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!

When everything goes wrong....

When everything goes wrong, remember:

• Everything is temporary, even this.
• Happiness is a result of your approach to life, not what happens to you.
• The things, even those that seem small, that are going right in your life.
• The people who are in your corner.
• What you care about most and what you can let go of.
• That you ultimately choose how you react.
• Your resilience in other tough situations.
• Bad times don't define you, but your approach does.
• Worrying, anger, complaining, denial or any of the infinite other ways we try to circumvent pain when things go wrong won't change the situation.

Don't:

• Panic or get too far ahead of yourself.
• Go immediately to blame and criticism.
• Lash out.
• Self-destruct or numb yourself.
• Neglect your needs.
• Ignore your intuition.
• Focus on what should have been instead of what is.
• Try to control what is out of your control.
• Remind yourself of every other terrible thing that has ever happened to you.
• Ask "what if" or "why me" without also reminding yourself of what's possible and what makes you strong.
• Focus on others' opinions, because they're a reflection of the speaker, not you.
• Worry about who you are or are not impressing.
• Isolate.

Do:

• ccept, accept, accept.
• Stick to the present. Rather than worrying about the future or dwelling on the past, focus on what is actually happening now and what is actually in your power to do now.
• Focus on realistic expectations for yourself and the situation.
• Differentiate what you can and what you cannot change.
• Take one step, then another. Even if they're just baby steps, keep moving.
• Rather than focusing on the worst case, think instead of what else is possible.
• Look for the lesson. Challenging situations can often teach us what we have left to learn.
• Keep a positive attitude by remaining focused on solutions, skills, and strengths.
• Start small.
• Spend time with the people who support you.
• Appreciate the things going well, savor simple pleasures, and try to find the hidden gifts in the difficult times.
• Take care of yourself.
• Treat yourself with love and respect.
• Rejuvenate rather than simply tuning out or unplugging.
• Ask for help sooner rather than later.
• Consult or get a second opinion.
• Take the steps you need to keep working toward what you want in life.
• Sometimes we are too close to a situation to see it for what it is. Try looking at the situation from someone else's point of view.
• Give it the test of time. Ask yourself if this will mean the same thing in one, five, or 10 years. Look at the situation as a relatively short segment in the timeline of your life.
• Move, your body that is. Get moving to discharge energy. Walk 10 minutes in any direction starting wherever you are then turn around. Go for a swim. Plan a hike.
• Laugh. Watch a comedy. Call up a bubbly friend. Consider the stand-up routine version of this situation.
• Help someone else in need.
• Write. Vent your frustrations about this situation, brainstorm strategies to get out of it, or write about a more positive time in your life.
• Find a creative outlet.
• Read and reread motivational, inspirational, or encouraging words from others.
• Get outdoors and get inspired. Watch the sun rise or set. Listen to the birds. Take it all in to gain perspective.
• Give yourself a minute to regroup. Assess damages, sort out what can and cannot be done, or just get out of the middle of the situation.
• Choose one big goal to work on in order to make a lasting change.

Trump

What Donald Trump has done so far in just August!

• He has threatened to pull out of the WTO
• Two explosive court cases have revived speculation that President Trump himself may face legal proceedings. His former lawyer, Michael Cohen, pleaded guilty in a New York court to violating campaign finance laws. Mr Cohen indicated that Donald Trump ordered the payment of hush money to the President's alleged former lovers. Meanwhile President Trump's former campaign chief, Paul Manafort, has been found guilty on eight charges of tax fraud, bank fraud and failure to disclose foreign bank accounts. 

:(

TM

So it was a snap general election and a total failure! She's now worse off. Jeremy Corbyn is not strong enough, so he couldn't win; and the Euro thing continues. Meanwhile, Trump scares me more and more. He's a very bad man.

Theresa May

...in 15 minutes has an announcement to make! Snap election? War declared on the world? Decision not to the leave the EU?

I bet it's not. I bet it's something else. If it is a snap election - GOOD. Let's hope the opposition and Lib Dems can give her a good fight. Whoever wins has then got the right mandate.

However, I don't think she's got the guts.

North Korea and Syria

It seems President Trump has discovered the old adage: "War brings popularity". Yes, it's true: it worked very well in the ancient world up until the 20th Century. Now war brings fear; pain; misery and death on a scale unheard of. Why doesn't he try and find peaceful solutions? Let's hope he tries - but I suspect someone has told him that if he looks tough, the American people will forget all the silly stuff he's done so far. No, Mr President - the world has changed. Every mistake is on Google. Every success is on Google too - why not make a success of it? If only...

Imagine...

Imagine if John Lennon had not been assassinated? He would be Sir John Lennon now, and a grand-master of respect. This is what I think anyway. His song Imagine is so wonderful - the words in particular. It was released in 1971, but with President Trump and other things in the world, we are reminded how much we need to live together.

Here are the brilliant words:

Imagine there's no heaven
It's easy if you try
No hell below us
Above us only sky
Imagine all the people
Living for today... Aha-ah...

Imagine there's no countries
It isn't hard to do
Nothing to kill or die for
And no religion, too

Imagine all the people
Living life in peace... You...
You may say I'm a dreamer
But I'm not the only one
I hope someday you'll join us
And the world will be as one

Imagine no possessions
I wonder if you can
No need for greed or hunger
A brotherhood of man

Imagine all the people
Sharing all the world... You...
You may say I'm a dreamer
But I'm not the only one
I hope someday you'll join us
And the world will live as one

(Sir) John Lennon