Well, I might as well start with the first story, The Leisure Hive. I have very fond memories of this story from when it was originally broadcast. I probably remember it mainly because it had bright sets and scenes of people being dismembered! This was a script left over from the Adams era, written by David Fisher (of Creature and Tara fame), which I believe was heavily re-written by Christopher H Bidmead. Actually, doesn't he claim to have written about 70% of the season, anyway? Which gave the season a consistency in storytelling rarely seen in the series.
The foamasi are laughable. They look like costumes left over from a pantomime! And the fact that the foamasi when disguised as humans look perfectly normal, yet the foamasi are twice the size of humans and they just put on a 'human costume'... Yeah, right.
There are two great things about this story: Lovett Bickford directed it, and he put in loads of great visuals, like the shot of the Doctor and Romana on the beach, pulling back through the starscape (which was just the titles reversed, but hey, it still looks good). Secondly the soundtrack is really good. Peter Howell, did a really good job, in fact it's one of the most played tracks on my Earthshock CD. Tom and Lalla are on top form throughout the story and make it even more enjoyable. Who cares if it's a very thin plot? Actually, the whole tachyonics thing is pretty interesting, so that's all right. Oh, just remembered Pangol is played by David Haig who went on to star in The Thin Blue Line.
On to Meglos, which is generally regarded as the turkey of the season. Well, maybe it is but it's a good one.
The acting is watchable, the effects aren't bad, and the story is quite intriguing. One thing I always try to do when watching this is work out how Meglos knew about Time Lords, how he could see inside the TARDIS and that he could see all of the Doctor's costume to copy it, when he never saw him wearing it. Also, I keep thinking of Lexa as Jacqueline Hill rather than the character. Why was someone who played such an important part of Who brought back to play another character? (I suppose you could use the same argument for Majel Barrett-Roddenberry's numerous appearances in Star Trek). Her performance was all right, not brilliant, but probably the most convincing in the whole story.
Like Leisure Hive, the soundtrack is great. The style of music for the whole season really helped give the series a new identity, which I think it did need.
The best bits of the story: The Doctor and Romana caught in the Chronic Hysteries, Tom Baker's dual role and how laughable the Gaztaks are (even if it is half unintentional) especially the part about the Doctor's coat!
The E Space Trilogy starts with Full Circle, the story responsible for introducing Adric who for some reason most fans hate. Can't think why?
The location actually looks like it is a tropical climate, it's amazing what a bit of lighting and painted flowers can do. The part with the Marsh-men rising out the swamp and advancing on the Doctor and K9 is one of my strongest memories from watching this on original broadcast. Seeing it now, it still brings a shiver to my spine. Great.
Tom and Lalla are the only decent actors in it. The design for the spaceship is really interesting, everything based on having three sides. A foreshadowing of Minbari ideas perhaps?
State of Decay, as everyone must know by now is a homage to the Hammer vampire films, written by Terrance Dicks. Everyone seems to knock it because of its Hammer style, but I like it, because I'm a fan of the old Hammer films, especially the vampire ones.
The design of the castle is good, the acting is a bit wooden from everyone really, especially 'The Three Who Rule', but they're watchable, because they're just at the right level of OTT performance. Adric is a bit wasted, appearing only to be greedy and side with the Vampires. One other thing, everyone seems to say that the shot of the Great Vampire being staked is rubbish. I say NO! It's passable and quite an interesting idea.
Just remembered, the story also introduces more Time Lord mythology, which is quite interesting. Besides, Terrance was qualified to do so, since he co-created the concept.
Warriors Gate must have the most minimal sets in Doctor Who. Namely the white void that the story seems to be set in. It was probably a money saving exercise, I could imagine the production team saying "Let's not bother with an alien planet, let's just do a white void." Still, it looks good and is really interesting.
I like the way that it continues the theme of mathematics and hard science (whatever that is?) by having a place that does and doesn't exist, because it has zero co-ordinates.
The Tharils are a great idea, a race of time-sensitives who can travel anywhere through time (even though this isn't adequately explained in the script. Or did I miss something? If so, answers on a postcard to the editorial address, please.) Their make-up is very convincing, they look better than the Cheetah people! Actually the Jacondans look better than the Cheetah People...
This is the new sophisticated Who, just look at the scene when the Doctor is at the banquet in the past. At the same time in the present the crew of the privateer are having their food (even though it is packed lunches!) This is really good, I liked that. On the subject of the new sophisticated Who, the idea to remove humour from the programme didn't seem to work. Just watch the scene where the Gundan's come after the Doctor, and there he is stood still in a line up with the deactivated ones, this isn't Who, this is a scene out of Scooby Doo. It seems that Who and Scooby Doo are the only programmes that can get away with such daft ideas, I loved it.
A couple of final points: The crew of the privateer are real people. I thought Kenneth Cope was wasted in it. He didn't have a big enough part (no innuendo intended there). They're real because they eat and drink and also they complain and they are bullied by their boss (the captain). Romana's costume is great, a nice oriental looking red and black thing. Also, her departure was well handled and original. Thank goodness she didn't leave to get married. Well not get married in the series anyway!
Overall then an excellent story. Good design, music (courtesy of Peter Howell), direction, and design. Finally, the headphones that appeared in The Green Death, Planet of the Spiders, Underworld and an episode of The Goodies, makes another appearance.
The Keeper of Traken is probably my favourite story of the season. The reason why is because it's a Master story. I'm sorry, call me a sad fan-boy if you like, but I'm just a sucker for a story that uses the Master to the best of his abilities. Namely the way that he uses and manipulates Kassia into doing his bidding (another good example of this is when he uses people in Terror of the Autons).
The way that the Master is played is quite good, Geoffrey Beevers isn't a patch on Delgado, but he's adequate. Tom is on form, Sarah Sutton is likeable as Nyssa (what a shame we got Tegan as well in the next story). And this may surprise you, Anthony Ainley is fantastic as Tremas. As far as I'm concerned he plays him as a very likeable and realistic person. What a shame he wasn't as good at playing the Master (just side-tracking for a moment. Ainley's second best performance was in Survival).
Back to Traken: Overall, an excellent story, the kind of story you might want to use to get non-fans into the series. It has a really interesting design concept and science, and realistic characterisation. And it's got a good story. What more could you want from Who?
Logopolis was a disappointment for me. It had been built up in my mind as one of the best stories and my childhood memories confirmed that, but when I saw it again I was disappointed. For a start the story is really slow moving. Also, there isn't a single dramatic cliff-hanger for example the one where the Doctor and Master shake hands. Pathetic!
As in Traken the Master is put to good use, especially using his TCE to kill people, just showing us how nasty a person he is! Also the way that he uses Nyssa to get the Doctor. But I hate to say this, Ainley is trying too hard to be Delgado, and it doesn't work.
The stuff with the TARDIS in the TARDIS bit is really good. Tegan is really annoying - and this is only her first story! I hate her, she's so annoying, especially her accent!
The best thing about Logopolis is the soundtrack by Paddy Kingsland, the best part being that sort of funky tune played when the characters are running around the Pharos Project.
Summing up the season, it was a good idea having the running theme of science dominating the stories and made the season a bit of a novelty and gave it an adult feel, which wasn't to be seen again until the Cartmel era. There is one other continuing theme that I've noticed in most of the stories. The Doctor meets someone from his past. He meets Zastor in Meglos for the second time, he meets the Keeper for the second time, he also meets The Monitor on Logopolis for the second time. And the he meets the Master again, of course! Quite a season for reunions?
