Talking of Frogs....

Watching It Takes You Away made us want to revisit a 'classic' episode which also featured a talking frog: Four to Doomsday.

This was the first Peter Davison story to be filmed, and it shows. It's an odd episode, which would have fitted pretty well into the Hartnell era. There are some similarities with The Ark, although in this case it is the Urbankans who have left their dying planet. Earth has been chosen as their new home.

The TARDIS crew have not really settled down.  Tegan just wants to go home, and is extremely annoying - though she does demonstrate excellent artistic skills.  Nyssa is being a scientific clever clogs, and is annoying.  Adric is just annoying.

Overall the story is pretty poor, but it does provide a use for the Fifth Doctor's cricketing outfit, or at least the cricket ball in his pocket, as long as you can suspend disbelief in the laws of physics.

Farewell Adric

Sunday 29 November 2014

Today's offering from UK Drama is Earthshock, which I believe may hold the record as the last Doctor Who story with a spoiler-free ending.  Well, apart possibly from the surprise appearance of Rose at the end of Partners in Crime.

At the time, I was quite upset about Adric's demise, as I had rather a soft spot for him.   

I can't remember having watched this since it was first broadcast, and it seems likely that I haven't, as we don't appear to have a copy.  (The husband has just been doing a stocktake of our VHS and DVD Doctor Who library, and can't find it - yes, we really know how to enjoy ourselves on a Sunday!)

Later:

Adric is having a massive teenage strop.  I don't remember that at all.  Though unlike most teenagers, he wants to go home, rather than go out.

I do remember the Cybermen from this episode, though.  I still think the design is a bit too elaborate, and the voices are rather too fruity and not metallic enough. Plus they say 'excellent' rather too much. Not at all scary.

Beryl Reid has to be the least believable space freighter captain ever.