Story #62 - The Sea Devils (1972)

Sarah -
Back in high school and college, I spent loads of time explaining to skeptical friends that even if they had problems with the effects on Doctor Who, they should watch it for the excellent writing. Yet, somehow, I hadn’t spent a lot of time thinking about the actual writers. This little project of ours has turned this all around, which is to say, Mac is Back! Seeing Malcolm Hulke’s name on the opening credits is one of the highlights of this era of Doctor Who.


Harry -
Pleased to watch another Mac Hulke story, this time a sequel to Doctor Who and the Silurians. Jon Pertwee gets a second chance to broker peace between humans and the reptilian inhabitants beneath the planet's surface.


Sarah -
And it works out about as well as the first time!


Harry -
Naturally, Hulke provides another searing indictment of humanity, and the pompous buffoons who run its governments. Go Mac!


Sarah -
I would expect nothing less.


Harry -
Before we get to that, the story starts off innocently enough, in the Doctor Who sense of things. We see some murky goings on in the sea, with ships mysteriously being sunk, culminating in an attack on an abandoned sea fort by a new monster - the so-called Sea Devils.


Sarah -
What a coincidence that the Master happens to be jailed in the same waters. I mean, what are the chances of that happening? Surely, he can't have anything to do with the missing ship shenanigans, can he?


Harry -
It's uncanny!


Sarah -
Utterly. The Doctor and Jo arrive at the island prison to visit with the Master, who is as charming and delightful as ever -- the best frenemy a Time Lord could hope for.


Harry -
I wish the exchanges with my old frenemies were as witty and stylish. Was this the first time the Doctor admitted that he and the Master used to be friends? Yes, here's the quote: "He used to be a friend of mine once. A very good friend. In fact, you might almost say we were at school together."


Sarah -
Do you have many frenemies?


Harry -
No, none at all. Frenemies was a high school thing.  I have only mortal enemies now.


Sarah -
I’ll keep that in mind.

Though there have been many Doctor-Master combinations, Pertwee and Delgado will always be my favorite. Their chemistry is perfect and watching them is always a delight. The fencing scene is one of the highlights of this story for me. They’re both having a blast, and the Doctor can’t resist giving the Master another chance, just to keep things interesting.


Harry -
The Doctor clearly feels a bit of sentiment for the Master, for him to go to the trouble of paying a visit to his isolated prison. And to sit through prison governor Trenchard's ridiculous fussing over his and Jo's UNIT passes. I liked how Trenchard's obsession with passes became a running joke through the story.


Sarah -
Oh, Trenchard. Another in a line of petty bureaucrats in Doctor Who, but saved from mediocrity by Clive Morton’s performance. While Trenchard is in the Master’s power and something of a buffoon, Morton conveys the pathos in Trenchard’s character. As with so many other Doctor Who characters who have discovered they are not as in control as they thought they were, Trenchard believes that his actions will redeem his past failures. In the end, his actions are chalked up to patriotism, and not his own hubris -- but we viewers know better, having seen this all before.


Harry -
And he's not even the most loathsome bureaucrat in this story! But we'll get to him later.

Another running joke, for some, is the score. All experimental electronica. I love this kind of music, so for me this score is the electronic zenith of the 70s. The ultimate Pertwee soundtrack. It's forward-looking, but so of its time I can't see anything like this being used again. In fact, contemporary Who is the complete opposite: big, symphonic blockbuster music. And that's fine. I'll always have "The Sea Devils" to enjoy.


Sarah -
And you’re welcome to it! I don’t want to start a major row here, Dear Harry, but the soundtrack is perhaps my least favorite part of this spectacular story. Every tinny note set me on edge and even undermined the story at points. Still, it’s inextricably part of "The Sea Devils", so perhaps I should be less harsh in my judgment. I apologize for any hurt feelings I may have caused.


Harry -
Hah, we might get more readers if we had more rows!


Sarah -
We’ll have to work on generating a bit more drama.


Harry -
Another tip of the cap I want to give is for all of part two. This is one of the best single episodes of Doctor Who ever! It starts with the dazed crew man staggering along ranting about a "Sea Devil." The Doctor fiddles with a radio set, then goes to investigate. A frantic chase scene erupts, played out on stairwells and crazily-angled corridors. In the Sea Devil, we finally get a monster that can run, not shuffle, and it elevates the scariness of the scene. Trapped in the room where they started, the Doctor scares off the monster, then rigs up the radio set to send a message. The radio then blows up, just one of several quick comedic moments in the episode. Back at Trenchard's office, the Doctor gets in some office putting, some more quips, and that wild fencing duel with the Master, culminating in a knife-throwing cliffhanger. Holy wow, this episode is full of win!


Sarah -
You’ve done a spectacular job of summarizing episode two, Old Chap, but you’ve left out what is perhaps my favorite scene ever in any episode of Doctor Who! Near the end of the first episode, when the Doctor and Jo are climbing up the ladder to the sea fort and “Jo” is clearly a bloke wearing her pantsuit none-too-well and shaking what his mama gave him – because you know, that’s how ladies move.

What amuses me most is that, in my memory, which is no doubt how I want this scene to actually play, he’s wearing a miniskirt, go-go boots, and a full beard.

If only.


Harry -
There was something about the way the stuntman climbed that ladder, as if he was being electrocuted. It looked as if "Jo" would go flying into the sea at any moment. Obviously it made for lasting memories.

I agree that this story might be the best of the Doctor-Master conflicts. Pertwee and Delgado crackle just by being in the same room together. This might be Delgado's best turn in the role, and one of my favourite Delgado Master stories. Maybe we've become accustomed to his bonkers plots that this one didn't seem as jarring.


Sarah -
Seems entirely plausible to me!


Harry -
The titular monsters of the story end up being almost secondary characters, until that next fabulous scene on the beach when they emerge en masse ("en masse" in Doctor Who parlance meaning exactly six).


Sarah -
Six isn’t bad. There were only three Daleks in "Day of the Daleks". Six is positively a crowd!


Harry -
For all the repeated dashing to and fro from the prison to the naval base, the story never lags. Each episode brings a fresh angle, be it the Sea Devil and the minefield, the sunken submarine, or the arrival of Walker, the arrogant bureaucrat from the Ministry of Defence. His pompous bullying is something else, eh?


Sarah -
Parliamentary Private Secretary Walker was a complete douche. Sorry for assaulting your ears with such foul language, Old Chap, but that’s what I wrote in my notes when he appeared.


Harry -
He was a complete and total arse.


Sarah -
He made me pine for Trenchard! Like all bullies, he was also a coward when the chips were down. His only response to Jo’s heroic climb through the ventilation shaft is to think of himself: “What if you get caught? They might make reprisals against the innocent.” Utter douche.

And, then, a hovercraft! Can this story possibly get better?


Harry -
That hovercraft was majestic. I want one! Barring that, I want to ride in one!


Sarah -
Well, that sorts out your next birthday gift.


Harry -
Kudos to the Royal Navy for allowing the BBC to use so many of their toys in the making of this story.


Sarah -
I have to admit I found myself worrying about Jo – a civilian in the middle of a military assault – but she’s a lady who can handle a bit of mucking about with the best of them.


Harry -
She did more running, climbing and sneaking about than anyone else in the story.


Sarah -
She definitely held her own.

In the end, the Doctor reverses the polarity of the neutron flow and saves the day.


Harry -
Of course.


Sarah -
I couldn’t help but be disappointed when the Doctor justifies his actions by claiming he did what he had to do to prevent a war.


Harry -
He killed the Sea Devils to prevent more deaths. APPALLING.


Sarah -
I seem to recall him lecturing the Brig for doing the exact same thing to the Silurians, whom the Doctor believes should have been more properly called the Eocenes, for the record.


Harry -
The production team seem to have trouble identifying and naming the creatures on Earth, too often falling back on disparaging terms like "savages" and "sea devils". Yes, yes, times were different, but it bugs me now. And if the Doctor is resorting to minor acts of genocide, I say it's time he gets the heck off this planet for a change.

Shall we join him?


Sarah -
Yes, let’s.

Best Line: The iconic, “Reverse the polarity of the neutron flow.”

Favorite Moment: The Doctor-Master joust

Lasting Image: Stuntman Jo on the ladder

9/10


Harry -
Best Line: "Your usual childish desire to gloat, perhaps?" The Doctor crackles with sarcasm during a face off with the Master.

Favourite Moment: anytime Pertwee and Delgado are in the same room together.

Lasting Image: The Doctor-Master joust, as Pertwee gets right into it, while Delgado tries to fend him off.

8/10

 



Our marathon continues with Story #63: The Mutants...

Story #61 - The Curse of Peladon (1972)

Harry -
It's a funny thing, "The Curse of Peladon." When I'm in the mood to watch some Pertwee, this is never a story that I reach for, even though having just watched it again I enjoyed it so much.

Maybe the gloomy sets leave a dim memory of the proceedings at the galactic conference. Yes, another conference. However, the Doctor seems to have got the TARDIS working again and we find ourselves on the planet Peladon. It is, conveniently, ruled by the Peladons, but also by customs and beliefs that harken back to medieval times. And the locals do love their customs.


Sarah -
Doctor Who returns to one of its recurring themes of superstition versus reason. The planet Peladon is being considered for admission to the Galactic Federation and is being assessed by a committee of dignitaries from member planets. Not everyone on Peladon is eager to join the Federation. The two advisors of the soon-to-be-crowned King Peladon disagree on the application – Chancellor Torbis is an advocate of joining the Federation, while High Priest Hepesh opposes the move, citing the disapproval of their god Aggedor.

As luck (or, perhaps the Time Lords) would have it, the Doctor and Jo find themselves diverted to Peladon while out for a spin in the TARDIS. Jo’s anxious to get back to UNIT headquarters for her night on the town with Mike Yates, and most definitely has not dressed for the mountain climbing they find themselves doing.


Harry -
One moment, Yates is taking Benton's food, now he's taking Jo on a date. Rank continues to have its privileges.


Sarah -
As a military organization, One would think UNIT had policies against this sort of fraternizing.


Harry -
It was a more innocent time, perhaps.

Jo mountaineering in heels was commendable, and it was she who found the entrance to the tunnels beneath the city (is the city called Peladon too?).


Sarah -
I’m pretty sure everyone and everything on the planet is called Peladon.


Harry -
Keeps things simple.  I liked how the Doctor and Jo immediately insinuated themselves into the conference proceedings, the Doctor claiming to be the Earth delegate, accompanied by Princess Josephine of TARDIS. The kid in me loved the wild assemblage of alien delegates too. Best assortment of characters since "The Daleks Master Plan."

But could the locals not have sprung for some more overhead lighting? It was terribly dim everywhere.


Sarah -
It did enhance the mood, giving everything a creepy, almost gothic look.

The Doctor didn’t miss a beat, did he? Good thing the Earth delegate was running late.

I loved the aliens! The moment when the Doctor and Jo make there way out of the tunnels and into the citadel, only to happen upon two Ice Warriors is wonderful.


Harry -
That was a wicked shock!


Sarah -
It’s been a long time since I last watched this story, which was likely the first time I ever saw the Ice Warriors. Having met then from the beginning, I forgot that they were allies in this story and shared the Doctor’s sense of concern upon seeing them. I loved the twist of finding out they were federation delegates.

And then we have the delegates from Alpha Centauri and Arcturus. Alpha Centauri, we soon learn, is a hermaphrodite hexapod – and a big scaredy pants. Arcturus is a head encased in a mobile life-support unit, and definitely wins the award for most tripped-out alien of the season.


Harry -
Against some fierce competition still to come.


Sarah -
One of my favorite things about this story is that the participants never know who is trustworthy and who is not. Everyone is under suspicion – especially the Doctor and Jo.


Harry -
It's great. Every episode bounds along from one scene to the next, and the delegates - being of the highest bureaucratic rank among their people, one assumes - love to do nothing more than spend the the whole time chatting away, keeping all of us apace as the story develops.


Sarah -
In the middle of this all is King Peladon, about to ascend to the throne and unsure of how to be a good ruler and decide what is best for his people. He trusts in High Priest Hepesh, who is completely playing him.


Harry -
Oh gosh, King Peladon was such a delicate thing, I wanted to bring him home and put him under glass.


Sarah -
I have to pause here a moment to say that David Troughton is perfect as Peladon. Last seen by us in an American Civil War era barn in "The War Games", it’s nice to have him back. (As we know, he won’t return to the series again until 2008.) He makes Peladon a sympathetic but naïve ruler, who finds himself falling for the lovely Princess Josephine of TARDIS.


Harry -
Their scenes alone together were very sweet, something we don't often see in Doctor Who.

Meanwhile, check out the Doctor: he's conning the delegates, battling the king's champion, and singing the mighty Aggedor to sleep with a Venusian lullaby. Another fantastic performance by Jon Pertwee. We really haven't given him enough credit for making his Doctor a great man of action. I think the fact that he's slipping the shackles of Earth has vastly improved his mood.


Sarah -
That it has. Pertwee is wonderful in this story – all charm and action. I’m happy to be off Earth again.


Harry -
I don't know if this story was meant to be a shorter three-parter, but it's as if the whole thing gets wrapped up right at the start of episode four. The nefarious Arcturus gets blown away by one of the Ice Warriors, and his plot with Hepesh is revealed to all. But there's still enough time for Hepesh to go old school, and lead a coup attempt with swords and shields.


Sarah -
Arcturus seemed shady from a beginning, but maybe I just can’t trust a being who needs green gel squeezed over his head all day long.


Harry -
By the time Hepesh launches his coup attempt, the Doctor is completely in control of the situation. He turns Aggedor against the man who abused him for so long, and Hepesh meets his demise. Hooray, I guess? It's hard to feel celebratory at the end of this story, because King Peladon has lost so much over the course of four episodes. His two trusted advisors are both dead, his planet's attempt to gain entry to the Galactic Federation is almost a shambles, and Princess Josephine shoots down his marriage proposal. Oh Peladon!


Sarah -
Poor Peladon – the king, the planet, the city … the guy who carts away the rubbish. If only we could go back again to see what happens to the planet a couple seasons down the road. Oh, well.


Harry -
Very subtle, there.


Sarah -
Thanks. I thought a bit of foreshadowing would be a nice touch.

The story ends on something of a high note with the coronation of King Peladon about to begin. The Doctor and Jo plan to stay, until the untimely arrival of the actual Earth Delegate to the conference. Time for another quick escape in the TARDIS!

Time to get back to Earth for some watery hijinks!

Best Line: Jo: "I don't understand you! One minute you're condemning the Doctor to death and the next you're proposing to me!" Ah, young love!

Favorite Moment: When the Doctor spots the Ice Warriors for the first time.

Lasting Image: Peladon’s royal ensemble. That’s quite a look!

7/10


Harry -
I would have called this one "The Thighs of Peladon."  Yes!

Best Line: an exchange between Arcturus and Ice Warrior Izlyr:

"The facts point to one thing: a unilateral blood alliance between Peladon and Earth."

"It is unusual to celebrate such an event with an execution."

Favourite Moment: I liked the sequence of moments at the end: Aggedor getting attached to the Doctor, Jo and Peladon's final moments together, the surprise arrival of the Earth delegate Amazonia, and everyone's shock when the TARDIS dematerializes.  Fantastic sequence!

Lasting image: Alpha Centauri and the other alien delegates.

7/10

 




Our marathon continues with Story #62 - The Sea Devils...

Story #60 - Day of the Daleks (1972)

Sarah -
They’re Baaaaaaaack! Has it really been five years? I’ve quite missed those pepperpot sociopaths. I mean, as much as one can miss pepperpot sociopaths...

I have to admit, I've been looking forward to this story since we began the Pertwee era. I have such fond memories of "Day of the Daleks", but haven't seen it in at least seven years.


Harry -
Was it everything you remembered it to be? I too saw it many moons ago and found myself liking it even more this time around.


Sarah -
Happily, it was! I made the entire family watch with me.


Harry -
It's always more fun with more people on the sofa. But you know who's missing? Our friends Rob & Toby. Can't believe we've almost gotten halfway through the Pertwee era without them as our guides. I'm missing Rob's savvy interpretations and Toby's encyclopedic asides. I've been keeping an eye on their publisher's website, but there's still no sign of when we'll see Volume II of the series that inspired our little adventure.


Sarah -
We are of one mind, Old Boy! I found myself really missing Toby and Rob while watching "Day of the Daleks". They were by our sides us for the first six seasons and I felt like we were getting by without them for the past two -- but now I've had enough! I want our pals back on the Sofa with us, already!


Harry -
Me too!  I hope the next volume arrives soon. Until then, let's continue to grope our way through this dimly lit corridor.

Yes, Season 9 kicks off with lots of guns and mayhem, new monsters and classic villains, and yet another international peace conference for UNIT to safeguard. Everything old is new again!


Sarah -
There’s so much packed into these four episodes. It begins so quietly, with the Doctor trying, once again, to get the TARDIS operating properly. When Jo points out that the TARDIS was operating when they went to the colony in space, the Doctor explains that the Time Lords were in charge then, and “No one’s going to turn me into an interplanetary puppet.” We even get a tidy little time paradox before the Brig charges in to order them off to Auderly House to protect Sir Reginald Styles from mysteriously disappearing freedom fighters!


Harry -
The good production and on-location filming really elevated this story. The interior and exteriors of Auderly House looked great. All those Ogrons, future guerrillas, and UNIT troops racing around the grounds gave the story a great spike of energy.


Sarah -
I know there are gripes about the Ogron and Dalek attack force not being terribly menacing, but I love the image of them stalking over the grounds.


Harry -
But there were the quirky little moments too, like Jo "feeding the troops." There was something so sweet about that.


Sarah -
I was slightly outraged by Yates' behavior towards Benton. "Rank has its privileges," indeed, Posh Jerk! Yeah, I just called Yates a posh jerk for showing up Benton -- got a problem with that?


Harry -
Jerky Yates!

Once the story kicks into gear, it really roars to life. Who are these mysterious guerrillas appearing out of thin air? Are they heroes or villains? They almost kill the Doctor and Jo before Jo ends up getting zapped into the 22nd century. And that's when it really gets groovy.


Sarah -
I was half wanting the War Chief to show up and sex up the grooviness a bit.


Harry -
Well I can understand that.

I loved - LOVED - the future sets. One room had the Controller in his white swivel chair, issuing commands to a team of identical looking assistants (especially loved the hand-waving action). The other room had the comfy cushions for everyone to lounge on, even though the actors seemed to have an awkward time of it. I love the 70s vision of the future. It's so funky!


Sarah -
The cushions gave me some ideas for a redesign of the Sofa, if you're up for a bit of lounging... of Rassilon.


Harry -
We could kick the cushions to the floor and sprawl out. I'll bring some grapes next time.

One curious point: there was so much interesting stuff going on, I barely noticed that the Daleks were barely seen for the first half of the story.


Sarah -
Oh yes, them. It does eventually become apparent that the Daleks were a late addition to the story. Also, if I can quibble just a wee bit, the blue Daleks didn't really have proper Dalek voices, did they? I can't even tell you how bothered I was by that.


Harry -
Yeah, the Dalek voices seemed a bit meek here. Same with the Ogrons. I remember seeing pictures of the Ogrons as a kid and thinking they were fantastic terrifying monsters... only to find them as subservient guard dogs in this story. Meh.


Sarah -
The Ogrons are definitely striking. It’s long past time for a return, would you say? They will have escaped their Dalek overlords by that point and found a way to bring their own havoc to the universe. Or, perhaps a prequel about how they became the slaves of the Daleks.


Harry -
What we lose in limited screen time for the Daleks, we more than make up for in action sequences. The Doctor gets to roar around in a Jeep, and his escape with Jo on the Randomly Placed Three Wheeler was awesome.


Sarah -
There’s little as exciting as a three-mile-per-hour chase!


Harry -
Health and Safety must have been going mad over that stunt. 

Everything finally converges back at Auderly House in the 20th century. It's going to kill me every time we see a TV announcer in the Pertwee era. Alex MacIntosh was an actual TV announcer at the time, but his brief role cried out for more Michael Wisher!


Sarah -
I’m starting to think that every story cries out for more Michael Wisher.


Harry -
Hear, hear!


Sarah -
Just a few more seasons, my friend.

With no Wisher to tide us over, I was happy to make due with Aubrey Woods’ brilliant performance as the controller. He started out a mere lackey of the Daleks, but managed to redeem himself in the end by helping the Doctor and Jo escape. Bureaucrats so rarely have that opportunity in the Third Doctor’s run.

While looking up information on Woods, I learned that he died earlier this month. He's perhaps best known for performing "Candy Man" in Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory.


Harry -
Very sad and untimely.  We've had a couple of untimely deaths happen during this marathon.  Aubrey Woods will certainly not be forgotten; he was fantastic in this role.

Back to the assault on the house. Would you call it an assault, or more like a slow procession of three Daleks and some Ogrons? The visuals failed there, unfortunately.


Sarah -
As I mentioned above, this little sequence, while disappointing, manages to warm my heart in only a way Doctor Who can. I spent so many hours defending the series against attack back in the 80s. This scene is exactly the sort of thing I had to defend and one of the things I love so much about the show.


Harry -
Overall though, this was a nice comeback story for the Daleks. They are still at their scheming, dominating, and exterminating, now in colour!


Sarah -
It’s a whole new Technicolor universe!


Harry -
"Day of the Daleks" is one of those stories that captures all of the Pertwee era. The action and stunts, the classic enemies, the bureaucrats and conferences, and some otherworldly time travel to sort out. For me, this one gets better with every viewing.


Sarah -
It absolutely does!

Best Line: “That’s a most good-humored wine. A touch sardonic perhaps, but not cynical.” It’s one of my favorite lines ever in Doctor Who and I was eagerly awaiting it from the first note of the opening theme!

Favorite Moment: When the Doctor and Jo are tied up in the cellar. The Doctor is trying to figure out what’s going on, and Jo responds with, “I’m the one who’s supposed to be asking the questions.” I laughed out loud – we can’t say Jo doesn’t know her place!

Lasting Image: The fast-paced ATV chase.

8/10


Harry -
Best Line: "A family of Quislings, eh?" - the Doctor deflates the Controller's pompous self-aggrandizement with one cutting quip.

Favourite moment: Had to be the "fast-paced" ATV chase.

Lasting image: Everyone lounging around on the 22nd century cushions.

8/10

 



Our marathon continues with Story #61: The Curse of Peladon...

Story #59 - The Daemons (1971)

Harry -
IO-HE-VO-HE AZAL! (*making double horned signs*)

Season 8 ends on a high note with some folk horror in the village, Doctor Who style.

AZAL! HEAR ME AZAL! (*double horns again*)


Sarah -
It really is the dawning of the Age of Aquarius, Harry!

What an excellent capper to the season -- science, folklore, witchcraft, aliens, and, most absurdly of all, Morris Dancers!


Harry -
The Morris Dancers of Death!


Sarah -
You know how much I love Morris Dancing. The only thing missing from this story is a Local Shop!


Harry -
There was a local pub, with lots of happenings among the locals, so that'll work.


Sarah -
Speaking of, I’d love to see an entire series set in Bert’s Pub!

Christopher Barry does an excellent job of setting the mood, from the creepy crypt to the Beltane revels. In fact, the only part of the story I found disappointing were the Daemons, themselves.


Harry -
I loved the atmosphere of fantastic weirdness woven through the first half of the story.

Jo hints at her belief in the occult and supernatural things. The Doctor scoffs, but nonetheless is very interested in the dig at the bronze age Devil's Hump.


Sarah -
I loved that turnaround. From, “You know, Jo, for a reasonably intelligent young lady, you do have the most absurd ideas” to hitting the road in Bessie within the first episode!


Harry -
Meanwhile, the Master is back on Earth, this time as a black priest performing esoteric ceremonies.


Sarah -
Of course he is. The Master is the idealized version of the complete renaissance villain!


Harry -
Perhaps weirdest of all was seeing Yates and Benton in casual wear. Season 8 has veered in a completely different direction!


Sarah -
When the Brig’s away, the mice will play. Speaking of the Brig, I really wanted him to be wearing a kilt when he went off to his event early in the story. It’s been too long without Jamie and I’m missing kilts.


Harry -
If I recall, we will eventually see the Brig's lovely knees sometime in the future.


Sarah -
An event that I have been eagerly anticipating for a while now.

Happily, Yates and Benton got a lot of screen time in this story and made the most of it. Excellent work by John Levene and Richard Franklin.


Harry -
The casual wear! I loved it! Yates looked like he was off to a book reading, while Benton was going to watch some footy.

Did you have the same thought as me about the announcer at the dig site? It should have been Michael Wisher!


Sarah -
Oh, how I was wishing it would have been Wisher. What a missed opportunity.


Harry -
I liked the curmudgeonly professor, and of course Miss Hawthorne. Another cast of memorable extras rounded this story off.


Sarah -
Miss Hawthorne was especially brilliant. I loved her pluck and commitment to her witchcraft. The scene where the constable picked up the rock to smash her over the head was a bit harrowing, but I loved her confidence in convincing the village that the Doctor was a great wizard who must be freed. Brilliant performance by Damaris Hayman!


Harry -
She was quintessentially English.   And some folks think highly enough of her to bring her back in a new film:  The White Witch of Devil's End.  Amazing!

I'm going to look up what else Damaris Hayman has been in.

Back to the story itself. Good ol' Guy Leopold (ha!) wrote a tale of occult happenings at a small English village that reminded me of several "folk horror" movies made around the same time. The Daemons reminded me of The Wicker Man, Blood on Satan's Claw, and Witchfinder General. These films were built around the premise that pre-Christian beliefs were perverted into something eerie and frightening, with generous lashings of outright Satanism thrown in. So it was delightful to watch the Master don a black priest's garb and recite incantations.


Sarah -
“SO MOTE IT BE!”

Sorry, I’ve always wanted to say that…


Harry -
All the while, the Doctor sensed what was really going on, but he was coy in the early going. He was determined to emphasize science over magic to almost everyone he spoke with in the first two episodes. It was just slightly disappointing when he took Jo down to the dig site and revealed that it was a spaceship down there after all.


Sarah -
It was even more disappointing to learn that the Daemons were responsible for all human advancement. Sheesh, why do we even bother?


Harry -
Yeah, it was odd to get that reveal halfway through the story. But in the grand style of the Barry Letts era, it opened up the remaining episodes to helicopter chases, motorbike action, and of course, the Morris Dancers of Death!


Sarah -
It was complete mayhem in the village – what fun!


Harry -
I particularly liked the barkeep's shredded newspaper wear. I've never seen something like that before or since.


Sarah -
I was thinking that would be a good look on you, Old Boy.


Harry -
I rather fancied the Master's ceremonial robes.

Let's take a moment to review the Master's arc in Season 8. Not sure if it's an arc in the current sense, but for one season of Doctor Who, the Master appeared in every story. We know he was created to be a kind of Moriarty to the Doctor's Holmes. The casting of Roger Delgado was perfect and he played the role brilliantly. Until now, though, I hadn't realized that stories involving the Master follow the same template every time: Master concocts grandiose scheme for power; Doctor investigates and uncovers said scheme; Master realizes the scheme was total rubbish and relies on Doctor's help to get out of trouble; Doctor obliges, Master suffers inferiority complex and flees vowing revenge. It's the same story every time!


Sarah -
It really is the same story every time. I believe I've seen most of these stories as one-offs and never in proper chronological order before. The Master is the Doctor's greatest nemesis and I felt more than a little guilty rolling my eyes at yet another formulaic Master story. As much as I adore Roger Delgado's brilliant performances, I prefer to spread them out a bit.


Harry -
OK, time to stop skirting around the problem here. Yes, it totally sucked that "The Daemons" is all about showing us the Daemons from Daemos, who have influenced all of human history. While the Doctor's proto-powerpoint presentation was illuminating, it was also disappointing.


Sarah -
And BORING!


Harry -
Azal, the last remaining Daemon was so all-powerful (and shouty loud!) that once again, the Master overstepped. It was up to the Doctor and Jo to engage in a, well, a very long chat with Azal. Jo's offer to sacrifice herself utterly blew the Daemon's mind. Kind of a weird ending. But this was a weird story. The atmosphere and cues from contemporary horror films were distinctive and fabulous, but I guess the Doctor Who'd version fell a bit flat at the finish.


Sarah -
Still, the excellent fun of the first four episodes more than made up for the disappointment of the finale. Jo is even (somewhat) vindicated when the Doctor admits, “You’re right, Jo, there is magic in the world, after all.”

The story ends with the Doctor and Jo participating in the Beltane rituals while the Brig and Yates have a pint. Once again, all is right in the world.

So, I have to ask Harry … Pint?


Harry -
I thought you'd never ask, chum.


Sarah -
Best Line: I’ve got to give this one to Miss Hawthorne, reprimanding the Master: “Why should I believe you, a rationalist, existentialist priest, indeed.”

Favorite Moment: The Morris Dancers arrive!

Lasting Image: The Morris Dancers arrive!

8/10


Harry -
Best line: "IO-HE-VO-HE AZAL!" (it's fun to shout and make the double horned signs)

Favourite Moment: The Brigadier remains totally unflappable while reviewing Yates' explanation of the wild goings on in the village. I laughed so hard I had to pause it.

Lasting image: The Master in his ceremonial robes.


8/10

 



Our marathon continues with Story #60: Day of the Daleks...

Story #58 - Colony in Space (1971)

Sarah -
The Master’s on the loose and the Time Lords are willing to restore the Doctor’s freedom to serve their own purposes. We’re back in the TARDIS again, Dear Harry!


Harry -
That was an unexpected opening. The Time Lords whisking the Doctor out into space like a game piece and leaving him to sort it out. You can see why he doesn't like them. At least we finally get a space story again.


Sarah -
These Earthbound stories have been excellent, but, like the Doctor, I've been itching to do some traveling. Unfortunately, Jo isn't quite ready for the Doctor's wandering ways.

I must tell you, Old Boy, that I've never seen this story before! I practically squealed with delight when I realized there was still a new story to see.


Harry -
I had this one confused with another one, but I really liked this one.


Sarah -
I was not prepared for Jo's reaction to entering the TARDIS for the first time. We're so used to all companions rushing headlong into the TARDIS, ready for adventure. What a surprise to find that Jo's first reaction was to hightail it out of there!


Harry -
Yeah, Jo takes a huge hit in my estimation here. It's not Katy Manning's fault that she was written to be an 8-year-old child. Once she started playing "frightened", it seemed she'd be spooked by her own shadow. The Doctor stroking her cheek and talking down to her didn't help. Watching all these stories in a row is starting to put a bit of a dampener on my memories of the Pertwee era.


Sarah -
Jo's never been one of my favorite companions, but this isn't one of her finer moments. Isn't she supposed to be UNIT-trained? Shouldn't she have some amount of stiff-upper-lip-ness to see her through?


Harry -
Should have, but let's put aside the poor characterizations and talk about the story. Mac Hulke has given us another cracker. I hadn't really paid attention to which writer wrote which story before we set off on this marathon of ours, Sarah. Hulke is becoming one of my favourite Who writers!


Sarah -
He never lets us down, does he?


Harry -
He gives us a classic confrontation between plucky, self-sufficient pioneers and cruel, corporate mercenaries. The colonists were idealistic and willing to stick it out together, while the Intergalactic Mining Corporation thugs resorted to threats and violence in the name of profit.


Sarah -
With the native primitives tossed in, all that’s missing from this western are a few dramatic shots of Monument Valley. Oh, wait, we’re in space, aren’t we?


Harry -
If Mac Hulke's script wasn't in-your-face enough, the costume design was perfect. The colonists looked like a band of English folk musicians, while the IMC were dressed in fascist-looking uniforms.


Sarah -
Subtle it was not. Still, I find myself wishing they’d broken into a round of Morris dancing... in space!


Harry -
Into this stark black-and-white scenario are plunged the Doctor and Jo. The Doctor immediately sides with the colonists and exposes IMC's sabotage efforts. Captain Dent and his thugs do not appreciate this, and continue their campaign to expel the colonists.

Dent is a fantastic villain. Colder than a snake, and nastier. Hulke didn't give him an ounce of compassion, unlike Caldwell, the miner who gets caught between his job and his conscience.


Sarah -
We’ve seen some baddies before, but chaining Jo and Winton to a bomb is a new low! And let’s not forget that charming sociopath, Morgan.


Harry -
Norton the infiltrator, Winton the agitator, Ashe the doomed leader. So many great characters here, it felt like we really got to know them.


Sarah -
I have to admit that I wasn’t at all looking forward to another six-parter, but I love the room the story had to develop the characters. I found myself becoming quite attached to our merry band of settlers.


Harry -
Then there's the awkwardly named "Primitives." On the surface, they seem to be just that, but once within their city, the Doctor and Jo discover the remnants of a once-brilliant society, one that seemed to regress as a result of experimentation and radiation exposure.


Sarah -
I loved this unexpected twist on the “primitives.” Not that anyone is going to listen to their cautionary tale, mind you.


Harry -
While the Doctor and Jo are in the underground city, the character that the Time Lords hinted at in part one finally arrives in the person of the Adjudicator. Using this façade, the Master aims to enter the underground city and take control of the Primitives' superweapon. It's the latest in a series of plots that have grand objectives but little practicality.


Sarah -
I know the decision was made to include the Master in all the episodes of this season, and I don’t want to be seen questioning Barry Letts decision making… but I guess that’s exactly what I’m doing. Does the Master have a Doctor-homing-device in his TARDIS. His ability to show up wherever the Doctor is – even when his earthly exile is ended – is uncanny.


Harry -
So as we move into the second half of the story, we have a lot going on. The colonists and IMC continue to sabotage and attack one another - highlighted by several close-range gun battles. The Doctor and Jo have discovered the underground city and its people. The Master is worming his way into the thick of things, and the Boards-of-Canada-esque incidental music continues to delight this viewer!


Sarah -
The tension is mounting!


Harry -
I think what made this six-parter work was that the story definitely progressed from one episode to the next, without circling back to repeat itself.


Sarah -
Absolutely! Unlike recent stories, we find ourselves with a fresh cliffhanger for each episode. Things keep moving along at a brisk clip.

Our pioneers find themselves agreeing to leave the planet to the mining thugs, which leads us to one of the most devastating moments of the series so far – shortly after taking off, the settlers spaceship explodes. I was devastated and couldn’t believe Doctor Who was doing this to me.

But Wait! It was all a ploy! Ashe bravely piloted the spaceship on his own, knowing it wouldn’t fly – saving the rest of the colony! I nearly stood up and cheered!


Harry -
Ashe gave everything in order to make the colony succeed, including his life. Not that I keep a ranking of such things, but his death was especially tragic.


Sarah -
It was utterly heartbreaking.


Harry -
Meanwhile, the Master once again tempts the Doctor with a half-share of All The Power In The Universe. The Doctor seems to mull it over before he shoots the Master down again. All these failures and rejections in short order must take a toll on the Master's fragile psyche - no wonder he goes increasingly bonkers as a character.


Sarah -
This is getting a bit old, to be honest. Too much Master in a row.


Harry -
Things are quickly wrapped up as the Primitives' tiny elder decides to destroy the superweapon, taking their city with it. Our heroes escape, the Master flees, the colonists are left to start over, and the TARDIS returns to UNIT HQ mere seconds after the Brigadier called it back. Nicely done!


Sarah -
The Doctor returning to UNIT HQ on the Brig’s command was priceless.

Best Line:
Caldwell -- “Are you some kind of Scientist?”
Doctor -- “I’m every kind of scientist.”

Favorite Moment: The Doctor reveals he has the Master’s TARDIS key.

Lasting Image: The settlers on the hill after the ship explodes. Just this once, everybody lives!

7/10


Harry -
Everybody lives... except Ashe. He's going to haunt us!

Best line: Ha! We picked the same one. Hugs all round.

Favourite moment: The TARDIS returns to UNIT HQ, seemingly on the Brig's command.

Lasting image: Dent's cold, stone face of corporate contempt.

7/10

 



Our marathon continues with Story #59 - The Daemons...