Season 22, Story 6/6, Serial 6Z: 2 x 45 minute episodes 23rd & 30th March 1985
Writer: Eric Saward, Director: Graeme Harper, Producer: John Nathan-Turner
Writer: Eric Saward, Director: Graeme Harper, Producer: John Nathan-Turner
Colin's titles are rather spiffy.
Love the bluey-prismatic pattern and the diamond-into-neon logo reveal.
50dw50 @50dw50 oooh the best Dr Who meeting the Daleks, bliss! i was a wee teen, i remember it being slightly marred by the announcement of the hiatus before it was shown. 
Davad@davadsteel We got our first video recorder the day this episode was shown so it was the first one I was ever able to rewatch. Taped over the next day though. Ha. As with Graeme Harper's previous directorial outing, our story opens with a zoom in from space on an alien world. It's a nice touch, with the benefit of hindsight not unlike the beginning of 2005's Rose, but perhaps an evolution from those Troughton tales when the camera would pan down as if the TARDIS was landing from space.
50dw50 @50dw50 the Director obviously liked itStraight into the Doctor and Peri arriving! Makes a nice change for Season 22! The TARDIS arrives on the outskirts of a snowy wood, by deceptively still waters. This location looks fantastic in the snow.
Other Other Pete@whoer_pete Doctor Who is ALWAYS best exploring mysterious woods, or in the snow, so this start presses all my buttons. The story's creepy, spooky, sinister, camp, dangerous.50dw50 @50dw50 Not a production choice and a pure accident but I do like the snow, it makes the location stuff look a bit different.Peri emerges, wrapped up warm in a blue outfit, complete with blue(berry) beret (the kind you'd find in a second hand store), clutching a nut roast roll she's wishing was a burger. If you remember, she and the Doctor have been following a vegetarian diet after their offputting run-in with a couple of Androgums.
The Doctor's nut roast roll sleeps with the fishes... or the Speelsnapes, anyway.
"How do I look?" Much better in blue!
Si Hodges@SiHodges79 Peri's Muttley impression is a personal highlight ;)50dw50 @50dw50 Colin looks lovely in the blue, no wonder @bigfinish dressed him in a blue coat. I had a perm like that in the 80's btw.Now in his 6th incarnation, the Doctor is a tall, powerful figure, exuding confidence and energy, with a mop of curly hair and a round face. His bombastic nature is usually reflected in his clothing of choice, which is colourful, to put it mildly. On this occasion, though, he's respecting the local customs of wearing blue, the official colour of mourning on Necros.
The Doctor has brought them to the planet Necros to pay his respects to Professor Arthur Stengos, one of the finest agronomists in the galaxy, who has been laid to rest at a facility called Tranquil Repose, where the wealthy can have their newly-deceased bodies cryogenically frozen until medical science can cure them of their ailment.
As Peri complains about the uncomfortable high neck on her jacket, a hand emerges from the water to grab her abandoned roll. She and the Doctor only glimpse the movement in the corner of their eyes.
"What was that?"
"Do you want me to find out?"
"No."
Chris@KosmicKris Colin and Nicola had really found their dynamic and developed such a great relationship. The Doctor suggests it might have been a Voltrox, or a Speelsnape, but reassures Peri that they only bite each other.
Exeunt, pursued by a mutant.
At Tranquil Repose, grotesque funeral director Mr. Jobel holds court ahead of a state funeral for their President's wife. Jobel congratulates Mr. Takis on his work, but is somewhat less than respectful himself: "This will be the finest perpetual instatement I've ever made, provided the witch doesn't crumble to dust before we get her underground.", a comment he passes off as "a joke".
Chris@KosmicKris Clive Swift is wonderful in this! The perfect parody! The fact that he hated almost everything about this does nothing to diminish his brilliant turn!
Yes, such a deliciously grotesque human monster, ripe for a comeuppance!
Davad@davadsteel I'm not fond of this story in isolation. It's very cynical. As part of Season 22 it's the crowning glory. Nasty and dark. In any other season this story would have shone as the deliciously macabre black-humoured piece it is. But by this point of this season it must have been hard to get the joke, following on from nastier toned stories that had been pilloried in the media.
50dw50 @50dw50 · i love this season, no idea what that says about me!I do like most of the stories well enough, but you can certainly see the flaws, and when it's at its nastiest (Attack of the Cybermen, Vengeance on Varos) it does go too far, both with the tone of the show and the character of the Doctor.
Jobel dismisses the attentions of the fawning Tasambeker: "This one thinks with her knuckles." and hopes the President arrives on time. "She's already started to froth, and we know what that leads to. Thank goodness the casket is lead-lined."
Amazing sets in this story, quite lavish looking - not the usual end-of-season budget do. I guess they made Timelash the "budget-lite" story to save back some decent dinero for this. Shame the surgical uniforms look so low budget, though.
50dw50 @50dw50 Timelash was sacrificed for it, and quite right too! I know they used some sets of other productions, it makes it all rather lavish, not to mention they have kept the lights off. Takis and his friend Lilt are amused by Tasambeker's unrequited pursuit of Jobel, and provoke her ire with an unkind "You're wasting your time there."
As they depart, they miss a couple of intruders, Natasha and Grigory, sneaking off in the direction of the catacombs...
Peri takes an interest in the purple flowers that grow all around, which the Doctor identifies as "Herbabaculum Vitae", or "Staff of life". Always great when Peri's roots are remembered.
50dw50 @50dw50 two stories in a row!
He says it's locally known as the "weed plant" (why do they use it in the funeral displays then!), but has similar nutritional value to Earth's Soya Bean. He can't understand why it's never been cultivated.
They hear an angry growl and realize that they're being stalked by a horribly mutated man intent on attacking them.
50dw50 @50dw50 love the idea that they offered the mutant role to Lawrence Olivier.
Si Hodges@SiHodges79 No matter how hard I try I simply can't picture Laurence Olivier in the role of the mutant as JNT intended.
Can only assume it was this death scene, "you've done me a favour" that JNT had deluded pretensions that Larry could polish. (I mean JNT was delusional that this was a good role to offer him.)
Si Hodges@SiHodges79 Olivier was up for it - they just couldn't get the schedules to line up. I'm sure I remember reading that Olivier was interested in it *because* it was such an unusual role...
It would have been something else, wouldn't it! Amazing to imagine it.
When the mutant launches himself at the Doctor, the Time-Lord dispenses with his mourning cloak and tries to calm him with a spot of hypnotism.
But this only riles the mutant, who grabs him and flings him down the snowy hillside.
As the mutant gains the upper hand, Peri desperately thumps him with a large branch, apparently mortally wounding him.
Tranquil Repose offers a unique service to those in cryogenic suspension: a communications liaison to keep their unconscious minds up to date with current events and messages from loved ones... in the form of an Earth-style DJ. You could say his radio show has something of a graveyard slot!
Other Other Pete@whoer_pete Boom boom! 😁 I was VERY relieved a few scenes in when he let the wacky-voiced mask slip. No one is what they seem.
All the DJ stuff straight to camera is odd. Good odd, but definitely very different for Doctor Who at the time.
50dw50 @50dw50 nice that a 22 year old show could still surprise.
Chris@KosmicKris This was brilliant. Remember thinking how different it felt and watching it now, it adds to the oddness of the story.
Davad@davadsteel The DJ works the same as the two characters in Vengeance on Varos. I think Phillip Martin was an influence on Eric.
50dw50 @50dw50 Saward pinching ideas from other writers? i am shocked, and so is the late Robert Holmes!
Considering he seems to speak poorly of it, Alexei Sayle turns in a fine, touching, performance, and it's sad that he doesn't rate it himself. There's the skillfull drollery when the DJ is "off air", but he stands out in Season 22 as a sympathetic character too.
50dw50 @50dw50 he slags off nearly everything he has ever done.
I saw a really fascinating documentary series he did on BBC2 not so long ago about the architecture and history of Liverpool; he's at least got to be happy with that!
His stylings don't go down well in the catacombs with "The Great Healer" - none other than Davros! Since his last appearance he's taken up residence in a static housing, his head the only visible part of him left. Seems maybe that Movellan virus had a good old nibble before he was able to save himself, and retreat here to hide in the catacombs with his band of newly painted loyal Daleks...
Davad@davadsteel The white Daleks look brilliant.
Other Other Pete@whoer_pete For the first time since Genesis of the Daleks, Davros is actually in complete control.
It really sounde like Davros was saying something else instead of "fool" then ("Shut the fool up!"), in reference to the DJ. Really not keen on the zippy Dalek voice. Think Graeme Harper wanted them to sound vaguely more human? Their voices are absolutely rotten here. *MUCH* worse than Day of the Daleks.
M@nterik@Manterik agreed.
50dw50 @50dw50 it might have worked better had the grey Daleks had the correct voices when they arrived.
Davros is much happier to learn that the Doctor's presence has been detected. "My lure has worked!"
Natasha & Grigory find the way to the catacombs guarded, but are prepared to go to any lengths, it seems, including murder.
Detecting their progress, Davros orders that Takis be informed "there are bodysnatchers in the catacombs."
The dying mutant forgives Peri, telling her she's done him a favour, but not before telling the Doctor that the one who experimented on him was "the Great Healer."
Davad@davadsteel I like how the Doctor holds the mutant's hand. Nice bit of compassion.
Yes, worth singling out this par excellence Doctor-ing from Colin here, not hesitating to hold the dying mutant's hand to comfort him.
Davad@davadsteel Colin is excellent in this isn't he? Nailing it in every single scene. We was robbed!!!
Yes; credit where it's due, I think Eric Saward writes him well this time out, and Colin grabs it with both hands.
Stuck in his goldfish bowl, Davros has to summon Tasambeker to him, and while he waits, he calls up industrialist Kara...
Never been particularly fond of this effect to be honest; to denote travelling down through the underground levels of Tranquil Repose, Harper uses an odd visual trick that makes it look like a tape snagging on an old projector.
The DJ informs his captive audience that there are body snatchers on the loose, but you get the impression he doesn't really believe anyone's listening. "You know, guys, I get as much of a kick out of reading these as I know you do hearing them..."
Takis and Lilt infuriate Tasambeker by appearing lackadaisical at the news that bodysnatchers must have sneaked in under their noses.
The DJ's had a costume change and is now into his 50s rock'n'roll show. He reads a devotion from the wife of casket 816's occupant, claiming to be devoting every working moment to finding a cure for his disease.
When the song starts, though, he suddenly breaks character. "Well, you've got a wife and a half there, George. They found a cure for Beck's Syndrome forty years ago. Still, it'd be interesting to know what she's really doing with the money."
Symptoms of Beck's Syndrome include a Devil's Haircut, Loser-itis and Cold Brains.
Chris@KosmicKris Be it Saward or be it Sayle - some of these asides were brilliant!
He continues to keep them updated as to the progress of Peri and the Doctor.
Takis voices concern that the Daleks seem to be on guard duty...
...which doesn't go unnoticed by Davros, but he's got Kara on the line.
Natasha's and Grigory arrive at the cryogenic pod of her father - Professor Arthur Stengos, the Doctor's mate, no less.
Davad@davadsteel The two grave robbers do that thing when they tell each other what they already know. In fluent Saward.
Yes, unfortunately unpleasant people bitching at each other was rather one of Saward's calling cards.
Davad@davadsteel Male grave robber needs to chill.
Elsewhere on the planet, in the HQ of an industrial complex...
...Davros is leaning on Kara, mass producer of the planet's basic foodstuff, for more funds. What hold does he have over her, we might wonder?
She says she'd wellingly sell the bones of Vogel, but good secretaries are so hard to find, and besides, as he points out, he is a past master at the double entry...
Davros gets shirty when she forgets herself for a moment and uses his real name on an open line instead of the less than apt title of "Great Healer". As soon as he's off the line, Kara enquires whether "Orcini" has arrived...
Jobel finds the bodysnatchers have been making more work for him, and passes on the message that the Great Healer wants to see Tasambeker.
Davros swears that Jobel will regret declining his offer of "immortality".
He's looking more and more like Zelda out of Terrahawks.
Natasha's suspicions are confirmed when Grigory opens the cryogenic pod to find that Stengos isn't home...
...but before they can let that sink in, they're rumbled by Takis and Lilt, and in a shootout with some guards.
They make it to the relative safety of the catacombs - just.
In common with a lot of S22 stories, the Doctor & Peri take half the story to really arrive & get involved. "Oh yeah, the Doctor & Peri. Them. I guess they do *have* to be in this." - Eric Saward.
Peri takes an interest in the purple flowers that grow all around, which the Doctor identifies as "Herbabaculum Vitae", or "Staff of life". Always great when Peri's roots are remembered.
50dw50 @50dw50 two stories in a row!He says it's locally known as the "weed plant" (why do they use it in the funeral displays then!), but has similar nutritional value to Earth's Soya Bean. He can't understand why it's never been cultivated.
They hear an angry growl and realize that they're being stalked by a horribly mutated man intent on attacking them.
50dw50 @50dw50 love the idea that they offered the mutant role to Lawrence Olivier.Si Hodges@SiHodges79 No matter how hard I try I simply can't picture Laurence Olivier in the role of the mutant as JNT intended.Can only assume it was this death scene, "you've done me a favour" that JNT had deluded pretensions that Larry could polish. (I mean JNT was delusional that this was a good role to offer him.)
Si Hodges@SiHodges79 Olivier was up for it - they just couldn't get the schedules to line up. I'm sure I remember reading that Olivier was interested in it *because* it was such an unusual role...It would have been something else, wouldn't it! Amazing to imagine it.
When the mutant launches himself at the Doctor, the Time-Lord dispenses with his mourning cloak and tries to calm him with a spot of hypnotism.
But this only riles the mutant, who grabs him and flings him down the snowy hillside.
As the mutant gains the upper hand, Peri desperately thumps him with a large branch, apparently mortally wounding him.
Tranquil Repose offers a unique service to those in cryogenic suspension: a communications liaison to keep their unconscious minds up to date with current events and messages from loved ones... in the form of an Earth-style DJ. You could say his radio show has something of a graveyard slot!
Other Other Pete@whoer_pete Boom boom! 😁 I was VERY relieved a few scenes in when he let the wacky-voiced mask slip. No one is what they seem.All the DJ stuff straight to camera is odd. Good odd, but definitely very different for Doctor Who at the time.
50dw50 @50dw50 nice that a 22 year old show could still surprise.Chris@KosmicKris This was brilliant. Remember thinking how different it felt and watching it now, it adds to the oddness of the story. Davad@davadsteel The DJ works the same as the two characters in Vengeance on Varos. I think Phillip Martin was an influence on Eric.50dw50 @50dw50 Saward pinching ideas from other writers? i am shocked, and so is the late Robert Holmes!Considering he seems to speak poorly of it, Alexei Sayle turns in a fine, touching, performance, and it's sad that he doesn't rate it himself. There's the skillfull drollery when the DJ is "off air", but he stands out in Season 22 as a sympathetic character too.
50dw50 @50dw50 he slags off nearly everything he has ever done. I saw a really fascinating documentary series he did on BBC2 not so long ago about the architecture and history of Liverpool; he's at least got to be happy with that!
His stylings don't go down well in the catacombs with "The Great Healer" - none other than Davros! Since his last appearance he's taken up residence in a static housing, his head the only visible part of him left. Seems maybe that Movellan virus had a good old nibble before he was able to save himself, and retreat here to hide in the catacombs with his band of newly painted loyal Daleks...
Davad@davadsteel The white Daleks look brilliant.Other Other Pete@whoer_pete For the first time since Genesis of the Daleks, Davros is actually in complete control.It really sounde like Davros was saying something else instead of "fool" then ("Shut the fool up!"), in reference to the DJ. Really not keen on the zippy Dalek voice. Think Graeme Harper wanted them to sound vaguely more human? Their voices are absolutely rotten here. *MUCH* worse than Day of the Daleks.
M@nterik@Manterik agreed.50dw50 @50dw50 it might have worked better had the grey Daleks had the correct voices when they arrived. Davros is much happier to learn that the Doctor's presence has been detected. "My lure has worked!"
Natasha & Grigory find the way to the catacombs guarded, but are prepared to go to any lengths, it seems, including murder.
Detecting their progress, Davros orders that Takis be informed "there are bodysnatchers in the catacombs."
The dying mutant forgives Peri, telling her she's done him a favour, but not before telling the Doctor that the one who experimented on him was "the Great Healer."
Davad@davadsteel I like how the Doctor holds the mutant's hand. Nice bit of compassion. Yes, worth singling out this par excellence Doctor-ing from Colin here, not hesitating to hold the dying mutant's hand to comfort him.
Davad@davadsteel Colin is excellent in this isn't he? Nailing it in every single scene. We was robbed!!!Yes; credit where it's due, I think Eric Saward writes him well this time out, and Colin grabs it with both hands.
Stuck in his goldfish bowl, Davros has to summon Tasambeker to him, and while he waits, he calls up industrialist Kara...
Never been particularly fond of this effect to be honest; to denote travelling down through the underground levels of Tranquil Repose, Harper uses an odd visual trick that makes it look like a tape snagging on an old projector.
The DJ informs his captive audience that there are body snatchers on the loose, but you get the impression he doesn't really believe anyone's listening. "You know, guys, I get as much of a kick out of reading these as I know you do hearing them..."
Takis and Lilt infuriate Tasambeker by appearing lackadaisical at the news that bodysnatchers must have sneaked in under their noses.
The DJ's had a costume change and is now into his 50s rock'n'roll show. He reads a devotion from the wife of casket 816's occupant, claiming to be devoting every working moment to finding a cure for his disease.
When the song starts, though, he suddenly breaks character. "Well, you've got a wife and a half there, George. They found a cure for Beck's Syndrome forty years ago. Still, it'd be interesting to know what she's really doing with the money."
Symptoms of Beck's Syndrome include a Devil's Haircut, Loser-itis and Cold Brains.
Chris@KosmicKris Be it Saward or be it Sayle - some of these asides were brilliant! He continues to keep them updated as to the progress of Peri and the Doctor.
Takis voices concern that the Daleks seem to be on guard duty...
...which doesn't go unnoticed by Davros, but he's got Kara on the line.
Natasha's and Grigory arrive at the cryogenic pod of her father - Professor Arthur Stengos, the Doctor's mate, no less.
Davad@davadsteel The two grave robbers do that thing when they tell each other what they already know. In fluent Saward. Yes, unfortunately unpleasant people bitching at each other was rather one of Saward's calling cards.
Davad@davadsteel Male grave robber needs to chill.Elsewhere on the planet, in the HQ of an industrial complex...
...Davros is leaning on Kara, mass producer of the planet's basic foodstuff, for more funds. What hold does he have over her, we might wonder?
She says she'd wellingly sell the bones of Vogel, but good secretaries are so hard to find, and besides, as he points out, he is a past master at the double entry...
Davros gets shirty when she forgets herself for a moment and uses his real name on an open line instead of the less than apt title of "Great Healer". As soon as he's off the line, Kara enquires whether "Orcini" has arrived...
Jobel finds the bodysnatchers have been making more work for him, and passes on the message that the Great Healer wants to see Tasambeker.
Davros swears that Jobel will regret declining his offer of "immortality".
He's looking more and more like Zelda out of Terrahawks.
Natasha's suspicions are confirmed when Grigory opens the cryogenic pod to find that Stengos isn't home...
...but before they can let that sink in, they're rumbled by Takis and Lilt, and in a shootout with some guards.
They make it to the relative safety of the catacombs - just.
In common with a lot of S22 stories, the Doctor & Peri take half the story to really arrive & get involved. "Oh yeah, the Doctor & Peri. Them. I guess they do *have* to be in this." - Eric Saward.
Presumably not such an accident in that case; maybe Saward not as much to blame as at first glance.
I do think there's rather a lot of that, too. Saward really hates Colin's Doctor and just can't bring himself to involve him. So unprofessional.
James Cooray Smith@thejimsmith·I like Saward as a writer (mostly) but I think he's hugely unprofessional in his inability to hide this. Also noticeable that Saward systemically removes a lot of Colin's performance amendments/additions when novelising. i.e. The Twin Dilemma novelisation strips out all of the literary quotations & this known to be something Colin enjoyed.
Matthew Kilburn@Matthew_Kilburn Yet Saward socialised with Colin and made long confessions to him about unhappiness...
I enjoy the stories he pens himself but think he was a terrible script editor.
I feel like Saward let job security win over professional pride & he was aware & bitter/resentful.
Yes, very true of course. Not so easy with bills to pay, but his treatment of Colin was very strange. The Saward/JNT dynamic seems a bit like Yes Minister's "terrorist & hostage" situation, and with Saward constantly mixing up Colin the supportive man with Colin the perceived JNT proxy.
John Mark Frankland@JMFrankland Isn't Orcini Saward's riposte to Colin's portrayal of Bayban in Blakes 7? What kind of Script Editor writes a part to show up his star?!
Yes; he was placed to shape the character & could have done so, even if only subtly/gradually.
The Doctor and Peri made it as far as Tranquil Repose's outer perimeter wall, but there doesn't seem to be a door. I love the Doctor's little "There must be a door. No door, no letter box. No letter box, no post!" here. Fair play to Saward, he does seem to be making an effort to make the Doctor more likeable for once.
Ruther@Ruther2 Revelation is to Saward what Hamlet is to a roomful of monkeys with typewriters.
50dw50 @50dw50 I am no JNT basher but i do wonder what Saward could have done with a free hand when watching this kind of story
They're going to have to scale the wall. Peri objects but is given short shrift. "Well, how do you think I feel? I'm a 900 year old Time Lord. Not much dignity in scrambling over a wall like a small boy into an orchard on a scrumping spree!"
Is it me or is it really unclear what happens with the fob watch whilst climbing over the wall?
At least until they're both atop the wall and he's emptying out the knackered watch parts, anyway.
Davad@davadsteel The wall climbing scene is hilarious. Nicola especially.
"Watch it, Porky!"
The graverobbers start to make their way through the catacombs. Another great soundtrack from Roger "The Caves of Androzani" Limb here (Luckily Roger "Terminus" Limb stayed at home.), giving it a bit of Androzani-style military-sounding drumming.
Ruther@Ruther2 Revelation is to Saward what Hamlet is to a roomful of monkeys with typewriters.50dw50 @50dw50 I am no JNT basher but i do wonder what Saward could have done with a free hand when watching this kind of storyThey're going to have to scale the wall. Peri objects but is given short shrift. "Well, how do you think I feel? I'm a 900 year old Time Lord. Not much dignity in scrambling over a wall like a small boy into an orchard on a scrumping spree!"
Is it me or is it really unclear what happens with the fob watch whilst climbing over the wall?
At least until they're both atop the wall and he's emptying out the knackered watch parts, anyway.
Davad@davadsteel The wall climbing scene is hilarious. Nicola especially."Watch it, Porky!"
The graverobbers start to make their way through the catacombs. Another great soundtrack from Roger "The Caves of Androzani" Limb here (Luckily Roger "Terminus" Limb stayed at home.), giving it a bit of Androzani-style military-sounding drumming.
Davad@davadsteel Very reminiscent of his Box of Delights score at times. Look out! Fake cliffhanger number 1! That, ladles & jellyspoons was the rather awful fake cliffhanger of the overseas 25min episodes version, with Natasha & Grigory hiding in the alcove *before* we see the Dalek.
50dw50 @50dw50 Ironic as the last Dalek story was all about removed cliffhangers for domestic broadcastHappy memories of the 92/3 repeat seasons on BBC2; the 1st time I "properly" saw this story. (Pretty sure I must have seen the original broadcast, but was 4, so barely remember it)!
Si Hodges@SiHodges79 Very vivid memories of this on first broadcast. The '92 repeat didn't quite live up to it...The graverobbers make it to a mutant incubation room...
50dw50 @50dw50 more lovely, well lit sets...where a horribly mutated figure bubbles inside a glass Dalek.
50dw50 @50dw50 This is a stunning scene, really creepy. It's a figure that recognises her; It's her father, Arthur Stengos. It is gruesome. Doesn't really bother me, but have to admit the body horror's significantly ramped up.
Davad@davadsteel This is really horrible. Like some more of Season 22 it's very misjudged. Minging actually! Si Hodges@SiHodges79 I always felt this quite a tame visual effect compared to much of the rest of Season 22. The concept? That's horrific!Davad@davadsteel It's the brain! It's just so raw! 😩Si Hodges@SiHodges79 Very Season 13 ;)When the DJ starts to repeat rumours that the snatchers have been ousnatched, Davros declares that "Suddenly everyone sees and knows too much!"
The glass Dalek is so cool. It's an idea first mooted in David Whittaker's novelisation of the first ever Dalek story.
50dw50 @50dw50 My sister had a glass-blower make me a glass dalek for my birthday inspired by the scene. Stengos reveals Davros' plan to transform the frozen occupants of Tranquil Repose into a new race of Daleks.
Disturbing stuff as Stengos fights the conditioning and begs his daughter to kill him. "If you ever loved me, Natasha, kill me!"
Other Other Pete@whoer_pete Lovely bit of father/daughter interaction for whatever ludicrously early time it was on Saturday.50dw50 @50dw50 tea time fun for all the familyShe obliges to spare her father his fate worse than death. I guess the Doctor won't be paying his respects to Stengos after all.
50dw50 @50dw50 he is just attending a cremation rather than a burial.The bodysnatchers are captured by Takis & Lilt, who holds a knife to Natasha: "I must mark her." That's definitely beyond the pale for this show.
Davad@davadsteel Really off. Just unnecessary. And then you get the hilarious Gaunt/Bron face off in the next scene!Now we meet Orcini, disgraced Grand Master of the Knights of Oberon. Presumably the equivalent of The Saint, but more of a Sinner?
He's curious as to why Kara has sought him out. "Assassins, like debt collectors, are rarely welcome."
Orcini is Saward's take on a Robert Holmes character. I'm often critical of Eric Saward when it comes to characterisation, but Kara & Vogel and Orcini & Bostock are two great Holmesian doubleacts in this.
Steve Powner@StevePowner You can feel Robert Holmes influence all through this story.John Mark Frankland@JMFrankland Isn't Orcini Saward's riposte to Colin's portrayal of Bayban in B7? What kind of Script Editor writes a part to show up his star?!So much pathos in a beautifully judged performance from William Gaunt. Eleanor Bron's always top drawer too.
50dw50 @50dw50 He is wonderful in it, I hope Paul Darrow was watching scarlet with shame. Si Hodges@SiHodges79 JNT should have had a tape of his performance on had for every subsequent guest star that wanted to "overplay" it...I suppose in fairness to Darrow, he was trying to cast off the very recent ghost of Avon, and it'd been some long years since Gaunt was in The Champions and the like. But yeah, Gaunt has the nous to underplay, Darrow overestimates the material and plays a no mark in Timelash as if he's a Shakespearean masterpiece (and specifically Richard III).
50dw50 @50dw50 Bron is the best Avengers girl we never had. Si Hodges@SiHodges79 Exquisite, absolutely exquisite... Chris@KosmicKris William Gaunt is just fabulous in this - perfect, veteran performance. Kara reminds Orcini that her company produces a high protein concentrate that as eliminated famine from the galaxy, but Bostock is quick to point out its' one major drawback: "Tastes horrible though!"
Kara reveals the serpent at the heart of their paradise: the Great Healer, better known... as Davros.
Orcini and Bostock are suddenly champing at the bit. "Like the old days... a crusade against evil!"
When Peri comments about how tacky the name "Tranquil Repose" is, she's met with "America doesn't have the monopoly on bad taste!" as the Doctor goes on to voice his suspicions that Stengos wasn't the type to want to artificially extend his own life.
Davros enjoys a nice gurgle as the Doctor unwittingly approaches his trap.
Jobel gives a H&S/etiquette talk to his gossipy nose-picking employees ahead of the President's arrival for his late wife's funeral.
Davad@davadsteel Is this the first scene in Doctor Who to feature people picking their nose? 50dw50 @50dw50 Until we have all the episodes we will never know, Marco Polo could be picking and flicking all the way through. The true terror of the Macra was the colonies lack of man sized hankies.
Kara gives Orcini a signal device that needs a specific sequence to work. A bit like arming a bomb.
Orcini warns Kara what will happen if they're betrayed.
Tasambeker is made an offer she can't refuse - to be appointed to the Great Healer's personal staff - but no horse's head, just Davros'.
The location used for the entrance to Tranquil Repose looks great, especially with that glass shot of the pyramids added.
Peri clocks "some kind of machinery", but the Doctor misses it.
It's only just out of shot when he turns round, how's it got out of view that quickly?
The Doctor's spotted something more worrying, though...
As Lilt cruelly tortures the "bodysnatchers", Grigory comes to the same conclusion the disgruntled funeral attendants have: "You can't get a body back from here because those who make the law don't want you to."
Davad@davadsteel This torture scene is awful. Just sadistic. And the boy still spouting pure 100% Eric. Tarkis says the galaxy can't support the people alive now (and that's *with* Davros' novel foodbanks) and Lilt points out "there are a lot of important people here. Just imagine what would happen if they went home. They'd be in direct competition with those now holding power!"
50dw50 @50dw50 that actor struck lucky, he got Daleks in his first story and Cybermen in his next. Being mates with (vague) lookalike Graeme Harper didn't hurt.
Not sure why the DJ opts to act stoned to the strains of Glen Miller.
Stood in the garden of fond memories is a tall stone carving... of the Doctor himself. It seems he's arrived in his own future, after a time when he's died a final death - in this incarnation - before being laid to rest here. Or has he...?
50dw50 @50dw50 The hair is a little... interesting.
Darth Marenghi@DarthMarenghi What is this... a Bo Selecta Colin?!?"Don't you like it?"
"No, it looks bugger-all like me."
50dw50 @50dw50 After their encounter in the Davros audio adventure, Davros got his Dalek art department to knock out a Colin face. "Knocking out a Colin face" sounds like a particularly filthy euphemism.
As Peri trudges away, the Doctor contemplates his own mortality.
As Peri turns back towards him, she's startled to see the Doctor's monument falling towards him, threatening to crush him... *proper* cliffhanger!
Great white-out for the cliffhanger. Bravo, Mr. Harper!
Chris@KosmicKris I'm going to say it: Graeme Harper is my favourite Who director!Ruther@Ruther2 But even by the increasingly bizarre JNT/Saward WTF standards of the time this is a huge WTF were they thinking scene!50dw50 @50dw50 JNT wanted a statue for conventions and Saward had to work one into the plot. Is that actually true? I mean, it sounds exactly the sort of thing JNT would do, but even so!
Ruther@Ruther2 That's what I mean. Bizarre request by JNT and bizarre solution by Saward. A polysterene statue doesn't sound like it would have survived the rigours of conventions for very long.50dw50 @50dw50 Saward seems to assume so (now that JNT can no longer put his side).I actually think Saward didn't do to badly shoehorning it in, if that's the case!
50dw50 @50dw50 He should have invented The Weeping Colins.
Si Hodges@SiHodges79 Or is it part three? :pPeri rushes to help, but is intercepted by Jobel before she can stop the monument falling on top of her friend.
The monument's a fake, though and the Doctor's fine, if covered in stage blood.
Peri's less fine, having to fend off the slimy attentions of Jobel.
50dw50 @50dw50 · is Peri the Doctors most lusted after / stalked companion?
Probably, though fewer marriage proposals than Jo.
Davros dispatches Tasambeker to perform reception duties to the Doctor & Peri.
Lilt is still trying to get information out of Grigory, but he's poured so much of his hipflask down his neck he's too pissed to talk.
Nice that the Doctor & Peri have arrived to take part in the story; only took them 48 mins out of the 90.
Si Hodges@SiHodges79 Had this been the only time this season it would have been a refreshing change... Where is the Doctor chucking that cloak? Other than "off screen" as per a stage direction? Why not just put it on those sofas behind him? Maybe there's a convenient coat hook just out of shot.
50dw50 @50dw50 It magics back to the TARDIS! This scene makes a nonsense of the idea you needed gaudy sets with a bright costume, that looks fine. Peri is creeped out by the prettified corpse of the President's wife, as the Doctor determines to have it out with whoever erected the statue of him.
Tasambeker arrives, and asks whose funeral they've come about. "Mine."
Takis tracks the arrival of President Vargos' ship - and another unidentified freighter.
Peri enjoys the DJ's pitch...
Orcini gets a bit misty eyed and romantic about the symbolic honour of a sword, but is grounded by Bostock's pleas not to take his antique gun into battle.
It seems Kara has another iron in the fire, as she watches the President's ship approach Necros. I like the way the President's ship is tagged "PRS 1".
Orcini & Bostock run into a Dalek patrol and, having to kill or be killed...
...alert Davros to the fact that Kara has betrayed him.
Chris@KosmicKris Again, Harper showing himself to be a great action director, there.The Camfield tutelage paying off, I suspect!
50dw50 @50dw50 · That was quite an explosion!Davros gets on the blower to Kara and tells her he's dispatched a squad of Daleks for her protection. Kara is stil confident of success, and that not only will she soon be rid of Davros, she'll control the food supply for the whole galaxy!
Tasambeker agrees to escort the Doctor to meet the Great Healer, and although it means being chaperoned by the oily Jobel, the Doctor agrees Peri should take the safer option of visiting the DJ.
It's mere seconds before the Doctor is captured by Davros' Daleks, with a little help from Takis & Lilt.
He's shackled in the same cell as the snatchers.
As Peri finally sees the back of Jobel...
...she's introduced to the DJ, and though she's disappointed to hear that he isn't from the USA at all, it's a compliment to him that he's made her feel homesick.
His schtick "doesn't half aggravate the Great Healer" though.
Davros drips poison into Tasambeker's ear, telling her that if someone had treated him the way Jobel treats her, "I think I would have killed them."
Other Other Pete@whoer_pete I bloody love Tasambeker. Davros's manipulation of her emotions & sense of rejection is a smart fascist parallel.The Doctor learns from the snatchers that Davros has finally engineered Daleks that can reproduce anywhere. What, like in the The Power of the Daleks?
Davad@davadsteel Revelation seems to have Davros starting from scratch. The capsule in Power seemed to have Daleks in storage. I assume Power is supposed to be later, too. Although perhaps the main difference is here he's engineered non-Kaled Daleks. Presumably the embryos in Power came from Skaro.
Davad@davadsteel Yeah. And then of course there's Victory where they develop in a big pressure cooker!Detecting that Orcini has entered the catacombs, Kara is confident enough to toast success with Vogel.
But their unwelcome guests have arrived to bring her before Davros, and Vogel's defiance is dealt with predictably.
Eleanor Bron is so cool. "How inconvenient. Do you know how difficult it is to find good secretaries?"
Takis & Lilt make an oblique overture to Jobel...
...and though Takis is the man with the plan, it's Jobel that's the target for Davros' ire.
Davros offers Tasambeker the chance to become a Dalek. Nah, you're alright.
50dw50 @50dw50 He should have offered her acting lessons TBH. It's really great they way they Davros has developed as a character, probably his best after Genesis of the Daleks. To take him up on the offer, she must demonstrate her obedience by killing Jobel.
Orcini and Bostock are starting to grow suspicious, and the fomer Grand Knight decides they need a scapegoat, someone to draw a lot of attention. Hmm, now who do we know that fits that bill...?
Hearing someone approach the Doctor hides behind the door, but is easily overcome by the encroaching Orcini.
He's grateful for a lucky escape.
Despite Davros' orders, Tasambeker still begs Jobel to come away with her...
50dw50 @50dw50 Its a "wig he, won't he" situation. ...but he's so obnoxious and cruel to her...
...that she follows through after all.
Classic touch as his syrup flops off when he snuffs it.
Other Other Pete@whoer_pete OPERATIC!!!Davad@davadsteel Joyously grotesque. This story treads a fine line!Si Hodges@SiHodges79 The scene was really let down by the terrible job the sound recordist did while Jobel snuffs it.Her task completed, Tasambeker has outlived her usefulness.
Oi, DJ, where's the Hendrix!
Peri spots the Doctor on the monitor and the DJ helps broadcast a message.
The Doctor tells her she should return to the TARDIS as she's in great danger!
That's be a really terrible place to put an artifical cliffhanger, wouldn't it?
Peri makes to follow his advice, but is stopped by the DJ: the Daleks are on their way and it'd be suicide to make a break for it as the Doctor suggested.
The Doctor arranges to meet the snatchers back at the reception area after they've destroyed the incubators...
...but Davros has another glass Dalek activated to meet them.
In Davros' lair there is still the Dalek heartbeat effect. Not often audible, but it's there.
Orcini attacks, but the head in the jar is a decoy...
50dw50 @50dw50 Another week, another clone decoy.......and though Bostock flings a knife that narrowly misses the Dalek creator...
...the Daleks incapacitate them by shooting off Orcini's artificial leg and overloading Bostock's robotic hand...
...and the real Davros hovers in for the kill. Davros can shoot lightning from his remaining hand now. Apparently.
The snatchers are killed by the newborn Dalek as it hovers into the air...
...but its activation was premature and it explodes.
Davad@davadsteel Story's almost over. Time for Eric to start killing off his supporting characters. No need to kill Natasha and Grigory.Si Hodges@SiHodges79 It's a miracle Takis and Lilt make it out alive! 50dw50 @50dw50 had he know about Big Finish spin off series he might not have been so keen on the slaughter!Peri & the DJ have at least managed to warn the President's ship to turn back, but they soon have Daleks at the door.
The DJ blasts the Daleks with ultrasonic beams of rock'n'roll. Yay science!
Davros has called for a takeaway Kara.
She denies all knowledge of Orcini, so Davros lets the assassin start the activation sequence to call her bluff.
Exposed, Kara curses Orcini. "Now we'll both die; Satisfied?"
His response is rather pointed. "You before me."
Si Hodges@SiHodges79 Wonderfully understated! That's quite a nasty stabbing from Orcini.
The DJ continues to fend off the attack Daleks sent to exterminate him.
The Doctor rushes in the direction of the Daleks threatening Peri.
He's too late, though, to stop the DJ emerging from cover that little bit too early.
50dw50 @50dw50 He deserves it for breaking cover, the silly sod. Ruther@Ruther2 just as well the Daleks offed him or he'd be a cert for Operation Yewtree. Ah, yes, the 80s; not a good time to be a DJ, as it turns out!
Soon he himself is captured.
Takis prepares to welcome his mystery guests.
The Doctor is brought before Davros, who's obviously been itching for a good gloat.
50dw50 @50dw50 "Doctor you have changed again.... what the hell are you wearing?"Davros schemed to lure the Doctor here. Er, WHY?
Surely it would have been more sensible to mass his Dalek army, take control of Skaro, go on the warpath then let the Doctor turn up when he's at full strength?
Si Hodges@SiHodges79 He's smart enough to know the Doctor's always the one that ruins his plans. Best get him out of the way early on. True. Would be a good tactic if he didn't then drop the ball with a classic villain speech! Undone by ego!
Si Hodges@SiHodges79 Davros' story arc in a nutshell!Ah, true.
Taking the hint from Orcini, the Doctor's movements are designed to distract Davros while the assassin retrieves Kara's bomb.
Luckily, Davros is in a chatty mood and hasn't read the Villain's Big Book of No-No's, blurting out his whole scheme, admitting that those he hasn't transformed into Daleks have not gone to waste.
"I never waste a valuable commodity. The humanoid form makes an excellent concentrated protein. This part of the galaxy is developing quickly. Famine was one of its major problems."
The "consumer resistance" line is easily one of Saward's finest. Fancy a Stengos drumstick?
As per Graeme Harper's intention, the grey Daleks' voices are more electronic sounding. They're also much more aggressive-sounding.
50dw50 @50dw50 At the time the arrival of the grey Daleks was the most exciting thing EVER!!!!Peri is brought in as Davros prepares to awaken his army.
But Bostock shoots off his handy.
As Davros recoils, his Daleks make short work of Bostock.
Shunting Bostock's pistol to Orcini, Colin plays the cut-price Connery card again, with "no arm in trying."
Si Hodges@SiHodges79 Saward showing off his misunderstand of the character: "basically he's James Bond." Yeesh!After a rather one-sided gunfight...
...the grey Daleks crush Davros' white and gold Daleks...
50dw50 @50dw50 Yay! i could have done with more Dalek fighting and exploding to be honest....then sweep in to apprehend their creator, just as Orcini's making yet another failed attempt to off him.
Davros squeals on the Doctor but the grey Daleks don't recognize him.
Takis hasn't been quite as clever as he thought - the grey Daleks have no intention of destroying Davros', they'll just recondition them.
Orcini hops off to check Bostock's supplies for a grenade they can use against their guard.
Davros is hauled away to stand trial before the Supreme Dalek, all the while trying to bargain with his captors. "I could make you all Supreme Daleks! I have the power!"
The Doctor, who never uses a gun, shoots a Dalek in the eyestalk.
Si Hodges@SiHodges79 Yes, he never uses a gun...
Aye, always good fun each time he never uses a gun...! ;-)
Peri attaches Bostock's grenade and the Dalek goes out with a bang.
Takis is reluctant to let Orcini blow up Tranquil Repose but the assassin points out its reputation can never be rebuilt.
The Doctor tells him he can fill the gap in the market left by Davros' departure by cultivating the abundant weed plants for protein.
Orcini wants to go out in a blaze of glory and the sooner the better so that he has some slim chance of catching Davros in the blast.
The others rush to a safe distance...
...and though the imperial Daleks get away with Davros himself...
...Orcini's bomb destroys Davros' incubating army of Daleks.
The Doctor encourages the Necrosians to become farmers and harvest the purple flowers, but to leave the dead to rest in peace.
The Doctor and Peri prepare to leave, but when the Doctor waxes lyrical about finding somewhere relaxing to go next, Peri wants to go somewhere "fun".
Careful what you ask for! BLACKPOOL!!!!
Chris@KosmicKris Brilliant! And what a great story that was! Great cast, interesting script and some lovely ideas! Enjoyed that :)Other Other Pete@whoer_pete I remember vividly how gutted I was as a kid watching the end credits with the announcement of an 18 month wait. EIGHTEEN MONTHS??TTFN! K.
Coming Soon... Remembrance of the Daleks
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