Ooh, it's the season 13 finale! Looking a bit chilly! Starts in Antarctica so dig out your thermals!
Al Dewar @TheFab14 one of my favourite stories .... And parallels the Thing ... One of my favourite movies nicely! .... Imagine if the Krynoid took you over ... Your head fell off and sprouted legs ... Eek
50dw50@50dw50 i remember as a wee kiddie finding this story more than a little disturbing
Tranmere Steve@Tranmeresteve Genius top 5 stories Blue icebergs; Heisenberg's been at it again... (They're actually blue because of how pure the water is, fact fans.)
Two "beardy" scientists with orange gloves dig a seed pod out of the polystyrene.
Scientists Moberley and Winlett take their discovery back to base so that their colleague Stevenson can have a nosey.
The snow might be a bit... polystyrene-y, but there's commitment from everyone in the production. In fact the snow's a bit more convincing than some of the beards!
Paul Cooke@paulpcooke Wait! What? The beards are fake? Who knew?50dw50@50dw50 the krynoid pods made me suspicious of easter eggs for years.
"Animal, vegetable, or mineral?"
Stevenson thinks the pod is alive, Moberley and Winlett are more interested in "Coffee and a game of three-handed crib!"
They send pictures to London, and Mr. Dunbar of the World Ecology Bureau.
The WEB consult the Doctor, but he's busy playing with his yo-yo.
Sir Colin Thackery has a video call with the base by satellite every day. La-di-dah. Get WEB & their technology.
Dunbar thinks the Doctor must be crazy when he suggests the pod may have originated in space.
The Doctor is ready to travel immediately - he has his toothbrush.
"Remember - No touch pod; could be dangerous!"
"That chap you called in from UNIT. Is he quite sane?" Love it.
50dw50@50dw50 "probably not but he is more fun than that pompous bloke in the velvet who looked like Margret Rutherford"The pod has grown five centimetres in diameter in next to no time, feeding off ultra-violet light.
Stevenson thinks the Doctor will turn out to be "some old crank that Thackeray's dug up out of retirement."
Back in Blighty, Dunbar arrives at a country mansion.
He's gone to see Camp Freddie from The Italian Job. These days he goes by the name of Harrison Chase, and he's living in a garden centre by the looks of it.
Harrison Chase is one of those superb Bond-villain types that pop up from time to time in Doctor Who.
Carl@CarlWood7 Something about teaming up the three-piece suit with black leather gloves, simple but brilliant touch.
Oscar_Dowson@Dr_Oscar_Dowson Harrison was one of the best villains ever!
Chase bemoans Bonsai, and doesn't give a stuff about whales & toads, but he does fancy that limited edition pod. He's a private collector who hoards rare items.
Paul Cooke@paulpcooke He must stink if all he eats is meat. Parp!
Chase dispatches Boycie to nick the pod. Get yer thermals out!
Scorby could have been a nothing henchman cypher, but John Challis really makes it a part you invest in.
Adrian Greetham@adriangreetham Proper character actors seem undervalued in favour of guest stars nowadays. A real loss.
In the Antarctic, Winlett nods off waiting for the pod to do something.
The second he's asleep, it splits open & infects him. Unlucky.
50dw50@50dw50 John Carpenter thinking "i could make a few bob out of that"
Si Hodges@SiHodges79 I wonder if Carpenter was a Who fan? It bears more resemblance to Seeds than the 50s original...
In fairness, Carpenter's is pretty faithful to the original novella ("Who Goes There?"), which I expect the Who team had read.
When Sir Colin receives a telex that says "Pod carries infection. Winlett seriously ill. Medicaid needed urgently", Dunbar says it "could have been more informative". I think you get the gist, mate.
Sir Colin worries that the Doctor could be their only hope...
...as the weather in Antarctica's so bad the medical team may take up to two days to arrive.
The Doctor wears that nice grey coat of his, but that's all, despite the sub-zero temperatures. Nails.
This is possibly Tom at his very best: Still a bit dark, very alien, but firing on all cylinders.
50dw50@50dw50 he is very alien in this one, plus a nicely violent streak, makes the threat seem more serious.
Moberley fetches a hot drink to thaw out Sarah's frozzed fingers, then potters off to answer a call over the radio.
The Doctor's still keeping his suspicions to himself, and asks to see the lab.
It's bad news from the radio: the medical team have had to turn back.
The bad news just keeps on coming: "It's more serious than death... he's changing form." It's Tom that's doing the terrifying here.
Moberley volunteers to prepare blood samples for the Doctor to study.
Stevenson's at a loss to understand how this has escalated. "I put it under a lamp and it started to expand."
The Doctor does nothing to soothe his conscience. "What you have done could result in the total destruction of all life on this planet."
Out in the ice, the Doctor uncovers another pod.
He was expecting to find it and it seems to confirm his suspicions...
As they travel in pairs like policemen, the Doctor plans to "take it into custody" and pop it in the freezer.
50dw50@50dw50 cannot help thinking he would have been better leaving it were it was, all the deaths caused by the second pod are his fault.
I suppose to be fair he wasn't expecting Boycie to turn up & nick it though.
HG @HG56900876 i guess it stops it being found later when he is not about to fix it.
Yes, that too. If he didn't, it could be found accidentally like the first and get out of control before he got there.
With the discovery of plant cells in Winlett's blood, the Doctor has identified what's happening to Winlett: "He's halfway towards becoming a Krynoid."
As Moberley and Stevenson go to check out an arriving plane...
"On planets where the Krynoid gets established, the vegetation eats the animals."
The plane has brought Scorby and scientist Keeler to the base accidentally on purpose.
The Ark In Space@ClassicDrWho Boo! Hiss! Don't trust that Scorby :)Winlett's transformation is rapid; his "blood is turning into vegetable soup" according to the Doctor.
The Doctor recommends amputating Winlett's arm to stop the infection spreading but won't operate himself.
"You must help yourselves."
Tom being all alien again.
Charles is revolting!
The Ark In Space@ClassicDrWho and Camilla doesn't look any better ;)
Winlett doesn't fancy the amputation so throttles Moberley, for a horrifying cliffhanger!
Such a great plot and characters, so well written. This could be a film. Baker, Sladen, Hinchcliffe, Holmes, Camfield, Banks Stewart, Burgon - the dream team?
Having polished off Moberley, Winlett heads outside. He may be some time. But he'll probably be back in a few minutes.
Scorby steals the ammunition from Stevenson's rifle, just to stack the deck a bit in the event that things heat up.
Keeler wobbles at the first hint of murder.
Scorby sets about his plans to kill the base crew, swipe the pod, and return to Chase for the big payoff.
Carl@CarlWood7 Ooh, he's proper evil!
Keeler is rather an unwilling ally; Scorby's the fixer, Keeler's just a plant expert.
50dw50@50dw50 i always feel sorry for Keeler, he is an ok guy gone bad and ends up turning into sprouts.Sarah makes the grisly discovery of Moberley's murder.
There can be no doubt as to the culprit.
She alerts Stevenson, who finds it hard to accept that Winlett is responsible.
The Doctor's absolution of Winlett is less than consoling. "Already his mind's been taken over. Very soon his entire body will alter."
By now Winlett no longer exists, and they must destroy what he has become...
Stevenson picks up his rifle to hunt down his former friend, unaware of Scorby's tampering.
Tom's "Stay Warm" reminds me of Hartnell at the end of the 10th Planet. *Shivers.*
Scorby decides to play hunt the pod while the others nip out for a quick spot of Krynoid hunting.
Dunbar reports back to Chase about the infection carried by the pod.
Chase always takes care of his employees.
Searching out warmth, the Krynoid finds the base's generator plant, and it's not long before the Doctor is curious about the remote hut too.
Scorby starts ransacking the place, much to Keeler's chagrin.
"Careful, that's valuable!"
"So what, there'll be nobody left to use it after we're finished!"
When the radio splutters into life, Scorby fobs off the medical team then wrecks the set...
...while the Doctor, Sarah and Stevenson continue their game of hunt the Krynoid in a snowstorm.
Michael Bater@GreenLeftie That shouldn't be to difficult, it's green & snow is white!
Scorby and Keeler learn that the pod has germinated but that won't stop them, it's the "plant" that Chase wants.
There's no sign of the Krynoid inside the generator plant. There, the Doctor is increasingly irritated by Stevenson's references to Winlett. "Winlett as a man no longer exists."
The Doctor forewarns that on planets where the Krtnoid becomes established, all animal life is extinguished.
Scorby and Keeler discover the Krynoid's handiwork.
That Krynoid doesn't half look like a green Axon, you know... ;-P
50dw50@50dw50 odd how there is a photo of the green axon in the Chase garden as we do not see it there in the show, cut scene maybe?
Just taking the costume out on location for a publicity shot? Though I think there's at least one scene of Keeler in the cottage like that, actually.
Having failed to find the Krynoid, the Doctor, Sarah and Stevenson return to the base...
...where the gun-wielding Scorby is waiting behind the door.
Tom's 360 degree "turn around" is genius.
"Okay, start talking."
"Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart had perfect pitch."
"What happened to him?"
"Who, Wolfgang Amadeus? Oh, him. Oh, he died."
Scorby threatens to double the number of corpses if the Doctor doesn't give him some straight answers, but decides to move his hostages somewhere more comfortable.
The Doctor warns that the Krynoid will be desperate for food and warmth and there's only one place it'll find them...
Scorby is not a patient man, and he wants answers from the Doctor, so he threatens to shoot Sarah.
When the Doctor tells him that Winlett is transforming into an alien, Scorby is smart enough to listen.
When Stevenson bumbles in...
...his rifle fails to go off. How embarrassing.
Stevenson lets slip that there's a second pod, prompting a second round of threats from Scorby.
With Sarah in danger, Stevenson relents. When he's hauled off by Scorby, that leaves Keeler to guard the hostages.
As he hands over the pod, Stevenson dismisses Scorby's suggestion that the Krynoid could be in the generator hut because it was checked an hour ago.
Well done, genius.
Of course, the Krynoid is still at large.
The Doctor tries to get through to Keeler. "You don't like violence, do you, Keeler?"
But just when it seems like Sarah might be getting through to the botanist, Scorby returns...
...and takes her hostage as he heads for the generator plant, to set a timebomb; they won't need to dig graves after all.
SCOOOORRRRRRRBBBBYYYYYY!!!!!
50dw50@50dw50 Scorby is wonderfully ruthless, the 7th Doctor would have made him a companion in the novels.
The Doctor and Stevenson manage to free themselves.
Keeler baulks at leaving Sarah to be blown up, but Scorby's itchy trigger finger soon keeps him in line.
The Doctor races to the generator room.
Stevenson tries to radio the main base as Scorby and Keeler make their getaway with the stolen pod...
...but the Krynoid returns to finish him off so that he only has to be paid for two episodes and we can get other guest stars in for part three.
The Doctor struggles to free Sarah as the countdown ticks down.
It's an escape made all the more difficult by the reappearance of the Krynoid.
The bomb goes off and the whole base is wiped out!
Did they get clear in time...?
50dw50@50dw50 you can see why JNT elected to make two part stories, it must have cost a fortune for these two episodes,As many have noted, it's essentially a 2 part story followed by a 4 part story, isn't it?
Morning has broken...
Sarah's okay at least.
With the weather clear, the medical team has turned up, and as she regains consciousness, she starts to panic - has the Doctor made it too?
Doctor Chester is such an odd part. He has lines, and acts with Lis Sladen, but you never see his face.
He's a doctor, but not the one Sarah was expecting...
By morning in the UK, Scorby has made it back to bring Chase his limited edition Krynoid pod.
Always loads of packaging on these things, isn't there?
Dunbar isn't finding it so comfortable in Chase's pocket anymore.
Especially now word's got out that the Doctor and Sarah have survived.
Sir Colin finds the Doctor's report on the Antarctic shenanigans hard to take in, especially as the Doctor makes the thieves "sound like fanatics."
The Doctor is quick to point out that the pod is absolutely unique in the world, something that makes it valuable at any cost to some people.
The raiding party was well organised and well funded, but motivated by an even bigger payday at the end of it: "Yes, money. Hired thieves and murderers don't usually work for love."
The Doctor decides he needs to explain the consequences of a second germination to Sir Colin in language he can understand. "It'll be the end of everything even your pension!"
Ah, the entrance to the "World Ecology Bureau". Brings a tear to your eye.
It all goes a bit Dr. No as the chauffeur assigned by Dunbar pulls over in the middle of nowhere and pulls a gun on them.
Si Hodges@SiHodges79 ALAN CHUNTZ ALARM!!!The Doctor and Sarah make their escape into a nearby sandpit.
They keep him disorientated with a few well aimed rocks and a creative line in insults. "Cloth eyes." Nice one, Lis.
Seems wrong seeing Tom just ball up a fist and punch a man in the face while he's down.
KrynoidPodCast@KrynoidPodCast Yes, Robert Banks Stewart didn't quite 'get' Doctor Who but, oddly, I've never had a problem with his violent Doctor.50dw50@50dw50 People say he was writing The Avengers but i do not really see that ether, more just a novel take on WhoKrynoidPodCast@KrynoidPodCast Yes, the Doctor is largely true to character. He's just a bit punchy (and neck twisty!) in this one :)50dw50@50dw50 Punchy and Neck Twisty sounds like a cartoon seriesKrynoidPodCast@KrynoidPodCast Yes! Somewhere between 'Tom & Jerry' and 'Itchy & Scratchy' on the extreme violence scale?"They punch and twist, punch and twist and punch, punch punch punch, twist twist twist, the punchy and twisty show!"
50dw50@50dw50 in this weeks episode Punchy and Neck Twisty visit the giraffe house, what could possible go wrong...Having thumped the driver, they find a painting in the boot. It's by Amelia Ducat.
"Miss Duckett" is one of those batty old ladies that Tom waxes lyrical about.
50dw50@50dw50 lovely character, just the right side of camp. she plays a similar character in The Tomorrow People, she had obviously cornered the market in eccentric old accademic types.
My favourite spin-off idea: Amelias Ducat & Rumford solving art & archaeology crimes together. Maggie Smith as Amelia Ducat? Judi Dench as Rumford? Go on, you can see it now, can't you?
Ducat (eventually) recalls that she sold the painting to one Harrison Chase - but he never paid up!
Keeler is ready to throw in the towel as there isn't a peep out of the pod, but Chase insists they persevere.
Chase gets ideas when Keeler points out that the other pod only got interesting when it came into contact with human flesh...
...but is given pause for thought when they get a call telling him his chauffeur's in hospital.
Tom looks Hi-larious with the driver's outfit over his coat and scarf.
KrynoidPodCast@KrynoidPodCast Yes! No hat (except his character's own) ever looks right on Tom Baker's hair :-D
Steve Powner@StevePowner Not a great look for Tom doing the full Frank Spencer lol
What a fantastic location this house and its grounds is. Beautiful gardens.
They're soon in Scorby's clutches once again.
"That's right, grab us, we're very dangerous!"
Lovely supervillain charm from Tony Beckley in this exchange, which includes the superb "Have you met Miss Smith? She's my best friend."
DOCTOR: This is Mr. Scorby; I don't know his first name. These two gentlemen...
CHASE: Thank you, we are acquainted.
Chase has no qualms about telling them he's going to have them killed, but "before you die you will be granted a unique privilege. The last things you will ever see will be my beautiful plants."
As Chase shows them his plant hospital, the Doctor takes the opportunity to ditch the Chauffeur gear.
"Are we near the end? I do so hate guided tours."
As Hargreaves brings Keeler his coffee with two lumps, the pod shows signs of life at last...
The Floriana Requiem is a bit "Yes" isn't it?
Rick Wakeman could play all day in The Green Cathedral. On ice.
Carl@CarlWood7 Just don't mention Oxygene by Jean Michelle Jarre. Plants hate that.When Hargreaves brings the news Chase has been waiting for, the millionaire orders his prisoners to be taken away and disposed of, which probably comes as something of a relief.
Chase looks like Christmas has come early, and not just because the pod looks like a Brussel Sprout.
As the Doctor and Sarah are led away to join the compost heap, they're able to make a break for it underneath the arches.
Hate that horrible crunch sound as the Doctor twists Scorby's neck. He's just stunned though.
KrynoidPodCast@KrynoidPodCast Still shocking now. In normal film grammar that means Scorby's dead.
50dw50@50dw50 Saward was sitting at home thinking "pah softies"
Absolutely beautiful soundtrack from Geoffrey Burgon.
This and his Terror of the Zygons score are amongst the very best of the classic series.
KrynoidPodCast@KrynoidPodCast It's exquisite. We're lucky that Douggie Camfield and Dudley Simpson fell out, I guess :)
...Sarah makes off to warn WEB and UNIT.
She's soon recaptured, though...
...and hauled back to Scorby.
As the Doctor gets high...
...Sarah is brought to the man at the top.
Chase decides to use Sarah to see what happens when the Krynoid touches human flesh.
Carl@CarlWood7 Swine. And imagine the chinese burn he could give Sarah here, with those leather gloves. Ouch!
No touch pod, Sarah, no touch pod!
Great cliffhangers in this story, it has to be said.
Martin Dixon@lonewolf_1971 oh yes, that is a classic and no mistake! They don't make 'em like that any more!
"What do you do for an encore, Doctor?"
"I win!"
Brilliant.
Followed shortly after by the pure Scooby-Doo of Chase's exasperated "Why am I surrounded by idiots?"
In the hubbub, the pod splits...
...and Keeler is infected.
50dw50@50dw50 shame Keeler made rolling up his sleeves so obvious.
Although, as Sarah says, he wouldn't use it, it does feel wrong to see the Doctor wandering around waving a gun.
50dw50@50dw50 he does not even get to shoot an Ogron with it.. or an Ice Warrior... or a Cyberman...
The changes take effect much quicker in the warmer climate.
Hargreaves arrives to help Chase isolate the Krynoidal Keeler in a nearby cottage. "Mr. Keeler is not very well." may qualify for understatement of the year. Whichever year this is. Pesky UNIT dating.
As the Doctor finds that the pod has already germinated, Scorby tracks him down and reveals Keeler's fate.
Scorby explains his working relationship... "When it comes to money, Mr. Chase and I are of the same religion!"
Showing him to the Composting room, Scorby notes how unsteady on his feet Tom is. Good old BBC bar.
Scorby decides to make compost of the Doctor so that he can fertilize Chase's plants. Eew.
As night falls, Sarah is still free, but hasn't made it out of the grounds.
Keeler is confined to bed, and his pleas to be taken to hospital fall on deaf ears.
Instead, Chase plans to feed him up.
News of the Doctor's capture is welcome, but so much that Sarah is at large.
Right when Chase needs it least there's someone at the main gate.
It's Amelia Ducat! Coincidence? Perhaps not.
Chase orders the guard to get rid but "She says you owe her money, sir. She's very persistant. Mentioned something about lawyers, sir!"
Sarah makes it into the cottage...
...and looks in on Keeler.
His mind is going, he's becoming more aggressive, more carnivorous...
...but he doesn't give her away to Hargreaves.
Amelia Ducat claims to have just been passing after painting Lady Chandley's rare hibiscus.
Chase turns on the charm and offers his humblest apologies for not stumping up the cash earlier.
Miss Ducat drives a hard bargain.
"750 guineas. Plus inflation. Shall we say a round thousand?"
"Pounds."
"Done."
You have been, mate.
Scorby pops in to announce the "recycling experiment" is ready.
Chase fobs Ducat off when she gets too interested in the "experiment", leaving Scorby to show her out.
Chase gives the Doctor scope to tease about the efficiency of his grinder...
...but when he asks after Keeler, he's horrified to learn that Chase has been feeding him up. "Dear Arnold. A brilliant researcher and a dedicated botanist. And now, properly nurtured, he can be of inestimable value to science..."
Leaving Keeler to Hargreave's attentions...
...Sarah is able to nab Amelia Ducat and recruit her to get a message to Sir Colin at the WEB when Scorby is distracted by one of her pursuers.
50dw50@50dw50 Agents of WEB, that will be the next Big Finish boxset, probably staring David Warner and Louise Jameson.
Scorby's hearing voices...
Chase only wants the Doctor for his nitrogen. Then he'll pump him into the ground. Cough.
Turns out Ducat's already an Agent of WEB.
Feeling a prick of conscience, Dunbar goes to do the honourable thing.
Curtains for him, you have to expect.
KrynoidPodCast@KrynoidPodCast Indeed. No good deed goes unpunished in classic Who :)
Keeler just wants to break free...
KrynoidPodCast@KrynoidPodCast The scariest form of the human/krynoid hybrid. Even now it shits me up :)
Sarah comes to rescue the Doctor but nearly finishes him off by accident.
"NOT THAT BUTTON, THE OTHER ONE!"
Dunbar urges Chase to destroy the Krynoid, only for Hargreaves to interrupt with the news that the monster is now on the loose.
Dunbar legs it, with Scorby ordered to give chase by Chase.
Finding Keeler gone, the Doctor hastily grabs a scabbarded sword from over the cottage fireplace.
By the time Dunbar tracks it down, the Krynoid has grown and is no longer even humanoid.
50dw50@50dw50 as a kid i never thought the tent version was anywhere near as scary as the axon version.
It scoffs Dunbar...
...then looms over the Doctor and Sarah.
If you go down to the woods today, you're sure of a big surprise - a Krynoid attack!
For once, Scorby's arrival is most welcome.
You know, I kind of miss gun noise knackering up the picture.
The Doctor and Sarah make it to the cottage, with Scorby in tow.
It finally starts to sink in with Scorby that the creature trying to kill them was once Keeler.
Chase insists that no harm comes to his new specimen, no matter who it eats.
After a quick tentacle attack...
...the Krynoid speaks: "The human was Keeler. Now us. Now belongs. Send the Doctor to us. Your lives will then be spared."
50dw50@50dw50 do you like it speaking?
KrynoidPodCast@KrynoidPodCast Yes, I can just about accept it as the remnants of Keeler speaking but I hate it too.
It's supposed to be a thinking creature, not just a fungus or whatever. It's able to communicate with plants via pyschic influence, so maybe it's just broadcasting to their minds rather than "speaking"?
An uneasy alliance is struck.
Amelia Ducat gives herself a job at WEB...
...whether Sir Colin likes it or not!
It's morning again, and Chase is off to get some candid snaps of the Krynoid.
Despite Bob Holmes' later claims, the Doctor has Scorby whip up some Molotov cocktails as a distraction.
Chase derides their attack, but the Doctor makes it away all the same.
Having boosted a set of wheels...
...Tom heads back to TVC. Must have heard the BBC bar's open.
Ordering Hargreaves to get some boards to nail across the windows, Scorby starts to hunker down for a siege.
When he implies the Doctor's legged it to save his own skin, Sarah doesn't pull her punches. "You're not complete unless you've got a gun in your hand!"
"I'm ready for my close-up, Mr. Chase... Are you?"
When the Doctor hops back intoTV Centre WEB HQ...
...he gives short shrift to a jobsworth office clerk only to find Sir Colin in conference with useless UNIT Major Beresford.
"WAFFLE WAFFLE WAFFLE! Where's the Brigadier?"
Major Beresford is sceptical of aggressive rhubarb. He wouldn't like it up him!
The Doctor gets on the blower to Chase Towers, but as he and Sarah are Krynoid goes in for a more literal version of phone hacking.
KrynoidPodCast@KrynoidPodCast Chase is weird - almost post-coital - after his contact with the Krynoid. Unnerving.
The Krynoid controls some creepers to commit acts of petty vandalism. The guards have done a runner.
Sarah and Scorby venture out, and find one of Chase's guards, strangled by creepers.
They bump into Chase, who's gone (more) mad.
Chase talks to the trees. Clint Eastwood nowhere to be seen.
"Animals are the enemy!"
Scorby tries in vain to get through to his employer.
Seemingly taking their lead from Chase, the plants begin to rise up...
Better late than never...
But sooner wouldn't go amiss!
The Doctor had trouble convincing Major Beresford to get UNIT involved. The Brig wouldn't have hesitated.
The Doctor and random UNIT extra, Henderson, have brought the weed-killer, to rescue Sarah and Scorby, but Hargreaves is a gonner.
50dw50@50dw50 If the original team was in this would they have turned Benton into compost?
KrynoidPodCast@KrynoidPodCast I'd like to think they would've sacrificed a random UNIT green shirt rather than Benton.
Great cliffhangers in this story, it has to be said.
Martin Dixon@lonewolf_1971 oh yes, that is a classic and no mistake! They don't make 'em like that any more!
Literally leaping to the rescue, the Doctor jumps down through the skylight and frees Sarah with a few well aimed punches and a chair.
"What do you do for an encore, Doctor?"
"I win!"
Brilliant.
Followed shortly after by the pure Scooby-Doo of Chase's exasperated "Why am I surrounded by idiots?"
In the hubbub, the pod splits...
...and Keeler is infected.
50dw50@50dw50 shame Keeler made rolling up his sleeves so obvious.Although, as Sarah says, he wouldn't use it, it does feel wrong to see the Doctor wandering around waving a gun.
50dw50@50dw50 he does not even get to shoot an Ogron with it.. or an Ice Warrior... or a Cyberman...The changes take effect much quicker in the warmer climate.
Hargreaves arrives to help Chase isolate the Krynoidal Keeler in a nearby cottage. "Mr. Keeler is not very well." may qualify for understatement of the year. Whichever year this is. Pesky UNIT dating.
As the Doctor finds that the pod has already germinated, Scorby tracks him down and reveals Keeler's fate.
Scorby explains his working relationship... "When it comes to money, Mr. Chase and I are of the same religion!"
Showing him to the Composting room, Scorby notes how unsteady on his feet Tom is. Good old BBC bar.
Scorby decides to make compost of the Doctor so that he can fertilize Chase's plants. Eew.
As night falls, Sarah is still free, but hasn't made it out of the grounds.
Keeler is confined to bed, and his pleas to be taken to hospital fall on deaf ears.
Instead, Chase plans to feed him up.
Hargreaves looks like he's about to give it a Le Mesurier "Do you think that's wise, sir?"
News of the Doctor's capture is welcome, but so much that Sarah is at large.
Right when Chase needs it least there's someone at the main gate.
It's Amelia Ducat! Coincidence? Perhaps not.
Chase orders the guard to get rid but "She says you owe her money, sir. She's very persistant. Mentioned something about lawyers, sir!"
Sarah makes it into the cottage...
...and looks in on Keeler.
His mind is going, he's becoming more aggressive, more carnivorous...
...but he doesn't give her away to Hargreaves.
Amelia Ducat claims to have just been passing after painting Lady Chandley's rare hibiscus.
Chase turns on the charm and offers his humblest apologies for not stumping up the cash earlier.
Miss Ducat drives a hard bargain.
"750 guineas. Plus inflation. Shall we say a round thousand?"
"Pounds."
"Done."
You have been, mate.
Scorby pops in to announce the "recycling experiment" is ready.
Chase fobs Ducat off when she gets too interested in the "experiment", leaving Scorby to show her out.
Chase gives the Doctor scope to tease about the efficiency of his grinder...
...but when he asks after Keeler, he's horrified to learn that Chase has been feeding him up. "Dear Arnold. A brilliant researcher and a dedicated botanist. And now, properly nurtured, he can be of inestimable value to science..."
Leaving Keeler to Hargreave's attentions...
...Sarah is able to nab Amelia Ducat and recruit her to get a message to Sir Colin at the WEB when Scorby is distracted by one of her pursuers.
50dw50@50dw50 Agents of WEB, that will be the next Big Finish boxset, probably staring David Warner and Louise Jameson.Scorby's hearing voices...
Chase only wants the Doctor for his nitrogen. Then he'll pump him into the ground. Cough.
Turns out Ducat's already an Agent of WEB.
Feeling a prick of conscience, Dunbar goes to do the honourable thing.
Curtains for him, you have to expect.
KrynoidPodCast@KrynoidPodCast Indeed. No good deed goes unpunished in classic Who :)Keeler just wants to break free...
KrynoidPodCast@KrynoidPodCast The scariest form of the human/krynoid hybrid. Even now it shits me up :)Sarah comes to rescue the Doctor but nearly finishes him off by accident.
"NOT THAT BUTTON, THE OTHER ONE!"
"It would have been such a waste!"
Dunbar urges Chase to destroy the Krynoid, only for Hargreaves to interrupt with the news that the monster is now on the loose.
Dunbar legs it, with Scorby ordered to give chase by Chase.
Finding Keeler gone, the Doctor hastily grabs a scabbarded sword from over the cottage fireplace.
By the time Dunbar tracks it down, the Krynoid has grown and is no longer even humanoid.
50dw50@50dw50 as a kid i never thought the tent version was anywhere near as scary as the axon version.
It scoffs Dunbar...
...then looms over the Doctor and Sarah.
If you go down to the woods today, you're sure of a big surprise - a Krynoid attack!
For once, Scorby's arrival is most welcome.
You know, I kind of miss gun noise knackering up the picture.
The Doctor and Sarah make it to the cottage, with Scorby in tow.
It finally starts to sink in with Scorby that the creature trying to kill them was once Keeler.
Chase insists that no harm comes to his new specimen, no matter who it eats.
After a quick tentacle attack...
...the Krynoid speaks: "The human was Keeler. Now us. Now belongs. Send the Doctor to us. Your lives will then be spared."
50dw50@50dw50 do you like it speaking?
KrynoidPodCast@KrynoidPodCast Yes, I can just about accept it as the remnants of Keeler speaking but I hate it too.
It's supposed to be a thinking creature, not just a fungus or whatever. It's able to communicate with plants via pyschic influence, so maybe it's just broadcasting to their minds rather than "speaking"?
An uneasy alliance is struck.
Amelia Ducat gives herself a job at WEB...
...whether Sir Colin likes it or not!
It's morning again, and Chase is off to get some candid snaps of the Krynoid.
Despite Bob Holmes' later claims, the Doctor has Scorby whip up some Molotov cocktails as a distraction.
Chase derides their attack, but the Doctor makes it away all the same.
Having boosted a set of wheels...
...Tom heads back to TVC. Must have heard the BBC bar's open.
Ordering Hargreaves to get some boards to nail across the windows, Scorby starts to hunker down for a siege.
When he implies the Doctor's legged it to save his own skin, Sarah doesn't pull her punches. "You're not complete unless you've got a gun in your hand!"
"I'm ready for my close-up, Mr. Chase... Are you?"
When the Doctor hops back into
...he gives short shrift to a jobsworth office clerk only to find Sir Colin in conference with useless UNIT Major Beresford.
"WAFFLE WAFFLE WAFFLE! Where's the Brigadier?"
Major Beresford is sceptical of aggressive rhubarb. He wouldn't like it up him!
The Doctor gets on the blower to Chase Towers, but as he and Sarah are Krynoid goes in for a more literal version of phone hacking.
KrynoidPodCast@KrynoidPodCast Chase is weird - almost post-coital - after his contact with the Krynoid. Unnerving.
The Krynoid controls some creepers to commit acts of petty vandalism. The guards have done a runner.
Sarah and Scorby venture out, and find one of Chase's guards, strangled by creepers.
They bump into Chase, who's gone (more) mad.
Chase talks to the trees. Clint Eastwood nowhere to be seen.
"Animals are the enemy!"
Seemingly taking their lead from Chase, the plants begin to rise up...
Better late than never...
But sooner wouldn't go amiss!
The Doctor had trouble convincing Major Beresford to get UNIT involved. The Brig wouldn't have hesitated.
The Doctor and random UNIT extra, Henderson, have brought the weed-killer, to rescue Sarah and Scorby, but Hargreaves is a gonner.
50dw50@50dw50 If the original team was in this would they have turned Benton into compost?
KrynoidPodCast@KrynoidPodCast I'd like to think they would've sacrificed a random UNIT green shirt rather than Benton.
50dw50@50dw50 probably! was Benton invited or had they abandoned the originals after Android?
KrynoidPodCast@KrynoidPodCast Not sure. I seem to remember UNIT's role was going to be smaller so they didn't bother Nick Courtney. so, by extension, they probably didn't ask John Levene. Or if they did, he was busy?
Wasn't Courtney already unavailable? But Levene may not have been asked as you say. Unless the Henderson part was supposed to be Benton? He's a bit more competent than Benton, though.
KrynoidPodCast@KrynoidPodCast I dunno. Benton is normally pretty competent, isn't he? Depends on the writer maybe.I think they asked Courtney once they realised UNIT's role was bigger but it was too late - already booked.
When the gang dump the plants outside, Chase locks them out.
The Krynoid's gigantic now.
Krynoid on the outside, madman on the inside! Armadilloes!
In the nick of time, UNIT turn up with a big laser gun.
KrynoidPodCast@KrynoidPodCast I love it when Faraday orders the laser to be used. "Fah!"
The giant cabbage beats a hasty retreat...
...and the Doctor & co. are able to break back into the mansion.
UNIT are surprised when giving the plant light doesn't particularly harm it. Typical UNIT.
The Doctor begins to wonder why the Krynoid spared Chase - or indeed if it really did. Is he a man possessed?
The gang split up... but Chase is on their case.
Chase sneers his disgust at UNIT's weedkiller supplies, and smashes the sound system.
The Doctor, Sarah and Henderson have to retreat to the lab...
...and UNIT are forced to fall back too.
As the Doctor and Scorby try to keep any stray tentacles at bay...
...Henderson goes to look for more materials for the barricade, only to fall prey to a spannering from Chase.
The Krynoid attack is relentless; now it's breaking through the roof.
Scorby is starting to go stir crazy. He wants to make a break for it, but Sarah and the Doctor encourage him to sit tight and wait for Beresford to come up with something.
Never one to forgo his green agenda, Chase feeds Henderson to his grinder. Probably just as well Benton was off duty.
Scorby's never had to rely on anyone before, and doesn't intend to start now. He says he's been in Africa, the Middle East... Came back with that pod but no missing episodes.
He finally cracks and makes a dash for it...
...but is dragged into a pond...
...drowned by the Krynoid's creepers.
UNIT take up a position a safe distance from the Krynoid.
The plants have got into the humidity system, meaning the pipes could blow and scald everyone at any moment.
The Doctor sends Sarah after Henderson while he works on repairing Chase's vandalism.
Chase informs gleefully Sarah that the Sergeant is in the garden; all over it, in fact...
The Doctor re-establishes contact with Beresford.
He estimates they only have about 15 minutes left. Just to the end of the episode then.
With the Krynoid about to eject hundreds of embryo pods, dooming the whole planet, an airstrike is the only hope now.
Chase prepares to make Sarah his next victim.
Surely our Sarah Jane isn't for the chop?
The Doctor arrives in the nick of time to save her...
...but Chase ends up in the recycler during the struggle.
KrynoidPodCast@KrynoidPodCast Great scene. Well done and a grisly end for a great character.
Carl@CarlWood7 Ha! You deserved it you... no, that is quite grim actually.
The Doctor unties Sarah. They've only minutes now...
...as UNIT send some stock footage of jets overhead.
"Red Leader"? Are they sending in the X-Wings?
The Doctor and Sarah need to battle their way past the Krynoid's tentacles to escape the mansion.
KrynoidPodCast@KrynoidPodCast This is the bit with the steam pipe, isn't it? What country mansion has steam coursing around its plumbing?! :-D
Well, one that's got its own hothouse botanical centre installed, to be fair!
KrynoidPodCast@KrynoidPodCast True. It's no ordinary country house after all. The Doctor must've realised.
I guess he particularly noticed for that reason, though - that it shouldn't have been there.
The Doctor & Sarah escape just in time, as the jets destroy the Krynoid with a missile strike.
UNIT actually get to blow the monster up and the Brig's not even there to see it. Sad. Still, roast Krynoid for tea!
KrynoidPodCast@KrynoidPodCast The most successful (or least unsuccessful!) huge monster in classic Who?
The Krynoid's gigantic now.
Krynoid on the outside, madman on the inside! Armadilloes!
In the nick of time, UNIT turn up with a big laser gun.
KrynoidPodCast@KrynoidPodCast I love it when Faraday orders the laser to be used. "Fah!"
The giant cabbage beats a hasty retreat...
...and the Doctor & co. are able to break back into the mansion.
UNIT are surprised when giving the plant light doesn't particularly harm it. Typical UNIT.
The Doctor begins to wonder why the Krynoid spared Chase - or indeed if it really did. Is he a man possessed?
The gang split up... but Chase is on their case.
Chase sneers his disgust at UNIT's weedkiller supplies, and smashes the sound system.
The Doctor, Sarah and Henderson have to retreat to the lab...
...and UNIT are forced to fall back too.
As the Doctor and Scorby try to keep any stray tentacles at bay...
...Henderson goes to look for more materials for the barricade, only to fall prey to a spannering from Chase.
The Krynoid attack is relentless; now it's breaking through the roof.
Scorby is starting to go stir crazy. He wants to make a break for it, but Sarah and the Doctor encourage him to sit tight and wait for Beresford to come up with something.
Never one to forgo his green agenda, Chase feeds Henderson to his grinder. Probably just as well Benton was off duty.
Scorby's never had to rely on anyone before, and doesn't intend to start now. He says he's been in Africa, the Middle East... Came back with that pod but no missing episodes.
He finally cracks and makes a dash for it...
...but is dragged into a pond...
...drowned by the Krynoid's creepers.
UNIT take up a position a safe distance from the Krynoid.
The plants have got into the humidity system, meaning the pipes could blow and scald everyone at any moment.
The Doctor sends Sarah after Henderson while he works on repairing Chase's vandalism.
Chase informs gleefully Sarah that the Sergeant is in the garden; all over it, in fact...
The Doctor re-establishes contact with Beresford.
He estimates they only have about 15 minutes left. Just to the end of the episode then.
With the Krynoid about to eject hundreds of embryo pods, dooming the whole planet, an airstrike is the only hope now.
Chase prepares to make Sarah his next victim.
Surely our Sarah Jane isn't for the chop?
The Doctor arrives in the nick of time to save her...
...but Chase ends up in the recycler during the struggle.
KrynoidPodCast@KrynoidPodCast Great scene. Well done and a grisly end for a great character.
Carl@CarlWood7 Ha! You deserved it you... no, that is quite grim actually.
The Doctor unties Sarah. They've only minutes now...
...as UNIT send some stock footage of jets overhead.
"Red Leader"? Are they sending in the X-Wings?
The Doctor and Sarah need to battle their way past the Krynoid's tentacles to escape the mansion.
KrynoidPodCast@KrynoidPodCast This is the bit with the steam pipe, isn't it? What country mansion has steam coursing around its plumbing?! :-D
Well, one that's got its own hothouse botanical centre installed, to be fair!
KrynoidPodCast@KrynoidPodCast True. It's no ordinary country house after all. The Doctor must've realised.
I guess he particularly noticed for that reason, though - that it shouldn't have been there.
The Doctor & Sarah escape just in time, as the jets destroy the Krynoid with a missile strike.
UNIT actually get to blow the monster up and the Brig's not even there to see it. Sad. Still, roast Krynoid for tea!
KrynoidPodCast@KrynoidPodCast The most successful (or least unsuccessful!) huge monster in classic Who?
I think so, yeah. Better than Kroll, I reckon - better movement. Good tentacle action! :-D
KrynoidPodCast@KrynoidPodCast I think so too. I don't mind Kroll but this is better :)Carl@CarlWood7 The one time bombing it with a big missile works, and the Brigadier's in Geneva.50dw50@50dw50 Great last UNIT story really as fire power wins the day, a final validation for UNIT as Dr Who does nothing.KrynoidPodCast@KrynoidPodCast Yes, the ending should've been cleverer and more Doctor-y. One of its very few faults.
Back at WEB HQ, the Doctor turns down the chance to address the RHS. "I'm fully booked for the next two centuries!"
The TARDIS "returns" to Antarctica...
Wibbly wobbly timey wimey over 30 years early! They so nearly got away with it - it could have been coincidence that the TARDIS landed where they "started".
"How can we return somewhere we didn't go to in the 1st place?"
"I'll explain later..."
But then they go and mention forgetting to reset the co-ordinates. Maybe he set co-ordinates, then got offered a lift by plane so never launched until now? That's no fun though!
"Have we been here before? Or... are we yet to come?"
Do check out the smashing Q&A with Scorby himself, Mr. John Challis (@BeingBoycie) at @ClassicDrWho's link here!
TTFN! K.
Coming Soon... The Time Monster
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