This is the last TV serial for which the generally-accepted overall
title matches one of the episodes (unless, of course, you count
single-episode stories). As a reviewer I say hooray, since I'll no
longer have to distinguish between posts merely by having things like
"Serial Q" vs "Episode 68 (Q1)" in front of them. Except, of course, for
some annoying audios that continue the practice.
I mentioned that I'd already been thoroughly spoiled for this serial
before I saw any of it. This does make a big difference for me; and in
this case I decided I couldn't honestly review it from my own
perspective alone. So I went the whole hog and read, watched or listened
to everything I could on it, often incorporating other people's ideas
into my reviews but sometimes deliberately skipping them. As a prime
example of the latter, I probably would have said something about the
'youth rebellion' theme running through the story - which I had vaguely
picked up on - but Elizabeth Sandifer covered it in detail in her blog
entry. So head on over to the relevant TARDIS Eruditorum entry for a great analysis.
As part of this marathon I watch every episode at least twice, once just
to appreciate it (with some thoughts jotted down afterwards) and once
taking notes as I go, often with the commentary on. This time the
commentary was invaluable, particularly Maureen O'Brien's memories of
the production and Glyn Jones' clarification of how much of the bad
stuff wasn't in there originally. I was annoyed with Peter Purves to
begin with, because he started the first episode from the position that
it's rubbish - not something I like from a moderator. Let the people who
were involved make that judgement! But he soon, ah, moderated his
position, and did his job well after that.
Another influence was Robert Shearman's defence of the serial (among the
DVD extras). I heard this after my first ever viewing. I remember
thinking that I had found the serial quite funny, in the main
unintentionally; but his analysis, the observation that it is meant to
be funny throughout, clicked. I've enjoyed it more on subsequent
viewings, and I don't feel too bad about misreading this since almost
all the reviews I've read have missed it - and I think the director
probably did, too!
Slipped Time Tracks: Alternative Space Museums
This story could have been better, and in some timelines it probably
was. Apparently Jones manages to flesh it out quite a bit in the Target
novelisation - I'll have to get that one sometime - and I wonder how
many of his ideas he reinstated? The biggest idea change made by script
editor Dennis Spooner was the explanation of the timeslip, which in the
broadcast version is totally pants. In Jones' version, the device that
prepares exhibits actually freezes them in time rather than by reducing
their temperature. This, however, is dodgy technology, and the act of
freezing the travellers causes the slippage that allows them to get a
glimpse of their own future and change it. Nicely paradoxical.
Another idea I liked was mentioned by Peter Niemeyer in his review. The
tension could have been improved - and the story could have been tied
more tightly to the first episode - by having the travellers being
frozen one by one: the Doctor at the end of The Dimensions of Time, then Barbara after the original gas attack, and Ian (after a failed attempt to rescue the Doctor) at the end of The Search. This would have made it seem as if the preordained future was coming closer all the time.
Isaac's Corner
The Space Museum is an excellent idea and a good story, although
when I heard the description of the original script it made a lot more
sense (I didn't like the fact that they said it was just caused by a
component going wrong). I like the idea that the Moroks are a great
empire in decline (like at the end of the Roman Empire) and that they
are pretty rubbish. It's very Steven Moffaty and wibbly-wobbly
timey-wimey, messing about with different weird time stuff for the first
time. I also like it because it's mine! I rate it an 8/10 because it
was highlighted how it could be improved.
That's it, then - the four-parter with the longest gap between first
review in this marathon and last. I hope it holds that record forever!
Rating:
Mine: 5/10, episodes 2 & 4 being somewhat redeemed by 1 & 3.
DWM Mighty 200: 50.42%, 190th.
2012 Gallifrey Base Non-Dynamic Rankings: 5.36, 203rd out of 234.
This was voted the worst Hartnell serial by DWM readers, but only the fourth worst on Gallifrey Base.
Next Time:
After the epilogue to The Final Phase, what could it be but the first episode of the next Dalek epic? Actually, what it could be is Plot Devices...
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