As I child of the 80s Sylvester McCoy is my favourite Dr and I love his stories. I love the Curse of Fenric. As a kid I loved the haemovores. Years later when I watched John Carpenter's The Fog for the first time I realised that John Carpenter must be a Time Lord because he had obviously travelled nearly 10 years into the future in his TARDIS, watched The Curse of Fenric, then gone back in time and made The Fog.

I agree about Daleks in Manhattan, but I think you've missed the most important aspect of it. It seems to me that the most important aspect of the story is the contrast in behaviour of the other Daleks towards Dalek Sec and the Hooverville residents towards Lazlo.

This contrast obviously harks back to Terry Nations concept of the Daleks as "nazis" and the purity of race. Whereas the acceptance of Lazlo illustrates why the Doctor frequently "sides" with humanity, given their tolerance of someone not quite "perfect".

I rate series 3 the best of RTD's series and this exploration of humanity runs throughout the series; 42, The family of Blood, the Lazarus Experiment, and the series finale (pitting future humankind against the present) all deal with this, making it, for me, the most thoughtful series from Davies.

Currently doing a Tom Baker marathon, many of the stories being watched for the first time since their original broadcast. Wasn't expecting much from Power of Kroll, it gets regular low ratings and I recall the Target novel being rather dull, but it really wasn't bad at all - apart from the obvious "bad bits" eg the swampie makeup and wigs, the "keep fit video chanting", the bad split screen effect with Kroll, and the glass shattering moment it was a fairly enjoyable romp with a great performance from Tom. A solid 7/10 from me.

Kroll was the first Graham Williams era story I saw in full post 1982 conversion into fully fledged fan at a local group 'meeting'. Think it was chosen because the video was pretty good quality more than anything else. (this was pre official video releases, obviously!) The Williams era wasn't exactly highly regarded at the time but.....thoroughly enjoyed it then and still do. As you say, Tom is great in it, there's some lovely location work and, hey, it's got Mary Tamm.

No classic, but much better than it's reputation IMO.

I think as a missing story The Highlanders gets treated a bit unfairly. If it were found it would probably get more respect.

Troughton's only proper historical, it fills out its four parts well with no more 'capture and escape' than necessary, and the Doctor gets to indulge his love of hats and apply some nice bits of trickery including the use of disguises. Algernon Ffinch is a great character. Plus it's the introduction of Jamie - what more could you want?

Sorry CHJ, but I disagree. The Highlanders soundtrack CD is deadly dull. It goes on and on and on. I think it's always remembered as (a) the last historical* (b) and Jamie's debut and I suspect it would drop into obscurity if we could actually see it.



* yes, I know, Black Orchid.

I loved the book of The Highlanders. So would look forward to watching this if it was ever found. I suspect I would like it because I like Troughton, I like Ben & Polly, I like Jamie and I like Hannah Gordon.

Find it difficult to get through the reconstructions so haven't tried with this one yet.

I think Black Orchid is great! It is set in the 1920s, an era which I absoloutley love! The music playing on the grammaphone is good, and the costumes are good too. Plus, Sarah Sutton is excellent playing both Ann and Nyssa of Traken. I love historical stories when the Tardis takes the Doctor and his companion/companions back into the past. Especially to the "Downton Abbey" era of the 1910s, 20s.

Also, the scene in which Adric tries to gobble down all that chicken, was well acted by Matt. Funny too!

Only one way to find out ...

(stares expectantly at Mr Morris)

Couldn't agree more. Love Black Orchid!

It is as always with two-parters overshadowed by the bigger stories in the Season but it does provide an almost 'break' from the normal stories in the Season and gives you chance to wind down a bit before the coming shocks of the following story.

I think it's also the point where Tegan does begin to mellow and have some fun and Sarah Sutton is just superb as Ann.

As for Adric, just glad he was given a background role in this one and confined to being a party pooping food gobbler!

Glad to see the love for Black Orchid, here. It's a real favourite of mine. It's fashionable to criticise it at the moment, but I think it's a hoot!

Davison, in particular, is on fine form in Black Orchid. Quite topping, one could say. His visible frustration at being lost in the abandoned wing of the house, finding the dead body, then it again when trying to explain it all to Lady Cranleigh is superb.

Trying to get Lady Cranleigh to open up he questions her,
"You remember, the Indian, you said he was a friend, from Brazil..."
Lady Cranleigh pretends not to know anything, "Brazil?" she replies all innocently.
"Yes," sighs the Doctor, as all hope seems to be fading rapidly, "where the nuts come from..." Really beautifully played by Davison.

You have to feel a bit sorry for the partygoers however: the exterior shots look bitterly cold, and the women are all wearing flimsy dresses... The lighting guys do their best to add a bit of sunshine, but they are fighting a losing battle against the Great British Weather and it's impossible to make a damp October day look like a warm summer party!

Black Orchid is also notable for the fact that the TARDIS crew all stick around for the funeral, which must have been a day or so at the very least after the story ostensibly finished. An unusual, but welcome touch.