Doctor Who Twitch Watch: Recommendations of the day 07/20

(Photo credit: Doctor Who/BBC.

Image obtained from: BBC.)

We meet scary clowns, monsters made of sweets and characters from Arthurian mythology, as the Seventh Doctor’s era continues in Doctor Who on Twitch!

Remembrance of the Daleks isn’t just one of the best Dalek stories ever made. It is, quite possibly, one of the best Doctor Who stories period. It combines so many rich and interesting themes. War, racism, death.

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At the same time, it also manages to tell an incredible blockbuster of a story. We’ve got two armies of Daleks, spaceships, and a ton of explosions! I imagine the production team may have panicked when they read the script!

And yet, somehow, they made it work, helping to ensure that Remembrance of the Daleks lived up to its incredible ambition.

But we’re not getting Remembrance of the Daleks on Twitch (or Britbox, in case you were wondering). Not that I’m sore about that point, or anything. So let’s take a look at the stories we are getting!

The Happiness Patrol

On the surface, The Happiness Patrol looks worryingly similar to what we got from season twenty-four. Specifically, another over-the-top pantomime story that’s more aimed at children than for adults.

But it doesn’t take long to see that The Happiness Patrol is actually very different. Whereas Paradise Towers was a story that aimed to have commentary, but somehow, didn’t quite make it work, The Happiness Patrol does succeed at being at highly satirical.

Perhaps the better written characters help. Or even the stronger performances. In any case, while The Happiness Patrol may look light and fluffy on the surface, there is a very dark commentary made with its story. And it’s very clear for many fans to see.

(Photo credit: Doctor Who/BBC.

Image obtained from: BBC.)

Silver Nemesis

Silver Nemesis in some ways shares some elements from Remembrance of the Daleks, which was actually released in the very same season. So it’s quite surprising to see that overall story done again, but this time, with Cybermen.

There are a lot of story elements with this one. Along with the Cybermen, we’ve also got time-travellers from the past and even Nazis! There’s certainly a genuine adventure feel in this story.

Of course, one problem it has is that it tries to do too much, at times. The story gets a little convoluted, especially with everyone chasing down the Nemesis statue.

While it’s an entertaining enough story, and it’s nice to see the Cybermen again, it still doesn’t come across quite as strong as Remembrance of the Daleks.

(Photo credit: Doctor Who/BBC.

Image obtained from: BBC.)

The Greatest Show in the Galaxy

The Greatest Show in the Galaxy is something really special. It’s a story that shows a lot of genuine originality in the show. Not just by featuring brand new monsters, but also in its style and presentation.

There are a wide mix of characters in this story. Some are highly sympathetic, some are simply unlikeable, and some are downright despicable. It’s interesting seeing how this group of characters interact in a surprisingly desperate situation.

The Chief Clown in this story particularly stands out. Ian Reddington plays him brilliantly, and the whole time, he’s never less than creepy.

We also get the biggest example yet of just how powerful the Seventh Doctor’s enemies are. Without giving too much away, this story essentially sets a template for his character. This Doctor is very eager to play games on a grand scale. Something we’ll be seeing even more of next week in The Curse of Fenric.

For now, enjoy this very colorful and enjoyable story from the Greatest Show in the Galaxy.

(Photo credit: Doctor Who/BBC.

Image obtained from: BBC.)

Battlefield

Battlefield is a really entertaining to watch. While not quite as strong as Ben Aaronovitch’s previous story Remembrance of the Daleks, which we really should be watching today, it is heaps of fun.

One thing guaranteed to put a smile on every fan’s face is the return of Nicholas Courtenay as Brigadier Lethbridge-Stewart. Coming out of retirement for one last adventure, the Brigadier is reunited with his old friend the Doctor.

Interestingly, UNIT also returns. This is the first proper UNIT story we’ve had since The Android Invasion, so it’s a big event for the show. It’s great to see how the organization has changed with the times, particularly with Brigadier Bambera. A very no-nonsense officer, it’s interesting seeing the new face of UNIT, however briefly.

The story also uses a lot of great Arthurian mythology. In particular, Jean Marsh is perfect as Morgaine. She’s ruthless at times, but she also has her moments of emotional complexity. Particularly in one scene, where she uses her power to genuinely help someone.

While it’s not without its flaws, Battlefield is a great piece of entertainment, featuring a lot of action and some pretty cool ideas.

Overall recommendation of the day: The Greatest Show in the Galaxy

There’s a lot that I really enjoy about this story. It’s stylish, with great characters that are both performed and written well, and as I’ve said before: that clown is creepy. Not quite my favorite of the season (you all know what that is by now), but a wonderfully original and entertaining watch, at least.

Next: New Series Eleven trailer from Comic-Con revealed!

What are you looking forward to watching today? Do you enjoy this era of Doctor Who? Is it an improvement from McCoy’s first season? Let us know what you think in the comments below.

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