Paul. He was so over the top, I swear I could hear a moustache twirling. My eyes rolled so far I felt like The Undertaker.
2 Likes
I assumed that is who you meant. I can see what you mean but I didn’t feel it was all that bad. Maybe next to measured performances like Davison’s and the actors playing the Ice Warriors it stands out more.
1 Like
I think it was how quick the turn was. He was pleasant until right before the Ice Warrior turned up at their shuttle, then out of nowhere he went full bond villain.
It could be a possible disconnect on my end because I was really enjoying the story up to that point.
It’s a shame because the actor is rather good in Bernice Summerfield.
5 Likes
Listen to it yesterday and yeah it was alright.
I think there are some really nice moments thrown in and some ideas, but really there is not much to do. Never been too big on the Ice Warriors, cool concept and look but beside that? Most stories dont do much with them, the only Ice Warriors Stories I really like is like the Curse of Peladon (Seeds of Death is enjoyable but I have to give it a rewatch if i like it as much as Curse (doubt it) and Empress of Mars is pretty fine too I guess).
I will say the same with most of the very early plays, it’s at best pretty unremarkable, at worst a bit dull. I do think it’s a fun story and an improvement over some other early ones, but it’s clear that BF still needed to experiment and see what works and what doesn’t. Although, if I am not mistaken this is like the first with a classic monster and for choosing the ice warriors out of every monster they could have, that I respect. I will also say the sound design is a bit better too, so that’s a win! Overall solid, I think I am more favorable for it since it’s quite short, which honestly helps this one quite a lot.
Pretty big on the cliffhanger of the first episode, too!
10 Likes
This was the second with a classic monster. The Genocide Machine with the Daleks was the month before. Though the Ice Warriors are an interesting choice to feature before the Cybermen.
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Oh right! Totally forgot that this one was before, thanks for correcting me!
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This one got off to a very slow start and I was beginning to think it would be the first “dud” of the range, but it got better once the Ice Warriors showed up. (Not a spoiler since it was obvious from the title alone that they were going to be in it!)
Personally I have a soft spot for the Ice Warriors because they have a well-defined culture, individual personalities and understandable motivations rather than just being intrinsically evil. I loved the way the Doctor used his understanding of their culture to defuse the situation and arrive at a resolution.
I also liked the twist at the end leading to Paul getting his comeuppance after all when it looked like he was going to get away, but it was sad as well that such a noble sacrifice had to be made to achieve it, as Lord Zzaal had been portrayed as such a sympathetic character.
7 Likes
todays listen - yeah i didn’t like it.
Ice Warriors were good. The supporting cast of the Nasa crew - i just didn’t like them much.
I kinda feel like this could’ve been a story of 5 trawling on his own. As Peri really didn’t do much here.
10 Likes
I have a real soft spot for “Phantasmagoria”, “Winter for the Adept” and “The Mutant Phase”.
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I’ve never got the lack of enthusiasm for Phantasmagoria - I think it’s fab.
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I am very happy to agree. I love the rich sense of period and place.
I quite enjoyed “Red Dawn”. It’s a very routine affair and suffers from all the points others have previously noticed. It was also much less successful at really immersing me in its setting. “Phantasmagoria”, however, had no such issues for me.
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I enjoyed Red Dawn too. I don’t think it’s half as bad as people make out.
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It’s not bad, it’s just slow. It’s more people standing around talking than fast-paced action.
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This is my take as well. It’s not bad, just forgettable and boring.
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Waiting to watch the genocide machine animation with my dad, so jumped ahead to this.
Red dawn is pretty fun and I like the characterisation it gives the ice warriors,
probably the most interested I’ve been in them from anything I’ve them in seen yet (only revival who). That said, this feels kind of pain by numbers. Not bad by any stretch of the imagination, just kind of meh, not something I can ever see myself going back and relistening to.
If this is what the ice warriors are like on big finish (or in classic) though, I understand the hype for them and wish they were used better in the revival.
Overall a solid and high 5/10.
7 Likes
I found this one to be quite enjoyable. It was relaxing to listen to (which could have been boring had I been in a different mood but was nice as it was. I like the way the ice warriors are portrayed, they’re quite interesting as a species and I haven’t encountered many stories that go deeper into that yet. Also really liked Peri in this.
12 Likes