Professor Emil Keller has created a machine that can pacify even the most dangerous of criminals. But when the Doctor and Jo arrive at Stangmoor Prison for a demonstration, things start to go horribly wrong - especially when they discover that the Doctor’s old enemy the Master is responsible for the machine.
What could he possibly want from the criminals? And what connects him with an impending World Peace Conference?
Rate and review below:
I’ll never get the buzz for this one. For my mind it’s the weak link of the season. Evil being some quantifiable thing is a trope I don’t really like and despite an interesting setting the story drags. A small detail I love though is that in the scene where UNIT move in on the prison grounds, they reprise the UNIT theme from Ambassadors of Death.
I rather enjoy this one. The interesting idea of the Keller Machine, and the Master, carry the serial a lot, I never found myself bored.
Plus bonus Brig being a delivery driver.
4/5
Some interesting ideas and a phenomenal performance from Delgado, but the plot is quite forgettable in my opinion, 5/10
This is one I do like, but it didn’t grab me as much as others do, so I have blanked on half of it.
From what I do remember though, it is good and I like what it’s trying to do.
Oh and I like the brig here obvs
This one was definitely strange. A machine that houses an alien life that consumes evil thoughts and intentions. The Master biting off far more than he can chew, and a bittersweet ending for the characters. It’s not a bad episode, definitely had an intriguing set up and I liked that it followed the pattern of the season. Master sets up alien threat, Doctor struggles with threat, Master is overwhelmed and betrayed, Master and Doctor work together, Master flees in chaos.
This is a solidly enjoyable story. The beginning is rather strong with all the intersecting bits of Stangmoor, the peace conference, and the missile. But the story drags about halfway through, the Master’s plan really weakens by the end. However, Jo and the Doctor are great, their dynamic with the rest of the UNIT crew is really fun. There’s some strong concepts here, especially with the Keller machine using people’s fears against them. I just think the story didn’t need to drag out in six episodes.
Excited for this one as, while I’ve seen it before and believe I liked it well enough, I remember next to nothing about it…
Part One
Asian female representation in Doctor Who! …just a shame her first scene is immediately followed up with ‘she’s quite a dolly’…Verdict after Part One - It’s not quite as fun or pacey as Terror of the Autons, but I think the concept is properly intriguing and exciting, so I’m fully on board. Pertwee is on top form so far too, although yet again Jo feels a little sidelined…
Part Two
Verdict after Part Two - This felt much slower, largely filler. But I’m still intrigued to see where it goes…
Yeah, but most of all, for his voice.
Season 8 is a mixed bag for me, I love the third doctor, I think many of the stories actually were hurt by shoving the master in there, but I like this one
I think she has her moments, but she was a fairly poor actress. I don’t mind her for the most part. I think she does a good job with Iris, but I can’t stand the character.
I think he had the classic Leading Man look. Handsome. No joke, but the moustache works for him a lot.
Yeah, I think this is it. I know when I first watched some of her stories, she really bothered me. Then I took a big break and didn’t mind her nearly as much, I think because I heard more of her Big Finish. Now, returning to her TV appearances in order, I’m remembering how I felt originally and I can see why I did. I’m really fascinated to see if she improves in my eyes as they progress. It doesn’t help that she’s following on from one of the best.
I think you’re right about the handsome, but I actually think the moustache is the reason it hadn’t dawned on me until now. Not my vibe (as a straight man lol)
This is the first Pertwee story that I didn’t really like.
I don’t dislike it, but it’s not my cup of tea. The concepts are interesting, but they could have done more with them.
Characters are wonderful as ever though.
Part Three
Part Four
Although, now I think about it, should he not be seeing them all in the flesh, given what the machine has affected people elsewhere?
I’m getting quite tired of the Master’s entrance sting of music.
I love the scene where the machine gets in the Master’s head. Delgado is outstanding and the projection of the Doctor is genuinely creepy.
I believe the prison interior is a mixture of sets and location, but the whole batch is really effective to me, I don’t doubt the locations for a second.
Incredible bad-ass moment for Jo and the tea-tray. Highlight of her character so far.
More fun on-location vehicle action mayhem in the vein of The Ambassadors of Death. It’s very well shot, I’m a fan.
Hilarious that they make no effort to hide or disguise the super-secret missile that ‘isn’t supposed to exist’ during convoy.
I was fully absolutely convinced that this story was four parts. Was expecting to wind things up and as the plot continued, I figured it was going to be an exceedingly rushed resolution. Until it hit a cliffhanger and I realised there’s two more to go!
Verdict after Part Four - I’m definitely enjoying it but I am now apprehensive that six parts may be too many. I can’t quite imagine how they can fill another 45 minutes with engaging story around these themes, but hopefully I’ll be proved wrong…
the Master ↩︎
My wife just texted me saying she’s running late getting home, which means I also have time for…
Part Five
ZARBI APPEARANCE Verdict after Part Five - It’s definitely slowed right up. Some really fun moments still though, so we’ll see where we end up…
Part Six
Verdict after Part Six - I liked this story. It certainly has its highs and its lows and six parts did feel a little excessive. But there’s a lot to love. One of those that while the sum of its parts is nothing too remarkable, many of those parts - so many charming/funny/well-crafted scenes that are so typical of Pertwee’s era - are a total delight. Highlights include the tea with the Chinese ambassador, the draughts game, the vehicle chase, the Brig’s disguise, and most of the scenes between the Doctor and the Master. Intrigued by what comes next, as I remember it better than I did this one, but I remember it being a similarly mixed bag…
Bits I liked from this
3rd fear being fire the consept and idea of it especially by the writer of inferno it’s clear his fear is what he saw from the end of the parallel world of inferno
However everything else is so bad dude so bad
