers in this), and the 'humour' which was nowhere near as funny as the writer seemed to think it was. I wish you luck with The Oseidon Adventure (let's pick a title that sounds a little like something else: that'll have 'em rolling around). You might need it! I will proceed with caution!
I've found his stories to be hit or miss - either I love them like 'Storm Warning' and 'Castle of Fear' and 'Suburban Hell' - or I really don't, like this one and 'An Alien Werewolf in London'.
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Post by Deleted on Apr 28, 2021 14:03:52 GMT
I agree with this entirely. Possibly the most notable thing about this story is the title, surely a (big) nod to Ken Russell's Lair of the White Worm. I can't remember the last time this author wrote something that wasn't pretty bad, to be honest - it's a shame nobody nearby suggested that maybe his ideas simply weren't very good, both in their treatment of the returning villains (my heart went out to Geoffrey Beevers in this), and the 'humour' which was nowhere near as funny as the writer seemed to think it was. I wish you luck with The Oseidon Adventure (let's pick a title that sounds a little like something else: that'll have 'em rolling around). You might need it! I will proceed with caution!
I've found his stories to be hit or miss - either I love them like 'Storm Warning' and 'Castle of Fear' and 'Suburban Hell' - or I really don't, like this one and 'An Alien Werewolf in London'.
I found it hard to get through American Werewolf and this story. Storm Warning I thought was magnificent, except for episode three which seemed to take things in a very different - and less interesting - direction until episode four brought things round again. I've found his other work rather middling. Not to have a total downer on him, though, I found Castle of Fear and Death in Blackpool rather wonderful- and he's written some excellent books about Hammer films! |
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The Bloody Tower is an (aptly named, given its history) part of the Tower of London and the Doctor had just referred to it, somewhat irrelevantly, which is why Leela tells him to nevermind it and get on with the job! It was just part of the imo overdone humour.
