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Post by Deleted on Apr 7, 2022 13:04:02 GMT
It's my least favourite season of the classic series but, unlike NuWho's worst, it actually has some redeeming qualities about it.
1. The switch to video for the outside scenes. I've made it clear before in the past that I prefer videotape to film and it's a positive change in my opinion as other shows around this time were using videotape for everything too.
2. The night sequences. It's very rare for 80s Who to be shot on location at night time, but The Ultimate Foe has the most extensive night time location filming in the whole decade. What's better is they shot the majority of the scenes at a creepy pottery museum which doubles as the Victorian era setting.
3. Mel. There's nothing wrong with Mel and I think Bonnie added a lot of positive energy to the show. She's far better than Peri in my opinion.
4. Terror of the Verviods. It's actually not too bad really. Quite a fun if somewhat generic story. Parts of Ultimate Foe are fine too.
5. Michael Jayston. He's splendid as the Valeyard.
6. Yolande Palfrey. One of the prettiest actresses in the entire show.
7. Some of the incidental music is good.
8. Glitz and Dibber. One of Bob Holmes's last double acts and they're pretty awesome to be fair.
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Post by mott1 on Apr 7, 2022 14:23:29 GMT
I largely agree. Vervoids' dialogue is very wordy and not exactly 'natural' but it's all great fun. It's not a classic - the pace is a bit rushed later on and the Vervoids chatting is silly - but it got a bit more flak than it deserved, perhaps its mixed tone confused people - the 'opening pod' cliffhanger is genuinely pretty chilling. Langford is strong here, even her harshest critics largely think so.
One review slagged off the monster costumes having their flies visible and their actors talking in Geordie accents, but even on a rewatch I'm not sure I spot either. I still think it's the best of that season at a pinch - 'Mindwarp' is slightly overrated and its pace is hindered by the courtroom sequences, 'Planet' is Holmes' least memorable story and 'Foe', whilst memorably surreal (and bolstered by Jayston and a more restrained Ainley) only works as a conclusion and doesn't really tie up certain loose ends.
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Post by Deleted on Apr 7, 2022 18:56:40 GMT
I noticed the Geordie accents which is slightly jarring, but I didn't see the flies myself. Mindwarp is absolutely dreadful and Mysterious Planet isn't very ambitious, is it? It's hard to believe that two years on from that we got something like Remembrance. I think The Ultimate Foe is a bit better than those two stories mainly because of the setting and the Master. Sadly it's not the season we should have had. The proposed story involving Autons, the Master and the Rani in Singapore sounded way cooler than anything in Trial.
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Post by iank on Apr 7, 2022 21:12:34 GMT
"Slightly overrated"? I honestly think Mindwarp may be the worst classic Who story. That anyone likes it makes it wildly overrated!  |
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Post by Deleted on Apr 7, 2022 21:13:53 GMT
I think it's the worst story too. MrTARDIS listed it as his 9th favourite story in the past...
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Post by iank on Apr 7, 2022 21:14:54 GMT
Why does that not shock me. |
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Post by Deleted on Apr 8, 2022 10:29:32 GMT
Well I do like Mindwarp, but only because it’s so off the walls insane and bad it turns into comedy gold.
It pretty much solidified Sil as one of my favourite villains.
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Post by UncleDeadly on Apr 8, 2022 10:41:56 GMT
I honestly think Mindwarp may be the worst classic Who story. Why? |
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Post by Deleted on Apr 8, 2022 14:51:57 GMT
The only thing I like about Mindwarp is Crozier. The bit where he sips his tea while Kiv is having a cardiac arrest is quite funny.
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Post by Deleted on Apr 8, 2022 15:19:19 GMT
The only thing I like about Mindwarp is Crozier. The bit where he sips his tea while Kiv is having a cardiac arrest is quite funny. That is a fun moment. My favourite bit would have to be Sil in full panic mode when it looks like Kiv has died and the guards are on the verge of killing him. |
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Post by burrunjor on Apr 8, 2022 15:21:55 GMT
I like the last story in the Trial season. The Valeyard is a neat idea, and the revelation is handled brilliantly. Also I love how the Master is portrayed in this as the trouble maker playing everyone for his own ends. I do wish they had used Eric Sawards ending though. It does sound like it would have been more satisfying, though I did always think the Valeyard surviving was creepy when I was younger, and the fact that he never showed up again kind of adds to that as we are left to wonder what else he is doing out there?
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Post by iank on Apr 8, 2022 21:56:59 GMT
I honestly think Mindwarp may be the worst classic Who story. Why? Everything about is hideously garish, and the performances are awful, with Colin and Blessed particularly embarrassing. |
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