Started 08 July
Much less impressive than I remember. Is it the marathon watch in order thing?
Hmmm.
Overall this seems under rehearsed and in parts almost made up on the spot.
The atmosphere veers between ridiculous parody and trying to be serious. This is the first DW serial that seems less than a serious attempt. It's a salutory lesson that the late 70's and 80's sometimes ignores and thankfully the modern show has not yet broached.
Perhaps the cast and production team are tiring? Some renewal is just around the corner which the long arc of DW history shows is actually necessary.
There are some good bits: the Mechanoids, the TSV 'skit' in ep 1, Peter Purves as Steven Taylor.
There are some awful bits too: the sand beast, the Aridian costumes, the Empire State Building 'skit', the script in ep4, everything in ep5, the 'Daleks at home' dialogue.
The pace is reasonably good. The regulars ' performances are convincing.
It's not THE worst but there is a silly series of silly mistakes.
ABM Rating 2.25/4.00
LJM Rating 2.50/5.00
SPJ Rating 4.50/10.00
Peak Ranking No. 12 (out of 16)
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Gosh this story is disappointing. It should be fun but instead comes across as ridiculous. The list of things that are wrong: the desert octopus and fish folk, the stagey New York yokels, the waste of the Marie Celeste idea (and its actually quite disturbing to think the whole crew jumped off the ship and died), the revenge Daleks, the killer Christmas decorations. I liked the giant fungus. I give one 4.5 out of 10.
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