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| Doing the robot: Lesson 1 |
PLOT
The TARDIS crew end up in a future Ice Age on Earth, where a base of scientists are working hard to keep the glaciers at bay. However, things soon grow problematic when a group of Martians are cut out from the ice.
CHARACTERS
Patrick Troughton is really strong in this story as he worms his way into the position of scientist in the base. I loved the scene where he used the chemical replicator to create water just because he was thirsty. His relationship with Victoria is really sweet, holding her safe and calming her during a crisis.
Frazer Hines has little to do, so I won't talk about him.
Deborah Watling may be one of the screamer companions, but she's the most vulnerable and likeable of the lot. When she screams, she really means it(unlike Peri or... ugh, Mel). I do wonder how she knew what a reactor is though.
The guest stars are strong. Leader Clent comes across as a well-rounded character, someone who is hopelessly out of his depth in a crisis, but means well. Penley is the sort of stubborn old scientist you often see in movies(though younger than most). Even the Scottish tramp with the comedy voice was memorable and nice.
The Ice Warriors have good parts and bad parts. They're spooky and mysterious, but at the same time have ridiculous Lego hands and move like pantomime robots. I liked the whispery voice they had, but was unimpressed with the horrible lip-synching.
NOTES
*Why did the Ice Warriors leave Victoria unguarded? They kept a camera on her, but she just escaped regardless!
*The direction was ahead of its time, but the editing was shoddy at times. The Doctor and Victoria escaped from the ship to the base and the Ice Warriors went from the base to their ship in about 5 seconds.
*What's with the gigantic titles?
*I liked the friendship between Jamie and the Scottish tramp.
*Who names their kid Storr?
*I'd love to see how that Ice Age is gonna happen with the ice caps melting(do something, America! DO SOMETHING!!)
*I loved the phone dial on the chemical replicator.
*Why is the computer so revered?
*And why does it sound like the Mechanoids? Who would give their computer a barely understandable droning voice like that in a base as important as that?
*The anti-computer message is as subtle as being painted purple and dancing in front of a harpsichord singing "COMPUTERS ARE EVIL!!!"
*Since when does the Doctor hate computers? Didn't the First Doctor even describe his own thinking as that of an organic computer?
*Why did the Doctor refuse to introduce himself?
*Why were the production team looking for more recurring monsters? Back in the Hartnell days, the Daleks were enough. Now they have the Cybermen + Yeti. How many baddies do they need?
*This story is excruciatingly hard to follow. Lots of talk about radiation, reactors, chemicals, ionising etc. And it doesn't help that everyone are dressed psychedelic for no good reason, usually shout and take orders from MechaHAL.
*I adored Jamie's attempt to get Victoria into a catsuit.
BEST LINE
"The ice is alive." Such an awesome tie-in to The Waters Of Mars.
CONCLUSION
A decent story, but nothing spectacular.
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