Review of The Visitation: SE (#120)

DVD Release Date: 14 May 13
Original Air Date: 15-23 Feb 1982
Doctor/Companion: Five, Adric, Nyssa, Tegan
Stars: Peter Davison, Matthew Waterhouse, Sarah Sutton, Janet Fielding
Preceding Story: Kinda (Five, Adric, Nyssa, Tegan)
Succeeding Story: Black Orchid (Five, Adric, Nyssa, Tegan)

I’ve never quite been able to put my finger on why I like this story so much, but it’s high enough on my list that I chose it to show to the Ladies two years ago. Maybe it’s because, crowded as it made the TARDIS, this particular crew really epitomizes Five’s tenure for me.

It’s kind of typical classic fare. The Doctor steers the TARDIS wrong, then his curiosity gets the better of him, then everyone’s in trouble. There’s some lovely character development at the beginning as Teagan and the Doctor get angry with each other and then apologize, and later when Adric complains of feeling useless.

And, of course, there are some wonderful lines. A long-time favorite of mine is the Doctor’s jibe at the Terileptil about his attitude on war, but the one that jumped out at me this time was this conversation between Nyssa and the Doctor:

“So, what are you going to do if we find them?” she asks.
“Oh, twist their arms a bit to let me take them back to their own planet.”
“I hope they have arms to twist.”
“I’ll find something.”

The revelations about the man’s darker nature in the Series Seven finale put this exchange in a new light. Maybe Five isn’t a totally warm, fuzzy, sweet kind of guy after all.

DVD Extras (highlights)

Grim Tales

This is one of the most enjoyable “making of” documentaries I’ve had the pleasure of watching. It follows Peter Davison, Janet Fielding, and Sarah Sutton – moderated by Mark Strickson (an anomaly not passed without comment) – as they revisit the filming locations from the story. They clearly enjoy each others’ company to this day, which makes it a joy to watch them together. It had much of the feel of a Gally panel.

The Television Centre of the Universe – Part One

TV Centre was the base of operations for the BBC for many, many years. Here, former Blue Peter presenter Yvette Fielding walks Peter Davison, Janet Fielding, and Mark Strickson through what a typical day would have been like for them, filming at TVC. The piece is rich with anecdotes from stars and colleagues alike, and ends on a cliffhanger(!).

Doctor Forever – The Apocalypse Element

The world of Doctor Who audio really took off after the series was canceled in 1989. This is the story of how it all got rolling (particularly Big Finish, though AudioGO is also mentioned), and why fans even care.

Writing a Final Visitation

The Visitation was the first script Eric Saward ever wrote for Doctor Who. Interviewed here, Saward shared how he was tapped for Who in the first place; his inspiration for the setting, characters, and monsters; and his quibbles with some of the designs that appeared on screen.

While I don’t think The Visitation ranks among my all-time favorites, it’s still solidly in my “better than not” camp. I’m always glad to watch it again, and enjoy the characters every time. I would certainly recommend anyone give it a whirl.

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