Doctor Who (TV Series) Vengeance on Varos: Part Two (1985) User Reviews

A hugely enjoyable satire.

[Sleepin_Dragon · 8/10 · 14 February 2019]

Vengeance on Varos concludes with a great second episode, definitely one of Colin's best stories, it's dark, funny, imaginative, full of action, but more then that it had foresight, with the writer able to see how people were going in terms of watching television.

Colin was definitely a Doctor of action, arguably the most violent of the classic Doctors, are the scenes where he pushes the two Varos guards into the acid bath in keeping with his character? In terms of Doctor number six I'd say yes.

The forty five minute format works well for these two episodes, the characters had time to develop, plus there wasn't the need to cram in three cliffhangers.

Well acted, Martin Jarvis is very good, as are Nabil Shaban and Jason Connery.

Lots of imagination, lots of menace, well acted, it really is a classic story. 8/10

That is enterprise!

[dalekprimelol · 7/10 · 9 July 2022]

I would say this is a massive step up from attack of the Cybermen, vengeance on Varos is a really atmospheric and scary story. With some excellent scenes and great monsters like Sil! Sil is a great villain and one I'm surprised hasn't reappeared in the new series, very original story amongst a series of mostly old monsters which I always respect. It's just a very good story imho. It's not my favourite of the season but it's very good.

Decent Doctor Who story.

[poolandrews · 6/10 · 4 April 2007]

Doctor Who: Vengeance of Varos: Part 2 starts as the Doctor (Colin Baker) seemingly returns from the dead because he wasn't dead in the first place, he then sets about finding Peri (Nicola Bryant) & getting to the bottom of what's happening on Varos. He tries to convince the governor (Martin Jarvis) that Sil (Nabil Shaban) is trying to cheat him & his people, meanwhile Sil has set his plans to take control of Varos & it's precious mineral Zeiton 7 in motion. It's up to the Doctor to stop him & restore peace & freedom to Varos for the first time in generations...

This Doctor Who adventures was episode 4 from season 22 that aired here in the UK during early 1985, directed by Ron Jones I thought Vengeance on Varos was an OK story but nothing special. The script by Philip Martin has a certain parallel about a TV controlled state where the corrupt Government uses it to manipulate the people, I suppose you could make a few tenuous links to reality with that premise but for the most part this is basically total nonsense & I'm not even sure it's that much fun. This was the time when Doctor Who changed formats & went from the traditional 4 or 6 episodes that were 25 to 30 minutes long & was replaced with 2 episodes of about 45 minutes, this worked really well with the previous story Attack of the Cybermen & it's OK here but the story isn't great & it seemed to drag at times. A decent enough story but not a classic one.

Technically Vengeance on Varos has been pretty good, I didn't like the sets that much & the bland military type costumes were forgettable. Sil the worm like alien looks good but he doesn't actually have much to do, this one hasn't really gone for scares & at times it's felt like the Doctor was appearing on some game-show as he tries to defeat & overcome the various traps. The sixth Doctor so far in his third story seems a bit uncaring, he's thrown a couple of guards into an acid bath, set a trap where a guard was vapourised by a laser & at the end he sets another trap which kills all the bad guys in a way which you wouldn't have expected & feels a bit cold. There is also a ridiculously silly looking scene even by Doctor Who standards when the Doctor is attacked by a couple of grunting cannibals who look like they are in their 60's & appear to be wearing over-sized nappies, I kid you not. The acting was alright although Jarvis was really pretty flat, Peri is as attractive as usual.

Vegeance on Varos is watchable enough & will pass an hour an a half painlessly enough but I personally didn't think it was much better than average.

abhorrent. Worst episode of old who to date!

[ianweech · 7/10 · 28 March 2020]

I can see why some people like these two episodes, but i can't get past the fact that a FAMILY SHOW would have two episodes even loosely based on televised torture! I don't understand who thought it was a good idea! As for the episode itself, slightly better than part 1 with more wooden acting and more televised torture. I HATE this!

Vengeance on Varos: Part Two

[Prismark10 · 6/10 · 19 March 2024]

If Part one of Vengeance on Varos was a satire on reality television and violence.

Part two goes for body horror in the style of Island of Doctor Moreau. Peri and Areta go through the cell mutator as they change to another animal or bird. Unfortunately director Ron Jones is no David Cronenberg.

It just does not quiet work as a story. Specially when you mix in with how Varosian society works. Being the Governor is not something you aspire to. It is a curse as you are randomly chosen until you fail. No wonder their world is not getting richer.

The Doctor tells them how valuable Zeiton 7 ore is. Much to Sil's annoyance who has been fleecing this world for years. Now he is planning a full scale invasion. I was left wondering how did the people of Varos did not realise how valuable their ore was. After all they are trading with outside worlds. Someone would have told them are engage in a bidding war.

Some of the violence has been misinterpreted. The Doctor never shoves anyone to the acid bath. He does make a light quip about it.

As for the two old men in nappies wailing about as cannibals. Words fail me.