altariel | Doctor Who: season 11

The Time Warrior

altariel: Sarah is cracking from the moment she appears on screen. Also, this story is tremendously well acted and tremendously funny.

mraltariel: It's a shame that everyone knows what a Sontaran looks like, because the helmet-shaped head should be a very funny gag.

altariel: I thought we didn't know what Sontarans looked like. Are you telling me you've seen this before?

mraltariel: Sorry, reality intruded for a moment. I'll make sure that doesn't happen again.

Invasion of the Dinosaurs

altariel: I love this story. I think it's brilliant. Except for the dinosaurs, which are a bit rubbish. But points for trying.

mraltariel: Well, no, only T-Rex and possibly the pterodactyl are truly stinky. The stegosaurus is fine.

altariel: And, really, it's not about dinosaurs.

mraltariel: No, but don't spoil it for everyone.

Death to the Daleks

altariel: I'm sorry, but I had a massive failure of suspension of disbelief whilst watching this one, which really doesn't help when watching Doctor Who. I think it was that stupid Dalek music... Stop singing it, for god's sake! Also, the Daleks are thoroughly pointless. But the little muddy guy was great.

mraltariel: Did I say that I got the Bellal Weetabix card?

altariel: That may have cropped up in conversation. I'm surprised you haven't mentioned that 'The Time Warrior' is your earliest memory of life on this planet.

mraltariel: I thought I'd just get you to do that. 'Death to the Daleks' is one of my favourites and I don't care how bad the space marine corps ENSA troupe are.

altariel: Worst. Commandos. Ever.

mraltariel: Or at least since the Thals in 'Planet of the Daleks'.

The Monster of Peladon

altariel: Hmm.

mraltariel: Oh dear. Even Sarah can't get us out of this one.

Planet of the Spiders

altariel: I think this is about feminism.

mraltariel: I think this is about spiders.

altariel: I know.

mraltariel: That's the problem with the female brain, it overcomplicates things. Here, have a kitten to still your floating womb.

Ranking
Death to the Daleks (only top because of the

mraltariel million point bonus)
Invasion of the Dinosaurs
The Time Warrior
Planet of the Spiders
Death to the Daleks (where it should be)
The Monster of Peladon

altariel: So that was Pertwee. I take back everything I have ever said in the past. Including liking 'Inferno'.

mraltariel: As a weekly serial, some of those "over-long" and "boring" stories turn out to be amongst the better ones. Couldn't save 'The Monster of Peladon', though.

altariel: Have we been less irritated by Pertwee than we thought we might? I prefer a less establishment Doctor, but his chemistry with Jo was a delight.

mraltariel: He's also got a stronger streak of Hartnell testiness and childishness than I was expecting, which works well against the UNIT team.

altariel: You were surprised that UNIT weren't in it as much as you'd expected, weren't you?

mraltariel: Yes. You have the impression of all the UNIT regulars being in most of the stories. But they just aren't. And when they do appear, they're often not in a central role. Also, I think the storytelling is quite different from before. It's like they're trying to do 1980s sci-fi film blockbusters.

altariel: But on thruppence ha'penny.

mraltariel: And twice as long.

altariel: The show has settled into a pattern now. I wonder what the new chap will be like.