For Patrick Troughton who played the second (and best) Dr Who, I can strongly recommend The Invasion, 6 of its 8 episodes survive and is a true classic in every aspect, wonderful incidental music too. If you want to know just how good an actor Patrick Troughton was watch episode 2 of The Evil of The Daleks, which is sadly the only surviving episode of this 7 part story (the audio exists for the entire thing and it is quite possibly the best story ever of any ear). Watch the below video from 16:00 to 20:19:
This is a wonderful review and I completely agree that it really should have continued. I think it was Michael Grade, the same man who brought an end to British wrestling, who was responsible (a man just as destructive as Beeching, in many ways). The end of the 1980s, were culturally traumatic for me, seeing the end of two beloved institutions , thanks to that man.
Anyway, a couple of minor quibbles: Giing to disagree with you on A Carnival of Monsters’, I thought it was great. I also wonder what your thoughts are on Planet of the Daleks, Pyramids of Mars, Seeds of Doom, Resurrection of the Daleks, and the Two Doctors, as well as the latter part of Tom Baker’s era?
It’s such a shame that the show has currently been trashed by left wing activists, and I have wondered whether it could ever be rescued. (assuming the BBC would ever part with it, which is highly unlikely) Like the country in general, it took a wrong turn that did not serve it well.
Anyway, thanks for doing this, it largely echoes my own thoughts, and has been a nice nostalgia trip.
Planet of the Daleks, Pyramids of Mars, Seeds of Doom - all very good.
Resurrection of the Daleks - so so
The Two Doctors - I really don't like it. I don't like the sunny setting, and the whole cannibal Shockeye stuff is, IMHO, a waste of Patrick Troughton.
Hi Woes, seems I am bit late to this one. Anyway check out the main comment I just made here, I have a link to a Troughton episode, and I point out where the few minutes you must see are, in my opinion probably the best acting the show was ever to see.
Nice job. Several people have told me my story is like Dr. Who in one main respect. If you’re curious, check out what may be the freshest, most unique story you come across.
God has come to Earth: with a podcast, an agenda… and a personality.
The Godcast: An entertaining work of speculative fiction that blends spirituality, technology, science, geopolitics and pop culture, wrapped-up in a suspenseful thriller as humanity confronts its biggest existential threats.
As it happens, I'm watching the classic seasons for the first time, and am just finishing up season 8. It's such a shame that so many early episodes were lost. I just get interested in some of the companions and then they're gone without even a goodbye because those episodes are lost.
I like Pertwee in the role, but I think series 8 suffers from too much of the Master. The inevitable scene where he tries to convince the Doctor to join him and gets rebuffed is getting repetitive. I'm also starting to notice some 70s liberalism sneaking into the stories, which I really didn't see in 1-7. But I'm still enjoying it a lot. The stories are deeper and more serious than I expected and it compares well to other sci-fi of the era or even later.
I watched several episodes of the 2005 reboot when that came out, but bailed because it started to feel manipulative, and I sensed heavier message episodes coming. It sounds like I wasn't wrong. I plan to watch up to 1989 and then stop.
My love for Doctor Who started in the autumn of 1982 when I watched the Horror of Fang Rock with my younger sister on Public Television in Virginia.
One of my favorite episodes comes from the First Doctor--The Aztrecs. I read an interview with the actress Jacqueline Hill in the early 90s, who played Barbara on the show. She said it was her favorite because it was the only time in the show that her character was the focus of an episode, and that the story was quite moving. I remember how sad I felt when the Aztec priest came to the realization that Barbara was not really a goddess and how profoundly shattered that revelation had left him. Jacqueline Hill, who died in 1993 at only 63 of breast cancer, remarked on that same point.
The Talons of Weng-Chiang is one of my favorites, too. I have it on audio book (with the BBC cast) and on DVD. I even bought a small vinyl action figure of Weng-Chiang off of Ebay at it is sitting on my desk right now. ( I know. I know...)
My late mother watched the new Doctor Who while I was working overseas because she felt it gave her a small connection to me (that and taking care of my cats). When I came back to the States in 2012 to visit, my mother rented a stack of DVDs of the new show for me to watch. It was so sweet of her. However, I was shocked at the wokery. Jetlag had me sleeping through most of the episodes. I did watch one episode with the Cybermen in Hong Kong in 2007 (during a brief stay) and it was ok.
I think anyone who grows up with Doctor Who and loves it will find themselves shaped partially by it. I know I was.
I remember you asking me who my favorite Doctor Who was (via chat) a couple of years ago, Woes, and I said Peter Davison. I could sense your disappointment, even though you said nothing :)
I have a collection of Doctor Who DVDs that I occasionally watch, along with several audio books and the new audio adventures, even a couple of Jago and Litefoot audio plays.
I have watched very few of the new DW shows. To me, they only remind me of how far we in the West have fallen.
Thanks for that touching dive into nostalgia, Woes. I remember some of those stories well from my childhood. Doctor Who has mutated (spitefully) into a rotten parody of what it used to be; but these original series are still there for us to enjoy on home media. They can't take that away from us.
A good overview. Two classics not mentioned are 'Pyramids of Mars' and 'The Seeds of Doom.' 'Pyramids' has a real sense of horror, and also Tom Baker at his most serious. 'Seeds of Doom' has a great cast and story. The various human villains are well written and acted, especially the misanthropic Harrison Chase. The krynoid is genuinely alien and menacing.
In the Jon Pertwee era, there's also 'Day of the Daleks', and 'The Green Death' which is not the best story, but is a quaint expression of 1970s hippy politics.
For the Patrick Troughton era, 'The Mind Robber' is a strange and slightly surreal story. His last one 'The War Games' is a ten parter that is too long winded, but has its moments.
Going right back to the start, 'The Daleks' (starting with 'The Dead Planet') is good, although made on a very low budget in 1963. 'The Time Meddler', set in 1066, is also worth watching.
Yes, I quite liked Pyramids of Mars and War Games--and the mysterious war chief. (isn't that the one where Zoe wears the metallic cat suit?--or was it The Mind Robber?)
For Patrick Troughton who played the second (and best) Dr Who, I can strongly recommend The Invasion, 6 of its 8 episodes survive and is a true classic in every aspect, wonderful incidental music too. If you want to know just how good an actor Patrick Troughton was watch episode 2 of The Evil of The Daleks, which is sadly the only surviving episode of this 7 part story (the audio exists for the entire thing and it is quite possibly the best story ever of any ear). Watch the below video from 16:00 to 20:19:
https://youtu.be/6KXQwAqMTg8?is=n7PUoz0paS6aUMc8
Now THAT is acting, with a bloody good script!
This is a wonderful review and I completely agree that it really should have continued. I think it was Michael Grade, the same man who brought an end to British wrestling, who was responsible (a man just as destructive as Beeching, in many ways). The end of the 1980s, were culturally traumatic for me, seeing the end of two beloved institutions , thanks to that man.
Anyway, a couple of minor quibbles: Giing to disagree with you on A Carnival of Monsters’, I thought it was great. I also wonder what your thoughts are on Planet of the Daleks, Pyramids of Mars, Seeds of Doom, Resurrection of the Daleks, and the Two Doctors, as well as the latter part of Tom Baker’s era?
It’s such a shame that the show has currently been trashed by left wing activists, and I have wondered whether it could ever be rescued. (assuming the BBC would ever part with it, which is highly unlikely) Like the country in general, it took a wrong turn that did not serve it well.
Anyway, thanks for doing this, it largely echoes my own thoughts, and has been a nice nostalgia trip.
Thank you for these kind words.
Planet of the Daleks, Pyramids of Mars, Seeds of Doom - all very good.
Resurrection of the Daleks - so so
The Two Doctors - I really don't like it. I don't like the sunny setting, and the whole cannibal Shockeye stuff is, IMHO, a waste of Patrick Troughton.
Hi Woes, seems I am bit late to this one. Anyway check out the main comment I just made here, I have a link to a Troughton episode, and I point out where the few minutes you must see are, in my opinion probably the best acting the show was ever to see.
I was a fan of the Tom Baker to the end with Sylvester (I don't acknowledge NuWho.)
I think Douglas Adams was involved in some productions around the Tom Baker years.
Nice job. Several people have told me my story is like Dr. Who in one main respect. If you’re curious, check out what may be the freshest, most unique story you come across.
God has come to Earth: with a podcast, an agenda… and a personality.
The Godcast: An entertaining work of speculative fiction that blends spirituality, technology, science, geopolitics and pop culture, wrapped-up in a suspenseful thriller as humanity confronts its biggest existential threats.
https://godcast.substack.com/p/the-godcast-1-s1-e1-part-1?r=18ajrt&utm_medium=ios
As it happens, I'm watching the classic seasons for the first time, and am just finishing up season 8. It's such a shame that so many early episodes were lost. I just get interested in some of the companions and then they're gone without even a goodbye because those episodes are lost.
I like Pertwee in the role, but I think series 8 suffers from too much of the Master. The inevitable scene where he tries to convince the Doctor to join him and gets rebuffed is getting repetitive. I'm also starting to notice some 70s liberalism sneaking into the stories, which I really didn't see in 1-7. But I'm still enjoying it a lot. The stories are deeper and more serious than I expected and it compares well to other sci-fi of the era or even later.
I watched several episodes of the 2005 reboot when that came out, but bailed because it started to feel manipulative, and I sensed heavier message episodes coming. It sounds like I wasn't wrong. I plan to watch up to 1989 and then stop.
My love for Doctor Who started in the autumn of 1982 when I watched the Horror of Fang Rock with my younger sister on Public Television in Virginia.
One of my favorite episodes comes from the First Doctor--The Aztrecs. I read an interview with the actress Jacqueline Hill in the early 90s, who played Barbara on the show. She said it was her favorite because it was the only time in the show that her character was the focus of an episode, and that the story was quite moving. I remember how sad I felt when the Aztec priest came to the realization that Barbara was not really a goddess and how profoundly shattered that revelation had left him. Jacqueline Hill, who died in 1993 at only 63 of breast cancer, remarked on that same point.
The Talons of Weng-Chiang is one of my favorites, too. I have it on audio book (with the BBC cast) and on DVD. I even bought a small vinyl action figure of Weng-Chiang off of Ebay at it is sitting on my desk right now. ( I know. I know...)
My late mother watched the new Doctor Who while I was working overseas because she felt it gave her a small connection to me (that and taking care of my cats). When I came back to the States in 2012 to visit, my mother rented a stack of DVDs of the new show for me to watch. It was so sweet of her. However, I was shocked at the wokery. Jetlag had me sleeping through most of the episodes. I did watch one episode with the Cybermen in Hong Kong in 2007 (during a brief stay) and it was ok.
I think anyone who grows up with Doctor Who and loves it will find themselves shaped partially by it. I know I was.
I remember you asking me who my favorite Doctor Who was (via chat) a couple of years ago, Woes, and I said Peter Davison. I could sense your disappointment, even though you said nothing :)
I have a collection of Doctor Who DVDs that I occasionally watch, along with several audio books and the new audio adventures, even a couple of Jago and Litefoot audio plays.
I have watched very few of the new DW shows. To me, they only remind me of how far we in the West have fallen.
Doctor Who has fallen as the West has fallen.
Thanks for that touching dive into nostalgia, Woes. I remember some of those stories well from my childhood. Doctor Who has mutated (spitefully) into a rotten parody of what it used to be; but these original series are still there for us to enjoy on home media. They can't take that away from us.
A good overview. Two classics not mentioned are 'Pyramids of Mars' and 'The Seeds of Doom.' 'Pyramids' has a real sense of horror, and also Tom Baker at his most serious. 'Seeds of Doom' has a great cast and story. The various human villains are well written and acted, especially the misanthropic Harrison Chase. The krynoid is genuinely alien and menacing.
In the Jon Pertwee era, there's also 'Day of the Daleks', and 'The Green Death' which is not the best story, but is a quaint expression of 1970s hippy politics.
For the Patrick Troughton era, 'The Mind Robber' is a strange and slightly surreal story. His last one 'The War Games' is a ten parter that is too long winded, but has its moments.
Going right back to the start, 'The Daleks' (starting with 'The Dead Planet') is good, although made on a very low budget in 1963. 'The Time Meddler', set in 1066, is also worth watching.
Yes, I quite liked Pyramids of Mars and War Games--and the mysterious war chief. (isn't that the one where Zoe wears the metallic cat suit?--or was it The Mind Robber?)