Thascales
Easily Exterminated
Favourite Doctor: Tom Baker
Favourite Companion: Leela and Harry Sullivan
Posts: 57
Master-Stroker
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« on: March 13, 2011, 08:57:16 am » |
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THE BRAIN OF MORBIUSby Terrance Dicks and Robert HolmesStarring Tom Baker and Elisabeth Sladen.Production Code: 4K
First Transmitted: 1 - 03/01/1976 17:55 2 - 10/01/1976 17:45 3 - 17/01/1976 17:45 4 - 24/01/1976 17:55
'Chop Suey, the Galactic Emperor!' A superb exploration of gothic themes. Philip Madoc's portrayal of Solon is crucial to the story's success, and the pseudonymous epithet 'bland' is not at all deserved. [/size]
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Saber
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« Reply #1 on: May 08, 2011, 01:32:25 am » |
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I absolutely adore this story. It is one of my favourites from the Fourth Doctor era. The homage and references to Hammer Horrors and old B Movies is evident throughout and it could have quite easily turned into something ridiculous but I really think they managed to carry it off well. Morbius would have been an excellent character to further explore on the show but his character is fleshed out nicely in the BF audio The Vengeance of Morbius. Sarah Jane and Four carry the story brilliantly and Lis Sladen is a total joy to watch throughout, giving what I consider to be one of her strongest performances of the season, if not her entire run. And the story has been subtly referenced in the newer series too. The Sibylline Sisters from The Fires Of Pompeii bare more than a passing resemblence ot the Sisterhood of Karn as an example. I would love to see this story revisited in some way, either characters or location, in the newer series
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Nyki
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« Reply #2 on: May 09, 2011, 01:17:54 am » |
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Good point about the connection between the Sisterhoods. A great story, and again (as I just commented about The War Games) a fair proportion of its quality is down to Mr Madoc.
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Vampyros Adric
Global Moderator
Timelord
Favourite Doctor: 4/6/7
Favourite Companion: Jo Grant
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He is also vain, ego-centric and quite mad
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« Reply #3 on: May 09, 2011, 01:31:33 am » |
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The evolution of this story is fascinating. The story is actually something of a hybrid. Terrance Dicks wrote the first draft, then went on holiday and came back to find Robert Holmes had completely re-written it as a gothic horror. Terry Dicks asked for his name to be removed as he didn't feel it was properly his story anymore and in a fit of grumpiness asked that the pseudonym of Robin Bland be substituted instead.
I totally love the 'B' Movie feel that this story has and (as usual) I find myself in complete agreement with Nyki - Phil Madoc's ability to steal the show is almost unparalleled!
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Saber
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« Reply #4 on: May 28, 2011, 12:47:52 pm » |
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Phil Madoc's ability to steal the show is almost unparalleled!
He really cannot be faulted in this story. He is superb from start to finish
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Kovarians-Eye-Patch
TARDIS Traveller
Favourite Doctor: Eleven
Favourite Companion: Martha Jones
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« Reply #5 on: September 25, 2011, 07:15:10 pm » |
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This is my absolute favourite story from all of the classics. It wasn't one of the earliest I saw but as soon as I watched it I loved it. It had an excellent cast and the atmosphere that was built up was superb. And the story itself, although not the most original, works really well in the Doctor Who format. Excellent story.
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