In the seventies, Dr Who came under fire from the BBC chiefs for being too scary. So it was toned down, but unfortunately was toned down so far it turned into a show which often seemed like a parody. Some late seventies stories like 'Horror of Fang Rock', along with most of the stories from Series 25 and 26, showed Dr Who could still be dark and sinister without being violent or nasty. But here we have what could have been an intriguing story ruined turned into what is often out-and-out comedy. The Doctor returns to Gallifrey, where he claims the title of President over some legal loophole and seems to betray his people by helping an alien race invade the planet. How anybody is supposed to take those tin-foil monsters seriously, when even the Doctor can't, is beyond me. It isn't long, however, before the Sontarans appear for a couple of obviously tacked-on episodes. Two episodes of comedy stormtroopers rampaging around a disused hospital(?) follow. The ending is a total let-down. Leela, one of the Doctor's best companions, should have either died a hero's death or left the Tardis to help or protect some downtrodden tribe/group of people. Instead she goes off to marry someone she hardly knows. Not only contrived but completely out-of-character. Ah well. Unlike the tedious 'Underworld', this story is at least entertaining and fun to watch.
5 Reviews
A Little Bit Of Politics Ladies And Gentlemen
Theo Robertson31 October 2013
Warning: Spoilers
Review Of All Six episodes
Returning to his home world of Gallifrey the Doctor demands to be taken to Chancellor Borusa . The Doctor then claims the vacancy of President . Upon achieving this he summons the grand hall of Time Lords and introduces them to their new masters , shimmering creatures called Vardan . Has the Doctor betrayed his own race ?
This is something of a curiosity.. Written under the pseudonym of David Agnew in reality a pen name of producer Graham Williams and script editor Anthony Read it's a rather twisty turny tale featuring the internal politics of Gallifrey , rather like of those conspiracy thrillers that were popular in the 1970s . However it's probably nowhere as clever as it thinks it is and watching all the episodes in succession you're aware that it's just something a mess with the plot going round in circles and with the Vardans suddenly being replaced by a new foe at the cliffhanger to episode four . Understandably you can claim this is a four part story with another two episodes welded on at the end . Despite winning the best story of the season from the Doctor Who Appecriation Society both Fang Rock and Image are much better stories
As a runaround story it's never destined to be a classic but it does entertain , it should be pointed out though that by this point in the show's constant evolution many of the stories are being carried by Tom Baker's performance as seen here . Baker was something of a divisive actor in the role and some of his excessive style does get a bit over whelming as the script skates on thin ice and breaks down the figurative fourth wall but this is still preferable than Matt Smith on full windmill mode shouting out Steven's Moffat's nonsensical lines . The supporting cast are rather uneven but praise should go to John Arnett as Borusa and Milton John's Kelner . It's also a story that reintroduces the Sontarans and while their make up disappoints especially compared to their debut in The Time Warrior at least they're awarded the respect of a popular villain instead of the parody they have become in the new series
The Invasion Of Time also signals the end of Louise Jameson as Leela in a very unconvincing way too it should added . That said out of the all the actresses who played a companion in the classic series Jameson probably had the most successful career after leaving the show appearing as a regular in TENKO, BERGERAC and EASTENDERS . She did blot her copybook by arranging acting workshops for prisoners , one of whom became a household name - Leslie Grantham , an actor is so wooden he makes a rack of pool cues cue look like the Royal Shakespeare company in comparison
Returning to his home world of Gallifrey the Doctor demands to be taken to Chancellor Borusa . The Doctor then claims the vacancy of President . Upon achieving this he summons the grand hall of Time Lords and introduces them to their new masters , shimmering creatures called Vardan . Has the Doctor betrayed his own race ?
This is something of a curiosity.. Written under the pseudonym of David Agnew in reality a pen name of producer Graham Williams and script editor Anthony Read it's a rather twisty turny tale featuring the internal politics of Gallifrey , rather like of those conspiracy thrillers that were popular in the 1970s . However it's probably nowhere as clever as it thinks it is and watching all the episodes in succession you're aware that it's just something a mess with the plot going round in circles and with the Vardans suddenly being replaced by a new foe at the cliffhanger to episode four . Understandably you can claim this is a four part story with another two episodes welded on at the end . Despite winning the best story of the season from the Doctor Who Appecriation Society both Fang Rock and Image are much better stories
As a runaround story it's never destined to be a classic but it does entertain , it should be pointed out though that by this point in the show's constant evolution many of the stories are being carried by Tom Baker's performance as seen here . Baker was something of a divisive actor in the role and some of his excessive style does get a bit over whelming as the script skates on thin ice and breaks down the figurative fourth wall but this is still preferable than Matt Smith on full windmill mode shouting out Steven's Moffat's nonsensical lines . The supporting cast are rather uneven but praise should go to John Arnett as Borusa and Milton John's Kelner . It's also a story that reintroduces the Sontarans and while their make up disappoints especially compared to their debut in The Time Warrior at least they're awarded the respect of a popular villain instead of the parody they have become in the new series
The Invasion Of Time also signals the end of Louise Jameson as Leela in a very unconvincing way too it should added . That said out of the all the actresses who played a companion in the classic series Jameson probably had the most successful career after leaving the show appearing as a regular in TENKO, BERGERAC and EASTENDERS . She did blot her copybook by arranging acting workshops for prisoners , one of whom became a household name - Leslie Grantham , an actor is so wooden he makes a rack of pool cues cue look like the Royal Shakespeare company in comparison
It's a big first episode.
Sleepin_Dragon20 October 2019
The Doctor lands on Galifrey, seeking his right for the presidency, however, he's behaving very oddly.
There isn't a lot of love among The Doctor Who community for the Invasion of Time, and overall, it is a little bit and miss. Part one, I think is very good, it has an epic, big episode feel to it, a fitting start to a series finale. Tom is terrific, it would have left viewers baffled as to why The Doctor was behaving so very oddly, only Tom would have had the ability to do a story such as this, and get away with it, his eccentricity is well used.
It looks great as a production, the opening model shots are excellent, we're back on Galifrey quite soon after The Deadly Assassin. The costumes and stages look very good, I like the music, I also like the other dimension, the three beings with a strange hold over The Doctor.
Hard to judge this one overall, the start is very good, intriguing. 8/10
There isn't a lot of love among The Doctor Who community for the Invasion of Time, and overall, it is a little bit and miss. Part one, I think is very good, it has an epic, big episode feel to it, a fitting start to a series finale. Tom is terrific, it would have left viewers baffled as to why The Doctor was behaving so very oddly, only Tom would have had the ability to do a story such as this, and get away with it, his eccentricity is well used.
It looks great as a production, the opening model shots are excellent, we're back on Galifrey quite soon after The Deadly Assassin. The costumes and stages look very good, I like the music, I also like the other dimension, the three beings with a strange hold over The Doctor.
Hard to judge this one overall, the start is very good, intriguing. 8/10
The Sign of the Times
A_Kind_Of_CineMagic1 November 2019
Warning: Spoilers
Review of all 6 episodes:
This adventure is a sign of the times in that after a great start it gets spoiled by problems that had crept into the show since Graham Williams and Anthony Read had taken over as producer and script editor. Some silliness and lack of quality in production values detract from what could have been a great, dark story. I really believe that with Hinchcliffe and Holmes in charge, as they had been in Seasons 12 to 14, this could have been a classic. As it is, it is still decent thanks to the first half but the second half is a disappointment.
The first 2 parts of this 6 parter are such interesting, dark and intriguing episodes that I rate them 10/10. The Doctor, Leela and K-9 arrive on Gallifrey after a the Doctor had a meeting with some aliens and seemed to make a deal with them. The Doctor is acting very strangely and mysteriously as well as seeming very harsh towards Leela. It gradually appears that he has made a bargain with evil invaders to take over Gallifrey and that he has perhaps turned evil himself! These 2 episodes are gripping and fascinating as well as scarily dark as we wonder what has happened to our hero's usual decency. The arrival of the Vardans at the end of part 2 is fantastically dramatic and impactful as viewers are horrified by the Doctor's apparent betrayal of his people and friends. Even though the edge is taken off by the rubbish on screen realisation of the Vardan's this could be fully resolved by an effects makeover and I do not judge that scene by shortcomings of that one moment of poor effects.
I would love a new CGI improved version of this whole story, it would help by making the Vardans look good and other visual improvements. However, in Parts 3 to 5 the Vardans are shown to have bigger problems that cannot be resolved just with effects. The voice performances are as rubbish as their appearance and when we see them in their humanoid form we see the terrible actors fully and it would require a complete replacement of these characters with CGI replacements and new actors to improve it. Therefore, whilst I do not judge too heavily for poor effects the issues of the acting start to drag down quality in a way I cannot ignore.
Part 3 is still great in terms of story with plenty of darkness, intrigue and interest. The main cast are very strong with The Doctor, Barusa, Castellan and Leela performing their roles to excellent effect. K-9 is good too. The costumes and tribal weaponry of the outer Gallifreyans is a slight weakness though and the Vardans are just awful. They alone take Part 3 down a bit but luckily they are not in it too much at this stage. As they become more central and appear more on screen in Parts 4 and 5 it detracts from what was potentially a great story and we get the arrival of the Sontarans who turn out to be as badly acted as the Vardans! It rather spoils it. The story itself for the first 4 or 5 parts remains solid and the main cast remains great but the acting of the villains is the major negative which drops the episodes from their potential.
Finally we reach Part 6 and at this point the Vardans are thankfully eliminated from the adventure but we still have the rubbish Sontarans and a poor attempt to show different parts of the TARDIS interior. I would love a CGI overhaul of this as seeing the TARDIS room and corridors looking like old factory interiors or school corridors is unimpressive. The real issue is that this is all done for a needless, muddled 'chase' around with the story just fizzling out with a weak conclusion. There are still strengths as Tom Baker, Louise Jameson, John Leeson, John Arnatt, Milton Johns and Christopher Tranchell perform well throughout all 6 parts and until the finale the story is dark, dramatic and fascinating. The conclusion is a bit of a mess though and sadly Leela leaves at the end of this story in a way which is too out of the blue and unsatisfying. Louise Jameson was terrific throughout her time and Leela was a great companion. Her exit is not what she deserved.
The major issue is the Vardans and Sontarans who are very bad and that sabotages what could have been a great serial. Thanks to the opening two parts, the strengths of the main cast and continuing strong story elements the adventure still gets a good overall rating from me. The weak elements are not really the major aspects of the adventure but I dream of seeing a version where the TARDIS interior has a CGI enhancement and the Vardans and Sontarans whole performances are removed and replaced somehow. It would be so much better without their inadequate acting and visual realisation.
My ratings: Parts 1 & 2 - 10/10, Part 3 - 8.5/10, Part 4 - 7/10, Part 5 - 7/10, Part 6 - 5.5/10. Overall - 8/10.
This adventure is a sign of the times in that after a great start it gets spoiled by problems that had crept into the show since Graham Williams and Anthony Read had taken over as producer and script editor. Some silliness and lack of quality in production values detract from what could have been a great, dark story. I really believe that with Hinchcliffe and Holmes in charge, as they had been in Seasons 12 to 14, this could have been a classic. As it is, it is still decent thanks to the first half but the second half is a disappointment.
The first 2 parts of this 6 parter are such interesting, dark and intriguing episodes that I rate them 10/10. The Doctor, Leela and K-9 arrive on Gallifrey after a the Doctor had a meeting with some aliens and seemed to make a deal with them. The Doctor is acting very strangely and mysteriously as well as seeming very harsh towards Leela. It gradually appears that he has made a bargain with evil invaders to take over Gallifrey and that he has perhaps turned evil himself! These 2 episodes are gripping and fascinating as well as scarily dark as we wonder what has happened to our hero's usual decency. The arrival of the Vardans at the end of part 2 is fantastically dramatic and impactful as viewers are horrified by the Doctor's apparent betrayal of his people and friends. Even though the edge is taken off by the rubbish on screen realisation of the Vardan's this could be fully resolved by an effects makeover and I do not judge that scene by shortcomings of that one moment of poor effects.
I would love a new CGI improved version of this whole story, it would help by making the Vardans look good and other visual improvements. However, in Parts 3 to 5 the Vardans are shown to have bigger problems that cannot be resolved just with effects. The voice performances are as rubbish as their appearance and when we see them in their humanoid form we see the terrible actors fully and it would require a complete replacement of these characters with CGI replacements and new actors to improve it. Therefore, whilst I do not judge too heavily for poor effects the issues of the acting start to drag down quality in a way I cannot ignore.
Part 3 is still great in terms of story with plenty of darkness, intrigue and interest. The main cast are very strong with The Doctor, Barusa, Castellan and Leela performing their roles to excellent effect. K-9 is good too. The costumes and tribal weaponry of the outer Gallifreyans is a slight weakness though and the Vardans are just awful. They alone take Part 3 down a bit but luckily they are not in it too much at this stage. As they become more central and appear more on screen in Parts 4 and 5 it detracts from what was potentially a great story and we get the arrival of the Sontarans who turn out to be as badly acted as the Vardans! It rather spoils it. The story itself for the first 4 or 5 parts remains solid and the main cast remains great but the acting of the villains is the major negative which drops the episodes from their potential.
Finally we reach Part 6 and at this point the Vardans are thankfully eliminated from the adventure but we still have the rubbish Sontarans and a poor attempt to show different parts of the TARDIS interior. I would love a CGI overhaul of this as seeing the TARDIS room and corridors looking like old factory interiors or school corridors is unimpressive. The real issue is that this is all done for a needless, muddled 'chase' around with the story just fizzling out with a weak conclusion. There are still strengths as Tom Baker, Louise Jameson, John Leeson, John Arnatt, Milton Johns and Christopher Tranchell perform well throughout all 6 parts and until the finale the story is dark, dramatic and fascinating. The conclusion is a bit of a mess though and sadly Leela leaves at the end of this story in a way which is too out of the blue and unsatisfying. Louise Jameson was terrific throughout her time and Leela was a great companion. Her exit is not what she deserved.
The major issue is the Vardans and Sontarans who are very bad and that sabotages what could have been a great serial. Thanks to the opening two parts, the strengths of the main cast and continuing strong story elements the adventure still gets a good overall rating from me. The weak elements are not really the major aspects of the adventure but I dream of seeing a version where the TARDIS interior has a CGI enhancement and the Vardans and Sontarans whole performances are removed and replaced somehow. It would be so much better without their inadequate acting and visual realisation.
My ratings: Parts 1 & 2 - 10/10, Part 3 - 8.5/10, Part 4 - 7/10, Part 5 - 7/10, Part 6 - 5.5/10. Overall - 8/10.
The Time Lord as a Tyrant...
Xstal5 July 2022
See also
Awards | FAQ | User Ratings | External Reviews | Metacritic Reviews
