Initial doubts over unnatural and clumsy dialogue were soon forgotten as the
story unfolds. McCoy and Aldred are unconvincing as ever and Caroline John is
embarrasing but the story's surprise is a master-stroke. Interesting concepts
and a clear narrative drive this adventure well.
Originality:
9
Characterisation
& Acting:
3
Intrigue:
7
Score:
68%
Bloodtide
The
Silurians - Meets - The Visitation
Pace
& Development:
7
An
entertaining tale marred by large elemets of the plot lifted from The Silurians.
The Silurian stories have a limited scope and this relies heavily on good characters
and peripheral plot to keep the interest until its revelatory climactic twist
that increases the value of the tale.
Originality:
6
Characterisation
& Acting:
8
Intrigue:
6
Score:
68%
Project
Twilight
State
of Decay - Meets - Ressurection
Pace
& Development:
6
A
mediocre sequel needing an injection of new ideas. The characters are good but
the routines are all too familiar and the conclusion is reached without much tension.
Plus science fiction has to top relying on nano-bots explaining everything 'supernatural'.
Originality:
5
Characterisation
& Acting:
6
Intrigue:
4
Score:
53%
Eye
of the Scorpion
Aztecs
- Meets - Marco Polo
Pace &
Development:
6
A
likeable return to a historical-style story, albeit with now obligatory alien
anachronism thrown in. Pace is slow to gather but not unpleasantly so, mainly
because the enjoyable characters warm this story through. Davison and Bryant work
as well as ever.
Originality:
7
Characterisation
& Acting:
8
Intrigue:
6
Score:
68%
Colditz
Curse
of Fenric - Meets - Mawdryn Undead
Pace
& Development:
7
Even
McCoy and Aldred manage not to spoil this interesting story. Although hindered
somewhat by its complicated paradox plotline, this prison drama manages to give
Ace a positive role and the Doctor an interesting adversary. Marred a little by
some cheesy synthesiser incidental music.
Originality:
8
Characterisation
& Acting:
7
Intrigue:
7
Score:
73%
Primeval
Keeper
of Traken - Meets - 4 to Doomsday
Pace
& Development:
7
A
return to Traken has not exactly been long-awaited so this setting made an interesting
choice. Not wasted however, but developed in unexpected directions. Ultimately
some good perspectives on the Doctor are touched on and the story slots pleasantly
into Doctor Who lore.
Originality:
6
Characterisation
& Acting:
6
Intrigue:
7
Score:
65%
The
One Doctor
Keys of Marinus - Meets - Carnival of Monsters
Pace
& Development:
8
Comedy
Who taken to the next level. Nothing about this should work: Its played for laughs,
it has Bonnie Langford, it stars Christopher Biggins. It should be dire. But its
superb. A massive homage to The Hitch Hiker's Guide, featuring the Weakest Link
and the Smash robots. Its a winner.
Originality:
9
Characterisation
& Acting:
8
Intrigue:
7
Score:
80%
Invaders
from Mars
The Dominators - Meets - The Visitation
Pace
& Development:
6
Somewhere
between a cliche and a parody, this just doesnt quite have enough fresh material
to avoid ending up a corny pastiche. Its further spoilt by far too many characters
all with the same dodgy accent but through it all there is some fun to be had.
Originality:
7
Characterisation
& Acting:
4
Intrigue:
6
Score:
58%
Chimes of Midnight
Ghostlight
- Meets - The Space Museum
Pace
& Development:
8
A
charming, elegant and thoughful story which just goes to show that Doctor Who
can still be fresh and evokative even after 40 years of the same formula. The
haunting quality of characters and the spine-tingling events in the house make
for a very special story.
Originality:
8
Characterisation
& Acting:
9
Intrigue:
8
Score:
83%
Seasons of Fear
City
of Death - Meets - The Horns of Nimon
Pace
& Development:
9
A
broad and daring story that requires a measure of concentration to follow. The
different times and places along the detective trail offer an entertaining variety
of characters which drive the story until the revelations begin: A series of twists
crown this epic story both brilliantly and shockingly.
Originality:
8
Characterisation
& Acting:
8
Intrigue:
9
Score:
85%
Embrace the Darkness
- Meets - T
Pace & Development:
5
One
of the best Doctor Who cliffhangers ever at the end of episode one doesn't manage
to lift this story into the 'exceptional' category. A good old 'base under seige'
thriller that goes a bit wayward in the middle and revives itself in time for
a half-way interesting solution.
Originality:
7
Characterisation
& Acting:
6
Intrigue:
8
Score:
65%
Time of the Daleks
Time
Meddler - Meets - Evil of the Daleks
Pace
& Development:
7
Time-paradoxes
and altered history scenarios are fast becoming tedious. Time should be a plot
device to adventure, not the adventure itself. Shakespearian Daleks are hard to
swallow and too much is owed to past Dalek stories but still quite compelling
in places and an interesting ending.
Originality:
6
Characterisation
& Acting:
5
Intrigue:
8
Score:
65%
Neverland
Three
Doctors - Meets - Warriors Gate
Pace
& Development:
7
Essentially
a remake of The Three Doctors but injected with some 21st century-style convolution.
High-concept backdrops do not made good drama and this peaks and troughs through
Gallifreyan history and frivolity. Basically an extra footnote in a meaningless
Time Lord history.
Originality:
4
Characterisation
& Acting:
6
Intrigue:
8
Score:
63%
Spare Parts
Genesis
of Daleks - Meets - Tenth Planet
Pace
& Development:
9
A
shining example of how an intelligent writer can both explore and develop a rich
vein of Who lore without plagiarising. Crafted suberbly to provoke delight and
contemplation, this story has depth, emotion, action and subtlely. It is imaginative,
believable and compelling.
Originality:
9
Characterisation
& Acting:
9
Intrigue:
10
Score:
93%
...ish
Genesis
of Daleks - Meets - Tenth Planet
Pace
& Development:
7
A
Originality:
9
Characterisation
& Acting:
7
Intrigue:
8
Score:
78%
The Rapture
The Sandman
Face
of Evil - Meets - Terror of the Vervoids
Pace
& Development:
8
A
fascinating step into a truely alien-feeling environment. An exhilarating level
of intrigue is generated by the unknown relationship between the Doctor and the
Galyari and the Doctor's role as a hero is explored brilliantly. Colin Baker's
arrogant Doctor works a treat.
Originality:
8
Characterisation
& Acting:
7
Intrigue:
10
Score:
83%
Church and the Crown
The
Massacre - Meets - Reign of Terror
Pace
& Development:
6
A
cliche-ridden, mundane but inoffensive historical story. Instantly forgettable
setting and characters featuring musketeers and plots to kill those in power easily
blend together with other stories of this ilk. Nothing to upset or delight, but
some good performances.
