altariel | Doctor Who: season 4

Right, so our Doctor Who rewatch project was derailed slightly by: 1.

mraltariel being in the US before Christmas, 2. me having to write a book, and, 3. not wanting the Hartnell era to end. But now we have restarted.

The Smugglers

mraltariel: I would say... no! I wouldn't say, "I would say!" - I would say that this is just filler really. One of the last of its kind, and it feels a bit out of place amongst The War Machines and some of the Troughtons to come. Of course, it didn't feel like that when we were watching it, only in light of the rest of the season. Don't ask me to tell you the plot.

altariel: I have absolutely no memory of this story at all. I think it may have involved some smugglers.

The Tenth Planet

mraltariel: If we'd seen Jon Pertwee (which obviously we haven't yet), I'd say that this seems a lot like a (good) Pertwee! But we haven't, so I can't.

altariel: Those cyberfellers rock. Polly isn't bad either.

The Power of the Daleks

mraltariel: Troughton settles in very, very quickly. I'm surprised. It feels quite like a story that would have Steven in it: a Hartnell story with Troughton in the lead.

altariel: I was quite distracted by the fact that we were in Paris for most of the time that we were listening to this. I have to say that I'm a bit fed-up of the Daleks now, and I'd like something new to be tried - but then they have just recast the lead, so perhaps I shouldn't complain so much. But Pat is splendid from the start.

The Highlanders

mraltariel: I found this to be rather dull, which is a shame, because I always enjoyed the Target novelization.

altariel: The Great Dicks works his magic yet again. I quite like this, because Polly gets to do something.

mraltariel: The cast all turn in good performances, I think.

The Underwater Menace

mraltariel: This really is an unsung gem. The story rollicks along, it's funny, the design is fantastic, and it's unfairly maligned.

altariel: I totally agree. I think it's fun, it isn't taking itself seriously ("Come on Ben! We've got bigger fish to fry!") and it looks smashing. But then I like Russell T Davies, so you know what my taste is in Doctor Who.

The Moonbase

mraltariel: Probably the worst-executed of the stories this season. It's a suspenseful thriller without suspense or thrill, because they spoil it in episode 1 when the Cybermen are revealed. Eventually, the people in the base learn what you knew in the first episode, and yet they still play it as if it's a mystery.

altariel: Indeed, what's the point? Grindingly dull, even taking into account that we had some bloody pictures at last. I wish some of "The Macra Terror" had survived instead.

The Macra Terror

mraltariel: A joy. They should bring them back again.

altariel: No, only somebody with no idea of what makes good Doctor Who would contemplate that! Yes, this is a splendid variation on rebels-and-fascists, with the jolly-and-sinister jingles making it for me. Reminds me of "The Happiness Patrol", which of course we haven't seen yet.

mraltariel: Reminds me of family holidays in the Seventies.

altariel: Were there giant crabs?

mraltariel: There were crabs and I was smaller.

The Faceless Ones

mraltariel: Real Troughton now. Two episodes too long, but a good solid story.

altariel: I think Pauline Collins was a real loss to this show. Her character is an absolute delight, the three of them (Troughton, Jamie, and mouthy Scouse lass) would have been a treat.

The Evil of the Daleks

mraltariel: And instead we get Victoria. Who is mercifully not in this story, which is by far the best of the Daleks so far.

altariel: Better even than Masterplan?

mraltariel: Yes, it's shorter. And the supporting cast are better.

altariel: Fair comment. John Bailey as Waterfield in particular gives a very nuanced and sympathetic performance.

mraltariel: The only problem is that they junk most of the episodes. We are starved of monochrome down here!

Ranking
The Evil of the Daleks
The Tenth Planet
The Underwater Menace
The Macra Terror
The Faceless Ones
The Highlanders
The Power of the Daleks
The Smugglers
The Moonbase