From: jogulin@pub_one.fia.dmg.ml.com (Joseph Ogulin)
Subject: ARCHIVE: Review of the JN-T Era of Doctor Who, Part 5
Organization: The Rift from Here to There
Date: Wed, 7 Oct 1992 13:35:44 GMT

Here's part 5...

*************************** CUT HERE ***********************
Don't worry, you only have to put up with us  for  this  and
two other parts...
 
 
Attack of the Cybermen -
 
     Cybermen getting destroyed left and right (with  a  two
by  four,  no  less)  and of course, trying to destory Earth
with Halley's comet (say what???).  You know Who manages  to
thwart them (again...), but doesn't like what's happening to
his chameleon circuit (remember that?).
 
     See Earthshock.  Lytton and you know Who "playing"  the
you know WHAT are about the only redeeming qualities.
 
 
Vengeance on Varos -
 
     The short version:  Mary Whitehouse's nightmare.
 
     Enjoyable, but rings totally hollow.
 
     Joe:  probably one of the best of the season, but  that
doesn't say much.  It's not a definite best, though.
 
 
The Mark of the Rani -
 
     Return of the wimpy you know who story.  Very wimpy  in
this  one.   Yet  another try at stopping Earth's scientific
development - at a scientific conference.  You know who  and
the  cute, evil time lady seemingly get spun to death in the
washer at the end.
 
     "When I got this story, it was a piece of $#!T;  when I
finished, it was just rubbish," said Eric Saward.  He's com-
plimenting himself a bit too much there.  The only redeeming
quality is the cute, evil time lady.
 
 
The Two Doctors -
 
     "Figaro."  You know Who gets lost on  his  way  to  New
Orleans and finds himself in Seville.  He has to rescue Who-
self from the potato-heads, and legs and "Legs" from  Shock-
eye  before  he  completely  tenderizes the meat and fillets
them (pass on the first, then yummmmmmm  ;-) ),  while  Ser-
valan dominates an old friend (exactly how many of them does
he have???) of you know Who (we don't mind...).  All the bad
guys  get  their just desserts (don't blame us...it's in the
story...) and are mothballed afterward  (see  previous  com-
ment).  You know Who goes Whoselves' separate ways.
 
     Script editor:  JN-T (can't you tell?).  2 and 6  don't
get  along.   Surprized?   Not really...and not really up to
Robert Holmes's best (is it necessarily his fault, though?).
 
 
Timelash -
 
     This doesn't deserve a summary.
 
     "Let me be  frank,  Herbert...."   Yet  another  Nessie
story;  one  more, and they're up to Atlantis.  We'd like to
put it in a time loop and be done with it.
 
 
Revelation of the Daleks -
 
     A Greek chorus for the dead, free food for the  cosmos,
guinea-pig  salt  and pepper shakers for Davros, and lots of
backstabbing, "make life and death more  confusing  for  the
Doctor on the planet Necros."
 
     Louis:  Eric Saward  mimics  Robert  Holmes.   At  long
last, he put characters and background into a script!
 
     Joe:  Good story, but it left me wanting something more
(ahh,  for  six  parters).   At  least  the  Davros  costume
improved from the last time.
 
 
 
Season overall -
 
     Hollow!
 
 
 
Seasonal trivia -
 
-    Who is the Greek chorus?
 
-    What is an anagram of 'gourmand'?
 
-    Which episode is reedited in syndication?
 
 
                                           --Two more to go!
 

-- 
==> "You never f**king know the answer when it's important." --The Doctor <==
Joe Ogulin

jogulin@camelot.fia.dmg.ml.com		joe@monroe.pilot.dmg.ml.com
jogulin@apollo.stevens-tech.edu		gcs_jogulin@stevens.bitnet

Disclaimer:  The above article is solely my opinion and does not necessar-
ily reflect that of my employer.  The content is my responsibility alone.
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