I think just knowing that the Valeyard was the villain made it sound like an evil laugh to me.
I still haven't seen Dragonfire yet, but from what I've heard about the ending I still lump Mel in the category of "companions who leave because of another man" even if they didn't actually get married.
Grant Markham...don't think I've ever heard of him.
The specific relationship between the Master and the Valeyard felt pretty muddled to me until the Master finally spelled it out to Six and Glitz in his TARDIS. Maybe that was intentional...
Ah. I was going to go back and watch that again with the subtitles on, but it was getting late and I was "behind schedule" enough as it was.
(I know that's a weak defense, but it's more prior contact than most companions have before they jump ship to get married.) I know what you mean. Jumping ship to get married made sense in my eyes for some (Susan and David, Jo and Cliff) because, sudden as it might have felt, there was some buildup to it, but with others (Leela and Andred) it was just too sudden and rather OOC. And with Mel and Glitz at least it's more of a case of looking after someone you know is dodgy but you have a friendly rapport with rather than falling in love and getting married. (I've read somewhere that there's a Glitz/Ace backstory in the Dragonfire novelization, but I'm yet to read that one to make sure. The mere thought makes me go O_O)
Although I will agree with its surprise that the Inquisitor doesn't know who THE MASTER is, by name OR reputation. For someone as universally infamous, the Master seems to be virtually unknown by the Time Lords at large. I picked hints of other Time Lords not knowing him in other stories as well (I must rewatch Deadly
( ... )
And with Mel and Glitz at least it's more of a case of looking after someone you know is dodgy but you have a friendly rapport with rather than falling in love and getting married.
I only watched once (I find it a weak story) but I had the impression she was going to try to "fix" Glitz and turn him into and honest citizen and he didn't seem to much want her along. So I have this vision of him pretending to go straight and such for a few months until Mel decides she's not needed anymore/her job is done and parts company with him. Then he goes right back to his old self, chuckling over his own cleverness.
Yes, that's exactly it. They are not in love and there's absolutely no room in the story for any sort of subtext that might suggest that. It's very clear that Mel feels that Glitz needs her good influence way more than the Doctor - particularly now that she found him a suitable replacement companion in the form of Ace. And, as you said, with Glitz being Glitz she'll never succeed in changing him like she plans; their storyline in the Ten Doctors webcomic seems to suggest just that.
Side note, but totally Mel related, I'm reading this webcomic where Six takes Mel to a Jem and the Holograms concert (not sure if you are familiar with the show?) and Mel is a Jem fan. When I saw that I was like "totally - that is so Mel." You know, with her optimism and trying to make baddies better. Then it said she was also Misfits fan, and that didn't ring so true for me. I rather think she'd think they were trash. But then, she may only know their music.
So, are there any other 80s shows that'd make a good crossover with Mel, do you think?
Wait. No. Master. Seriously? All your "I am the Master and you will obey me" power and you're using a dangling crystal to hypnotize Glitz?
He has to use a dangly thing in Mark of the Rani as well, if I remember correctly. Presumably undead Trakenite bodies don't channel Time Lord hypnosis all that well.
Wait...WHEN did Gallifrey start falling to pieces because of this trial?
Terrance Dicks explained it in The Eight Doctors as Eight, timey-wimey-duplicate!Six, Spandrell, and sane!Borusa revealing the truth about the High Council's machinations and inciting a revolution. It's a horrible, horrible book.
"There's nothing you can do to prevent the catharsis of spurious morality!"
Yes, killing one jury will definitely purge the universe of spurious morality! (Seriously, the hell?)
Terrance Dicks explained it in The Eight Doctors as Eight, timey-wimey-duplicate!Six, Spandrell, and sane!Borusa revealing the truth about the High Council's machinations and inciting a revolution. It's a horrible, horrible book.It sounds it. Even back in Four's day, Borusa was all for lying for the reputation of the High Coucil and stability of Gallifrey. Did that book that also made some sort of excuse/explanation of One and the rock from An Unearthly Child
( ... )
Did that book that also made some sort of excuse/explanation of One and the rock from An Unearthly Child?
Not really. Eight just turns up and persuades him not to kill the caveman.
I tell you, one thing about Trial of A Timelord is that it really reinforces the disturbing amount of power held by Lord President. The Lord President cannot be put on trial - is above the law. Not what you expect in "advanced" societies. Something Rassilon came up with, maybe? Of course, it makes sense, since they couldn't even continue with the trial/punishment of someone who declared themselves a candidate for office before that. Plus the torture. They really have some messed up stuff going on.
The President may be scary, but the CIA's arguable worse, erasing people from history on a regular basis because no one ever remembers erasing anyone before (since there was no one to erase) and populating at least one planet in the anti-time universe with their victims.
Well, I don't read the books, and haven't heard all the audios yet, so I don't know the story you're mentioning. But to me, it's not that the President is worse, exactly. It's that shadowy government agencies who do horrific things are a staple of fiction. But a leader that is above the law and openly declared such and accepted as such by the citizenry in a "free" or "advanced" society seems more messed up because absolutely everyone knows and accepts it and approves of it.
ETA: Looked it up - oh, those audios. Didn't listen to them, as I had no interest. Actually, all of Time Lord politics rather bores me (except as a window into their collective consciousness, as it were), and the entire idea of the Doctor in the other universe and all just didn't appeal, so I skipped that entire section.
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I still haven't seen Dragonfire yet, but from what I've heard about the ending I still lump Mel in the category of "companions who leave because of another man" even if they didn't actually get married.
Grant Markham...don't think I've ever heard of him.
The specific relationship between the Master and the Valeyard felt pretty muddled to me until the Master finally spelled it out to Six and Glitz in his TARDIS. Maybe that was intentional...
Ah. I was going to go back and watch that again with the subtitles on, but it was getting late and I was "behind schedule" enough as it was.
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I know what you mean. Jumping ship to get married made sense in my eyes for some (Susan and David, Jo and Cliff) because, sudden as it might have felt, there was some buildup to it, but with others (Leela and Andred) it was just too sudden and rather OOC. And with Mel and Glitz at least it's more of a case of looking after someone you know is dodgy but you have a friendly rapport with rather than falling in love and getting married. (I've read somewhere that there's a Glitz/Ace backstory in the Dragonfire novelization, but I'm yet to read that one to make sure. The mere thought makes me go O_O)
Although I will agree with its surprise that the Inquisitor doesn't know who THE MASTER is, by name OR reputation.
For someone as universally infamous, the Master seems to be virtually unknown by the Time Lords at large. I picked hints of other Time Lords not knowing him in other stories as well (I must rewatch Deadly ( ... )
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I only watched once (I find it a weak story) but I had the impression she was going to try to "fix" Glitz and turn him into and honest citizen and he didn't seem to much want her along. So I have this vision of him pretending to go straight and such for a few months until Mel decides she's not needed anymore/her job is done and parts company with him. Then he goes right back to his old self, chuckling over his own cleverness.
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So, are there any other 80s shows that'd make a good crossover with Mel, do you think?
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He has to use a dangly thing in Mark of the Rani as well, if I remember correctly. Presumably undead Trakenite bodies don't channel Time Lord hypnosis all that well.
Wait...WHEN did Gallifrey start falling to pieces because of this trial?
Terrance Dicks explained it in The Eight Doctors as Eight, timey-wimey-duplicate!Six, Spandrell, and sane!Borusa revealing the truth about the High Council's machinations and inciting a revolution. It's a horrible, horrible book.
"There's nothing you can do to prevent the catharsis of spurious morality!"
Yes, killing one jury will definitely purge the universe of spurious morality! (Seriously, the hell?)
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Not really. Eight just turns up and persuades him not to kill the caveman.
I tell you, one thing about Trial of A Timelord is that it really reinforces the disturbing amount of power held by Lord President. The Lord President cannot be put on trial - is above the law. Not what you expect in "advanced" societies. Something Rassilon came up with, maybe? Of course, it makes sense, since they couldn't even continue with the trial/punishment of someone who declared themselves a candidate for office before that. Plus the torture. They really have some messed up stuff going on.
The President may be scary, but the CIA's arguable worse, erasing people from history on a regular basis because no one ever remembers erasing anyone before (since there was no one to erase) and populating at least one planet in the anti-time universe with their victims.
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ETA: Looked it up - oh, those audios. Didn't listen to them, as I had no interest. Actually, all of Time Lord politics rather bores me (except as a window into their collective consciousness, as it were), and the entire idea of the Doctor in the other universe and all just didn't appeal, so I skipped that entire section.
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