Classic Who: Destiny of the Daleks, The Creature from the Pit, Shada

[strange_complex]

I've now notched up another season: 17, this time. I'd already skipped ahead and seen three out of its six stories, so now that I've filled in the gaps, I've linked the write-ups from my earlier viewings in sequence between the new ones.

Comments

[edling]

I might have to track these down- from your descriptions I think they're about the first ones I remember from the first time round (which must've been about my fifth birthday looking at the air dates). I definitely remember the Movellans, and the enormous cheese in the pit. I've got a vague feeling that the Doctor got knocked into the pit by a spinning wheel materialising behind him- is that right or did I have too much sugar that day?

[strange_complex]

Sort of, about the spinning wheel. There's a pulley just next to the pit, which he deliberately grabs as he jumps into it. So your memory is a bit distorted, but you're not making it up.

Theoretically, I have the power to burn most of these onto a DVD and send it to you, although I've never actually done it, so I'm not promising anything. I'll see what I can do, though!

[rosaguestlist]

There is a nice audio written by Paul Cornell that does contain the line; "You Daleks really are useless. You can't even manage to beat a race whose idea of camouflage would only work in a really camp intergalactic disco."

I think Romana is really rather good in Destiny - from her dress to her miraculous and unaided escape from the slave camp, she is basically being portrayed in the same way the Doctor is. The parade of extras is a bit like Patrick Troughton's regeneration sequence too.

- K

[strange_complex]

Hee, good old Cornell!

And yes, you're right to point to Romana's escape from the camp as another element in establishing the strength of her character. It wasn't absent in the previous season - she has a pretty independent role in The Pirate Planet, for example. But it's definitely much more consistent and convincing here.

I've yet to see Troughton's regeneration (or at least, I think I've seen the clip, but not in its proper context), so I'll have to bear what you say in mind until then.

[big_daz]

I've never actually seen Shada, only the animated version thats on the BBC website. Any chance I could borrow it?

[rosaguestlist]

It's all on youtube.

- K

[strange_complex]

I'm just popping it all onto my data-stick now, and will bring it round tomorrow evening. So, assuming you have a USB port and a spare 1.5Gb on your hard-drive, you have Shada.

What sort of time would you like me to arrive tomorrow, BTW?

[big_daz]

I do indeed have hadrdrive space so that'll be grand, ta :-)

I should be home from 5.30, so anytime after that would be smashing.

[sir_didymus]

The one thing I liked about Destiny of the Daleks was the idea of a war where not a single shot had been fired. I always thought the Movellans kind of looked like glam rockers.

Good reviews by the way.

[strange_complex]

I always thought the Movellans kind of looked like glam rockers

Hehe, they do, don't they? Three cheers for that!