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Hinchcliffe & Holmes
Guest contributor Will Brown explains why this era is often considered among the finest in the show’s history.
Naturally for a show that has graced our screens for half a century, Doctor Who has had several producers, script-editors and, later on, head-writers. Each of them have brought with their position their own perspective of what the series should do and aspire to be, resulting in numerous styles. These easily define the television series into different periods, some far more successful than others. Easily one of, if not the, highest regarded era is the tenure of Philip Hinchcliffe and Robert Holmes, producer and script-editor respectively, between the years 1975 and 1977, encompassing seasons 12 to 14. This article aims to explain why many fans, I being one of them, adore this period.
The Fourth Doctor
Certainly one of the more significant reasons for this deep appreciation was Tom Baker’s portrayal as the Doctor’s fourth incarnation. Baker gave an immensely enjoyable and endearing performance, that has definitely stood the test of time, perhaps becoming the definitive Doctor and the one to ‘beat’, as it were. I highly doubt this legacy could have happened without the solid foundation this era lay down for Baker’s later four seasons.
Baker is, and by quite some distance, my all-time favourite Doctor. In the role, he managed to bring an unadulterated enthusiasm and energy. Baker has since stated that he was not playing a part, but rather saying the lines as himself; this really shows, as never does he feel fake or forced, at least during the Hinchcliffe-Holmes era. He could easily switch between farcical and angry in an instant, displaying a wide range of different emotions. This bohemian eccentric was great to watch on screen. With such a strong actor at the helm, Doctor Who was allowed to flourish like it never had before has not done since.
The Companions
But what exactly is the Doctor without his trusted companions at his side? In spite of the fact that this era has a grand total of three full-time travellers in the TARDIS, they are some of the best remembered among dozens of others.
The most notable of these assistants was Sarah Jane Smith, played by the late Elizabeth Sladen, who had originally been introduced in Jon Pertwee’s final season. She had been a good companion during the Third Doctor’s era, but here she became a truly great one. Sladen was endlessly relatable as Sarah Jane, being strong and determined throughout all her efforts, but with a vulnerable side, as well as being occasionally belittled by the Doctor. What also helped is that Baker and Sladen had great chemistry, their on-screen alter egos having a friendship bordering on romance.
This contemporary journalist was hugely contrasted with the savage Leela, played by Louise Jameson, a member of a tribe devolved from a human research crew. It also marked a stark departure from the modern-day companions of the seventies up until that point. Although she lacked an understanding of the universe around her, Leela could easily defend both herself and the Doctor. Through the Doctor’s guidance, she became more well-reasoned and knowledgeable, proving to be a worthy ally of his.
These two companions rather overshadow the navy doctor who treated the Doctor in his post-regenerative insanity, even being tied up at one point. I am, of course, referring to Harry Sullivan, who served in this companion role for only six stories, all with Sarah Jane. Despite being a bumbling fool who often gets into trouble, Ian Marter underplays these particular weaknesses and creates a credible character. His superb interplay with both the Doctor and Sarah Jane was also an absolute joy to watch.
The Villains
When I think of the Hinchcliffe-Holmes era, several original foes and species immediately spring to mind: the Wirrn, Davros, the Zygons, Sutekh, Morbius, the Krynoid, Eldrad, the sandminer robots, Li H’sen Chang, Mr Sin and Magnus Greel. The period was a gold-mine of truly great one-time baddies which have been deeply explored and expanded in other media. It all boils down to the concept and execution in the end. The idea of the Krynoid, a plant that consumes animals, is simply fantastic, and the image of the Fourth Doctor succumbing to the torture of Sutekh confirms the enemy’s might and strength is unforgettable.
The era also had stories featuring returning villains, although Hinchcliffe and Holmes moved away from this approach after season 12. The amazing Genesis of the Daleks charts, well, the genesis of the Daleks and The Sontaran Experiment depicts the torturous acts commited by a warrior of Sontar. Whilst these stories were ‘dignified’ appearances, Revenge of the Cybermen is quite frankly embarrassing. But camp Cybermen were just a blip in the midst of excellence.
The Stories
All of the prior factors play a major part, but none more so than the stories that make up not just this era, but Doctor Who itself. Many fantastic, deep, dark, thought-provoking stories, some of which can easily be found in the mid-seventies. It is quite possibly the most consistently brilliant run of stories in the show’s television history, despite the incredibly rare sub-par story (the aforementioned Revenge being it). Almost every story here is a stone cold classic, and even those that are not perhaps among them (The Android Invasion or The Masque of Mandragora are good examples) have many merits to be found.
It would be rude of me not to make some recommendations for those deprived of their Hinchcliffe-Holmes goodness. Genesis of the Daleks is some of the greatest television I have ever seen and, apart from the clams and the odd bit of padding now and then, is astonishing. The Seeds of Doom takes some classic sci-fi tropes and crafts a magnificent tale from it. The Talons of Weng-Chiang is a gritty murder mystery that introduces everybody’s favourite group of Victorian investigators of infernal incidents, Jago and Litefoot. There are several others, but that is the cream of the crop and the absolute peak of Doctor Who, for me at least.
As you can probably tell, I highly implore you to explore the gothic show that was Doctor Who for three years, as it is a tour de force in storytelling, featuring a handful of the most-loved serials of all time. I just hope you enjoy it as much as I have. (doctorwhotv)
Sixxy
As usual, the first trailer for Series 9 is meaningless marketing tease.
Some friends of mine were over last night and we watched “Revelation of The Daleks”.
I haven’t seen this one quite a few years.
My impression of it has not changed. It’s Script Editor/Writer Eric Saward’s attempt to mash together Stanley Kubrick and Robert Holmes.
Recap: The Doctor and Peri arrive on Necros to attend the funeral of an old friend of the Doctor who has recently died. However, Tranquil Repose is not all it seems and an attempt is made on the Doctor’s life. Soon the Doctor comes face to face with the Great Healer, only to discover it is none other than Davros, the creator of the Daleks, intent on rebuilding the Dalek race decimated by the Movellans.
And he’s not entirely successful. He has the Holmesian style characters but they still lack a spark. And Davros using people rejected for being Daleks as a protein source for the starving masses is very Soylent Green.
It’s not a bad episode (despite what one of my friends said), it’s just there yet. This was a problem with many of Colin’s scripts which is why if you want a real picture of “sixxy” as Colin calls him you need to go the Big Finish Audios where the Sixth Doctor has thrived under different management.
“The Unholy Terror” with The Sixth Doctor and Frobisher (shape changing penquin from Docgtor Who Magazine’s comic strip) is a beautiful thing.
Wanna see Sixxy and Holmes, watch “The Two Doctors” or “The Mysterious Planet” (Trial of a Time Lord 1-4).
I encourage people to revisit old episodes. They may or may not be the same as you remember it.
Happy 51st Birthday, Doctor!
Yeah, who needs a bucket list when you’re standing on the ACTUAL TARDIS set!At 5.16pm on the 23rd November 1963 the BBC premiered An Unearthly Child and UK television viewers were introduced to the incredible world of Doctor Who for the first time.
William Hartnell was the Doctor, a strange old man who could travel through time and space in his police box. Little did anyone know that this was just the first incarnation of a character who would go on to be so iconic for over half a century.
With audiences growing across the whole world, the show is arguably more successful than ever today and long may it continue.
It’s a show that promotes the “the victory of intellect and romance over brute force and cynicism” and for that reason alone has earned every single amount of love that comes its way on this special day…
Exactly 51 years since the hauntingly wacky theme tune first erupted on British televisions, the good Doctor has survived through 14 equally incredible incarnations and shows no sign of slowing down or of declining in quality. Today, join me as I choose 1 moment (And I use that term “moment” very loosely) for each decade of the show’s long history that deserves a heightened respect in Who Appreciation and wish the best television show in the history of the universe a very Happy Anniversary.
The Sixties: “An Earthly Origin”
Where else could we begin our countdown if not at the very start? The Sixties were a time of global change and cultural explosion, but for us today there only seems like one specific moment worth revisiting which is of course November 23rd 1963, in a dirty old junkyard located in Shoreditch, London – where a peculiar looking Police Box was about to be discovered by 2 curious school teachers who decided to follow one of their students home one afternoon…
And so, with ironically quite an “Earthly” origin, an amazing journey in space and time kick started its engines to soon become one of the most ground breaking shows of its time. The Sixties were headed of course by William Hartnell’s era, before both Patrick Troughton had his own equally historic run in the TARDIS, fighting all those who would elect to corrupt and attack the universe… while of course learning, maturing and enjoying every step along the way. Before long the decade drew to a close and with colour TV making its way onto our screens, so did a brand new era of Doctor Who.
The Seventies: “Sarah Jane Smith”
As Jon Pertwee’s and Tom Baker’s respective era’s raged on with a sense passion and charisma never seen by Doctor Who before. At the core of the show’s legacy are companions that both define their respective eras and are perfect examples of humanity that we, the audience, find ourselves forming a natural connection to. Who better then to attribute our second ‘moment’ to today, to the ultimate and quintessential companion of all time: Sarah Jane Smith, played so honestly by the dearly missed Elisabeth Sladen. Sarah Jane totally revitalised the role of the companion, as Toby Whitehouse puts it: “She changed the companion from being a rather helpless hysteric to being a feisty, opinionated, strong equal to the Doctor. And, at the time, you know that was quite an extraordinary thing to do. That was not the role the companions, or women, were meant to be playing. They were meant to be playing the victim, they were meant to be decoration. Sarah Jane confronted that nonsense head on!” And it’s for that that very reason alone the show will forever been in debt to such an inspiring character and an incredible actress who lives on through her amazing work across countless generations of the show.
The Eighties: “Doctor Who’s Survival”
The Eighties is often remembered for one dark day in 1989 where Doctor Who looked as though it had finally run its course and “died”… but I’d like to challenge that description and label the 80’s where Doctor Who SURVIVED. Through constant trails and hardships including a horrifically low budget, a troubled production team and a considerable lack of belief from the BBC, Doctor Who still achieved the impossible in delivering 3 iconic and respected era’s featuring Peter Davison, Colin Baker and Sylvester McCoy respectively, and gave birth to stories still being enjoyed and respected by fans today. Doctor Who should never in my opinions base its success on the number of fans, but on the passion it instils in whomever it’s enjoyed by. Its ability to unite and capture so many people’s adorations and affections even decades after its broadcast is what will ensure that Doctor Who never dies. The eighties may have been a decade where the Doctor was temporarily taken off our screens, but to the very last moments on its final televised story it was exceedingly clear that the motivation and passion of the show to forever survive — be it through the memories of fans or a future revival. The Doctor’s work was far from done.
The Nineties: “Big Finish Productions”
With the dark times restricting audiences from the wonder of televised adventures, it fell to the duty of other media platforms to continue the much loved story of the Doctor’s journey – and none more passionately or successfully as the incredible Big Finish Audios that still continue providing top quality “Doctor Who” stories to this day. Undoubtedly and wrongly one of Doctor Who’s most undervalued formats, the audio adventures is a concept that seems a bit primitive and ‘out of date’ to many people, especially in this “technology centred” day and age. The beauty of an audio story however that it strips the plot bare! There are no special effects to draw your attention away from the narrative, no attractive actor or stunning starlet for you to gawp at through domineering pages of dialogue, and no sets to convince you of a setting. It all comes down to the acting and expression: the pure plot and your imagination are all that’s needed to dream up a world and step into an adventure…and it’s wonderful! Audio stories bring to life the adventures of the Doctor into your mind and in such an intimate way that you can’t help but feel more connected to the story than ever before. It’s a stroke of brilliance that all began with the first Doctor Who Audio story “The Sirens of Time” in 1999, that while not being the strongest adventure opened the door for such a treasured and rewarding relationship between Doctor Who and Big Finish that continues today.
The incubator where the Fans would become the Showrunners…Wicked! 🙂
The Naughties: “Run…”
After a few doubtful years and times of loss and yearning, Doctor Who returned with a bang to exactly where it had and will always belong: On our screens to be enjoyed by all. Through the show’s constant will to survive and the devotion of people like Russell T Davies, Christopher Eccleston, Billie Piper and so many more, 2005 saw the revival of the classic tale, re-paced and refreshed for a new generation and a new, modern audience. Only due the success of Series 1 has Doctor Who spawned almost a further 10 years of greatness, and it’s all due to the intensity of one moment in one episode. I’ll be the first to admit that “Rose” is far from the strongest episode Who has to offer, and further then that has not aged all that well – however there is no disputing how crucial it has been for Doctor Who continued successes. The first episode of the new series expediently brought Doctor Who into the new millennium, giving viewers unfamiliar with the character pretty much everything they needed to know in 45 minutes. But it gave old-school fans plenty to chew on as well. The episode introduced the concept of the Time War, and showcasing a bruised incarnation of the titular Time Lord that was unlike any Doctor before him. Aggressively modern, and character-driven in a way that the series had never been before, “Run for your life” was an ideal jumping-off point for the revamped Doctor Who.
The Twenty-Tens: “The Day of the Doctor”
No… not the episode! Well partly… In a decade that is only just about to reach its half way mark, one would think we’d be quite restricted in a range of Who to choose a decade defining moment from. However, thanks to the efforts of Steven Moffat, Matt Smith, Peter Capaldi, John Hurt and so many more the last 5 years of Doctor Who has seen such a wide array of welcomed and successful development for the show’s existence. I stated earlier that the term “moment” was going to be used extremely loosely, and while I’ve not really adhered to any of my own rules for the first 5 choices, the last is an unquestionable breach as it’s being awarded to the entirety of the 50th Anniversary celebrations. Be it “The Day of the Doctor”, “An Adventure in Space and Time”, “The Night of the Doctor”, “The Light at the End” or “The Fivish Doctor’s Reboot” just to name a few, there was something to suit and please everyone and anyone once the day rolled around. On top of that, the real special moment of the 50th was watching and experiencing such a passion erupt from the fan base. We banded together like never before in support, anticipation and celebration of this wonderful television show we are privileged enough to call our own. It was lying in bed on the night of the 24th of November, reeling from the extraordinary 50th Anniversary weekend that I had never been prouder to call myself a Whovian. Never been prouder to be part of such a massive group of people who are spread across different generations, different nationalities, and different social standards – All united by one constant love for A Mad Man in a Box.
51 Years still going strong, now there seems like only one logical place to look next… where will Doctor Who be this time tomorrow?
This time tomorrow where will we be
On a spaceship somewhere sailing across an empty sea
This time tomorrow what will we know
Well we still be here watching an in-flight movie show
I’ll leave the sun behind me and watch the clouds as they sadly pass me by
Seven miles below ma I can see the world and it ain’t so big at all
This time tomorrow what will we see
Field full of houses, endless rows of crowded streets
I don’t where I’m going, I don’t want to see
I feel the world below me looking up at me
Leave the sun behind me, and watch the clouds as they sadly pass me by
And I’m in perpetual motion and the world below doesn’t matter much to me
This time tomorrow where will we be
On a spaceship somewhere sailing across any empty sea
This time tomorrow, this time tomorrow
Happy anniversary Doctor Who!
Preview
Spoiler-Free, just how I like it.
For me, any episode of Doctor Who which has the word ‘kill’ in the title leaves me thinking, “that’s very unlikely Time Lord behaviour”.
So I was intrigued by the latest episode of series 8, Kill The Moon.
The changes to the show and the dynamic between the Doctor and Clara as well as Clara’s romance with Danny Pink, are the driving forces in this series.
While a lot of people said that Listen was a game changer of an episode, the same can be said for this one as well.
The relationship between schoolteacher and Time Lord may never be the same again.
Of course, what makes this story so special is the real feel of dread and helplessness that the characters encounter.
Writer Peter Harness has created a story that connects on so many levels. It has even been said that show runner Steven Moffat told him to “Hinchcliffe the s**t out of it for the first half” which Harness, along with director Paul Wilmshurst, has successfully done.
With disruptive influence Courtney Woods, played by Ellis George, on board, team Tardis has never looked so young. Having said that Courtney proves to be worth her weight in gold as we see the story unfold through her eyes as well. I mean can you imagine going to the moon at 15 years old?
The scenes on the moon were filmed in Lanzarote, which gives a wonderfully atmospheric feel to the shots.
With a few nods to past Doctors and toys, this series is going from strength to strength and remains the most inventive show on television at the moment. (Wales Online)
There’s nothing wrong, in my mind, with “Hinchcliffe” (though it was more Robert Holmes back in the day) type scary. Though, in this day of hyper-sensitive Political Correctness they’ll have more than just poor old Mary Whitehouse crawling up their collective asses.
Memorable
Doctor Who’s farewell to Rose Tyler named the greatest scene in science fiction by fans.
The scene topped a poll for the new edition of SFX magazine to find the all-time best bits in sci-fi, horror and fantasy.
While that is a great scene, I wouldn’t say it was the best one ever. But then, I’m only focusing on Doctor Who.
I harken back to my earliest days before I was even a fan. The Ark in Space, which was my very first story (and may have something to do with this opinion) contains a fantastic speech about humanity delivered by Tom Baker.
But I also still think the end of Caves of Androzani Part 3 is a real cracker.
The Doctor’s farewell to companion Rose Tyler in Doctor Who has been named the greatest scene in science fiction by fans.
The scene – between actors David Tennant and Billie Piper, first screened eight years ago – topped a poll for the new edition of SFX magazine to find the all-time best bits in sci-fi, horror and fantasy.
The fact that of all SF/F this is the best is quite an honor for the program. After all, being memorable is part of the TV game. Look at Firefly 11 years later, and that was only 14 episodes!
Runner-up in the list – to mark the magazine’s 250th edition – was a scene in the film Avengers Assemble in which The Hulk bashes a helpless Loki from side to side like a rag doll, while the “chestburster” moment in screen hit Alien took third place.
Both Very worthy.
The winning scene – which topped a list compiled from more than 90,000 reader votes – saw a hologram of The Doctor say his goodbyes to his sidekick but the image fades out before he has chance to say he loves her.
Tennant said of the climax to the pair’s story: “It all came together so perfectly in this scene that people still talk to me about it with misty eyes all these years later – and I suspect they always will. Whatever else I do and wherever else I end up, this will be a moment I will be forever proud to look back on.”
The magazine said of the winning moment: “We’ve all had to bid farewell to someone we care about – even if it wasn’t forced upon us by the threat of universal destruction – and this eye-moistening moment perfectly encapsulates the agony of break-up.” (Wales online)
1. Doctor Who – The Doctor and Rose say farewell
2. Avengers Assemble – The Hulk beats up Loki
3. Alien – the alien bursts from John Hurt’s chest
4. Firefly – a bad guy gets kicked into an engine intake
5. The Empire Strikes Back – Luke Skywalker learns that Darth Vader is his father
See what I mean about memorable. 🙂
The Mighty 241
Today we’re going to talk about the new Poll that came out in Doctor Who Magazine.
This was the first update since the Mighty 200 poll 5 years ago.
And a Lot has changed. I don’t plan to micro-analyze it but I do has a few points I want to make.
The New Top 10
- The Day of the Doctor
- Blink
- Genesis of the Daleks
- The Caves of Androzani
- City of Death
- The Talons of Weng-Chiang
- The Empty Child
- Pyramids of Mars
- Human Nature/Family of Blood
- Remembrance of the Daleks
Lots of Moffat. But also lots of “Classic” episodes as well. I don’t have a real problem with Day of the Doctor being on Top, it is a fantastic episode. But I am heartened by the Classics still being there.
The rediscovered Web of Fear jumped from 23rd to 16th but it was the The Enemy of The World That took the top prize for most improved in the rankings jumping from 139th to 56th!
The highest new episode (since 2009 poll) aside from the The Day of The Doctor was Matt Smith’s debut, The Eleventh Hour that came in 17th, one notch below The Web of Fear.
One of my all-time favorites Vincent & The Doctor was 27th.
The Doctor’s Wife was 37th, just 1 notch below School Reunion (which dropped 3 places).
Speaking of which, Elisabeth Sladen as Sarah Jane Smith won a landslide re-election as the Best Companion in the history of the show so far.
Most Heartening: Sylvester McCoy’s 7th Doctor improved his rankings overall. The Doctor that “bridges the old and the new” series. I agree.
I also agree that it was good to see that younger viewers weren’t turned off by the style,pace, and the effects of the original of the show.
Doctor Who has always been more about story, than effects. And I am glad the CGI generations can still appreciate a good story with less than wonderful effects.
The Most Shocking: The Gunfighters and Nightmare in Silver tied (#202 & 203 but same vote percentage). SAY WHAT!! Really…The Ballad of the Last Chance Saloon is the same as the re-invention of The Cybermen by Neil Gaiman??
Seriously? 😦
Most Disappointing: Rings of Akhaten is #233 (the lowest rated show since the 2009 poll). It’s nowhere near THAT bad. This story gets such a bad rap.
Worse than Meglos, really? Seriously…
Speaking of the bottom…
The Bottom 5:
237. Time-Flight (was 196/200)
238. Timelash (was 199/200)
239. Time and the Rani (198/200)
240. Fear Her. (192/200)
241. The Twin Dilemma (200/200)
I don’t really have a problem with these being on the bottom. They are bad. But Power Kroll was still #212. Ewww! This is better than Rings of Akhaten, really?
So overall, a fascinating list, for us geeks who like lists that is, and it shows that the whole of Doctor is loved, not just the most recent and flashier ones.
This shows why the show is 50 years old and still going.
Bring on Peter Capaldi in August, we Doctor Who Fans can take it! 🙂
Elisabeth Sladen 1946-2011
Today is the 3rd Anniversary of the Death of Doctor Who legend, Elisabeth Sladen, the actress who portrayed the quintessential companion for the ages, Sarah Jane Smith.
As I have chronicled here before, I found out the day after I returned from London for the first time. I had gone to the Doctor Who Experience at the Olympia II Convention center and flown home the day before. So when my jet lagged body got up the next day I was greeted by…
2 months earlier, Nicholas Courtney died. 5 months later my own mother died. So 2011 was a joyous year (London) but ultimately a sad year that still hurts to this day.
… one person who has defined at least my own (and undoubtedly many others’) experience of the show.
The character is Sarah Jane Smith.
And that person is Elisabeth Sladen.
The character of Sarah Jane Smith was introduced in The Time Warrior, in which she posed as Lavinia Smith (her aunt), in order to infiltrate a high-security research base. The two lead actors (Sladen and Pertwee) had an inimitable dynamic. Whereas most companions from that era acted with obedience towards the Time Lord, Sarah Jane – an ardent feminist with a journalistic outlook on life – was always inquisitive, autonomous and authoritative. Such a drastic redefinition of the companion figure didn’t just impact the stories, but gave female viewers a new kind of a role model to look up to – the kind who doesn’t bow down to masculine authority or give in to what she knew was wrong. Sarah Jane Smith was the start of a whole new era of radical change to the series’ (and television as a whole’s) lead female.
It could be said that Sarah Jane had the most comprehensive share of classic Doctor Who – she faced the Sontarans in her introductory episode, worked alongside UNIT and the illustrious Brigadier Lethbridge-Stewart, battling iconic foes such as the Daleks, Cybermen and even Lord Davros himself. And, within the context of the series prior to The Hand of Fear, Sarah Jane’s initial exit was fitting for her character. At first she was indignant and probing, but eventually she accepted the inevitable and left the Doctor pondering on her final few words to him. Travel does indeed broaden the mind, and the Doctor never would forget Sarah Jane.
In 2006’s School Reunion, Sarah Jane was depicted as a lonely, somewhat bitter woman longing for the years with the Doctor that she never had. Arguably, the scenes leading up to (and including) the Doctor’s reveal to her are some of the most rewarding, heart-warming moments that any ‘Classic’ Whovian ever got the chance to watch. Indeed, there was also a layer of sorrow in the reunion. Sarah Jane was painfully aware of the fact that the Doctor had moved on, the Doctor himself conscious that his companions don’t age at the same rate as he does.
With the character turning down the option to return to the TARDIS, a spin-off was obligatory. And it was from Invasion of the Bane – the first episode of The Sarah Jane Adventures – when I realised that Sarah Jane was easily as strong a character as the Doctor and thus equally worthy of her own spin-off.
Alan Jackson describes Sarah Jane as ‘frosty’ on her first appearance, and I wouldn’t argue otherwise. But Invasion takes the ideas raised in School Reunion a step further. Here we see the extent of Sarah Jane’s loneliness, and the isolation she must feel having to hide her tremendous secrets from the world (giving K9 his own sub-plot away from the series was clever as it made Sarah Jane’s loneliness more believable).
A lot changes for Sarah Jane over the course of the first series, and I’d argue that it’s Lis at her absolute finest. Sarah Jane is characterised, as she always was, as ‘bossy’ and intrusive, but – with the benefit of a now-aged actress for the role, had a new level of both warmth and pathos. Sarah Jane, thanks to the wonderful Luke Smith, became a mother-figure, and the crossovers with the ‘mother’ show such as Journey’s End ingrained her as just that within the whole series’ mythos.
Although Sarah Jane is still the same character with the same backstory, it becomes apparent from the start that her life is catastrophically tragic. In the first series, we discover that she lost her best friend, Andrea Yates, when they were both teenagers. Due to the Trickster’s interference, Sarah Jane has to convince Andrea to end her own life – worse still, on Andrea’s birthday. The consequences of this, and presumably other calamities, become clear when Luke is taken away from her by the police at the beginning of The Lost Boy. The scenes following the revelation that Luke Smith is (supposedly) the kidnapped Ashely Stafford are perhaps the actress’ finest moments as she turns her back on those she loves to save herself any more heartbreak.
The second series of the terrific spin-off reveals that Sarah Jane also lost her parents at a young age – individual scenes of nostalgia culminating in the character being able to return to the exact date that her parents died and prevent it. This could be said to be her defining moment as a character, as she finally gives in and goes against her own morality. Though controversial among viewers, I’d evaluate it as reasonable; a decision I can feel myself relating to very easily. It’s impossible to tell if you or I would have acted in the same way, but Series Two manages to develop Sarah Jane’s character by placing her in a plethora of these ‘dilemmas’, with the second episode of the run, Day of the Clown, focusing on Sarah Jane’s fear (which, again, I can completely empathise with).
In the third series, Sarah Jane finally finds love in the charming but too-good-to-be-true Peter Dalton, an essentially innocent man manipulated by the Pantheon of Discord. This is easily the most painful moment for the character and the audience as; again, she is forced to persuade him to give his own life to save those of others. We begin to understand Sarah Jane’s fear of living alone again; it’s reminded to us in the superlative Series Four opener, The Nightmare Man, where her son makes his way into the world.
Sarah Jane is shown throughout the course of the spin-off to have a complicated set of beliefs and moralities. Generally, she shows mercy, often to her disadvantage. The character could be seen as naïve (or perhaps optimistic): she believes the opportunity to intervene in history to save her parents as a good thing, and allows the Slitheen and Sontaran Commander Kaagh to leave the planet freely, among other things. In the Series Four finale, however, she ignores Ruby White’s pleas to no longer be subjected to eternal darkness, bringing out a harder-hearted side to the character. She has a complex relationship with Androvax the Annihilator, having been inside his mind (and him inside hers). The character is also inferred to be an atheist, but with a potent belief in ‘the universe’; both the literal cosmos and the strings of nature that tie events and people together.
One of my favourite episodes of The Sarah Jane Adventures – if not my favourite of all-time – is Goodbye, Sarah Jane Smith. It is a moving, often realistic depiction of the character’s ‘downfall’ when she is diagnosed with damage to her brain tissue and begins to struggle with the life she’s led for such a long time. It’s often painful, especially when considering the posthumous tragedy of the narrative: it was Elisabeth Sladen’s last televised story before her tragic passing, and it was called Goodbye, Sarah Jane Smith, following the character’s coping with an (alleged) illness and showing how the rest of the team would cope without her, and one of her final lines in the episode was “With a team like this, I think I could go on forever”.
It’s entirely down to Elisabeth Sladen that I love the character so much. I have no qualms in saying, having recently watch The Sarah Jane Adventures through again, that Lis is undoubtedly my favourite actress of all time. Her ability to elicit an emotive response (often of different types) from the viewer (in episodes such as The Lost Boy, Day of the Clown, The Temptation of Sarah Jane Smith or Goodbye, Sarah Jane Smith), combined with her aptitude for taking on multiple roles – such as the devious Androvax in Prisoner of the Judoon – is a testament to her brilliance.
Despite the entire pantheon of Doctor Who actors and actresses, I firmly believe that she is the one who has defined the show the most. Her presence could be described as ‘magical’, especially in her later years – and if ever I was told that I’d seen a woman of divine origins in my lifetime, I would undoubtedly presume it to be Elisabeth Sladen.
So I say, fifty years on from the show’s genesis, that we take a moment to remember the woman who, in my opinion, defined it.
When I was your age, I used to think “Oh, when I’m grown up, I’ll know what I want, I’ll be sorted.” But you never really know what you want. You never feel grown up, not really. You never sort it all out… so I thought; I could handle life on my own. But after today… I don’t want to! (Doctor Who TV)
RIP Elisabeth Sladen (1946-2011)
A MasterFul Anniversary
Today is the 43rd Anniversary of the introduction the Doctor’s ‘arch enemy’, The Master.
Ok, so 43rd doesn’t have the same ring to it that 50th does. We’ll have to revisit that in 7 years.
But in 1971, a member of the Doctor race was a rarity indeed. And having Moriarty, to The Doctor’s Sherlock and have him repeat for multiple episodes was too.
Admittedly, with the Doctor stuck on Earth, why the Master kept coming when he could be out in time and space doing whatever he wanted because The Doctor wasn’t going to be there to stop him (which the episode with the Draconions must have really annoyed him).
But as the Master once said, “I have so few worthy opponents”. So showing up to play games with the Doctor was just more fun that taking over a planet or whatever.
Both very telling of the person inside.
- 2 Third Doctor’s Serials
- 2.1 Terror of the Autons
- 2.2 The Dæmons
- 2.3 The Claws of Axos
- 2.4 The Time Monster
- 2.5 Frontier in Space
- 3 Fourth Doctor’s Serials
- 3.1 The Deadly Assassin
- 3.2 The Keeper of Traken
- 3.3 Logopolis
- 4 Fifth Doctor’s Serials
- 4.1 Time-Flight
- 4.2 The King’s Demons
- 4.3 The Five Doctors
- 4.4 Planet Of Fire
- 5 Sixth Doctor’s Serials
- 5.1 The Mark of the Rani
- 6 Eighth Doctor’s TV Movie
- 6.1 Doctor Who (1996 film)
- 7 Tenth Doctor’s episodes
- 7.1 Catchphrase
- 7.2 “Utopia”
- 7.3 “The Sound of Drums”
- 7.4 “Last of the Time Lords”
- 7.5 The End of Time
- 8 Comic Relief Special “The Curse of The Fatal Death”
#100: A Journey to Mars and Back
This is my 100th post. Yikes, I had no idea…
So I’m going to dig into my archives and talk about another Doctor Who story that won me over to the Who-side.
Written by Robert Holmes (though started by Lewis Greifer) is “Pyramids of Mars”
Let’s scare the buggers! 🙂
I must say I have been a fan of Egyptology since I was a kid. Not so much mummies though.
Being a History buff I am also into the history.
I even, for a brief time, was studying hieroglyphics.
So this little slice of family-time horror was and is still a gem.
Its almost over the top in some of it cliches and “greatest hits of hammer films” script but it’s also a very imaginative and creepy script from the Master of Doctor Who.
Sutekh : “Your evil is my good. I am Sutekh the Destroyer. Where I tread, I leave nothing but dust and darkness I find that good!”
Loved it.
This clip is classic:
as is this one:
Even though at the time of watch for the first time I didn’t know who Victoria was back then.
The Doctor : “The Earth isn’t my home, Sarah. I’m a Time Lord.”
Sarah : “Oh, I know you’re a Time Lord.”
The Doctor : “You don’t understand the implications. I’m not a human being. I walk in eternity.”
One of Tom’s more alien dark moments. Loved it!
The imagination kicks in also when Sarah says that Sutekh couldn’t have destroyed the world because she was from the future and the Doctor shows her the altered time line where the Earth is a desolate and destroyed rock in Space.
That was both creepy and really got my interest.
No “fix points” to violate here. 🙂
Lawrence Scarman (the fantastic Michael Sheard) is such a tragic figure. All he wants is brother back and his faith in his brother gets him killed by the Sutekh-controlled vessel that was his brother.
And the Mummies, on the BBC budget they had were magnificent. As I said yesterday, the creativity and the imagination of such stories as this was why I was hooked on WHO in the first place.
I got to see Gabriel Woolf (Sutekh) at the Convention last month, but only from a far.
The traps and puzzles on Mars sequence was a favorite of mine. I like that kid of thing.
The Doctor taken over by a God….How will he ever get out of this one? 🙂
Holmes keeps ratcheting up the tension until very end. Even if it is 100 minutes long it never slows down really and that is one the genius moves of the Master of Classic Who.
A door handle in a jail is too obvious! Genius…
And the comedy bit with The Doctor Who and Sarah doing a comic reversal with the Mummy turning around.
The Doctor using his scarf as a measuring device to figure out the logic puzzle…
All things that kept me interested.
The imagination and the writing keep me watching. Not any effects, mistakes, set wobbles or other nonsense.
Pyramids of Mars is one of my all-time favorites for a reason.
It’s beautifully written, acted, and produced.
It is Doctor Who at it’s best.
Robert Holmes at his best.
Tom Baker and Lis Sladen just sparkle. They are at the top of their game.
Winner of Doctor Who Magazine’s Fortieth Anniversary Poll for “Most Wanted DVD Release” in 2003 was released in 2004.
Doctorwhoreviews: There is something inherently frightening and compelling about Egyptian mythology – something that the Stargate franchise has since exploited to the hilt – and when combined with some classic hammer horror, Holmes’ final version of Griefer’s script makes for one of the greatest Doctor Who stories of all time.
And I agree.
Talons
Well, I spend the entire weekend on the coach. Admitted yesterday there was a Doctor Who marathon on BBC America followed by the 10th Doctor Revisted and two of his best episodes, “The Stolen Earth” and “Journey’s End” so at least while I was miserable yesterday I had decent entertainment — even though I had to watch the SAME BLOODY COMMERCIALS OVER AND OVER AND OVER AGAIN FOR HOURS ON END- that nearly drove me mad!
So I’m going to steal from Digital Spy today.
THE TALONS OF WENG-CHIANG (1977) – Six episodes – written by Robert Holmes
The finale to Doctor Who’s 14th series is a wonderfully lurid, Penny Dreadful-inspired piece of drama, where the fog-strewn streets of London are littered with severed limbs and innocents meet a gruesome demise.
‘The Talons of Weng-Chiang’ features not one but two iconic villains.”Slathering, gangrenous vampire” Magnus Greel is in the best Who tradition of a bombastic villain hiding a hideously disfigured face behind a mask, while the knife-wielding ‘ventriloquist’s dummy’ Mr Sin (Deep Roy) is enormously creepy. One can only imagine the bad dreams that must’ve haunted young Who fans…
He’s been gifted too with one of Doctor Who’s all-time great casts, with Tom Baker at his absolute peak. There’s none of the bored distraction that would pervade some of his later performances – you’ve never seen a more committed, charming and commanding leading man than Baker in ‘Talons’.
Christopher Benjamin and Trevor Baxter meanwhile are marvellous as Henry Gordon Jago – a blustering impressario and (very) amateur detective – and Professor Litefoot – a charming pathologist – respectively.
Given that they’re often hailed as Doctor Who’s greatest ever ‘Holmes-ian’ double-act, it’s perhaps worth noting that Jago and Litefoot spend most of the story apart, eventually meeting a third of the way through episode five of a six-part tale…
But the distinguished, gentlemanly Litefoot and louche Jago are a classic odd couple with a fantastic repartee. You can see why talk of a spinoff followed the duo for years.
The biggest flaw is the rat in the sewer. It’s a technical/budgetary problem.
In fact, thanks to vivid, dynamic direction from Who veteran David Maloney, on a purely visual level, ‘Talons’ still stands up today – not something one can say of all BBC television of the time.
MY Doctor Who 