Review for all 6 episodes:
This is often said to be like a Bond adventure. Certainly it has that type of feel. It involves various locations around a near future Earth, political intrigue, spies, helicopters and chases, glamorous women and a Bond villain type enemy who is played by Patrick Troughton in a fabulous dual role. As the Doctor, Troughton is a genial, clowning and mercurial character. As Salamander, Troughton gets the chance to play a ruthless, slimy and powerful villain.
Throughout its 6 episodes this is solid, enjoyable and intriguing but it has some strange, awkward, slightly badly done moments in the first 3 episodes. The near future setting is not particularly convincingly realised. Jamie and Victoria are also given dialogue and actions not in keeping with the characters they are meant to be portraying. This happens a little bit in other stories but happens a bit more blatantly in this story. The final 3 episodes really crank up with great material for Troughton, interesting story developments and exciting action.
Overall a very good story if a bit below the extremely high level of series 5 brilliant standards in the first 3 parts.
My Ratings: Episodes 1-3 - 8/10, Episode 4 - 9/10, Episodes 5 & 6 - 10/10
This is often said to be like a Bond adventure. Certainly it has that type of feel. It involves various locations around a near future Earth, political intrigue, spies, helicopters and chases, glamorous women and a Bond villain type enemy who is played by Patrick Troughton in a fabulous dual role. As the Doctor, Troughton is a genial, clowning and mercurial character. As Salamander, Troughton gets the chance to play a ruthless, slimy and powerful villain.
Throughout its 6 episodes this is solid, enjoyable and intriguing but it has some strange, awkward, slightly badly done moments in the first 3 episodes. The near future setting is not particularly convincingly realised. Jamie and Victoria are also given dialogue and actions not in keeping with the characters they are meant to be portraying. This happens a little bit in other stories but happens a bit more blatantly in this story. The final 3 episodes really crank up with great material for Troughton, interesting story developments and exciting action.
Overall a very good story if a bit below the extremely high level of series 5 brilliant standards in the first 3 parts.
My Ratings: Episodes 1-3 - 8/10, Episode 4 - 9/10, Episodes 5 & 6 - 10/10
