Hmm... I don't think this planet is all that evil, Sarah. Maybe it's just terribly misunderstood, don't you think?
Sarah -
Planet of the Absolutely Amazing Set is more like it!
Harry -
Absolutely! I always forget what a little gem this story is, especially for the set designs.
Sarah -
For all the time we spend cringing at and apologizing for the sets and special effects in Doctor Who, we need to celebrate when things go right. The Zeta Minor set is utterly amazing. I watched the DVD featurette on the production and learned that Roger Murray-Leach only had £3,000 for the entire production and managed to create one of the most detailed sets in the series' history.
Harry -
The Zeta Minor jungle is dank and eerie, and the camera crew did an amazing job making it look like a vast, sprawling place. The switch between video and film made it seem even more vast.
I liked the flying camera effect of the ocular tracker. There really was a lot of sharp camera work in this story.
Sarah -
Another positive aspect of the set is that it distracted from the spaceman-at-the-disco uniforms worn by the Morestran military!
Harry -
True, those blue jumpsuits with the poofy white trim were godawful. Good thing the Morestran ship sets were good too - clean and minimalist and seemingly maze-like, they were the perfect counter to the riotous sprawl of the jungle outside.
Sarah -
I love the control room set, with the multiple levels. And don't forget our few glimpses of the redesigned TARDIS console room!
Harry -
I had to think back to remember when was the last time we'd seen the console room. It was like seeing an old friend again, a friend with some flash new clothes.
There were several neat little moments at the start of part one that I had to jot down. First, the story takes place in the year 37,166. I love far future stories that are set in unfathomably distant times. This one got awfully close to the Warhammer 40,000 universe.
Did you happen to notice the young crew member who was with Sorenson at the pit, then got attacked by the anti-matter creature back at base? He looked like a young Robert Shearman. Or am I imagining things in our friends' absence?
Sarah -
The resemblance didn't occur to me at the time, but I can see what you mean. I'm sure Rob would have something delightfully self-deprecating to say about that.
"Planet of Evil" is one of those stories that can be easy to overlook, but gets better with every viewing.
Harry -
I think the absence of a "classic" monster makes it less memorable, and it's surrounded by many other great stories which does it no favours. I'm always surprised by how good it is.
Sarah -
It deserves a better reputation!
Harry -
(Hinchcliffe Horror Homage tracker: Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde.)
Had no idea how ubiquitous Michael Wisher was in 70s Who. He must have appeared in a record number of stories.
Sarah -
Alas, this is his final story.
Harry -
His long and varied run on the show from 1970 to 1975 might be the single best run of any guest actor in the show's history. Looking forward to hearing what our friends Rob & Toby have to say about him.
The supporting cast is pretty good here too -- they certainly outperformed their costumes.
Sarah -
That wouldn't be much of a challenge...
Harry -
Hah!
Sarah -
...but I agree that they are all excellent.
Harry -
The Doctor looked good too. He seems to have found a big rust-coloured cravat, which stood out in the absence of his scarf for most of the story.
And I wonder if we're seeing another theme being developed in this season: energy, both finite and alternative.
Sarah -
The quest for an infinite source of energy seems to plague all planets, doesn't it?
Harry -
Things also got a bit psychedelic again, with the Doctor plunging through the vortex. It was very Pink Floyd. And just like that, he climbed back out again, having reached an understanding with the planet or its voice - we didn't see that part.
Sarah -
Well, it's all very mysterious, you see -- and far past the limits of the budget, what with the jungle and all. Fortunately, Sarah's there to let us know that he gave his word as a Time Lord.
Harry -
Meanwhile, the bodies are starting to pile up aboard the Morestran ship. The plot of this story was pretty light - base under siege and then spaceship under siege - but the focus was clearly on getting as many frights as possible. It was impressive the way they kept introducing more crew members into the story, essentially for the purpose of killing them off.
Sarah -
My favorite crew member was De Haan. Graham Weston milked the grumbling, put-upon character for all it was worth. I felt quite sad when he was done in.
Harry -
After he perpetrated so many deaths, did you find it odd that Sorenson ended up restored to full health?
Sarah -
Apparently, he was supposed to die in the vortex, but Hinchcliffe was concerned that it was too graphic for the kiddies and changed the ending. After all that death, I don't imagine the tots would have been any less terrorized!
Harry -
Well, having sorted out all that business and put Sorenson on a different research track, the TARDIS goes spinning off. I wonder if the Doctor and Sarah make it back to England next.
Sarah -
Best Line: "You and I are scientists, Professor. We buy our privilege to experiment at the cost of total responsibility."
Favorite Moment: The Doctor plunging into the vortex
Lasting Image: That glorious jungle set!
8/10
Harry -
I'll have to agree with your choice of Best Line. The Doctor's conversations with Sorenson were moments of calm sobriety in a scary monster chase story.
Favourite Moment: Sorenson's transformation scenes.
Lasting Image: Sorenson becomes Anti-Man.
7/10
Our marathon continues with Story #82: Pyramids of Mars...
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