Doctor Who Television Review: Pyramids of Mars

Episode: Pyramids of Mars
Story Number:  82
Season: 13
Screenwriter: “Stephen Harris” (Robert Holmes and Lewis Greifer)
Director: Paddy Russell

Thoughts:

The Doctor and Sarah Jane are returning to UNIT headquarters, something I find surprising when I watch this story because it seems like it’s been a couple of seasons (and a regeneration) since The Doctor was based at UNIT.  A time anomaly forces the TARDIS to land at an English estate in 1911 on the site where the UNIT headquarters will be built in the future.  The owner of the estate, archaeology professor Marcus Scarman (Bernard Archard) has been turned into an animated corpse and become the servant of Sutekh (Gabriel Woolf).

In the Doctor Who universe, Sutekh is a member of a powerful race of aliens called the Osirians, and is the influence for the God of Death, Set, in Egyptian mythology. Scarman is plotting to release Sutekh from under a pyramid on Mars where he was imprisoned by his brother Horus millennia ago. Naturally, he is aided by robots that look like mummies.  The Doctor and Sarah have to try to stop them with some limited assistance from Scarman’s brother Laurence (Michael Sheard).

Influenced by Hammer horror films, Pyramids of Mars is atmospheric and has a strong script.  There’s a lot about Sutekh and the plot that doesn’t make a lot of sense.  But that’s easy to set aside since Sutekh is a truly scary antagonist and a believable challenge for The Doctor.  The dialogue between The Doctor and Sutekh is particularly strong.  Plus, the chemistry between The Doctor and Sarah Jane is strong, with several good moments for the companion.

Score: 8 of 10

Doctor Who Television Review: School Reunion

Episode:  School Reunion
Story Number: 170
Series: 2
Screenwriter:  Toby Whithouse
Director:  James Hawes

Thoughts:

When I first watched this episode back in 2011, I had no idea who Sarah Jane was other than long-time fans loved her. This episode marked her return after last being a regular companion in 1976, and I soon loved her as well.  The idea of a robot dog sounded silly, but I soon loved K9 as well.  This episode marked the new Doctor Who interacting with the show’s own past in a new way. Traditionally the Doctor moved on from his companions without ever looking back (except for the 20th anniversary special), but now a former companion arrives to challenge him on how he disposes of his friends.  I love also how the relationship between Rose and Sarah Jane, while initially adversarial, swiftly becomes friendship as they bond over shared experiences.  This is also a good episode for Mickey who thus far has mostly been the goofy boyfriend Rose leaves behind but he also begins to assert himself.  The main plot of the vampire-like Krillitanes taking advantage of school children for scientific research is largely background to all the interpersonal relationships.  This was also Toby Whitehouse’s first script for Doctor Who.  He would grow to be unpopular in the fandom and I have to admit this is probably his best story (although I should probably rewatch “The God Complex”).

Rating: 8 of 10

Audio Review: Zagreus

Title:  Zagreus
Director:  Gary Russell
Writer:  Gary Russell and Alan Barnes
Doctor: Eighth with Fifth, Sixth, and Seventh (and a cameo by the Third)
Companions/other cast: Charley Pollard and a cast of thousands
Release Date: November 2003
Thoughts:

The big four-oh is celebrated with the ultimate Big Finish convoluted story.  Every cliche from a Gallifreyan fairy tale being a real-life threat to the TARDIS playing tricks is thrown at this story.  I have to say I really did enjoy this at first by it gets more and more bogged down in details and continuity references as it goes on.  Including every actor who participated in Big Finish up to that point was nice, albeit a bit confusing considering they were all playing different characters.

Rating: 6 of 10

Television Review: Genesis of the Daleks

Episode: Genesis of the Daleks
Story Number: 078
Season: 12
Screenwriter: Terry Nation
Director: David Maloney

Thoughts:

Heretical as it may be, I’m not a big fan of Dalek stories, and of Terry Nation’s work in general.  Genesis of the Daleks is a notable exception as it is undoubtedly deserving of it’s classic status.  Nation outdoes himself (or perhaps Robert Holmes rewriting Nation?) as he completely rewrites the history of the Daleks and with it the history of Doctor Who.

All the stops are pulled out as production values are high with excellent sets and locations.  Tom Baker, Elisabeth Sladen, and Ian Marter are all at their best and their characters get to strut their stuff.  And the supporting cast is brilliant, despite their being so many of them.  Kaleds! Thals! Mutos! Davros, Nyder, and Battan are particularly meaty parts embraced by their respective actors.

Sure there are some flaws like the giant clam, one of the cheapest cliffhanger resolutions in Doctor Who history between episodes 2 and 3, and the mystery of why the Kaled and Thal cities are only a short walk apart (my theory is that the cities grew as the last survivors of each race gathered in opposing camps as the rest of Skaro was made uninhabitable).  But one cannot really dwell on the flaws of Genesis of the Daleks as there is so much that’s good here to discuss.

The titular monsters are actually not present for much of the story which I think is always a good way to tell a Dalek story.  Their few appearances are more pointedly scary as a result.  The allusions to real world historical events like the Nazi regime and WWI trench warfare is obvious, but at the same time lead to building a unique world. The plot and dialogue are complex with some unexpected twists.

This is yet another Classic Doctor Who story I would recommend unreservedly to new watchers, and one of the three great Dalek stories along with Remembrance of the Daleks and Dalek.

Score: 9 of 10