Roight now I'm watching....

[Rory Pond]

At the risk of taking this thread completely off the rails (which I've already contributed to with the double-dip diversion, sorry about that), let me add one thing to the Blu-Ray discussion.

I picked up The Prisoner on Blu-Ray a couple of years ago and watched it with a friend who knew nothing about the series (I previously owned all 17 eps -- plus the variant version of "Chimes" -- on VHS, plus read the officially authorised DC Comics follow-up when it first came out). He was blown away by the series and I was blown away by the improved picture quality. Neither one of us expected a TV series from the late 1960s to look this good in high definition, but it certainly does. Of course, the show was shot completely on film, whereas classic Who was recorded in a variety of formats through the years.

On topic, I'll be finishing the E-Space Trilogy with a rewatch of "Warrior's Gate" in the near future. I've owned the set for months now and still haven't put WG in the player yet. For shame...

[Henry Gordon Jago]

Just watched the Special Features on The Krotons and Death to the Daleks, which were just released in R1.  The Troughton era retrospective documentary on The Krotons disc is an absolute joy, and the studio outtake footage of Death to the Daleks is a great extra.  I'll watch the stories proper over the next couple of days.  I have a massive soft spot for Death to the Daleks, and I'm looking forward to seeing The Krotons all nicely restored and VidFIRE'd.

[DerChef]

I have been watching the New Beginnings I have been forcing myself to watch this as I really don't like Classic Who after the Hinchcliffe era and the 1980's in particular.

Anyways

The Keeper of Traken : seems padded out to me quite bad really for only a 4 parter. Geoffrey Beevers putrid Master was good. In summary seemed like lots of huffing and puffing to get a climax that lasted about a minute (oooo er misses well you know what I mean)

Logopolis: I quite liked this the Tardis recursion and the cloister scenes and the location shoots with the watcher all good.

Castrovalva: A lot of fans don't like this by the look of things  I read but it was clever enough and Davidson was able the make the role his own by the end of it

What I would say is wished more classic who had been shot on location on film ?

[Nick off of Twitter]

I've been watching seasons 4 and 5 of the Sarah Jane Adventures and have been blown away by how the series continued to improve with its superb ensemble cast. That Elizabeth Sladen's death means that my children and I will no longer see Clyde, Rani, Sky and the Chandra family is a terrible loss to quality family entertainment as these are wonderful, entertaining and inspirational characters for young viewers. What a pity they could not have been found roles in the parent programme as they would have made fabulous companions or occasional allies in the same vein as UNIT, Jack or Craig Owens.

[Accord Every Access]

The Keeper of Traken : seems padded out to me quite bad really for only a 4 parter. Geoffrey Beevers putrid Master was good. In summary seemed like lots of huffing and puffing to get a climax that lasted about a minute (oooo er misses well you know what I mean)

It is a tad slow paced, especially in light of the next season where action becomes the by-word. Anthony Ainley was probably at his best here as Tremas.

Logopolis: I quite liked this the Tardis recursion and the cloister scenes and the location shoots with the watcher all good.

This is a strange one, Bidmead at his most convoluted I would suggest. the danger seems too great and thus unbelievable. Poor old Nyssa when her homeworld disappears, we just don;t care that much.

Castrovalva: A lot of fans don't like this by the look of things  I read but it was clever enough and Davidson was able the make the role his own by the end of it

I quite enjoy this story especially parts 3 and 4 in Castrovalva itself. The Who am I bit of the regeneration at the beginning drags a bit and is generally dwelt a bit too much on in the 80's. Good location shooting and good studio sets, the brightness complements the sets I think.

What I would say is wished more classic who had been shot on location on film ?

The location heavy MyCoy stories I find are generally much better than studio bound ones with the exception of Ghostlight and Paradise Towers. Mainly because they look good in comparrison.

[Michele]

I just re-watched The Ark and quite enjoyed it once again. Admittedly the Monoids are terribly realized. I can't stand the eyeball in the mouth thing, and that's just for starters. But, it's a great story. Ian really gets to shine here.

[TomH1138]

I just saw "Robot" for the first time. Ironically, I've had a hard time getting into Tom Baker serials for some reason, even though everyone else loves him the best. But I really liked this serial and Tom Baker in it (another irony, since many fans don't like him in this)! But when he was goofy and out of control, he was very funny and charming, IMHO. This is my favorite Tom Baker serial yet!

 

[TomH1138]

Tonight I watched "Tomb of the Cybermen." I wondered why people didn't have more to say about the lovely Victoria Waterfield. Then I found out - only one of her serials is completely intact! So I went with that.

Having seen this serial, I have to apologize and unsay all my hard words about the early Cyberman costume. Seeing just still shots and short clips, I thought it looked pretty laughable. But, good heavens, seeing them moving around within the context of the story? They were chilling in a way that the modern Cybermen have never been! Now I kind of wish I could see these suits show up during the 50th!

Also, that was a mesmerizing, terrifying musical score for this episode. I got chills from it.

And Victoria was everything I could have hoped she would be - although I wish they hadn't made her change out of those gorgeous 19th century clothes so fast. 

[DerChef]

And Victoria was everything I could have hoped she would be - although I wish they hadn't made her change out of those gorgeous 19th century clothes so fast. 

Dont you think its a bit....

SHORT why look at Jamie's !

 

[DerChef]

But I really liked this serial and Tom Baker in it (another irony, since many fans don't like him in this)! But when he was goofy and out of control, he was very funny and charming,

I think he was still defining the character and I don't just mean changing costume into a Viking. This story was transitional in many ways the handover between Barry Letts and Phillip Hinchcliffe as producer for example

What I am less than impressed about Tom Baker in this is his commentary on the DVD. His going on and on and ON about Elizabeth Sladen's TIGHTS was embarrassing and not a bit funny. In  IMHO Tom Baker became a bit of an ......a........JERK since leaving the 4th Doctor.
 
 
 

[Ian]

What I am less than impressed about Tom Baker in this is his commentary on the DVD. His going on and on and ON about Elizabeth Sladen's TIGHTS was embarrassing and not a bit funny. In  IMHO Tom Baker became a bit of an ......a........JERK since leaving the 4th Doctor.
 
 

By repute Tom is quite eccentric, but I don't think that just started when he left the role of the Doctor. His autobiography, Who on Earth is Tom Baker?, makes for interesting reading and suggests he's had a fairly strange life. I used to have the audiobook of it, read by Tom, and it was facinating. Not sure how much was true mind you!

[Nick off of Twitter]

Also, that was a mesmerizing, terrifying musical score for this episode. I got chills from it.

I love that score. Wish I could get hold of it.

[Henry Gordon Jago]

The Tomb of the Cybermen score is actually an amalgamation of various stock music.  The selections were well-chosen; they hang together exceptionally well.

[DerChef]

The Tomb of the Cybermen score is actually an amalgamation of various stock music.  The selections were well-chosen; they hang together exceptionally well.

the same Cybermen music I recall was in "the Moonbase"

One great pity from the 1960's "wipes" is the Daleks Masterplan had a cracking musical score on the few surving episodes i have seen

[Ian]

Roight now I'm watching Survival, and tweeting my thoughts as I go (@Dudleyian)