Doctor Who Episode Opinions So Far V: What I've Seen of Classic Who
Doctor Who: The City of Death (four parter) by Douglas Adams!
Doctor: Tom Baker
Romana was the companion.
Just from this four episode series I can see why Tom Baker is so many people's Doctor. He was great! He could act quite dumb sometimes (I think Tennant copied this), but his point-blank delivery of lines is fantastic. "Romana, something very strange is going on! The man who was following us now has a gun pressed into my back!"
Romana was a great companion, and I can see why so many are so fond of her. I loved her hat, especially how she had to hold it while running. And she built the stability thing to make it possible to travel between time bubbles. No new Who companions have done anything like that! Duggan was a great addition for the human element. "That might be the most important punch in history!" Also, now I know how life came to be. A Jagorath ship exploded exposing the amino acid soup with radiation, thus causing the spark of life. I knew the Doctor had something to do with it. Only gripes: K9 never left the TARDIS, so we never saw him. Also, do we have to see the Eiffel Tower to know we're in Paris? So many shows seem to do this. Of course, this was filmed in Paris, so I forgive them. The Jagorath didn't look great, but not much did special effects wise in the late 70s. Star Wars spoiled me. Finally, we didn't meet Leonardo daVinci even though we visited his studio. Come on!
Doctor Who: The Aztecs (four parter)
Doctor: William Hartnell
Companions: Susan, Barbara, and Ian.
I expected to think all of it cheesy, but I found it quite good. Of course, the Aztecs are British, the TARDIS when disappearing is a tiny model, and some of the scenery is obviously painting. However, most of the sets and costumes are amazingly accurate and detailed. Someone did some good research. As a Spanish major, I find hispanic cultures fascinating, and it was amazing to watch the Aztecs ignorant of their coming fate at the hands of the Spanish. Barbara is mistaken as a reincarnated goddess after she exits a tomb that no one can enter. This leaves the TARDIS trapped. She tries to stop human sacrifice, but this is seen as dishonoring those chosen. The Doctor mistakenly gets engaged with a lovely Aztec woman after sharing a cup of cocoa. She was a great character, informing the Doctor how to get to the TARDIS in the face of the knowledge that he will leave her. Doesn't make me LOVE the first Doctor, but I respect him. I see undertones of Eccleston here. "You cannot change history! Not one line!"
Doctor Who: The Pyramids of Mars
Doctor: Tom Baker
Sarah Jane Smith: Elizabeth Sladen
I was not impressed by Sarah Jane in this episode. As much as I love her on new Who and the Sarah Jane Adventures, I expected her to be excellent. Maybe this just wasn't a good sampling. Sutec was an odd villain, but the mummy robots were cool. Awesome that we know how the building ultimately got destroyed and became UNIT headquarters. I wanted to love it, but I only liked it.
Doctor Who the Movie
Doctor: Paul McGann
Companion: Grace
I'm glad I finally got my hands on a copy of this. (Isn't it just so hard to find?) I had to form my own opinion about Eight, half-human and all. I loved McGann's Doctor, and his outfit was perfect. I felt robbed that McGann hadn't had a proper go at the Doctor in a TV special or series. Grace was okay. I really liked Li--he was so believable. The problem with this film is Eric Roberts's Master. I thought he was a good actor (or supposed to be) but he was as horrible in this as I'd heard. Wow. And the whole snake spirit of the Master was stupid. If only Eight had faced Daleks, Cybermen, or Sontarans for example, this movie would have rocked. As it is, I loved Eight and understand why many feel he is underappeciated. McGann can't help it that he was surrounded by mediocre acting. It only makes him shine more. Also, the tips to Baker's Four with the scarf in the locker and the jelly babies was great!
Doctor: Tom Baker
Romana was the companion.
Just from this four episode series I can see why Tom Baker is so many people's Doctor. He was great! He could act quite dumb sometimes (I think Tennant copied this), but his point-blank delivery of lines is fantastic. "Romana, something very strange is going on! The man who was following us now has a gun pressed into my back!"
Romana was a great companion, and I can see why so many are so fond of her. I loved her hat, especially how she had to hold it while running. And she built the stability thing to make it possible to travel between time bubbles. No new Who companions have done anything like that! Duggan was a great addition for the human element. "That might be the most important punch in history!" Also, now I know how life came to be. A Jagorath ship exploded exposing the amino acid soup with radiation, thus causing the spark of life. I knew the Doctor had something to do with it. Only gripes: K9 never left the TARDIS, so we never saw him. Also, do we have to see the Eiffel Tower to know we're in Paris? So many shows seem to do this. Of course, this was filmed in Paris, so I forgive them. The Jagorath didn't look great, but not much did special effects wise in the late 70s. Star Wars spoiled me. Finally, we didn't meet Leonardo daVinci even though we visited his studio. Come on!
Doctor Who: The Aztecs (four parter)
Doctor: William Hartnell
Companions: Susan, Barbara, and Ian.
I expected to think all of it cheesy, but I found it quite good. Of course, the Aztecs are British, the TARDIS when disappearing is a tiny model, and some of the scenery is obviously painting. However, most of the sets and costumes are amazingly accurate and detailed. Someone did some good research. As a Spanish major, I find hispanic cultures fascinating, and it was amazing to watch the Aztecs ignorant of their coming fate at the hands of the Spanish. Barbara is mistaken as a reincarnated goddess after she exits a tomb that no one can enter. This leaves the TARDIS trapped. She tries to stop human sacrifice, but this is seen as dishonoring those chosen. The Doctor mistakenly gets engaged with a lovely Aztec woman after sharing a cup of cocoa. She was a great character, informing the Doctor how to get to the TARDIS in the face of the knowledge that he will leave her. Doesn't make me LOVE the first Doctor, but I respect him. I see undertones of Eccleston here. "You cannot change history! Not one line!"
Doctor Who: The Pyramids of Mars
Doctor: Tom Baker
Sarah Jane Smith: Elizabeth Sladen
I was not impressed by Sarah Jane in this episode. As much as I love her on new Who and the Sarah Jane Adventures, I expected her to be excellent. Maybe this just wasn't a good sampling. Sutec was an odd villain, but the mummy robots were cool. Awesome that we know how the building ultimately got destroyed and became UNIT headquarters. I wanted to love it, but I only liked it.
Doctor Who the Movie
Doctor: Paul McGann
Companion: Grace
I'm glad I finally got my hands on a copy of this. (Isn't it just so hard to find?) I had to form my own opinion about Eight, half-human and all. I loved McGann's Doctor, and his outfit was perfect. I felt robbed that McGann hadn't had a proper go at the Doctor in a TV special or series. Grace was okay. I really liked Li--he was so believable. The problem with this film is Eric Roberts's Master. I thought he was a good actor (or supposed to be) but he was as horrible in this as I'd heard. Wow. And the whole snake spirit of the Master was stupid. If only Eight had faced Daleks, Cybermen, or Sontarans for example, this movie would have rocked. As it is, I loved Eight and understand why many feel he is underappeciated. McGann can't help it that he was surrounded by mediocre acting. It only makes him shine more. Also, the tips to Baker's Four with the scarf in the locker and the jelly babies was great!