Season 21, Story 4/7, Serial 6P: 2 x 45 minute episodes 8th & 15th February 1984
Writer: Eric Saward, Director: Matthew Robinson, Producer: John Nathan-Turner
Writer: Eric Saward, Director: Matthew Robinson, Producer: John Nathan-Turner
Simon Threadgold@dimwittedly God, those VHS covers are undiluted shots of pure grade A nostalgia for me.
Si Hodges@SiHodges79 It's so rarely said but those stars and the accompanying sting *really* take me back to my childhood!
Chris@KosmicKris this series is a bit patchy but I absolutely loved it! It was the first series I had a VHS to rewatch :)
50dw50@50dw50 I have to say i find season 21 really entertaining after the rather lacklustre anniversary year.
This is the original 4 part version, by the way, with its' lovely spacey 5.1 Surround Sound version of the Howell theme arrangement. Just listen to how whooshy it is!
I find it jarring watching the (broadcast) 2 part version, to be honest, as it's so obvious where the cliffhangers are *supposed* to be; too obvious that each part is just 2 x 25 minute episodes stitched together - comes off like those old edited-together VHS's.
I know it's technically the "correct" version as that was what was broadcast, but it was obviously written and made as a 4-parter, and is paced as such.
Tranmere Steve@Tranmeresteve Controversial when on TV; the cool folk suddenly loved Resurrection ep 1, talk of the playground!
Simon Hart@Si_Hart I remember everyone talking about it at school the following day. Made an impact!
Vincent Jones@Bunny_Snuggler More on screen deaths than Robocop! ( Tiz true!)
I think more than T2 as well. Seem to remember that being in DWM years back!
London, Earth, 1984. The (then) rundown dockland warehouse of Shad Thames.
50dw50 @50dw50 · ironic to think that run down slum is now one of the most posh bits of London
Yes, it's regenerated!
A tramp? Is Jon Pertwee going to show up and run him over with a hovercraft?
DDG @dalekdudeguy · Or will he suffer at the hands of the Axons? 
Tim Gambrell@Mr_Brell I love the way he looks like he's about to start a Marlon Brando Godfather impression but then he just gets shot instead.
50dw50@50dw50 no he just gets shot in the guts, this is grim old Saward Who, the start of one of the most depressing stories ever?
John Mark Frankland@JMFrankland #gritty #realism
Bek Hobbes @Greebobek Is this the tramp? 
A bunch of space refugee extras from Blakes 7 burst out of a warehouse...
...only to be gunned down by a couple of evil space-refugee-hunting coppers!
Chris@KosmicKris this was a really dark beginning - seeing this let us know we were going to get something different!
50dw50 @50dw50 · if you play the dead-bodies-in-Doctor-Who drinking game you would be drunk in the first ten minutes!
Ruther@Ruther2 it's a Line of Duty outtake!
Then their bodies are beamed away.
Two have been left behind though...
Ooh, it's 'im off the Likely Lads. With a stutter. James Bolam's got taller.
50dw50@50dw50 old man with an ear-ring i know, i know, its serious, as The Smiths never sang.
Two have been left behind though...
Ooh, it's 'im off the Likely Lads. With a stutter. James Bolam's got taller.
50dw50@50dw50 old man with an ear-ring i know, i know, its serious, as The Smiths never sang.Chris@KosmicKris I defy anyone not to be delighted by the appearance of Bewes!
Davad@davadsteel my Mum's comment at the time: "I've never liked Rodney Bewes."
Crikey!
It's only a model.
Simon Hart@Si_Hart The modelwork is great. Shame there wasn't more of it!
This ship looks a bit rubbish but you can see the Star Wars influence in that shot.
One of the policeman has beamed aboard a spaceship. The Met obviously haven't suffered any cuts.
50dw50@50dw50 Howard taking a break from boat building.
The police chief - in truth space mercenary Lytton - bemoans the breakout leading to "valuable specimens" being wasted, but is told that nothing anachronistic is to be taken to Earth. He warns his lieutenant that he better make it his last mistake, "or the next execution squad will be coming for you."
Now in his fifth incarnation, the Doctor seems to be growing younger rather than older. In his present form he's a rather slight, fairhaired young man with a pleasant, open face. He wears the dress of an Edwardian cricketer—striped trousers, fawn coat with red piping, a white cricketing sweater and an open-necked shirt. The whole ensemble is completed (for reasons that won't be revealed until his very last story!) by a sprig of celery in his lapel.
His time and space craft, the TARDIS is having a bit of a hissy fit down a time corridor after their recent trip to the planet Frontios.
Tim Gambrell@Mr_Brell At the time I was suddenly loving the Fifth Doctor stories. I adore the way this story follows on from Frontios
It's very much like the very first Hartnell season with the last moments of a story kicking off the next.
Still one of the best console rooms. And I much prefer Davison's season 21 variation of his outfit. Apart from the celery, obviously.
The cloister bell rings for anything at this point in Davison's era. Probably just dinner time.
The likely lads sneak back into the warehouse to find the entrance to the time corridor.
Going back to free their fellow prisoners is surely a suicide mission.
Chris@KosmicKris It’s amazing how a bit of gloom enhances the production values (and covers a multitude of sins)
The Doctor wrangles the TARDIS back under control...
...but they're still travelling down the time corridor.
Tegan's feeling a bit peaky.
Nice doomy music. Not the only echo of Earthshock!
50dw50@50dw50 i know i often moan about 80's incidental music but i think it is really effective and moody in this story.
Simon Hart@Si_Hart That's not always the case with Malcolm Clarke's scores either. His one for The Twin Dilemma weeks later is a mess. I love the Radiophonic Workshop scores! Just some were better than others...
It's only a model.
Simon Hart@Si_Hart The modelwork is great. Shame there wasn't more of it!This ship looks a bit rubbish but you can see the Star Wars influence in that shot.
One of the policeman has beamed aboard a spaceship. The Met obviously haven't suffered any cuts.
50dw50@50dw50 Howard taking a break from boat building.The police chief - in truth space mercenary Lytton - bemoans the breakout leading to "valuable specimens" being wasted, but is told that nothing anachronistic is to be taken to Earth. He warns his lieutenant that he better make it his last mistake, "or the next execution squad will be coming for you."
Now in his fifth incarnation, the Doctor seems to be growing younger rather than older. In his present form he's a rather slight, fairhaired young man with a pleasant, open face. He wears the dress of an Edwardian cricketer—striped trousers, fawn coat with red piping, a white cricketing sweater and an open-necked shirt. The whole ensemble is completed (for reasons that won't be revealed until his very last story!) by a sprig of celery in his lapel.
His time and space craft, the TARDIS is having a bit of a hissy fit down a time corridor after their recent trip to the planet Frontios.
Tim Gambrell@Mr_Brell At the time I was suddenly loving the Fifth Doctor stories. I adore the way this story follows on from Frontios
It's very much like the very first Hartnell season with the last moments of a story kicking off the next.
Still one of the best console rooms. And I much prefer Davison's season 21 variation of his outfit. Apart from the celery, obviously.
The cloister bell rings for anything at this point in Davison's era. Probably just dinner time.
The likely lads sneak back into the warehouse to find the entrance to the time corridor.
Going back to free their fellow prisoners is surely a suicide mission.
Chris@KosmicKris It’s amazing how a bit of gloom enhances the production values (and covers a multitude of sins)
The Doctor wrangles the TARDIS back under control...
...but they're still travelling down the time corridor.
Tegan's feeling a bit peaky.
Nice doomy music. Not the only echo of Earthshock!
50dw50@50dw50 i know i often moan about 80's incidental music but i think it is really effective and moody in this story.
Simon Hart@Si_Hart That's not always the case with Malcolm Clarke's scores either. His one for The Twin Dilemma weeks later is a mess. I love the Radiophonic Workshop scores! Just some were better than others...
Chris@KosmicKris Couldn’t agree more - the old electronica is perfectly suited for these stories.
50dw50@50dw50 bring back Uncle Dudley!!!!
The likely lad's lanky mate is gunned down off-screen, by a Dalek-helmetted trooper who fades away...
"Galloway! GALLOWAY! Galloway... Hodor?"
The Doctor needs to pick his moment to free them from the time corridor...
Lytton has now changed into more futuristic gear and orders his ship into battle.
The TARDIS is finally under control, so the Doctor can start to work out where that time corridor is.
Aboard a very run down prison space station, Medical Officer Styles shows the new Security Officer, Mercer, around.
Simon Hart@Si_Hart I love the Thunderbird style caps they all have to wear.
For once, (some of) the prison station is not too brightly lit.
Chris@KosmicKris Brave lighting choices here - and it works well!
Chris@KosmicKris Brave lighting choices here - and it works well!50dw50@50dw50 they rediscovered after Warriors of the Deep that Who works a bit better in the gloom.Jim Findley as Mercer is absolutely terrible. What an awful actor!
Hope she shows him to the acting unit soon, he's in sore need of some training on that score.
Styles only has 8 weeks left on her tour of duty and is dependent on a good report from the Captain for a promotion and transfer.
Mercer's only been there 5 minutes and he's already planning a mutiny. Styles has seen it all before.
The TARDIS is travelling parallel to the Time Corridor, following it to its end - on 20th Century Earth.
The likely lad, now the only survivor of the refugee massacre, watches as a van of army types arrive.
Ooh, soldiers! Is it UNIT? It really should be.
Si Hodges@SiHodges79 Always thought that was a missed opportunity...Elsewhere on Space Station Marlboro, Communications Officer Osborn says the only ship they ever see is their own supply ship.
Look at them all puffing away like chimneys. The guerillas in Day of the Daleks are at it too. Obviously something about Daleks drives people to smoking.
Andrew Hickey @stealthmunchkin Suppose if you're around Daleks you'd consider it a win if you lived long enough to get lung cancer.
True!
Bek Hobbes @Greebobek In space, no one can hear you cough
Lisa P & Andrew T @lisacartman "Go and check on the prisoner!" (PAUSE. WITHERING LOOK.) "I am smoking a fag!!!" Another terribly wooden actor with that 'spoken too soon' line.
I get they're supposed to be the dregs and that's why they've got a crap assignment to this station, but you didn't have to cast the dregs! Apart from Sneh Gupta (Osborn), actually, who's head and shoulders above every crew member bar Rula Lenska.
The TARDIS is finally free of the time corridor, and lands at Shad Thames in 1984...
...so the Doctor heads off for a mooch.
50dw50@50dw50 now an area they could not afford to film in!
Simon Hart@Si_Hart "100 years ago it would have bursting with life" - or 15 years in the future! Lovely location.
Si Hodges@SiHodges79 I found it odd how rare it was to see Davison and crew in familiar locations - half his modern Earth stories are overseas!
Tegan is less than impressed with the Doctor's guided tour of the docklands.
As the cast note on the commentary we're treated to several takes on the Strickson back-glance here.
The assault on the prison station continues, with the unseen fighters downed, the generating plant damaged, and not enough power for the laser cannon.
Davad@davadsteel It's interesting how much of this is reported action.
Re: The "Captain" - Where's that character that hasn't appeared on screen? Dead along with a dozen imaginary extras.
Mercer gives us a macho Saward special: "Your bile would be better directed against the enemy, doctor!"
50dw50@50dw50 "and your phlegm posted to your friends"
Mercer hands Osborn a key card. "Should we be boarded, destroy the prisoner."
Reaching the warehouse, The TARDIS crew encounter Stein.
When the attacking ships locks on, the crew prepare for a siege.
Stein claims not to know who's controlling the Time Corridor and asks if they've any food. Twice.
He tells the Doctor he's from Earth but not all the prisoners are from the same period. I'm sure that'll be important later.
Davad@davadsteel Do they make anything out of the prisoners being from different time periods? Or is it just another complication from Eric?
Davad@davadsteel It's interesting how much of this is reported action.
Re: The "Captain" - Where's that character that hasn't appeared on screen? Dead along with a dozen imaginary extras.
Mercer gives us a macho Saward special: "Your bile would be better directed against the enemy, doctor!"
50dw50@50dw50 "and your phlegm posted to your friends"
Mercer hands Osborn a key card. "Should we be boarded, destroy the prisoner."
Reaching the warehouse, The TARDIS crew encounter Stein.
The Doctor deduces from his futuristic clothing that Stein must have come down the time corridor.
When the attacking ships locks on, the crew prepare for a siege.
Stein claims not to know who's controlling the Time Corridor and asks if they've any food. Twice.
He tells the Doctor he's from Earth but not all the prisoners are from the same period. I'm sure that'll be important later.
Davad@davadsteel Do they make anything out of the prisoners being from different time periods? Or is it just another complication from Eric?
Complication; never seems to really come up again.
Well, well, turns out it's not just those fake policemen attacking...
Simon Hart@Si_Hart Huge explosion! I remember that from the Season 21 trailer. So exciting in 1984!
50dw50@50dw50 Daleks bursting out through an exploding wall, Dr Who really does not get much better. Daleks before the cliffhanger, Uncle Terry could not have liked that.
Here's the Daleks!
50dw50@50dw50 THIS IS A NO-SMOKING AREA! EXTERMINATE! EXTERMINATE!
Well, well, turns out it's not just those fake policemen attacking...
Simon Hart@Si_Hart Huge explosion! I remember that from the Season 21 trailer. So exciting in 1984!
50dw50@50dw50 Daleks bursting out through an exploding wall, Dr Who really does not get much better. Daleks before the cliffhanger, Uncle Terry could not have liked that.
Here's the Daleks!
50dw50@50dw50 THIS IS A NO-SMOKING AREA! EXTERMINATE! EXTERMINATE!
Not sure about the Daleks' bizarre eyeball dots. They look OK, but so obviously meant to be an eye.
50dw50 @50dw50 ·I like the dots, i am steeped in 70's daleks.
50dw50 @50dw50 ·I like the dots, i am steeped in 70's daleks.
Bek Hobbes @Greebobek · A look echoed by the goat's eye look of the modern Mini Cooper Daleks.The crew have mined the corridor, though, and the Daleks get their eyes wiped.
50dw50@50dw50 funny to think that the BBC lost the art of blowing up Daleks well after the 80's until the 50th special.
WITHDRAW! REGROUP! WITHDRAW! HANG ON, DO WE WITHDRAW THEN REGROUP, OR REGROUP THEN WITHDRAW?
Si Hodges@SiHodges79 Thanks to the odd choice to overlap the dialogue it sounds like "REDRAW! WITHGROUP!"
The destroyed Daleks with the mangled mutants look great.
Simon Hart@Si_Hart That was terrifying when I was 8!
Simon Hart@Si_Hart Bit of a shame they withdraw straight away. These lot seem a bit timid for Daleks.
Well they've already come running for daddy...
50dw50@50dw50 the not terribly popular SNB (Skaro Nervous Battalion).Turlough's gone walkabouts...
...and disappointingly non-UNIT types, Colonel Archer & Sgt. Calder, hear the Doctor mouthing off about it.
The Dalek troopers slide in an aerosol can in and it melts everyone's faces. The Lynx effect?
Si Hodges@SiHodges79 #TheLynxEffect
Mercer & Styles retreat, and Mercer gives the order to destroy the prisoner.
Just like everything else on the station, though, the destruct button doesn't work, so Osborn heads off to destroy the prisoner, hammy crewman in tow.
The soldier types, and their scientific advisor, Professor Laird from the department for Hokey-Cokeying, are dying to hear the Doctor's explanations...
...while on the station they're just dying.
Everyone remember Osborn's PIN number is 4795.
Turlough's enjoying himself there twisting that rather dubious control on the panel.
There's only really one person that the Daleks would be staging a prison break for, isn't there?
Simon Hart@Si_Hart I adore that Supreme Dalek, The Black and white looks stunning. Probably my favourite ever Dalek."What's that smell?" Judging by the fumes wafting out of his cell, Davros is a pretty gassy dude.
Tegan plays hide and seek...
...while the Doctor tries to work out why the army seem to believe his waffle about time travel.
Davros's got no nose.
How does he smell?
Like a face-rotting virus.
I don't get it.
You've got it now.
Horror of Horrors!
"Colin's coat"! HA!
Doctor Who SFX@WhoSFX I love the gore and slime of that era. Influenced by 80's video nasties. :)
Lytton and his bizarrely Dalek-hatted troopers storm in.
With Osborne killed, they begin to defrost Davros...
Jason McLaughlin@jangomac72 Love that blue/green tinted shot of Davros, one of the best shots of the entire run!
The Daleks know the Doctor is in the warehouse, and send down a welcoming committee.
Simon Hart@Si_Hart I love Tegan's "Look!" minutes before anything actually happens!
And there's the cliffhanger. Shove your "broadcast version is correct" nonsense.
Davad@davadsteel The Doctor clearly thinking "Oh SHIT."
50dw50 @50dw50 ·I recorded this at the time, i still find the cliffhangers in the 4 part version surprising! 
50dw50@50dw50 what? what? part two you say?
Thanks for explaining that the stalk at the top of the dome that looks like an eye is the eye.
Luckily it's like a bullseye for them to aim at.
The Doctor wrestles a Dalek, and Tegan's injured in the struggle so that's her successfully sidelined.
50dw50 @50dw50 · why would Tegan need anything to do in her last story? #CrazyTalk
TimeVault @timevaultpod · Hmm, Turlough doesn’t really get much to do either. Equal rights for sidelined companions! Same for Vicki, Dodo, Ben, Polly, Liz Shaw… Handling companions badly not restricted to 80s.
KrynoidPodCast @KrynoidPodCast · At least Saward didn't also try to write out the Doctor in this one.Yes, true. More closely mirrors Earthshock really. Warehouse = Cave.
KrynoidPodCast @KrynoidPodCast · Yes and Big Returning Monster = Bloodbath
This is why cats are superior - the Dalek totally fails to land on its feet.
Patrick Byrne@mynamespat Cats don't explode when they land either.
Patrick Byrne@mynamespat Cats don't explode when they land either.
This is true.
Ruddy Peter Davison chucking papier mâché Daleks out of windows first thing on a Saturday morning! No consideration...
Then the Doctor has the soldiers bring the debris inside while he tends to Tegan. He probably should have mentioned there could still be a Kaled mutant clinging to the inside, really. That'll end in tears.
Meanwhile in the Dalek red light district:
"The Special Papier Mâché Dalek has been destroyed!"
"Back to the drawing board, I guess."
"Back to the drawing board, I guess."
50dw50@50dw50 "Activate the Jam-Bot and the Special Feathers Dalek"!
The surviving crew members decide to use the station' self-destruct system.
Having stumbled through the time corridor as suspected, and arrived on the Dalek ship, Turlough narrowly escapes detection...
...but resists the effects of the face melting gas with a hanky over his face.
Davros has woken up from his nice dream about ice cream and fluffy kittens.
50dw50 @50dw50 · he will be shocked when he see's what has happened to his face, he will demand space botox.
Seems the army types were called in because of a suspected unexploded bomb.
But the mystery cylinders aren't bombs at all...
When Commander Lytton introduces himself, Davros is most peeved to learn that his Daleks needed troops to take the station.
"The war with the Movellans is over?"
How much of the audience knew what he was on about there?
How much of the audience knew what he was on about there?
Rate the ratings!
James Cooray Smith@thejimsmith· This is nonsense: Resurrection was seen by 8m people on tx. Series is still a popular success. At this point. I mean Saward handles the info dump badly cos he's Saward but Destiny of the Daleks was seen by a quarter of the population less than 5 years before. It terrifies me that the gap between Destiny & Resurrection is the same as between Turn Left and The Day of the Doctor.
Blimey, there's a sobering thought!
Adrian Last @LeffeAt49DS · Audience memory is said to be 7 years so there are many watching today who will not "know" Rose...
That's got to have changed though with DVDs, Watch and On Demand etc.
Lucky so and so!
James VHS Gent @EducationNinja · Isn't that why Lytton is giving a recap in the first place?True. And to be fair I suppose it's mentioned more to set up the use of the virus than anything else.
"The Daleks lost." Went down on goal difference, but the Movellan striker was clearly offside.
50dw50 @50dw50 · anyone get bitten?You can still see the glittery teeth marks on the Dalek Supreme...
Other Other Pete@whoer_pete "and at the Great Rollerdisco Of Eternal Tears, the Movellans laser-jived 9,000,000 Daleks into oblivion" "Oh FFS" Davros is unquestionably better than in Destiny, but seems to be doing a lot of gurgling.
Jason McLaughlin@jangomac72 Terry Molloy is brilliant but I always wonder what it would've been like had Michael Wisher been available.50dw50 @50dw50 · i remember being a bit disappointed with the mask.Tim Gambrell@Mr_Brell Took me years & a side-by-side image comparison to work out that Davros mask had changed. #ObservantMoi
Turlough continues his bored traipse round the station...
Davad@davadsteel Interesting how Turlough just gets to wander about sets that will be relevant later on. Bit boring for him though.
Davad@davadsteel Interesting how Turlough just gets to wander about sets that will be relevant later on. Bit boring for him though.
50dw50@50dw50 almost as if the writer could not think what to do with him.Like any good commanding officer, Colonel Archer hands his gun over to a civilian when he has to pop out to find a phone box.
Simon Threadgold@dimwittedly "We're out of milk. Just popping down the shops, love. Oh, take my gun." "Oh, really Henry." "Take it!"Here's another smoky Joe, doing a pretty poor job of keeping an eye on the Dalek wreckage.
The Supreme Dalek monitors Turlough's movements, permitting him to stay at large to lure the Doctor.
Styles fantasizes about a glass of cool spring mountain water. Not much imagination if you ask me.
The space station crew get themselves a quick costume change at the expense of some of Lytton's troopers.
The Doctor palms Archer's gun off on Sgt. Calder, and is just about to set off after Turlough when they hear a cry.
It's a myth that Doctor Who couldn't go up stairs in the classic series - here's Peter Davison at it way back in 1984!
Other Other Pete@whoer_pete Shame they couldn't afford to add the glowing blue "stair climby" @WhoSFX around his ankles though.The Dalek mutant gives it a bit of Suarez. Crikey, that slimey green handpuppet's on a right rampage! The mutant's great.
atruedrwhofan@atruedrwhofan don't see how anybody, particularly the Doctor who should, didnt notice the mutant in the casing wreck when they moved it!By the time the Doctor's got there, though, the mutant has squelched off.
Davros wants to stay close to the freezer and demands an engineer to give his life-support system the once over.
Simon Threadgold@dimwittedly The engineer's s'posed to call between 9 and 3 but you know how reliable they are.
The Supreme Dalek gives the nod: "Without Davros we have no future!"
The mutant hunt continues. "The moment you find it, it'll try and kill you."
Archer's no Brigadier Lethbridge-Stewart is he?
He tries to use the phone but it's been vandalised, forcing him to appeal to those nasty coppers for a radio.
Good luck with that, mate.
Simon Threadgold@dimwittedly Thatcher's coppers. They were all like that back then.
Turlough is pinned down and must wait till a Dalek passes through before he can make it on to the station.
Lytton continues with the edited highlights of the Movellan war as technician Kitson works on his chair's life support system.
Simon Threadgold@dimwittedly Should have brought the Movellans back.
As Lytton steps outside to take a personal call from the Supreme Dalek. ("Not now, dear, I'm working.")...
...Davros recruits Nyder mark II AKA Dirty Den.
Kitson pretends he just trapped his hand.
The hunting party think they've found the mutant...
...but it's just a cat.
Ruther@Ruther2 Saward continuing to rip off Alien as he had in Earthshock.That cat is *totally* the conqueror of the universe, Stein.
Davad@davadsteel The cat's a better actor than half the prison ship!Imagine if it really *was* cats inside the Daleks. What a twist *that* would be.
The real mutant fancies another nibble of soldier...
...but the Doctor, who never uses a gun, bundles it off and shoots it dead.
Simon Threadgold@dimwittedly The Man Who Never Would (Except When He Does).
50dw50@50dw50 has to be said that Davison does not look terribly happy with it it going off in has hands.Said the actress to the bishop!
The Doctor decides it's time to track the Dalek ship via the TARDIS and insists that Stein comes too.
Sgt. Calder assures Tegan and the Prof it's all sorted, but Laird wonders if the Kaled mutant's bite might contain poison...
The Doctor strides purposefully back to the TARDIS, Stein in tow.
But they're observed by Lytton's bobbies.
"90 years of mind-numbing boredom! The radio was stuck on Smooth FM the whole time!" Davros' face has gone all saggy in the freezer.
Davros is still banging on about doing frozen porridge. "You must be equally humane in your revenge," snarks Den. He's no Godber.
Simon Threadgold@dimwittedly Davros would have been brilliant in EastEnders, running the Queen Vic.
Davros plans not only to have his revenge on the creatures of Earth but is also chuffed to hear the Doctor's capture is imminent.
Turlough continues sneaking as Turlough does, and is captured by Mercer.
He's finally allowed a proper scene with some other characters, but unluckily for him it's with wooden Jim & co.
As Calder brews up, the injured soldier takes off...
The Daleks send a death squad down to the warehouse to polish off the last of the soldiers. SCREW HANGING ABOUT THIS SPACE STATION, LET'S GO EXTERMINATE SOMETHING!
50dw50@50dw50 you must have to be really mean to be in a Dalek death squad.
atruedrwhofan@atruedrwhofan love that three go in but four come out!
Tegan and Professor Laird go to investigate the sounds of gunfire...
The soldiers are back without a mark on them, except Evil Archer has his hat on wonky, so you *know* he's evil. (Deliberate touch from the actor that, to show he's the duplicate).
Davros' escort arrives to see him to the laboratory he demanded.
"I am very difficult to kill. You should already know that."
Archer puts the warehouse under martial law.
The TARDIS enters the time corridor with its usual grace.
The Supreme Dalek makes plans to start knocking out Davison duplicates by the dozen.
When they arrive the
...the Doctor immediately has to overpower a trooper.
Simon Threadgold@dimwittedly I think this is one the three times Davison actually enjoyed working on the show.
But instead of helping, Stein reveals that he's been a Dalek agent all along...
Chris@KosmicKris This was a good - if slightly obvious - twist. No one would expect a Nasty Bewes!
PART THREE or, er PART TWO?
50dw50 @50dw50 · end of part one really!DDG @dalekdudeguy · Such confusion. Much Olympics. Wow.
Nice nod to the 60s here as the Dalek receives orders from its' superiors by raising its' eyestalk skywards.
Simon Threadgold@dimwittedly That's the Dalek version of a sarcastic eye roll. I miss the incompetent Daleks from The Chase. They'd have given this bleak story a real lift.
FatManPhoto@FatManPhotoUK Oh to have a Dalek saying: "Do you think that's terribly wise sir?"
"Impulsive, aren't they?"
"Yeah, the Supreme painted his bumps white just for a dare."
50dw50 @50dw50 · I wonder if they have a roboman with a paint brush on standby for when a dalek gets promotion?
I'd like to think so!
Stein wonders how long before the Daleks will decide to kill Lytton. It's obviously already crossed his mind.
Laird clocks Archer's original gun, giving away to the duplicate that she's on to him.
Archer2 declines a cup of dopey tea, so Tegan decides to dig up one of the mysterious cannisters.
Of course, the real Archer - along with all his men - are dead aboard the Dalek ship; discarded after duplication.
Davros needs two Daleks to experiment on if he's going to cure the Movellan virus.
Styles doesn't know where to start. Why is there never a big red button?
Simon Hart@Si_Hart The glass scanner is a good effect. Nicely realised.
"The plan was to snatch Davros & leave, not dance to his every whim!"
"I just like dancing, okay?"
The Daleks have decided Davison is a Doable Barker and want him to have a nice lie down on some bubble wrap. Eeew. They tell him not touch their junk and he mocks their impotence.
Simon Threadgold@dimwittedly Stien had to add double yellow lines on his uniform so Daleks would stop parking on him.
In common with The Caves of Androzani, the 5th Doctor is allowed to have far more steel in this story, and Davison, always good anyway, is on better form than all last season.
Tim @parks8472 · It's great to see an edgier 5th Doctor.
Tegan is surprised to find the cannister is quite light.
Laird & Tegan try the old fake body in the bed trick so that Tegan can sneak out for help.
While Styles grapples with the self-distruct, Turlough & Mercer go to see if the Time Corridor can be used as an escape route.
Love it that when Stein gives away that Davros is nearby...
...the Dalek shuffles at him like "Why, I oughta..."
Davros and his new bestie Dirty Den start recruiting scientists to staff his lab...
Styles is going to need security clearance if she's to activate the self-destruct...
...but they've no way to contact Mercer as the Dalek troopers arrive to lay siege.
"Yeah, the Supreme painted his bumps white just for a dare."
50dw50 @50dw50 · I wonder if they have a roboman with a paint brush on standby for when a dalek gets promotion?I'd like to think so!
Stein wonders how long before the Daleks will decide to kill Lytton. It's obviously already crossed his mind.
Turlough can't guess what Styles plans to do in the self-destruct chamber.
Laird clocks Archer's original gun, giving away to the duplicate that she's on to him.
Archer2 declines a cup of dopey tea, so Tegan decides to dig up one of the mysterious cannisters.
Of course, the real Archer - along with all his men - are dead aboard the Dalek ship; discarded after duplication.
Davros needs two Daleks to experiment on if he's going to cure the Movellan virus.
Styles doesn't know where to start. Why is there never a big red button?
The Supreme Dalek gets twitchy and orders Lytton to take out Turlough's suicide squad.
Simon Hart@Si_Hart The glass scanner is a good effect. Nicely realised.
"The plan was to snatch Davros & leave, not dance to his every whim!"
"I just like dancing, okay?"
The Daleks have decided Davison is a Doable Barker and want him to have a nice lie down on some bubble wrap. Eeew. They tell him not touch their junk and he mocks their impotence.
Simon Threadgold@dimwittedly Stien had to add double yellow lines on his uniform so Daleks would stop parking on him.
In common with The Caves of Androzani, the 5th Doctor is allowed to have far more steel in this story, and Davison, always good anyway, is on better form than all last season.
Tim @parks8472 · It's great to see an edgier 5th Doctor.
Tegan is surprised to find the cannister is quite light.
Laird & Tegan try the old fake body in the bed trick so that Tegan can sneak out for help.
While Styles grapples with the self-distruct, Turlough & Mercer go to see if the Time Corridor can be used as an escape route.
Love it that when Stein gives away that Davros is nearby...
...the Dalek shuffles at him like "Why, I oughta..."
Davros and his new bestie Dirty Den start recruiting scientists to staff his lab...
Styles is going to need security clearance if she's to activate the self-destruct...
...but they've no way to contact Mercer as the Dalek troopers arrive to lay siege.
What happened to the real you, whatever happened to the real me, what became of the real people we used to be?
Having pinpointed the Time Corridor, Turlough wants to do a runner, but Mercer insists on setting the self-destruct first.
Laird urges Tegan to make a break for it.
As Zena and the other survivor build a barricade, Styles starts to make progress.
The Daleks plan to send duplicates of the Doctor & his friends to Gallifrey to assassinate the High Council. The Time War in full swing?
When did the Daleks get the chance to clone Tegan and Turlough?
Davad@davadsteel A suggestion that the Daleks have been monitoring the Doctor, Tegan and Turlough?Simon Threadgold@dimwittedly Timey-wimey shitey-writey.Si Hodges@SiHodges79 The clone squaddies prove it can be an instant process. Seems likely Archer's scanned Tegan and they used CCTV for Turlough.Turlough and Mercer have to retreat, though, when they realize the troopers are nearly through to the self-destruct chamber.
It's Turlough who suggests killing Davros, of course.
Davros' guinea pigs arrive...
...and flip their domes like pedal bins so Den can have a fiddle inside.
Simon Threadgold@dimwittedly One's for recycling only.And so begins the Dalek civil war, with Davros starting up his own private army.
Tegan's not having much joy with this escape attempt.
The Supreme Dalek clears a sample of the Movellan virus for transport to Davros' lab. There'll be tears before bed time.
Turlough gives up at the first hurdle but Mercer's determined to off Davros.
Laird has a funny turn as the containers of virus are beamed away...
...reappearing on the Dalek ship.
As his Dalek guards are summoned away, the Doctor is left with only Stein as his jailer.
"When it is time to die, you will, in your agony, beg to pay homage to the Daleks."
Davad@davadsteel Even the Dalek talks fluent Saward!50dw50@50dw50 "We.. will... leave...you...with... our.. most... unstable... guard...so.. you...can...escape...later... bye..hun"The Doctor wonders why the Daleks take themselves so seriously, but tells Stein "I can do without your pity."
Stein claims that he has no choice but to obey the Daleks.
Tegan escapes the warehouse, but is pursued by Lytton's policemen.
Turlough & Mercer watch as the troopers deliver Davros his takeaway virus. That was less than 15 minutes so Davros is stuck with the bill.
Styles completes another level in the wacky game to activate the self-destruct.
Simon Threadgold@dimwittedly Wasn't this the final round on The Krypton Factor?While his pet chemist works on the virus...
...Davros sets about recruiting some troopers.
Laird tries to distract Archer by pointing out the missing cannister, but he soon sees Tegan's gone, and drags the screaming Professor away.
Tegan's trying to escape Lytton's policemen and still insists on keeping her heels on. Lunacy! In fairness, she'd've made it to the TARDIS before them, had it actually still been there.
She still hasn't learnt about being a Doctor Who companion and flat shoes. You're going to need to run!
Tegan calls to a detectorist on the shore for help, but it's his death sentence as the shooty fake coppers off him.
Simon Threadgold@dimwittedly Well done Tegan. There's a woman with a pram over there, why don't you point them out to the merciless killers too?
I assume the pram would then bounce down the steps in a way previously never before committed to film...
50dw50@50dw50 in a way all the needless horror around really makes sense of her leaving later.Simon Threadgold@dimwittedly True. But then so did picking up an alien mind parasite that nearly killed her. Twice.The Doctor tries to reawaken Stein's original memories by making him think back to his school days...
...but the duplicate activates the barin drain machine all the same.
Recaptured, Tegan is led back to the warehouse.
Lytton's troops storm the self-destruct chamber and take out Styles...
...and the other survivors, in a two-pronged attack.
However, the bomb has still been primed. They better hope no-one else tries to use it before the end of the story.
Turlough convinces Mercer they must return to Earth.
The Daleks criticise Lytton's tactics, but he's prepared to grind out a result.
"We won. That's all that matters."
Tegan returns to the warehouse where the duplicates prepare to shove her through the time corridor.
The Prof resists, and is shot in the back. What larks!
Si Hodges@SiHodges79 "A-THREE-YEAR-FINE-ART-DEGREE!!! TOTALLY-WASTED-ON-THESE-INGRATES!!!"
Stein trawls through a montage of all the Doctor's former selves and companions...
Simon Hart@Si_Hart Aww! K9. I probably cheered at that in 1984.
...all except Leela, that is. When the duplicates turn up on Gallifrey and "the Doctor" doesn't recognise her, he'll be rumbled!
Clever lad, that Doctor.
Si Hodges@SiHodges79 His only companion he knows to be on Gallifrey - he uses all his mental ability to block her out
Davad@davadsteel But the Doctor leaves out Leela deliberately so she can help him stop the Daleks when he follows his duplicates. Probably.
Great minds, and all that!
Other Other Pete@whoer_pete Leela's away from Gallifrey on her secret undercover mission to Jersey at this period. Or a prisoner of war camp.
Now that the self-destruct chamber has been secured, Davros can scheme away in safety.
"Once the Doctor is exterminated, I will triumph! I could have a nice holiday!"
End of part 3. Okay, Davros ranting is a bit of a boring cliffhanger, so I'll give that one to the 2 part crowd.
50dw50 @50dw50 · Although in the 2 part version the rant just seems needlessly over the top.
Tegan is sent up to the Dalek ship (Not sure why - possibly as further leverage against the Doctor even though he's already at the Daleks' mercy?).
Fans of a certain age will hear Roberto Tovey's "Who's Who" over this bit, remembering 1992's anorak-hosted documentary "Resistance is Useless."
She's soon at gunpoint, but Turlough arrives to bump Mercer.
"It's Tegan, you fool!" Great title for a spin-off sitcom.
Stein's mystery tour through Doctor Who stars of the past makes it into the 60s.
The Doctor's brainwaves define which JNT considers canonical companions: The Brig, Katarina and Sara Kingdom are, Bret Vyon, Will Chandler, and the rest of UNIT aren't.
"I can't stand the confusion in my mind!" Stein's just tried to figure out exactly what the Dalek plan is.
Davros & the Daleks now know everything about the Time-Lords, including regeneration. I mean, really? I guess we can retcon this now by saying the Time War has kicked off, but again, it's not really correct and something that either the script editor or a continuity advisor should have corrected. Obviously from the Daleks' point of view, all the stories from Hartnell to Destiny have taken place since Genesis - but not from Davros'.
The Daleks criticise Lytton's tactics, but he's prepared to grind out a result.
"We won. That's all that matters."
Tegan returns to the warehouse where the duplicates prepare to shove her through the time corridor.
The Prof resists, and is shot in the back. What larks!
The Doctor's enjoying this brain drain clone process a bit too much.
Si Hodges@SiHodges79 They even clone his fillings!
Al Hine@Al_Hine & Davison's nicotine stains!
Si Hodges@SiHodges79 There should have been another way...
Other Other Pete@whoer_pete The Dalek Dentist-Supreme must've been so proud of his work. "NO ONE APPRECIATES THESE LITTLE TOUCHES"
Si Hodges@SiHodges79 They even clone his fillings!Al Hine@Al_Hine & Davison's nicotine stains!Si Hodges@SiHodges79 There should have been another way...Other Other Pete@whoer_pete The Dalek Dentist-Supreme must've been so proud of his work. "NO ONE APPRECIATES THESE LITTLE TOUCHES"Si Hodges@SiHodges79 "A-THREE-YEAR-FINE-ART-DEGREE!!! TOTALLY-WASTED-ON-THESE-INGRATES!!!"Stein trawls through a montage of all the Doctor's former selves and companions...
Simon Hart@Si_Hart Aww! K9. I probably cheered at that in 1984.
...all except Leela, that is. When the duplicates turn up on Gallifrey and "the Doctor" doesn't recognise her, he'll be rumbled!
Clever lad, that Doctor.
Si Hodges@SiHodges79 His only companion he knows to be on Gallifrey - he uses all his mental ability to block her out 
Davad@davadsteel But the Doctor leaves out Leela deliberately so she can help him stop the Daleks when he follows his duplicates. Probably.
Great minds, and all that!
Other Other Pete@whoer_pete Leela's away from Gallifrey on her secret undercover mission to Jersey at this period. Or a prisoner of war camp.Now that the self-destruct chamber has been secured, Davros can scheme away in safety.
"Once the Doctor is exterminated, I will triumph! I could have a nice holiday!"
End of part 3. Okay, Davros ranting is a bit of a boring cliffhanger, so I'll give that one to the 2 part crowd.
50dw50 @50dw50 · Although in the 2 part version the rant just seems needlessly over the top. 
Tegan is sent up to the Dalek ship (Not sure why - possibly as further leverage against the Doctor even though he's already at the Daleks' mercy?).
She's soon at gunpoint, but Turlough arrives to bump Mercer.
"It's Tegan, you fool!" Great title for a spin-off sitcom.
Stein's mystery tour through Doctor Who stars of the past makes it into the 60s.
The Doctor's brainwaves define which JNT considers canonical companions: The Brig, Katarina and Sara Kingdom are, Bret Vyon, Will Chandler, and the rest of UNIT aren't.
"I can't stand the confusion in my mind!" Stein's just tried to figure out exactly what the Dalek plan is.
It's not that hard, mate, create duplicates to replace the authorities of Earth in the past (1984) so it can be used as a safe base to work on a cure for the Movellan virus, and using the captured Doctor's TARDIS, launch an offensive against the Time-Lords for trying to prevent their creation. Simples!
It's ambitious, but not *too* daft. I mean, it can only really go wrong if Davros insists on staying on the vulnerable space station for too long...
Stein helps the Doctor turn the tables on Lytton's guards, and they're soon reunited with Tegan and Turlough.
Lytton and the Supreme squabble over whose fault it is the Doctor's on the loose.
The Doctor knackers the tape containing his memories of all those previous adventures. They're missing stories now.
The Supreme decides Lytton can be disposed of as soon as it suits them.
Davad@davadsteel I used to have a manager like the Dalek Supreme. He wasn't interested in excuses either, just results.
"Where are we going?"
The Supreme decides Lytton can be disposed of as soon as it suits them.
Davad@davadsteel I used to have a manager like the Dalek Supreme. He wasn't interested in excuses either, just results.
"Earth."
"Best news all day."
Stein confirms the Dalek plan to Tegan. Doesn't seem to be much confusion in his mind now. "The Daleks have lost none of their old guile."
The Doctor actually deciding to kill Davros is really quite shocking.
Simon Threadgold@dimwittedly It's a strong moment and credit to Saward for recognising that this is a big deal. Let down by Doc shooting the mutant tho.
The justification for this decision is totally botched, though:
The Doctor actually deciding to kill Davros is really quite shocking.
Simon Threadgold@dimwittedly It's a strong moment and credit to Saward for recognising that this is a big deal. Let down by Doc shooting the mutant tho.The justification for this decision is totally botched, though:
"I must. Davros created the Daleks. He must not be allowed to save them."
"But murder?"
"Once before I held back from destroying the Daleks. It is a mistake I do not intend to repeat. Davros must die."
Si Hodges@SiHodges79 Saward deciding he wants to do something "interesting" with the character and completely missing the point!
Mercer and Stein want a taste of revenge but the Doctor orders Tegan and Turlough to wait in the TARDIS - and leave if he's too long.
How does Dirty Den know so much about Lytton's men, thought he was just the IT guy?
The Supreme orders Lytton to take out Davros' Daleks.
"But murder?"
"Once before I held back from destroying the Daleks. It is a mistake I do not intend to repeat. Davros must die."
Si Hodges@SiHodges79 Saward deciding he wants to do something "interesting" with the character and completely missing the point!Mercer and Stein want a taste of revenge but the Doctor orders Tegan and Turlough to wait in the TARDIS - and leave if he's too long.
How does Dirty Den know so much about Lytton's men, thought he was just the IT guy?
The Supreme orders Lytton to take out Davros' Daleks.
After Davros is only willing to spout the same old same old, the Doctor makes his move. Nice punchy scene from Saward here, that Davison obviously relishes getting his teeth into.
"I'll say one thing for you, Davros. Your conversation is totally predictable. You're like a deranged child, all this talk of killing, revenge and destruction."
"It is the only path to ultimate power."
"But to what end? Just more suffering for those unlucky enough to survive?"
"Only for those who resist my will."
"Until I walked through that door, I foolishly hoped you'd changed enough for me not to have to do this."
"Stien, kill him!"
"I'm not here as your prisoner, Davros, but your executioner..."
Davros claims he was about to re-engineer the Daleks, but as expected he's only making them worse.
50dw50@50dw50 "i have a lovely new white and gold paint job in mind for them Doctor and if i get bored with that then a bronze respray".
When more Dalek troopers approach, Stein and Mercer step out to deal with them.
"I'll say one thing for you, Davros. Your conversation is totally predictable. You're like a deranged child, all this talk of killing, revenge and destruction."
"It is the only path to ultimate power."
"But to what end? Just more suffering for those unlucky enough to survive?"
"Only for those who resist my will."
"Until I walked through that door, I foolishly hoped you'd changed enough for me not to have to do this."
"Stien, kill him!"
"I'm not here as your prisoner, Davros, but your executioner..."
Davros claims he was about to re-engineer the Daleks, but as expected he's only making them worse.
50dw50@50dw50 "i have a lovely new white and gold paint job in mind for them Doctor and if i get bored with that then a bronze respray".
When more Dalek troopers approach, Stein and Mercer step out to deal with them.
"To be honest, I wouldn't know what to do with an army," says the man waving a gun in Davros' face.
Davros & the Daleks now know everything about the Time-Lords, including regeneration. I mean, really? I guess we can retcon this now by saying the Time War has kicked off, but again, it's not really correct and something that either the script editor or a continuity advisor should have corrected. Obviously from the Daleks' point of view, all the stories from Hartnell to Destiny have taken place since Genesis - but not from Davros'.
Davros crows about having possession of the Doctor's TARDIS - when has he ever known what one is? Let's be kind and assume he got this knowledge from the computer sphere he was given in Destiny of the Daleks.
50dw50@50dw50 i pretend that Davros learned about it all during his trial on Earth. He must have had a trial before being sentenced to the frost.Other Other Pete@whoer_pete Interesting how Davros has only had a few hours of consciousness since the end of Genesis.The Doctor's pre-programmed the TARDIS to take Tegan and Turlough back to Earth, but it's dragged down the time corridor once again.
Stein and Mercer step outside to fend off Lytton's troopers, but Mercer is killed.
When the Doctor goes to check, Stein warns him the Dalek conditioning is taking hold again (perhaps because he was forced to kill?).
Stein takes off, and the Doctor finds himself locked out of Davros' lab.
50dw50@50dw50 so that went well than, Colin would have just blown his head off and saved a zillion lives.
Simon Threadgold@dimwittedly Troughton would have killed 'em all before the first cliffhanger.The Supreme's decided Davros is too much of a liability now and orders his minions exterminated. Everything in the warehouse must be exterminated, including the clone army...
In the warehouse, Tegan and Turlough prepare to use the virus against the Daleks.
Davros' Daleks arrive to wipe out the duplicates...
Stein finds the self-destruct controls and celebrates with a General Zod pose.
Simon Threadgold@dimwittedly There's the smile of a man who's never had cause to feel a single second's worth of self esteem.Lytton's mob arrive in the warehouse to take on Davros' brainwashed troops.
Back on the station, the Supreme's Daleks catch up with Davros' minions and during the massacre, Kitson dies but the virus is released. Politest, or possibly laziest, Dalek: "Stop!" (waits for them to stop) "Exterminate!"
The Doctor watches the Supreme's Daleks enter the time corridor, the follows. After picking up a few explosives, that is.
The Supreme starts to lose his cool when he realises Stein's made it to the self-destruct chamber.
Dalek War!
When the Daleks blow up, the mutants squeal like pigs. Disturbing.
50dw50@50dw50 it has to be said their there are few greater pleasures in life greater than watch Daleks shooting each other!
The Doctor arrives to stick his oar in...
...and Lytton, who'd been playing dead, takes a pot shot.
Tegan and Turlough try to figure out how to crack the cannister of Dalek-eating virus...
...and the Doctor
Davros prepares an escape strategy...
...and resorts to throwing stink bombs again...
...when the Supreme's hitsquad give him some bother.
The Doctor sets the cylinder going and slides it into the heart of the battle...
Lytton takes another pop at the Doctor.
The Daleks in the warehouse start to suffer some embarassing emissions. Dalek toothpaste dispensers, due to hit shops for Christmas 1984.
Lytton decides to give up the lost cause and slips away to take up his police chief disguise once more.
Stein arms the self-destruct.
Despite his protestations, Davros comes over all squirty too. Will he make it to the escape pod in time?
With the time corridor knackered & the duplicates unstable, the Supreme's plans are collapsing...
...but he won't have it and skypes the TARDIS to lay down some smack talk.
50dw50@50dw50 The Dalek looks really good against the white backgroundSi Hodges@SiHodges79 It bugs me how they forget its a screen - the Supreme should be face on :/
The Daleks arrive to exterminate Stein, but are too late. "Hello, boys. Just in time for the fun!"
Simon Hart@Si_Hart Bang! Right in the crotch!
Stein asplodes the ship (That's the same effect from Androzani - was Stein a Time-Lord then? Kidding.), defeating the Daleks.
"He must have finally decided which side he was on."
Lytton and his coppers trundle off to live another day, till next season anyway.
Unusually dilligent, Turlough asks if they should inform Earth's authorities? With all those wrecked Daleks and troopers laser guns lying about, yeah maybe.
Tegan's decided she isn't going with them...
DDG @dalekdudeguy · I cry every time!
"A lot of good people have died today. I think I'm sick of it. My Aunt Vanessa said, when I became an air stewardess, if you stop enjoying it, give it up. It's stopped being fun, Doctor..."
Tegan says her goodbyes...
He doesn't hang about! "Quick, into the TARDIS before she changes her mind. She has form, you know."
Racked with remorse, the Doctor returns to the TARDIS. "It's strange. I left Gallifrey for similar reasons. I'd grown tired of their lifestyle. It seems I must mend my ways..."
Tegan watches as the TARDIS fades away without her. "Brave heart, Tegan. Doctor, I will miss you."
Saward the Script Editor: Hero or Villain?
TTFN! K.
Coming Soon... Revelation of the Daleks
Simon Hart@Si_Hart Bang! Right in the crotch!
Stein asplodes the ship (That's the same effect from Androzani - was Stein a Time-Lord then? Kidding.), defeating the Daleks.
"He must have finally decided which side he was on."
Lytton and his coppers trundle off to live another day, till next season anyway.
Unusually dilligent, Turlough asks if they should inform Earth's authorities? With all those wrecked Daleks and troopers laser guns lying about, yeah maybe.
Tegan's decided she isn't going with them...
DDG @dalekdudeguy · I cry every time!
"A lot of good people have died today. I think I'm sick of it. My Aunt Vanessa said, when I became an air stewardess, if you stop enjoying it, give it up. It's stopped being fun, Doctor..."
Tegan says her goodbyes...
He doesn't hang about! "Quick, into the TARDIS before she changes her mind. She has form, you know."
Racked with remorse, the Doctor returns to the TARDIS. "It's strange. I left Gallifrey for similar reasons. I'd grown tired of their lifestyle. It seems I must mend my ways..."
Tegan watches as the TARDIS fades away without her. "Brave heart, Tegan. Doctor, I will miss you."
Goodbye Tegan
Mixed emotions re: Tegan's departure. Written very negatively, but a strong likeable character. Definitely sad when she goes. Her constant negativity was soul-destroying, but it *is* sad for the Doctor when she goes. Her status as "whinger" is another bad script-editing job for me.
Dene Kernohan@Dene71 For all her caterwauling I do like Tegan. At least she has a personality, unlike others I could mention ;-)
Ivan Kirby @hellothisisivan · "If it stops being fun, give it up" - When did Tegan ever give the slightest hint that she was having fun?
Exactly. They could easily have shown her having fun once in a while, maybe picking a destination, just vaguely appreciating the TARDIS. One thing the new series gets right, companions don't take travel in space and time for granted.
It comes across as if she means "I've randomly decided that out of all the stories where lots of people died, this one was least fun." It would make more sense if it was brought on by his decision to commit murder.
As it is, it's like, all those people dying in other stories was fine, but this week it's not.
I think it does work as a sudden twist, and it is an affecting scene, just not quite thought out right.
I like the idea that the 6th Doctor is the Doctor the universe needed (if not the one it wanted) in the face of these more violent no-win events the 5th increasingly found himself; almost War Doctor like.
Dave Probert @GeekPlanetDave · I'd agree with that. Always felt Saward was frustrated by the constraints of the show. I'm not saying that he's responsible for all of the show's ills in the 80s but he was a factor.
Decent writer, terrible script editor, and out of love with the show as soon as Colin Baker arrives.
He does, to be fair to him. I think most of the script problems on his watch where his job to fix, though. On his watch the lazy device of showing people round the TARDIS to win them over is A-okay. Things like the Myrka & Timeflight - his job to say no, this won't work. His job to better deal with Adric's death at the start of Timeflight part 1. Absolutely his job to better develop and define the lead characters of the show, which he definitely flubs.
Fair points all, but how those elements were integrated into those scripts was certainly Saward's responsibility and while I'm happy to call fault where I see it in all eras, that's no reason to let Saward off the hook; No other script editor resorts to allowing supporting characters into the TARDIS to convince them of the Doctor's credentials, and the normalisation of the TARDIS devalues a core concept of the show in a way that (at least to me) betrays a greater lack of care than any other script editor. What I will say is that the bizarre abandonment of Dodo, Ben & Polly in the 60s, and Leela being married off in the 70s, is probably on a par with the mishandling of Adric's death at the start of Timeflight.
Call fault where you see it, as I say, but equally I wouldn't turn a blind eye to flaws under Saward just so as to defend 80s Who as a whole (most of which I like a lot). There's often spectacularly woolly characterisation of the 5th Doctor (e.g. the Black Guardian trilogy; it seems he knows about Turlough, but even right up to the end of Enlightenment this is never addressed) and his companions on Saward's watch, the likes of which Dicks and Holmes, and particularly execs of the modern era, would never have allowed, and none of them actually disliked their own leads and allowed it to show on screen by underserving their character. That's not an 80s thing, that's an Eric Saward thing. The stories he wrote himself I actually love, but I really struggle to rate him as a script editor. The 5th Doctor being a passive doormat, and Davison's consequently bored performances, in Season 20 is on him. The failure to adequately endear the 6th Doctor to the public in The Twin Dilemma, to balance the spikier offputting elements of his character with the warmth and compassion afforded him in Season 23 (and more so in Big Finish's output) are on him.
Definitely! I do enjoy most stories of the 80s overall - Resurrection being one of the ones I enjoy most, in fact - as it's "my" era, just minor annoyances in the grand scheme of things, really, and as I always say, I wouldn't be without most of the stories of the 80s and everything overall worked out with the series a major success today. Even if the current regime isn't to someone's particular taste, it's enough of a success to continue through a new broom in the not too distant future.
TTFN! K.
Coming Soon... Revelation of the Daleks
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