I don’t want to be overly critical here, Dear Harry, but I’m a bit confused about the whole T-Mat system. Don’t get me wrong, I completely understand the appeal of instant travel and, having been fed a steady diet of Star Trek from an early age, I’ve been waiting for a transporter my entire life. That said, what is the point of a transportation system that seems to be responsible for all commerce on the plant? Indians will starve because the shipment from Moscow doesn’t arrive? The social order breaks down after a day without T-Mat? Has over reliance on the T-Mat extinguished local agriculture to the point that nations have to receive their shipments to prevent mass starvation? I don’t much like this version of the 21st Century.
Harry -
The T-Mat concept would have been more believeable if this story was set inside a futuristic shipping company - even a global enterprise would have been okay - but without the crazy dangerous consequences that arise from short-term blips in the system. Social breakdown and unrest within hours? Sorry, I don't buy it.
Sarah -
If things weren’t bad enough in the 21st Century, the jumpsuits add insult to injury. Absolutely no one looks good in those uniforms. Yes, T-Mat Staff, that jumpsuit does make your butt look big.
Harry -
Those "jock strap" patterns on the crew's uniforms were distracting, in a bad way.
Sarah -
Having gotten those minor issues out of my system, I have to tell you that I loved this story! This is the last complete story that I’ll watch for the first time on this marathon, and I’m happy as can be that it was such a cracker!
Harry -
I like this story too. It's base-under-siege again, but this one gallops along at a steady pace, and is packed with cinematic eye candy right from the start. The production crew are comfortable with the template here, and make it look great. I liked the opening camera shots from the moonbase invaders' point of view. We are treated to a wide array of interesting angles and blockings throughout the story.
Sarah -
There is some excellent camera work in this story. The initial shot of the seeds in close up is so effective, but there are many other great moments. The most famous, of course, is Troughton’s romp through the corridors in episode 3. It may be filler to pad out a six-part story, but it’s so much fun and provides a wonderful opportunity for director Michael Ferguson to work all the artsy camera angles.
Harry -
Oh gosh, the angles. And the moonbase set! Part expressionist, part surrealist. A hall of mirrors on a moonbase? That had to be the most crazily-designed space base we've seen so far.
It was disappointing, however, to see Zoe still dressed in that "Cowgirl Cutie" getup. However, as we saw in "The Invasion," she pulls off another sudden wardrobe change as the TARDIS crew prepares for the rocket launch. Would the ability to change clothes at unexpected moments be considered a notable skill? If she does it one more time, we'll have to acknowledge it as a Zoe Thing.
Sarah -
I listened to a bit of the commentary track with Frazer Hines, Wendy Padbury and Michael Ferguson. It was amusing to hear Hines immediately give Padbury grief for her outfit. Apparently, it was made of PVC paper and kept ripping. (I believe we saw a bit of that in the last story.)
Harry -
Yeesh!
Sarah -
My favorite part of the story is that she loved the yellow leather ensemble, which Zoe magically changes into, so much that she asked to keep it – and the BBC made her pay for the material! Sheesh.
Meanwhile, Frazer hung onto the black shirt he wore in the story, only to rediscover it years later when he was moving house. Do you remember the white shirt he was wearing at Chicago TARDIS a couple years back? He told me that he had worn it in a particular story, but, honestly, I was so overcome by finding myself talking to him and trying not to faint that I was unable to retain the story title!
Harry -
It was the frilly shirt he wore in "The Two Doctors" and he still looked very fetching wearing it in 2010, if I may say.
Sarah -
Oh yes, that was it! He looked positively smashing!
We also learn in the commentary that Frazer calls Wendy “Padders,” which I’m pretty sure is just about the cutest thing I’ve ever heard.
Harry -
The English love a good nickname. I love the collegial back and forth that we often see among Doctor Who actors, years after they worked on the show - even if they were there for just one season or less. If there is any lingering resentment, they keep it well hidden.
Sarah -
One gets the feeling that having been on Doctor Who puts you in a special club where everyone is best chums. Even at conventions, it feels like they’re having a class reunion.
Harry -
Oh dear, we've veered far off course. Let's pull it back to "The Seeds of Death" shall we? I think the best Doctor Who stories all feature some variation of the title: "____ of Death" and this one is a favourite.
As mentioned above, the production crew really nailed the base-under-siege template this time. The steady stream of creative camera angles kept things fresh. Since we had already met the Ice Warriors before, we were spared from any long, explanatory scenes and got right into the action. The death count was high without being overly gruesome, thanks to the Ice Warriors' death rays and their freaky camera effects.
There is so much that I like here, even though the story itself is full of holes. Would you consider this story a victory of style over substance, Sarah?
Sarah -
I suspect you’re on to something there, Harry! The premise is a bit silly, but the production is top-notch and the actors are all on their games. It’s amazing how, week after week, excellent actors keep turning up in Doctor Who and we meet so many in this story.
Commander Radnor (Ronald Leigh-Hunt) is the perfect firm, yet efficient chief, who carries his briefcase on the T-Mat. Haven’t tablet been invented yet?
Professor Eldred (Philip Ray) is the perfect foil for the Doctor. They get to be cranky old men of science together. I love that the put-out-to-pasture Eldred is the only one who can save the day.
I wasn’t sure I was going to like Gia Kelly (Louise Pajo). She’s all-business when we first meet her, which is probably appropriate as we learn she’s apparently the only person capable of repairing the system. There’s another hole in the T-Mat business plan. In the end, Kelly shows more than enough pluck to help save the day.
Poor Osgood (Harry Towb) should have been the hero of the piece. Instead, he’s dispatched by the Ice Warriors when they realize he’s sabotaged the system. Apparently, Harry Towb was quite the respected actor at the time. I guess when you’ve got so many fabulous actors at one time, you can feel free to toss some of them overboard.
Resourceful Phipps (Christopher Coll), who survives the initial encounter with the Ice Warriors and manages to set up communication with the incoming rocket. It was sad when he died helping Zoe, only to be completely forgotten for the rest of the story. Let’s raise a glass to Phipps tonight – it’s the least he deserves after saving Zoe!
And, of course, Sad Sack Fewsham (Terry Scully), who ends up being one of the most interesting and most important characters in the story. He will do anything to preserve his hide, but manages to redeem himself in the end.
OK, I take it back. It’s not just style. The story may have some holes, but there are some very well-written characters, providing the substance the story needs. (Did I just completely back-track there?)
Harry -
Not back-tracking at all.
Sarah -
In that case, I shall sally forth!
Harry -
The guest cast put in some great performances here. I'd like to throw in Hugh Morton as Sir James Gregson, a classic high ranking civil servant who is so full of himself he doesn't realize how small a role he is playing in the story. Hah!
Sarah -
What a pratt. Sir James was a real piece of work – and very accurate!
Harry -
I really liked sad-sack Fewsham too, especially the miserable faces he made while being ordered around by the lead Ice Warrior, Slaar.
Slaar is quite the vile little creep, stomping around in his (ahem) form-fitting body suit, striking poses, making relentless demands and ordering people to be killed. Stupid sexy Slaar!
Sarah -
He was working that look, wasn’t he?
Harry -
My notes are filled with so many notations about the visuals that I want to give a few more shout outs:
- the bizarre images of an Ice Warrior strolling around a park
- Zoe sneaking around to get to the thermostat control on what looks like a disco dance platform
- the Doctor's mysterious sideburns that change length throughout the story
- and of course, the foam party!
Sarah -
Foam Party! Everybody dance now!
I loved that after making her way across the disco platform, Zoe was helped along by the Heating Control “Full ON” sign with the handy directional arrow. How handy!
You know what I’m a sucker for, Harry? I’m a sucker for crawling through maintenance tunnels and heating ducts. Crawling Through Ducts! Now there’s a catchy title!
Harry -
"The Ducts of Death." Get Mark Gatiss on the phone!
All kidding aside, the thing I loved most about this story was that unlike "The Invasion," where the Doctor and Jamie spent the final episode as quiet observers, they are front and centre at the conclusion here. The final battle on the moonbase was thrilling stuff. The Doctor face to face with Slaar, Jamie leaping to his aid, and Slaar getting blasted. Kolossal!
Sarah -
I was nice that they got to be in on the action. I love that Jamie ran to the rescue when the Doctor needed him. Sweet, loyal Jamie!
Harry -
The reason I like this ending so much is that it dispells some of the notion that Patrick Troughton's Doctor always hid behind a clownish façade, content to pull strings in the background. Here, he drops the clown mask and takes on the enemy directly. It reminds us that the Doctor can be an action hero too. That is, after Jamie helped him wipe off all that foam...
Sarah -
I can’t believe that we haven’t discussed the rocket ride yet. That was utterly brilliant! The actors having to feign weightlessness and pulling their faces back to simulate g-force may just be the best acting of the series ever. Or at least the most amusing.
Harry -
It was another arresting image in a story chock-a-block with them. The base-under-siege template may have been overused in the Troughton era, but here it is done to perfection. It may be a six-parter, but it never drags and the visuals alone make for a great watch. Bravo to the production team.
Sarah -
They’ve outdone themselves!
Harry -
Season 6 is a real wibbly-wobbly thing. For every clunker like "The Dominators" or "The Krotons", we have fantastic stories like "The Invasion" and "The Seeds of Death."
Sadly, we have only two left in the Troughton era, and the next one is... a recon! But thankfully, it is the final recon! Shall we start planning the "Hooray For No More Bloody Recons Party", Sarah?
Sarah -
Oh, I’m ready! I’ve been preparing for this for the past year. Bring on “The Space Pirates” – I’m ready!
Harry -
Best line: "Your leader will be angry if you kill me - I'm a genius!"
Favourite moment: the climactic battle on the moonbase.
Lasting image: stupid sexy Slaar.
8/10
Sarah -
Best line: You’ve got the best one there, Old Boy!
Favourite moment: Foam Party! Wendy Padbury was having so much fun, she clearly couldn’t resist laughing when she was saving Troughton from the foam.
Lasting image: The weightless TARDIS crew in the rocket.
8/10
Our marathon continues with Story #49 - The Space Pirates...
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