The Myth Makers
Another review and another lost classic. I can't recommend Loose Cannon's new reconstruction highly enough.
"The Myth Makers" is another in an outstanding line of historical tales, and is very easy to follow and cleverly written. The blending of humor and drama has more in common with "The Romans" and "The Time Meddler" than such stories as "Marco Polo" and "The Aztecs". It succeeds on almost every level - especially on the dialog and plot front - but Donald Cotton's script also achieves a grand parody based on an even grander work of literature, Homer's "The Iliad".
Characterization is excellent throughout and is brought across brilliantly by a distinguished and well-chosen cast. Max Adrian is assured as King Priam, Barrie Ingham is amusing as the cowardly and foppish Paris, Frances White steals every scene as the paranoid and vindictive seer Cassandra, and Ivor Salter puts across a convincingly boorish and roguish Odysseus.
Although she is mentioned, I do think it would have been funny if Helen had been shown on screen and had her appear less than the beauty she is purported to be. "The face that launched a thousand ships" indeed.
For her final story, Vicki is given a great deal to do, falsely accused of being a prophetess and given the name Cressida, trying to prove her integrity in the Trojan court and out think the Doctor, as well as her growing romance with Prince Troilus, which flows naturally as an integral part of the story.
The Doctor is also afforded some good material, as he is mistaken for Zeus and forced to come up with a scheme to break into Troy, believing the Trojan Horse to be only a literary invention of Homer's, but then having to "invent" it himself.
Steven's role in the story is far more minor, yet his rapport with the Doctor and Vicki is brought across well. He gets to play the hero, masquerading as Diomede and charging in to rescue Vicki. The way in which he persuaded Paris to capture him and take him into Troy by playing up on Paris's ego was hilarious, and it was interesting to see hints of jealousy over Vicki's attraction to Troilus.
New companion Katarina is shoehorned into the last episode, and little is made to distinguish her character before she enters the TARDIS, and it is a shame that the scene in which Cassandra foretells the handmaiden's death ended up on the cutting room floor. However, her belief that the Doctor is one of the Gods taking her to the Underworld is quite charming and innocent.
Sadly we don't get to see Vicki saying goodbye to the Doctor. The pair have shared a close friendship ever since her introduction in "The Rescue" - with both the Doctor and the TARDIS being Vicki's only home - and her leaving happening off screen made me feel sad and a little bit cheated. There is clear indication that the Doctor will miss Vicki with his comment at the end of the story where he hopes she will be safe.
Upon its original broadcast, viewers must have been curious as to why they were being treated to a Trojan War adventure and not the Dalek story which had started the previous week. However, "The Myth Makers" is certainly a worthy, highly entertaining tale. And I still wish they had used the "Zeus Ex Machina" and "Is There A Doctor In The Horse?" episode titles!
4 / 5 stars
"The Myth Makers" is another in an outstanding line of historical tales, and is very easy to follow and cleverly written. The blending of humor and drama has more in common with "The Romans" and "The Time Meddler" than such stories as "Marco Polo" and "The Aztecs". It succeeds on almost every level - especially on the dialog and plot front - but Donald Cotton's script also achieves a grand parody based on an even grander work of literature, Homer's "The Iliad".
Characterization is excellent throughout and is brought across brilliantly by a distinguished and well-chosen cast. Max Adrian is assured as King Priam, Barrie Ingham is amusing as the cowardly and foppish Paris, Frances White steals every scene as the paranoid and vindictive seer Cassandra, and Ivor Salter puts across a convincingly boorish and roguish Odysseus.
Although she is mentioned, I do think it would have been funny if Helen had been shown on screen and had her appear less than the beauty she is purported to be. "The face that launched a thousand ships" indeed.
For her final story, Vicki is given a great deal to do, falsely accused of being a prophetess and given the name Cressida, trying to prove her integrity in the Trojan court and out think the Doctor, as well as her growing romance with Prince Troilus, which flows naturally as an integral part of the story.
The Doctor is also afforded some good material, as he is mistaken for Zeus and forced to come up with a scheme to break into Troy, believing the Trojan Horse to be only a literary invention of Homer's, but then having to "invent" it himself.
Steven's role in the story is far more minor, yet his rapport with the Doctor and Vicki is brought across well. He gets to play the hero, masquerading as Diomede and charging in to rescue Vicki. The way in which he persuaded Paris to capture him and take him into Troy by playing up on Paris's ego was hilarious, and it was interesting to see hints of jealousy over Vicki's attraction to Troilus.
New companion Katarina is shoehorned into the last episode, and little is made to distinguish her character before she enters the TARDIS, and it is a shame that the scene in which Cassandra foretells the handmaiden's death ended up on the cutting room floor. However, her belief that the Doctor is one of the Gods taking her to the Underworld is quite charming and innocent.
Sadly we don't get to see Vicki saying goodbye to the Doctor. The pair have shared a close friendship ever since her introduction in "The Rescue" - with both the Doctor and the TARDIS being Vicki's only home - and her leaving happening off screen made me feel sad and a little bit cheated. There is clear indication that the Doctor will miss Vicki with his comment at the end of the story where he hopes she will be safe.
Upon its original broadcast, viewers must have been curious as to why they were being treated to a Trojan War adventure and not the Dalek story which had started the previous week. However, "The Myth Makers" is certainly a worthy, highly entertaining tale. And I still wish they had used the "Zeus Ex Machina" and "Is There A Doctor In The Horse?" episode titles!
4 / 5 stars