Doctor Who - Colin Baker, part 3

As I said in my last update on Colin Baker (three years ago) and then  three years before that on this matter: I have met Colin Baker and do feel sorry for him (and McCoy) sometimes, because they are often lambasted as the wreckers of Doctor Who (though I think the blame is really at the door of JNT, BBC politics, Coronation Street, and so much more). In fact, both Doctor's were really excellent and playing the part at the wrong time - people had simply stopped loving Doctor Who.

If like me, you could see Colin's potential, why don't you listen to some Big Finish audios. They have scripted him perfectly and Mr Baker is excellent as the Doctor. I've suggested some audios below which you can buy direct from Big Finish. I've added a link below.

Anyway...here are my views of the third quarter of Colin Baker's television time as Doctor Number Six! Click on pictures below if you want to buy them and help the lovely charity called the Living by Giving Trust (see here), who will earn some money to support its work. 

First up:



I didn't see this on its first showing, so I remember being very excited when it was shown on UK Gold. Patrick Troughton is a great favourite of mine and I think it's so sad that the BBC has destroyed so much of his era. Unfortunately this is not a good story. It's setting is pointless - there's no need for it to be in Spain; the two doctors are wasted; the Sontarans look odd and too tall; the other characters are annoying; and the story is...well...a bit boring.

Unfortunately this story is another example of this era of Doctor Who relying on the past. And then they don't even get it right! Are we really meant to believe that this Second Doctor is the Second Doctor of the black & white era? He hasn't even got the right hair colour (see Five Doctors where he looks older, but has black hair. He had an agreement that if he did Two Doctors, he wouldn't need to dye his hair)! I remember being so disappointed by the story and I still find it difficult to watch. It's also full of plot holes - why is the second doctor being sent on missions? He was never sent on missions! He avoided the Time Lords! The author has totally mixed up his Doctors.

However, for me, the saddest thing about all of this is..it was written by the late, great Robert Holmes. Often fans say that it's very apparent in the later Trial of a Time Lord that Holmes is unwell - I think actually those stories are not as bad as this one - in fact I really enjoy the first story on Ravalox. The reality that we often forget as fans is that Holmes also wrote rubbish amongst the "classics". For every Caves of Androzani, there is The Krotons and The Two Doctors!

Good points? Colin Baker is excellent; Patrick Troughton is excellent; Frazer Hines and Nichola Bryant are excellent. It's just a shame they're acting in this dirge. It's sadly Troughton's last outing as the Doctor too. If you're a completest or want to see Troughton's last moment as Doctor Who, buy this DVD; if you don't care, don't bother. Sad but true. In fact you would be better off buying The Five Doctors.

Lastly for now:


I am so very sorry, but this is another story that is not as good as Vengeance on Varos and Mark of the Rani, but actually it's not as boring as The Two Doctors, so that's a bonus. It's also followed by the wonderful Revelation of the Daleks (more soon).

Timelash is OK and some of its ideas are very good. The world is a terrible dystopia with a megalomaniac leader in charge who kills, kills and kills. He doesn't care about the people, because he simply wants to create a species just like him (see photo above). The costume is amazing; the voice of the baddie is amazing; and again I really like Colin's doctor.

The big issues with this are Paul Darrow's strange "stagey" acting. Why, Paul? Why?! He's wonderful as Avon, but not as Richard III. If he'd played it as the subtle Avon (series A, B Avon!) then wow.

The other big issue for me is the terribly cheap sets! The Timelash is a joke - they would have done better with the graphics of the black hole in Trial of a Timelord than this terrible bit of scenery. You can tell the budget had run out! Why? Well because they went to Seville! Which was pointless!!

Once again, we have a reminder of Doctor Who's past - even though we never saw this on the telly - with a picture of Jon Pertwee's Doctor. Apparently the Third Doctor popped here at some point and annoyed the Borad.

And, I am already very bored of every baddie or weirdo fancying a bit of Peri. It's starting to become a bit creepy that this is written in to most scripts. It all started with Caves of Androzani and finishes with her final story.

This story is OK, but best to watch filled with wine and beer. 

Big Finish
Most of Colin Baker's Doctor Who work with Big Finish is EXCELLENT. Have a look, here.

See you next time!