The Mind Of Evil (1971) Review

"Hi, Master!! Can't come out to play today?"

The Mind Of Evil is loads of fun. Why worry about the story so much if the characters are played perfectly, the direction is stellar, it looks cool and the best thing of all - it adds, not rewrites continuity!

PLOT

As part of a scheme to start World War III, the Master(hell yeah!) introduces Earth to a new form of punishment for criminals, which erases the negative aspects of an individual. His plan goes haywire when the Keller Machine goes renegade.

It's so much fun. The Keller Machine is not very intimidating on its own, but the combination of memorable incidental music, brilliant camera work and flashy lights all work to make this a particularly cool monster. UNIT is shown at their very best with an awesome shootout(now there's an upgrade from season 7!)
And of course, we have the Doctor and the Master at the centre of it all.

CHARACTERS

Roger Delgado breathes the character in and out. You cannot take your eyes off him. He plays the role rather like an evil, hypnotic version of the Eighth Doctor, with a delicious charm and simplicity and his famous chemistry with Pertwee is palpable.

Speaking of the star, the Third Doctor's performance has been perfected. His brusque behaviour makes him fun to watch and he has a natural leadership aspect about him which defines his character.

Jo has calmed down since the horribly tacky last story and while she still overacts a little, she's quite nice here.

The guest stars all fee very natural and do a splendid job, even the not-so-beloved Barnham.

As for the UNIT family, they're all cool and lovable in their own ways. Except for that annoying Cosworth guy.

NOTES

*In case you're wondering how I know of fan opinion of this story, I check reviews immediately after finishing the last episode.

*Sorry it took me so long to post this review: I've been busy, plus I didn't realise this story was in colour until two episodes in so I had to rewatch those.

*How did the Keller Machine go from erasing negative aspects to just showing off people's fears to just killing them? How does that work, I mean?

*Seeing the Doctor's former foes is cool, but badly executed(they're basically green photographs flying into the camera). I can barely make them out. In the first scene, I caught a Cyberman and later, a Dalek and maybe an Ice Warrior.

*Same goes for the Master's fear. I think the Doctor should've laughed like he was taunting him, not just cackling maniacally, although that was pretty hilarious.

*The Doctor's clothes are getting reaaaally outlandish now. The red jacket is cool, but those purple things just look ridiculous.

*I like that little moment where the Brigadier just stares at Barnham for a little while with no reason.

*I thought Barnham's death was both pointless and badly shot. It just looks hokey, if you have to see it to know it.

*I know the Master set him free, but Mailer was a little too trusting of him, especially for a criminal.

*Why does the Keller Machine need to destroy the Doctor's trap if it's just meant to fool it? It's like a mouse destroying the cheese on the mousetrap(well, supposing the trap was rusty and wouldn't kill him, but that's a story for another time).

*Why does the Keller Machine take so much from Barnham, yet it leaves everyone else before that alone?

*How does Barnham's positive personality exactly stop the Machine? I know the Doctor says he has immunity, but it should still affect him and Jo.

*Also, why is Barnham childlike? Is maturity evil?

*How does the scientist know every aspect of the Keller Machine and can't figure out that there's an alien parasite in it?

*Nick Courtney's Cockney accent = approved.

*We're really into classic Who with names like this and The Seeds Of Death cropping up, eh?

BEST LINE

"Let me tell you sir, that I AM a scientist! And I have been for several thousand...!!!"

CONCLUSION

If the story was better, it'd undoubtedly be a masterpiece.