Reign of Terror

Dorney
Reign of Terror 1 -First thoughts - worth noting that there isn't a defined TARDIS landing noise yet. Thinking back, we've only seen the TARDIS land once, on Marinus (maybe at the end of Unearthly Child too, can't remember). And that's from a distance so the lack of a materialisation noise isn't as noticeable as it is here. Have to see how long it is before the noise turns up (it has been there for take-off, just not arrival).Generally, a good episode. Sort of like a one-part set up in feel. The story seems to be heading somewhere different at the cliffhanger (which is terrific and is after the Daleks 1, the second great cliffhanger to appear in the show - pretty much the first traditional 'Perils of Pauline' style cliffhanger. The others have tended to be dramatic statements or highs rather than actual 'How do they get out of that' moments).There's a nice signalling of the way the story is going with the two aristocrats. Everything seems like they're going to be main characters, and then they get shot casually and without ceremony. Nasty and quite shocking.The video and sound quality is noticeably worse than the rest of the season, but hey, at least we have it.

deedee26m
I applaud anyone who attempts to watch the show in this way. Only my earnest post-modernism (in actuality a disguise for having an almost non-existant video collection) prevents me from doing so also.

Dorney
Why thanks very much - doing it is hardly an original idea on my part, but it certainly puts a new spin on the series.Reign 2 - Pure space filler. There's no real idea if there's going to be an actual plot yet, as opposed to a series of scenes set within revolutionary France with no real linking thread.However, whilst little in this episode seems to progress the plot (my hazy recollections indicate the Ian stuff is the only really relevant material) the padding is much more nicely done than in, say, the Sensorites or the Daleks. It's all for character - the Hartnell material is lovely. He's terribly sweet and lovable in the early scenes, and has a real air of wit and intelligence with the road workers. Really turning into the more traditional Doctor figure now, becoming the main character properly.The absence of Ian is a little awkward at first, though the filmed inserts balance this out a little after a while. And it does benefit Barbara greatly, as she gets to show she's an intelligent and resourceful woman in her own right. Shame Susan's still rather wet.The last cliffhanger has a strange resolution - that's one strong kid - but the new one, with Babs and Susan on the way to execution is cool. (And why is everyone so English on practically every word, but go for the more French version of Guilottine?)

Dorney
Oh, a few more thoughts I meant to add. There's a suprising lot of continuity and exposition in these two episodes ('you thought we were home once, and then we met Marco Polo' 'this reminds me of when we trapped in the stone age'). It seems a little contrived, to be honest, and like the recap in Sensorites, completely unneccesary. The individual tales no longer feel so much like part of one long adventure like for the first three/four stories, so it sticks out horribly.Considering that the Jailer is widely regarded as the first comic character in Who, he's remarkably unfunny in part two. Not even the faint whiff of being conceived as funny. Maybe the reputation's down to the next few episodes.And the first ever location shot is a little odd - you can't really see why they'd go to the expense. They're shot in a different tone to the rest of the story. Calm and relaxed. Does the Dr want to save his friends or is he just having an afternoon stroll?

Stahlman
I might enjoy Reign of Terror more if it weren't for the horrible version of the Marseillaise which pops up now and then in the incidental music. Where have I heard that exact same theme before? That's right, Carry On Don't Lose Your Head - now there's a way to increase the dramatic tension of the story...


Dorney
Reign 3:Well, still no sign of a specific plot (It's just one long capture/escape), but it's nicely performed and written so it's no big deal. Very enjoyable.The Jailer has one amusing line in the episode, his description of Ian's escape - but this still ain't enough for his reputation as a comic character. If one funny line was all it took, we've got plenty. In deed, the situation is funnier - the Doctor outthinking and manipulating everyone, really becoming the hero and more pro-active than before. (And does the Tailor really deserve his slot on the video cover?)The violence is - well, not exactly disturbing as this is a kids show from 40 years ago, but it is slightly brutal: the large handguns being fired at humans (rather than the broadly fantastical violence we've had so far) is closer to home and seems faintly nastier. Does show how dark the show could be in its early years.And can you dislike a story with Mr Meaker in it? He seems initially slightly creepy when chatting to Barbara, but charms up a bit as the episode progresses.

Dorney
Reign 4 - Well not much to say, really. Still very little plot, still just a series of capture/escapes, jailer still not noticeably funny (I'm sorry, but received fan opinion on this matter is just wrong - he is not a comic character at all, not even remotely) but still intelligently written so that this matters not one iota, and you still enjoy the story.This one's audio only, and suprisingly easy to understand for all that. The only moment that was tough was when someone gets clumped over the head, but logic dictated it had to be Ian, as it eventually was.The Robspierre scene is lovely, with the Doctor outthinking everyone else, manipulating everyone and being the smartest one there. He's no longer turning into the witty, intelligent hero - he is that hero totally!

Dorney
Reign 5: I seem to be banging on about this, but this story has no plot at all! It's still just a lot of escape/capture routines, and I slightly wish it was going somewhere. The general wisdom suggests its about Robspierre, and the James Stirling stuff, but it ain't. The former is barely featured, and so far hasn't really impacted on the TARDIS crew. And the Stirling stuff seems contrived. Beginning to get a bit tired of it now, it's going round in circles.Having said that, there's some nice stuff in here. Leon isn't presented as a villain proper, more of a different opinion. It's made abundantly clear that this isn't about goodies and baddies - the Doctors apparent betrayal at the end doesn't seem so outrageous in context. The scene with Barbara and Ian arguing is fab, and I can only wish that it still existed on screen. It's every bit as dramatic as the big speeches in the Aztecs, and because its between Ian and Barbara who've always been close, it has huge emotional weight. Indeed it says a hell of a lot about her developing feelings for Leon, without having to spell it out - always a good sign. The apologies later are heartfelt and touching, and the theme of the story seems to be the lack of black and white in motivation - which is such a rarity for Who.Very good cliffhanger too.

deedee26m
i haven't seen/heard this episode/story.... what is it about Ian and Barbara's argument that is so moving? Are they arguing about if they'll ever get home or...??(liked the notes you made about continuity in episode one - and i always thought they handled that sort of thing with consumate ease in the old days!)

Dorney
Nah, it's worse than that.Babs had sort of fallen a little for this bloke Leon, played by Mr Meaker from Rentaghost (and later on the War Lord/Chief whichever one isn't Phillip Madoc). He turns out to be the traitor in the ranks of the escape chain. Jules shoots him when he discovers this and rescues Ian.The argument is about whether one side is right or wrong. Barbara gets quite shirty that Ian seems to be taking sides, when he says Leon deserved it. She shouts at him to check his history books - there's a bit more to it than that, but it really is quite a moment.It does make the stories main point - about the complexity of good/evil, and how its related to our perspective. Leon is genuinely well written and you can see his point. The only thing that makes him a true villain in story terms is his methods.

Dorney
Reign 6:Er... It seems to have turned into a totally different story. The focus and narrative shift into a completely different area, and it seems to want to squeeze a hell of a lot of story into one episode. Very very rushed indeed.It's all a bit weird - the moment Lemaitre reveals himself as Stirling he loses all acting ability. Watch him through this episode, it's an incredibly bland and lifeless, heartless performance. Plus the fact that there's no twist on the cliffhanger - the Doctor genuinely did betray the others, admittedly with the proviso of no guards, but it's close enough.Oddest yet - apart from Ian's silly hat and comedy accent - is the amount of weight given to Barrass and Napoleon. Two characters we have not met before. It makes the story hugely unbalanced, and we should have had an appearance from one of them earlier (Barrass most easily). The stories entire aim and direction shifts, and it even doesn't really feel like its about the TARDIS crew. It's Lemaitre as the Pimpernel if anything, with them as guest stars in his show.The last shot of the starscape is nice, if a bit tacked on because it's the end of the season. But it's pleasant enough.Thoughts on it all so far? It's a very good opening year. Marinus is probably the weakest story. The most noticeable feel is that a lot of the stories don't really fit their length well. The Daleks, The Sensorites and Reign of Terror would all have been more effective shorter (the oft repeated truism that the Dalek film doesn't seem to lose any plot at all, but remains half the length is noticeable). Marco Polo might have been too, but the material is very well written there and the padding less obvious, and besides, the vague, rambling nature of the story is quite appropriate. So it is something of a relief that there are only three stories longer than 4 episodes over the next couple of years. It really does feel a better format for the show.I'm thinking of taking a day off to mark the end of the season. Might not, but probably will. So see y'all soon.