This is the beginning of the most epic Doctor Who season arc, The Trial of a Time Lord; 14 episodes in length, divided into 4 stories. Despite technically being one long story, I will treat this arc as four separate stories. The first four parts, The Mysterious Planet, immediately begins the titular trial, creating fascinating tension and drama. It also gives us a rather engaging mystery of an alien planet surprisingly similar to Earth. The story quickly presents a very fascinating, post-apocalyptic society, which is one of the most engaging ones in Doctor Who. The first story si divided between the Doctor meeting the God of the planet, in a rather Second Doctor type of a story-line and Peri being paired with some mischievous criminals planning to wreak havoc on the planet. It feels like a typical Robert Holmes script. The story expertly switches back and forth between the retellings of events and the trial itself, which turns increasingly dramatic as the season progresses. It truly puts a lot of what Doctor Who is about into question. These scenes indirectly depict all the criticism the show was forced to endure at the time, and it has been incorporated in into the plot fairly well. After the opening episode, the remainign three are pretty lightweight in terms of plot, but oput focus on action and excitement.
Colin Baker is on top form throughout the entire season; more confident, more smug and more Doctor-ish than ever before. Together with Micahel Jayston's mysterious Valeyard and Lynda Bellingham's Inquisitor, he forms the bulk trio of the season. In this first story, Joan Sims and Tony Selby stand out as well, as two very different characters. Selby's Glitz is particularly interesting, as some kind of a Indiana Jones in space. Sims' Katryca is probably the best revolutionary leader I've seen on Classic Who. She's wonderfully energetic and Sims seems to really enjoy playing her. Glen Murphy is funny as the daft Dibber, quickly becoming a favourite supporting character of mine.
I love the Doctor here, particularly when he defends his case with ravaging energy. He's also much more likable here, even when pressed by his responsibilities. He's forced to contemplate the ethical consequences of his actions, and the audience is given an opportunity to understand the Doctor better thanks to that.
Peri is pretty forgotten throughout the first serial, which is a bit of a shame. She barely has any lines and definitely plays no important part whatsoever to the main plot.
I like Drathro, a rather effective robot, looking something like the Krotons from The Krotons (1969), but much cooler and with horns. His two henchmen are annoying and in the way, however.
The design of The Mysterious Planet shifts from the beautifully colorful underground base to the very Viking-era like location footage. It's simple, but I like it.
This is a swift story-line, and since the focus is on action and excitement, it flows fairly well. There's not much tension after the first part, other than in the courtroom scenes, but the action keeps the story going.
I love the ominous opening, which immediately shows us the direction this season will take. I also love the post-apocalyptic feel the first serial has, as it gives the story a mysterious feel. This is also a very action-packed installment, with lots of chases like in the good old days. The script includes loads of lighthearted banter, particularly between Glitz and Dibber, and it is just as well-written by Holmes as always.
This story marked the beginning of The Trial of a Time Lord arc, planting the seeds of a larger story arc that would be resolved at the end of the season.
This is a pretty good start, fast-paced and with some fine acting moments by the leads, so definitely one I could revisit in the future.
RANDOM OBSERVATIONS:
Glitz asks Dibber to shoot "five rounds rapid" which paraphrases the Brigadier from The Daemons (1971).
Review by Theo KallströmVIP 6BlockedParentSpoilers2020-07-10T13:02:31Z
This is the beginning of the most epic Doctor Who season arc, The Trial of a Time Lord; 14 episodes in length, divided into 4 stories. Despite technically being one long story, I will treat this arc as four separate stories.
The first four parts, The Mysterious Planet, immediately begins the titular trial, creating fascinating tension and drama. It also gives us a rather engaging mystery of an alien planet surprisingly similar to Earth. The story quickly presents a very fascinating, post-apocalyptic society, which is one of the most engaging ones in Doctor Who. The first story si divided between the Doctor meeting the God of the planet, in a rather Second Doctor type of a story-line and Peri being paired with some mischievous criminals planning to wreak havoc on the planet. It feels like a typical Robert Holmes script.
The story expertly switches back and forth between the retellings of events and the trial itself, which turns increasingly dramatic as the season progresses. It truly puts a lot of what Doctor Who is about into question. These scenes indirectly depict all the criticism the show was forced to endure at the time, and it has been incorporated in into the plot fairly well.
After the opening episode, the remainign three are pretty lightweight in terms of plot, but oput focus on action and excitement.
Colin Baker is on top form throughout the entire season; more confident, more smug and more Doctor-ish than ever before. Together with Micahel Jayston's mysterious Valeyard and Lynda Bellingham's Inquisitor, he forms the bulk trio of the season. In this first story, Joan Sims and Tony Selby stand out as well, as two very different characters. Selby's Glitz is particularly interesting, as some kind of a Indiana Jones in space. Sims' Katryca is probably the best revolutionary leader I've seen on Classic Who. She's wonderfully energetic and Sims seems to really enjoy playing her. Glen Murphy is funny as the daft Dibber, quickly becoming a favourite supporting character of mine.
I love the Doctor here, particularly when he defends his case with ravaging energy. He's also much more likable here, even when pressed by his responsibilities. He's forced to contemplate the ethical consequences of his actions, and the audience is given an opportunity to understand the Doctor better thanks to that.
Peri is pretty forgotten throughout the first serial, which is a bit of a shame. She barely has any lines and definitely plays no important part whatsoever to the main plot.
I like Drathro, a rather effective robot, looking something like the Krotons from The Krotons (1969), but much cooler and with horns. His two henchmen are annoying and in the way, however.
The design of The Mysterious Planet shifts from the beautifully colorful underground base to the very Viking-era like location footage. It's simple, but I like it.
This is a swift story-line, and since the focus is on action and excitement, it flows fairly well. There's not much tension after the first part, other than in the courtroom scenes, but the action keeps the story going.
I love the ominous opening, which immediately shows us the direction this season will take. I also love the post-apocalyptic feel the first serial has, as it gives the story a mysterious feel. This is also a very action-packed installment, with lots of chases like in the good old days. The script includes loads of lighthearted banter, particularly between Glitz and Dibber, and it is just as well-written by Holmes as always.
This story marked the beginning of The Trial of a Time Lord arc, planting the seeds of a larger story arc that would be resolved at the end of the season.
This is a pretty good start, fast-paced and with some fine acting moments by the leads, so definitely one I could revisit in the future.
RANDOM OBSERVATIONS:
Glitz asks Dibber to shoot "five rounds rapid" which paraphrases the Brigadier from The Daemons (1971).
Score: 70/120