Review for all 6 episodes:
Similar in lots of ways to the previous season's Colony in Space this involves the Doctor again being sent on a mission to a human colony on an alien planet. This time the mission is to deliver a pod with unknown contents to someone on the planet. The recipient is unknown too but the pod will only open for the correct person. On arrival the Doctor is caught up in dispute and death with a megalomaniac human 'overlord' leading a campaign to gain control of the planet whilst the native people of the planet fight for independence. There are also mutants on the planet surface and dangerous gas increasingly making the atmosphere outside the base unbreathable. The similarity in story and style is not quite by its quality as this story has a few issues but it is still an OK story overall.
One criticism levelled at this is that it seems pointless for the Time Lords to send The Doctor when they could surely just send the pod to its recipient but this is unfair because The Doctor clearly says later in the story that he has been sent for the purpose of helping to return the planet to its natural state and life cycle.
The main theme is very clearly based around imperialism with Earth's treatment of the native people compared to British rule in Africa, India etc. This is well written and thoughtful in its political ideas but the script and story are mixed. There is some strong dialogue and interesting ideas but also some poor scripting and plodding storytelling as it is dragged out over 6 episodes. There are also unimpressive costumes and sets although I actually like the mutant creatures apart from their eyes, they are quite fun. The story picks up a bit more quality for the 6th and final episode after dragging on a bit with a quite tense and exciting finale.
The interesting political plot elements and ecological aspects are a plus. Geoffrey Palmer is excellent in episode 1 adding real quality as the administrator and there are good performances from Paul Whitsun-Jones as the Marshal and John Hollis (who appears later in the story) as Sondergaard well as Pertwee as The Doctor. The planet itself is well realised too. There is a lot of good in this production, particularly in episodes 1 and 6. There are some bad aspects of padding, poor costumes and some weak, repetetive scenes.
Overall a mix of good and not so good elements makes an OK but very unexceptional story.
My ratings: Part 1 - 7.5/10, Part 2 - 6.5/10, Part 3 - 7/10, Part 4 - 7.5/10, Part 5 - 7/10, Part 6 - 7.5/10. Overall - 7.17/10.
Similar in lots of ways to the previous season's Colony in Space this involves the Doctor again being sent on a mission to a human colony on an alien planet. This time the mission is to deliver a pod with unknown contents to someone on the planet. The recipient is unknown too but the pod will only open for the correct person. On arrival the Doctor is caught up in dispute and death with a megalomaniac human 'overlord' leading a campaign to gain control of the planet whilst the native people of the planet fight for independence. There are also mutants on the planet surface and dangerous gas increasingly making the atmosphere outside the base unbreathable. The similarity in story and style is not quite by its quality as this story has a few issues but it is still an OK story overall.
One criticism levelled at this is that it seems pointless for the Time Lords to send The Doctor when they could surely just send the pod to its recipient but this is unfair because The Doctor clearly says later in the story that he has been sent for the purpose of helping to return the planet to its natural state and life cycle.
The main theme is very clearly based around imperialism with Earth's treatment of the native people compared to British rule in Africa, India etc. This is well written and thoughtful in its political ideas but the script and story are mixed. There is some strong dialogue and interesting ideas but also some poor scripting and plodding storytelling as it is dragged out over 6 episodes. There are also unimpressive costumes and sets although I actually like the mutant creatures apart from their eyes, they are quite fun. The story picks up a bit more quality for the 6th and final episode after dragging on a bit with a quite tense and exciting finale.
The interesting political plot elements and ecological aspects are a plus. Geoffrey Palmer is excellent in episode 1 adding real quality as the administrator and there are good performances from Paul Whitsun-Jones as the Marshal and John Hollis (who appears later in the story) as Sondergaard well as Pertwee as The Doctor. The planet itself is well realised too. There is a lot of good in this production, particularly in episodes 1 and 6. There are some bad aspects of padding, poor costumes and some weak, repetetive scenes.
Overall a mix of good and not so good elements makes an OK but very unexceptional story.
My ratings: Part 1 - 7.5/10, Part 2 - 6.5/10, Part 3 - 7/10, Part 4 - 7.5/10, Part 5 - 7/10, Part 6 - 7.5/10. Overall - 7.17/10.
