From: as010b@uhura.cc.rochester.edu (andrew david simchik)
Newsgroups: rec.arts.drwho
Subject: Re: Colin Baker poll
Date: 8 Nov 92 19:03:02 GMT
Organization: University of Rochester - Rochester, New York

In <BxDMK9.JAL@news.cso.uiuc.edu> jasstev@uxa.cso.uiuc.edu (stevens jason) writes:

>bmcraw01@ulkyvx.louisville.edu writes:

>>What is the general opinion of Colin Baker's version of the Doctor?  My local
>>PBS station recently started showing the episodes where he portrays the Doctor,
>>and so far, I'm not impressed.  I've seen Pertwee, Tom Baker, and Davison, and
>>I've liked each of them much better than Colin Baker.  What are some other
>>opinions out there?

> I think alot of people are unfair to dear old Colin, so Ill back him up.
> Colin always wanted to play the role differently, but was always told by
> Eric saward to be outrageuos and OTT. he didnt like that, but had no choice.
> Why JNT didnt say to Saward otherwise is beyond me.
> Colin never liked what he had to wear. That prejudices people from the start-
> his awful dress sense (although I liked it)
> Colin is a fine actor and a nice man, who gave his undivided attention to
> Who and still does for fandom. After the way he has been treated by fans and
> the BBc Im surprised he has not walked off in disgust, but he hasnt, and it
> shows he was committed to the show.

> BUT
> story wise, yes the Colin B. era was a little flat.
> (1) The Twin Dilemma. Widely held to be one of the stinkers of the show, I 
> actually really like it. colin is well over the top though. tacky, but fun.
> (2) attack of the Cybermen. MMmm. On the one hand we have a good premise here
> and the return of Lytton, which are good points, lovely Cyber violence.
> But the Cybermen just die too easily, and the body count is a little sickening. (3) Vengeance on Varos.  A highly intelligent script, gloomy, moody, and well
> performed. This is excellent, but a little violent for some people.
> (4) Maak of the Rani. A good idea here, but the unecessary inclusion of the
> Master spoils the story. I still have nothing really to complain about, apart
> from the weakness of Attack.
> (5) Timelash. Well....its badly produced, the script isnt fully ready, Paul
> Darrow is an embarrasment. Not good. However, the HG Wells twist is a marvelous tinge to an otherwise very average story
> (6) The Two Doctors. Great to see Troughton again, lots of gore and violence
> which is great. I like it.
> (7) Revelation of the Daleks. This has to be called Revelation of Davros because I didnt see that many Daleks!!! Too many things going on here, we could have got rid of that awful DJ. Good cast though and some of the best stabbings on
> tv. it puts you off sausages aswell.
> (8) Trial of a Time Lord
> some good ideas in here but it all fell very flat in episodes 4 to 8 and 11 and 12. The plot is confusing as it unwinds but there are some classic moments
> -episode 3 cliffhanger
> -Peris death (BUT not subsequent ressurection)
> -terror of the Vervoids, nice premise.
> -Sabalom Glitz
> -the Master appearing on the Matrix screen
> As a season of dr Who though its naff. But we see colin in these 14 episodes
> as a much different person, his character is toned down somewhat. The 
> original idea tyo have the DR and the Valeyard stuck in the Matrix a sa season
> cliffhanger was good, but JNT fear of Grades axe stopped him..it could have
> been seen as a good way to end the series.
>   Colin needs to be done justice. His stories were accpetable, but the scripts
>   still needed work. And he needs a regeneration (read Love and War!) to
>   justify his tenure.
>   Such a shame. Here was an actor willing to give it his all
>   versus a BBc plotting his downfall. i personally like the Colin era, brief
>   though it is. Your problem is a tired producer who should have gone after
>   the 21st season.

>   Anybody care to differ?
>   Jason.

>>-- 
>>========================================================================
>>| Bruce M. Crawford                           !  "It's not the years,  !
>>|                                             !   it's the mileage."   !
>>|  Internet:  bmcraw01@ulkyvx.louisville.edu  !     - Indiana Jones    !
>>!    BITNET:  bmcraw01@ulkyvx                 !                        !
>>========================================================================
>>! "This above all: to thine own self be true. And it must follow as    !
>>!  the night the day, thou canst not then be false to any man."        !
>>!              _Hamlet_, Act I, Scene III                              !
>>========================================================================

In general, I agree with just about everything you've said.  I kind of liked
Colin Baker as the Doctor...like McCoy, he had to contend with cheesy
companions, bad stories (for the most part), and JNT, who has produced some
of DW's finest and worst moments.  I differ slightly on Paul Darrow; I agree
that he's not the best actor in the world but his characters are always
enjoyable.  His "Timelash" character was inferior to Avon, of course, since
I continually forget that Darrow appeared in that show!
	However, I must point out that the first part of TOATL, "The
Mysterious Planet", was excellent.  Great story, great characters, great
look...utterly enjoyable.  Excuse my swiss-cheesed brain...was that a Bob
Holmes script?

Drewcifer