Doctor Who Twitch Watch: recommendations of the day 07/19

(Photo credit: Doctor Who/BBC.

Image obtained from: BBC.)

The Seventh Doctor’s era begins on Twitch today! How well is his first season of Doctor Who?

Oh dear. Season twenty-four. One of my least favorite seasons in the entire history Doctor Who. Childish, immature, and far too pantomime at times, this season wasn’t just a massive step-down. It was basically the final nail in the coffin of the show.

Let’s get this over with.

Time and the Rani

I’ll say this much for Time and the Rani: it isn’t quite as bad as The Twin Dilemma. No, I know that really isn’t saying much.

More from Winter is Coming

The thing is, there are a number of huge problems with the Seventh Doctor’s first story. Right from the very beginning, in fact. We have the Doctor regenerate at the very start of the story. Colin Baker didn’t want to come back, so Sylvester McCoy is in a wig and Six’s coat while an effect is put on to show him regenerating. Unsurprisingly, this wasn’t exactly the most convincing of regenerations.

We’re not even given a clear reason why the Doctor regenerates. According to the novelization, Pip and Jane Baker put it down to “tumultuous buffeting”.

Thankfully, Nicholas Briggs ignored that for The Sixth Doctor: The Last Adventure, and came up with something far more satisfying, while tying into the beginning of Time and the Rani nicely.

Seven’s introduction really isn’t the best. He’s utterly fooled by the Rani while she’s wearing a ginger wig. Who’s not quite as well written here as she was in her opening story.

To be honest, her plan comes dangerously close to something the Master would come up with – complete with a very unconvincing disguise!

Time and the Rani gets this season off to a very bad start. Unfortunately, it doesn’t improve much, either.

(Photo credit: Doctor Who/BBC.

Image obtained from: BBC.)

Paradise Towers

Paradise Towers is a very frustrating story. There are a lot of rich and interesting ideas to it. It has a lot to say about classes, gangs and even gradual city decline.

But it’s presented in such a pantomime way. Everything’s crudely exaggerated and presented in a child-friendly fashion. Even when the story focuses on cannibals, it still somehow manages to feel like a children’s show! While Doctor Who should always aim at kids, it should always feel, on some level, mature, too.

You don’t quite get that with Paradise Towers. You want it to, and in some ways, the writing wants to, too. But somehow, it just doesn’t quite manage it.

(Photo credit: Doctor Who/BBC.

Image obtained from: BBC.)

Delta and the Bannermen

With Delta and the Bannermen, we have a story that isn’t just silly but fully embraces that silliness. While it didn’t quite work with the last two, I will admit, it somehow works with this one.

Perhaps one thing that helps is the Fifties setting. There’s a lot of fun that’s had with both the setting and the characters, and we meet some very likable people in this story. We get more hints of the man Seven will be known for, particularly with this line:

"Love has never been known for its rationality."

The story feels less uneven than the previous two, and while it’s cheesy, it still works. Still far from one of my favorites, but entertaining, at least.

(Photo credit: Doctor Who/BBC.

Image obtained from: BBC.)

Dragonfire

The last story of the season is definitely a major one. It’s not just that we have Glitz return from The Trial of a Time Lord. We also have the departure of Mel and the introduction of new companion Ace.

So it’s perhaps not that surprising that this is a key story that helped to shape the Seventh Doctor. While there are still some pantomime aspects to Dragonfire, on the whole, it seems to be taken more seriously than the first three.

There are still some aspects that don’t quite work. Ace isn’t presented as brilliantly in this story as she is later. And the entirely nonsensical and literal cliffhanger at the end of part one is terrible.

But it also has its good points, too. Kane is a great Doctor Who villain, and his death is one of the best and nastiest of the entire series. Mel’s leaving scene is surprisingly effective, aided by a beautifully alien speech from McCoy’s Doctor. Overall, this is a huge step in the right direction.

Overall recommendation of the day: Dragonfire

While Dragonfire is flawed, this is very much a key story for really setting up the Seventh Doctor that we know and love. More mature than the rest of the stories in the season, it’s very satisfying to watch.

Sophie Aldred’s debut as Ace doesn’t quite work, but that’s mainly due to the writing at this point. She’s far better handled as the series goes on, as you’ll soon discover.

Next: Twitch Watch: recommendations of the day 07/18

Are you a fan of this season? Are there any stories you’re looking forward to watching on Twitch today? Let us know in the comments below.

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