Doctor Who Twitch Watch: recommendations of the day 07/17

We reach the middle of the Sixth Doctor’s run already, as we get three more stories on Twitch. Are there any particular highlights today?

Yesterday, the Sixth Doctor’s era got off to a weak start with The Twin Dilemma, possibly one of the worst Doctor Who stories ever made. But it also had some interesting stories, especially Vengeance on Varos. Will we get a story today that’s as original and interesting?

(Photo credit: Doctor Who/BBC.

Image obtained from: BBC.)

The Mark of the Rani

The Mark of the Rani features a pleasant diversion into history, something that wasn’t too common during the Eighties. This historical setting is well realized, and makes for an interesting contrast with the major enemies included in this story. Which are, in this case, the Master and the Rani.

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It’s actually interesting that the Rani’s introduction story also includes the Master, too. You would have thought they’d have clearly established her in a solo story first before featuring her teaming up with the Doctor’s arch-enemy.

Still, she’s a great character, and avoids being a simple copy of the Master herself. It’s nice to have a villain that sees the universe as their own giant laboratory, rather than something they want to take over. Kate O’Mara is also great to watch in the role.

Overall, The Mark of the Rani is a very simple and straightforward story, perhaps more than it should be. But it’s harmless fun, and easily the Rani’s best story on television.

(Photo credit: Doctor Who/BBC.

Image obtained from: BBC.)

The Two Doctors

It’s strange to see a story like The Two Doctors during this era. Partially, this is because it’s a multi-Doctor story, but made during a year without a particularly major anniversary.

The other is the sheer clash of styles between the Sixth Doctor’s era with the Second’s. While it’s great to see Patrick Troughton and Frazer Hines again, the overall tone for The Two Doctors can feel very out of place for their characters. Like many stories of this period, The Two Doctors is nasty and violent.

The character of Shockeye is the biggest example of this. An Androgum chef who enjoys eating anything and anyone, he gives The Two Doctors many of its most unpleasant moments.

There’s still a lot to recommend about The Two Doctors, however. What’s refreshing is that having only one previous Doctor to focus on not only allows the story to explore and focus on their own particular era better.

It also allows for an actual story, too. (While The Five Doctors is a fun anniversary special to watch, there’s also not a great deal of actual story to it, by Doctor Who standards.)

Highlights of The Two Doctors include seeing the gradual effects of time travel, and making the Second Doctor central to the plot when Six starts to look for him.

While it’s far from perfect, and in fact had so many major continuity errors, it was a key reason the season 6b theory was created, (which I’ll explain later in more detail soon,) overall, it’s still great to see Troughton and Baker’s Doctors together.

(Photo credit: Doctor Who/BBC.

Image obtained from: BBC.)

Timelash

Timelash is a story that doesn’t have many fans, and its easy to see why. It’s a very cheaply made story. A lot of the sets just don’t look convincing. Especially the Timelash itself, which frankly looks like it was made using aluminium foil.

It also has a very hammy performance from Paul Darrow as Tekker, better known to fans of the cult sci-fi series Blake’s 7 as Avon. Certainly not one of the best performances seen in Doctor Who.

Still, one thing that Timelash does have is that it has a refreshingly simple and traditional story for this season. It also moves away from the high level of unpleasant violence seen throughout many of this season’s stories. It’s far from a classic, but, if you can forgive just how incredibly cheap it is, it’s not bad filler, either.

Overall recommendation of the day: The Two Doctors

Today is disappointing when it comes to Doctor Who stories. It’s a shame that the non-Terry Nation Dalek stories haven’t been included in this marathon. Otherwise, I’d very likely be recommending Revelation of the Daleks right now, a really brilliant story from this season.

As it is, The Two Doctors gets my recommendation almost by default. With the biggest reason for that default being the legend that is Patrick Troughton. Amidst all the violence and over-complicated plots of this season, it’s wonderfully refreshing to see his Doctor and Jamie once more.

Next: Twitch Watch: recommendations of the day 07/16

Have you been enjoying the Sixth Doctor’s era so far? Are there any stories today you’re eager to look forward to? Let us know in the comments below.

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