tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21119697653092277552024-03-18T22:18:35.089+00:00TARDIS MusingsGerryDhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15825222546131243823noreply@blogger.comBlogger3456125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2111969765309227755.post-3452324033850690652024-03-18T20:17:00.000+00:002024-03-18T20:17:07.202+00:00What's Wrong With... The Horns of Nimon<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipPeK8Ccpjlai74i66UxDhcWFPki_QpReZC4hHk58uURu9JMss9SDBbjSgBQszTMOhuCz1UTDU3mAarHIcPjldCY0xkJR9Rz852EXwY209OPCwHYclkmIZoZaMoCgStPImbrr_nWY7LJWza6TkgHHJUMiA2ngCJbUas16goGaogYJb0olK_butPl8jkEK0/s960/www%20nimon.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="960" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipPeK8Ccpjlai74i66UxDhcWFPki_QpReZC4hHk58uURu9JMss9SDBbjSgBQszTMOhuCz1UTDU3mAarHIcPjldCY0xkJR9Rz852EXwY209OPCwHYclkmIZoZaMoCgStPImbrr_nWY7LJWza6TkgHHJUMiA2ngCJbUas16goGaogYJb0olK_butPl8jkEK0/s320/www%20nimon.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: left;">For many, it's the worst story of the worst season. In a number of polls, it has been the lowest rated story of the Tom Baker era.</div><div style="text-align: left;">Something has to hold that dubious distinction - so why <b>The Horns of Nimon</b>..?</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Arriving just before Christmas, and looking like a pantomime (sets, costumes and performances) certainly didn't help.</div><div style="text-align: left;">The usually reliable Graham Crowden (the Fourth Doctor in an alternate universe - he turned the part down due to the publicity side of things) hams things up really badly. </div><div style="text-align: left;">He later claimed that he didn't realise that his death scene was the take that was going to be used, thinking it would get a retake.</div><div style="text-align: left;">Another problem which isn't the story's fault is its placement as the series conclusion. It ought to have been the cheap and disposable filler story - the one where whatever money's left in the kitty has been reserved for the six-part one.</div><div style="text-align: left;">That was indeed the case - except that <b>Shada</b> then got cancelled due to industrial action.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">The story itself is perfectly fine. It's simply the myth of <i>Theseus and the Minotaur</i> in an outer space setting after all.</div><div style="text-align: left;">After Robert Holmes' obsession with horror movies, Anthony Read had looked to literature for his inspirations, and he'd already commissioned a version of <i>Jason and the Argonauts</i> (another cheap penultimate story).</div><div style="text-align: left;">The realisation of the VFX is mixed. The explosion of the Power Complex is good, but the model spaceships are once again video-taped in the studio instead of being filmed properly on the model stage.</div><div style="text-align: left;">The ships are so flatly lit that the Classical Studies joke about painting Seth's white at the end fails to work.</div><div style="text-align: left;">According to Read, the Complex was supposed to look more like a huge circuit board from above, and the walls were supposed to move like switches. This couldn't be realised in the available time in studio - so we simply have stagehands moving flats about off-screen.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">The young Anethan hostages somehow mange to pull off doing nothing at all, and overacting badly, simultaneously.</div><div style="text-align: left;">Like the Krotons before them the Nimon have fantastic voices, but naff costumes. Dancers were hired - but couldn't do very much thanks to their stacked platform-soled boots. It was made in the 1970's after all - if only just.</div><div style="text-align: left;">The Co-Pilot (another usually reliable actor who thinks he's doing pre-school children's television this week) has the most famous wardrobe malfunction in the history of the programme. Not only does he split his trousers at the bum in Part Two, but we get to see him do it all over again in Part Three because it happens at the cliff-hanger.</div><div style="text-align: left;">The first episode provides us with the dreadfully unfunny "Bloodnok's Stomach" sound effects in the TARDIS - except it isn't actually the iconic <i>Goons</i> sound effect at all, just similar.</div><div style="text-align: left;">The whole cricket ball / asteroid business is just silly.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">It's really obvious that Tom Baker is being indulged throughout, and Graham Williams has given up on trying to rein him in. His resignation is already accepted, and he's coasting towards his departure.</div><div style="text-align: left;">The biggest tragedy of all is that this was the final story of Williams' tenure to be broadcast, and it's the last time we got to enjoy a distinctive Dudley Simpson incidental score.</div><div style="text-align: left;">The final outing for the 1967 arrangement of Delia Derbyshire's theme, and the 1975 "tunnel" opening sequence. The diamond logo will be back, but not until 2023.</div>GerryDhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15825222546131243823noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2111969765309227755.post-85092780353632390572024-03-17T12:50:00.000+00:002024-03-17T12:50:39.831+00:00Episode 109: The Return<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioFuumD5RKJHE_qVjYYtZWKLnNhMzjU1tyCZ-nNF8fxSNmEyja7-cxbJSrBb9RVY9xSzETCXpTKu9KpwH-EtoJTQhBFQc8b4zMmsJf1FTs-TLhUCm5Z5ULnHSqNCZJ-qjYiQtyiZMMiCO5PxS74tJXWERwD9lu3P2UGPqfIFPtT9_thU9NxUuXQDrWzI1T/s640/ark9.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioFuumD5RKJHE_qVjYYtZWKLnNhMzjU1tyCZ-nNF8fxSNmEyja7-cxbJSrBb9RVY9xSzETCXpTKu9KpwH-EtoJTQhBFQc8b4zMmsJf1FTs-TLhUCm5Z5ULnHSqNCZJ-qjYiQtyiZMMiCO5PxS74tJXWERwD9lu3P2UGPqfIFPtT9_thU9NxUuXQDrWzI1T/s320/ark9.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Synopsis:</b></div><div style="text-align: left;">The Doctor and his companions have found themselves back on the Ark - but it is clear that they have travelled 700 years into the future as Dodo points out how the statue is now finished. Intended as an image of a human being, it now has the head of a Monoid...</div><div style="text-align: left;">The space vessel is now fully automated. Examining the controls the Doctor accesses the internal security cameras and they witness a human being working as a servant to a Monoid, with others labouring in a kitchen area.</div><div style="text-align: left;">A trio of the reptilian creatures approaches and they are taken to see their leader - Monoid One. The aliens are now able to talk, making use of artificial voice-boxes attached to numbered bands around their shoulders. They are also armed with lethal heat weapons, which can also be used to injure.</div><div style="text-align: left;">The Doctor is horrified to hear that, after they had left the Ark 700 years ago, the after-effects of Dodo's cold had a long-term impact. The Monoids became stronger, whilst the Guardians weakened.</div><div style="text-align: left;">Providing them with technological help to develop their speech devices, the humans were unaware that this was also being used to create the heat weapons.</div><div style="text-align: left;">The complacent Guardians were unprepared when the Monoids staged a revolt against what they saw as their oppressors, and took over.</div><div style="text-align: left;">The Ark is now entering the orbit of its final destination - Refusis II. </div><div style="text-align: left;">The TARDIS crew are despatched to the kitchens, which are a maximum security area. They learn from Dassuk and Venussa that some despised humans have privileged positions as servants to the Monoids.</div><div style="text-align: left;">Monoid One and his deputies, Two and Three, discuss their plan to make Refusis a Monoid world only. The humans are to be wiped out.</div><div style="text-align: left;">Concerned about what may face them on the planet, they decide to send down a scout party, led by Monoid Two. This will comprise the Doctor and Dodo, and one of their subservient humans - a man named Yendom.</div><div style="text-align: left;">The group arrives on the surface of Refusis using one of the Ark's launcher pods. They discover the new world to be forested, and soon spot a large palatial building.</div><div style="text-align: left;">There is no other sign of life, however. Suspecting that the Refusians are hiding from them, the arrogant Monoid Two starts making threats. </div><div style="text-align: left;">They then discover that the natives of this planet are really immensely powerful disembodied beings who have lost their physical forms.</div><div style="text-align: left;">Back on the Ark, Monoid One informs Three that a bomb has been planted, which will be detonated as soon as their people have evacuated to Refusis. This conversation is overheard by One's personal servant Maharis. He goes to the kitchen and informs Dassuk and Venussa. They and Steven begin plotting a means of escape.</div><div style="text-align: left;">The invisible Refusian does not like what he hears about the situation on the Ark, and of the aggression of the Monoids. The exodus must be halted, at least for the present.</div><div style="text-align: left;">When Yendom learns that no human is to be allowed to settle on the planet, he rebels and is killed by Two. The creature then enters the launcher to radio a report to his superior.</div><div style="text-align: left;">Before he can do so, the Refusian obliterates the craft, killing its occupant.</div><div style="text-align: left;">Observing the wreckage, Dodo fears that they may now be stranded on this planet, and the Doctor is forced to agree...</div><div style="text-align: left;">Next episode: <i>The Bomb</i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOQX_AaORanbvARR3ZJ80UvGl_36pKDehEisRSUmsXlzABNKXMFzbf3vucjZvVqaq7SzJrJH8YcmHPC7iLQ4Aw3JmWCZEZdu7tjteV8WCy-v30ZnWvtIcmoij2J3Eq8banGRMBs3Y3Dos5bYQ5Lz9QlukgOtjiNrGTGSDEnWHVFu2lf7AUaeIrwe0fM9xr/s640/ark10.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOQX_AaORanbvARR3ZJ80UvGl_36pKDehEisRSUmsXlzABNKXMFzbf3vucjZvVqaq7SzJrJH8YcmHPC7iLQ4Aw3JmWCZEZdu7tjteV8WCy-v30ZnWvtIcmoij2J3Eq8banGRMBs3Y3Dos5bYQ5Lz9QlukgOtjiNrGTGSDEnWHVFu2lf7AUaeIrwe0fM9xr/s320/ark10.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><b>Data:</b><div>Written by: Paul Erickson & Lesley Scott</div><div>Recorded: Friday 4th March 1966 - Riverside Studio 1</div><div>First broadcast: 5:15pm, Saturday 19th March 1966</div><div>Ratings: 6.2 million / AI 51</div><div>Designer: Barry Newbery</div><div>Director: Michael Imison</div><div>Additional cast: Brian Wright (Dassuk), Eileen Helsby (Venussa), Terence Woodfield (Maharis), Terence Bayler (Yendom), Edmund Coulter (Monoid One), Ralph Carrigan (Monoid Two), Frank George (Monoid Three), Richard Beale (Refusian Voice), Roy Skelton, John Halstead (Monoid Voices)</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh26LeblievCpS3D6LpKL-HJRiRRbxHB2GNz_U9rRtcAQY6Guk4GnzauAaWJkOznkVpGnQuExtIq_Wst9PAxpugPp_DkwIEIDbeXD0VsAol8mJ1Hu6vDCaM_ZXCzOSPE-3dKq1lwdI-SsfiVuVXHumvUeCYwTRCuvPDOOknqPxVZdhZSLFUd-iQbF1ZUBse/s640/ark11.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh26LeblievCpS3D6LpKL-HJRiRRbxHB2GNz_U9rRtcAQY6Guk4GnzauAaWJkOznkVpGnQuExtIq_Wst9PAxpugPp_DkwIEIDbeXD0VsAol8mJ1Hu6vDCaM_ZXCzOSPE-3dKq1lwdI-SsfiVuVXHumvUeCYwTRCuvPDOOknqPxVZdhZSLFUd-iQbF1ZUBse/s320/ark11.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div><b>Critique:</b></div><div><b>The Ark</b> can, if you wish, be viewed as a linked pair of two-part stories, utilising the same sets and costumes to tell two quite different stories. The narrative thread which hold these two stories together is simply that one of the events in the first half has inadvertently led to the set-up of the second.</div><div>It's better, however, to regard it in its four-part entirety - a story which spans hundreds of years and illustrates the consequences of the Doctor's travels through time.</div><div>It's something the series had never done before - and has rarely ever tried again since.</div><div>The best analogy from the modern iteration of the series would be Steven Moffat's decision to play about with the nature of two-parters in Series 9, such as <b>The Girl Who Died</b> and <b>The Woman Who</b> <b>Lived</b>.</div><div><br /></div><div>The filming for this episode took place at the beginning of production, with the Refusis surface scenes going before the cameras at Ealing between Monday 31st Jan - Wednesday 2nd February.</div><div>Barry Newbery opted to make the forest more open than the dense jungles seen recently in <b>The Daleks' Master Plan</b>, with a cyclorama showing the sky and a distant horizon, and strips of fibreglass were hung from the trees and bushes to make them look more exotic.</div><div>False perspective was used to show the launcher landing, using both a model and a full-scale prop.</div><div>This prop was open on one side to allow the cameras to show the interior. </div><div>The heat prods were working props, emitting a puff of white powder when operated.</div><div>Naturally, the replacement of the flowers in the vase was achieved by simply running the film backwards after they had been pulled out using thin twine.</div><div><br /></div><div><div>Joining the cast on this episode is the actor Roy Skelton - the beginning of a lengthy association with the programme that would continue until the 1999 <i>Comic Relief</i> adventure <i>The Curse of Fatal Death</i>.</div><div>Having developed many funny voices during his time in rep, Skelton had contributed to several children's TV series, often working alongside Peter Hawkins, who would recommend him to the <i>Doctor</i> <i>Who</i> team. Skelton would join Hawkins in providing Dalek vocals during the Troughton era before superseding him in the 1970's, as well as helping develop the very first Cyberman voice.</div><div>As well as vocal input on many occasions, Skelton would get to appear on screen and in person during the Pertwee era, in <b>Colony in Space</b>, <b>Planet of the Daleks</b> and <b>The Green Death</b>.</div><div>Skelton voiced Monoid One, whilst John Halstead provided vocals for Two and Three.</div></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhuQNwpNZBgiMZmP4gnNBXFJQSMzWI7dzKMlrfTrFkcz3DQeICwoZZPgIZ_XEwH6wZlToJejM_A78RDdwYaVVwiCVHEUYWzdzbaqpnhqxR9prqmqcnS-2fYn6HQSht4xY7A4see8Jc29Gr5ojz87ZWU2DBQ7qtBxTCculVSqJTRRfUeU9L3UXqzL-NNk98/s953/ark%20bts%204.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="919" data-original-width="953" height="309" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhuQNwpNZBgiMZmP4gnNBXFJQSMzWI7dzKMlrfTrFkcz3DQeICwoZZPgIZ_XEwH6wZlToJejM_A78RDdwYaVVwiCVHEUYWzdzbaqpnhqxR9prqmqcnS-2fYn6HQSht4xY7A4see8Jc29Gr5ojz87ZWU2DBQ7qtBxTCculVSqJTRRfUeU9L3UXqzL-NNk98/w320-h309/ark%20bts%204.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>Like Skelton, Richard Beale would also provide vocals as well as making in person appearances in the series. He also appears in <b>The Green Death</b>, as the Ecology Minister, and will be seen later in 1966 as Bat Masterson in <b>The Gunfighters</b>.</div><div>Terence Woodfield had only just been seen, under heavy make-up, as alien delegate Celation in the second half of <b>The</b> <b>Daleks' Master Plan</b> (as well as a guest appearance, in character as the alien, on <i>Junior Points of View</i>).</div><div>Michael Imison had worked with most of his cast before on the soap <i>Compact</i>.</div><div><br /></div><div>On the day before recording, Jackie Lane was released from rehearsals to film a sequence for the forthcoming <i>The Celestial Toyroom</i>. This was the sequence of her attending her mother's funeral, as seen by her in the Toymaker's "Memory Window". </div><div>The Commander's room had now been taken over by Monoid One. On the TV monitor a clip was seen from the previous episode, of the travellers' return to the TARDIS. (Oddly, the Monoids describe the TARDIS as a <i>black</i> box, and no-one challenges this).</div><div>The Monoid costumes had white sashes added with an identity numeral and the small voice box. The actor had to manually operate this, sliding a coloured disc to indicate that the device was in use.</div><div>The implication is that the Monoids have their mouth in the centre of their chests, which is where the voice box hangs. We also see Monoid One appear to remove an apple core from this area, though he has his back to us at the time.</div><div><br /></div><div>The large screen on the command deck had been replaced with one covered in white co-ordinate lines, across which lights played. These were actually torches, wielded by stage hands.</div><div>A small corner of the Refusis forest set was seen in studio with the launcher prop. The inlay technique was employed to show characters in the launcher being shown on the command deck screen - very noticeable as their heads remain in exactly the same place between shots.</div><div>Newbery reused the gates of El Akir's palace from <b>The Crusade</b> for the Refusian dwelling.</div><div>There were four recording breaks - three for moving cast from one set to another, with the fourth used to replace the launcher with the heap of smoking wreckage.</div><div><br /></div><div>There is little doubt that the second half of <b>The Ark</b> is the weaker one. The new set of human characters are a fairly colourless bunch, and don't actually contribute very much to any of the events of the final two episodes. The subservient men are the more interesting, but we never get any insight into their motivations. Once the invisible Refusian arrives, they come to dominate the action, with the humans simply tagging along in their wake.</div><div>The Monoids are simply presented now as a generic crowd of stereotypical villains. Monoid Two's bullying nature is particularly over-played. They develop an annoying habit of blurting out their plans to anyone who happens to be listening. There's something childlike about the way they behave, but this is never picked up on or developed.</div><div>The nature of their escape from servitude, to become enslavers themselves, is the more interesting story - but the writer fails to go into this.</div><div>Concepts such as a "Security Kitchen" really don't help the production. The idea of confining potentially hostile prisoners - mostly unsupervised - in an area containing sharp implements and sources of heat is, quite frankly, a stupid one.</div><div>The least said about how the Refusians came to lose their physical forms - "a galaxy accident" - the better...</div><div>Interestingly, Zentos had been concerned about the Refusians spying on them, but it would appear that they may have been doing just that - as they seem to know that the approaching spacecraft contains people who wish to settle on their planet, and that they are humanoid in form.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiL65kftNh3AF0-C6MsLdgIIzGt-KCSMt-Ssh9lS5j137ft2N4roBPWAEHkEavp77BcpPDDI_JcGXrHCOn56y5OXRPU9oUxV3Lc8lkykocq1T1JlIpRC6so_d9GTAmclETYN7SbU1EPYxEBoHwOO_fZuwp1-2gDEo_bn97Lwhf7cxFh6rQShFdYBxtaHDQN/s640/ark12.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiL65kftNh3AF0-C6MsLdgIIzGt-KCSMt-Ssh9lS5j137ft2N4roBPWAEHkEavp77BcpPDDI_JcGXrHCOn56y5OXRPU9oUxV3Lc8lkykocq1T1JlIpRC6so_d9GTAmclETYN7SbU1EPYxEBoHwOO_fZuwp1-2gDEo_bn97Lwhf7cxFh6rQShFdYBxtaHDQN/s320/ark12.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><b>Trivia:</b><div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>The audience falls by half a million on the previous episode, meaning half of the bounce-back of the previous instalment has been lost again. The appreciation figure drops by five points.</li><li>The Monoid costumes were the work of father and son freelance effects makers Jack and John Lovell. They worked to designs by BBC costume designer Daphne Dare, which included some input from the director.</li><li>We haven't mentioned the Guardian costumes so far. Dare wanted to use pastel colours and went down the 'blue for boys and pink for girls' route. The Commander in the first two instalments had worn a red version of the outfit. These were worn over bathing costumes.</li><li>Terence Bayler is well-known to comedy fans as 'Leggy' Mountbatten of <i>The Rutles</i> - the Pythonesque Beatles spoof - and for a notable role in <i>The Life of Brian</i>. He's the man who claims "I'm Brian - and so's my wife!". He also featured in the Harry Potter franchise as one of the Hogwarts ghosts. Born in New Zealand in 1930, he died in 2016.</li><li>Eileen Helsby was the sister of the director's assistant.</li><li>For several years this was thought to be the only surviving episode from this story, held as a 16mm film print in the BBC Film and Television Archives. In 1978, BBC Enterprises announced that they had copies of all four instalments.</li></ul></div>GerryDhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15825222546131243823noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2111969765309227755.post-40100729178432056102024-03-15T18:48:00.000+00:002024-03-15T18:48:06.446+00:00Doctor Who returns on 11th May, but with a difference...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhqYAPT_ni2yiG252KLVcp_mIHRAKa7Ogb2KKYOEb6FbhSp6AInEFHprAorbM3tO2rLZbcfEPtoB3lWNBsS5HYKzgPNa1hjqfIjhnbX_gxNyMcdVj1qBHrsVod67ND2S_DigBV91L1BHMuiHcpOp3SSxadF3GubMNkEinbaw9hwTXfSRsqbNdx0H2m4lYk/s1080/new%20series%20start.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhqYAPT_ni2yiG252KLVcp_mIHRAKa7Ogb2KKYOEb6FbhSp6AInEFHprAorbM3tO2rLZbcfEPtoB3lWNBsS5HYKzgPNa1hjqfIjhnbX_gxNyMcdVj1qBHrsVod67ND2S_DigBV91L1BHMuiHcpOp3SSxadF3GubMNkEinbaw9hwTXfSRsqbNdx0H2m4lYk/s320/new%20series%20start.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: left;">Series 14 arrives on Saturday May 11th, with not one but two episodes - and they're making their debut on BBC i-player first, in the early hours of that morning.</div><div style="text-align: left;">If streaming isn't your thing, the episodes will be broadcast on BBC One immediately before the Eurovision Song Contest.</div><div style="text-align: left;">Subsequent episodes will be shown in the same way - i-player first, then TV later that evening.</div><div style="text-align: left;">For those outside the UK, episodes will stream on Disney+ simultaneously with the i-player.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">The first episode is untitled so far (though rumours have claimed it's "The Space Babies") but the second instalment is - appropriately enough for Eurovision night - the musical themed episode <b>The</b> <b>Devil's Chord</b>, which features the Beatles / Abbey Road and guest stars Jinkx Monsoon.</div><div style="text-align: left;">With two episodes on the 11th, the new shorter run will last only seven weeks, unless there are any breaks for sporting events.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">NB:As far as this Blog goes, I won't be posting any reviews in the middle of the night (and may just be waiting for the TV broadcast episodes anyway), so won't be putting anything up until the Saturday night or Sunday lunchtime.</div>GerryDhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15825222546131243823noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2111969765309227755.post-8854362229549054152024-03-14T19:34:00.000+00:002024-03-14T19:34:59.102+00:00The Art of... The Ark<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwwwDyAqeppK7GZcie8bDWMTEReVxz9bj4MIwA39FEAMaxHXIHWoyHS03hiBMToYnSjf_csrBUkFiCauZX8bRVNodOYv9tqdyNt0Yb8o4UIqT1c1AvcZuvmtcf343sdFWRjMXRXujfgayMaXEHyb72yM-3aNp4OuBKjpSjCzMPpJJHtgyF3crCfEjf_3VS/s2560/ark%20novel1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2560" data-original-width="1569" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwwwDyAqeppK7GZcie8bDWMTEReVxz9bj4MIwA39FEAMaxHXIHWoyHS03hiBMToYnSjf_csrBUkFiCauZX8bRVNodOYv9tqdyNt0Yb8o4UIqT1c1AvcZuvmtcf343sdFWRjMXRXujfgayMaXEHyb72yM-3aNp4OuBKjpSjCzMPpJJHtgyF3crCfEjf_3VS/w245-h400/ark%20novel1.jpg" width="245" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: left;">A couple of years ago I nominated my top ten Target Book covers - and my ten least favourite. For the latter category it was either the case of bad likenesses, or misleading and / or irrelevant imagery.</div><div style="text-align: left;">The above cover made it into the bottom ten due to the prominence of the animals on either side of the Hartnell portrait (which is derived from a photograph from <b>The Celestial Toymaker</b>).</div><div style="text-align: left;">Yes, the TARDIS arrives in a biodome at the start of the story, and some of the animals do contribute towards the cure for Dodo's cold - but they really don't symbolise this story at all. </div><div style="text-align: left;">We do get a little Monoid portrait, but the aliens really ought to have been more prominent.</div><div style="text-align: left;">Maybe one of those images of Dodo posing with a Monoid might have provided a better inspiration.</div><div style="text-align: left;">The novel, by its original writer, was released in March 1987, and the cover is the work of artist David McAllister.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjx7C1xvCasC-LMmEXEb1SFQWqlLgR5vP87LvOv19SwAmGkkh2p3OmjmDjp0FH2qTL8woBspToWdChi1dErxo12QX-nk_zkIOJk1XLUilFDOd7WtVXo3uzSGhStI-2LGHuz7A3X2J3UEt-mBNPpjvSJctJPC3sS-AiLMF4LEPkhs70qIVkUmUoH_okN0YtH/s500/ark%20novel2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="326" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjx7C1xvCasC-LMmEXEb1SFQWqlLgR5vP87LvOv19SwAmGkkh2p3OmjmDjp0FH2qTL8woBspToWdChi1dErxo12QX-nk_zkIOJk1XLUilFDOd7WtVXo3uzSGhStI-2LGHuz7A3X2J3UEt-mBNPpjvSJctJPC3sS-AiLMF4LEPkhs70qIVkUmUoH_okN0YtH/w261-h400/ark%20novel2.jpg" width="261" /></a></div><div><br /></div>A reissue followed in 1992 with a minimalist cover by Alister Pearson. For a time Target were using this "unfinished sketch" look for their covers - not unlike a Renaissance cartoon. Not my favourite phase of Target artwork.<div>Pearson includes Dodo on his cover, with a full length Monoid in the central position.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtddAkaT0zriViODjjLDqaCD5rJg2g6FC9aWsyGxvjBWGONKo28BlV4U5PyqnlYmqOPzHUrXEtAtFqfIXK1qcCz_-bDQ8kAWOsgwKVSZaPYbUyE_ZolWapQsOX9d3LX2-J_EaAInDoq-ZILpxt-6Q9t1Uzdz0D9dIzs3NbercwNd9-4grS7_v-laGp7eeQ/s353/ark%20soundtrack.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="353" data-original-width="353" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtddAkaT0zriViODjjLDqaCD5rJg2g6FC9aWsyGxvjBWGONKo28BlV4U5PyqnlYmqOPzHUrXEtAtFqfIXK1qcCz_-bDQ8kAWOsgwKVSZaPYbUyE_ZolWapQsOX9d3LX2-J_EaAInDoq-ZILpxt-6Q9t1Uzdz0D9dIzs3NbercwNd9-4grS7_v-laGp7eeQ/s320/ark%20soundtrack.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div>A trio of purple-wigged Monoids appeared on the cover of the BBC Radio Collection soundtrack CD. The Hartnell image originates from this story - for a change. It's taken from a publicity shot of him, Jackie Lane and Peter Purves with Monica the elephant.</div><div>This was released in 2006 - the story's 40th anniversary - with linking narration by Purves. He also contributes to a bonus interview.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCusfd1Bff161m8HBTlAlyv4FlWSIfT3MHEKT_J0ZIU7HksSaaSU-KhEp5lJF6iakw-ANsCCXzKbhLcTUXHy8tGOHip_MGdz52uipSZK1J6D-MM61XrgPS6nRJO_4L7lu9LM2ZGx1k1EtFjB42YYD4fiI9DZr-HGsxD5blXdV7bqWWrKOxU8ylM00UuZGK/s3012/ark%20vhs.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2291" data-original-width="3012" height="304" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCusfd1Bff161m8HBTlAlyv4FlWSIfT3MHEKT_J0ZIU7HksSaaSU-KhEp5lJF6iakw-ANsCCXzKbhLcTUXHy8tGOHip_MGdz52uipSZK1J6D-MM61XrgPS6nRJO_4L7lu9LM2ZGx1k1EtFjB42YYD4fiI9DZr-HGsxD5blXdV7bqWWrKOxU8ylM00UuZGK/w400-h304/ark%20vhs.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div><b>The Ark</b> came to VHS late in the run of releases, when they were using photomontage covers.</div><div>The year was 1998.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnTsNaLsucCnX2TiS2vLgEoiFGGnCTvg5_2C-q7k8zvvWWOgDcc_BoQ5jISUFFPeRG5xX45nrG2VpNnqpW0vocW20h9j767pOF_diQE-GpzRRNxCA-pasfpHsNu2uRR3S62IC7j7-TJqX0Q_4nkTw8CoYRO0Z0u9d8NpFXrHCc1UZmwx-KoXiynPnLHv0R/s1000/ark%20dvd%20uk.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="1000" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnTsNaLsucCnX2TiS2vLgEoiFGGnCTvg5_2C-q7k8zvvWWOgDcc_BoQ5jISUFFPeRG5xX45nrG2VpNnqpW0vocW20h9j767pOF_diQE-GpzRRNxCA-pasfpHsNu2uRR3S62IC7j7-TJqX0Q_4nkTw8CoYRO0Z0u9d8NpFXrHCc1UZmwx-KoXiynPnLHv0R/s320/ark%20dvd%20uk.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div>The DVD release arrived 13 years later, in February 2011 (or March in the US and Australia).<div>The artist is Lee Binding, who pretty much took over from Clayton Hickman's photomontage covers around this time.<br /><div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-pHXHT3gT5cpegBrzCLDV7Xa_LUevJ1-pmmxvvhwOHCN7ZUGpakgPZzPuoyHLD9NgThoZbSRnwSt7PgpP7dYMdvlHqep5iqs98jJoapO48B5gxzCc1D1hhXdAjinsjbBO0XnOE8TEW9X-gSf1Z-ZFlspqueYmLDXn3Mn8lzGDRPRIHpqaa5u3nMGwt2ki/s640/ark%20dvd%20us.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="449" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-pHXHT3gT5cpegBrzCLDV7Xa_LUevJ1-pmmxvvhwOHCN7ZUGpakgPZzPuoyHLD9NgThoZbSRnwSt7PgpP7dYMdvlHqep5iqs98jJoapO48B5gxzCc1D1hhXdAjinsjbBO0XnOE8TEW9X-gSf1Z-ZFlspqueYmLDXn3Mn8lzGDRPRIHpqaa5u3nMGwt2ki/s320/ark%20dvd%20us.jpg" width="225" /></a></div><br /><div>As is often the case, the Region 1 cover allowed the image space (no pun intended), and works a lot better than the UK cover.</div></div></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjf0wEUx5bmMTgxeqAgwQF7KEZWPixs8pnee6PYMKtONZKqpsLOXVp3Gf1-MwyVrUAr32zk4TJoVTp4Nrpe_PV1hnFPckOhHcgJzSgj7oNM-3qbC1pn8k5CIBusWa7fht7EN5AOputJ_6DP5oDcMR5fuu_0DfaRRIsfYm0edhuwAGMJQEgqO0BeqIPPSxTd/s2400/ark%20audiobook.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2400" data-original-width="2400" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjf0wEUx5bmMTgxeqAgwQF7KEZWPixs8pnee6PYMKtONZKqpsLOXVp3Gf1-MwyVrUAr32zk4TJoVTp4Nrpe_PV1hnFPckOhHcgJzSgj7oNM-3qbC1pn8k5CIBusWa7fht7EN5AOputJ_6DP5oDcMR5fuu_0DfaRRIsfYm0edhuwAGMJQEgqO0BeqIPPSxTd/s320/ark%20audiobook.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div>Finally, Pearson's Target Books reissue cover graced the audiobook release, issued in 2018.GerryDhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15825222546131243823noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2111969765309227755.post-9897569650611971652024-03-12T20:10:00.002+00:002024-03-12T20:10:36.709+00:00M is for... Mr Sin<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihTBWeodO7K0aV9d4_mXh9_NHlLd3XfLkNs8AURkEGOpuvXjM66FRYEHBjYw7OrP_sUjuxigaYrtSJzbpnZrTwM4xfyKOnqFDyJlX65BxTTXJA6VWZLxGy_uCuCjWY-S3J9ynvqprVFVrnbLA-vUvm7PbER3A8SlR3olTkADQX0tt8S-exitF0-yKeVxyZ/s960/mr%20sin.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="960" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihTBWeodO7K0aV9d4_mXh9_NHlLd3XfLkNs8AURkEGOpuvXjM66FRYEHBjYw7OrP_sUjuxigaYrtSJzbpnZrTwM4xfyKOnqFDyJlX65BxTTXJA6VWZLxGy_uCuCjWY-S3J9ynvqprVFVrnbLA-vUvm7PbER3A8SlR3olTkADQX0tt8S-exitF0-yKeVxyZ/s320/mr%20sin.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div>Ostensibly the grotesque ventriloquist dummy of the Chinese magician Li H'sen Chang, Mr Sin was in actual fact the "Peking Homunculus". This cyborg had been created as a toy for the children of the Icelandic Alliance Commissioner in the 51st Century. It contained a complex of magnetic fields on a printed circuit, but had the cerebral cortex of a pig.</div><div>The swinish personality soon came to dominate and it became a ruthless killer, almost causing a fourth world war. It later came into the possession of Magnus Greel, the infamous Minister of Justice known as the "Butcher of Brisbane" for his horrific genetic experiments.</div><div>He invented a rudimentary form of time travel capsule and escaped justice of his own by fleeing back to the 19th Century - arriving horribly mutilated in Imperial China. Losing his time cabinet, he brought a local man under his mental control - Chang - and began a hunt across the globe in search of it.</div><div>Mr Sin became part of Chang's magic act - the audience little realising that it had a life of its own.</div><div>Chang and Greel used it to assassinate their enemies. Its small size enabled it to be easily smuggled into the home of the pathologist Professor Litefoot, after Greel learned that he held the cabinet.</div><div>Eventually Greel discovered that even he could not control it due to its homicidal personality.</div><div>The Doctor managed to deactivate it when he tore out and destroyed its cortex.</div><div><br /></div><div>Played by: Deep Roy. Appearances: <b>The Talons of Weng-Chiang</b> (1977).</div><div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>Roy returned to the series (uncredited) to portray the Posicarian Delegate in <b>Mindwarp</b>, wearing an adapted Terileptil mask.</li><li>He is the only actor to have featured in <i>Doctor Who</i>, <i>Blake's 7</i>, <i>Star Trek</i>, <i>Star Wars</i> and <i>The X-Files</i>.</li><li>He doubled for the Yoda puppet for some walking shots in <i>The Empire Strikes Back</i>.</li></ul><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgymTj_LX2MRj9CgDlHe-29o-1GJ6jHj8ZOMJBHGjSJQbox4fhgrZxTAFp5CmnGbVLMcq1rL3lW4rPrsll9v_7IKs-0PEAOzDvhWwdDluUsX_rVcu2Fx8no5NAAufa_cuLOGDuKIPYwfok-ZqHAFk9IIhb5qP7X9yrhIzcSuJZ-6HCZOGkNy4_exh4npzj_/s800/deep%20yoda.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="640" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgymTj_LX2MRj9CgDlHe-29o-1GJ6jHj8ZOMJBHGjSJQbox4fhgrZxTAFp5CmnGbVLMcq1rL3lW4rPrsll9v_7IKs-0PEAOzDvhWwdDluUsX_rVcu2Fx8no5NAAufa_cuLOGDuKIPYwfok-ZqHAFk9IIhb5qP7X9yrhIzcSuJZ-6HCZOGkNy4_exh4npzj_/w320-h400/deep%20yoda.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>A lot of his film appearances have been in the role of stunt performer.</li><li>He played all of the Oompa-Loompas in Tim Burton's 2005 film adaptation of <i>Charlie and the Chocolate</i> <i>Factory</i>.</li></ul></div>GerryDhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15825222546131243823noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2111969765309227755.post-51741416836487313222024-03-12T20:10:00.001+00:002024-03-12T20:10:26.499+00:00M is for... Mr Dread<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIPXRctiDuTTdcJlHOnetG3D42r_f1K6XUL2Q2xHe92gPFkQRJ5uJyJ2X7czR3hWSb26NV9xO8vXSWvadTW4E4e57BIja09FUVFtziU3zuSss5uDyqiTN7qIgNrPRCmF0DIUbdFOMJgoVDzN9ZUdt_oSi67rgtc_8Qrelf0RwcmF1AdkhIg-WYGLBzKJA5/s1000/mr%20dread%202.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="562" data-original-width="1000" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIPXRctiDuTTdcJlHOnetG3D42r_f1K6XUL2Q2xHe92gPFkQRJ5uJyJ2X7czR3hWSb26NV9xO8vXSWvadTW4E4e57BIja09FUVFtziU3zuSss5uDyqiTN7qIgNrPRCmF0DIUbdFOMJgoVDzN9ZUdt_oSi67rgtc_8Qrelf0RwcmF1AdkhIg-WYGLBzKJA5/w400-h225/mr%20dread%202.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: left;">Leader of a group of Men in Black - cyborgs who were tasked with guarding a trans-dimensional vault in which various alien artefacts were secured. These had arrived on Earth over the years, and the Men in Black gathered them up and concealed them to prevent advanced technology and knowledge of aliens becoming widely known.</div><div style="text-align: left;">Mr Dread had been active for decades, having once been involved in covering up UFO activity in the USA in the 1950's. </div><div style="text-align: left;">The vault was hidden in an abandoned hospital in West London, and Sarah Jane Smith learned of it when the alien Androvax escaped from the Judoon and returned to Earth. He sought the vault as it contained the last of his race, inhabiting a spaceship in suspended animation. He was dying, and wanted to free the ship so that his people could re-establish themselves on a new home.</div><div style="text-align: left;">Mr Dread and his two underlings defended the vault. However, he eventually used up his power to enable the ship to escape before the vault was permanently sealed.</div><div style="text-align: left;">Rani Chandra's mother Gita had witnessed the alien activity, having been possessed by Androvax at one point. Mr Dread used the last of his energy to wipe her memories. With his mission now at an end, he deactivated himself.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Played by: Angus Wright. Appearances: <i>SJA 4.2</i> <b>The Vault of Secrets</b> (2010).</div><div style="text-align: left;"><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>Mr Dread also featured in the animated story <i>Dreamland</i>, voiced by Peter Guinness.</li><li>Angus Wright has voiced Magnus Greel for Big Finish.</li></ul></div>GerryDhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15825222546131243823noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2111969765309227755.post-91460187956403023182024-03-12T20:10:00.000+00:002024-03-12T20:10:15.269+00:00M is for... Mr Clever<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5mWta4ndvz8AaJ1srXE1h6P8PIdfxdjwtdZUIxcnVwtwpzeSPYq_gaETTXFeazoP_mVMMH2_-w00YEULcyxP0vRDKpvj1Hk6wjfaaIRKRuhyphenhyphenaMZWQvb3D3tL8MDEXMpRPoSm62Udedtu4QHMkIv_f_QKpWIGpFkEhWZT6Im8zLrNgSNJXRNCVIB4C8KTB/s1280/mr%20clever.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="721" data-original-width="1280" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5mWta4ndvz8AaJ1srXE1h6P8PIdfxdjwtdZUIxcnVwtwpzeSPYq_gaETTXFeazoP_mVMMH2_-w00YEULcyxP0vRDKpvj1Hk6wjfaaIRKRuhyphenhyphenaMZWQvb3D3tL8MDEXMpRPoSm62Udedtu4QHMkIv_f_QKpWIGpFkEhWZT6Im8zLrNgSNJXRNCVIB4C8KTB/w400-h225/mr%20clever.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: left;">The personification of the partially converted Doctor when the Cybermen attempted to turn him into their Cyber-Planner on Hedgewick's World. The Doctor had thought himself immune to conversion, being a Time Lord, but the Cybermen had adapted over time. </div><div style="text-align: left;">As "Mr Clever" - his own ironic name for his Cyber-converted self - he had insight into the Cyberiad, the Cyberman central intelligence. It sought the Doctor's experience to add to its own.</div><div style="text-align: left;">Whilst Mr Clever dominated half of the Doctor's mind, he was able to retain control over the other half.</div><div style="text-align: left;">A battle of wills ensued, and the pair decided to play a game of chess to determine overall control. The Doctor could briefly overcome Mr Clever by using a piece of gold paper applied to his facial implants, and he was eventually able to divert his Cyber-converted half with a chess problem which caused it to direct its full resources away from the attacking Cyberman army to resolve it.</div><div style="text-align: left;">An electric shock was finally used to free him of Mr Clever, and the Cyberman army was destroyed when the planet was blown up.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Played by: Matt Smith. Appearances: <b>Nightmare in Silver</b> (2013).</div>GerryDhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15825222546131243823noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2111969765309227755.post-50729219614374036102024-03-12T20:09:00.001+00:002024-03-12T20:09:59.140+00:00M is for... Moxx of Balhoon<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwPgNz3nDNnxBcqBvF4CK9_z9L7I3nu71did4S3yqd0qW-ibkcWHlqfveev-63P5eND6XbgtosrO2uHlWjpyfeUATF7WpBXqK3AFj9n5SuWWJP1Y7xLaGS8GkBtOif9-igMVMPajy8f1QRl8VLIneOGZV8Da3iBKBFowLqniSdXQCxmuk99izaIjd3aLwC/s1280/moxx.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="1280" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwPgNz3nDNnxBcqBvF4CK9_z9L7I3nu71did4S3yqd0qW-ibkcWHlqfveev-63P5eND6XbgtosrO2uHlWjpyfeUATF7WpBXqK3AFj9n5SuWWJP1Y7xLaGS8GkBtOif9-igMVMPajy8f1QRl8VLIneOGZV8Da3iBKBFowLqniSdXQCxmuk99izaIjd3aLwC/w400-h225/moxx.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: left;">A small blue-skinned being present on Platform One to witness the destruction of the Earth around the year 5 Billion. He represented the legal firm of Jolco and Jolco. All guests were expected to provide gifts to their fellow VIPs, and the Moxx offered samples of his bodily fluids in the form of saliva.</div><div style="text-align: left;">After the space station's shields had been sabotaged by the Lady Cassandra, the searing heat from the expanding sun broke in to certain sections of the vessel. The Moxx of Balhoon was one of those killed - his body incinerated.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Played by: Jimmy Vee. Voiced by: Silas Carson. Appearances: <b>The End of the World</b> (2005).</div><div style="text-align: left;"><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>The Moxx provides the very first mention of the phrase "Bad Wolf" in the 2005 series - describing a "Bad Wolf scenario" to other guests.</li><li>Along with Jabe, images of the Moxx featured heavily in the advance publicity for the revived series. </li><li>Another Balhoonian - the Moxx's brother Jixx - was to have featured as part of the Shadow Proclamation in <b>The Stolen Earth</b>.</li><li>This was Vee's first appearance in the series. It was quickly followed by the "Space Pig" in <b>Aliens of</b> <b>London</b> - filmed first. He would go on to feature in episodes starring David Tennant and Peter Capaldi - the Skovox Blitzer being his most recent appearance to date.</li><li>He has been operating R2-D2 since <i>The Force Awakens</i>.</li><li>Carson is best known on the series for providing the vocals for the Ood. He provided other voices for this story, including the Adherents of the Repeated Meme.</li></ul></div>GerryDhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15825222546131243823noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2111969765309227755.post-72552223290165506462024-03-10T12:57:00.000+00:002024-03-10T12:57:42.655+00:00Episode 108: The Plague<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCWC-xWpgP1Y7fBLoB-JSZGn7emawBlQjLkszgNsf9zTARy-ll_6Rxbi-gIyQ-BXTupHIHWEq-XwFlQUIvi15epDSjyTrdVUqgRC6C-RIcdNovnT3EhpN8M-ZRUrTM-SsSG8xlUfb32-KP71ynyLoAIZ1aUhGaFjrJ9nb77Jw82DKqWnFy6MM06lpQc-zY/s640/ark%205.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCWC-xWpgP1Y7fBLoB-JSZGn7emawBlQjLkszgNsf9zTARy-ll_6Rxbi-gIyQ-BXTupHIHWEq-XwFlQUIvi15epDSjyTrdVUqgRC6C-RIcdNovnT3EhpN8M-ZRUrTM-SsSG8xlUfb32-KP71ynyLoAIZ1aUhGaFjrJ9nb77Jw82DKqWnFy6MM06lpQc-zY/s320/ark%205.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div><b>Synopsis:</b><div>The time travellers have been locked up, accused of being spies and saboteurs - agents of Refusis II. Zentos, Deputy Commander of the Ark, wonders if all their efforts to save the human race might not have been in vain...</div><div>With the Commander incapacitated with the new fever, Zentos claims that he can summarily execute them by ejecting them into space, but it is decided that a trial must be held. he will preside as judge.</div><div>A Guardian named Baccu will prosecute whilst Manyak, a friend of Mellium, will act as their defence. Steven insists on speaking up for his friends, despite falling victim to the fever himself.</div><div>His impassioned pleas fall on deaf ears as the frightened Guardians are stirred up by the far from impartial Zentos. </div><div>The case goes against the time-travellers and Zentos decrees that the Monoids will be allowed to dispose of them, having been the first victims of the illness.</div><div>The Commander has been observing proceedings and now intervenes - overruling his deputy.</div><div>The Doctor has claimed that, given the right facilities, he could find a cure for the fever. The Commander points out that by killing the one person who might be able to help them, they will be dooming themselves.</div><div>The Doctor is to be given access to a laboratory and allowed to gather whatever he needs. Any cure he devises must be tested on Steven first.</div><div>The Doctor is joined by medic Rhos, who has been caring for the Commander, and he instructs that tissue samples be taken from many of the animals in the biodome - recalling that a cure for the common cold had been derived from animal membranes.</div><div>He finds the Monoids to be of invaluable help, and notes that the Guardians really do not appreciate their fellow travellers.</div><div>The cure is developed and Steven recovers. Zentos has come to realise how unreasonable he had become and asks for the Doctor's forgiveness - but he is content to see that the Deputy Commander has learned a lesson about being more open-minded.</div><div>The great spaceship begins its departure from Earth's orbit as the planet starts to burn.</div><div>As the Ark embarks on its 700 year voyage, the TARDIS departs...</div><div>The ship materialises a few minutes later and the Doctor is shocked to find themselves in familiar surroundings. They are exactly where they left from, in the biodome of the Ark.</div><div>They set off to see Mellium and Manyak, but find the command deck deserted. The vessel's systems appear to be automated now. </div><div>They realise that they have travelled forward seven centuries to the end of the Ark's journey, as the great statue has now been completed.</div><div>However, the humanoid sculpture now has the head of a Monoid...</div><div>Next episode: <i>The Return</i></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiywa4VlOQ06KIMp6EwwoprEVnA8OSIuQodQLx60q5UBVJVvZv6dro-6I989-NJS6ny5mloNFtam5-V_rTMVFzrLhfUVmuW8lYevWp2dsEnmRIM9sK7OsBD9fBx8ANf6a4bKlxyqLN_e4ZR7MA86dlojpuN9UrMPXy0yjrbDDPmLXTjS5eemfEQwmN4iYy/s640/ark%206.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiywa4VlOQ06KIMp6EwwoprEVnA8OSIuQodQLx60q5UBVJVvZv6dro-6I989-NJS6ny5mloNFtam5-V_rTMVFzrLhfUVmuW8lYevWp2dsEnmRIM9sK7OsBD9fBx8ANf6a4bKlxyqLN_e4ZR7MA86dlojpuN9UrMPXy0yjrbDDPmLXTjS5eemfEQwmN4iYy/s320/ark%206.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><b>Data:</b><div>Written by: Paul Erickson & Lesley Scott</div><div>Recorded: Friday 25th February 1966 - Riverside Studio 1</div><div>First broadcast: 5:15pm, Saturday 12th March 1966</div><div>Ratings: 6.9 million / AI 56</div><div>Designer: Barry Newbery</div><div>Director: Michael Imison</div><div>Additional cast: Michael Sheard (Rhos), Ian Frost (Baccu)</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgylGeEEG9MyttzkMRETVxM13kZchBW5joZjB9b8gFr7CHv8fJUBsDXx3TVJEh0Ym4-ypolCT3WcfnTd8NmEDeIiRDO6_8wZdS80Y-ucZCUjb6M59ngidQbJBliHxJbr6eCo8oiEREj6ndf5xvRdFw_1LgUi-lFG-XetZuDtHduaRqrEcMPuuNCYw82Q9p/s640/ark%208.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgylGeEEG9MyttzkMRETVxM13kZchBW5joZjB9b8gFr7CHv8fJUBsDXx3TVJEh0Ym4-ypolCT3WcfnTd8NmEDeIiRDO6_8wZdS80Y-ucZCUjb6M59ngidQbJBliHxJbr6eCo8oiEREj6ndf5xvRdFw_1LgUi-lFG-XetZuDtHduaRqrEcMPuuNCYw82Q9p/s320/ark%208.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div><b>Critique:</b><div>As mentioned last week, Michael Imison claimed to have developed the Monoids beyond their rather nondescript appearance in Erickson's original storyline, where they were simply described as "reptilian servants".</div><div>With their single eye, it was the director who named them "Monoids" in the first place, and he hoped that they might be marketable like the Daleks.</div><div>Eight costumes had been made, only four of which featured the moveable eye. This was simply half of a ping-pong ball, painted, with a peg attached at the back. The artiste playing the alien could manipulate the peg with their tongue to make the eye move around.</div><div>To get away from the human form, the lower half of the body saw the legs bound together so that only their feet could move - giving them a rather (unintended) humorous waddling motion.</div><div>The costumes were one-piece with a padded chest, which could be stepped into and then zipped up at the back. It was impossible to hide the join on the skull, which is why they were given wigs. These Beatle-like mop-tops were blond, ginger and brunette and made from yak-hair.</div><div>Three of the costumes would be used by principal Monoid actors, who would go to play speaking aliens in the second half of the story, with the others going to extras.</div><div><br /></div><div>Joining the cast for this episode only was Scottish actor Michael Sheard, playing the medic Rhos. This was the first of six appearances in the programme, seeing him work with five of the seven original Doctors.</div><div>His next story would be <b>The Mind of Evil</b>, playing another doctor, followed by two very different appearances during Tom Baker's tenure in the TARDIS - as the tragic Lawrence Scarman in <b>Pyramids of</b> <b>Mars</b>, and as the possessed Lowe in <b>The Invisible Enemy</b>. He was yet another medical man in Peter Davison's first story, <b>Castrovalva</b>, before a final role as the unnamed Headmaster of Coal Hill School in <b>Remembrance of the Daleks</b>. The school setting would have been familiar to Sheard, having been a series regular on <i>Grange Hill</i>, playing the hated Mr Bronson.</div><div>Sheard was seen by millions in <i>The Empire Strikes Back</i>, as Imperial Admiral Ozzel who falls foul of Lord Vader just before the Battle of Hoth; and another blockbuster role was as Adolf Hitler in <i>Indiana Jones and</i> <i>the Last Crusade</i>.</div><div>The Nazi Fuhrer was a part Sheard returned to again and again, playing him five times in total (including a <i>Tomorrow People</i> story). He also played Himmler on three occasions.</div><div>At the time of this episode being recorded, he had a regular role on the BBC sitcom <i>The Likely Lads</i>.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTObH3QWW6TB0PhGIVSJhw6nmQhGfyPKZKy5ykGt9mW7sjAcPCNnxH5QtKs4J6wF-U_fuWq0N1Mpehm4i8aqFhDU396YPvmwpzE56YIuanyL-WpmR6n9hMbc0jODiGIdojt6LGtkQk7-6LuRnmW1K8BNp1C3nvKnFU5w4T0lh8755LhabyXxufxSS_NFkA/s1024/ark%20bts%203.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="754" data-original-width="1024" height="295" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTObH3QWW6TB0PhGIVSJhw6nmQhGfyPKZKy5ykGt9mW7sjAcPCNnxH5QtKs4J6wF-U_fuWq0N1Mpehm4i8aqFhDU396YPvmwpzE56YIuanyL-WpmR6n9hMbc0jODiGIdojt6LGtkQk7-6LuRnmW1K8BNp1C3nvKnFU5w4T0lh8755LhabyXxufxSS_NFkA/w400-h295/ark%20bts%203.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div>All of the jungle sequences for <i>The Plague</i> had been pre-filmed at Ealing - including the Monoid collapsing by the TARDIS, the Monoids collecting animal tissue samples, and the departure and subsequent return of the TARDIS at the conclusion.</div><div>This meant that the studio only had to feature Newbery's huge command deck set (above), along with two smaller rooms - the Commander's chamber and the prison cell. Both were fitted with small monitors so that the various cast members could be seen to observe the trial.</div><div>The Commander's room was designed in a Japanese style.</div><div>One aspect of the main set which irritated William Hartnell was the electric buggy. This was merely a piece of BBC studio equipment used by the scenic crew, redressed. Hartnell did not like travelling on it, and his unease is evident on screen.</div><div>There were five recording breaks planned for the evening. Two were for Peter Purves to move back and forth for his trial appearance, a third for Hartnell to move from cell to Commander's room, and a fourth to allow for the model shot of the burning Earth to be inserted.</div><div>This had been filmed on Friday 4th February, and comprised a globe full of dry-ice which could escape via a number of small holes. This was then filmed whilst a wind machine was directed at it, to make it appear as though smoke was streaking into space.</div><div>The final recording break allowed for the redressing of the command deck set, to show the passage of time.</div><div><br /></div><div>There's a problem underlying this episode, and that's the suspicions concerning the planet Refusis II. Zentos is convinced that the TARDIS crew are agents for the "intelligences" which inhabit that world, and he has little trouble whipping up the other Guardians into accepting this accusation. </div><div>If they think its inhabitants so hostile, why are they going there in the first place? Why pick an inhabited planet at all?</div><div>How can they know anything about the planet or its people if it is a 700 year voyage away? Describing the Refusians as "intelligences" even hints that they already seem to know that they are invisible, insubstantial beings - as we'll see to be the case in due course.</div><div>Other stories tell us that there are a lot of Earth-like planets a lot closer to Earth than Refusis. We've already seen Earth people visiting the Sense-Sphere, for instance. The previous two Dalek stories have also shown how easily people can travel across the galaxy to inhabitable worlds in relatively short spaces of time.</div><div><br /></div><div>When considering this episode, it should be borne in mind that the audience had no idea how long any <i>Doctor Who</i> story was going to run. The production team might have decided on a standard four episode length for non-Dalek stories - they getting six weeks instead - but previously the story durations had ranged from two to seven weeks, with the last Dalek story being a double length twelve-parter.</div><div>With the deadly fever cured, viewers will have assumed that this was only a short two-parter as they saw the Doctor and companions get into the TARDIS and leave, with only a few minutes left of the programme.</div><div>Initially, because of this similarity of set dressing, it would have looked as if the TARDIS had simply gone wrong. The (slow) reveal of the statue's head hints at a mystery to be resolved in the next instalment - a classic cliff-hanger ending.</div><div>It would have been a huge surprise to see the ship then rematerialise exactly where it had been (a bit of a gaffe as the jungle could not possibly look identical, down to the individual plants, over the course of seven centuries). </div><div>We've mentioned it before but, for a series about time travel, the concept was rarely ever exploited significantly for a story.</div><div>Mention had been made of the potential consequences of time travel in <b>The Aztecs</b> and <b>The Reign of</b> <b>Terror</b>, and <b>The Time Meddler</b> had revolved around an attempt to alter history, but this was the first time we would get to see the Doctor actually confront the consequences of one of his travels...</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPqQYUb-f90MJQmdt3GBYMkPTV6e2iB_BoulhEtum4yCECZJIHKbaQA9_RFfJIIH2hExVR0n8E14tLBUr6gYHlEbZHb225VzOZ1n11dTcnUHjVbBC6gijlGkUL_yOt_e5OK6bQC9UKiucNh60Jhf9Tz_Js5PoOQ0fvjDU_UDx95paULox3ILiQtvuSShFH/s640/ark%207.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPqQYUb-f90MJQmdt3GBYMkPTV6e2iB_BoulhEtum4yCECZJIHKbaQA9_RFfJIIH2hExVR0n8E14tLBUr6gYHlEbZHb225VzOZ1n11dTcnUHjVbBC6gijlGkUL_yOt_e5OK6bQC9UKiucNh60Jhf9Tz_Js5PoOQ0fvjDU_UDx95paULox3ILiQtvuSShFH/s320/ark%207.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><b>Trivia:</b><div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>The ratings bounce back this week, rising by 1.4 million viewers. The appreciation figure rises as well, though only by a single point.</li><li>Once again, the incidental music mostly derived from <b>The Daleks</b>, though a library percussion piece - <i>Drumdramatics No.11</i> - was used for the Monoid funeral sequence.</li><li>John Wiles took Jackie Lane aside to complain that Dodo had not looked sad enough during this sequence. She responded that it was difficult to conjure up emotions when dealing with "a heap of wrinkled rubber".</li><li>Ian Frost returned to the series some seven years later, playing a Draconian messenger in <b>Frontier in Space</b>.</li><li>A few days after broadcast, on Wednesday 16th March, the BBC youth series <i>Whole Scene Going</i> featured an interview with director Gordon Flemyng on the set of <i>Daleks - Invasion Earth 2150 AD</i>.</li></ul></div>GerryDhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15825222546131243823noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2111969765309227755.post-77903169051959360912024-03-08T19:38:00.001+00:002024-03-10T00:27:12.183+00:00Story 286: The Battle of Ranskoor Av Kolos<div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUNANHX8Qrh6t-T87HgzZaYdhaIWDOrjwXhvjSCA2jM1hfCXKWMojNyUEJqGjSRquvq-opX_v9PKtidQnvNLweeB3vPy9JFHA-6YILarL0o9mVRCoppls8_G0OTeYjkWlbzgknaRNFmiWWJGeB7BqHR5n_WXA_S7WW5P81hj9jjVke2-7adDmixuoowa2m/s1280/battle2.jpg"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUNANHX8Qrh6t-T87HgzZaYdhaIWDOrjwXhvjSCA2jM1hfCXKWMojNyUEJqGjSRquvq-opX_v9PKtidQnvNLweeB3vPy9JFHA-6YILarL0o9mVRCoppls8_G0OTeYjkWlbzgknaRNFmiWWJGeB7BqHR5n_WXA_S7WW5P81hj9jjVke2-7adDmixuoowa2m/w400-h200/battle2.jpg" width="400"></a></div><br><div>In which the TARDIS materialises aboard a spacecraft on the surface of the planet Ranskoor Av Kolos. It has come here in response to nine separate distress signals. Psychotropic waves emanating from this world can cause the unprotected to be driven insane, so they must take precautions with neural blockers attached to the temple. They come across a single crewmember, a man named Paltraki. He was the commander of the vessel, but has lost most of his memories due to the psychotropic waves.</div><div>A video message is broadcast from a woman named Andinio, insisting that Paltraki return something which belongs to "The Creator". They then hear a familiar voice - that of the Stenza Tzim-Sha.</div><div>The commander has a crystal container within which is some unknown object. The Doctor's sonic will not penetrate the casing, but it appears to be of great density.</div><div>Tzim-Sha is holding Paltraki's crew hostage, so they are forced to go to him.</div><div>Outside the ship, they see a number of crashed spaceships - the source of the emergency transmissions. Paltraki's memories are beginning to return after the Doctor gave him a neural blocker to combat the waves. He recalls a great battle in which he and his crew fought. They are the only survivors.</div><div>They travel across the barren landscape and soon come to a lake, floating above which is a huge rock edifice.</div><div><br></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJ-_Fm61DgCgGzSUTMpsLH2_uCZs0PTWDEj5QjlEHIzL5qysIl7WaBf9Iob_F7aGJeDoP8T7qNYNa94tpHXqZLAbhDqWVBAVE_g6r0MZSJ9QbpHxCJ3R3VYHbCQDnAciHvaX4vlG65vCkBCpu5G8mrisZyFZw3d7RyUS1vqNtDAhx8yHYaC8JHnpD5iMSJ/s1280/battle8.jpg"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJ-_Fm61DgCgGzSUTMpsLH2_uCZs0PTWDEj5QjlEHIzL5qysIl7WaBf9Iob_F7aGJeDoP8T7qNYNa94tpHXqZLAbhDqWVBAVE_g6r0MZSJ9QbpHxCJ3R3VYHbCQDnAciHvaX4vlG65vCkBCpu5G8mrisZyFZw3d7RyUS1vqNtDAhx8yHYaC8JHnpD5iMSJ/w400-h200/battle8.jpg" width="400"></a></div><br><div>Whilst wondering how to gain access, the object within the crystal appears to respond to the proximity of the structure. They find themselves transported inside as they come closer.</div><div>The structure is guarded by Stenza SniperBots. They split up, one group to look for the missing crewmembers, and the other to locate Tzim-Sha and find out what he is doing here.</div><div>The Doctor meets Andinio and a young man named Delph - members of the Ux.</div><div>They have powerful telekinetic abilities, and were responsible for the creation of this structure from the surrounding rocks. </div><div>They arrived on the planet in 2018 on a mystical quest, and witnessed the materialisation of Tzim-Sha. He had just been transported from Earth, badly injured by his own DNA bombs thanks to the Doctor. Andinio and Delph took his to be their deity-figure they sought, and have been employing their powers for the last 5000 years to assist him in his great scheme.</div><div>Graham and Ryan find Paltraki's crew imprisoned in stasis chambers.</div><div>The Doctor and Yaz locate the Stenza and learn of his plan. The object taken by Paltraki is also a stasis unit - but one containing the harnessed energies of an entire planet. It has been removed from space, compressed and encased using the power of the Ux.</div><div><br></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpSFy2sZu14PSGs1O4OlJoYO9Qzt4lX-HTmaGzty35-53eZIfcARFhY-TLPqjmd4tmhX67Hllnb3plXK9vWl3dxhlcDnoRNaSM0TUQyhWEmyXV1S7UyYWdVt3bfGL7SOu010D948BgxhT3C1pIxyJpuUeFR213gAW3TIJPUxCrKz_UNfHXJer2QfQzR4OW/s1280/battle4.jpg"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpSFy2sZu14PSGs1O4OlJoYO9Qzt4lX-HTmaGzty35-53eZIfcARFhY-TLPqjmd4tmhX67Hllnb3plXK9vWl3dxhlcDnoRNaSM0TUQyhWEmyXV1S7UyYWdVt3bfGL7SOu010D948BgxhT3C1pIxyJpuUeFR213gAW3TIJPUxCrKz_UNfHXJer2QfQzR4OW/w400-h200/battle4.jpg" width="400"></a></div><br><div>Tzim-Sha has done the same with a number of other worlds, and is going to use their combined energy to create a super-weapon - one capable of destroying more planets. This will be focussed through Delph.</div><div>As an act of revenge for what happened to him there, the next victim world will be Earth.</div><div>Graham and Ryan free the imprisoned crew as the SniperBots start to break in. One of Paltraki's bombs destroys them.</div><div>The Doctor is able to get through to the Ux that their powers are being abused, and the Stenza is not their deity. She and Yaz sacrifice their neural blockers to give to them. </div><div>The attack on Earth is halted.</div><div>Graham has vowed to kill Tzim-Sha in revenge for the death of Grace, but the Doctor has succeeded in convincing him that this would make him no better than the alien.</div><div>Instead of killing him, Graham instead imprisons him in one of his own stasis chambers.</div><div>Delph returns the captured planets to their correct points in space.</div><div>He and Andinio will leave the planet with Paltraki and his crew, to continue their quest elsewhere.</div><div><br></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4lJnXj3n-UZ64i0GjcSYh_m1G4DTBrzViL-QYWZNZYRTL-wHp38f2FSN3fEzuj-U8O53eOr1O5xnvdSxuEHbNbDjm47s4SALQenWDb9D8td2dzdg9_HYRUVtu1qga6uz3rsGEogtJ3bLNyR9XecG1gHeycgeDSsr_s_TueM6hJLatVVy0VKOQxUYD_7l0/s1280/battle6.jpg"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4lJnXj3n-UZ64i0GjcSYh_m1G4DTBrzViL-QYWZNZYRTL-wHp38f2FSN3fEzuj-U8O53eOr1O5xnvdSxuEHbNbDjm47s4SALQenWDb9D8td2dzdg9_HYRUVtu1qga6uz3rsGEogtJ3bLNyR9XecG1gHeycgeDSsr_s_TueM6hJLatVVy0VKOQxUYD_7l0/w400-h200/battle6.jpg" width="400"></a></div><br><div><b>The Battle of Ranskoor Av Kolos</b> was written by Chris Chibnall, and was first broadcast on Sunday 9th December 2018.</div><div>It was the final instalment of Series 11 - the first for Chibnall and Jodie Whittaker - and great things were expected of it. The title alone hinted at some much needed action, which could have been described as "sparse" throughout the season so far.</div><div>The kindest thing you could say about the episode is that it is "anti-climactic". Many would simply say that it was a huge disappointment, and the New Year Special a few weeks later made for a much more satisfying season finale.</div><div>Chibnall had elected to dispense with any sort of story arc for us to invest in. The Stenza had been mentioned in the second episode after appearing in the opener, but this potential thread had evaporated.</div><div>Tzim-Sha had been a lukewarm villain to begin with, and having him as the finale's 'Big Bad' provoked little interest. No-one really cared what had happened to him.</div><div>We have a story promising a battle - and discover that the conflict has finished before the episode even gets underway.</div><div>The main plot has been stolen wholesale from <b>The Pirate Planet</b> - compressing planets and harnessing the energy / setting the Earth up as the next victim world.</div><div>The Ux are interesting characters, but we're asked to believe that they can simply be talked out of a 5000 year belief system in a matter of minutes.</div><div>We'd all seen how pathetic the SniperBots were on their first outing.</div><div><br></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjK_uV0Vs-jkL48Fd1U71F3rwzgUAcL_WYblF0SE6eDO_t5z87RYl4VUq12YVe4x-y5UleN62yUj9sbBo64XHRr5uvU68qXLHdCUxJjk_uxfhZs47MbHDkMRpb9ECP9j6aWps7N-JFNl49meK9wLSZyeGuJXCv_sDDBOdwQIw_gOJC9ME9SbfEqkARFALIA/s1280/battle1.jpg"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjK_uV0Vs-jkL48Fd1U71F3rwzgUAcL_WYblF0SE6eDO_t5z87RYl4VUq12YVe4x-y5UleN62yUj9sbBo64XHRr5uvU68qXLHdCUxJjk_uxfhZs47MbHDkMRpb9ECP9j6aWps7N-JFNl49meK9wLSZyeGuJXCv_sDDBOdwQIw_gOJC9ME9SbfEqkARFALIA/w400-h200/battle1.jpg" width="400"></a></div><br><div>If it has any positives at all, it's the visuals. It looks great - but it's a triumph of style over content...</div><div>There's also a very good guest cast, but they're rather wasted. </div><div>Playing Paltraki is Mark Addy. He first came to fame in the male-stripper comedy <i>The Full Monty</i>, but for many his most prominent role was as King Robert Baratheon in the first season of <i>Game of Thrones</i>.</div><div>Andinio is veteran Scots actor Phyllis Logan. She's best known for playing Mrs Hughes in <i>Downton</i> <i>Abbey</i>, after first coming to prominence as antiques dealer <i>Lovejoy</i>'s aristocratic friend Lady Jane Frensham.</div><div>Delph is Percelle Ascott, who had appeared in RTD's <i>Wizards v. Aliens</i> - the CBBC replacement series for <i>The Sarah Jane Adventures</i>.</div><div>And returning as Tzim-Sha is Samuel Oatley. To hide the alien's return, he was not credited in the advance publicity.</div><div><br></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrJO0RPddEhSVtd7hcBb_8BZjf-DAyLpSFdc-uk0yzl8KtnDMDy-8BsXzLA2lnrSFOu5LOfe36CpY9wrucC6_r7bvobPscdbgI6Oh5wFDsYSNtDXYPl27EKez6zSpvox1yU_pY_wRnYfTNrEOhtgMQfQQHluOVbBk_TUohMU77DJyNeb5nN3zOUsqGrnJy/s1280/battle7.jpg"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrJO0RPddEhSVtd7hcBb_8BZjf-DAyLpSFdc-uk0yzl8KtnDMDy-8BsXzLA2lnrSFOu5LOfe36CpY9wrucC6_r7bvobPscdbgI6Oh5wFDsYSNtDXYPl27EKez6zSpvox1yU_pY_wRnYfTNrEOhtgMQfQQHluOVbBk_TUohMU77DJyNeb5nN3zOUsqGrnJy/w400-h200/battle7.jpg" width="400"></a></div><br><div>Overall, it's undoubtedly the weakest series finale to date - a borrowed plot done better elsewhere and a villain we really didn't need to see again. </div><div>Over the course of the series, the audience had fallen steadily by 4 million viewers, with this episode dropping below the 7 million mark. It also shared the lowest audience appreciation figure, falling below 80.</div><div>Things you might like to know:</div><div><ul><li>Phyllis Logan is married to Kevin McNally, guest artist from <b>The Twin Dilemma</b> and <b>Flux</b>.</li><li>This was the first finale of the modern era not to include a classic villain - not even a cameo.</li><li>Most of the Series 11 stories are referenced in some way throughout the episode, as is <b>Boom Town</b>, when the Doctor mentions the TARDIS regressing a Slitheen back to an egg.</li></ul></div>GerryDhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15825222546131243823noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2111969765309227755.post-62583984051680618712024-03-06T20:27:00.001+00:002024-03-06T20:27:47.421+00:00Inspirations: The Rebel Flesh / The Almost People<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-yx4hsQ5diZH95I0z9NuPzAbnhPkX2kPu7DvCqWuK0kGun9-mD9-G7_BLqCBXEMzGSFi8WIxYEh66GD6nM4lycIXKfqsdnbofxv01tpPD9C3qVodEc_UAWGDH4f5gAtJnfOi-9-wI8RWjz9oqrn57g4WJLQ0KVfLIcUGxjcHgb5rrNgwoj3tJc8yMcP__/s1280/insp%20almost.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="1280" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-yx4hsQ5diZH95I0z9NuPzAbnhPkX2kPu7DvCqWuK0kGun9-mD9-G7_BLqCBXEMzGSFi8WIxYEh66GD6nM4lycIXKfqsdnbofxv01tpPD9C3qVodEc_UAWGDH4f5gAtJnfOi-9-wI8RWjz9oqrn57g4WJLQ0KVfLIcUGxjcHgb5rrNgwoj3tJc8yMcP__/w400-h225/insp%20almost.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><b>The Rebel Flesh</b> / <b>The Almost People</b> two-parter was the latest in a long line of doppelganger stories, which went right back to 1965.</div><div style="text-align: left;">In <b>The Chase</b>, the First Doctor had encountered a deadly look-alike - an android copy created by the Daleks. The following year Hartnell played two roles in <b>The Massacre</b>, though the Doctor never actually met the Abbot of Amboise. He was a natural doppelganger.</div><div style="text-align: left;">The Second Doctor encountered lots of doubles in <b>The Faceless Ones</b>. In this instance, aliens were copying humans as a means of giving themselves new physical identities. The Doctor wasn't copied, though he did impersonate a Chameleon copy of himself. Jamie and Polly were copied.</div><div style="text-align: left;">He then met the would-be dictator Salamander in <b>The Enemy of the World</b>, another natural doppelganger of the Doctor.</div><div style="text-align: left;">More duplicate companions followed in <b>The Mind Robber</b>, when we saw fictionalised versions of Jamie and Zoe.</div><div style="text-align: left;">On the alternate Earth of the Inferno Project, the Doctor was threatened by mirror images of the Brigadier, Liz Shaw and Sergeant Benton.</div><div style="text-align: left;">The Nestene Consciousness did a lot of copying, but missed a trick by never copying the Doctor or his friends - nor did Axos.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">The Zygons copied Harry Sullivan, whilst the Kraals copied just about everyone. Whilst the fake Harry was an alien in disguise, like the Chameleons, the latter were all android versions.</div><div style="text-align: left;">Harry was copied again, as was Benton, whilst we also saw androids of Sarah and the Fourth Doctor.</div><div style="text-align: left;">Not quite a doppelganger, but super-computer Xoanon did take on the Doctor's physiognomy as a projection of itself.</div><div style="text-align: left;">The Rutan on Fang Rock only copied one of the lighthouse keepers. </div><div style="text-align: left;">We briefly saw two Doctor in the Bridge on Zanak, but one was simply a holographic projection. The following story had Romana lured over a cliff by a fake Doctor - but we never actually saw it.</div><div style="text-align: left;">It was her turn to meet doppelgangers - both artificial and natural - in <b>The Androids of Tara</b>. Mary Tamm would play four different characters in this - Romana, android Roman, Strella, and android Strella. There were more holographic copies of her at the end of the season.</div><div style="text-align: left;">The last duplicate of the Fourth Doctor's era was another alien copycat - <b>Meglos</b>. As with Salamander, the Doctor imitated his imitator.</div><div style="text-align: left;">A copy of Adric was created by the Master using Block Transfer Computation, whilst Nyssa met her natural doppelganger - Ann Talbot - in <b>Black Orchid</b>.</div><div style="text-align: left;">Omega temporarily took on the Fifth Doctor's appearance, and later he and Peri had android duplicates made of themselves by Sharaz Jek.</div><div style="text-align: left;">The Sixth Doctor wasn't around long enough for anyone to copy him, and the tenure of the Seventh only saw the odd holographic duplicate.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Once the series returned in 2005, it didn't take long for doubles to feature.</div><div style="text-align: left;">With another Nestene story kicking things off, we got a very unrealistic Auton copy of Mickey Smith, whilst his future wife, Martha, was cloned by the Sontarans.</div><div style="text-align: left;">When David Tennant did meet his doppelganger, it was a friendly one - his Meta-Crisis incarnation.</div><div style="text-align: left;">The Steven Moffat era launched with a story involving a copycat alien - Prisoner Zero.</div><div style="text-align: left;">This latest two-parter by Matthew Graham brings us up to date.</div><div style="text-align: left;">Here we have the sentient "Flesh", which can form exact copies of people linked psychically to it. All of the guest cast encounter Flesh avatars of themselves, as does the Doctor after coming into physical contact with it.</div><div style="text-align: left;">We think that only Amy and Rory are never copied - only to then discover that we've been watching a fake Amy since at least <b>The Day of the Moon</b>.</div><div style="text-align: left;">This is all part of the series story arc, which has been split into two halves this year. The Flesh part ends at the midway point.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Graham was the writer of <b>Fear Her</b> in Series 2 - one of the weakest stories of the modern era, and certainly the least liked Tennant episode. He had hoped to write for Series 5, but this was deferred to the next year. Initially planning just a single-parter, when asked to do Episodes 5 and 6 he was told he would need to have a second cliff-hanger leading into Episode 7, which would form the mid-season finale.</div><div style="text-align: left;">Moffat's two main inspirations were the James Cameron blockbuster <i>Avatar</i> (2009), and the 1982 film version of <i>The Thing</i> - John Carpenter's reimagining of the 1951 classic, which was based on John W Campbell's short story of 1938 <i>Who Goes There?</i>. <i>The Thing From Another World</i> had already inspired the opening section of <b>The Seeds of Doom</b>.</div><div style="text-align: left;">Graham wanted a monastery setting, inspired by <i>The Name of the Rose</i> (the 1986 film version of Umberto Eco's novel). Oddly, we get the setting - yet it's just the physical space, as the story is set in an industrial complex of the future.</div><div style="text-align: left;">Other inspirations included Mary Shelley's <i>Frankenstein: or The Modern Prometheus</i> for the creation of the Flesh avatars, and <i>Invasion of the Body Snatchers</i>, for the paranoia of not knowing which version is which - benign or malevolent, and the whole copying notion. The former was first published in 1818, whilst the latter was released in cinemas in 1956, with a remake following in 1978.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">The image of the Flesh Jennifer with an elongated neck came from an 1865 illustration by John Tenniel for <i>Alice's Adventures in Wonderland</i>. The rotating head came from <i>The Exorcist</i> (1973).</div><div style="text-align: left;">Having a duplicate Doctor who also shared his memories allowed for snatches of dialogue from previous incarnations. </div><div style="text-align: left;">This included Hartnell from <b>An Unearthly Child</b>, Pertwee from <b>The Sea Devils</b> ("reverse the polarity of the neutron flow") and Tom Baker offering a jelly baby from <b>Robot</b>.</div><div style="text-align: left;">The eye-patch lady makes a further appearance, having first been seen in <b>The Day of the Moon</b>.</div><div style="text-align: left;">Next time: the first half of the series comes to an end - but we don't get half the answers as to what is going on. Big revelations at last regarding River Song, a popular crime-fighting trio are introduced, and there's a lot of cameos as the Doctor gathers an army of friends who we've never actually heard of, whilst ignoring all the ones we would have seen had RTD still been in charge...</div>GerryDhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15825222546131243823noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2111969765309227755.post-62234364352982781942024-03-04T19:04:00.001+00:002024-03-04T19:04:40.321+00:00What's Wrong With... Nightmare of Eden<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiF0ROX8vF6sz-EIGF5MFyFE-5eUxvxacRMWKcXb_mGUK2TvL9At7enWvt5xMOQu0FSvQ7uQhrQ1iwvidZJx5yI2dqaJD5XSBycXed88ju4ze7xnkUK5pXZrcfupd3cV0Is_O5_CsUAZ9qv481w0ac8p7FVtnZ22u2TNWX2pliVuH5Evq6qm_URmoY2fGPW/s960/www%20eden.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="960" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiF0ROX8vF6sz-EIGF5MFyFE-5eUxvxacRMWKcXb_mGUK2TvL9At7enWvt5xMOQu0FSvQ7uQhrQ1iwvidZJx5yI2dqaJD5XSBycXed88ju4ze7xnkUK5pXZrcfupd3cV0Is_O5_CsUAZ9qv481w0ac8p7FVtnZ22u2TNWX2pliVuH5Evq6qm_URmoY2fGPW/s320/www%20eden.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: left;">This is one of those stories which, on paper, works very well. It's just the realisation that let's it down.</div><div style="text-align: left;">With <b>Nightmare of Eden</b>, however, the worst of its problems were the ones which we didn't see on screen.</div><div style="text-align: left;">This is the story which, notoriously, saw the director dismissed before completing the job.</div><div style="text-align: left;">Alan Bromly was the worst kind of hack director, at least by this stage of his career. Barry Letts had previously experienced his lack of imagination when he had declined advice from him, and help from the VFX Department in favour of using stock footage of a quarry blast at the conclusion of <b>The Time Warrior</b>.</div><div style="text-align: left;">He was basically coasting towards retirement in 1979 and was only given another <i>Doctor Who</i> to do as a favour to senior management, in the belief that he was a safe pair of hands.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">This was just the sort of attitude which a technically complex programme simply didn't need at this time of high inflation, with an increasingly domineering star.</div><div style="text-align: left;">Bromly had an overly rigid way of working - unwilling to deviate from his planned shots and timetable. This led to an inevitable clash with the improvisational, experimental style favoured by Tom Baker.</div><div style="text-align: left;">Baker took to openly disagreeing with the director - likening him to a parrot when he kept repeating the same instructions over and over again.</div><div style="text-align: left;">By the last recording session, it was open warfare and Bromly was replaced in the gallery by producer Graham Williams.</div><div style="text-align: left;">Other unhappy personnel included the VFX team. Due to the tight budgets, Williams had decided to have the model shots recorded in studio using CSO instead of using the far superior model stage filming method.</div><div style="text-align: left;">Colin Mapson's detailed models of the <i>Hecate</i> and <i>Empress</i> simply weren't done justice.</div><div style="text-align: left;">According to the DVD documentary, special T-shirts were printed with the slogan "I Survived the Nightmare of Eden" when the serial wrapped.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">The BBC tried to build up the Mandrels by claiming that they were so frightening that no photographs were allowed of them - patently untrue. Two of the guest artists also claimed in interviews that they were scary.</div><div style="text-align: left;">The costumes are fine in the darkened environment of the Eden jungle projection, but their limitations are all too apparent in the overly-lit studio. They have been given long arms, but these are too rigid.</div><div style="text-align: left;">Being the 1970's, they've also got flares.</div><div style="text-align: left;">Keep an eye on David Daker when the Mandrel bursts out of the hole, bridging the first and second episodes. He finds it hard to keep a straight face.</div><div style="text-align: left;">It's a bit too obvious that the actors are running up the same small section of stairwell - which moves out of position at one point when it's bumped.</div><div style="text-align: left;">The same problem arises with the passenger pallets. They've moved people about to make it look like lots of identical sections, but you recognise certain extras.</div><div style="text-align: left;">Plot-wise, why are the passengers wearing dark glasses and overalls when the crew aren't?</div><div style="text-align: left;">Are the passengers being kept in some sort of unshielded part of the ship?</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">The reason for the collision in the first place is due to Tryst deliberately spiking Secker's food or drink to cause the accident, so that the transference can take place. </div><div style="text-align: left;">However, none of this has made it from the script to the screen, so we have no clue as to why the accident takes place.</div><div style="text-align: left;">Now that we do know, it actually makes little sense. How could Tryst and Dimond possibly know what would happen when the vessels collided? They could just as easily have been destroyed.</div><div style="text-align: left;">Why deliberately draw the attention of the customs officials by staging an accident, when all they needed to do was slip an innocuous looking crystal from one person to another, or use their enchuka laser option anyway.</div><div style="text-align: left;">You have to wonder how they first discovered that Mandrel ash was Vraxoin in the first place.</div><div style="text-align: left;">Captain Rigg discovers that the Doctor and Romana are imposters quite early on - but does nothing about this information. He continues to allow the Doctor to take charge over his own vessel.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">At one point Romana is bitten by what the script terms a "somno-moth", which flies out of the projection. But you'd never know that to look at the scene. A small electronic effect flies at her and she collapses, but the audience don't have a clue what they've just seen.</div><div style="text-align: left;">Stott and the Doctor discover that things can move in and out of the projection early on, and is also the source of the Vraxoin (even if they don't yet know the precise source) - but don't put two and two together to work out that the person responsible for the projection might just possibly be the smuggler.</div><div style="text-align: left;">Why was Lewis Fiander allowed to use such a ridiculous cod-Germanic accent? Surely this should have been addressed at the rehearsal stage.</div><div style="text-align: left;">Perhaps Williams had simply given up the ghost by this stage, as he also allowed the whole "My arms, my legs, my everything!" nonsense from Baker.</div><div style="text-align: left;">Della gets shot in the throat, but clutches her stomach before falling.</div><div style="text-align: left;">Fisk calls Tryst "Fisk" at one point.</div><div style="text-align: left;">There is some quality model work on show - just a pity it's from <i>Space:1999</i>...</div>GerryDhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15825222546131243823noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2111969765309227755.post-7465300209025817152024-03-03T17:15:00.000+00:002024-03-03T17:15:54.910+00:00Episode 107: The Steel Sky<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigyIRdiaY3LLbDer5LI2YQc0qMeWFJDpLXg1Sm-UG81qejXkzBVlwny5qKd1Tsc-5UhrVtkm9v1bmwmUGDbf2Zi_1zR1aXw9_JSIvMKnmf2cZHsVnVtxlUS06K7zxI-Ao6bqRSrKgvtOyy3iEX3lXnw0AQIZLkSmE5ygu4z9uY15h6Vxf2EhWdIqi2RAtO/s1292/ark%201.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1292" data-original-width="1290" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigyIRdiaY3LLbDer5LI2YQc0qMeWFJDpLXg1Sm-UG81qejXkzBVlwny5qKd1Tsc-5UhrVtkm9v1bmwmUGDbf2Zi_1zR1aXw9_JSIvMKnmf2cZHsVnVtxlUS06K7zxI-Ao6bqRSrKgvtOyy3iEX3lXnw0AQIZLkSmE5ygu4z9uY15h6Vxf2EhWdIqi2RAtO/s320/ark%201.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Synopsis:</b></div><div style="text-align: left;">The TARDIS materialises in a dense jungle environment. The ship's newest traveller - Dodo Chaplet - rushes out and begins to explore. Steven follows and berates her for having failed to take precautions before leaving the ship. They must follow basic safety checks. Dodo dismisses his concerns, claiming to know exactly where they are. It is Whipsnade Zoo, which she has previously visited on a school trip. She points out some familiar animals.</div><div style="text-align: left;">The Doctor emerges from the TARDIS and explains to Steven that Dodo may well be right, as the flora and fauna do match that of Earth. He is annoyed that she has helped herself to an outfit from the TARDIS wardrobe - a mediaeval pageboy costume. </div><div style="text-align: left;">Steven spots a strange creature in the forest - a one-eyed reptilian being - and reports this to the Doctor, who has discovered other odd things. There is a mechanical vibration being generated beneath the ground - and the sky appears to be made of metal...</div><div style="text-align: left;">They suddenly find themselves surrounded by more of the cyclopean creatures.</div><div style="text-align: left;">Nearby, a group of humans have just completed a court trial. An engineer has been found guilty of negligence, and sentenced to be miniaturised and placed in suspended animation.</div><div style="text-align: left;">On learning of the strangers in the forest, the prosecutor has sent the one-eyed beings to bring them to him. He is Zentos, deputy commander of a vast spacecraft.</div><div style="text-align: left;">When the Doctor, Dodo and Steven are brought to its command deck they meet the elderly commander, who welcomes them, and Zentos, who is suspicious of them.</div><div style="text-align: left;">They learn that the Earth has reached the natural end of its existence, and the entire population of the planet, along with examples of flora and fauna stored in huge biodomes, is about to commence a 700 year voyage to a new home - the Earth-like world of Refusis II. The majority of people are miniaturised, frozen and stored securely - with only a small number left to pilot the vessel on its long journey. They are known as Guardians.</div><div style="text-align: left;">Joining them are a number of the cyclopean beings - the mute Monoids. They came to Earth many years ago in search of a new home after their own was destroyed, and have become servants to the human race.</div><div style="text-align: left;">Dodo nicknames the vessel "the Ark" - a reference lost on the Guardians.</div><div style="text-align: left;">This is the 57th Segment of Time - millions of years in the future. The commander's daughter Mellium shows them a plinth on which a gigantic statue is being constructed. It will take the entire length of their voyage to complete, and will represent a human figure.</div><div style="text-align: left;">Reports start to come in of a rapidly developing illness which affects both human and Monoid.</div><div style="text-align: left;">Dodo has been suffering from a cold, and the Doctor is horrified to realise that in the far future people will have lost their immunity to illnesses such as the common cold as they would have been eradicated generations before. </div><div style="text-align: left;">The commander falls ill, and first Monoids then a Guardian die from the disease.</div><div style="text-align: left;">Zentos accuses the newcomers of being spies from Refusis II, come to sabotage their efforts to make a new home there. They are taken into custody and will be made to pay for what they have done.</div><div style="text-align: left;">As they see the Earth orbit past on the huge monitor screen, the deputy commander worries that all their plans to preserve humanity may now be in jeopardy...</div><div style="text-align: left;">Next episode: <i>The Plague</i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPz0CTdTqG4SqgONYdi8VzWyR0uhC3jl4NjcU7nEGBf4WEx9fUoPXmYMahdHG-v_QbEXz5Tsjem1agaS4mVjF7_e3S9v8n1p1rFDzB99esiFZhbcqpLL9Qv0W5hJceZdqGypnZL-uaJhbgWGS99ydOkoaWD0vJDqIlHcymmkqRJLYW4SPp6qRSA7c7WY0d/s640/ark%202.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPz0CTdTqG4SqgONYdi8VzWyR0uhC3jl4NjcU7nEGBf4WEx9fUoPXmYMahdHG-v_QbEXz5Tsjem1agaS4mVjF7_e3S9v8n1p1rFDzB99esiFZhbcqpLL9Qv0W5hJceZdqGypnZL-uaJhbgWGS99ydOkoaWD0vJDqIlHcymmkqRJLYW4SPp6qRSA7c7WY0d/s320/ark%202.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><b>Data:</b><div>Written by: Paul Erickson & Lesley Scott</div><div>Recorded: Friday 18th February 1966 - Riverside Studio 1</div><div>First broadcast: 5:15pm, Saturday 5th March 1966</div><div>Ratings: 5.5 million / AI 55</div><div>Designer: Barry Newbery</div><div>Director: Michael Imison</div><div>Guest cast: Eric Elliot (Commander), Inigo Jackson (Zentos), Roy Spencer (Manyak), Kate Newman (Mellium), Edmund Coulter (1st Monoid), Frank George (2nd Monoid), David Greneau (Miniaturised Guardian).</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVgBRADKW70UTO5N4FA1aVApuvjm_NcBMXV9aVz9mk0sCx6jLm4qVHDRKpSEClosBEeKRrKMhsIn42jNjRVy76x3ptOKKQbXgH4PnQd1YyTCI7FNu39fx-L9qjvHNrTZlUtU-ND-mfFU7ZJAcCN2CSZVsgFpIr5k27y79pZd46Lht7_r9ZU9f09GuUA7wS/s640/ark%204.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVgBRADKW70UTO5N4FA1aVApuvjm_NcBMXV9aVz9mk0sCx6jLm4qVHDRKpSEClosBEeKRrKMhsIn42jNjRVy76x3ptOKKQbXgH4PnQd1YyTCI7FNu39fx-L9qjvHNrTZlUtU-ND-mfFU7ZJAcCN2CSZVsgFpIr5k27y79pZd46Lht7_r9ZU9f09GuUA7wS/s320/ark%204.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div><b>Critique:</b><div><b>The Ark</b> is the first <i>Doctor Who</i> story to have a woman credited as writer. However, it is known that Lesley Scott contributed little or nothing to the scripting. Her partner, Paul Erickson, simply asked for her to receive a co-writer credit, and Gerry Davis agreed.</div><div>Copyright on the story remains solely with Erickson, and in later life he refused to discuss Scott's involvement. He had remarried around 1980.</div><div>Erickson had written a small number of works for cinema and the stage, but was primarily a TV writer, contributing single scripts to on-going series such as <i>The Saint</i> and <i>Compact</i>. He had also contributed to a sci-fi series - the anthology <i>Out of the Unknown</i>.</div><div><br /></div><div>This was Davis' first full story as Story Editor, having gained his first on-screen credit for the role on <i>Bell of Doom</i>. </div><div>He had been working solidly on a football-themed soap called <i>United!</i>, which was being made in the Midlands. Wishing to relocate to London after the birth of his latest child, he accepted the role on <i>Doctor Who</i>.</div><div>As the new Story Editor arrives, so the old Producer departs. <b>The Ark</b> was John Wiles' final story for the series, and represents the sort of story he had wanted to tell from the outset - high concept adventures with a strong scientific background. He had toyed with the idea for a multi-generational spaceship for some time. He saw a ship so large that people would need cycles or cars to travel around in it. Donald Tosh was not so keen - thinking it beyond their budget and technical resources, but commissioned Erickson - whom he knew from <i>Compact</i> - to submit a script.</div><div>The reasons for Wiles departure were three-fold - his poor working relationship with William Hartnell; his frustration at the producer role (when he really wanted to write and direct his own work); plus the imposition of the lengthy and complex Dalek story.</div><div><br /></div><div>The director chosen to helm the story, which was seen as being one of the most technically complex of the season, was Michael Imison - his only work on the series. Playwright Gerald Savory had recently taken over as Head of Drama at the BBC. His wife had worked on an adaptation of Thomas Mann's <i>Buddenbrooks</i>, which Imison had directed. Savory disliked his work - no doubt spurred on by his wife - which led to some personal animosity. Imison realised that his days with the BBC were numbered with Savory now head of the department.</div><div>It was Imison who developed the role of the Monoids, which were generic aliens in the original scripts. The director saw merchandising potential for the one-eyed reptile people.</div><div>The designer was Barry Newbery, whose work on the series had mainly been on the historical stories - though he had recently contributed to half of the latest Dalek episodes.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhY8mD5ozTMfkNO0C9a1DHmelSyj6zjT-y-JdKOgilIcxartqUr3Wu4-97OG-uCvThfiDsbJS0zawf_nrUkkbU02RG83jPiJFW4RTcE7O8egaNxD38Ym2Ygn2EBxkMMkYcBu7dLXd6rfE0gIht5VccoRYAlW662rDs7h0XBRUQm8BUIrcUQ3QxNAKGaXgQW/s977/ark%20bts%201.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="516" data-original-width="977" height="211" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhY8mD5ozTMfkNO0C9a1DHmelSyj6zjT-y-JdKOgilIcxartqUr3Wu4-97OG-uCvThfiDsbJS0zawf_nrUkkbU02RG83jPiJFW4RTcE7O8egaNxD38Ym2Ygn2EBxkMMkYcBu7dLXd6rfE0gIht5VccoRYAlW662rDs7h0XBRUQm8BUIrcUQ3QxNAKGaXgQW/w400-h211/ark%20bts%201.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIRARGNpyFbO8ZISRUKp_-FB70CfCGyDj-lm8i4AJgpWsTwZ6nInQ0S6Dc1dwvUcgF8s-Egb4POP0ZvO5iElSCHZMKD6D7fcIyIokBUyHNh7HpUzeAO9zKFPf5JT6q_GC2a9P0Umsi2vQYhOdNhGUIP5LS-SjKUM2HjqiROBQo_a98b6PzQv7Q7x2NMF-a/s2048/ark%20bts%202.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIRARGNpyFbO8ZISRUKp_-FB70CfCGyDj-lm8i4AJgpWsTwZ6nInQ0S6Dc1dwvUcgF8s-Egb4POP0ZvO5iElSCHZMKD6D7fcIyIokBUyHNh7HpUzeAO9zKFPf5JT6q_GC2a9P0Umsi2vQYhOdNhGUIP5LS-SjKUM2HjqiROBQo_a98b6PzQv7Q7x2NMF-a/w400-h266/ark%20bts%202.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div>Production on <b>The Ark</b> got underway with the miniaturisation sequence for this episode, when the Guardian played by David Greneau was photographed on 24th January 1966 - to be inlayed into the finished episode.</div><div>Filming began with the Refusis scenes for the second half of the story, with the jungle biodome scenes finally being filmed from Thursday 3rd February.</div><div>This was Jackie Lane's second piece of work for the series, after filming her debut on Wimbledon Common.</div><div>She later reported that whilst Hartnell could come across as irascible, he was very welcoming to her but clearly unhappy at the changes in personnel going on around him. Imison noted the poor relationship between Hartnell and Wiles.</div><div>Amongst the animals present in studio was a young Sri Lankan elephant named Monica, which usually resided with Sir Robert Fossett's Circus and Zoo in the North of England. </div><div>BBC insurance regulations forbade the animal being kept in the grounds of Ealing Studios overnight, so Imison found himself baby-sitting the animal when it was left in a horse-box outside his home on the eve of filming.</div><div>Model filming of the Earth to be shown on the scanner took place the next day, as did shots of the biodome landscape - using miniature bonsai trees flanking a painted backdrop.</div><div><br /></div><div>The decision to open the episode with a close-up of a Monoid was a late one. It was originally intended that their reveal would be held back until later. The miniaturised Guardian also had a name - Opallo.</div><div>As a cost-cutting measure, the music for the story mostly came from stock - much of it from the very first Dalek story, composed by Tristram Cary.</div><div>Since her scenes at the end of <i>Bell of Doom</i>, much thought had been given to Lane's accent, and it was decided that it should be changed to "BBC English" - creating a discontinuity. The Doctor admonishes her for her slang, yet by the end of the serial there's no trace of it.</div><div>The accent is stronger in this opening instalment, though things are complicated by Lane's nasal "cold" acting.</div><div><br /></div><div>There were only two sets needed for the first studio - a small section of jungle with a cave, and the hangar-like space of the command deck. The massive control panel had working TV monitors and other screens were simply backlit photographs.</div><div>The backdrop to the set was designed to give the impression that the Ark was a gigantic sphere. This is also suggested by a plan which the Commander shows to the Doctor.</div><div>(At no point will we ever get to see the whole vessel, but the few exterior shots later on do appear to show a section of a spherical craft).</div><div>During the afternoon camera rehearsals, the press were out in force to get images of the new monsters and the contingent of young female Guardians, including Kate Newman who was playing Mellium. </div><div>The many shots of Dodo posing with a Monoid had been taken separately at Ealing on the main jungle set, as had images of the regulars with Monica (see below).</div><div>Four recording breaks were planned. One of these involved a Monoid walking up to the camera on the jungle set, with another walking away from the camera on the command deck set.</div><div>A sign-language interpreter was employed for one scene, and a number of children were employed to illustrate the multi-generational aspect of the voyage.</div><div><br /></div><div>There is an underlying race-relations story struggling to get out from under the sci-fi trappings. The alien Monoids have been invited in to Earth society, as West Indian workers were invited into Britain from the 1950's - only to end up being treated like second-class citizens, unable to rise above menial roles.</div><div>This aspect of the story will develop, so we'll return to it later.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguVgYE4DJaN2cf6xU-H1T8LN56_twj0mx6P-sH4rM4kfEzmcZIhPb2xLHEPMTMA-7A7bCXaIATYcFS3vaZoxg2H7qG_fVn5SQPldNvKHCHzo9qIWILEIhph5vSQJ-eNb8fbuwvxiwP16zYy4VdiKVy0C1cVxNRz-t27RBnVe9UnuErKpHLuv_rPTUBAHxM/s640/ark%203.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguVgYE4DJaN2cf6xU-H1T8LN56_twj0mx6P-sH4rM4kfEzmcZIhPb2xLHEPMTMA-7A7bCXaIATYcFS3vaZoxg2H7qG_fVn5SQPldNvKHCHzo9qIWILEIhph5vSQJ-eNb8fbuwvxiwP16zYy4VdiKVy0C1cVxNRz-t27RBnVe9UnuErKpHLuv_rPTUBAHxM/s320/ark%203.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><b>Trivia:</b><div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>The ratings take a further dip, but the appreciation figure remains healthy in the middle 50's.</li><li>Paul Erickson was actually the writer's nom-de-plume. He was born Frederick Redwood Watts in Cardiff in 1920.</li><li>Fed up with submitting scripts and never hearing anything back, Erickson had it included in his contract that he would only submit the next script when its predecessor had already been accepted.</li><li>Lesley Scott is also supposed to be an alias - for Erickson's wife Gemma Vitale. </li><li><b>The Ark</b> was originally intended to appear earlier in Season 3, and had Katarina in its draft version. It was the 12-part Dalek epic which caused it to be pushed back to later in the run, by which time the Trojan character had been dropped.</li><li>The Doctor describes Dodo's outfit as her "playing at Crusades". The implication is that this might be Vicki's old pageboy costume from <b>The Crusade</b>, but it is clearly different.</li><li>The Doctor tells the Commander about a number of previous adventures - <b>The Romans</b>, <b>The</b> <b>Myth Makers</b> and a Dalek story - presumably <b>The Dalek Invasion of Earth</b>. They are said to have taken place in the first segment of time, whilst this is the 57th. The Doctor thinks they are millions of years in the future, but we know that the end of the Earth will be measured in billions rather than millions of years. His dating has been unreliable in the past.</li><li>Amongst his many screen roles, Inigo Jackson, who died in 2001, featured in the Hammer film <i>Twins of Evil</i> as one of Peter Cushing's vampire-hunting brethren.</li><li>On learning that Davis had daughters named Chelsea and Victoria, Hartnell joked with him that he was naming his children after London Underground Stations. Davis found he could get on with the actor by deflecting his anger towards reminiscing about his previous acting roles.</li><li>On the Thursday prior to broadcast of this episode, <i>Blue Peter</i> included the Dalek tea party segment, in which Valerie Singleton made Dalek-shaped cakes and sandwiches. This can be seen as an extra on <b>The Dalek Invasion of Earth</b> DVD / Blu-ray.</li><li>This episode will have given Peter Purves excellent experience for dealing with young elephants when he came to join the <i>Blue Peter</i> team.</li><li>We have a good example of the regional variations for <i>Radio Times</i> this week - the same text and photograph, but a different layout. The top version gives a suggested story title, one which fandom ran with for a while, though paperwork has always simply called it <b>The Ark</b>:</li></ul><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBhra3MFy8uuJw66Mn993q-vOiaqnP1BDccrWVOuaX33IE_YJmFj16ObrjmL_CTNhLm01vopua_H77xoNEQT39O8xmneSkVyK0bStxKgTBfQtxIGoGTA3rCltesvX86qaPZ7WSopTZ5gBDkaBoJ9vK6MdbZkIP77EkUyFRiGk9o_QQSgtiJ3xYS0hTqtzX/s1491/ark%20rt%202.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1454" data-original-width="1491" height="390" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBhra3MFy8uuJw66Mn993q-vOiaqnP1BDccrWVOuaX33IE_YJmFj16ObrjmL_CTNhLm01vopua_H77xoNEQT39O8xmneSkVyK0bStxKgTBfQtxIGoGTA3rCltesvX86qaPZ7WSopTZ5gBDkaBoJ9vK6MdbZkIP77EkUyFRiGk9o_QQSgtiJ3xYS0hTqtzX/w400-h390/ark%20rt%202.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXLPbRjEdoatdxGewuq5-xjmxtxFj2LGnL7Il1oDDx38aHH7hyfkbmsdvBiZDCOsMiVB7PJlBLK5sP67Enj5qBUsJVHeXIiZDCbqPCE9cR3fTioVa5cmL_syGoQNYFOYu5m0bQiawRlaS7ubLYtx2TCCtboCfJW_JDZ6Y4cTT1ygOAFxg9FvXNdJNVo2kv/s1582/ark%20rt.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1582" data-original-width="1090" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXLPbRjEdoatdxGewuq5-xjmxtxFj2LGnL7Il1oDDx38aHH7hyfkbmsdvBiZDCOsMiVB7PJlBLK5sP67Enj5qBUsJVHeXIiZDCbqPCE9cR3fTioVa5cmL_syGoQNYFOYu5m0bQiawRlaS7ubLYtx2TCCtboCfJW_JDZ6Y4cTT1ygOAFxg9FvXNdJNVo2kv/w275-h400/ark%20rt.jpg" width="275" /></a></div></div>GerryDhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15825222546131243823noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2111969765309227755.post-19294999428013292852024-02-29T20:38:00.003+00:002024-02-29T20:38:46.958+00:00M is for... Movellans<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg50n2NSWdlPtGzyz_EuX4VoNuPEZbcb71F9Dc_vPGRwKFsKfkyIizR_DB96tnTbrnKBtwqbcP80FbegroBb97lKLxhqMIaCvk0a8WWB-FZQNTlSAHDkiU63zEslkDiFQ0r2geRTjQylc4C8ZqXX8qF4qTICKjEpoFnB6ffcY-JvUL7Kml72k_qFUo5SA9k/s960/movellans1.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="960" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg50n2NSWdlPtGzyz_EuX4VoNuPEZbcb71F9Dc_vPGRwKFsKfkyIizR_DB96tnTbrnKBtwqbcP80FbegroBb97lKLxhqMIaCvk0a8WWB-FZQNTlSAHDkiU63zEslkDiFQ0r2geRTjQylc4C8ZqXX8qF4qTICKjEpoFnB6ffcY-JvUL7Kml72k_qFUo5SA9k/s320/movellans1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />When the TARDIS brought the Doctor and Romana to the Dalek homeworld of Skaro they encountered another group of visitors. These were the beautiful Movellans. Their spacecraft, shaped like an inverted top, was able to bury itself in the ground as a means of defence.<div>In charge was Commander Sharrel, and the Doctor became intrigued by how secretive he was. When one of their number was killed by a dalek, they forbade him looking on the body, claiming it was taboo.</div><div>On becoming trapped under a concrete pillar, he was surprised at how easily a trio of the beings were able to lift it off him. </div><div>The Doctor then discovered that the Movellans had specifically come to Skaro to discover why the Daleks were burying into the rubble of their long-abandoned city, many years after they had left it. </div><div>It transpired that they were after the same goal as the Daleks - their creator Davros. They and the Daleks had been waging a war against each other for many years, and both thought that the Kaled scientist might gain them an advantage. When the dead Movellan reappeared unscathed, the Doctor and Romana realised that they were fully autonomous androids.</div><div>Both races had programmed their tactical computers to a point of stalemate, and an illogical, creative humanoid mind was needed to break this. Unable to capture Davros, Sharrell decided to use the Doctor instead.</div><div>They had a weapon called the Nova Device, which could ignite a planet's entire atmosphere, and primed this to detonate once they left. </div><div>Movellans had a weakness however - an external power pack / brain attached to their belts. Two of their number - Lan and Agella - were reprogrammed to help a group of freed Dalek slaves breach their ship and deactivate them all. Sharrel was destroyed.</div><div>The ship was then used to take the slaves home - taking a captive Davros with them.</div><div>The Movellans later gained their sought-after advantage when they developed a virus which attacked Dalek systems. The Daleks once again looked to Davros to help them overcome this.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjRmMLPBBJkLjV0vOPL2P0u0fHQjaOsexWPZ71CzE018EduZQt6QDeO_nD3rPmtCoXqd97R64NQtH4MKmFGBO-eR6b1z1hVQZcU-4xOJ5BduuaHTDe3u6teoek7apCQ9MSgmLyahKaC5ekw1guzf3g4MaJGri8BlOQlsIOwB4KgZDykXYVbzuaE9w9vKfk/s1280/movellans2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="1280" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjRmMLPBBJkLjV0vOPL2P0u0fHQjaOsexWPZ71CzE018EduZQt6QDeO_nD3rPmtCoXqd97R64NQtH4MKmFGBO-eR6b1z1hVQZcU-4xOJ5BduuaHTDe3u6teoek7apCQ9MSgmLyahKaC5ekw1guzf3g4MaJGri8BlOQlsIOwB4KgZDykXYVbzuaE9w9vKfk/w400-h225/movellans2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div>In attempting to evade a sentient water creature which was pursuing Bill Potts, the Doctor took her in the TARDIS into the heart of the Dalek-Movellan conflict, hoping that it wouldn't dare follow. The attempt failed.</div><div><br /></div><div>Played by: Peter Straker (Sharrel), Suzanne Danielle (Agella), Tony Osoba (Lan), Cassandra (Movellan Guard). Appearances: <b>Destiny of the Daleks</b> (1979), <b>The Pilot</b> (2017).</div><div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>For the - ironically - highly illogical aspects of the Movellans, do check out my recent "What's Wrong With..." post on <b>Destiny of the Daleks</b>.</li><li>The Daleks we see in <b>The Pilot</b> are of the Time War variety, which implies that this may not necessarily be the original Dalek-Movellan war.</li><li>Lalla Ward was rather annoyed that Danielle was getting so much press attention when this was her first story as the new companion. She starred in the final <i>Carry On...</i> film of the classic run (<i>Carry On</i> <i>Emmanuelle</i>) and also featured opposite Christopher Lee in <i>Arabian Adventure</i>. After a lengthy relationship with actor Patrick Mower, she married golfer Sam Torrance.</li><li>Jamaican performer Straker is better known as a singer. Most of his acting has been in stage musicals in the West End.</li><li>Osoba - best known as a regular in BBC sitcom <i>Porridge</i> - went on to make two further appearances in <i>Doctor Who</i> - <b>Dragonfire</b> and <b>Kill The Moon</b>.</li><li>The new version of June Hudson's Movellan costume at the <i>Doctor Who Experience</i> in 2017:</li></ul><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiST6OXcQKAgtyGNRtHYQNYBzeXLamKNc5GoDBiRYpbbWIaoE85uPMmyJ0n8zNNGzbrDu21Q_kXJElt3foNNz7C3F6KmVxC1I8X3VBhz1livChRdF_mlDvenAn8PDPODGDtoiJ2eB6j1h62c0EHvubZxT2BvauePGPcwu9DFkaIZctiipZ-Q2Ir5MapL67h/s2560/IMG_20170908_162630.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2560" data-original-width="1440" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiST6OXcQKAgtyGNRtHYQNYBzeXLamKNc5GoDBiRYpbbWIaoE85uPMmyJ0n8zNNGzbrDu21Q_kXJElt3foNNz7C3F6KmVxC1I8X3VBhz1livChRdF_mlDvenAn8PDPODGDtoiJ2eB6j1h62c0EHvubZxT2BvauePGPcwu9DFkaIZctiipZ-Q2Ir5MapL67h/w225-h400/IMG_20170908_162630.jpg" width="225" /></a></div></div>GerryDhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15825222546131243823noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2111969765309227755.post-25401905101830466642024-02-29T20:38:00.002+00:002024-02-29T20:38:36.129+00:00M is for... Mouri<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiG3gln-81k6pcL6v6auHzu82uLj8zkmp5r0lx0OyOaJEjL5uoXe1ijxCInTkb6mK4TQPP04std3P1RXnXYW2SgzPSdTb1XvwvK0mex8DHU5LK9bMXa0DzyddOAekxwKxofYWjmIfjzeZO0Tl7Ns0rxXdWDPxSIszKA4KCvl1diEQkJNGQt7z47-zBvT-p7/s1280/mourai1.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="1280" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiG3gln-81k6pcL6v6auHzu82uLj8zkmp5r0lx0OyOaJEjL5uoXe1ijxCInTkb6mK4TQPP04std3P1RXnXYW2SgzPSdTb1XvwvK0mex8DHU5LK9bMXa0DzyddOAekxwKxofYWjmIfjzeZO0Tl7Ns0rxXdWDPxSIszKA4KCvl1diEQkJNGQt7z47-zBvT-p7/w400-h200/mourai1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: left;">Enigmatic beings who dwelt in the Temple of Atropos on the planet Time, their role was to keep the chaotic forces of Time in check. In appearance, they were female golden-skinned humanoids in white robes, with archaic writing on their faces.</div><div style="text-align: left;">All of time passed through them, and they controlled the flow. They were served by automated Priest Triangles.</div><div style="text-align: left;">Other humanoids could temporarily replace them - as happened to the Doctor's companion Yaz and friend Vinder. The Mouri had been attacked by the entities Swarm and Azure, servants of Time, who had destroyed two of their number. This was despite a protective device of them only becoming visible when someone stood on their plinths in the Temple.</div><div style="text-align: left;">To save the Doctor and her friends, the Mouri were able to conceal them from Swarm and Azure within their own timelines.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyNMhXFUqIa4u1kO9j7lLtUHtDbRVmaKWH1bHW1IgMvL5J48zhinq95GSzsjExK4QQL1J6DXO9NFjy2a_ES37BePoQRK1GippQHgyxj27cCIvx8Kiaj6JjWQueaHlZ56G9sC8OqyMn5a5tqyK3vZ8gSR_DbZvD1FTe79kit-bCobYCmzQEt0KwSipreeQ_/s1280/mourai2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="1280" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyNMhXFUqIa4u1kO9j7lLtUHtDbRVmaKWH1bHW1IgMvL5J48zhinq95GSzsjExK4QQL1J6DXO9NFjy2a_ES37BePoQRK1GippQHgyxj27cCIvx8Kiaj6JjWQueaHlZ56G9sC8OqyMn5a5tqyK3vZ8gSR_DbZvD1FTe79kit-bCobYCmzQEt0KwSipreeQ_/w400-h200/mourai2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: left;">Played by: Chloe Williams, Antonia Shanice, Annette Sandles, Maty Carpenter. Appearances: <b>Flux</b> (2021)</div><div style="text-align: left;"><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>The Mouri were named after the Moirai of Greek myth, better known as the Fates.</li><li>They appear in the episodes <b>War of the Sontarans</b> and <b>Once, Upon Time</b>.</li></ul></div>GerryDhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15825222546131243823noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2111969765309227755.post-50569933859100094942024-02-29T20:38:00.001+00:002024-02-29T20:38:24.598+00:00M is for... Mother<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiir9oGE1TQQ9Gn6aDlHTqGW7f3DuwMBvO4s6eU5hSw4riO1Wh3z80r4k8Sut04SrrFWTi0_kikcYu04WxK9Rzv8FQ5_m-b-fYT8q9QoHdWy8OkpfbTcSXXpaliyoVjdQVkLBNPWgDCWYt1EM5QabqxuaVvR_1FY0KcUvIUPQ40o6MGmjq3E0_w401sYGMt/s570/mother.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="395" data-original-width="570" height="222" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiir9oGE1TQQ9Gn6aDlHTqGW7f3DuwMBvO4s6eU5hSw4riO1Wh3z80r4k8Sut04SrrFWTi0_kikcYu04WxK9Rzv8FQ5_m-b-fYT8q9QoHdWy8OkpfbTcSXXpaliyoVjdQVkLBNPWgDCWYt1EM5QabqxuaVvR_1FY0KcUvIUPQ40o6MGmjq3E0_w401sYGMt/s320/mother.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: left;">A mysterious woman who was known as the Mother, matriarch of the Three Families. This cabal were responsible for "Miracle Day", when people stopped dying. Their motive was purely financial, as they controlled global pharmaceutical companies which would exploit the now permanently sick.</div><div style="text-align: left;">The Three Families owed their origins to the Italian-American community where Captain Jack Harkness had turned up in the 1930's. They had discovered his immortality and were exploiting samples of his blood. The PR agent Jilly Kitzinger was invited by the Mother to Shanghai to observe the natural phenomenon which lay behind the event - the Blessing. She wanted Kitzinger to rewrite history once her cabal had taken over.</div><div style="text-align: left;">She planned to bury the two ends of the Blessing to prevent anyone interfering with it, and had rigged the area with explosives. The criminal Oswald Danes, who had been exploited by the Three Families, held the Mother hostage, armed with explosives of his own. After Jack had reversed the "Miracle", Danes sacrificed himself by detonating his bomb. The Mother perished, and the Blessing was sealed off.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Played by: Frances Fisher. Appearances: <i>TW</i> <b>Miracle Day</b> (2011).</div><div style="text-align: left;"><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>The Mother appears in the final two episodes of <i>Torchwood</i>'s fourth series - <b>The Gathering</b> and <b>The Blood Line</b>.</li><li>Genre appearances for Fisher include the<i> Watchmen</i> TV series and <i>The Expanse</i>. She also featured in James Cameron's <i>Titanic</i>.</li></ul></div>GerryDhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15825222546131243823noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2111969765309227755.post-55175791523304986622024-02-29T20:38:00.000+00:002024-02-29T20:38:12.420+00:00M is for... Morris, Emily<div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMyMOUxAlWzPQ7rxsA7FmfPMsWhbhRZ_Kn4JoDl_u8MzmC9VUSHDyJC19I6IPFCYbEZWlf5RSy1Rz6nTh0kEt9RcndQqSB4grjupjXQfSR-n3DIaeQuUnlDKS7DlUkPeUVVD5JPVXqETUJlTDHPyFg-UZww1Qy6WaKrzBwaPycscCaWEgndbl8CH41XgDi/s1002/morris%20emily.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="576" data-original-width="1002" height="230" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMyMOUxAlWzPQ7rxsA7FmfPMsWhbhRZ_Kn4JoDl_u8MzmC9VUSHDyJC19I6IPFCYbEZWlf5RSy1Rz6nTh0kEt9RcndQqSB4grjupjXQfSR-n3DIaeQuUnlDKS7DlUkPeUVVD5JPVXqETUJlTDHPyFg-UZww1Qy6WaKrzBwaPycscCaWEgndbl8CH41XgDi/w400-h230/morris%20emily.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /> A young woman encountered by Sarah Jane Smith when she was transported back in time to the Ealing of 1889. Emily had recently lost her parents in a fire, and she was now investigating a haunted house when she met Sarah, who had been sent back to locate an item made from the time-sensitive metal Chronosteel. The house in Victorian times had become entangled with the same property in 2010. Emily and Sarah observed a tragedy developing as a pair of children in 2010 were being neglected by their baby-sitter. Locked in their room, they had found and were playing with a box of matches. The key to the room turned out to be the item Sarah sought. After averting the tragedy, Sarah was about to return to her present when Emily attempted to stop her - wanting her to remain with her.</div><div style="text-align: left;">Sarah returned to 2010 empty-handed, but then got a visit from a woman with a package for her. Emily had recalled the exact date Sarah had entered the building and had arranged for her granddaughter to deliver the key to her on that day.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Played by: Gwyneth Keyworth. Appearances: <i>SJA 4.5</i> <b>Lost in Time</b> (2010).</div>GerryDhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15825222546131243823noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2111969765309227755.post-54681710287635467902024-02-27T20:50:00.000+00:002024-02-27T20:50:00.921+00:00Story 285: It Takes You Away<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrOp-_LEtQaj3FCXrA9t3L4HPyhKx2hdeBVCPMquphtQooBjfB9MKwWwGzjfhMGj87mz7f8MbGKBajILAQSvQ2RJuNB0GI-H_GEpEyfhW98hAHcWwjHb7bjsGKMY9YnQz1-L7nAaHLxnZwi5_BD0kNjyph1wDCid-3EVFJFp7-lVjzRW5EP1bs71CoRGuW/s1280/away10.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="1280" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrOp-_LEtQaj3FCXrA9t3L4HPyhKx2hdeBVCPMquphtQooBjfB9MKwWwGzjfhMGj87mz7f8MbGKBajILAQSvQ2RJuNB0GI-H_GEpEyfhW98hAHcWwjHb7bjsGKMY9YnQz1-L7nAaHLxnZwi5_BD0kNjyph1wDCid-3EVFJFp7-lVjzRW5EP1bs71CoRGuW/w400-h200/away10.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div>In which the Doctor and her companions find themselves in the Norwegian countryside, overlooking a remote fjord. They spot a cabin in the distance and, despite it being winter, there is no smoke rising from the chimney - suggesting it is deserted.</div><div>Approaching they find it boarded up with the door heavily locked, but Ryan spots movement at one of the windows. They gain access and search the building - seeing signs of recent activity such as food on a table.</div><div>They eventually come across a girl hiding in a wardrobe. Her name is Hanne. Despite her assured movements, the Doctor realises that she is blind.</div><div>An alarm sounds and Hanne explains that a monster comes out of the forest and hunts at this time every day. The Doctor is shocked that the girl has been left alone like this but she claims that her father Erik will be coming back for her. They then hear a fierce roaring coming from the woods.</div><div>However, on investigating it is found that the sounds have come from a set of speakers hung in the trees, linked to a recording.</div><div>Fearing that Erik may be dead, the Doctor explores the house further and discovers something strange about a mirror in an upstairs room. Graham had noticed that it did not reflect properly.</div><div>It transpires that behind the mirror is a portal to another dimension.</div><div>Ryan will stay with Hanne whilst the Doctor leads the others through it, hoping to locate Erik.</div><div>They find themselves in a dark cave system, lit by red glowing globes, then encounter a humanoid being who introduces himself as Ribbons. He offers to guide them to Erik if they give him the sonic screwdriver as payment.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPdQr-Iogy_NTbSvIoSnt3sBdYL9eqqbOueKZRAfCURrncsEgrQj3-7zg7EbQFfbo0oldAKHvMB2o3LypTVqWLpooTRw1YoPHYQ1KXDWUz5WzlYTbt3nhZL-rRsK2CJM-tYB4R3vxNtex1llmcKs1TWnVLBmNWAodYg8BRCKLsoeEtqq64-B67Zzsc9Gbh/s1280/away1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="1280" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPdQr-Iogy_NTbSvIoSnt3sBdYL9eqqbOueKZRAfCURrncsEgrQj3-7zg7EbQFfbo0oldAKHvMB2o3LypTVqWLpooTRw1YoPHYQ1KXDWUz5WzlYTbt3nhZL-rRsK2CJM-tYB4R3vxNtex1llmcKs1TWnVLBmNWAodYg8BRCKLsoeEtqq64-B67Zzsc9Gbh/w400-h200/away1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div>Passing through the caverns they see a dead body and a number of large moths. Ribbons explains that these are flesh-eating insects. This place is the Anti-Zone - a buffer between dimensions and there are many hazards, chief of which are the moths.</div><div>He takes Graham hostage, demanding greater payment or he will devour him. Graham escapes and Ribbons trips as he chases him. He is overcome by a swarm of moths and killed.</div><div>Hanne tricks Ryan and escapes into the Anti-Zone, forcing him to follow.</div><div>The others emerge from the caves into a landscape almost identical to the one they left, but it is warm and sunny. In a cabin they find Erik along with his wife Trine. </div><div>However, Hanne had earlier revealed that her mother was dead. Outside, Graham is shocked to find Grace.</div><div>The Doctor has seen that this is a mirror version of the Norway they have left. She discovers that this is a pocket universe, inhabited by a single entity - the Solitract. </div><div>When the universe was created, one particular force of chaos was deemed impossible to co-exist with the rest of the cosmos. This incompatibility saw it confined to its own personal universe.</div><div>The Solitract has simply grown lonely, and now lures people to it by presenting them with the thing they crave most. Erik is reunited with his dead wife, and is so overcome by this that he has abandoned his daughter - locking her in their cabin and faking monsters to keep her from wandering off. It is a misguided attempt to keep her safe whilst he visits Trine.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbUm4TCiZAqamkyQos-USgE6b5qMqEuWbKvdPGDazVn572kiV0fMqo_B0mbGW5KDdWwLzvjd-ZFJpLAShZRgtzybfY6Fiq8MCOVAcChlnualFNRPFHvLZxyzJMrE0uz7egNJhzGm02hmQqKj4aUlKUQLrj1_ccKLM03pJbOq0Ssb4qcY5Z4IC8yJ-icuIR/s1280/away8.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="1280" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbUm4TCiZAqamkyQos-USgE6b5qMqEuWbKvdPGDazVn572kiV0fMqo_B0mbGW5KDdWwLzvjd-ZFJpLAShZRgtzybfY6Fiq8MCOVAcChlnualFNRPFHvLZxyzJMrE0uz7egNJhzGm02hmQqKj4aUlKUQLrj1_ccKLM03pJbOq0Ssb4qcY5Z4IC8yJ-icuIR/w400-h200/away8.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div>Grace is another personification of the Solitract, determined to keep Graham here with it.</div><div>The Doctor is able to talk both Graham and Erik into going back home, this world merely an illusion. She agrees to remain behind with the Solitract if it lets everyone else go.</div><div>The entity manifests itself as a frog - a favourite animal of Grace's. However, the Doctor shows how this dimension is beginning to reject her. Nothing can ever be compatible with the Solitract.</div><div>Accepting this, the entity allows her to leave, resigned to its solitary existence, though it will use its dreams to create imaginary new friends.</div><div>Back in the normal universe Erik agrees to return to city life in Oslo with Hanne, as he must come to terms with Trine's death and look after his daughter.</div><div>As they return to the TARDIS Graham is pleased to hear Ryan refer to him as "granddad", as they have struggled to bond since Grace's death.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNYoNHzZB0XqmTAWvwFKD6lJdoJd5ZcF-OTqhI1YI6golKfX2mSNfoRKebNqcOLB9xhSGfELqBeKpX062AFPXxmw3wLGmONihY4JHaGxV1bVu3sJETSXbbVVUPtBkfYqHvuKR-XJ6qbl2aYE1U5ldIOwVhE65vvoRmmIN_vkRAe2l4pgOMLdQmAKdig97f/s1280/away4.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="1280" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNYoNHzZB0XqmTAWvwFKD6lJdoJd5ZcF-OTqhI1YI6golKfX2mSNfoRKebNqcOLB9xhSGfELqBeKpX062AFPXxmw3wLGmONihY4JHaGxV1bVu3sJETSXbbVVUPtBkfYqHvuKR-XJ6qbl2aYE1U5ldIOwVhE65vvoRmmIN_vkRAe2l4pgOMLdQmAKdig97f/w400-h200/away4.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div><b>It Takes You Away</b> was written by Ed Hime, and was first broadcast on Sunday 2nd December 2018.</div><div>Hime's background is primarily in radio drama, though he was also nominated for a BAFTA for work on teen drama <i>Skins</i>.</div><div>Not a great deal to say about this story. It's all about grief, and how people cope with it - or don't.</div><div>Erik is so obsessed with being reunited with his lost one that he actually becomes an abusive parent - something which the episode fails to deal with head on. Someone really ought to be reporting him to the Norwegian Social Services. Imagine the newspaper stories if someone had left their disabled child alone for days on end. Not content with neglect, he then adds psychological abuse to the situation.</div><div>The Solitract might be manipulating his own emotions, but what he does is clearly well planned and executed by him - rigging speakers up trees and using monster recordings. You can't blame the frog for all of this.</div><div>It's never properly addressed why he simply hasn't taken Hanne with him, or at least told her about what's going on.</div><div>The ending is far too trite, with the Doctor delivering one her patronising little speeches and sending everyone happily on their way. The Twelfth Doctor would have punched Erik in the face.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhD2nOr5cgpUqVW0Oegb2-IsD2aw7Klfo1KMw9D5Kfwnxv8paoQTWadN3aIQZybwv9tLDTcVeinlJtfaPLgGZeERIeFIoITEoomJIkcJNI4-JwbCMNHGXyGAqguig5zHBW425OIdRUGwel2n-5FtlOPbEGSUs-11lLl26B7uuswYa4vGu3E__47EhR1qUnu/s1280/away9.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="1280" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhD2nOr5cgpUqVW0Oegb2-IsD2aw7Klfo1KMw9D5Kfwnxv8paoQTWadN3aIQZybwv9tLDTcVeinlJtfaPLgGZeERIeFIoITEoomJIkcJNI4-JwbCMNHGXyGAqguig5zHBW425OIdRUGwel2n-5FtlOPbEGSUs-11lLl26B7uuswYa4vGu3E__47EhR1qUnu/w400-h200/away9.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div>The guest cast is led by Eleanor Wallwork as Hanne. The series has cast deaf actors in the past, but she is the first blind person to be cast. Unfortunately, she's the only one to date. Perhaps RTD2 should spend less time deciding what's best for people with disabilities and more time giving them work.</div><div>Erik is Norse actor Christian Rubeck, who has appeared in <i>Succession</i>, and you may have also seen him in the biopic <i>Amundsen</i>, in which he played the explorer's brother.</div><div>Comic actor Kevin Eldon plays Ribbons. Recent straight roles for him have included the movie <i>Napoleon</i> and the TV series <i>Sanditon</i>. He has also played Corporal Jones - the Clive Dunn character - in the remakes of lost<i> Dad's Army</i> episodes.</div><div>Trine is Lisa Stokke, and we also have a return for Sharon D Clarke as Grace.</div><div>The only story arc point worth mentioning is Ryan calling Graham "Granddad", as he's been trying to bond with him since the opening episode.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheEpaiNIcR_RvMgk_ThLLbnprMo4nBdd633V_bPH22PK1TqqmwzQkDBCXzMPy3ssjXp1goII8feZwK4N9l5Te30HXJOwn7yvGM-gCDgUtNUmGRkN3Txep9LFn5Cy-qe-sN-t5E2d9kW5a0eb9EUq4ntdPGYXpgqRmtG_caaT0LuqstWL-52mnNYTNkk5DZ/s1280/away6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="1280" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheEpaiNIcR_RvMgk_ThLLbnprMo4nBdd633V_bPH22PK1TqqmwzQkDBCXzMPy3ssjXp1goII8feZwK4N9l5Te30HXJOwn7yvGM-gCDgUtNUmGRkN3Txep9LFn5Cy-qe-sN-t5E2d9kW5a0eb9EUq4ntdPGYXpgqRmtG_caaT0LuqstWL-52mnNYTNkk5DZ/w400-h200/away6.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div>Overall, it's a slight affair which clearly hasn't been well thought out, with significant matters left unaddressed. Once again, it's Graham who redeems the episode. His production of a cheese and pickle sandwich from his pocket - kept for emergencies - is almost laugh-out-loud funny.</div><div>For many, a CGI frog on a chair was the final straw and they gave up on Series 11.</div><div>It's certainly been a rather lacklustre series so far. At least the next instalment is the season finale. That's got to be something to look forward to, hasn't it...?</div><div>Things you might like to know:</div><div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>The story is supposed to be set in the Norwegian winter, and the script even makes a plot point of this. A shame no-one seems to have told the director, script editor or executive producers...</li><li>At one point Yaz mentions reversing the polarity... - a nod to the Third Doctor's famous phrase.</li><li>Kevin Eldon had a previous involvement with <i>Doctor Who</i>, when he played the Seventh Doctor's companion in web serial <i>Death Comes To Time</i>.</li><li>Many aspects of the Solitract appear to have been borrowed from the Virgin New Adventures novel <i>Christmas on a Rational Planet</i> by Lawrence Miles - entity from the dawn of time incompatible with the rest of the universe and so banished into one of its own.</li><li>The Anti-Zone was supposed to contain one other creature - a very tall being known as "Spindle Man" (below). Played by Paul Sturgess, his scenes were filmed but then cut for timing reasons.</li></ul><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGXSaP7syxiOfu_unifiJEMF7UhGYZF3XiNDvYSRw1QX1snukQ7IdK3_AR0PsGsn7Z88gI4JPqcFoED_J3X9tKwOt_-okkulmQP979FfrVAjDIKjautcXvb29Hi5SmefXQFlariXgG1xTgDL002BOOzZnCDYZ_TmvjpBREvpH_Qxolza-RMB9lPgSsYUNR/s960/It_Takes_You_Away_-_BTS_photo-ezgif.com-webp-to-jpg-converter.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="756" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGXSaP7syxiOfu_unifiJEMF7UhGYZF3XiNDvYSRw1QX1snukQ7IdK3_AR0PsGsn7Z88gI4JPqcFoED_J3X9tKwOt_-okkulmQP979FfrVAjDIKjautcXvb29Hi5SmefXQFlariXgG1xTgDL002BOOzZnCDYZ_TmvjpBREvpH_Qxolza-RMB9lPgSsYUNR/w315-h400/It_Takes_You_Away_-_BTS_photo-ezgif.com-webp-to-jpg-converter.jpg" width="315" /></a></div></div>GerryDhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15825222546131243823noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2111969765309227755.post-43226985593737658782024-02-25T16:01:00.000+00:002024-02-25T16:01:55.276+00:00Episode 106: Bell of Doom<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAyR7hqbcT8ApDG-NxL-w8fw0Iywxt0wNyEhPmgoe9kCEVV-4JsjxaqSQXrWnhmSv6pnKTqs176DhsoNMKDpH3ZRf9Fajv6x67ng9P-NhxjTvs0KIKmxefv6c03nnbE-UZV3Y8FsX7_1TnG99AVQjgTGrzROAzNzmrQx5-kvXLHpq8SGXFnAyhFwL7uAzd/s944/massacre12.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="531" data-original-width="944" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAyR7hqbcT8ApDG-NxL-w8fw0Iywxt0wNyEhPmgoe9kCEVV-4JsjxaqSQXrWnhmSv6pnKTqs176DhsoNMKDpH3ZRf9Fajv6x67ng9P-NhxjTvs0KIKmxefv6c03nnbE-UZV3Y8FsX7_1TnG99AVQjgTGrzROAzNzmrQx5-kvXLHpq8SGXFnAyhFwL7uAzd/w400-h225/massacre12.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small; text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: justify;">NB: This episode no longer exists in the archives, nor is there a full set of telesnaps. Representative images are therefore used to illustrate it.</div></span></div><div><div><span><br /></span></div><div><b>Synopsis:</b></div></div><div>Suspected of the Abbot's death, Steven flees back to Preslin's shop to hide out, where he finds Anne Chaplet waiting for him.</div><div>He tells her of the events of the night before, and of the death of his friend the Doctor. In order to escape from 16th Century Paris he must find the TARDIS key. Assuming that the Doctor used this shop to change his outfit, he instructs Anne to help him search the building thoroughly.</div><div>At the Louvre, last night's events are also being discussed by Marshal Tavannes and Simon Duvall. The King has ordered an investigation into the attempt on Admiral de Coligny's life, but they hope that the death of the Abbot will help divert attention onto the actions of the Huguenots.</div><div>Tavannes orders Duvall to find Steven before nightfall. Tomorrow is the Feast of St Bartholomew and the city will be packed with revellers, under cover of which the young Englishman might escape.</div><div>The Queen Mother then summons the Marshal.</div><div>In de Coligny's house, meanwhile, Gaston and Nicholas are concerned about the protection in place for the wounded Admiral, which they discuss with Councillor Teligny. It is the King who has placed guards over the Admiral - which means that Catholics, commanded by a Catholic, are protecting their leader.</div><div>They worry that Henri of Navarre may also be in danger. </div><div>After Gaston leaves, Teligny expresses his concern that de Coligny has such a hot-headed young man in his employ.</div><div>Steven gives up hope of ever gaining access to the TARDIS, just as the Doctor appears at the shop.</div><div>Overjoyed at seeing him again, he tells him of the Abbot and his fears he had been killed.</div><div>The evening curfew sounds, and Anne mentions how easy it will be for them to slip out of Paris during tomorrow's feast day. On hearing this, the Doctor urges her to tell him the year.</div><div>On learning that it is 1572, on the eve of St Bartholomew's Day, he is horrified. He and Steven must get back to the TARDIS immediately.</div><div>He instructs Anne to go and stay with family members and keep off the streets for the next few days.</div><div>In the Louvre, the Queen Mother hands Tavannes the order - signed by her son - to massacre the Huguenot leadership of Paris. </div><div>Whilst in favour of action against them, he is concerned that the innocent may suffer along with the guilty, but they both realise that the mob will be uncontrollable. He stresses that Henri of Navarre must be spared. The deaths of ordinary citizens - no matter how many - will have little impact abroad, but the death of a prince could spark a wider conflict.</div><div>The Queen Mother reluctantly agrees then withdraws. Tavannes informs Duvall that he will be tasked with escorting Henri out of the city before dawn.</div><div>The Doctor and Steven find their way to the TARDIS blocked by the guards outside de Coligny's house. They then see soldiers appear and order the guards to withdraw, before entering the house...</div><div>The Doctor and Steven leave Paris as the slaughter of the Huguenots commences.</div><div>In the TARDIS the Doctor explains why he left the city so hurriedly, describing the events of the Massacre. Steven is furious that they did not do more to help Anne, fearing that she will almost certainly have perished as the Catholics were already hunting for her even before the events began to unfold.</div><div>The ship materialises on Wimbledon Common in 1966, and Steven storms out - despite the Doctor trying to justify his actions.</div><div>Left alone in the ship for the first time in many years, he is reminded of his recent companions, especially his granddaughter Susan. He contemplates going back to his home, then realises that this is not possible...</div><div>Nearby, a young woman named Dorothea "Dodo" Chaplet has witnessed a road accident. Spotting the Police Box she runs towards it. Steven has seen a couple of policemen also making their way towards the TARDIS and, having cooled down, goes back to warn the Doctor.</div><div>Dodo seems unfazed by the huge futuristic room in which she finds herself. The Doctor points out to Steven that she shares a surname with Anne - suggesting that she had survived the Massacre. Dodo confirms a French grandparent.</div><div>As she reminds him a great deal of Susan, and she claims to have no-one at home who will miss her, Dodo joins the Doctor and Steven on their travels...</div><div>Next episode: <i>The Steel Sky</i></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSOn8VetsOyDfYWe9qSf7iJwfXOv_7C2SlGH2OEr00Ehu9FwEiFt6sKkikfQRo-xIYRTQNexc4D2K2aK91sCeoEoxIB7QDCnJaN_Cs3XjsvjrbJyK8LrD-G2BgzymAjHgq2iuwjib-PqJbDQrYGwdpKk1_Wer5KoVcrxkZjxmCx8I9sbhxrCp_1INnWm6v/s1132/mass%2025.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1129" data-original-width="1132" height="319" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSOn8VetsOyDfYWe9qSf7iJwfXOv_7C2SlGH2OEr00Ehu9FwEiFt6sKkikfQRo-xIYRTQNexc4D2K2aK91sCeoEoxIB7QDCnJaN_Cs3XjsvjrbJyK8LrD-G2BgzymAjHgq2iuwjib-PqJbDQrYGwdpKk1_Wer5KoVcrxkZjxmCx8I9sbhxrCp_1INnWm6v/s320/mass%2025.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div><b>Data:</b></div><div>Written by: John Lucarotti and Donald Tosh</div><div>Recorded: Friday 11th February 1966 - Riverside Studio 1</div><div>First broadcast: 5:15pm, Saturday 26th February, 1966</div><div>Ratings: 5.8 million / AI 53</div><div>Designer: Michael Young</div><div>Director: Paddy Russell</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghzZ-6D7-1k_5tlJXj08uNmXgvzlRNgc8iaN7zcm_zikEjp5Z9m6MUvZo8p70WyKwhPSJc4OKXhVdNttDCis0Hj2TFEAnk6KF57CJaM61va7IQ30fIjDrGVfFoQs61Q0XEE4sLirPMAhDh1FEjS6r9TFNYgC1fE5qC5CYzhJ2dioYt_rpCuUEXT9TrEsmE/s1515/massacre9.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1002" data-original-width="1515" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghzZ-6D7-1k_5tlJXj08uNmXgvzlRNgc8iaN7zcm_zikEjp5Z9m6MUvZo8p70WyKwhPSJc4OKXhVdNttDCis0Hj2TFEAnk6KF57CJaM61va7IQ30fIjDrGVfFoQs61Q0XEE4sLirPMAhDh1FEjS6r9TFNYgC1fE5qC5CYzhJ2dioYt_rpCuUEXT9TrEsmE/w320-h212/massacre9.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div><b>Critique:</b><div>It was originally intended that Anne Chaplet was to become the new companion but, after the concerns which arose with Katarina, it was decided that a character from history might not work terribly well. They would need even the most simple scientific developments - like the electric light - explained to them. It was also felt that to remove someone from their own time went against the programme's philosophy of the Doctor never interfering with history.</div><div>Donald Tosh was already heavily reworking John Lucarotti's scripts, and as he would no longer be story editor in February, it was agreed that he could get a co-writer credit on the latest serial's final episode.</div><div>This was due to him solely writing the end sequence which would introduce the new companion - now a modern day character.</div><div>It is often stated that Tosh left <i>Doctor Who</i> in a show of solidarity with his producer, John Wiles. This is true to an extent, but there were other factors involved. The first was that their superior was now the writer Gerald Savory, and Tosh and he did not get on since working together at Granada TV. </div><div>Tosh also learned that Wiles was to be replaced by Innes Lloyd, and realised that his plans for the series did not match with his own. The third factor was a request for extended leave on health grounds which was turned down - leading to him deciding to quit the BBC altogether to go freelance.</div><div>With Tosh writing, <i>Bell of Doom</i> marks the first time his replacement Gerry Davis gets a Story Editor credit on the series. He had begun working on the series just after New Year.</div><div><br /></div><div>Chosen to play the new companion - Dorothea "Dodo" Chaplet - was Mancunian actress Jacqueline Joyce Lane. Shortly after moving to London in 1963 she had been interviewed by Verity Lambert and Waris Hussein for the role of Susan, but she decided not to proceed with an audition as it was a long-term part and she did not want to be pinned down so early in her career.</div><div>She had previously worked with Paddy Russell, and John Wiles recalled her from a stage production of one of his plays - <i>Never Had It So Good</i> - in which she had played a Cockney character.</div><div>The intention was that Dodo would be a working class Mancunian girl, but senior management at the BBC favoured "BBC English" - Received Pronunciation or RP - over regional dialects at this time.</div><div>Ironically, she would be replaced only a few months later by two new characters - one of whom spoke with a broad Cockney accent.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioodQG3-ELCaBMiVYFbN44M3aTs657shp7lKEzhehJEq2Z0QmIIE3dTkEPe__AIxdzycSywbuG7hn4Vab7Zh3BBdTc6JqE04DZGhLSWNYtmPof6Y4REF7CBlM66e84qMdOfpY4XhovroPP0aVioE9gl_noXEkbTY4x8k8raYJJ-zrNE-dXb2XXyuopWSN1/s2304/La_masacre_de_San_Bartolom%C3%A9,_por_Fran%C3%A7ois_Dubois.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1398" data-original-width="2304" height="243" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioodQG3-ELCaBMiVYFbN44M3aTs657shp7lKEzhehJEq2Z0QmIIE3dTkEPe__AIxdzycSywbuG7hn4Vab7Zh3BBdTc6JqE04DZGhLSWNYtmPof6Y4REF7CBlM66e84qMdOfpY4XhovroPP0aVioE9gl_noXEkbTY4x8k8raYJJ-zrNE-dXb2XXyuopWSN1/w400-h243/La_masacre_de_San_Bartolom%C3%A9,_por_Fran%C3%A7ois_Dubois.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><div style="text-align: center;">A contemporary image of the Massacre by the Huguenot artist Francois Dubois, who fled Paris just after the Massacre.</div></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div><div><i>"We are to unleash the wolves of Paris. None are to be spared" </i>(Tavannes to Simon Duvall)</div><div><br /></div><div>After three weeks of build-up (with the drama covering three days), this episode finally sees events rush towards their fateful conclusion with the massacre of the Huguenot population of Paris, which began on the night of 23 / 24 August 1572. It was this event which actually led to the word "massacre" being coined for a mass slaughter.</div><div>As we've seen, the background was complex and has had to be simplified for a <i>Doctor Who</i> story. The Catholic Royal Family has ordered the deaths in order to preserve their control over the country and prevent the Protestants from gaining power.</div><div>The signal for the massacre to begin was the tolling of the bell of the church of Saint-Germain l'Auxerrois, situated a few hundred yards from the Louvre. This gave the episode its title.</div><div>Admiral de Coligny was recovering from his wounds when he was set upon and murdered in his sick-bed by a group led by the Duke de Guise - his naked corpse thrown from the chamber window onto the street below. </div><div>Councillor Teligny was one of the first victims - refusing to convert, he was killed in corridors of the Louvre itself.</div><div>The killings went on for several days, and spread to other cities in which Catholic mobs murdered Huguenot neighbours.</div><div>The actual death toll is not known. It has varied from 2000 to 10,000 in Paris alone, with perhaps 30,000 across the whole of France. The only concrete figure in the records is the 1100 bodies that were fished from the Seine, for which payment details to the boatmen exist.</div><div><br /></div><div>The official justification for the events, given to the parliament on 26th August, was that a Protestant plot had been uncovered, intended to assassinate King Charles IX and senior Catholics, and it had been necessary to seize the initiative and make a pre-emptive strike. The mob had simply taken over and increased the bloodshed.</div><div>The young King lived only another year or so, dying of TB in 1574. The events in Paris had seriously affected his mental health. He was succeeded by his brother who became Henri III, but he in turn died without an heir.</div></div><div>Ironically, it was the Protestant Henri of Navarre who then succeeded to the throne of France as Henri IV. However, he converted in order to do so, supposedly claiming "Paris is worth a mass".</div><div>Catherine de Medici almost outlived her sons, all of whom became king, dying in 1589 a few months before Henri III was assassinated.</div><div>Marshal Tavannes died less than a year after the Massacre, in July 1573.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJzNpBIKCl5a6ZPHatGC6h2SchyRR1LqhrAMmg3MeVrWSQTp6yOfTTBa6w0PMkHuOAKByaPz8qPxtxN4JrKCEJqaLnYJ_ecGCaKAM8MzHYTfN3kMmfiqY7G0-efilFufguJTaqnyPH1ii90yQqSoBsLrF-JhMPTNlwdgFCUo8z9YV-0I3qtn_5YfH9PMlQ/s320/massacre21.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="304" data-original-width="320" height="304" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJzNpBIKCl5a6ZPHatGC6h2SchyRR1LqhrAMmg3MeVrWSQTp6yOfTTBa6w0PMkHuOAKByaPz8qPxtxN4JrKCEJqaLnYJ_ecGCaKAM8MzHYTfN3kMmfiqY7G0-efilFufguJTaqnyPH1ii90yQqSoBsLrF-JhMPTNlwdgFCUo8z9YV-0I3qtn_5YfH9PMlQ/s1600/massacre21.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div>Production on <i>Bell of Doom</i> had got underway on Wednesday 5th January when brief insert shots of Leonard Sachs (de Coligny), Michael Bilton (Teligny) and David Weston (Nicholas Muss) were filmed, to be cut into the final massacre montage. </div><div>Then, on Friday 7th, filming took place with Jackie Lane on Windmill Road at Wimbledon Common in SW London.</div><div>Only two panels of the TARDIS prop were set up on location, as the remainder was needed in studio on that day.</div><div><br /></div><div>During rehearsals, William Hartnell expressed concern about two lengthy speeches he had to deliver in this episode. Written by Tosh, he was keen to see them retained and delivered as he felt they summarised his own viewpoint regarding the philosophy of the series:</div><div><br /></div><div><i>"My dear Steven, history sometimes gives us a terrible shock, and that is because we don't quite fully understand. Why should we? After all, we're too small to realise its final pattern. Therefore, don't try to judge it from where you stand. I was right to do what I did. Yes, that I firmly believe..."</i></div><div>[Steven leaves the TARDIS].</div><div><i>"Steven... Even after all this time, he cannot understand. I dare not change the course of history. Well, at least I taught him to take some precautions; he did remember to look at the scanner before opening the doors. And now they've all gone. All gone. None of them could understand. Not even my little Susan. Or Vicki. And as for Barbera and Chatterton - Chesterton - they were all too impatient to get back to their own time. And now, Steven. </i></div><div><i>Perhaps I should go home. Back to my own planet. But I can't... I can't...".</i></div><div><i><br /></i></div><div>As expected, Hartnell attempted to get the lines reduced but Tosh showered him with praise for the way he had delivered the dialogue at the readthrough, playing on the actor's ego to make him insist on keeping the speeches.</div><div><br /></div><div>The action cuts away from Paris at the crucial moment of the guards arriving to ensure the death of de Coligny. The actual massacre itself is illustrated with sound effects and contemporary prints and woodcuts, such as that by Francois Dubois above. From the filming schedule, we know that images of certain cast members was intercut with these.</div><div>Only a single recording break was scheduled, to allow Hartnell and Purves to change into their regular costumes and appear on the TARDIS set for the closing section, where they are joined by Lane for the first time.</div><div>The attempts to justify Dodo's arrival are odd, to say the least. It is implied that, because she shares a surname and has a French forebear, she provides proof that Anne survived the events of Paris in August 1572. However, surnames are traditionally passed down the male line - so Anne must have married someone of the exact same name as herself for this to have worked. Unfortunately, Dodo's presence is likely to be merely coincidental, and Anne did indeed perish in the Massacre. Perhaps if Lane had played both roles this might have worked better.</div><div>The other oddities about the scene are Dodo's apparent nonchalance of seeing the TARDIS interior inside a police box - she actually asks where the phone is - and Steven's concern about the policemen approaching. He ought to know that the ship cannot be opened by anyone other than the Doctor, so why is he rushing back to warn him?</div><div>Likewise, the Doctor dematerialises in a hurry when he knows that there's no risk, and he hasn't given Dodo much chance to explain herself.</div><div><br /></div><div>John Lucarotti's original version of the story involved the Doctor much more - though this would have destroyed the mystery which Tosh created around the true nature of the Abbot. Lucarotti's version would have shown that the two couldn't possibly be the same person.</div><div>Tosh tells his story through Steven and temporary companion character Anne. Interestingly, he adopts a pyramid of characters on both sides of the religious divide. </div><div>On the Huguenot side we have their leader Admiral de Coligny, an older man in a position of authority who is based on a real historical figure. Below him are Nicholas Muss and Gaston Lerans - one a firebrand and the other a more reasonable individual.</div><div>Opposing them we have Marshal Tavannes - the mature, historical, authority figure - who has beneath him Simon Duvall and Roger Colbert. Again, each of the young men represents a different level of extremism for their particular religious cause. Colbert is the firebrand to Duvall's more moderate character.</div><div>It's a useful means of showing two sides of a situation, and the differing opinions within each side - the intention being that the audience will see that this as a complex scenario, with shades of grey.</div><div><br /></div><div>Donald Tosh, who passed a way in December 2019, did not work on the series again, though he did submit a story idea for Patrick Troughton's Doctor - "The Rosicrucians / Rose Mariners" - which was not taken up. The background came from his keen interest in history, and he would eventually work for the National Trust as custodian - or castellan - of St Mawes castle in Cornwall. </div><div>He made a cameo appearance in 2013's <i>An Adventure in Space And Time</i>, alongside Jean Marsh and Anneke Wills, as a guest at Verity Lambert's leaving party.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0DhzsAfuAM1tLPrEe4i-hTV-xwl2l8t5Ykj43uZUhhDLxqjdx2iCzpUHtbN9SxjhcYi_4r3hM5pGKhNCh9n3l1_xodmKeR-JUoPrnW2m82J3peVmP6GcnR-OCN8c3yIYQziUc0NqjuGlFI_ScsnqzYJiJxvjOHKDkqzE9sP8r6fyAde2d60tKd5RKYjRP/s600/massacre23.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="370" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0DhzsAfuAM1tLPrEe4i-hTV-xwl2l8t5Ykj43uZUhhDLxqjdx2iCzpUHtbN9SxjhcYi_4r3hM5pGKhNCh9n3l1_xodmKeR-JUoPrnW2m82J3peVmP6GcnR-OCN8c3yIYQziUc0NqjuGlFI_ScsnqzYJiJxvjOHKDkqzE9sP8r6fyAde2d60tKd5RKYjRP/w246-h400/massacre23.jpg" width="246" /></a></div><b>Trivia:</b><div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>The ratings remain low, but don't fall any further. The appreciation figure actually bounces back to over 50.</li><li>It was originally hoped that William Russell and Jaqueline Hill might provide cameos in this episode as Ian and Barbara. They would have been seen walking across the Common when they heard the TARDIS, arriving just too late to see it. The sequence was dropped as the actors were unavailable on the planned filming dates.</li><li>Two future directors make an appearance behind the scenes on this story - Gerry Mill (Production Assistant) and Fiona Cumming (Assistant Floor Manager). He will direct <b>The Faceless Ones</b> for the following season, and she will be responsible for four Peter Davison stories.</li><li>The Doctor's soliloquy from this episode was recreated by David Bradley in <i>An Adventure In</i> <i>Space And Time</i>. However, here they use it to illustrate Hartnell's inability to recall lines. He is in a bad mood having a dislike to a male director or production assistant who doesn't know how to manipulate the TARDIS controls. In reality it was one of Hartnell's finest moments on the series - not one of his worst.</li><li>Surprisingly, even contemporary woodcuts were deemed too disturbing for some members of the audience, according to the TV critic of <i>The Listener </i>magazine.</li><li>The videotapes of all four episodes of <b>The Massacre</b> were destroyed in August 1967, with film copies sold to Australia, New Zealand, Barbados, Zambia, Sierra Leone and Singapore. The Australian recording was known to have been destroyed in 1976.</li></ul><div></div></div>GerryDhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15825222546131243823noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2111969765309227755.post-77518602062975630402024-02-23T18:45:00.000+00:002024-02-23T18:45:07.100+00:00Pamela Salem (1944 - 2024)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhW10LaekWFC2yzVxM0KauhBWRVRKpUB7INrNFs_YmfEvY0vMZ4MCBjHN2OVjAJh7EDYh9hlYDCbizWIGlbK9N7Ept4430fbQkYgidiyE8nbhzLH4cA1nYSwG-IvhDYIturVLOzKWvOHRzmudMqYjBKr2TqSBAeSbFk9owzskdlcUFDepGbalmScQlFR8Ro/s960/p%20salem1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="960" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhW10LaekWFC2yzVxM0KauhBWRVRKpUB7INrNFs_YmfEvY0vMZ4MCBjHN2OVjAJh7EDYh9hlYDCbizWIGlbK9N7Ept4430fbQkYgidiyE8nbhzLH4cA1nYSwG-IvhDYIturVLOzKWvOHRzmudMqYjBKr2TqSBAeSbFk9owzskdlcUFDepGbalmScQlFR8Ro/s320/p%20salem1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: left;">It has been reported that the actor Pamela Salem has died, just a few weeks after her 80th birthday.</div><div style="text-align: left;">She featured prominently in two highly regarded <i>Doctor Who</i> stories, as well as providing vocals for a third.</div><div style="text-align: left;">The latter was as the female voice of the crazed computer Xoanon in <b>The Face of Evil</b>. A week or two later we saw her as Toos in <b>The Robots of Death</b>.</div><div style="text-align: left;">Lis Sladen having only just left the series, Salem's agent actually publicised his client as the new <i>Doctor</i> <i>Who</i> companion, which made the tabloid press.</div><div style="text-align: left;">Salem returned to the series in 1988 to play Professor Rachel Jensen in <b>Remembrance of the Daleks</b>.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgC6WTfa7xUvDWgceallvs5ooAfavjiI82vLQROeSuhJlqeva1tILexdiJ7OnvyCd7ivbB0SJP1LDwBx2lsV3NS71KjH6yqaR07aE_35GXEfRLo45tRK4EeUwKoPGhsTZ6YrNcrhIPhGAusHZJRk6cBYFHp0Yfqn-q56zGUMoSdEPoEu68J9J0AULj3ampH/s640/p%20salem%202.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgC6WTfa7xUvDWgceallvs5ooAfavjiI82vLQROeSuhJlqeva1tILexdiJ7OnvyCd7ivbB0SJP1LDwBx2lsV3NS71KjH6yqaR07aE_35GXEfRLo45tRK4EeUwKoPGhsTZ6YrNcrhIPhGAusHZJRk6cBYFHp0Yfqn-q56zGUMoSdEPoEu68J9J0AULj3ampH/s320/p%20salem%202.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: left;">Beyond the series, her best known role was a regular run on <i>EastEnders</i>, back when it was actually quite good.</div><div style="text-align: left;">She had a brush with the world of 007, but in the non-Eon reimagining of <i>Thunderball</i>, <i>Never Say</i> <i>Never Again</i>. She played Miss Moneypenny opposite Sean Connery. She had previously worked with him on <i>The First Great Train Robbery</i>.</div><div style="text-align: left;">RIP.</div>GerryDhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15825222546131243823noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2111969765309227755.post-15206283343206798262024-02-22T20:42:00.000+00:002024-02-22T20:42:06.621+00:00Inspirations: The Doctor's Wife<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7nIZG_MfKtoN0UAAsW7ycraz0sFr0o0VD6x6EhbsWFNDgQTjG5Oewf0XL0D96k5_0yw6vHkKhXbCSp9GmUDx1ASgnVue8lGnvgnQcpBYlz5hwkbKQhsSv56fvImb7qhPWd3MCx5Av5zS9gtiQ567wMV6UmZD5_BP-ZvzSJ1GG0sRVJ1AmKWiwD-YkOK8A/s1280/Insp%20wife.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="1280" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7nIZG_MfKtoN0UAAsW7ycraz0sFr0o0VD6x6EhbsWFNDgQTjG5Oewf0XL0D96k5_0yw6vHkKhXbCSp9GmUDx1ASgnVue8lGnvgnQcpBYlz5hwkbKQhsSv56fvImb7qhPWd3MCx5Av5zS9gtiQ567wMV6UmZD5_BP-ZvzSJ1GG0sRVJ1AmKWiwD-YkOK8A/w400-h225/Insp%20wife.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div>Back in the 1980's, producer JNT became annoyed at the number of spoilers which were finding their way into the fanzine domain. He was keen to engage with fandom, at least until it turned against him, and was happy to grant interviews - but some announcements he really wanted to manage himself, especially if they were newsworthy. He realised that many fans worked within the BBC - he even cast one in his first year, and commissioned another for a story - so decided to add the title "The Doctor's Wife" to his office planner - just to see where it might lead.</div><div>When Steven Moffat took over as showrunner, he approached a number of writers for story contributions. One of these was Neil Gaiman - one of the best known fantasy writers in the world.</div><div><br /></div><div>He first came to fame - for my generation at least - with the BBC adaptation of his novel <i>Neverwhere</i>, which featured Peter Capaldi amongst its cast.</div><div>Globally, he now has a number of films, TV series and stage plays to his name, including collaborations with the late Terry Pratchett (e.g. <i>Good Omens</i>).</div><div>It was originally intended that Gaiman would write for Moffat's first series in charge, and it was decided early on that his story would revolve around the TARDIS. The Eccleston / Tennant TARDIS set was ordered retained especially for this.</div><div>In the end, the deadline got pushed back and the Gaiman story was to be produced for Series 6.</div><div><br /></div><div>Doctors may come and go, and we've had dozens of companions, but the TARDIS is the one true constant throughout the entire history of <i>Doctor Who</i>.</div><div>It has enjoyed comparatively few changes of appearance in 60 years, both inside and out. The console rooms alter design - referenced in this episode as its "desktop theme". To the casual viewer, the Police Public Call Box shell has never changed, though we fans can spot varying shades of blue or changes in dimensions.</div><div>When <i>DWM</i> produced a special looking at the companions, for the 50th Anniversary, once it had covered Susan to Clara, it ended with a look at the TARDIS - arguing rightly that it has always been as much a companion to the Doctor over the centuries as any schoolteacher, UNIT soldier or Time Lady.</div><div>It has been a character in its own right ever since <b>The Edge of Destruction</b> - though you could argue it was exhibiting very odd behaviours since it decided to wait and warn the Doctor about the radiation dangers of Skaro only after everyone had already been infected - and then it chose to do so silently.</div><div>In the following two-part story, it elected to warn everyone of the peril they faced when one of its components became stuck - but it did so in the most cryptic manner possible.</div><div>You'd think it didn't like any of them.</div><div>Over the years we've learned a lot more about it, in terms of its "personality". It is definitely much more than a machine. It has telepathic circuits and some form of psychic bond with its operator.</div><div>The Doctor certainly speaks to it, and of it, like a person - specifically a 'she'.</div><div><br /></div><div>This was the background against which Gaiman crafted his story - initially known as "Bigger on the Inside". (Other working titles were "The TARDIS Trap" and "The House of Nothing").</div><div>What would happen if the Doctor could actually "meet" the TARDIS and interact with it? What would they have to say to each other?</div><div>One of his inspirations was the novel <i>The Most Dangerous Game </i>(1924). It's best known for the 1932 film version starring Fay Wray, Leslie Banks and Joel McCrea - a companion piece to <i>King Kong</i> in production terms. </div><div>In this a sadistic big game hunter stalks human prey after they become marooned on his private island. (The crazed villain of the piece is called Zaroff...).</div><div>Gaiman liked the idea of the companion being hunted through the endless corridors and rooms of the TARDIS. (Not the Doctor, however, as he would know the ship too well).</div><div>The being doing the hunting would be the TARDIS itself, which led to the idea of it becoming possessed by a hostile alien entity - which in turn led to the idea of its own "personality" being transplanted somewhere else.</div><div>The notion of a sentient TARDIS had been covered in spin-off media, but never properly explored on screen.</div><div><br /></div><div>Having the House planet look like a gigantic junkyard was a deliberate nod to the series' origins in Totters Lane - since Gaiman wanted the episode to be a love letter to the series and to long-term fans.</div><div>Originally there were lots of little references, such as mention of the mercury fluid-links, but these were cut. A Dalek sucker was to have been found by Amy.</div><div>The white Time Lord message cube was first seen in <b>The War Games</b>.</div><div>An opening scene was supposed to show Amy and Rory in the TARDIS swimming pool, but this was cut as the budget was tightened - though Gaiman was told it was because Karen Gillan couldn't swim. The pool - described as a bathroom - had been seen in <b>The Invasion of</b> <b>Time</b>, only to be said to have been jettisoned by the time of <b>Paradise Towers</b>.</div><div>It was back, but unseen, in the new series - getting a mention in <b>The Eleventh Hour</b> when it had spilled into the library. It was intact for River to plunge into at the beginning of this series.</div><div><br /></div><div>The "desktop theme" description had first been used by Moffat in <b>Time Crash</b> for <i>Children in Need</i>.</div><div>House was a disembodied entity as Gaiman loved creatures like the Great Intelligence (he is a big Troughton era fan). In the original version, House had come into our universe through the Crack.</div><div>This was reversed to have it exist in a bubble universe - similar to E-Space from Season 18 - and want to leave for our universe to feed. </div><div>Burning up rooms to create thrust had been seen in <b>Logopolis</b> and <b>Castrovalva</b>.</div><div>Nephew was going to be a big new creature - a huge hulking brute who was part-hyena - but cost-cutting also saw that thrown out in favour of reusing an existing Ood costume.</div><div>The junkyard TARDIS was the latest collaboration with <i>Blue Peter</i> - the result of a competition for young fans to design a console made from discarded items.</div><div>This competition was run prior to Series 5 where the story was supposed to be placed.</div><div>It was Gaiman rather than the showrunner who added the mention that the Corsair had once been female, indicating for the first time that Time Lords could change gender.</div><div>Next time: Shiny (Un)Happy People...</div>GerryDhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15825222546131243823noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2111969765309227755.post-80761586059406339702024-02-20T20:24:00.000+00:002024-02-20T20:24:07.147+00:00The Daleks in Colour: Revisited<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMUI3W3uYUtxJU99SFaXXIQktzefVi31XF9h4wIlzkOyWBR3x_j8hLIKkZ_1TIV_rgjeF03WCRCUKH_p4KvKSqjQn3iSESu3amcNEsVkg5XS-3QpPakf9stEI4WfdfqnYKl4A2ot6vEUpcT06oq-CLGwsy2eLPVnrN4AIYT1G6gDDjcqL0NSPsGeT3AKMh/s1500/daleksincolourdvd-ezgif.com-webp-to-jpg-converter.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="1500" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMUI3W3uYUtxJU99SFaXXIQktzefVi31XF9h4wIlzkOyWBR3x_j8hLIKkZ_1TIV_rgjeF03WCRCUKH_p4KvKSqjQn3iSESu3amcNEsVkg5XS-3QpPakf9stEI4WfdfqnYKl4A2ot6vEUpcT06oq-CLGwsy2eLPVnrN4AIYT1G6gDDjcqL0NSPsGeT3AKMh/w400-h400/daleksincolourdvd-ezgif.com-webp-to-jpg-converter.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: left;">The arrival of "<b>The Daleks</b> in Colour" on DVD and Blu-ray has afforded me the opportunity to take another look at it. I have only watched it once, on broadcast, and wrote my review on first impressions.</div><div style="text-align: left;">Last night, I watched it again, to see if my opinion had changed in any way...</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">First things first, the cover: </div><div style="text-align: left;">There are websites which highlight terrible examples of Photoshop, and this could comfortably be added. It's poor. We simply have a couple of Daleks superimposed onto an image of the Doctor and companions surrounding the TARDIS console. The Daleks have their backs to us, and there seems to be a half-hearted attempt at perspective which doesn't work. </div><div style="text-align: left;">No artistic merit whatsoever.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">The colourisation:</div><div style="text-align: left;">Much has already been mentioned about Barbara's acid pink blouse. At no point do you ever lose sight of the fact that this wasn't made in colour, but has been artificially colourised.</div><div style="text-align: left;">At times I think they've gone overboard and used too much colour - especially with the Dalek city. This has led to an obvious lapse of logic. They've added a couple of POV shots (using the blue-tinted, calibrated Dalek-eye view of the new series). If the Daleks can't see colour, why on Skaro would their city be full of purples and golds? Colour for the sake of colour, with little or no subtilty.</div><div style="text-align: left;">There are colour photos from 1963/4 available, taken by Ray Cusick. He was making a programme to be broadcast in B&W, and had a much better colour-sense.</div><div style="text-align: left;">Other than this, the colour is fine. I love the forest and the views of the city.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">CGI:</div><div style="text-align: left;">Which brings me to the CGI effects, which are mercifully few. I've no idea why they used a computerised city when it looks just like the excellent Shawcraft model. The TARDIS shots are poor. The dematerialisation at the end stands out badly, as we see that there are supposed to be Thals standing right next to it.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">The edit:</div><div style="text-align: left;">A real contentious issue for many. Seven episodes condensed down to 75 minutes. Even the Peter Cushing movie lasted longer. This edit was designed to make the story fast paced and exciting, as the plan was to attract viewers who might not normally watch archive monochrome material - so we need to keep this in mind.</div><div style="text-align: left;">Sadly, this means that the new viewers are losing lots of lovely character moments, such as the TARDIS food machine sequence. It is irrelevant to the plot, so you can see why it went, but I feel sorry for the intended audience. You are missing <i>so</i> much.</div><div style="text-align: left;">A particular irritation is the need to repeat action every time someone refers back to it. </div><div style="text-align: left;">When the captured time-travellers talk about the drugs they found outside the ship, we are shown this scene again. Likewise, when the death of Temmosus is talked about, we see it again. And when mention is made of Ian being shot, we see it again...</div><div style="text-align: left;">The implication is that the viewer has the attention span of a goldfish and can't remember what they saw 15 minutes ago. It's treating the viewer like an idiot.</div><div style="text-align: left;">Some of the intercutting is clumsy.</div><div style="text-align: left;">As originally broadcast, the Daleks could manage only a couple of still images of the Thal camp, which they can't even interpret very well, thinking an injured Thal might be Ian until they see him in the next picture. Here, the Daleks can see right into the Thal camp and get sound and moving pictures.</div><div style="text-align: left;">Which begs the question: if they can see and hear what's going on, why don't they know all about the plan of attack against them? The re-edit has created another logic lapse.</div><div style="text-align: left;">The new voices stand out, and not in a good way. David Graham's voice sounds its venerable age, and Briggs is far too recognisable.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">The music:</div><div style="text-align: left;">My big bugbear. I've hear it again, and I still loath it. As I said in my original review, for someone who is supposed to be the guardian of the programme's audio legacy, Ayres has a cheek to even consider overwriting the work of Tristram Cary and Brian Hodgson. Style and tone are all over the place, dialogue is drowned out, and the music simply doesn't match the action a lot of the time.</div><div style="text-align: left;">The music accompanying the escape to the lift is stand-out excruciatingly awful. He's certainly no Murray Gold, that's for sure.</div><div style="text-align: left;">I've looked him up on-line, and he has no significant credits outside of <i>Doctor Who</i> projects. No films, no dramas, no sitcoms, no documentaries. I think we know why, and I'll leave it at that.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Value(less) Added Material:</div><div style="text-align: left;">There's a "Making of..." for the colourised version. To be honest, I can't be bothered seeing how they did what they did, so gave this a miss. It was covered in <i>DWM</i> anyway.</div><div style="text-align: left;">The second disc contains the original seven part story - and this actually makes me really rather angry.</div><div style="text-align: left;">I knew from the initial announcement that the original version was not going to be upscaled for Blu-ray, but I didn't think they'd simply use the old DVD version. And it <i>is</i> the old DVD version. It even has the old logo, branding and menu - including the "The Beginning" box-set intro. </div><div style="text-align: left;">They've quite literally just taken the DVD and slapped a new picture on the disc.</div><div style="text-align: left;">A wee bit of a clean-up and new menu / branding - even just the "Whoniverse" - would have been nice. </div><div style="text-align: left;">It's not as if we're likely to see <i>The Collection - Season One</i> box-set any time soon.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">"<b>The Daleks</b> in Colour" has its pros and cons. As someone used to the Aaru movie, I have no issue with an alternative take on the story. It's "as well as" and not "instead of" the original B&W version, and that's the way to look at it. </div><div style="text-align: left;">From comments I read back in November, parents reported their children really enjoying it - kids who might just want to view some more (just a pity it's a one-off - at least for now - so there's nothing else to show them to capitalise on this interest). If it helps create a next generation, all well and good.</div><div style="text-align: left;">My favourite part of the release? The colourised clips of other Hartnell episodes at the end - accompanied by decent music...</div>GerryDhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15825222546131243823noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2111969765309227755.post-75352298185899771092024-02-18T16:51:00.000+00:002024-02-18T16:51:31.190+00:00Episode 105: Priest of Death<div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHcp7ZjVQ5hbMJUTywQL5Cew5zmPPbzp9yg71mBmpI5Vj3IuxICU2o4_6CDdAjt-yRGP-jlgaZtjhEE1hLkzlFAyOBGsMVb2Lq_6PYZJza7svNMUOP06kr5agy87wAQOiZUmLWDu0zM084Em3645QBqjtPwehhG9iUTYB0URBESPpDnXsfWo0C00fYmNdp/s1524/massacre14.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1003" data-original-width="1524" height="264" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHcp7ZjVQ5hbMJUTywQL5Cew5zmPPbzp9yg71mBmpI5Vj3IuxICU2o4_6CDdAjt-yRGP-jlgaZtjhEE1hLkzlFAyOBGsMVb2Lq_6PYZJza7svNMUOP06kr5agy87wAQOiZUmLWDu0zM084Em3645QBqjtPwehhG9iUTYB0URBESPpDnXsfWo0C00fYmNdp/w400-h264/massacre14.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small; text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: justify;">NB: This episode no longer exists in the archives, nor is there a full set of telesnaps. Representative images are therefore used to illustrate it.</div></span></div><div><div><span><br /></span></div><div><b>Synopsis:</b></div></div><div>The next morning Steven finds some clothing at Preslin's shop and changes, so that he can get close to the Abbot's house. He remains convinced that the Doctor is impersonating the cleric for some reason. Anne insists on accompanying him.</div><div>At the Louvre, a council meeting is underway. Present are King Charles IX and the Queen Mother, accompanied by Marshal Tavannes, Admiral de Coligny and Councillor Teligny. </div><div>A decision on war with Spain is deferred, but the Admiral complains about the current persecution of Huguenots in Paris. When the King seems hesitant to address this, de Coligny accuses him of being too much under the control of his mother. Angered, she storms out. This amuses the King as he likes how de Coligny speaks his mind, and resents his mother's influence.</div><div>The meeting ends with the next session due to take place in two day's time - the Feast of Saint Bartholomew. </div><div>At the Abbot's house, Steven meets the man he thinks is the Doctor and entrusts Anne's safety to him because of this.</div><div>Tavannes arrives from the council meeting and confers with the Abbot in private. Steven discovers that the "sea beggar" refers to the Admiral. He then overhears talk of the imminent assassination of the Admiral on one of the streets between his house and the Louvre. Roger Colbert spots Steven and warns the Marshal that the Englishman who has been seen with the Huguenots has been eavesdropping.</div><div>The Marshal is furious that a potential threat to their plans was allowed into the Abbot's house. Should the assassination fail, the Abbot will be blamed.</div><div>Steven and Anne are too late to warn their friends. The Admiral is shot as he walks along the Rue des Poulies, but is not killed. Badly wounded, he is carried to his house.</div><div>On hearing of this, Tavannes orders the death of the Abbot.</div><div>Teligny reports the incident to the King and his mother, and the young monarch instructs the Marshal to put protection in place for the Admiral. He is highly critical of Tavannes.</div><div>Later, the Queen Mother tells her son that the Marshal was simply doing his job of protecting the Catholics of Paris, now that a Huguenot prince is part of the royal family.</div><div>The Huguenots may soon want to rid themselves of the Catholic monarchy...</div><div>It is soon reported that revenge attacks have taken place, with Huguenot mobs said to be murdering Catholics.</div><div>When Teligny tells Steven that the Abbot is one of those killed, he rushes to his house.</div><div>An angry crowd has gathered, and Colbert sees Steven. He loudly accuses him of being responsible for the Abbot's murder. Steven is forced to flee for his life, whilst the body of the man he believes to be his friend lies forgotten in the gutter...</div><div>Next episode: <i>Bell of Doom</i></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjM3HjaOihaZDNRrWms_KcJSZ8XR2M4buDJPRVTz-wO6PBhzjr6o2oXAz3tqjN5Yo3PbSIQNhVMlmGwKZbedz3qeesmX-EWZPa8JgLqeoWp3btIhizwPvKe5Nv0-TC6MbEjrw6DsKmwck8R2CbjtNJqJtmC-1KtdPjIs95dihVOYSqFgcW2vGt1eghh2b7J/s1432/massacre25.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1432" height="241" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjM3HjaOihaZDNRrWms_KcJSZ8XR2M4buDJPRVTz-wO6PBhzjr6o2oXAz3tqjN5Yo3PbSIQNhVMlmGwKZbedz3qeesmX-EWZPa8JgLqeoWp3btIhizwPvKe5Nv0-TC6MbEjrw6DsKmwck8R2CbjtNJqJtmC-1KtdPjIs95dihVOYSqFgcW2vGt1eghh2b7J/s320/massacre25.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><b>Data:</b></div><div style="text-align: left;">Written by John Lucarotti</div><div style="text-align: left;">Recorded: Friday 4th February 1966 - Riverside Studio 1</div><div style="text-align: left;">First broadcast: 5:15pm, Saturday 19th February 1966</div><div style="text-align: left;">Ratings: 5.9 million / AI 49</div><div style="text-align: left;">Designer: Michael Young</div><div style="text-align: left;">Director: Paddy Russell</div><div style="text-align: left;">Additional cast: Joan Young (Catherine de Medici), Barry Justice (King Charles IX), Michael Bilton (Teligny)</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhKdFemsU4AqKj0ID6A5eIWvPyCNElH-qou3yWNofEnNlLGeBeR0jnLWMY5gvQrEJvCX6eYmvi8IJY3ddiy1qAwMp73cUSgmPO7RGSIcOnxiRS2ZOd-OaZZQsmJRsZ6ekG09UaeguIgUw9rbZSiEmyjPKHQWDfX2-ZdSD8CsyUmJd-73Dywu3jBnhRRuDz/s987/massacre16.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="987" data-original-width="954" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhKdFemsU4AqKj0ID6A5eIWvPyCNElH-qou3yWNofEnNlLGeBeR0jnLWMY5gvQrEJvCX6eYmvi8IJY3ddiy1qAwMp73cUSgmPO7RGSIcOnxiRS2ZOd-OaZZQsmJRsZ6ekG09UaeguIgUw9rbZSiEmyjPKHQWDfX2-ZdSD8CsyUmJd-73Dywu3jBnhRRuDz/s320/massacre16.jpg" width="309" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Critique:</b></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The first two episodes had been very much about build-up, setting the scene for viewers unfamiliar with these historical events. The mystery of the Doctor / Abbot is also put in place. Like Steven, the viewers are supposed to be wondering if this is the Doctor impersonating the Abbot - and if so, why?</div><div style="text-align: justify;">This aspect of the story really doesn't work, however, as we've been given no motivation for him doing this. Apart from Steven's suspicions, there's been no intimation that the Doctor is indulging in disguise.</div><div style="text-align: justify;">All this tends to undermine the "shock" death of the Abbot at the conclusion of this week's episode.</div><div style="text-align: justify;">It's interesting to note Hartnell's performance as the Abbot. He pitches his voice a little higher than usual, but there are none of the vocal mannerisms he uses as the Doctor - showing that what we normally get is very much a performance and not Hartnell simply being himself.</div><div style="text-align: justify;">It has been claimed that several of his alleged fluffs by the actor were actually deliberate and rehearsed.</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Paddy Russell advised Hartnell whenever she thought any of the Doctor's verbal tics were showing in his performance as the Abbot.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">This week events move forward and we actually have some action - the historical assassination of Admiral de Coligny and the fictional murder of the Abbot.</div><div style="text-align: left;">There are three prime suspects in the assassination attempt on the Admiral of France - the Guise family, the Duke of Alba, and Catherine de Medici. </div><div style="text-align: left;">The former were suspected as de Coligny was believed to have been responsible for the death of the Duke of Guise in 1563, whilst Alba governed the Netherlands and did not want to see the country drawn into war with Spain.</div><div style="text-align: left;">With neither of these factions present in Lucarotti's scripts (or Tosh's redrafts) we are left with the Queen Mother. Her main motive is presented as one of "kill them before they kill you". In the same way that Guise's death had sparked wider conflict, the death of the Admiral would provoke reprisals against the Catholics. If this was inevitable, then best to strike at them first.</div><div style="text-align: left;">Her other motivations are keeping France from going to war with another Catholic power, and the purely personal one of the growing influence de Coligny had over her son. Charles was only 22 at the time of these events, and a weak-willed individual whom she had easily manipulated up to now. </div><div style="text-align: left;">de Coligny was saved by bending down to tie his shoe which had come loose. The assassin shot him from an upper window of a house on the Rue des Poulies which was on the route from the Louvre to his house. The bullet hit his left arm and lost him one of his fingers. The assassin, Maurevert, escaped.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLPmynJNYieXevT52VN5YbGyW-9vMmH1Vn67Un5pHIuSGGQIyEEWR_4IzRO1OAqaPABW45SQWT39SyBP_wE4N0vw4_dFyRmCxE3737Hq210sG7boqj9hSN5e_35y_CxYh6FH1LanAxkkQzluqP3f20tOIUHJUU6tHUulwZuyBUmX7AY4htm_u-KqAwU6m9/s1280/de%20coligny%20killing.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="850" data-original-width="1280" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLPmynJNYieXevT52VN5YbGyW-9vMmH1Vn67Un5pHIuSGGQIyEEWR_4IzRO1OAqaPABW45SQWT39SyBP_wE4N0vw4_dFyRmCxE3737Hq210sG7boqj9hSN5e_35y_CxYh6FH1LanAxkkQzluqP3f20tOIUHJUU6tHUulwZuyBUmX7AY4htm_u-KqAwU6m9/w400-h266/de%20coligny%20killing.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><span style="font-size: x-small;">The assassination of Admiral de Coligny told in a composite image of the time. On the left, we see him shot by the assassin, whilst on the right he is attacked in his sick-bed and his corpse is thrown from the window - an event from two day's later. The body of Teligny can also be seen being thrown from a window.</span><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Hartnell returned from his week's holiday. He and Peter Purves were then absent from rehearsals on the afternoon of Thursday 3rd February to carry out pre-filming on <b>The Ark</b>. This was their first work with new co-star Jackie Lane, who had been cast as Dodo Chaplet.</div><div style="text-align: left;">The star would only be seen playing the Abbot again this week.</div><div style="text-align: left;">Designers liked to make their sets more interesting by introducing different levels. This was usually achieved though the use of rostra, creating raised areas. Notable examples include the Dalek saucer and the alleyway entrance to the Plague Cemetery in <b>The Dalek Invasion of Earth</b>, and the lab sink in <b>Planet of Giants</b>.</div><div style="text-align: left;">For the Ealing filming of his Paris street scenes, Michael Young elected to build down rather than upwards. He used the studio's famous water tank in which to build sections of the set, so that steps could be seen leading down onto the narrow streets and alleyways.</div><div style="text-align: left;">Joining the cast this week were Michael Bilton (1919 - 1993) as Charles de Teligny, one of the King's Councillors and another leading Huguenot.</div><div style="text-align: left;">Joan Young (1903 - 1984) portraying Catherine de Medici, was a renowned radio artist who had also featured in a number of British films, including Ealing comedies.</div><div style="text-align: left;">Barry Justice (1940 - 1980) playing the King, featured in the BBC adaptation of <i>David Copperfield</i> the same year as his <i>Doctor Who</i> appearance. This version had Ian McKellen in the title role.</div><div style="text-align: left;">A photograph session was booked for the afternoon of recording, to get images of Morell, Sachs, Young and Justice on the Louvre set.</div><div style="text-align: left;">Rather than create a complex piece of set for the assassination scene, the director elected to simply have a camera on a crane with a gun barrel placed underneath - giving a POV shot instead of having to build a complicated upper storey chamber.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">This was the final episode on which Donald Tosh was credited as Story Editor. His replacement - Gerry Davis - had been shadowing him since Christmas, during which time he had developed his own ideas about historical-set stories. Now free of his contract, Tosh would be able to get a writer's credit on the fourth and final instalment of the story.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3NSvzisMoQdcfVpVhGwMp5Qjxwqr3IHDJMypXNYyeXL0vsN8GYibunARSfLdQpr4EnluJvbzbv6JxKiV5VjMCacWUtLM_O9iV4okGPh079UMM6pj7h7T0qVEzdE33wQ1o4ftXlRRCsjPZS04_4oP97UYRQib_CGYZpEPQsTg08nBvGuOlWXBxBNFiR2ke/s1130/massacre4.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="776" data-original-width="1130" height="275" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3NSvzisMoQdcfVpVhGwMp5Qjxwqr3IHDJMypXNYyeXL0vsN8GYibunARSfLdQpr4EnluJvbzbv6JxKiV5VjMCacWUtLM_O9iV4okGPh079UMM6pj7h7T0qVEzdE33wQ1o4ftXlRRCsjPZS04_4oP97UYRQib_CGYZpEPQsTg08nBvGuOlWXBxBNFiR2ke/w400-h275/massacre4.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><b>Trivia:</b><div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>The ratings manage to remain consistent with the previous week, though now dipping slightly under the 6 million mark. The appreciation figure falls below 50.</li><li>Michael Bilton would return to the series to play Collins in <b>Pyramids of Mars</b>.</li></ul></div>GerryDhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15825222546131243823noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2111969765309227755.post-5869203959819221312024-02-16T19:36:00.000+00:002024-02-16T19:36:38.825+00:00The Art of... The Massacre<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKeOdk4vw93FGQP_hOkm4atiPL_7xSx8mpnIi-hq5VtVxKuOcTZwPPs1xuMaYio2bQWxMsp_-1qqWljJMby6SDL-d5fzQBewm4s9m9FmH_4miXEDnF6vXRfYlPS6aB4Aq2ipKM8uBsQMtGQkDaa1o2dOhAgOBdBBwGXMi-Pqe6bQzU1tyWxS8vWX20seXd/s2000/massacre%20novel.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2000" data-original-width="1427" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKeOdk4vw93FGQP_hOkm4atiPL_7xSx8mpnIi-hq5VtVxKuOcTZwPPs1xuMaYio2bQWxMsp_-1qqWljJMby6SDL-d5fzQBewm4s9m9FmH_4miXEDnF6vXRfYlPS6aB4Aq2ipKM8uBsQMtGQkDaa1o2dOhAgOBdBBwGXMi-Pqe6bQzU1tyWxS8vWX20seXd/w285-h400/massacre%20novel.jpg" width="285" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">The novelisation of <b>The Massacre</b> - which uses the simplified version of the title - was written by its nominal author, John Lucarotti. I say nominal, since we know that it was heavily rewritten by Donald Tosh. Lucarotti takes the opportunity to tell the story he originally envisaged.</div><div style="text-align: left;">Against a backdrop of medieval houses, we have the TARDIS appearing to be burnt on a pyre, which is something you certainly never saw in the televised story. Instead of the Doctor we have his doppelganger, the Abbot of Amboise (or is it the Doctor in disguise...?). Again, the Doctor never dons clerical robes in the TV version of the story. There's very little visual evidence for the story, but fans who saw it at the time have stated that the Abbot dressed in white or cream.</div><div style="text-align: left;">Amongst his many changes Lucarotti added a prologue and epilogue to the story, in which the Doctor discusses these events with the Time Lords, and it's implied that he has retired from travelling at this point.</div><div style="text-align: left;">The artist denied visual references is Tony Masero, and it was published in November 1987.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZLxekPzJfYW_-lquPKvndHs_kClOlmhE1QVQh48kH3mf37imFxpnFeMtgQAuIAJ0djGKIbphnVm9766xX265YwPo2DT004AS4C8HVdnnmaA0Yd4uPVcy8LcPtxZHdrrP8TBTLJudZVN3r6J0xsZMWyqNX-tV7WWOJlpF6X781d5dOQk0SEZ5YeiMRifFa/s500/massacre%20novel%202.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="327" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZLxekPzJfYW_-lquPKvndHs_kClOlmhE1QVQh48kH3mf37imFxpnFeMtgQAuIAJ0djGKIbphnVm9766xX265YwPo2DT004AS4C8HVdnnmaA0Yd4uPVcy8LcPtxZHdrrP8TBTLJudZVN3r6J0xsZMWyqNX-tV7WWOJlpF6X781d5dOQk0SEZ5YeiMRifFa/w261-h400/massacre%20novel%202.jpg" width="261" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: left;">A reprint with a new cover by Alister Pearson followed in October 1992. We have character portraits - Charles IX, Catherine de Medici and Steven - and Notre Dame Cathedral to set the scene. The double portrait of Hartnell hints at the look-alike subplot.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHNUT7mwZeEQBkgaAGM13XJiYUyM8872WnusiLzs2HZuWdwnCvG73YMSB_h6EUbl6z5fMd1jU3ZM6mN6PedS8B4-ASe3CqlTdBkrLlq8tAZUMW00mMGi_lO61JKb2k3SowwDVkNBeq0gXBLZ6Cr2yTz1c0GTcWbao13v9q17ROqLbk_D807J-6Zv7U0rDu/s475/massacre%20soundtrack.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="465" data-original-width="475" height="313" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHNUT7mwZeEQBkgaAGM13XJiYUyM8872WnusiLzs2HZuWdwnCvG73YMSB_h6EUbl6z5fMd1jU3ZM6mN6PedS8B4-ASe3CqlTdBkrLlq8tAZUMW00mMGi_lO61JKb2k3SowwDVkNBeq0gXBLZ6Cr2yTz1c0GTcWbao13v9q17ROqLbk_D807J-6Zv7U0rDu/s320/massacre%20soundtrack.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div>The soundtrack, narrated by Peter Purves, was issued in 1999 - one of the very first from the BBC Radio Collection. Again we have the double Hartnell, though you can see one is wearing dark robes. The Catholic Queen Mother is present again on the photomontage cover, with the narrator. Despite playing more significant roles, de Coligny and Tavannes don't get a look-in. Whilst it says <b>The</b> <b>Massacre</b> on the cover, the discs themselves have the full "The Massacre of Saint Bartholomew's Eve".<div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFZEw2Ea7R3IrfJ4UHryFx9wlThJNfg5Nbl_eOkOS-AJJC3nzm5wMNmNlV00v7eoMrTMUiRG0aV7GIoT-B3nbVB0AWy0GXuCe19bDwJ2X9Sz1A0qHtSQCUD404dXz-25BmkyvbMWOe9vgLFx6fszoyirZb0vV8FqJNVjCL2f1_wrfoHoOE-slbpVwLitkm/s1500/massacre%20vinyl.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="1500" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFZEw2Ea7R3IrfJ4UHryFx9wlThJNfg5Nbl_eOkOS-AJJC3nzm5wMNmNlV00v7eoMrTMUiRG0aV7GIoT-B3nbVB0AWy0GXuCe19bDwJ2X9Sz1A0qHtSQCUD404dXz-25BmkyvbMWOe9vgLFx6fszoyirZb0vV8FqJNVjCL2f1_wrfoHoOE-slbpVwLitkm/s320/massacre%20vinyl.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div>This was issued on vinyl courtesy of Demon Records in June 2020. It was supposed to be released to tie in with Record Store Day in April, but was delayed. It's a superbly atmospheric cover, depicting violent events on the nocturnal streets of Paris - which make the story look a lot more exciting than it was. The serial is mainly comprised of lengthy scenes of people plotting in wood-panelled rooms, with the titular Massacre taking place off screen.<div>(Unfortunately, the Tricolore wasn't adopted as French flag until 1794. At this point in history it should have been a dark blue flag with three golden fleur-de-lis).<div><div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfbrrhaO36vUlpTpGkqZSAIN-JWMkwYIP1wkT0HKzybGVCvtZXvjRLU5REqw3Yg2YdNBP1Heh7R35ckenMUZB9SjL7GDoW52E4gfa_Azj0JsBlr-bUF2yz2EbPTxh02hsqY_ID95n4_vLr1IhZZDRbX_gNZ92zU4xK07rnLmVvFuoyI1EmbuOevkyPwWNx/s225/massacre%20audiobook.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="225" data-original-width="225" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfbrrhaO36vUlpTpGkqZSAIN-JWMkwYIP1wkT0HKzybGVCvtZXvjRLU5REqw3Yg2YdNBP1Heh7R35ckenMUZB9SjL7GDoW52E4gfa_Azj0JsBlr-bUF2yz2EbPTxh02hsqY_ID95n4_vLr1IhZZDRbX_gNZ92zU4xK07rnLmVvFuoyI1EmbuOevkyPwWNx/w320-h320/massacre%20audiobook.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div>An audiobook of Lucarotti's novel was released in June 2015, using Masero's artwork. The wider image allows for more detail of the background buildings, so it's a bit more apparent that the burning of the TARDIS is taking place in a town square.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2tJBozLJPf90wShAF57tRxGLdqtqWOIgbyWqvi084zFCMfXSHWqJnVDrZzCkxTQTLMbXgkdm4BhHPibadJQgWz5krtrG54Q3PYi81c9ClG99jas46rzx-aKcR7J3C9dHKaiVFEDY-xeesekZpf9HH5dU4DQGdetfuScx5mtzueDZcWj2ACGp-dW9cYQsw/s900/massacre%20moviedb.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="600" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2tJBozLJPf90wShAF57tRxGLdqtqWOIgbyWqvi084zFCMfXSHWqJnVDrZzCkxTQTLMbXgkdm4BhHPibadJQgWz5krtrG54Q3PYi81c9ClG99jas46rzx-aKcR7J3C9dHKaiVFEDY-xeesekZpf9HH5dU4DQGdetfuScx5mtzueDZcWj2ACGp-dW9cYQsw/w266-h400/massacre%20moviedb.jpg" width="266" /></a></div><div><br /></div>And finally, as a missing story with no DVD release, the <i>moviedb</i> site used a colourful photomontage image to illustrate this story in the style of a DVD cover. This one adds Anne Chaplet to the mix.</div></div></div><div>As a fairly obscure, talky historical, I suspect that <b>The Massacre</b> isn't terribly high on the list for any animated release, which is a pity.</div>GerryDhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15825222546131243823noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2111969765309227755.post-70590250104846556662024-02-14T19:13:00.000+00:002024-02-14T19:13:45.130+00:00What's Wrong With... The Creature From The Pit<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzd2WncTSGfG6odN-3ECgv5oka6-YX7r9cVNHo1y3JHU7kMqXCSpUXip1NJGVkumMO_5mNZHidhLSgxz_xP2_PfBw2jUj2j74t3InBsC4T_sJdCcNNYwgxy9DU_UxyB2MCYZrrKBaWKhHWv5sgZgp1HamgTugWHo5d2c06boTUwCUKUNRoagFk_834Ug02/s960/www%20cftp.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="960" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzd2WncTSGfG6odN-3ECgv5oka6-YX7r9cVNHo1y3JHU7kMqXCSpUXip1NJGVkumMO_5mNZHidhLSgxz_xP2_PfBw2jUj2j74t3InBsC4T_sJdCcNNYwgxy9DU_UxyB2MCYZrrKBaWKhHWv5sgZgp1HamgTugWHo5d2c06boTUwCUKUNRoagFk_834Ug02/s320/www%20cftp.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: left;">Maybe quicker to write about what was right about it...</div><div style="text-align: left;">For the sake of completism, let's start with Erato.</div><div style="text-align: left;">Mat Irvine carried the can for the poor realisation of the titular creature, but he - quite rightly - said that the blame really ought to lie with the script editor and producer for having approved the story as it stood in the first place.</div><div style="text-align: left;">This was a time of high inflation, and this story was supposed to be a lower budgeted all-studio serial - so why agree to a gigantic monster under these conditions?</div><div style="text-align: left;">The writer assumed that some sort of model would be used, and indeed there is a model of Erato - but it only features briefly.</div><div style="text-align: left;">We get a huge green balloon (literally - weatherman Michael Fish spotted its weather balloon origins). To make it more interesting, and because the script called for it, at least one appendage was required.</div><div style="text-align: left;">Unfortunately, this made the monster look like massive green male genitalia...</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Often a bad VFX can be carried by the performances of the actors interacting with it - but here things aren't helped at all by Tom Baker. Season 17 was when he was at his most out of control, fighting directors and refusing to take things seriously. Graham Williams had given up the ghost with his star by this point, casting longing glances at the Exit, but Baker was being encouraged to go over the top by his co-star and the script editor - one Douglas Adams.</div><div style="text-align: left;">The scene everyone mentions is when Baker appears to fellate the creature (see above).</div><div style="text-align: left;">One of the VFX assistants claimed that they took their stanley-knife to the prop as soon as recording ended, but this can't be true as it featured in the Blackpool Exhibition.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">On to the story. </div><div style="text-align: left;">Just how did they get Erato out of the Pit in the fourth episode?</div><div style="text-align: left;">Why has Erato not realised that it's killing people when trying to communicate with them. It's a bit slow on the uptake.</div><div style="text-align: left;">The society on Chloris is obviously matriarchal, yet the Huntsman ends up in charge at the conclusion. Adrasta is killed and Karela locked up, but what happened to the younger woman? She just vanishes from the story.</div><div style="text-align: left;">Isn't giving the Huntsman the top job a bit like making the guy who walks the White House dogs the President of the USA? What exactly were his qualifications for being placed in charge?</div><div style="text-align: left;">If you are not a fan of under-graduate humour (like JNT, Barry Letts and Chris Bidmead) then the whole "Everest In Easy Stages" section simply isn't funny, and undermines the drama.</div><div style="text-align: left;">The Doctor simply walking through the supposedly unbreakable wall is embarrassing.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">I'm no physicist, but I'm told that the whole wrapping of the neutron star in aluminium would never work. Neutron stars are a lot bigger than what we see here, so you couldn't weave a coating that quickly anyway.</div><div style="text-align: left;">(And why couldn't Erato have woven something useful that might have helped it escape from the Pit).</div><div style="text-align: left;">Why did the Tythonians not bother to check and see what happened to their ambassador. Launching a star at Chloris when it's imprisoned there is going to kill it as well as its captors.</div><div style="text-align: left;">The other thing everyone talks about is the unpleasant anti-Semitism of the stereotyped bandits, though this needs to be considered in the context of the period in which the story was made. Various versions of <i>Oliver Twist </i>were available, and productions of <i>The Merchant of Venice</i> being staged, at the time.</div>GerryDhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15825222546131243823noreply@blogger.com0