Started 23-FebAlternately boring and painful.
The plot is complicated and almost ignored by the protagonists. (Possibly Chessene and her unseen 'army' but maybe also the Sontarans.)
The problem this has (again) is bad editing. The premise is good (cannibalism v vegetarian ways of life). The cod eugenics of Androgums and Dastari's research is less of a good idea. The action sequences are pretty dull.
There are many many sections in all three overlong eps which could be cut.
Colin is dozing his way through it, Patrick is not taking it very seriously, Fraser is acting like he's a statue, Nicola has given up long since at presenting a character based performance. Right now she's the crop top model....
Among the guest stars: Jackie is hammy, John Stratton is memorably over the top but the role is underwritten, Laurence displays some arch containment as Dastari but the last ep turncoat bit is just unbelievable.
The costumes are inconsistent and unlikely. The Sontarans look terrible with loose collars and badly fitting heads. (An idea I had was make 'em genetically enhanced/altered Sontarans and dress 'em as smoky cowbys/desperados with big moustaches.... but I could be taking the p*ss...)
The technobabble is plausibly glib but not very rigorous. Briode nebulisers and Statenheim Remote Controls aside all the Timelord time travel genetics is bollocks, sorry.
The death scenes are just icky.
- James Saxon as Botcherby's death scene is horrible but its presented as ha-ha.
- John Stratton as Shockeye's demise is a mix of Colin's James Bond quip and blood dripping slasher movie with an unlikely fatal assault using chemicals left just lying around.
- Clinton Greyn as Stike's green ooze dripping stagger with off camera explosion is unintentionally hilarious.
Somehow this will end up as 3rd best in the season. It's in woeful company.
ABM Rating 1.83/4.00
LJM Rating 1.82/5.00
SPJ Rating 4.80/10
No. 116 (out of 140)
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