The first in the run of four brilliant stories imo, Kinda is an unusual one for the show. The imagery for the story is just superb, from the chimes that trap Tegan to the stuff with the clock at the end of Part 3. Plus the actual sets themselves were quite good, which is something you don't often say about Classic Who! The story was also backed up by some superb incidental music and special musical cues which complement the action.

As far as the regulars go, the absence of Nyssa from the story benefits it enormously, much as I like the character. This means there is less squabbling, bar the big padding scene between Adric and Tegan in Part 4. Both companions have something major to do as a result.

Janet Fielding is just brilliant when she is possessed by The Mara, the only shame being that she wasn't able to play being evil for long(Something she made up for in Snakedance). I loved all that stuff in the dark void with Reg Hollis from The Bill and visually it still looks really good today. The whole Mara thing with the snake on the arm I remember well and was very creepy, the only disappointment being the big puppet snake at the end, though the CGI Version on the DVD is a big improvement.

All the stuff in the dome is a sideshow as The Doctor points out but it is just as relevant. Adric in this story is a lot less annoying, Simon Rouse as the other future Bill star plays Hindle really well and imbues him with enough of a maniacal edge to make you believe he really would blow up the dome. Richard Todd, what an actor; to play three different versions of Sanders. the angry and gruff one, the childlike version, then the normal one at the end.

Highlight of this story for me though, is the relationship between The Doctor and Doctor Todd. I always feel Doctorr Todd should have been a companion, Nerys Hughes does so much of a better job than the regular trio, especially during Part 3 when they explore the jungle together. The humour between them is just superb. I just love it in Part 1 when she slaps an apple in his hand which leads to a one of Davison's best line. 'An apple a day keeps...well, never mind!'. I also love it that Panna keeps calling him an idiot and it's even funnier when the sexy Karuna starts doing it as well!

The Kinda themselves were an interesting race. I like the fact they could only communicate telepathically, this made Aris's possession by the Mara more disturbing and evil.

I really enjoy watching Peter Davison in this story, it's one where I felt his Doctor had truly arrived. The way he confronts the Mara Possessed Aris proves he is no wimp and could really be authoritative when he had to be, plus it was quite a humourous performance considering, for his Doctor.

One last thing about this story is that I like is that it has so many future big names in it. I've said about The Bill duo, but there was also Adrian Mills from That's Life, Anna 'Lou Beale' Wing from EastEnders and in a very small role as one of the Kinda was Glen 'Dibber' Murphy from London's Burning.

Not quite the best story of the Season for me but it still is a brilliant story nevertheless.

This one is pretty special for me as the final battle with the snake in the mirrored circle is one of my earliest Dr Who memories. Scared the crap out of me and despite the fact that it's so obviously plastic it still does. Love it. Personally I don't want a better looking snake - that could give me another 20 odd years of nightmares


Strangely my childhood memory insists that it is Tom Baker who fights the Mara.

I can't help thinking that Kinda would work much better as a story in the modern series. And it could be done in a way that releases it from the painfully studio bound jungle sets.

Having said that it's one of the most intriguing stories ever attempted in Who, and pretty much everyone rises to the occasion - especially the superb performance from Simon Rouse, who is genuinely terrifying as the utterly unhinged Hindle. Richard Todd plays his part well, firstly as the expected stiff upper lip British officer type he was so well known for, but then as the unsettlingly child-like old man. Only Nerys Hughes does what we expect - dependable and down to earth, and an excellent foil for Davison, and as Daveyboy says, she works so much better than the regulars in the companion role. Davison really could have done with an older companion - this role proves it could have worked very well.

And Janet Fielding - what a star turn she gives. So much better, and far more interesting as creepy possessed Tegan. The direction of the inside-her-mind sequences is wonderful too and there are plenty of other inspired scenes (but also, oddly, some very dull and flat jungle scenes which make it seem as if the director just ran out of imagination).

I know the snake's a bit poor, but isn't noticeably worse than many other Who monsters, and who's to say that the 'real' appearance of the alien Mara isn't a plasticky snakey thing?

Kinda wasn't well received at the time and I believe that it came bottom of the DWAS poll for that year (and that's quite an achievement considering that this season also features the snore fest of Four To Doomsday, and the utterly baffling how the hell did this crap ever get made awfulness of Timeflight). Yet today it's regarded (quite rightly in my opinion) as one of the best of the 1982 series.

Kinda good.

Really want to see this one, sounds good. The Mara sounds like quite a different, and clever monster. I always think of the kinder chocolate when I hear this title

ISWYDT.

ISMBIDHV.
(I'd say more but I don't have voice.)

I didn't know that!

Like you say, how the hell did anyone think it was worse than Time Flight?!

Maybe it was because it was a bit different from the usual Doctor Who style of story that it was unpopular at the time. Or maybe because it was a bit difficult to follow at times for them?

Glad that the story has gained approval over the years because it really is a good story and in another year may have been my favourite. Just shows you how strong the middle part of Davison's first Season really was.

A good, strong, clever and witty story. Features some excellent performances from a brilliant cast - including (as you say Davey) some soon-to-be stars. Interesting, one of the biggest future stars in Johnny Lee Miller playing one of the Kinda children (according to the DVD commentary).

The only let down for me (apart from the snake - and yes the CGI version makes up for this) is the fact the jungle scenes are so obviously filmed in the studio - another trip to Black Park in Iver could have compensated for this.

Perhaps 'Kinda' should be remade for the new series, and given a decent budget - though we'd lose the superb cast that the original version had.

Well with The Bill at an end Simon Rouse and Jeff Stewart are available

I must admit having being going through a DVD marathon of classic Doctor Who I'm finding the studio sets to be less and less off of an issue they are alien planet and they shouldn't be like earth.

definitely Janet Fieldings best story..

There's a third future Bill star in Kinda as Graham Cole aka Tony Stamp appears uncredited as a Kinda tribesman. This was his 4 of 8 uncredited appearances in Doctor Who

I love love love this show. Came out on video in that wonderful period of 1991-1995 (before the infamous TV movie). Back then my enthusiasm for DW was at its zenith. I was starting secondary school and this video was a treasured addition to my collection, and for some reason even outshone the Snow White remastered release from Disney.
As much as I respect Caves of Anzrozani this for me is Peter Davison's masterpiece, where his Doctor was in character (the Doctor in Caves is a bit more sarky etc), and the guest cast as already outlined before are superlative. The lack of completely explaining the plot and loose ends means this story is very very rewatchable - something that few 1970s stories can match, much as I rate that decade highly in general.
Yep - best of the Davison era and in the top 4/5 of the 1980s overall.

Kinda is one of my favourite Doctor Who stories. The possessed Janet Fielding is superb and dare I say beats Sarah-Jane's 'Eldrad must live' moment hands down.
Good to see that Anna Wing's small part has already been mentioned: those scenes are really creepy to this day.


I think the storyline is definitely worth revisiting.

I think this is one of the greatest Who stories ever - right up there with the golden age of series 13 and 14. The story itself is great, but what really lifts it so high for me are two great performances - Janet Fielding as Tegan and Simon Rouse as Hindle.

This story is Tegan's best ever, and Janet really takes the chances with both hands. The scenes in the dark with Tegan being tormented by the Mara are brilliant (the actor playing that appearance of the Mara is terrific too), and she's also first rate when possessed.

Hindle is a genuinely frightening character, because you feel he might do absolutely anything. Yet he's really not a villain at all, simply a man who has become mentally ill under stress. The fact that the Doctor is so clearly scared of him adds to the menace.

Some people criticise the snake at the end, and I'll grant it's not great, but it's the only thing about this brilliant story that isn't. Absolutely love it!

It's a fantastic piece of Who- i would say Davison's best story. Rouse and Fielding steal the show here.

Yes yes everything above ^^ fantastic execution ( bar snake at the end) and a complex storyon a par with Moffat . Wouldnt be out of place in Nu Who( Can you imagine how it could look with today's budget)

Glad other posters seem to like it as well, I do rate this story. There is a multitude of themes in it and I never tire of the dialogue or how well all the actors do here. Lots of energy and skillful acting. Can't pick which is my favourite part, probably al the mind Void stuff. Very creepy, surreal and chilling at times. Apart from Earthshock in PD's first season this is my second favourite. A highlight of the Fifth Doctor era and indeed JNT's 80s Doctor Who. Even the Snake!!! Sorry Mara :-p
Tegan's best performance also.

I thought Snakedance was better in that regard.......

I remember when Simon Rouse was a subject of 'This Is Your Life'. They played a montage of some of his work from over the years and it included his Kinda "You can't mend people" speech.
He was mortified and really embarrassed.

I thought he was great but he'll always be Meadows from 'The Bill' for me.

A bit of a shame he was embarrassed, as he'd no cause to be. He was terrific.

Obviously not so embarrassed that he did an interview on the DVD release but you're right, as one of his early roles, he should be proud of it really.

It may well have been something to do with how young he looked!

Nerys Hughes, what a fantastic pair of legs

I walked past Simon Rouse at the theatre the other night - I was tempted to go up and say 'You can't mend people' to him!

Ooh, I wonder how he would have reacted?

I remember in an episode of "Father Ted" when Ted went up to Richard Wilson and did his "I don't believe it" catchphrase....He got battered!!