[daveyboy7472]

I always have liked The Sontarans. They seem by their appearance that that the sort of monster you really would love to give some stick, if you didn't want to end up dead that is!

Looking through their stories, they seem to be very varied over the years. I was never a big fan of their first story, The Time Warrior, which seems to me all about Sarah-Jane as it's her debut in the show. I do like the banter between Irongron and Linx (yes, hard to believe he was named after a deodorant...just kidding!) and Kevin Lindsay plays him to absolute perfection. It's just the story overall is a bit lightweight.

My favourite is the next one, The Sontaran Experiment. I love the total location setting which gives it an extra edge, and I think it was in this one, it showed the Sontarans as ruthless they ever were, even though there was mainly just the one in this. Kevin Lindsay is superb again in this and it's a shame he died before he had the chance to play the role again.

Not so keen on their appearance in The Invasion Of Time which involved a Sontaran with a Cockney accent and the Sontarans are made to look really stupid at times.

This seemed to go one step further in their next adventure in The Two Doctors where they seem to tricked by everyone and did very little but shout and get frustrated at everyone. Plus their neck collars were very much at odds with the necks themselves making them look a bit stupid.

In the New Series, I liked the redesign but I also like the fact the Sontarans basic love for war and death and their ruthlessness were back in the story and it was good they actually had a proper plan for once rather than using Earth as a stepping stone in their fight with the Rutans.

As for the odd appearances later in New Who, they weren't really in The Pandorica Open or the last bit of The End To Time long enough to comment on and as for A Good Man Goes To War, I still think it was wrong to have a Sontaran nurse and I still don't really buy it that a Sontaran even as some punishment would lower themselves to do it. I won't be putting any of these appearances in the Poll!

So what's your fave?

[DoctorQui]

This is very difficult because imo all Sontaran stories tend to be very good. Apart from the Two Doctors where they were just glued onto the story and didn't even appear how they should be ie very tall.

I'll have to go for the Invasion of Time for no other reason other than I really enjoyed that story, with the double whammy invasion, a good look at Time Lord culture, leela, the knife and the probic vent, the extended Tardis scenes, and the departure of Leela and K9 mk I.

[CoalHillJanitor]

Of the stories in themselves I prefer The Invasion of Time, but in terms of realising the potential of the Sontarans I must go with Stratagem/Poison Sky. The faces looked real for once, there were hordes of them, we got to explore their ship a bit ... leading to my favourite line in that one, 'Donna - you've got three fingers!'

[adams66]

Well I loved the Sontaran nurse in A Good Man... lots of rather grim humour from this one and a real shame that he died. You can't get comedy from many Who monsters (at least not intentional humour) but this worked very well indeed.

Favourite Sontaran story - tricky. Linx was brilliant, a real rounded 'person' with sensible motives and believeable reasons for doing what he did. His visible exasperation with the primitiveness of the age in which he found himself, and with the stupidity of Irongron and his men, was very well handled, and beautifully acted by Kevin Lindsay. And surely this was one of the very best masks of the 1970s.

Ok the recent Sontarans might win out in the mask stakes; they are superbly realised and it's so good that they are all short and squat as per Robert Holmes initial brief. And I loved their haka style chanting and singleminded militarism. Exactly what a Sontaran should be like.

But to be honest I think I prefered the Sarah-Jane Sontaran story. That was terrific fun.

[johnnysaucepn]

Originally Posted by daveyboy7472

I still think it was wrong to have a Sontaran nurse and I still don't really buy it that a Sontaran even as some punishment would lower themselves to do it.

But then, it's equally odd to have a Silurian happily co-habiting with humans, or a forest-dweller signing up to become an Anglican mercenary.

It's good to show that the Doctor's influence changes people for the better, even the pig-headed Sontarans!

[Mulett]

In classic Who, the Sontaran's looked less believable each time they appeared. They never looked better than in Time Warrior (until New Who).

[CoalHillJanitor]

Here's a real challenge: find a category in which The Two Doctors would win the poll against anything else!

[daveyboy7472]

Originally Posted by CoalHillJanitor

Of the stories in themselves I prefer The Invasion of Time, but in terms of realising the potential of the Sontarans I must go with Stratagem/Poison Sky. The faces looked real for once, there were hordes of them, we got to explore their ship a bit ... leading to my favourite line in that one, 'Donna - you've got three fingers!'

You know, I like The Invasion Of Time as a story but always felt The Sontarans were just an unnecessary feature to fill the last two episodes. If they were going to use them , best use them to their potential and have them there for the entire six episodes. Guess they had to fill those six-parters somehow so that's why they did it, but they really, really didn't need to.....

Originally Posted by johnnysaucepn

But then, it's equally odd to have a Silurian happily co-habiting with humans, or a forest-dweller signing up to become an Anglican mercenary.

It's good to show that the Doctor's influence changes people for the better, even the pig-headed Sontarans!

All that may be true but I still don't buy it.

Originally Posted by CoalHillJanitor

Here's a real challenge: find a category in which The Two Doctors would win the poll against anything else!

How about putting it up against the Twin Dilemma and Timelash as worst sixth Doctor story?

[Muttley76]

I have actually surprised myself somewhat in opting for The Sontaran Stratagem/The Poison Sky, the reason being that while the story itself is a solid but unspectacular one, I think it does make very good use of The Sontaran's, and also gave them a really strong sense of collective purpose.

I think overall they are interesting enemies because although they are "bad guys" they have a certain honour code that is almost admirable in a way.

[CoalHillJanitor]

Originally Posted by daveyboy7472

You know, I like The Invasion Of Time as a story but always felt The Sontarans were just an unnecessary feature to fill the last two episodes. If they were going to use them , best use them to their potential and have them there for the entire six episodes. Guess they had to fill those six-parters somehow so that's why they did it, but they really, really didn't need to.....

At least they were better villains than the sheets of tinfoil ... sorry, Vardans. But they should have been given something better to do than trudge through endless ugly corridors in the TARDIS.

Originally Posted by daveyboy7472

How about putting it up against the Twin Dilemma and Timelash as worst sixth Doctor story?

Nope, it couldn't even compete in that. There's too much love for Troughton and too much hate for Twin Dilemma.

[daveyboy7472]

Originally Posted by CoalHillJanitor

At least they were better villains than the sheets of tinfoil ... sorry, Vardans. But they should have been given something better to do than trudge through endless ugly corridors in the TARDIS.



Nope, it couldn't even compete in that. There's too much love for Troughton and too much hate for Twin Dilemma.

Yes, I agree they were better than the Vardans, though the new CGI Version of them on DVD is far better. And yes, as you say, they didn't really do a lot other than just chase the Doctor about. Even in The Two Doctors, at least they ahd some semblance of a plan......

And maybe The Two Doctors would win the best Sixth story set in Spain, featuring Two Doctors, two companions and Peri in a very revealing top.

[adams66]

Originally Posted by daveyboy7472

And maybe The Two Doctors would win the best Sixth story set in Spain, featuring Two Doctors, two companions and Peri in a very revealing top.

Nah, not even then would The Two Doctors win. The story wastes the Spanish setting, provides us with one of Troughton's least impressive performances, has no real need for two companions and frankly it's only Nicola Bryant's impressive cleavage that keeps my interest. And even that isn't exclusive to this story...

[Mad Man Moon]

My favourite Sontaran story is the Sontaran Experiment, even though it's only a two parter. I just like the way it links Ark in Space to Genesis of the Daleks. I love the location work and just like the whole Doctor, Sarah, Harry by play of that era. Kevin Lindsay is great again as Styre.
Admittedly the Smash robot was a bit crap..

I like the Time Warrior as well. It's got a good Robin Hood type feel to it, but still prefer Sontaran Experiment.

I think I prefer the Two Doctors to the Invasion of Time, which I felt was overly long and confusing, I need to rewatch Invasion at some point, just to see what I'm missing. The Two Doctors, I quite enjoyed, but as others have said the location was pretty pointless and the Sontarans just seemed to be added on.

I've only seen the New Who Sontaran episodes once and I can't remember liking them much.

[DavetheScot]

The Time Warrior for me. It's such a great feel to it, with the medieval characters and some of the lovely dialogue, especially from Irongron.

The Sontaran Experiment is never less than interesting, too. Don't like Invasion of Time at all, though, and The Two Doctors is very flawed. Shockeye is far more interesting than the Sontarans; I think he's the main reason I still have a sneaking fondness for the story.

I did enjoy the New Who appearance, especially the little dance ("Sontar-HA! Sontar-HA!"). but I'm sticking with Time Warrior.

[gslam2]

I went for The Time Warrior which is odd as I'm not a fan of Pertwee in general.

Experiment is ok but nothing more than that, Invasion Of Time is pretty poor, shame its Leela's last story, Two Doctors is ok but Holmes didn't want them in the story and I think he was right not to.

The Sontaran Stratagem/The Poison Sky is solid at best - after the same writers dreadful Dalek story it could have been a lot worse but although fun it has major flaws. That scene with the UNIT soldiers just makes them look stupid and doesn't really sell the Sontaran threat, the boy genius is just a terrible character and the actor made some uh, interesting choices there lets say! Plus what's the point of bringing back Martha and then having the Doctor interact with her clone the whole time - the whole Doctor not liking guns/UNIT thing was also overdone. Donna keeps it watchable at least.

[johnnysaucepn]

Originally Posted by gslam2

That scene with the UNIT soldiers just makes them look stupid and doesn't really sell the Sontaran threat

That's a shame - I loved that scene for introducing the Sontaran way of thinking in a short time. And yes, the boy genius is intensely annoying - but then, aren't they always?

[Larry1971]

Originally Posted by daveyboy7472

You know, I like The Invasion Of Time as a story but always felt The Sontarans were just an unnecessary feature to fill the last two episodes. If they were going to use them , best use them to their potential and have them there for the entire six episodes. Guess they had to fill those six-parters somehow so that's why they did it, but they really, really didn't need to.....

Invasion of Time, is a dissapointment there is a potentialy fantastic story in there some where but the whole thing is let down by the whole production and the laughable Vardens,

The Two Doctors - god knows what JNT was thinking when he cast the two actors to play the Sontarans going against the established look of small and squat and giving us tall Sontarans who were also very loud and the uniforms looked pretty naff to.

The Time Warrior is by far the best Sontaran, story in the classic series but my personal choice for very best would be The Sontaran Stratagem/The Poison Sky it's the onnly time we have seen an army of Sontarans and boy did they look good.

[daveyboy7472]

Originally Posted by Mad Man Moon

My favourite Sontaran story is the Sontaran Experiment, even though it's only a two parter. I just like the way it links Ark in Space to Genesis of the Daleks. I love the location work and just like the whole Doctor, Sarah, Harry by play of that era. Kevin Lindsay is great again as Styre.
Admittedly the Smash robot was a bit crap..
.

I agree, Kevin Lindsay was superb and I loved the banter between the regulars and I think after The Ark In Space, this is one of my favourite Tom Baker performances. He just seems so engaging and funny in this story, and even with a neck brace, if you didn't know he was wearing one after his accident, it still was a great performance.

I love the Smash Robot though.....

Originally Posted by Larry1971

Invasion of Time, is a dissapointment there is a potentialy fantastic story in there some where but the whole thing is let down by the whole production and the laughable Vardens,

The Two Doctors - god knows what JNT was thinking when he cast the two actors to play the Sontarans going against the established look of small and squat and giving us tall Sontarans who were also very loud and the uniforms looked pretty naff to.

The Time Warrior is by far the best Sontaran, story in the classic series but my personal choice for very best would be The Sontaran Stratagem/The Poison Sky it's the onnly time we have seen an army of Sontarans and boy did they look good.

Out of all the redesigns for the New series, I think it's been the best one yet.

[Tom Tit]

Generally, I find returning villains to be a little boring and prefer to see new stuff, but I do like the Sontarans. The concept of them is great and the visual design (at least, as it was in the first story, 'The Time Warrior') is one of the best in Doctor Who. The prosthetic head used in that first story was particularly impressive for Doctor Who, although the quality in that department sadly declined, until reaching its nadir in 'The Two Doctors', where famously they couldn't even get the height right.

Story-wise... mostly average.

The Time Warrior is one of those that gets more entertaning upon rewatching; quite common for classic Who. The inherant absurdity of it doesn't really detract from its enjoyability, as also was often the case in classic Who. Holmes' dialogue is fantastic.

The 'Sontaran Experiment' I find a little boring, and seems too much like me and my friends when we were young, running around on some hills playing Doctor Who and fighting enemies. The basic idea is good but not really well executed. Plus, there wasn't enough for two companions; it would have worked better with one. One of the shortest classic who stories, and yet, ironically, it seems to be mostly padding.

'The Invasion of Time' i need to rewatch, as I really don't remember it very well. I recall enjoying it though, as I do most Williams era stories.

'The two Doctors': I personally hate multiple Doctor stories. This is about my favourite of them, although I still wouldn't rate it higher than 3 stars and most of that is for Robert Holmes' wit. The story is a little (a lot?) muddled, plodding, and there's the trademark 80s gratuitous, irrelevant stuff thrown in there. An, as I mentioned above, the Sontarans are particularly weak in this story, although they're not really the focus anyway. I always hated how the second Doctor talks about the Time Lords in that story from a contemporary Who viewpoint, and even willingly (more or less) acts as their agent, despite the fact he was on the run from them at that point in his history.

The new series episodes: I thought they were very good. Unfortunately, they were written by the woman who got slated by a load of bandwagon-jumpers for her previous story (which wasn't great but was by no means one of the worst) and so many people probably went into those episodes expecting, and wanting, to hate them. I think it is one of the recent stories that most captures the feel of the classic series. I also felt the Sontarans were very faithful to the classic ones, whilst adding a lot more meat to their bones. Definately one of the best stories of the season.

I thought the Sontaran nurse (i'm not good at remembering which name goes with which Sontaran) in 'A good Man Goes to War' was the highlight of that episode, being both amusing and, ultimately, poignant, which is perfect for a Doctor Who character. His death scene was one of the highlights of the season. Superb writing.

[Face Of Jack]

Well, I rather liked the Nu-Who two-parter - it had a LOT of Sontaran's, and created that "war-like" feel to it all .(Sontar-Ha etc) - and then the young american kid who turned good in the end. I was upset by Christian Cooke getting killed off too. Emotional bits with Donna....very good.
So I'm voting for "The Time Warrior"
I was torn between the two, I really was. But the Time Warrior was the intro of Sarah Jane, a nice historical story (unusual for Jon Pertwee's era) and the first reveal of that potato-head!!

[Listentome]

The Time Warrior for me. I still think it is the best classic series Sontaran make-up.

[CoalHillJanitor]

Someone voted for The Two Doctors!

[Tom Tit]

Originally Posted by CoalHillJanitor

Someone voted for The Two Doctors!

Do a poll of the best story out of 'Genesis of the Daleks', 'Caves of Androzani', 'City of Death', 'Blink' and 'Timelash' and at least one person would vote for 'Timelash'. Some people just like to do these things.

[doublefour]

The Time Warrior, first and best. Contains all the best elements to show off the Sontarans aggressive, arrogant attitude over an underdeveloped race.
The Poison Sky is a good attempt at bringing them back in new Who, I liked the portrayal as the Warmonging military race they clearly are.

[meglosmurmurs]

I haven't seen Time Warrior in absolute yonks, but from what I can remember I found it rather flat. I'm usually a fan of the 3rd Doc when it's introducing an exciting new monster and an adventure that he can really get his teeth into, but this one felt very run-of-the-mill. However, the actual depiction of the Sontaran is very good.

I voted for Sontaran Experiment, even though there's lots of questions regarding the plot (like, why would an entire Sontaran battlefleet wait on one Sontaran's experiment to invade a barely inhabited Earth? ) But the eerie location and sense of freedom about it (after being constricted to a space station in the previous story) make up for it. It's another one of those stories where I actually wish I was there clambering over those rocks with them. Also, I like the fact that it's a fairly harmless two-parter that's not trying to be anything but an enjoyable break between the two more substantial stories either side of it.

I like some bits of Invasion of Time, but sheesh, what a huge mess of a story it is. The Sontaran costumes look proper beat up, one looks like he's missed a few centuries of sleep.
I'm a fan of the Two Doctors, but the Sontarans are also looking rather crap.
For some reason though I find the Sontarans in New Who rather funny. They look short and dumpy, with a cross-eyed constipated look on their faces.

Come to think of it, I don't think I even like the Sontarans very much.
Rutans FTW.