Doctor Who (The Keeper of Traken - Part Four )
John Black, 1981
For this aging blogger, early eighties Saturday tea time TV could be summed up by the dulcet voice of Tim Gudgin announcing the football results, and the uncompromising science fiction theatrics of Doctor Who. Amongst a certain age range, Tom Baker's portrayal of the fourth incarnation of the scatterbrained Doctor was the most revered. The long running BBC series, which originally began from 1963, was plagued by numerous budget restrictions, but despite the wobbly sets and shite effects, where it excelled at was its creative writing. It was highbrow sci-fi to a youngster like me back then.
Robert Delgado's The Master; the arch-nemesis to The Doctor, came and went well before my time. However, the decayed visage of the character was perhaps my earliest memory of the popular sci-fi series, and it turned out to be an unexpectedly frightening viewing experience. Witnessing some rotten ghoul in a robe creep out of a grandfather clock and meld into the helpless Tremas, played by Anthony Ainley, was pure nighmare fuel for me. Judging by the video's YouTube comments, I wasn't the only one scared shitless by this scene. Ainley would subsequently continue playing The Master for the remainder of the classic era Doctor Who.
A pity that Nu Who fell off completely with the arrival of Chris Chibnall's tenure as its showrunner. Not even changing its traditional Saturday slot to a Sunday, and sandwiching it between Country File and The Antiques Road Show could save it hemorrhaging viewers. However, at least we got Stacey Dooley and Kevin "Cackling" Clifton dancing the "terrifying tango" on a Halloween special of Strictly Come Dancing because of it.
This was the first Dr Who story I ever remember watching. The weird white watcher bloke from the next story Logopolis gave me the chills too as a kid.
ReplyDeleteR.I.P Roger Delgado. The Daemons is the G.O.A.T Dr. Who story imo. It certainly has the best quotable: "chap with the wings there - five rounds rapid!"
Yeah, I remember the watcher bloke. The Doctor's regeneration from Logopolis was what we were all talking about at school back then.
ReplyDeleteI remember him dying in a ship, but nothing else about him.
ReplyDeleteOught to watch some vintage Doctor Who, but there's only Nu Who on iPlayer.
Get the Britbox free trial and binge it for 2 weeks.
ReplyDeleteBritbox only has a seven day free trial. Did the maths, doubt I would be able to cram all 26 seasons (694 episodes) even if there were a two week trial available.
ReplyDeleteObviously you can avoid the Colin Baker era and much of the Peter Davison era 😄
ReplyDeleteSylvester McCoy era has lots of gem stories tho, plus Ace as companion 😍
If I skip out both the Peter Davison and Colin Baker era, I'll miss out on Peri Brown though.
ReplyDeleteCompletely agree about Ace. Loved her get up; especially that jacket. Also, I watched Rob Zombie's cringeworthy The Munsters prequel, and it had Sylvester McCoy in it as Igor; before he became a bat. Probably the only notable thing about the film, imo.
McCoy is top 5 to me just off "unlimited rice pudding!" alone.
ReplyDeleteDefinitely more likable than the previous two.
ReplyDeleteDon't remember the name of the McCoy episode, but I remember two Elizabethans being transported to modern times and they're instantly repulsed by the quality of our oxygen. Way more cerebral and less heavy handed than any environmental commentary from today's era of Doctor Who shite.
Uggh.
ReplyDeleteI just remembered there is one very good Colin Baker story: The Mark of the Rani with Kate O'Mara. G.O.A.T female villain of old Dr. Who.
I liked Kate O'Mara in The Vampire Lovers. :)
ReplyDeleteThat and The Horror Of Frankenstein are the only movies of hers I've seen. Hamner recognising and realising a future star yet again.
ReplyDeleteShe was also in Corruption - another film based on Eyes Without A Face. Peter Cushing surprisingly shocking in that one.
ReplyDelete