This is a great story for characters.

Has there ever been a better villain than Harrison Chase?  His motivation is both bonkers and somehow makes sense.  This isn’t somebody after Universal domination, this is a bloke who has a fetish for plants which makes Troy McClure’s feeling towards fish look like a gentle hobby.  Harrison Chase is really into plants, identifies with plants and likes to spend his time making horrible synthesised music surrounded by greenery.  A glorious villain, who even manages to be racist about hybrids (plants that is).  I only wonder what he actually eats?  (Even before he got possessed!).  He’s obviously repelled by meat and yet eating vegetation obviously causes him qualms too.

Add to that Amelia Ducket (who has more than a touch of Hyacynth Bucket when it comes to the pronunciation of her surname) and Scorby, the wonderful hired thug and this story becomes a joy.

Here we are in deepest Antarctica, where the snow looks like expanded polystyrene and sticks to actors as though it’s full of static.  Fortunately, we switch swiftly to the marvellously camp Harrison Chase who is complaining about plant abuse, such as bonsai.

Doctor Who is never kind about civil servants and Dunbar is no exception, but this must be one of the last occasions when the Doctor turned up as an active part of UNIT (though sadly, with none of the regulars).  It’s nice to see the 4th Doctor twitting civil servants just as much as the 3rd loved to do.

I liked Moberley, throttled just as he was manning up to lop off his killer’s arm, though Scorby and Keeler were shaping up nicely as a double act early in the second episode, though Keeler’s subsequent fate splits that pairing up.

I’m sure I’ve seen that Krynoid costume worn by contestants in Jeux Sans Frontiers…

The Doctor and Sarah Jane really are a great double act aren’t they? Though the Doctor has rarely been so personally violent.  Leaping through the skylight, fighting his way through when he has to.

All in all, one of the better 4th Doctor adventures.

Quote, unquote

“I’ve got my toothbrush”

“A human being whose blood is turning into vegetable soup.”

“Turn around Doctor… facing this way!”   (As the Doctor does a 360 turn).

“Even your pension, Dunbar!”

When is this?

Seems to be the 1970s, or is that the 80s?

It’s hard to think what the Master was after on this one.  It was teeny-tiny twiddling with history, as opposed to his plans for Universal Domination.  Really it just seemed like he wanted an excuse to hang out in a ridiculous disguise and wait for the Doctor to rumble him with exasperated sigh.

My word, nothing like a nice medieval banquet for starters.  Nothing but meat on the table (veg is just so 20th Century), which nobody seems to be eating.  There might be a good reason for this.  This is the day when King John famously took the Crusaders’ Oath, on Ash Wednesday.  That and Good Friday are the most meat-free days of the Medieval culinary calendar.  So were they just starting enthusiastically at yesterday’s leftovers, afraid to eat, or did London operate on a different date to the rest of the Country?  After all, “fish” had a wide application in those days, including whale, dolphin and porpoise (fish apparently) and barnacle goose (shellfish!).

So, on to our first hearing of Sir Giles’ accent.  A splendid attempt to audition for the French people in Spamalot.  Wonder who it could be under that wig?  Playing against him the Doctor seems to be doing a King Arthur impression.  Well that’s a thought for later, Peter, should Spamalot beckon.

So, a long joust (long, long joust, just two episodes and they needed filler?) and some very dodgy history regarding King John’s willingness to sign the Magna Carta.  A document that he spent the rest of his reign trying to get overturned, even selling England to the Pope in the cause!

Amazing how long it takes them to even start worrying about Turlough isn’t it? When his absence is raised, it’s met with a mild concern.

Dear God, no the singing!  Definitely not kum by yah with its “Total Warrrrr” lyrics.  Then shock! Horror! Who could have imagined that Sir Giles was The Master?  Well, the Doctor for one, given his look of mild astonishment.  Seriously, the Master’s starting act like a stalker by now.  Turning up everywhere in rubbish disguises trying to impress the Doctor.

The second episode is an enjoyable mild and forgettable runaround until the reveal of the next Companion.  Kamelion!  Travelled in the Tardis for so many adventures where he just seemed to clank around the back room, forgotten by all.  Or else horribly abused by the Tardis crew for entertainment.

So leaving the corpsing corpse, the Master gives up on his minor plot and heads off to find another way to waylay the Doctor. But honestly, how did they expect to get away with the design of the TCE?

And yes, Brer Rabbitting, “don’t lock me in the Iron Maiden!”

Not a classic, but still fun.

Quote, unquote

“Another way of keeping warm”  oh, really Doctor?

“Would not boiling in oil be a more fitting end?” Yes, let’s do that!

“You’re getting old, Doctor. Your will is weak” – the Master should be the one to know.

When was this?

A rarest of rare events – a Doctor Who adventure with an actual date of Ash Wednesday, March 4th 1215.

The first for no reason at all (except an enjoyment of dodgy French accents) will be The King’s Demons.