Day 435: The Hand of Fear Part 4

At the end of the day, The Hand of Fear is a story destined to be forgotten. We may remember certain aspects such as the characters or the basic plotline, but it is all overshadowed by what immediately follows it. You see, Sarah Jane Smith, beloved companion, decides that she has had enough at the end of this story. Tired of being shot at, hypnotised and the like, she decides once and for all to give up the life of travelling in the TARDIS. The Doctor takes no notice of this, he's busy with other matters. But then after discovering that he has to go away to Gallifrey, he is forced to leave Sarah Jane behind. She quickly changes her mind, but then is told that she has to leave. So she does, but not before saying "Travel does broaden the mind". The Doctor responds with "Til we meet again Sarah", and she leaves. The Doctor looks away, hiding the fact that he's sad. Because he's never going to see his best friend again. This is the nature of Doctor Who. The companions leave and move on with their lives, just as the Doctor moves on with his life. Change is inevitable in the world of Doctor Who.

And we wish it wasn't. Sarah Jane Smith has been one of the best companions the series has ever had. She is able to be smart, funny and resourceful. She can be brave when the situation demands it but she's not afraid to show fear. She was a perfect audience identification figure, as she was able to provide an air of normality to the insane adventures that the Doctor went on, but she was also able to represent the very best qualities of humanity in the process. We'll miss you Sarah Jane Smith. And we'll never forget you.

Day 434: The Hand of Fear Part 3

This episode brings another interesting cliffhanger. Eldrad (who MUST live), has resurrected themselves and has secured the help of the Doctor and Sarah Jane to return to Kastria such that they can fully regenerate themselves, as they currently exist as a weird hybrid between their native Kastrian form and the form of the human that unwittingly helped resurrect Eldrad, Sarah Jane Smith. It is blatantly obvious throughout the serial that Eldrad serves as the antagonist, through using mind control on people and threatening to kill others, indeed almost going through with it in the case of Professor Watson.

Thus, it is a surprise to see Eldrad as the focus of the cliffhanger, where a trap is sprung upon them and they are in clear mortal peril. It is rare to see cliffhangers that focus on characters other than the regulars, let alone the antagonist, and yet here we are. However, it works as a dramatic device. We do not know whether this will kill Eldrad or not, and we have grown to become invested in that aspect of the story. We thus need to see the conclusion of the story, to get closure on whether Eldrad will live or not. But I've got a feeling that that won't be the main focus of tomorrow's episode...

Day 433: The Hand of Fear Part 2

There's a simple little scene within this episode. Sarah Jane, possessed by the power of Eldrad (who MUST live), has infiltrated a nuclear power complex and is making the reactor go critical. Professor Watson, the leader of the complex, is suddenly faced with the very real prospect of dying, so he calls his family. He doesn't let them know that he's going to die, he instead says that he's going to be at the reactor a little bit late. By having this scene, Bob Baker and Dave Martin, the writers, are able to make us immediately sympathise with this character who we've never met before, thus giving us a reason to pay attention to the story, because we suddenly care about this character and want him to make it home to see his children.

This is followed up with the cliffhanger to the story, which features the reactor having some sort of crisis, with the final shot being Professor Watson lying unconscious on the floor. It is an implicit rule of television that the regulars will always survive whatever cliffhanger you throw at them. As Professor Watson is not a regular, there is suddenly a very real chance that he might die. This simple character that we care about is now in danger and so we are encouraged to tune in to see the following instalment. Forget Eldrad, Professor Watson MUST live!

Day 432: The Hand of Fear Part 1

This, as an episode, doesn't quite feel right. It's not like The Seeds of Doom where I can pinpoint exactly where the story deviates from expectations, instead the not-rightness surrounds the episode as a whole, feeling like it's surrounded by a goo of not sitting well with me. It's unexpected that this should happen as well, I last saw this story a year and a half ago and can only remember good things, but seeing it now makes everything feel...odd.

A reason could plausibly be due to the setting. We're firmly in the present day, but not the present day that we're used to. This is the first story since Fury from the Deep to feature no input from UNIT, and even then you'd have to go back to The Faceless Ones to find a story that's within the same category as this, with strange goings on happening in familiar environments (this time a quarry, a hospital and a nuclear power station). Add to this the fact that we have the Doctor separated from Sarah Jane for a vast proportion of the episode, a tacked on prologue detailing the possible origins of the titular Hand, and an odd scene where we see the Doctor not in a sprightly yellow roadster but in a rather more mundane car driving along in the passenger seat to find Sarah Jane, and we have an episode that doesn't sit well with this particular member of the audience.

But I do remember strong things to come in this story, and I look forward to seeing the rest of it as we delve more into The Hand of Fear...

Day 375: The Monster of Peladon Part 6

Much like Planet of the Daleks, as a child I somewhat wanted to see The Monster of Peladon above other stories. I'd already seen and enjoyed The Curse of Peladon, so The Monster of Peladon was high in expectation as something to look forward to. Unfortunately, in the 9 or so years between watching Curse and watching Monster, I discovered the reputation of certain stories. The Monster of Peladon, it is fair to say, does not have the best of reputations. This all meant that when I watched it, I wasn't allowed to fully engage with the story, instead I was already in a mood to criticise and poke fun at its flaws. I could make a comment here about how wrong I was, and how the story is actually incredibly good. But it isn't. That's not to say that I don't like it though. The fact that it chooses not to hide its flaws makes for some incredibly fun viewing, and I'm actually kind lf glad that I knew this story was going to be poor before I watched it, because it meant that I wasn't going to be let down again, like I was with Planet of the Daleks.

Day 374: The Monster of Peladon Part 5

This story sees the return of the Ice Warriors. I rather liked the Ice Warriors in their last appearance due to them being on the side of good and adding another dimension to their role in the series. The same, however, cannot be said of their appearance in this serial. Here, they are clearly the villains of the piece, taking advantage of the Pels of Peladon, attacking them often with their advanced weaponry and planning to take over the universe. This is disappointing, to be brutally honest. I enjoyed the fact that by having the Ice Warriors as goodies in the last story, the story was able to play on the audience's prejudices as well as giving the characters something more to do. But here, they are reduced to lumbering around the place which makes them weaker as a result because we lose all the hard work in character development that we had seen before. That's not to say that this doesn't go unacknowledged though, people comment that they are a breakaway group, and that this is entirely unexpected. But it is still disappointing and adds to the list of disappointments that go with The Monster of Peladon.

Day 373: The Monster of Peladon Part 4

Jon Pertwee is not getting any younger. This is quite apparent in this episode as the action scene towards the end features Terry Walsh, the stunt co-ordinator, wearing an unconvincing grey wig as he tries to fill in for the Doctor during various jumps and such. This serves as a sign to the end of the era. Pertwee has been defined by his stunts, and feats of derring-do. But this is no longer as achievable as it once was, and indicates that perhaps the best course of action would be a radical change of direction for the series...

Day 372: The Monster of Peladon Part 3

The Monster of Peladon is remembered generally for only seven words. "There's nothing only about being a girl". These words are said by Sarah Jane Smith to Queen Thalira, when the Queen is feeling depressed over the fact that any order that she would give would be dismissed due to her only being a girl. This is a striking message, as it allows for Doctor Who to connect with an issue which sadly still affects us today, being the vast inequality in the way in which we treat different genders, in particular the way in which women are treated. And through those seven words young girls can see Sarah Jane, the main audience identification figure, telling them that they need to fight inequality and make their voice heard. Because there is nothing only about being a girl.

Day 371: The Monster of Peladon Part 2

This serial has made a point of having the lower classes of Peladon revolt. It's due to a mistrust of the Galactic Federation, causing them to rise up and attack their superiors. This is a massive contrast to how things were in The Curse of Peladon. There, the focus was on the upper classes, as we saw the discussions made about the benefits and disadvantages of joining the Galactic Federation. Here, all elements of Peladon society get to take part in the discussions, and it becomes obvious that there are severe problems with the way in which the lower classes have been treated. By allowing us to see the hidden side of the planet, we can grow to have a better understanding of the conflict that is place within the story, and thus grow to appreciate the world building that has taken place on the planet Peladon.

Day 370: The Monster of Peladon Part 1

I love The Curse of Peladon. Obviously, others do as well as we have a sequel to the story here. Returning to Peladon is an interesting choice, although somewhat obvious. Having a return appearance to a planet is interesting as it allows for us to see the impact of the Doctor's actions, as well can see the evolution that has taken place for the planet and the way in which it operates. It's similar to the William Hartnell story The Ark, which took place on a spaceship in two time periods and got to witness the true consequences of the TARDIS crew's actions (in that case it was a full sclar rebellion that took place and caused humanity to be subjugated).

But once a return visit is decided, it is clear that the only candidate is Peladon. Other stories were either too self contained or lacked the memorable characters that were present in The Curse of Peladon to warrant being remembered by the viewing audience. So we get to revisit this lovely little planet once more, hoping that we'll get a story of the calibre of The Curse of Peladon.

Day 333: The Three Doctors Episode 4

This reason also has Omega, an example of the fantastic ideas which Bob Baker and Dave Martin can bring to Doctor Who. Omega is the man responsible for creating the Time Lords, giving them the power of time travel. As a reward for this, he was chucked into a black hole to another universe, where he lives in solitude, going clearly insane due to his isolation. This is a fantastic idea as it draws into the past of the Doctor Who mythology, showing us what happened before the series began and giving glimpses into the universe in which the Doctor inhabits, showing us that it has been working for far longer than ten years. But it's also a fantastic idea at the heart of it, a man who has been given the power to be a God in his own domain and it has driven him mad.

This is also followed up on by two key parts of Omega. One is the performance given by Stephen Thorne, the actor behind Omega's mask. He fully conveys the insanity and strong emotion at the heart of this character, shouting and screaming his way through the dialogue showing his full madness. The other key part of Omega comes when he removes the mask which has covered him for the entire serial, revealing that his entire body has been eroded away and that the only thing keeping him alive is his will to live. This reveals both the strength of the original man that he was able to keep alive through will and will alone, and yet his insanity, as it is shown that there is nothing concrete that remains of his self, only the shadow that holds the very fibre of his being together (and even then that is fading). It's a fantastic idea and shows that Bob Baker and Dave Martin are clearly the people to turn to for some fantastic and truly insane ideas.

Day 332: The Three Doctors Episode 3

One of the best things about The Three Doctors is to be found in the character of the Brigadier. We know this character well, as the military man in charge of the situation. But what happens when he isn't in charge of the situation? This story examines that, having a direct attack on UNIT HQ to cause him some degree of unhappiness then he is faced with the Doctor changing his face again and to top it all off he is sent to an entirely new universe. It's hilarious to see this unflappable man completely out of his comfort zone as he desperately tries to make sense of everything. In a way, we can see this as revenge for the fact that we were forced as viewers into the Brigadier's world when Doctor Who became Earthbound. Now we have been sent back to the more surreal, mystical and wonderful way in which Doctor Who used to be and the Brigadier is unable to take it all in. It shows, in the 10th anniversary story, both the way in which Doctor Who used to be and the way in which it is now coming together in a cataclysmic crash of ideas.

Day 331: The Three Doctors Episode 2

Also appearing in this episode is William Hartnell. As scripted, he appears as the wiser old man to guide his two replacements to the right answers. However, it's sadly apparent that age has not been kind to Hartnell. You look at him and you don't see the energy that was present when he was the Doctor, the ability for him to dash about with his wits and remain on top. Instead, we just see an old man appear on a television screen, obviously unwell and trying to recapture the spirit of the Doctor, but not entirely succeeding. It's a sad reminder of why Hartnell left, he was sadly fading and would not have been able to carry on as the Doctor for this time. Fans can praise Hartnell for returning for the 10th anniversary special, but for me it's somewhat depressing to see what was once so great be so diminished due to illness and age.

Day 330: The Three Doctors Episode 1

Patrick Troughton makes a return to Doctor Who in this serial. To say that I was looking forward to this would be an understatement. I was practically bouncing off the walls with joy at the thought of seeing Troughton again, it's not that I dislike Pertwee, it's just that I like Troughton far more, due to his sense of fun and lightness that he brings to the role. Take, for instance, the second half of this story which brings Troughton and Pertwee into conflict, showing the base differences between their portrayals of the Doctor. Pertwee remains serious throughout the situation, whereas Troughton has an element of fun with the situation, playing his recorder and generally being happy about the situation that he finds himself in. These two personalities immediately come into conflict providing some of the best moments in the history of Doctor Who as they play off eachother perfectly, making this a serial to remember throughout the years as we hit the 10th anniversary of Doctor Who.

Day 311: The Curse of Peladon Episode 4

As my brother discussed briefly in the post on episode one, a central theme of The Curse of Peladon is that of fear. Throughout the episode a climate of fear is created in order to force compliance upon others. The main villains of the story use various tactics to enforce the concept that Peladon joining the galactic federation would be of great consequence. The climate of fear created makes for an outstanding and ever relevant plot, adding extra depth and enduring value to an amazing value. It encourages the audience to think on their own society, and whether or not the decisions being made are what is best, or what is encouraged by fear, one does not need to look very hard in our current society to note some similarities. 

Day 310: The Curse of Peladon Episode 3

After getting my rant out of the way yesterday, I feel that I am now able to discuss some other important features that are actually more relevant to this episode.

Costuming in any production is something I personally feel the need to discuss, but I feel that it is particularly important to bring up the costuming decisions and designs in this 1972 episode of Doctor Who. Naturally the first piece of costuming that springs to mind is one that must be seen to be believed, Alpha Centauri. And at that mention we shall leave it as there may be children present, but I will say that it does win the award for most outstanding use of a shower curtain in an attempt to hide any unprofessional parts of the costume.

A common feature of Doctor Who is the usually quite stunning costuming sported by the companions, and Jo Grant is no exception to this. In this episode we see Jo in a shiny two piece outfit, adorned with floral patterns. It is so very 1970s. But not, however as 1970s as the costuming of our King Peladon. Peladon is dressed in an interesting outfit of deep purples and royal blue, signifying his high standing in this society. Similarly we see his advisors dressed in a similar get up, although a little more conservative than Peladons mini-skirt. Perhaps on Peladon the shortness of ones skirt denotes importance? Or perhaps the costume designers of this show were faced with a small budget and expensive fabrics, leading them to make cuts wherever possible?

Similarly, the costuming of the guards of the citadel also leaves very little to the imagination. So much so that one wonders how practical this ‘armour’ must be should conflict arise. I imagine as practical as that of the kind granted so often to female superheroes and video game characters, that is to say, not very. But let us not get off topic here, I had my little rant yesterday.

Although I could find at least one thousand more words to say on the costuming of this episode, going into intricate detail on the makings of the costumes, and rambling on about what kinds of fabrics I think they used, I feel that I must draw this entry to a close. This is simply to spare you from boredom as you read through an overly long and drawn out entry discussing the intricacies of the making of the Doctors jacket, which is, may I say in one final comment, rather fabulous.

Day 309: The Curse of Peladon Episode 2

Because I am the kind of person who has to make everything about feminism I intend to spend the entirety of this entry going on something of a feminist rant in relation to one of my favourite episodes, The Curse of Peladon. Although, it should be noted that in future entries I do fully intend on discussing themes more relevant to the episode.

Something that has so far stood out to myself in this episode is in fact the lack of female characters. Yes, we are presented with various characters such as Alpha Centuri who are not necessarily male or female, but I did notice the constant use of masculine pronouns in reference to them. So we are essentially presented with but one female character, the Doctor’s faithful companion, Jo Grant. Jo’s ‘power’ often falls far short of that of her male counterparts. Adding to this, there are many instances of some degree of anti-women behavior. For example, in the first episode we are presented with the line, “Only men of rank and females of royal blood…” in reference to who is allowed entrance to the chamber. So obviously women are incapable of achieving any kind of rank in this society, unless of course they are born into the role itself. Or if they happen to be of ‘common’ birth, they are in romantic relations with a male member of the royal family. There is also the matter of the treatment of Jo by the King of Peladon. He thanks her for bringing ‘beauty’ to the conference, as if she had nothing else to bring. His conversations with her constantly revolve around her beauty, so much so that it appears as though she has no other value to him.

I am now truly starting to ramble on in this completely unstructured rant. I apologise for the lack of content relevant to the episode itself, but, I truly must make everything about feminism. 



Image credit goes to http://floccinaucinihilipilificationa.tumblr.com/

Day 308: The Curse of Peladon Episode 1

There are some serials which I watch and I realise that I've got nothing that I really want to say about them. There are others that I look forward to, because they have so much within them that I can talk about the merits of these serials for weeks on end. The Curse of Peladon is one of these serials. In ordinary circumstances, I'd stretch these ideas out across the serial, to ration my sanity and prevent myself from running out of things to talk about. But these aren't ordinary circumstances. I'm going away for the weekend and thus will only be covering the first episode of The Curse of Peladon. So shall begin this rambling entry about everything that I love about The Curse of Peladon.

Let's begin with the incredibly obvious point: Alpha Centauri. A hermaphrodite hexapod, it has been created as a new and unique alien monster. Unlike others that have appeared in the series which have borne some resemblance to humans, this one is completely unlike humans at all. It's using the ability to make itself alien and weird to make itself utterly memorable. And not only that, but it is also absolutely hilarious. A high pitched and trembling voice spews forth from its head, as it panics about every possible thing imaginable. There's also a fantastic and hilarious scene later on in the serial where Jo and some Ice Warriors intimidate it into following their orders. It's funny because we see this character in some degree of terror, but also because this terror is being subjected by Jo Grant, the lovable assistant of the Doctor who couldn't hurt a fly. And to top it all off, it looks incredibly rude.

We've also got the plot, which is fantastic as well. It concerns fears about joining politically with a galactic federation, something which could either increase Peladons's standing in the galaxy, or destroy everything that Peladon holds dear. There's a reason for this story as well, as the UK was, at the time, in great debate about whether they wanted to become part of the EEC, or the European Economic Community. It's a decision which holds great fear for those that wish to uphold the status quo, and much is done by that end to prevent this from happening. This is done by creating a climate of fear, one which will force people to remain afraid of the new developments, instead of being excited for the prospects that they will have in the future. It's a political tactic that has been used throughout history, and one which is clearly demonstrating to the audience of the ways in which politics works, introducing young minds to this premise as well as showing older viewers that Doctor Who is smarter than you would think.

And above all of that, this story is one of the first stories that I saw. I don't remember too much about it on first viewing, aside from one brief moment. I remember talking excitedly with my mother about one of the plot developments in the story, namely that the Ice Warriors were not actually the villains, despite the fact that I had read through various sources that the Ice Warriors were some of the Doctor's worst enemies. When I look back on this memory, I am struck by how well I engaged with the mythos of the programme, as I absorbed all of the information to do with this strange series that my parents used to watch, showing that this was clearly going to be something that I would stick with for quite some time.

And as this entry comes to a close, I should mention that I haven't even gotten started on everything that I love about The Curse of Peladon. I'm legitimately disappointed that I'm going to be missing the remainder of this serial, but I've now got to go and do some business with my friends as We've Got Work To Do!