Is Mark of the Rani underrated?

[Deleted]

Colin Baker's only historical adventure (on TV, at least) is criticised for its script and lack of any real drama or tension. It does however have splendid direction, a believable historical setting and the awesomeness of Kate O'Mara's Rani character. I don't mind the script myself and I think Pip and Jane Baker are actually some of the better writers of the Colin Baker era. Mark also stands out because it lacks the violence or grimness of the other stories of the season. In the end, whilst it's not perfect it is at least a fun little historical adventure. It's inferior to Time and the Rani in my opinion, but it's one of the better outings for Colin all the same.

[billpatjontom]

Maybe a tad underrated.
Kate O'Mara really shines in this and the period setting makes a nice change of scene for a Colin story.
Don't like seeing Peri covered up but there's still stuff to relsh here including such dialogue as 'The tree wont hurt you!' 

[RobFilth]

"Is Mark of the Rani underrated?"

Yes.

It's as good as anything from the Letts era in my opinion.

[Bernard Marx]

The story's opening five minutes are bloody gorgeous. The lighting, direction and music are hypnotically beautiful, and the verbosity of the story's dialogue suits Colin's Doctor to a tee.

This piece (specifically the first two minutes) genuinely sounds as good as an Aphex Twin Ambient score:



I think it's fairly pedestrian and unremarkable in plot, truth be told (and I prefer Attack, Varos, Two Doctors and Revelation to it), but it's certainly given a harder time than it deserves.

[RobFilth]

"Hold hard? Talks funny don't he? Is this hard enough?"

Come on, the Luddites are bloody hilarious in it!

None of them has a northern regional accent that matches the other and when they go on the rampage by kicking a box of fruit in the air and kicking over a small kiddie by the village well, you'd certainly be terrified to get your Stephenson's rocket out in front of them!

Peri panicking and flapping her arms whilst the Doctor rolls away from her trapped to the trolley is another piece of high entertainment...

[iank]

I'm not really aware of any wider perceptions outside of here these days, but Mark is fine. Not great, but fine.

[rushy]

I think Kate O'Mara is great, and Anthony Ainley is reliably entertaining as always, but Mark of the Rani itself is pretty forgettable

[Brian MK.II]

It's a fun ride and is bolstered by atmospheric direction, music and colourful villains but at the same time it's arguably the season's most generic & least controversial episode and as a result tends to be forgotten about.

[Deleted]

Apr 19, 2022 23:21:22 GMT rushy said:

I think Kate O'Mara is great, and Anthony Ainley is reliably entertaining as always, but Mark of the Rani itself is pretty forgettable

Pretty much my view, an average story elevated by its villains.

[Deleted]

I think it's possibly Colin's best story Kate o mara amazing great chemistry with Colin and Ainley in this story love the rani's TARDIS too and that ending lol with the master and the Rani love it .