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Reviews
Doctor Who: Pyramids of Mars: Part One (1975)
But mummies do walk
From the moment Marcus Scarman (Bernard Archard) steps into the inner chamber to his doom, to the moment where the Doctor send the chillingly smooth-talking Sutekh (Gabriel Woolf) off to his, we're treated to a tightly scripted, marvelously acted episode with great atmospherics, and Sarah Jane in a gorgeous Edwardian gown. It doesn't get much better than this.
The Tardis, having been thrown off course by the time tunnel of Sutekh, the Egyptian god of evil, turns up in the right place -- UNIT HQ -- but about sixty years too soon. Trapped by his brother Osiris, Sutekh avails himself of Marcus to try to build a missile to destroy the power source built by his brother to keep him imprisoned. Once freed, his intentions are to destroy not only the Earth, but countless other worlds. His revenge would be massive.
The story itself is not deep. Sutekh's riposte to the Doctor that your evil is my good is about as philosophical as this episode gets. It doesn't much matter. When even the smallest part, the poacher played by George Tovey, is as sharply-acted as Tom Baker's lead, you know you've got a good one on your hands.
Doctor Who: Planet of Evil: Part One (1975)
Invisible monsters aren't the best idea
This one I'm in two minds about. First, it's a terrific, thoughtful story about scientific ethics and the pressures of command. Sorensen, in a strong performance by Frederick Jaeger, has discovered what he think is a powerful new energy source for the dying sun of his home planet. The problem: the local resident, an essentially invisible monster, considers this theft and is willing to kill to prevent it.
But the presentation was less than convincing. The jungle set seemed faked and the performance of the ship's commander was underwhelming. The biggest problem, in my view, was the barely visible and silent monster. He had a story to tell but, when we hear it, it's only through the Doctor's mouth. We like villains we can relate to, like the Master. This one didn't work.
So watch this one for the story. It's worth your time.
Doctor Who: Terror of the Zygons: Part One (1975)
Ever wonder what the Doctor Who explanation for the Loch Ness monster?
Yes, it's the Zygons, who've been lurking in the loch for centuries and, seeing their home planet recently destroyed, decided to take over this one. Therein lies the rub. Their plan is borderline absurd, and their defeat comparably easy. Had the Doctor said: Brigadier, you can handle this one I'm taking the day off, he would have been completely justified. The alien invasion theme is a well-worn one, and this story added little to the genre.
Yet, if you get beyond that, the story is still entertaining -- at least until the letdown of the climax. The acting was excellent, especially John Woodnutt as Duke Forgill/Broton and, of course, Nicholas Courtney (in his last UNIT appearance) and John Levene. The Scottish Moors were an excellent background and the sets well-done, though the Zygon technology is a little creepy (and the monster itself poorly done).
This is an episode to sit back with a tub of popcorn, enjoy, and try to ignore that the premise is flawed.
Doctor Who: Revenge of the Cybermen: Part One (1975)
Doesn't quite work
Here's an an example of a basic premise that's sound, but the execution a bit short. The Vogons, they of the planet of Gold, and the Cybermen have a plan to eliminate the other, with the poor Humans (and our heroes) caught in the middle. But there are so many plot holes it's difficult to enjoy. For example, if the Vogons are so rich with deadly (to Cybermen) gold, why haven't they developed a effective weapon using it? What was Kellman's motive? Why can't Cybermen tie up humans effectively?
Combine that with mediocre acting and questionable special effects (though the cybermats were well-executed), you get an episode that doesn't quite work.