I have this story-line on DVD and it never gets boring. It's one of McCoy's finest story-lines because it has a lot to use and it uses the material well. This story gives us a good combo of time travel and the Doctor battling off an alien menace to Earth.
The Doctor is in full form here. He's back in charge such as when he plans a strategy on the map, and also gains the trust and alliance of the military battalion. We also see it when he sabotages the Dalek transmat and goes through with his final plan calmly waving off an attempt to talk him out.
We also get to see his non-violence in action. Rather than lob a weapon he places the explosive in the path of the Renegade Dalek (you could say it's the fault of the Dalek for continuing when the there was a bomb in the way), he states weapons are always useless and talks the last Dalek into suicide. The first and last instances show an interesting dark side to non-violence. Rather than be violent, let them do the violence. It's also shown when he rigs the Hand of Omega and tricks the Imperial Daleks into taking it, using it, and destroying their home-world. Debatably the Doctor is indirectly responsible for a genocide. Perhaps he reasons, he didn't tell them to take it and didn't tell them it wouldn't destroy their home world.
We also get to see the Doctor think about actions and consequences in the tea shop. It's an interesting moment and worth considering. It's a break in main storyline, and without sentimentality or moping.
Ace is not a cry-baby as opposed to her earlier episodes. If fact she's curious and eager to help.
The foes are the Daleks who never get old. In fact, these Daleks are improvements; the ability to hover and overcome stairs, a special weapons Dalek, and an impressive warship. It also continues and ends the Dalek Civil War. We also get to see Davros in charge and ruthless and arrogant as ever. Plus the warship heading for Earth, gives a sense of horror and mystery and tells us this could be a formidable foe.
There are also nice nods to past episodes. Group Captain Gilmore is a nice nod to the Brigadier. The actor who played Professor Rachel Jensen was in The Robots Of Death. The undertaker also describes Hartnell's Doctor. The story is set in 1963, the same year Doctor Who premiered in real life, a nice little homage and a meta reference with the TV announcing the premiere of "Doctor..." before cutting to a new scene. Well timed as this was close to the anniversary.
Are there any bad bits? Sadly yes. We have the staple pandering to US audiences with a couple of soundbites to establish the time period. At least two of these are from the US. On top of that, there is the dramatic music that were an unfortunate feature of the series.
That said, they can't dim this storyline.
It's one of the best and well deserving of it's popularity. Truly a Classic.
The Doctor is in full form here. He's back in charge such as when he plans a strategy on the map, and also gains the trust and alliance of the military battalion. We also see it when he sabotages the Dalek transmat and goes through with his final plan calmly waving off an attempt to talk him out.
We also get to see his non-violence in action. Rather than lob a weapon he places the explosive in the path of the Renegade Dalek (you could say it's the fault of the Dalek for continuing when the there was a bomb in the way), he states weapons are always useless and talks the last Dalek into suicide. The first and last instances show an interesting dark side to non-violence. Rather than be violent, let them do the violence. It's also shown when he rigs the Hand of Omega and tricks the Imperial Daleks into taking it, using it, and destroying their home-world. Debatably the Doctor is indirectly responsible for a genocide. Perhaps he reasons, he didn't tell them to take it and didn't tell them it wouldn't destroy their home world.
We also get to see the Doctor think about actions and consequences in the tea shop. It's an interesting moment and worth considering. It's a break in main storyline, and without sentimentality or moping.
Ace is not a cry-baby as opposed to her earlier episodes. If fact she's curious and eager to help.
The foes are the Daleks who never get old. In fact, these Daleks are improvements; the ability to hover and overcome stairs, a special weapons Dalek, and an impressive warship. It also continues and ends the Dalek Civil War. We also get to see Davros in charge and ruthless and arrogant as ever. Plus the warship heading for Earth, gives a sense of horror and mystery and tells us this could be a formidable foe.
There are also nice nods to past episodes. Group Captain Gilmore is a nice nod to the Brigadier. The actor who played Professor Rachel Jensen was in The Robots Of Death. The undertaker also describes Hartnell's Doctor. The story is set in 1963, the same year Doctor Who premiered in real life, a nice little homage and a meta reference with the TV announcing the premiere of "Doctor..." before cutting to a new scene. Well timed as this was close to the anniversary.
Are there any bad bits? Sadly yes. We have the staple pandering to US audiences with a couple of soundbites to establish the time period. At least two of these are from the US. On top of that, there is the dramatic music that were an unfortunate feature of the series.
That said, they can't dim this storyline.
It's one of the best and well deserving of it's popularity. Truly a Classic.