There's also a BBC Audio recon for "Power" - soundtrack and narration matched to telesnaps. Unfortunately this never caught on. They were supposed to do "The Highlanders" but think this was cancelled, I certainly never saw it.

Going to watch part 4 of TTP tonight, looking forward to seeing the regeneration in context, shame it's a missing episode though. Also very much looking forward to Power OT Daleks. I've heard only good things about it.


I agree, and the black eyecutouts are very creepy too.

Did the excitement get too much for you, Tiggs?

I...AM...YOUR...SERVANT.

Hee hee hee!

See what I mean about the overt references in Victory otD?

The way they turned and reproduced was really scary. I wish we had the full story to watch rather than a reconstruction.


Absolutely, it was the very first thing I thought of. I think Power of the Daleks did it better though.

The Highlanders next, so I expect we will lose Ben at some point and gain Jamie. In fact I was expecting Ben to go at the end of PotD and was surprised he made it through.

I agree with you here, I am not actually a massive fan of there,s but I certianly like the original version the best.

Did you cop the resemblance to Journey's End in the last episode of PotD? Hard to miss it actually.

What are u on about ??? ax

I'm not sure about that similarity, either. (MInd you, I have only seen Journey's End once, and have never seen Power of the Daleks!)

It's great fun to see Tiggs discovering DW and not knowing what happens to the various companions! Power of the Daleks is unique for showing Why were you expecting Ben to be written out?

I have the soundtrack CD, and will listen when on a long drive next month. I don't think I'll get to see anymore recons, after Mrs Chuff started snoring midway through part 2 of The Smugglers ...

Oh dear I didn't see any resemblance you'll have to point it out with a big stick. I bet I say 'oh yeah' when you tell me.


I love discovering DW from the beginning. I was so down when I'd finished the new series and got up to date. At least with this, and at approx one episode a day, I have about 4 years to catch up in.

I was expecting Ben to go at the end of PoTD because I know Jamie was in The Highlanders and that is next, well it's now actually and I've met Jamies already, so I didn't expect Ben to stay. I thought Jamie would replace Ben so I'm really really pleased that they are in this story together.

It's a shame you won't get to see anymore recons though. but I'm sure the CDs are really good even on their own.

For the record I love The HIghlanders. Seen the first two episodes and will watch another one in a little while. Even this early on you can see how great Jamie is. And for the first time I am actually starting to like the Second Doctor. His antics in the second episode had me in stitches.

For quite a lot of stories an alternative to the recons is to put your CD in your computer and sync the BBC site's telesnaps. This has the advantage over the recons of retaining the linking narration.

Blimey, Adam, that's a bit hi-tech for li'l ol' me ...

It's interesting to see the way Ben and Polly get shifted around, now Jamie is on board. There isn't enough for three companions to do, and trhe sccripts struggle a bit. They didn't intend to keep Jamie on until they reached the end of filming The Highlanders, and the final scene was adjusted to have him join the Doctor, Ben and Polly. After that, they had to rejig all subsequent scripts. Not something that would happen nowadays ...

For the record: I found The Highlandes very minor and uninteresting. I thought the story lacked enthusiasm and energy, and they seemed to be going through the motions. It's the last historical story for 20yrs,a nd the production team clearly couldn't be arsed with it. The only reasons anyone remembers it are (a) Jamie, and (b) last historical. If it wasn't for those, it would be as forgotten as The Savages (which is outstanding).

Have to disagree. The Savages is OK, a decent enough story but hardly memorable to me, but I find The Highlanders a joy to listen to, full of really fun, well written characters (I particularly like the hapless army officer duped by Polly).

I just meant the scene where the Doctor throws switches and presses buttons to make the new Dalek army lose control, spin around, explode and generally go mad. Only difference being that he did it at random whereas the Doctor-Donna knew what she was doing.

I noticed it when I watched it because back then some anti-RTD people were still complaining on the forum about JE and how it was stupid to think anyone could do that to such a formidable enemy as the Daleks.

Now that's interesting because I was expecting Ben to go at the end of this one, so its interesting to learn that they have 3 companions on board. And it saves me speculating about Ben's demise or where in the universe he's going to be left.

I'm really enjoying The Highlanders and it may go down as the episode that changed my opinion of number Two. We'll see.


Oh yes! I do remember having a fleeting thought of having seen that in JE but it was so fleeting I forgot.

I didn't say how long Ben stuck around for, or how many scripts he appears in, or whetehr Polly stays, or whether there's a new companion alongside them ...

Sorry Tiggs: having grown up since the 80s with a knowledge of "old" DW, it's hard to remember that some people watchign the old stuff don;t have instant recall of everything ... sorry ...

Hehe, its okay, its not exactly spoilers. I know Ben and Polly will leave, I know Jamie will come on board. Its just a matter of when and where and you haven't said.

Neatly bringing this thread full circle and tying in other bits recently mentioned ...

Last night, I went to the theatre. CANARY: excellent play by Jonathan Harvey. Really strong and emotional stuff. An unforgettable night out.

There were several DW people in the cast, so I did a bit of autograph collecting afterwards. In the cast (and perhaps the best actor in the play) was Philip Voss, who appears in Marco Polo. He happily signed the Marco Polo CD sleeve (and The Dominators VHS: he was surprised to hear it's out on DVD next month).

He was very enthusiastic that I should track down the reconstruction of Marco Polo. He was involved in preparing it, and was quite passionate about it.

All you recon fans: you are in good company! (Alas, Mrs Chuff is not amongst that august company, and I don't imagine we'll be getting stuck into more recons in the foreseeable).

I thought of you all, and thought you might like to know!

x

Oh that's a lovely story, thanks for sharing it. You have to get a copy of Marco Polo now and watch it when Mrs Chuff is not around.

That's what I do actually, as Mrs J doesn't really get into Old Who.

Finished The Underwater Menace and due to start Moonbase soon.

The Underwater Menace was okay, but I found it hard to believe as the Doctor and co were transported from the beach to Atlantis at the beginning so I coudn't see how they couldn't use this method to to escape Atlantis rather than try and raise it from the sea bed. And then when they all ended up back at the beach at the end along with some of the Atlanteans it added to my feeling of it not being a very well thought out story. Unless of course I'm missing something, which would make it more tolerable.
The last episode was very dramatic though with the rising water level and it was easy to get caught up with the suspense of the story.

I've also just finished The Dalek Chronicles. Great little stories and was lovely to see the Emperor Dalek and Supreme Dalek idea before they actually hit the screen.

Also my second Doctor Who Annual (WH) arrived yesterday, so I'm loaded up with new reading.

Took me forever to find this thread!

What's new, Tiggs?

Or rather, what's old?

Erm, lately?

All of these criticisms of the story may be legitimate but are ultimately irrelevant in the face of the indisputable fact that it has one of the best Who cliffhangers ever at the end of episode three.

Nuzzink in ze vorld can shtop me noooooooooow!!!!