Story #120 - Black Orchid (1982)

Sarah -
What Ho, Old Boy! I have to admit that I have a soft spot for "Black Orchid", and not just because it's the first pure historical since "The Highlanders". It's not the strongest story, but it's a topping little romp, don't you think?


Harry -
Absolutely, ducks. It's a ripping yarn, and rather the quintessential story of the Peter Davison era. A quaint historical setting, a cricket match, a fancy dress party, and a spot of murder mystery. I always identify the Davison era with this group of companions, and they get to have a wonderful time in the roaring twenties before things take a very dark turn. Looking at it now, it's the last hurrah for this TARDIS team, a lovely little two-parter that's roughly the length of a new series story.


Sarah -
The actors may disparage it on the commentary track, but it's always fun to watch!


Harry -
Whenever I watch "Black Orchid" it makes me wish that there were more of these two-parters sprinkled throughout the classic series. "Short trips" as it were. Although the opening flurry of images was baffling the first time I saw it. Someone, somewhere, is being strangled. Somewhere else, Nyssa appears to be sleeping in a plush bed. Quick cut to a pair of legs bound up. Another quick cut to a South American tribesman reading a book. What the what now? Maybe the two-part structure caused things to be too rushed at the start, but as this was a repeat viewing for us, the rapid-fire opening was a nice prelude/refresher.


Sarah -
Having started the Great Fire of London, the TARDIS team is flitting about the galaxy in search of new adventures. Tegan is finally fully on board, having decided that she'll stay a bit before finally beginning her glamourous air hostess career. She even tells the Doctor, upon finding they've landed back on Earth, that he doesn't need to try to get her back to Heathrow. Of course, being Tegan, she manages to work in a crack about his inability to pilot the TARDIS properly. You can't expect too much change in one episode.


Harry -
The production team must have decided that having a row about Heathrow to start every adventure was too repetitive.


Sarah -
And for this we can only thank them!


Harry -
Instead of an aeroport, the TARDIS has landed at a train station in 1925. By a stroke of luck, a chauffeur is waiting to pick up a cricket player nicknamed the Doctor. Ever affable, our Doctor steps into the role, piles his friends into the open-top and away they ride to Lord Cranleigh's estate.


Sarah -
A case of mistaken identity, of course, as the chauffeur was meant to pick up a friend of Old Smutty, but who skips the chance to fit in a bit of cricket?


Harry -
The upper crust lingo being tossed about in this story was amusing, twicely so as Adric and Nyssa found it all baffling. Then again, they found the idea of a railroad baffling, so you never know.


Sarah -
I love that scene. Nyssa dismissing railroading as "a very silly activity" always cracks me up.


Harry -
The Doctor strolls onto the cricket pitch and starts batting and bowling like a seasoned pro. Meanwhile, Nyssa is about to confront the plot device that distresses me to no end: the identical twin character. Aargh!


Sarah -
Ah, the identical twin trope. Ann -- the fiance of Lord Cranleigh and former fiancee of his brother George, who mysteriously disappeared in Brazil -- is the spitting image of Nyssa. Oh, how the hijinks ensue when Ann suggests that she and Nyssa wear the identical butterfly costumes to the fancy dress party that evening. No one will be able to tell them apart! What could possibly go wrong?


Harry -
What indeed. Everyone makes their way to the garden for the party -- everyone except the Doctor. Having stepped into a secret passageway, he finds himself wandering empty staircases and corridors in the upper area of Cranleigh manor. "Why didn't I leave after the cricket," he sighs, then starts exploring various closets. A closet with old botany books, a closet with somebody's clothes, a closet with a dead butler. Dead butler, what that what?


Sarah -
Well now, that's quite awkward, what with all of Lady Cranleigh's guests about. Let's just keep this teeny, tiny secret between ourselves, Doctor. No need to create a fuss.


Harry -
Meanwhile, our friends party on unaware. Tegan kicks up her heels to the Charleston, Adric stuffs his face at the buffet, and Nyssa and Ann have fun swapping identities...


Sarah -
I love the party scenes. Check out Tegan making time with Sir Robert. That's the most flirting we've seen in Doctor Who in a good long time! And then there's the look of adoration on Adric's face when Nyssa cuts a rug on the dace floor. It seems there's just something irresistible about a fancy dress ball.


Harry -
...until the mysterious figure that snatched the Doctor's harlequin costume kills off another butler and attacks Ann next.


Sarah -
Now, this really is getting quite awkward. How is One to retain One's social standing with all this going on? Even more embarrassing, it seems to be Lady Cranleigh's allegedly missing son, George who seems to be the source of the kerfuffle. Poor George -- "Gee, thanks Mom for locking me in the attic so no one will know I'm horribly deformed and unable to speak. I wouldn't want to put a cramp in your social calendar." Bunch of upper-class twits!


Harry -
Although George causes the most death and destruction in this story, he ends up a tragic character worthy of the viewers' sympathies. The real villain of the piece is Lady Cranleigh, who puts public appearances above her own son's fortune, stowing him away like a broken lamp. Then she stands mutely by as the Doctor is accused of murder. She was ready to sell him down the river to protect herself from embarrassment. "How very unpleasant" indeed.


Sarah -
George's death is just brushed away. It's as if they're relieved to be rid of him!


Harry -
What awful people. On top of that, the Cranleighs all treated Ann like so much chattel to be handed off from one brother to the next as a matter of convenience.


Sarah -
What are they, bloody Tudors? Does Ann have no agency in this? Stand up for yourself, woman, you don't have to marry that prat!


Harry -
Then! At the end of the story, when the truth comes out, Lady Cranleigh buys her guests off with some gifts and party favours as though they'd only been inconvenienced in the mildest of ways.


Sarah -
Lalalala, here's a pretty dress and book. Off with you, now, peasants.


Harry -
If you scratch the surface of elegant Cranleigh Manor, there's nothing but foul gunk underneath. Can you imagine if we were doing a Marxist reading of "Black Orchid"? This review would be formatted in a raging ALL CAPS BOLD RED FONT, such would be our distaste with the British aristocracy.


Sarah -
The Cranleighs get my vote for first up against the wall when the revolution comes!


Harry -
I need a moment to calm down. And have a sippy of something.


Sarah -
May I suggest a screwdriver? Tegan finds them quite refreshing. Perhaps just orange juice for the children.


Harry -
I just can't think of Nyssa and Adric as children.

When the TARDIS team was bundled off to the police station, what did you think of that side jaunt to see the TARDIS?


Sarah -
Look, Old Chaps, it couldn't possibly be me -- here's my time machine! Can you imagine any other Doctor trotting the local constabulary into the TARDIS? The Doctor has been accused of murder dozens of times and this the lamest way he's gotten himself off the hook. And the best part is the cops' reaction, "Oh, well then, clearly you are a time traveler. That's all good, then. Carry on!"

What the what is going on here, Harry?


Harry -
That was one of the most ridiculous scenes in all of Doctor Who. "Blimey, it's bigger on the inside! Well no time to dawdle in here, we've just been called back to the old Cranleigh place. We'll forget all this the moment we step outside again. Hurry on, let's go!"

Rid. Ic. Ulous.


Sarah -
Can I just rant -- again -- that none of the previous Doctors would have engaged in this nonsense. Standards are slipping and I don't like this one bit!


Harry -
Anyway, everyone gets back to the manor in time to see a kind of King Kong/Phantom of the Opera melodrama play out as George starts a fire, breaks out of his room, snatches Nyssa and heads for the roof. I've never been wild about this ending because it's George who loses his life while the snooty snoots survive and move on as if nothing happened. I'm sure after the Cranleighs finally -- FINALLY -- got rid of that Doctor and the other riff raff, they had one of the servants sweep it all under one of the less expensive rugs.


Sarah -
Someone should have shoved Lady Cranleigh off the roof!


Harry -
Awful people. Let's move on.

Best line:
Stunned constable: "Strike me pink!"

Favourite moment: Tegan, Nyssa and Adric enjoy the fancy dress party.

Lasting image: the Doctor playing cricket.

6/10


Sarah -
Best lines:
Adric : "So what is a railway station?"
The Doctor : "Well, a place where one embarks and disembarks from compartments on wheels drawn along these tracks by a steam engine - rarely on time."
Nyssa : "What a very silly activity."
The Doctor : "You think so? As a boy, I always wanted to drive one."

Favorite moment: When Lady Cranleigh asks Nyssa is from and Nyssa responds, "The Empire of Traken." Lady Cranleigh, mutters, "Really..." and turns to watch the cricket, seeming appalled to be so close to anyone from vulgar Trakken.

Lasting image: The TARDIS crew in their fancy dress -- I do love those costumes!

6/10

 


Our marathon continues with Story #121: Earthshock...

Story #31 - The Highlanders (1966-67)

Sarah -
Ah, here we are, good old Earth. Ben knows immediately that's he back in the United Kingdom. Home Sweet Home -- or is it? Sadly, he's not arrived just in time for the Cup Final. Rather he's found himself in the aftermath of the battle of Culloden in 1746. Polly's comment that he never gives up hope is particularly endearing, given the circumstances.


Harry -
What an opening. The tumult of battle, the bloodshed and anguish, where else would we be but Earth, unfortunately?


Sarah -
Troughton tears into the role in this story. He's a wild man -- redefining and remaking the Doctor before our eyes. He can't wait to begin the next adventure and inserts himself into history with no concern for the havoc he may cause. He dons the Tam o'Shanter, dismisses romantic piffle, directs Ben to cock a pistol and Polly to confiscate swords, and impersonates a German doctor all in the first episode. I love spending time with the Second Doctor!


Harry -
I love how Patrick Troughton leaps into the role with the zeal of a character actor. He was much more restrained and mysterious in the previous story. Defeating the Daleks seems to have unleashed this Doctor at last.


Sarah -
The Daleks will do that to you.


Harry -
I think the production team's creation of some gimmicky characteristics for this new Doctor seemed a bit forced. Most notably the obsession with headwear. He's said "I should like a hat like that" at least thrice in his first two stories.


Sarah -
Let’s not underestimate the importance of some good headgear, Dear Harry.


Harry -
Then there's the "master of the half-arsed disguise" gimmick, but more on that later.

This is quite the wild and wooly opening episode. The atmosphere and pace of events are frantic. Battle, death, capture, even a mini-cliffhanger at the makeshift gallows. The Doctor and his friends are being thrown every which way.

There was even time for a brief moment of Pythonesque humour to remind us that this is still Doctor Who and not just any old period drama. It's the scene where the Redcoat sergeant captures the Doctor and Ben:

SERGEANT: Surrender in the King's name!

BEN: Blimey, it's good to hear a London voice again.

SERGEANT: Silence, you rebel dog!

BEN: Rebel? What are you talking about? I'm no rebel! Me and the Doctor here, have just arrived.

SERGEANT: Deserter, then. You'll hang just the same.

...at which point the Doctor bursts in with that absurd Dr. Strangelove accent. Hilarious!


Sarah -
Loved it! When you find yourself in a sticky situation, there’s nothing better than whipping out the German accent!

Polly and Kirsty get their own subplot when they land in a pit. She had one of my favorite lines when Kirsty started crying yet again – “Do the women of your age do nothing but cry?” The scenes with Ffinch were priceless – Polly was completely in charge of the situation, that little 20th Century minx.


Harry -
This is Polly's best story by far. She really takes the initiative when you'd think the tough Scottish lass would have been the one to do so.


Sarah -
And then we meet the corrupt Solicitor Grey and his Gentleman’s Gentleman Perkins.


Harry -
Boo!  Hiss!


Sarah -
It’s pretty clear he doesn’t have the Scottish prisoners’ best interests at heart when he saves them from the gallows, but we’re not sure what he’s up to until the prisoners are loaded on the ships for passage to the West Indies. Ben is the first one to figure out that they’re to be sold into slavery – staying awake during history class has finally paid off for Our Ben!

I quite liked Perkins. His impudence towards Grey is almost endearing, “A little wine for your cold hear, Lawyer?” I appreciated that he ended up on the boat to France with the Highlanders – at least until the political winds shift.


Harry -
Incredibly, the majority of the story is all about rescuing the rebels from the slave ship. The story is so simple, but the rapid rotation of different scenes and characters gives it a fast-paced feel. The atmosphere in the ship's hold was well done -- lots of groaning and coughing, and everyone projecting the sense that it was a rank and awful place. Despite the awkwardness of watching a recon, "The Highlanders" has that "big period drama" sort of air to it.


Sarah -
It does, and it will be our last one for a while.


Harry -
Sadly so. This historical was decent, but far from being the best of them.

One character who seemed really out of place was the exaggeratedly piratey Captain Trask, who felt like a leftover from "The Smugglers." His telesnap facial expressions were comical, rather than menacing.


Sarah -
Maybe it’s one of those performances better lost to the ravages of the BBC.


Harry -
Speaking of comical, our new Doctor seems to enjoy fancy dress. What did you think of his array of "disguises", if that's the proper term? German doctor, old woman, injured soldier... it seemed a bit over the top to have that many disguises.


Sarah -
He’s having a great time, isn’t he? Troughton is definitely game for whatever they toss at him.


Harry -
There's another thing I can't imagine William Hartnell ever doing. The First Doctor had a presence about him that didn't require elaborate costuming to make himself believeable. When he did take to period dress like Roman togas or cowboy hats, it was more to fit in with the local surroundings, not to deceive people.

But Patrick Troughton has so much fun with his little deceptions that it's hard to slag him for it!


Sarah -
And Polly got to play dress-up, too – her prostitute disguise was more than a little effective.

When he and Polly are finally reunited, the Doctor is disinclined to do anything to rescue Ben and settles in for a bit of a kip. It’s something we’ll see the Doctor do in the future, but it still feels a bit heartless.


Harry -
That was bizarre. This Doctor is nutty!

I wonder at what point it was decided to make Jamie a part of the TARDIS crew. He doesn't stand out all that much here, so his joining the TARDIS crew is something of a surprise. After all, it was Alexander who charged out to face the redcoats, and Ben who had to escape the episode three cliffhanger, and Polly who dominated the subplot.


Sarah -
I’d like to take a moment to point out that we’ve gotten this far in the story without mentioning Jamie. It all the restraint I could muster to not shout his name from the beginning of this post. It’s hard to imagine why he got to become the next companion, but I am ever so delighted that he did!


Harry -
I'm glad the production crew took a flyer and decided to throw him into the mix, because Jamie will turn out to be one of the Doctor's best companions. I'd love to see a historical character joining the current Doctor -- we're stuck in a bit of a "21st century British lasses" rut at the moment.


Sarah -
Aren’t we though? I would love a historical or alien companion next. I guess we’ll see where they go with Jenna-Louise Coleman, but I don’t hold out much hope.


Harry -
Patience, Dear Sarah. Have faith in the Moff!


Sarah -
Best line: The Doctor, when Polly sees his gun, "It’s not loaded; they’re dangerous things."

Favorite moment: Polly outwitting Ffinch.

Lasting image: The Doctor in drag.

7/10


Harry -
Best line: "I've never seen a silent lawyer before."

Favourite moment: the Doctor launches into his German disguise.

Lasting image: Trask's crazy pirate faces. YARRRR!

7/10

 

Our marathon continues with Story #32 - The Underwater Menace...

Story #28 - The Smugglers (1966)

Sarah - Well, here we are in the fourth season and at Hartnell’s penultimate story.

Unfortunately, the low quality of the soundtrack and still images really got in the way of my enjoyment of this story. I had to read a summary to be able to follow what was going on at some points.


Harry -
It seemed odd that a pirate adventure would be so unheralded in the Whoniverse, but watching the recon, I realized why. There's an awful lot of talking, and what little action footage there is has been lost.


Sarah -
It seems that quite a bit is going on in the action sequences, but who would know.


Harry -
It takes a long time to get to those sequences. By then, my interest had waned.

"The Smugglers" started off well, with stowaways Ben and Polly marvelling at the TARDIS and where it had taken them. The Doctor is bemused and happy to have company. I don't think he likes being alone.


Sarah -
When the Doctor says, “I really thought I was going to be alone again,” it's clear that he's happy to have them along. Polly and Ben are really quite smashing in this story. I like how they think they're just going to pop over to the station and get a train back to London. In for a bit of a surprise, aren't they?


Harry -
I love the normalcy and sense of fun that they convey after Dodo's weirdness.


Sarah -
The Doctor had some fun going along with their delusion. Nothing like messing with the newbies, I guess. I don't know if it was having to rely on sound without images, but Hartnell seemed to be doing more of his hooting than he has in recent stories.


Harry -
The Doctor certainly likes Earth, and the TARDIS does too. The old girl has brought us back again, this time to the beaches of 17th century Cornwall. Can't really see said beaches, but we can hear the sea at any rate.


Sarah -
It's a pity we don't get to see the footage of gorgeous Cornwall.

So, we meet Joe Longfoot, reformed pirate and keeper of secrets. As soon as Cherub showed up and killed Joe, I knew we were in for yet another mistaken-identity-the-TARDIS-crew-must-be-the-killers trope...and it made me want to lie down for a bit.


Harry -
It really is a story about concealing one's true identity. Starting with Polly-as-a-young-lad, the Doctor who tells the ex-pirate that they are travellers, Captain Pike who assumes the mantle of merchant gentleman, the rapacious squire who puts on airs, and so on.

And there's the problem I had with this story. It was screaming out to be an action adventure, but we got a lot of scenes of clever dialogue for too long.


Sarah -
Some of Polly and Ben's dialogue was a little too exposition-y for my taste. The role of the companion is to ask questions so the Doctor can explain everything to us. There were too many scenes of Polly and Ben explaining what was going on. It should have been helpful, given that we have no footage, but I just ended up feeling like I was watching an episode of Scooby-Doo.


Harry -
About midway through the story, I started getting annoyed with Ben (you'd think it wasn't possible!), the way he kept whingeing about getting back to barracks. What a way to flatter a girl! Polly must have felt like an old shoe.

Captain Pike was probably my favourite character in all of this. So full of himself, yet so transparent. Such pretensions, and such cruelty all in one package. I don't think we've seen a villain commit cold-blooded murder since Johnny Ringo back in the old west -- or is that, in the new west to come? Wibbly wobbly timey wimey...

I liked Josiah Blake too, the King's revenue officer with an almost fanatical sense of duty. He played it dead serious, but always on the verge of becoming a parody like the squire.


Sarah -
Did you recognize John Ringham, who played Tlotoxl in The Aztecs, as Blake? That man had presence, didn't he?


Harry -
Ohh! I did not know that! But I can totally see the presence and intensity carried over from one character to the other. Well spotted, Toby!


Sarah -
Oh, that may just be the nicest thing you've ever said to me!


Harry -
Overall, this story really is a mixed bag. Disappointing, to be honest.  At least the Doctor has some fun doing card tricks and fulfilling his moral obligations.


Sarah -
Oh dear, I seem to be out of things to say. Let's go to wrap-up.


Harry -
I agree, this review -- like the story being reviewed -- started with such enthusiasm, but ultimately we seem to have gotten bored with the whole thing.


Sarah -
Lasting image: The TARDIS on the rocky coast

Favorite moment: The Doctor letting Polly and Ben look for the train station.

Best line: "You may know where you are, my dear, but not when! I can foresee oodles of trouble!"

3/10


Harry -
Lasting image: Cherub's churlish faces.

Favourite moment: That random, Pythonesque moment when Josiah Blake falls from his horse and we never hear about it again.

Best line: "Sawbones! King Neptune's curse! Ye've laid a trap, and by that you DIE by the Pike!"

4/10

 



Our marathon continues with Story #29 - The Tenth Planet...

Story #25 - The Gunfighters (1966)

Sarah -
It’s the Wild West, and – hooray! – Steven always wanted to be a cowboy. A quick costume change and Dead Eye Steve and Dizzy Dodo get to "dress up like Tom Mix."


Harry -
Oh dear, that shirt... What was Steven thinking? He looks like a fugitive from a Wild West Revue. He and Dodo are ready for a real Western romp, I guess.


Sarah -
It would be a Western romp … if only the Doctor didn’t have a toothache, and Doc Holliday weren’t coming to town – and if that bloody woman would just stop singing!

But wait, Doc Holliday is coming to town to set up a dentist shop. What luck for the Doctor! But wait, four blokes are lying in wait for Holliday at the Last Chance Saloon. Bad luck for Holliday!

The plot of this romp is thickening – and still that woman sings.


Harry -
Ah, the never-ending "Ballad of the Last Chance Saloon". I have read many fan criticisms ripping on the singing in this story and was expecting the worst. Actually, I didn't mind it. Mercifully, they made a kind of Greek Chorus of the singer. A blindingly obvious Greek Chorus, mind, but in a weird way it worked. And it only could have worked in a comedy story like this.


Sarah -
I imagine they were trying to go for the “High Noon” effect, but it ended up feeling a little more “Cat Ballou” to me. Honestly, I didn’t mind it all that much. Plus, she filled in all the plot details in case the viewer happened to be a complete blooming idiot.

I'm going to dash ahead to discuss my favorite part of the entire story. Just before departing, Dodo stops everyone to ask if they can hear the singing. The Doctor admonishes her for falling for every Western cliche and they head back to the TARDIS. I nearly fell off my sofa laughing -- THE SINGING WAS ALL IN DODO'S HEAD AFTER ALL! SHE REALLY IS INSANE!


Harry -
Mad as a bag of frogs. La la la, can you hear the voices??


Sarah -
Meanwhile, things get even thicker, as they are want to do when a character named Doc and a character named Doctor find themselves in the same town.


Harry -
Didn't we just have a mistaken identity caper the last time the TARDIS landed on Earth? Here we go again.


Sarah -
Who doesn’t love a good mistaken identity caper? What a mess the TARDIS crew has gotten themselves into!


Harry -
You gawt that right, pardner. The Clanton Gang present a very real danger to Steven and Dodo while they lie in wait for the Doctor at the saloon. It made for a good first cliffhanger. However Wyatt Earp is soon on the scene to rescue the Doctor by arresting him and hauling him off. Tell me that didn't have "Hartnell Holiday" all over it!

The vacation plans must have fallen through, because the Doctor and friends are present throughout the story. I say "present" because Steven and Dodo seem to be complete bystanders for much of the story. The real drama is played out by all of the historical characters, as these four episodes slowly build up to the big finish at the O.K. Corral.


Sarah -
Poor Steven and Dodo just got shifted around from scene to scene, didn’t they? I had high hopes for them in the beginning. It even looked like Steven was going to get to do something heroic. You know, something Ian might do. Instead, he nearly gets himself lynched.


Harry -
Yes, the groundwork was set for Steven and Dodo to really get involved here, they donned their period dress with great enthusiasm. Maybe they were too naive? You could look at their subsequent rough ride as evidence that travelling with the Doctor and his magical box will always be harsher than what you fancy it might be like.


Sarah -
I do want to put in a kind word for Peter Purves. Whatever you may say about the inconsistencies in the writing of Steven’s character, Purves is always game. Need him to be angry? He’s on it. Some broad comedy? He’s your man!


Harry -
He can even carry a tune!


Sarah -
Also, he’s kind of cute in this story. If only the writers had given him more.

I’ll even admit that Jackie Lane gets off one good scene when she turns the gun on Doc Holliday, demanding he take her back to the Doctor. The moment when she hands him the gun and asks for a glass of water is brilliant – and clearly the actions of a mad woman!


Harry -
Yes, that was a bit of fun.

But the historicals used to not be this way, all lurching along in the other characters' wake. Think back to "Marco Polo" or "The Aztecs." Barbara, Ian and Susan were so much more involved in the plot, sometimes even driving it. And the historical characters were much more than just "characters" as they are here. I'm thinking of Marco Polo's journal entries, or Tlotoxl's into-the-camera asides -- moments that gave us entry into their personal thoughts. Here, unfortunately, we just have a bunch of Wild West figures playing out Wild West stereotypes, dragging our time travellers along with them. Alas.


Sarah -
Still, there is a sense of fun, at least at the beginning, which has been missing for a while. Hartnell gets to show his comedic chops and his timing is perfect. Actually, the more I think about Hartnell’s performance, the more I like this story. It’s refreshing to see him being the Doctor we love, after being sidelined in so many stories. We get to see what he can do when he’s actually given something to DO. His complaint about people giving him guns is priceless!


Harry -
Hartnell did shine when the story drifted into high comedy.


Sarah -
I also really enjoyed the supporting characters, even if most of the accents were more than a little inconsistent. It’s a short hop from the Arizona Territory to the Perpugilliam Brown School of American Accents, it seems. Still, it’s easy to pick on accents, so I’ll move along and focus on what did work.

John Alderson and Anthony Jacobs were perfect as Wyatt Earp and Doc Holliday. Sheena Marshe does a good turn on the saloon-girl-with-a-heart-of gold trope. Laurence Payne was wonderfully menacing as Johnny Ringo – his appearance changed the tone of the entire story. They all carry the roles off so well; it’s been a while since we’ve seen such strong character performances. The Clantons…well, they’re just hideous – but let us move along from them.


Harry -
If only they had done some more with these characters, rather than just have them go through the motions of history, if that makes any sense. What with all that singing, I guess there wasn't much time for character development.

Felt bad for Charlie the bartender, though.


Sarah -
Poor Charlie. That scene was harsh.

After the relative romp of the beginning of the story, things turn dark when the infamous Gunfight at the O.K. Corral finally takes place. It’s all rather gruesome, and our heroes don’t really have much to do – other than batty Dodo running into the middle of things.


Harry -
Longest gunfight ever? I'm tempted to go back and count how many rounds were fired; it sounded like there were a couple dozen extra shooters blasting away during the whole thing. Well, we did get a big shoot-em-up at the end, can't complain about that. I'm not a big fan of Westerns, so for me that's usually the big attraction.


Sarah -
I enjoyed this story much more than I expected. I don’t share your Western aversion, but The Gunfighters had never had the best reputation in fandom, so my expectations were low. It’s a solid story, with strong performances all around.


Harry -
I too kept expectations low, was expecting the worst, and was pleasantly surprised. The story never seemed to drag, had plenty of colourful moments, and finished with a bang.


Sarah -
Stories like this are what make me appreciate this little project of ours. Having seen so few of the first two Doctors’ stories, it’s wonderful to have the opportunity to watch them for the first time.


Harry -
Same here! The fact that we can now compare different eras within the First Doctor's era is wonderful. Let's wrap this one up and head to the next story!


Lasting image: Steven in his "buckaroo" costume.

Favourite moment: the scene in the saloon where the various members of the Clanton family are plotting to hire Johnny Ringo, while belting down shots of whiskey as fast as the frantic barkeep can pour them.

Best line: "And lastly, sir, your humble servant, Doctor, er, Caligari."
"Doctor who?"
"Yes, quite right."

It never gets old!

6/10


Sarah -
You're right -- it never gets old!

Lasting image: The Doctor entering the saloon in his cowboy hat. (Not the last time he’ll sport that look!)

Favorite moment: Dodo hearing voices.

Best line: “All these people are giving me guns, I do wish they wouldn’t”

With an honorable mention for: “Well I had to find some sort of suitable cover. After all, you can’t walk into the middle of a Western town and say you come from outer space. Gracious me, you’ll be arrested on a vagrancy charge.”

7/10

I imagine our epic re-watch will be a very different experience from the Third Doctor on, where I’ve seen every story multiple times. For now, I’m really enjoying the feeling of discovery.


Harry -
It's definitely been worth watching each episode in order. That's the perfect note to end on here, as today we celebrate our first anniversary on the sofa.

Happy Anniversary Deerie! I hope we have many more (at the pace we are moving, there promises to be many more!).


Sarah -
Happy Anniversary, Old Chum! I recently found myself calculating how long it would take us to get through the Tom Baker years and decided I'd better not plan that many years ahead!

Let's sign off with a hearty Happy New Year to our readers. We'll see you on the Sofa in 2012!


Harry -
Happy New Year!

It might be too ambitious to promise that we'll get through the Troughton era by the end of next year, so let's promise to get through the Hartnell era by the end of next year. I think that's doable!


Sarah -
I think we can manage that.

Our marathon continues with Story #26 - The Savages...

Story #22 - The Massacre of St Bartholomew's Eve (1966)

Harry -
Well, we really burned through that one. After the previous 12-parter, this was a walk in the park.


Sarah -
It felt so quick after "The Daleks' Master Plan", didn't it?

Interesting choice to have the Doctor and Steven land in a historical situation that is less well known than those we've visited previously. We don't know where our loyalties are supposed to lie at any point in the story...and I still don't know.


Harry -
It felt very much like being pulled back into Season One, with a historical/educational type of story, this.


Sarah -
I was waiting for Barbara and Ian to show up and sort it all out.


Harry -
I know nothing about this particular episode of French history, but in a way it was refreshing to be able to choose sides for myself. Sort of. Soon enough, it's clear that this is a "religious intolerance" dilemma, and Steven soon finds himself in the middle of it. Sort of. I liked the overall atmosphere of paranoia and suspicion that was maintained throughout. Plots, treason, assassins, tasty stuff.


Sarah -
It’s unusual and refreshing for this era of Doctor Who to offer us a story with no clear protagonist. Other than Anne, we don’t really develop an emotional connection to any of the characters. Like us, Steven doesn’t know what’s going on, and has to find his way through the story without the benefit of the foresight that previous companions enjoyed in their historicals.


Harry -
It was very much a "Choose Your Own Adventure" for Steven. Meanwhile, the Doctor vanishes for a chunk of the story early on, first in search of the scientist Preslin, then for one more "Hartnell Holiday."

Maybe because of my historical ignorance, I found the story quite dry and hard to get into. Although some of the performances were great. I especially liked André Morell, who chewed his dialogue with great élan as the beruffed Marshall Tavannes. I wonder if he appeared in any other stories (wishing for Toby Hadoke's powers of total recall).


Sarah -
Watching the story in a reconstruction didn’t help. After a while, I couldn’t keep my Catholics and Protestants straight!


Harry -
Yes, this was a painful reconstruction. As for The Big Twist, ie. the Abbot being played by Hartnell, it had me rolling my eyes I must confess. The doppelganger has never been a favourite plot device of mine. Although the Abbot's murder was well played out and Steven's belief that the Doctor was dead was very believeable. We've seen the Doctor take on the identity of French characters in previous stories, so I genuinely puzzled if the Abbot had in fact been the Doctor or not.

I have to ask, was that ever really resolved? I'm still not certain!


Sarah -
It was – and he wasn’t!


Harry -
Thank you!


Sarah -
While I enjoyed Steven having the opportunity to take center stage, I started thinking he was a bit dense when he couldn’t let go of the idea that the Abbot was the Doctor. Even after finding the Abbot dead in the street, he was convinced the Doctor was dead and he had to find the TARDIS key to escape.

I kind of enjoyed Hartnell’s performance as the Abbot, if only because it reminded me that Hartnell was, in fact, acting when he played the Doctor. It can be easy to forget sometimes.

So, the TARDIS takes off, leaving the Huguenots to their fate. Steven rips into the Doctor for leaving Anne behind and the Doctor responds with a speech that illustrates an eternal conflict of the series:

“My dear Steven, sometimes history gives us a terrible shock and that is because we don’t quite fully understand. Why should we? After all, we’re all too small to realize its final pattern. Therefore, don’t try and judge it from where you stand. I was right to do what I did. Yes, that I firmly believe.”

Steven begs to differ and tells the Doctor to let him off at the next stop, which, conveniently, is twentieth century England.


Harry -
And it only took him two years of trying to get Barbara and Ian there...


Sarah -
The Doctor is alone in the TARDIS for the first time in the series, leading to my favorite moment in the story:

“Now. They’ve all gone. All gone. None of them could understand. Not even my little Susan or Vicki. And as for Barbara and Chetterton…Chesterton…they were all too impatient to get back to their own time and now Steven. Perhaps I should go home back to my own planet. But I can’t. I can’t.”

Poor Ian; the Doctor still can’t get his name right.


Harry -
Great speech, really, really great speech. The muffing of Ian's name was a quintessential First Doctor moment.


Sarah -
As we know, the Doctor doesn’t like being alone with himself. His sadness is overwhelming and I found it the most touching moment of "The Massacre".


Harry -
Because it came out of nowhere, the Doctor's soliloquoy was all the more profound. I had never seen this story before, but we know that Steven continues as a companion for several more stories, so this little moment was an unexpected delight. Definitely the highlight of the story.


Sarah -
But, this being Doctor Who, it doesn’t last long…


Harry -
Ah yes, now the lowlight. The sudden, jarring, utterly absurd appearance of Dorothea (Dodo) Chaplet. This scene is bonkers. One of the worst if not the worst companion introduction ever.


Sarah -
I'll go with worst.


Harry -
What the heck happened there? Dodo comes skipping up to the TARDIS looking for help for an injured child. She barges in and discovers the Doctor, who politely tries to shoo her away, and she ends up staying.

La la la, who cares about that injured child! La la la, you say this is a flying spaceship, what fun! La la la, never mind about my family and friends, I'm an orphan!

Completely bonkers.

I have a theory about Dodo. Would you like to hear it?


Sarah -
Would I? I'm all aflutter with anticipation!


Harry -
Here now, is my theory, which is mine, about Dodo Chaplet.

*ahem*

My theory is this: that Dodo Chaplet is insane. She herself may have been responsible for causing injury to the unseen child, if there was a child at all. Being insane, she then skipped merrily to the Police Box, perhaps to call for help, perhaps just to hide behind it. Perhaps those policemen that Steven saw were, in fact, looking for Dodo. Trying the door, she entered a wonderland that totally captivated her.

Dodo is insane. That is my theory. I shall have further evidence to present as our marathon continues. For now, I'm ready to wrap this one up. Too many flaws dragged this story down for me and I can't give it much of a rating.


Sarah -
Interesting theory, Harry Brackets-Mister-Brackets. I'm fairly sure that your theory will color my viewing of Dodo's episodes, none of which I've seen, from here on out.

Let's wrap it up, then -- so we can start planning for Chicago TARDIS!


Harry -
Chicago TARDIS!  See you in a few hours dearie!

Oh, and by the way, I looked up André Morell.  He never appeared in Doctor Who again, but his son did!  (Our Toby probably could have told us that.)


Sarah -
Lasting image: Steven finding the Abbot dead in the street.

Favorite moment: The Doctor alone in the TARDIS.

Best line: The Doctor’s lonely reflection.

7/10


Harry -
Lasting image: Marshall Tavannes and his ruff.

Favourite moment and Best line: I concur with your picks!

5/10

 



Our marathon continues with Story #23 - The Ark...

Story #21 - The Daleks' Master Plan (1965-66) - Parts Seven to Twelve

Harry -
We did it, Sarah! We made it to the end of "The Daleks' Master Plan."

What a wild and woolly ride that was. The story really is a tale of two halves, so our previous review after Part Six was well timed, I think.

We could probably spend this entire session discussing Part Seven, "The Feast of Steven." That had to be the rompiest romp since romp came to Romptown!


Sarah -
Romp Away, I say! What a good time. I didn’t even mind the Doctor breaking the fourth wall to wish us a Happy Christmas. It was a pleasant respite from Master Plans and Daleks and Such. Professor Webster, for whom the Doctor was mistaken earlier, made me giggle when he critiqued the film set. But, I think my favorite line was when the cop told Sara to “Have a swinging time!” He’s the copper who’s down with the kids – or at least knows how to humor the drunks.

Speaking of Sara, can I cut to the chase and get up on my soapbox? Why is Sara Kingdom not included in the official BBC companions listing? She spent more time in the TARDIS than Katrina, traveled all over the damn place with the Doctor and Steven, and died trying to help the Doctor. To top it off, she’s smart, sexy, and awesomely fabulous. I’m going to compose a sharply worded letter to the BBC this evening and set things straight. This injustice cannot continue!

Or, maybe I’ll just head down the pub for a Halloween pint…


Harry -
Sara's companion status has been much-disputed. Entire message boards have risen and fallen without arriving at a conclusion to this question. I am firmly in the "Companion? Yes!" camp. It's great that Jean Marsh recently reprised the role in a series of DW Audios, which further expanded Sara's travels with the Doctor and Steven.


Sarah -
I’ve not heard those audios. You’ll have to get the titles to me, and perhaps our readers – if there are any out there. Hellooooooo!!!!


Harry -
I guess Part Seven can be considered the very first DW Christmas Special, since it was a complete one-off with no impact on the greater story. But it was a wild piece, DW as slapstick comedy.

Moving on to Parts Eight and deeper, though, it seemed hard for the story to get back up to speed again. Part Eight is essentially a reboot, with the Daleks spending most of the episode preparing to launch their own time machine on a pursuit of the TARDIS.


Sarah -
The Dalek-shaped doors on the time machine were a nice touch.

The return to the alien council was a relief -- I was kind of starting to miss them -- and Chen. Unfortunately, the whole Time Destructor test scene lacked the drama that would have pulled us back into the story, even with the cursory extermination of Trantis.


Harry -
There was also that silly bit involving the TARDIS landing on a cricket pitch. The story couldn't seem to decide what it wanted to be anymore.


Sarah -
The first appearance of cricket in Doctor Who! There was little point to it, but the commentators made me laugh, “We’re checking the record book to see if this has happened before.” I could imagine it the same scene playing out on ESPN.


Harry -
And then to confuse matters further, all of a sudden we land in the middle of an Egyptian historical... with a familiar villain back on the scene!


Sarah -
The Time Meddler is back! My hope briefly surged! Peter Butterworth is once again an utter delight. The Doctor looks so happy to have bumped into his old adversary in Ancient Egypt. The scenes between the Monk and Chen are a blast as the two cunning manipulators try to outmaneuver each other.

And then it turns into an episode about lock tampering and repair. Oh the drama!


Harry -
Mind-blowing greatest-hits package that foreshadowed the RTD epics to come, or a chaotic cacophony of confusion? What has become of "The Daleks' Master Plan?"


Sarah -
I feel much better knowing it wasn’t a sudden attack of latent-onset ADD or something. I had a terrible time keeping my attention focused on the story. After a strong start, we’ve wandered into a rambly Chase-like thing.


Harry -
Oh yes, I was feeling the "Chase" vibe in these later episodes too.


Sarah -
There’s a bit of an upswing in episode ten, but I think that’s mostly due to having footage again – and being able to enjoy Kevin Stoney’s brilliant, subtle performance.


Harry -
Kevin Stoney is definitely the gem of this story. He steals the scene in all the real footage episodes, with his little asides, his pinky-to-the-mouth bit, and his growing madness.

Fortunately part twelve brings it all together again. After a wild pursuit across time and space with an entire season's worth of great characters, it all boils down to the Doctor and his friends confronting the Daleks and their ally.

Chen is completely looney tunes by the end, and I loved it! In the space of 10 minutes, he lets go with at least three roaring "I, MAVIC CHEN!" outbursts. Completely, delightfully bonkers.


Sarah -
I believe Stoney is the current holder of my “All-time favorite guest actor” title. Such a gem of a performance.


Harry -
And then, death sweeps through the story one last time, taking Chen, the Daleks and (devastatingly) Sara.


Sarah -
Oh Sara, I renew my pledge to battle for your Official Companion status! Just right after I finish this pint, I promise.


Harry -
What a gripping way to finish the story. Stephen and the Doctor, alone in a dusty wasteland, lamenting their dead friends, and the Doctor regretting the terrible waste of it all. Perfect finish. For me, it overcomes the loosey-goosey flaws of the second half.


Sarah -
It’s simply devastating – Sara, Katarina, Bret, not to mention all the baddies who bit the dust. A terrible waste.


Harry -
One final note before we wrap it up. Part twelve might be the first DW episode that features wall-to-wall soundtrack for almost its entirety. I love electronic music, especially the ambient noise that we heard throughout. Contemporary DW might be a bit over-the-top and too movie-ish in its use of blaring musical cues, but this story demonstrates how a bit of background sound can heighten tension and elevate a story. Well done!

Before I collapse in a quivering heap:

Lasting image - I loved that moment when the Egyptians gazed up at the sun in the sky, and the image morphed into the reflection of a light on a Dalek casing.  But I'll go with Mavic Chen's peculiar writing style, which is more conducive to a still image.

Favourite moment - the exchanges between the Monk and the Doctor, always laced with latent hostility.

Best line - Could there be any other than "I, MAVIC CHEN!"

Second half rating - 8/10

Overall rating - 8.5/10


Sarah -
Lasting image – The Monk in his sunglasses.

Favorite moment – Mavic Chen spiraling out of control.

Best line – Because I don’t want to copy "I, MAVIC CHEN!"…

Steven: “You’re a genius, Doctor.”
Doctor: “Yes, I know, My Boy!”

Second half rating - 8/10

Overall rating – 8.5/10

 


Our marathon continues with Story #22 - The Massacre of St. Bartholomew's Eve...