DOCTOR WHO-THE TRIAL OF A TIME LORD parts 3 and 4: THE MYSTERIOUS PLANET parts 3 and 4
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DOCTOR
WHO-THE TRIAL OF A TIME LORD parts 3 and 4: THE MYSTERIOUS PLANET parts 3 and 4
“Like you,
I'm looking for a lost man.”
“Well, if
the rest of his presentation is as riveting as the first little epic, wake me
when it's finished.”
“I only hope
your evidence gets a little better.”
What?
I can see
where they were trying to go with this but trying is the key word. They didn’t
really succeed. At times, the dialog is fun and interesting and the concepts
not so bad but the whole think smacks of mediocrity and desperation. It almost
hangs together, probably mostly due to Robert Holmes. But just read some of the
dialog from the trial sequences: it almost criticizes itself.
One
cliffhanger has the Doctor taken by the machine and then menaced by …Merdeen
who shoots the handsome young Grell. At times, the Doctor seems positively
charming and warm toward Peri, even hugging her tightly to himself or at least
putting an arm around her. He calls her Sarah Jane at least once. He also calls
the Valeyard more names, most notably Knacker’s yard. He calls the blond boys
Tumker and Handrail. Their last scene as they exit the tunnels is…quite played
for…well, no way to say this, gay? And under played as well as over played all
at once!
ABOUT TIME
has pages and pages of why this story and ALL the stories this season make NO
sense.
Katryca and
Broken Tooth are so stupid and so annoying, that their deaths, bloody faces
from being electrified (?) are almost welcome. Drathro becomes my new hero
until he, too, becomes stupid enough to believe Glitz and Dibber (both of whom
seem to be nothing but villains, a double act unworthy of Holmes himself,
though at times they are charming, Dibber more than Glitz to be honest).
Do all
British people think that Americans talk the way Peri does? “You’re a pal?”
really? Maybe in the 1930s?
BTW how does
black light run a robot? https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blacklight
The Doctor’s
right: nothing about the Valeyard’s case makes any sense. ABOUT TIME also has
pages and pages about this INQUIRY which is also at times called a Trial? What?
Why not go
the whole hog and bleep out the Doctor’s name as well as the Matrix!? Oh, no!
I’ve spoiled it! As if something like this could be spoiled.
Look, on the
positive side, the sets are adequate, the outdoor location work looks stunning,
and the characters had potential. I must admit that the climax looks more like
a comedy with more threat in a JOSIE AND THE PUSSYCATS and SCOOBY DO episode
than those fake laser beams that can’t hit FOUR people and a fan that moves?
And Peri thinks they’ll be drowned? And Balazar is hit with comedy green
slime…were they competing with Nickelodeon’s YOU CAN’T DO THAT ON TELEVISION?
I must admit
the Doctor’s continued one liners and reactions to almost dying almost reach
Tom Baker potential and are reaching but gain an almost comedic effect that’s
worth the story. “Hello, Merdeen, miss your train?” And, “Keep your head down!” “Dinner’s on him.”
And a ton of
others. Colin is quite good in these two episodes, too and he and Peri’s relationship
is friendly, almost a couple if you watch closely.
BTW how does
black light run a robot?
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blacklight
The Doctor
also quotes WATER BABIES.
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