Well Sarah, it's been quite a while since we posted. I know we've both been busy with the start of Autumn, and vacations and conferences and such. We'd better get cracking!
At the very least, we can use this post to discuss the first half of that most epic of epics, "The Daleks' Master Plan." It's the longest Doctor Who story, ever!
You know... watching The Ds' Master P is as much about the watching of the story as the story itself. How would you even begin to explain to non-Whovians the point of tracking down twelve reconstructed episodes on VHS or online, just to be able to watch a 40-year-old black-and-white TV programme that its own makers junked?
Sarah -
Ah, the glamour of being a DW Fan! How could we explain the excitement generated by every new discovery of actual footage? It’s a revelation, isn’t it, when moving images appear in the middle of a recon.
Harry -
The story begins by picking up two threads. First, there's the scene inside the TARDIS. Stephen is wounded, Katarina is tending to him, and the Doctor decides that they must land somewhere to try and obtain a drug to help Steven.
Meanwhile, Bret Vyon and Kert Gantry of the Space Security Service are investigating the mysterious events we witnessed in "Mission to the Unknown" five episodes ago.
The two threads intersect on the planet Kembel, and as they say, The Nightmare Begins.
Sarah -
The nightmare begins, indeed! But first, there’s the special joy in seeing “Written by Terry Nation” on the screen, followed by the even greater joy of seeing our dear friend Nicholas Courtney making a pre-Brigadier appearance as Bret Vyon.
Harry -
He's so young and dashing here. Not sure what to make of Katarina. She seems bewildered by what's going on around her. She trusts the Doctor implicitly and he does his best to show her the ropes, but the fit just doesn't seem to work.
Sarah -
Young and dashing, indeed! I laughed out loud when he referred to the Doctor as “Grandpa.” Won’t see that kind of behavior from The Brig.
Poor Katarina, she’s so sweet and so out of her depth, but she’s clearly the kind of companion the Doctor wants. He tells her, “Don’t ask questions or else you’ll become like the other two,” referring to Steven and Bret. I always like the companions that challenge the Doctor – and what’s a companion for if it’s not to ask questions so the Doctor can explain everything. For this reason alone, we know Katarina is doomed!
Harry -
One character that works for me is Mavic Chen, Guardian of the Solar System. Kevin Stoney does a brilliant turn as this scheming doublecrosser. I love his "I...MAVIC CHEN..." pomposity. It's the mark of a good megalomaniac.
Sarah -
Mavic Chen is brilliant and Kevin Stoney makes every moment sparkle. His grasping ambition and over-confidence is all we’d expect in a traitor to humanity. The Daleks already have his number and are ready to exterminate when necessary, yet Chen still thinks he’s going to outwit them. Silly man.
I particularly liked his scenes with the Master of Zephon before the Council meeting, especially when Chen is framed by the bars. I’m so glad we have footage of these scenes, which makes it all the more frustrating to go back to stills.
Harry -
The first three episodes involve our heroes teaming up with Bret Vyon to nab the final piece of the Daleks' new weapon and making their escape in Chen's ship. It all moves along at a brisk pace until the third cliffhanger, when Katarina is seized by one of the convicts from the planet Desperus. The nightmare continues!
Sarah -
Speaking of nightmares, I can understand why everyone is so anxious to get off Desperus. What a hellhole.
Harry -
Which leads us to episode four, which to me is the best single episode of DW we've seen so far. The first six minutes of the episode are riveting, shocking, upsetting stuff. The prisoner Kirksen holds Katarina hostage while the Doctor, Steven and Bret try to outwit him. The situation quickly becomes a moral dilemma: do they risk their one chance of stopping the evil plot in order to save Katarina? Is a single life more important than those of many?
Tragically, Katarina ends the standoff herself, by triggering the outer airlock door and jettisoning herself and her captor into space.
Shocking, just shocking. The remaining three pause to reflect, but there's still almost an entire episode remaining. One might think the remaining minutes would be a painful, drawn-out afterthought, but no, this is, after all, "The Daleks' Master Plan," epic of epics.
Sarah -
It’s such a shocking way to begin an episode. She’s the first companion to die and no one seems to know what do to at first.
Harry -
After some appropriate mourning, reflection and tribute, our heroes must press on, and the adventure continues. Immediately, a slew of new characters is introduced. We meet Karlton, Mavic Chen's sinister sidekick. We meet Daxtar, Bret's traitorous friend. And best of all, we meet Sara Kingdom, played by none other than Jean Marsh.
Sarah -
My beloved Jean Marsh once again!
Harry -
But before we can get comfortable with any of these new figures, Bret murders Daxtar, and Sara murders Bret. It's a wonder my head didn't explode after these most astounding 24 minutes!
Sarah -
This episode was positively exhausting to watch. It was surprising when Bret killed Daxtar, but utterly shocking when Sara killed Bret. And then we find out that he was her brother early in the next episode. Oh the drama.
Sara Kingdom, however, is not a mindless assassin and is quickly won over to the Doctor’s side when Chen’s dastardly ways are revealed.
Karlton is another highlight of the story for me. Maurice Browning has the perfect look for an evil lacky. Chen is so self-absorbed and confident that he never considers that Karlton will sell him out as soon as it works to his advantage.
Harry -
You can see the machinations going on in Karlton's mind, even in the stills.
Sarah -
Things take a turn in episode five, where the body count is limited to two mice. The scientist Rhynmal may just be my favorite character of the story so far – so obsessed with his little white mice that he doesn’t notice his entire planet’s being sold out.
What did you think of the scene where our heroes are transported through space? I couldn’t stop giggling at Sara and Steven, apparently bouncing on a trampoline while they were taken apart and reassembled. One can only imagine that William Hartnell refused to participate in any bouncing about!
Harry -
I like to see these hints of psychedelia creeping into Doctor Who. And I am very, very glad we were spared the image of a bouncing Billy Hartnell. The indignity!
Whew, I'm feeling worn out and it's only halfway! Let us pause here to gather our thoughts so far.
Lasting image: For me, it comes from the Loose Cannon reconstruction, when they show Katarina's lifeless body floating away in space. What a horrible, unforgettable image.
Favourite moment: The Doctor dons delegate Zephon's robes and sneaks into the conference. The Doctor does make a habit of monking around, doesn't he? (I'm sorry, I'm so sorry.)
Best line: "I hope she's reached that place of perfection." The Doctor struggling to cope with Katarina's shocking death.
First half rating: 9/10
Sarah -
This has been a smashing good time and I can’t wait for the second half!
Lasting Image: Chen framed by the metal bars while conspiring with The Master of Zephon.
Favorite moment: The bouncing. I’m giggling again just thinking of it.
Best Line: The Doctor: “By doing nothing, we do everything.”
First half rating: 9/10
Our marathon continues with the second half of The Daleks' Master Plan...
...and it won't take another two months, we promise!
