Review of The Pirate Planet (#99) DVD Release Date: 03 Mar 09 Original Air Date: 03 – 12 Jan 1983 Doctors/Companions: Four, Romana I, K9 Stars: Tom Baker, Mary Tamm, John Leeson Preceding Story: The Ribos Operation (Four, Romana I, K9) Succeeding Story: The Stones of Blood (Four, Romana I, K9)
Somewhat unbelievably, with this month’s entry in the Everything Else series, I’ve reached the end of my Classic reviews. Every extant story from Hartnell through McGann (as well as most of the modern era, with major gaps in Tennant’s and some of Smith’s tenures) should now have its own blog entry somewhere. Not a bad showing for twelve-and-a-half years’ work, if I do say so myself.
Given how many positive things I’ve heard over the years about The Pirate Planet, I’m sure some fans will wonder how this particular story ended up being at the bottom of my metaphorical barrel. That’s a valid question, though the answer is not very exciting: it has neither very high nor very low fan rankings, is part of the Fourth Doctor’s run (of which there are the most adventures), and just… never grabbed me.
I know a lot of fans like Pirate Planet (simply?) because it’s written by Douglas Adams, and anything Adams touched has gained near-mythic importance to a certain slice of fandom. There are certainly elements here that exhibit Adams’s style. In particular, it has a thinky and complex ending, which may or may not quite make sense, but certainly takes more intense concentration to parse than I was willing (or able) to give it during this viewing.
Review of The Invasion of Time (#97) DVD Release Date: 09 Jul 19 Original Air Date: 04 Feb – 11 Mar 1978 Doctors/Companions: Four, Leela, K9 Stars: Tom Baker, Louise Jameson, John Leeson Preceding Story: Underworld (Four, Leela, K9) Succeeding Story: The Ribos Operation (Four, Romana I, K9)
Every time I pick up one of my Classic DVDs and see that I’m in for a six-parter, especially now that I’m down to Everything Else, I cringe a little. Despite the fact that I can easily invest dozens of hours in a K-drama, somehow spending two and a half hours on Classic Who feels like an ordeal.
Usually.
When the sting sounded and the credits rolled on the first episode of The Invasion of Time, I was shocked. “That went so fast!” I thought. Then it happened again for the second episode. Maybe I was just in the right frame of mind this time, but this Invasion didn’t feel like as much of a slog as some have.
Then again, perhaps my poor memory worked in my favor. My pre-viewing notes show that I remembered precious little about the story: a trip through the TARDIS interior (including the swimming pool), Leela staying with Andred, and Sontarans on Gallifrey. I’d say that last point was a spoiler—none of these but the pool actually show up until the last two episodes—except for how prominently displayed the Sontaran is in the cover image.
Triskaidekaphobes may not care for the idea that I’m highlighting this as the thirteenth year of the blog, but in my household thirteen is actually one of our favorite numbers. Further, we’ve just ended the Thirteenth Doctor’s era, and I can look forward to meeting Jodie Whittaker herself at Gallifrey One next month. I’d say Year Thirteen is worth celebrating.
This year will, as I’ve hinted before, be the last for the blog. Now that I’ve finally sold some fiction (you can find my first published story here, if you’re interested; I use a pen name), I want to focus more of my time and energy on that kind of writing. There are also several other personal stressors that have ramped up recently, and I simply have less energy to dedicate to blogging.
That’s not to say this year will be lax. I hope to be able to announce my part in that project to which I alluded a couple of years ago. I’ll be reporting on my experiences at Gally as usual, with the bonus of having one of my kiddos with me to provide fresh eyes. And I will finish up my Everything Else series of reviews of the Classic adventures.
Given that there are only five of those left, the blog schedule gets a bit loose around mid-year. But here is the schedule for those final five stories:
Review of Planet of Evil (#81) DVD Release Date: 29 Jul 20 Original Air Date: 27 Sep – 18 Oct 1975 Doctors/Companions: Four, Sarah Jane Smith Stars: Tom Baker, Elisabeth Sladen Preceding Story: Terror of the Zygons (Four, Sarah Jane, Harry, the Brigadier) Succeeding Story: Pyramids of Mars (Four, Sarah Jane)
I know there have got to be fans out there who have a particular soft spot for Planet of Evil, but as far as I’m concerned, this is a seriously forgettable story. It came around on my calendar and I thought, “Which one is that again?” And I wasn’t much the wiser after looking at the DVD cover.
As usual, I tried writing down what I remembered of the adventure before starting my re-watch, and I am chagrinned to report that (a) I could barely remember anything beyond the story involving the Fourth Doctor and Sarah Jane Smith (with that recollection being entirely due to the aforementioned cover image) and (b) everything else I remembered was in error.
To make matters worse, even after watching all four episodes again, I still don’t have much of an impression of the storyline. It’s a pretty typical story of its type: some planetary exploration team has discovered something it shouldn’t have, causing members of the expedition to die before the TARDIS crew arrive and discover what’s going on and how to resolve the situation.
Review of Image of the Fendahl (#94) DVD Release Date: 29 Jul 20 Original Air Date: 29 Oct – 19 Nov 1977 Doctors/Companions: Four, Leela Stars: Tom Baker, Louise Jameson Preceding Story: The Invisible Enemy (Four, Leela, K9) Succeeding Story: The Sun Makers (Four, Leela)
Something I’ve noticed consistently as I’ve made my way through this Everything Else series, is that the stories that ended up here at the end of the line all have one thing in common: mediocrity.
That’s not to say they’re bad. Quite the opposite, in fact. They are perfectly serviceable, fine examples of the sort of thing Doctor Who is. They’re the workhorses of the series, the stories that neither soar nor stink. They’re just middling.
Since they don’t grab my attention from either a “wow, that’s good!” or a “wow, that’s bad!” perspective, they easily escape my memory. And since I also never reach for one of these middle-of-the-road stories when I’m introducing someone new to the show or just passing the time, the details of them don’t get reinforced, either, and I end up having little or no impression of them.
Case in point: before beginning my re-watch for this post, aside from the iconic image of the possessed woman on the DVD cover, the only details I could remember about Image of the Fendahl were that there was something about a cult, an old house, and a time loop. No wonder I hadn’t thought to watch it in years.
Review of State of Decay (#113) DVD Release Date: 03 Oct 16 Original Air Date: 03 – 24 Jan 1981 Doctors/Companions: Four, Romana II, Adric, K9 Stars: Tom Baker, Lalla Ward, Matthew Waterhouse, John Leeson Preceding Story: Full Circle (Four, Romana II, Adric, K9) Succeeding Story: Warriors’ Gate (Four, Romana II, Adric, K9)
I have to say I was utterly unsurprised to find State of Decay among the titles here at the bottom of the “Everything Else” barrel. As the middle installment of the E-Space Trilogy that sees the introduction of Adric and the departure of Romana (and K9), it doesn’t seem to stand out in any particular way except one: vampires.
Given the recent popularity of the Dracula Daily email list for reading Bram Stoker’s classic in chronological (not chapter) order, it’s a fairly timely coincidence that I have the opportunity now to talk about Doctor Who‘s own take on vampiric myths. Sadly, unlike the Stoker novel, State of Decay doesn’t really give the viewer anything truly gripping or unique to hand onto.
We begin with the Doctor and Romana still looking for a way out of E-Space, initially unaware that they now have an additional crew member in the form of stowaway Adric. When they find themselves on a planet with nothing but a single village and an imposing tower, and the peasants all apparently willing to continue serving their three Lords unquestioningly, of course they need to look deeper. Nominally that’s so they can get a lead on how to get themselves back out of E-Space, but in practice it’s because the Doctor just can’t help himself.
Review of Full Circle (#111) DVD Release Date: 03 Oct 16 Original Air Date: 25 Oct – 15 Nov 1980 Doctors/Companions: Four, Romana II, Adric, K9 Stars: Tom Baker, Lalla Ward, Matthew Waterhouse, John Leeson Preceding Story: Meglos (Four, Romana II, K9) Succeeding Story: State of Decay (Four, Romana II, Adric, K9)
I have to say I wasn’t surprised to find Full Circle among the ranks of Everything Else when I looked over all the stories I hadn’t yet reviewed. It’s one of those stories that flies easily under the radar, certainly not a “really good” story, nor an entirely awful one. And as Adric has never been one of my favorite Companions (though I don’t think I dislike him as thoroughly as some fans do), his introduction story has also not really been one I think on often.
As such, my impressions of Full Circle have been pretty minimal. I’m pleased to say, though, that I did at least remember the main conceit of the story, and knew what the big twist at the end was going to be. Being able to watch things unfold with that kind of foreknowledge is one of the fun parts of re-watching a show for me, so I appreciated being able to take advantage of that small bit of familiarity with the plot this time.
Right off the bat, we get a major plot point that will follow the Doctor and Romana through this trilogy of stories, known collectively as “the E-Space Trilogy”: the TARDIS has been pulled off course into Exo-Space, a dimension outside of “real” space where our own universe exists. Instead of having landed on Gallifrey, then, they are on a planet called Alzarius, right when an every-fifty-years event called Mistfall is beginning.
Review of The Deadly Assassin (#88) DVD Release Date: 01 Sep 09 Original Air Date: 20 Oct – 30 Nov 1976 Doctors/Companions: Four Stars: Tom Baker Preceding Story: The Hand of Fear (Four, Sarah Jane) Succeeding Story: The Face of Evil (Four, Leela)
With the first episode of Series Thirteen less than a week away, it has occurred to me that the post timing for this Highs and Lows series will need to be adjusted. Although the series’s short run means December’s scheduled entry will not be affected, my review of Episode 4 now conflicts with the November Highs & Lows post. (New episode posts will also supersede two Confessions, but those are lower priority anyway, so I’m not concerned about those.)
Since that post was meant to go live right before the American Thanksgiving holiday, I’ll have to consider carefully how to adjust the posting schedule, but I’m sure something will work out. I can’t let one get lost in the shuffle!
For now, though, we get to revisit one of the Highs, ranked at #13 by Charlie Jane Anders on the io9 list I’ve been referencing for the past several years: The Deadly Assassin.
Review of Pyramids of Mars (#82) DVD Release Date: 07 Sep 04 Original Air Date: 25 Oct – 15 Nov 1975 Doctors/Companions: Four, Sarah Jane Smith Stars: Tom Baker, Elisabeth Sladen Preceding Story: Planet of Evil (Four, Sarah Jane) Succeeding Story: The Android Invasion (Four, Sarah Jane)
When I checked my calendar to see what adventure I was slated to review this month, I have to admit I was pleased to discover I was in for another High and not a Low this month. Although it’s somehow never made onto my personal list of favorites, Pyramids of Mars ranks #7 on the i09 master list I’ve been following, and it’s a far sight better than a lot of the other stories I’ve selected for 2021.
I suspect it’s primarily because Tom Baker has never been a particular favorite that Pyramids doesn’t really ping my radar (or even my Marconiscope, as Laurence Scarman calls his nascent radio telescope). It’s still relatively early in his tenure (meaning he’s not too over-the-top in his characterization yet) and includes Sarah Jane (among my preferred Companions), so it’s certainly on the positive end of the Fourth Doctor spectrum for me, and yet it still only tends to come to the forefront of my mind when I think about what Classic stories other fans recommend.
Review of City of Death (#105) DVD Release Date: 08 Nov 05 Original Air Date: 29 Sep – 20 Oct 1979 Doctors/Companions: Four, Romana II Stars: Tom Baker, Lalla Ward Preceding Story: Destiny of the Daleks (Four, Romana II) Succeeding Story: The Creature from the Pit (Four, Romana II)
When my husband walked past where I was watching City of Death and taking notes for this post, he stopped and said, “Haven’t you already reviewed this?” Even he, who doesn’t watch the show (though he’s seen some, now and again), knows that CoD is one of “the best” stories out there in the eyes of fandom at large.
In fact, the famous i09 article from which I take my rankings for classification purposes has listed CoD at #3 of 254, which is one of the reasons it qualified for the Highs & Lows theme this year. It may therefore seem a little strange that I haven’t ever reviewed it.
This very popularity is exactly the reason I’ve avoided it in the past. After all, what fan of Classic Doctor Who—or even of the modern era—hasn’t at least heard of City of Death, by name or otherwise? A single glance at the Doctor and Romana traipsing through Paris told not only my husband but my kids which story it was. (“Isn’t this the one with all the Mona Lisas?”) I’ve never needed to write a review to convince anyone it was worth watching.
But now that it’s come around on the guitar, so to speak, I’m happy to take my turn. Besides, some readers may still be wondering what all the fuss is about. For example, if you’re one of those fans still just dipping a toe into Classic Who, you may be put off by all the hype about this story (like Deb from Verity! initially was) or simply not be enamored of this particular Doctor, who’s “all teeth and curls” (like me). If you find yourself in one of those camps, then hopefully some of the things I outline below will convince you that City of Death is worth your time.
First let me address the issue of Tom Baker’s Doctor. For viewers who find the Fourth Doctor to be too over-the-top goofy, too frenetic, too slapstick, I have good news: this is one of his more restrained performances. Here Baker manages to retain the comedic timing and dry wit that make him so beloved without taking his performance into pantomime territory.
Further, the script—famously pseudonymously co-written by script editor Douglas Adams—is delightful. The following exchange, one of my favorites, is but one example:
“Can I ask you where you got these?”
“No.”
“Or how you knew they were here?”
“No.”
“They’ve been bricked up a long time.”
“Yes.”
“I like concise answers.”
“Good.”
The storyline is just crazy enough—timey wimey hijinks with inhuman motives—to be fun without being off-putting, the dialog is sharp and witty, the characters (like Duggan!) are unforgettable, and they even wedge in a cameo by well-known comedians John Cleese and Eleanor Bron.
Julian Glover, who had previously appeared as King Richard the Lionheart in the First Doctor adventure The Crusade, chews up the scenery as Count Scarlioni, giving one of my favorite guest performances of all time. (And I can’t help but wonder if someone on the production team took a bet on how many times they could get the word “Count” into the script, given how often the character is addressed by his title…)
Basically, City of Death is the epitome of a Doctor Who “romp.” It’s lighthearted, with stakes that are high without ever feeling oppressive, and while it never takes itself too seriously, nor does it fall off the other end of that scale (like, ahem, the following adventure). In short, it’s perfect escapist viewing for tense times, its own little vacation in Paris.
