What Would You Improve: Third Doctor Era
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I'd keep the seriousness of the Brigadier and UNIT seen in Season 7. The softening of the outfit and the Brig's character probably made them more kiddie-friendly, but I preferred the more grown-up UNIT.
I'd like a proper send-off for Liz Shaw, for my money one of the most underrated of all companions.
Apart from that, I'd change very little. This is my favourite era of the show - I loved the exile scenario - and my favourite Doctor
I'd like a proper send-off for Liz Shaw, for my money one of the most underrated of all companions.
Apart from that, I'd change very little. This is my favourite era of the show - I loved the exile scenario - and my favourite Doctor
More humour.
More trips in the TARDIS.
Less of The Master in season 8. He appeared in every episode that season.
More trips in the TARDIS.
Less of The Master in season 8. He appeared in every episode that season.
Oh good lord, where to begin?
The setting: I can mostly forgive the decision to move away from the show's 'adventures in time and space' formula because I guess they wanted to try something new. But having almost every story set on modern day Earth did get a bit dull.
Story length: many Pertwee stories were far too long and really dragged. The Sea Devils is a great example. It should have been four episodes tops. The Time Monster is another example - huge chunks of this (ie most of the bits in the TARDIS) feel like padding.
Less macho: this whole era suffers from taking itself too seriously and the macho/military aspect is a big part of this. I think the show just lacked a sense of fun in the Pertwee era because the writers forgot they were writing for a family audience.
The setting: I can mostly forgive the decision to move away from the show's 'adventures in time and space' formula because I guess they wanted to try something new. But having almost every story set on modern day Earth did get a bit dull.
Story length: many Pertwee stories were far too long and really dragged. The Sea Devils is a great example. It should have been four episodes tops. The Time Monster is another example - huge chunks of this (ie most of the bits in the TARDIS) feel like padding.
Less macho: this whole era suffers from taking itself too seriously and the macho/military aspect is a big part of this. I think the show just lacked a sense of fun in the Pertwee era because the writers forgot they were writing for a family audience.
1: The Tardis should have been operable as and when required! OK nice to have a few adventures with UNIT on Earth, but not ALL the time!
2: A bit more humour wouldn't have gone amiss!
3: 4-Part stories would have been enough. 6/7 episodes was too drawn out for my liking.
4: Too much electronic music in the background....it sounded a bit cheezey at times. Radiophonic Workshop was a blast - but it was nice to hear 'proper' music once in a while!
5: Far too much use of the newly-invented CSO - made it look extra-cheap at times!
I enjoyed some of it though!!
2: A bit more humour wouldn't have gone amiss!
3: 4-Part stories would have been enough. 6/7 episodes was too drawn out for my liking.
4: Too much electronic music in the background....it sounded a bit cheezey at times. Radiophonic Workshop was a blast - but it was nice to hear 'proper' music once in a while!
5: Far too much use of the newly-invented CSO - made it look extra-cheap at times!
I enjoyed some of it though!!
Practically nothing I loved the Pertwee era! It is (after Tom's 1st 3 years) the most succesful era of the classic series.
If I had to change something it would have to be the episode count per story, jettisoned the 7 episode stories completely and make each of his five years 5 x 4 part and 1 x 6 part seasons.
Would have liked to have see more of Liz Shaw as well.
If I had to change something it would have to be the episode count per story, jettisoned the 7 episode stories completely and make each of his five years 5 x 4 part and 1 x 6 part seasons.
Would have liked to have see more of Liz Shaw as well.
When I first started seeing old stories in the Eighties, I must admit the Pertwee era didn't really float my boat...with notable exceptions. Am really fond of it now, although think it can be a bit patchy later on.
Loved the Brig, but definately would've made it less UNIT heavy and had fewer earthbound stories. Fine for one season (love 7) but needed mixing up a bit more than it was after that year. I think Delgado was brilliant and I wasn't watching them in order myself, but yeah...I can imagine The Master in every Season 8 episode wouldn't have gone down too well if internet forums existed in 1971!
Certain stories could have done with a bit, or maybe a lot, of pruning (for me, Colony in Space, The Mutants, The Time Monster and Monster of Peladon spring to mind) but generally speaking... I do prefer the first two eras, but there is a lot of great stuff here.
Loved the Brig, but definately would've made it less UNIT heavy and had fewer earthbound stories. Fine for one season (love 7) but needed mixing up a bit more than it was after that year. I think Delgado was brilliant and I wasn't watching them in order myself, but yeah...I can imagine The Master in every Season 8 episode wouldn't have gone down too well if internet forums existed in 1971!
Certain stories could have done with a bit, or maybe a lot, of pruning (for me, Colony in Space, The Mutants, The Time Monster and Monster of Peladon spring to mind) but generally speaking... I do prefer the first two eras, but there is a lot of great stuff here.
Less of the master, a cyberman story would have been nice. The daleks were battered at this stage, only 3 casings were available for day of the daleks so a bit of money spent on new casings would have been good. Maybe the doctor should have regenerated after the green death because I think he never looked comfortable in the role without jo.
Simple: cut it down to just Series 7. Then, through a Tardis-like feat, have Series 12 occur next but somehow without a broadcasting gap and with everyone still being the same ages.
Either that or:
(i) remove all car chases, all extended action sequences of people falling off buildings, etc;
(ii) don't introduce the Master — ideally ever;
(iii) just generally ignore Pertwee's hackneyed ideas;
(iv) keep UNIT intelligent;
(v) get rid of Jo, skip straight to Sarah-Jane;
(vi) maybe try a few special effects shots without the chromakey?;
(vii) use the Daleks much less, probably just for Day;
(viii) travel a lot more.
Either that or:
(i) remove all car chases, all extended action sequences of people falling off buildings, etc;
(ii) don't introduce the Master — ideally ever;
(iii) just generally ignore Pertwee's hackneyed ideas;
(iv) keep UNIT intelligent;
(v) get rid of Jo, skip straight to Sarah-Jane;
(vi) maybe try a few special effects shots without the chromakey?;
(vii) use the Daleks much less, probably just for Day;
(viii) travel a lot more.
Soooo been looking forward to this thread. The Pertwee era, one era where so much I would love to change.
I have never hidden my contempt for the exile scenario on this forum. Interestingly, on the pamphlet that came with The Colony in Space DVD, it says that Letts and Dicks thought the whole 'ethos' of the show had been compromised by having The Doctor trapped exclusively on Earth and that's exactly how I feel about it. For me, that idea went against everything the show stood for, how it started out and what the show was supposed to be about, which was mainly The Doctor in his TARDIS travelling about in Time and Space with aliens and other planets, providing a escape for 25 minutes(as it was then)
As I said in the Second Doctor Thread, I'd have scrapped the Exile Scenario completely and just have The Doctor's punishment that he wasn't a completely free agent and that he had to do tasks for the Time Lords against his will from the off. That way, the TARDIS would still be seen and used regularly. I would then mix that with stories set on Earth involving UNIT but have The Doctor go off on his travels again at the end, like he did in The Invasion.
I'd also have Liz travel with him in the TARDIS, so would love to see her reaction to the inside of the TARDIS with her Scientific Mind.
Season 7 would also have more stories and less of the tiresome 7 parters. I'd have the friendlier stuff from Season 8 from the off and less of that boring gritty realism that really ruins Season 7. Less of the industrial complexes and boring Earth settings and more spacey adventures. I'd also lose the initial Third Doctor arrogance from this Season as well and indeed, would have added more humour to his Doctor but not so much that we had a similar Doctor in Tom Baker when he arrived.
Also with the Third Doctor, I'd have less of the snorefest moralising that became prominent in his last few Seasons and just approach those sort of issues in a less obvious way to make it seem less as if the show was preaching rather than entertaining, which it certainly did in stories like The Green Death and Invasion Of The Dinosaurs.
Season 8, would like to have seen less of The Master and more use made of previous adversaries. I'd bring back The Daleks a season earlier and use the Cybermen as well so that they also have the record of appearing with every Classic Doctor. Maybe this would have been the right time for the first ever Dalek/Cybermen adventure? All The Dalek stories would be beefed up and improved and Planet Of The Daleks in particular would be a bit more fun than it was.
The rest of the Era I don't have too may alterations to make. Yes, maybe I'd have Pertwee leave at the end of the Tenth Season as well and Sarah could have started off with the Fourth straight away.
As with The Tenth Planet, I'd love to have a fully fit Hartnell in The Three Doctors and see how he got on with his successors in person rather than on the TARDIS Scanner.
There would also be less quarries used as locations as they looked very samey throughout the Pertwee Era.
So there you go, that's how I'd change it. It's probably the Era I'd change more than any other. It has a lot going for it and the stories themselves, with a few exceptions, are never substandard. My issues with the Era are with the format and incumbent himself at times.
I have never hidden my contempt for the exile scenario on this forum. Interestingly, on the pamphlet that came with The Colony in Space DVD, it says that Letts and Dicks thought the whole 'ethos' of the show had been compromised by having The Doctor trapped exclusively on Earth and that's exactly how I feel about it. For me, that idea went against everything the show stood for, how it started out and what the show was supposed to be about, which was mainly The Doctor in his TARDIS travelling about in Time and Space with aliens and other planets, providing a escape for 25 minutes(as it was then)
As I said in the Second Doctor Thread, I'd have scrapped the Exile Scenario completely and just have The Doctor's punishment that he wasn't a completely free agent and that he had to do tasks for the Time Lords against his will from the off. That way, the TARDIS would still be seen and used regularly. I would then mix that with stories set on Earth involving UNIT but have The Doctor go off on his travels again at the end, like he did in The Invasion.
I'd also have Liz travel with him in the TARDIS, so would love to see her reaction to the inside of the TARDIS with her Scientific Mind.
Season 7 would also have more stories and less of the tiresome 7 parters. I'd have the friendlier stuff from Season 8 from the off and less of that boring gritty realism that really ruins Season 7. Less of the industrial complexes and boring Earth settings and more spacey adventures. I'd also lose the initial Third Doctor arrogance from this Season as well and indeed, would have added more humour to his Doctor but not so much that we had a similar Doctor in Tom Baker when he arrived.
Also with the Third Doctor, I'd have less of the snorefest moralising that became prominent in his last few Seasons and just approach those sort of issues in a less obvious way to make it seem less as if the show was preaching rather than entertaining, which it certainly did in stories like The Green Death and Invasion Of The Dinosaurs.
Season 8, would like to have seen less of The Master and more use made of previous adversaries. I'd bring back The Daleks a season earlier and use the Cybermen as well so that they also have the record of appearing with every Classic Doctor. Maybe this would have been the right time for the first ever Dalek/Cybermen adventure? All The Dalek stories would be beefed up and improved and Planet Of The Daleks in particular would be a bit more fun than it was.
The rest of the Era I don't have too may alterations to make. Yes, maybe I'd have Pertwee leave at the end of the Tenth Season as well and Sarah could have started off with the Fourth straight away.
As with The Tenth Planet, I'd love to have a fully fit Hartnell in The Three Doctors and see how he got on with his successors in person rather than on the TARDIS Scanner.
There would also be less quarries used as locations as they looked very samey throughout the Pertwee Era.
So there you go, that's how I'd change it. It's probably the Era I'd change more than any other. It has a lot going for it and the stories themselves, with a few exceptions, are never substandard. My issues with the Era are with the format and incumbent himself at times.
Originally Posted by daveyboy7472:
“Soooo been looking forward to this thread. The Pertwee era, one era where so much I would love to change.
I have never hidden my contempt for the exile scenario on this forum. Interestingly, on the pamphlet that came with The Colony in Space DVD, it says that Letts and Dicks thought the whole 'ethos' of the show had been compromised by having The Doctor trapped exclusively on Earth and that's exactly how I feel about it. For me, that idea went against everything the show stood for, how it started out and what the show was supposed to be about, which was mainly The Doctor in his TARDIS travelling about in Time and Space with aliens and other planets, providing a escape for 25 minutes(as it was then)
As I said in the Second Doctor Thread, I'd have scrapped the Exile Scenario completely and just have The Doctor's punishment that he wasn't a completely free agent and that he had to do tasks for the Time Lords against his will from the off. That way, the TARDIS would still be seen and used regularly. I would then mix that with stories set on Earth involving UNIT but have The Doctor go off on his travels again at the end, like he did in The Invasion.
I'd also have Liz travel with him in the TARDIS, so would love to see her reaction to the inside of the TARDIS with her Scientific Mind.
Season 7 would also have more stories and less of the tiresome 7 parters. I'd have the friendlier stuff from Season 8 from the off and less of that boring gritty realism that really ruins Season 7. Less of the industrial complexes and boring Earth settings and more spacey adventures. I'd also lose the initial Third Doctor arrogance from this Season as well and indeed, would have added more humour to his Doctor but not so much that we had a similar Doctor in Tom Baker when he arrived.
Also with the Third Doctor, I'd have less of the snorefest moralising that became prominent in his last few Seasons and just approach those sort of issues in a less obvious way to make it seem less as if the show was preaching rather than entertaining, which it certainly did in stories like The Green Death and Invasion Of The Dinosaurs.
Season 8, would like to have seen less of The Master and more use made of previous adversaries. I'd bring back The Daleks a season earlier and use the Cybermen as well so that they also have the record of appearing with every Classic Doctor. Maybe this would have been the right time for the first ever Dalek/Cybermen adventure? All The Dalek stories would be beefed up and improved and Planet Of The Daleks in particular would be a bit more fun than it was.
The rest of the Era I don't have too may alterations to make. Yes, maybe I'd have Pertwee leave at the end of the Tenth Season as well and Sarah could have started off with the Fourth straight away.
As with The Tenth Planet, I'd love to have a fully fit Hartnell in The Three Doctors and see how he got on with his successors in person rather than on the TARDIS Scanner.
There would also be less quarries used as locations as they looked very samey throughout the Pertwee Era.
So there you go, that's how I'd change it. It's probably the Era I'd change more than any other. It has a lot going for it and the stories themselves, with a few exceptions, are never substandard. My issues with the Era are with the format and incumbent himself at times.
”
“Soooo been looking forward to this thread. The Pertwee era, one era where so much I would love to change.
I have never hidden my contempt for the exile scenario on this forum. Interestingly, on the pamphlet that came with The Colony in Space DVD, it says that Letts and Dicks thought the whole 'ethos' of the show had been compromised by having The Doctor trapped exclusively on Earth and that's exactly how I feel about it. For me, that idea went against everything the show stood for, how it started out and what the show was supposed to be about, which was mainly The Doctor in his TARDIS travelling about in Time and Space with aliens and other planets, providing a escape for 25 minutes(as it was then)
As I said in the Second Doctor Thread, I'd have scrapped the Exile Scenario completely and just have The Doctor's punishment that he wasn't a completely free agent and that he had to do tasks for the Time Lords against his will from the off. That way, the TARDIS would still be seen and used regularly. I would then mix that with stories set on Earth involving UNIT but have The Doctor go off on his travels again at the end, like he did in The Invasion.
I'd also have Liz travel with him in the TARDIS, so would love to see her reaction to the inside of the TARDIS with her Scientific Mind.
Season 7 would also have more stories and less of the tiresome 7 parters. I'd have the friendlier stuff from Season 8 from the off and less of that boring gritty realism that really ruins Season 7. Less of the industrial complexes and boring Earth settings and more spacey adventures. I'd also lose the initial Third Doctor arrogance from this Season as well and indeed, would have added more humour to his Doctor but not so much that we had a similar Doctor in Tom Baker when he arrived.
Also with the Third Doctor, I'd have less of the snorefest moralising that became prominent in his last few Seasons and just approach those sort of issues in a less obvious way to make it seem less as if the show was preaching rather than entertaining, which it certainly did in stories like The Green Death and Invasion Of The Dinosaurs.
Season 8, would like to have seen less of The Master and more use made of previous adversaries. I'd bring back The Daleks a season earlier and use the Cybermen as well so that they also have the record of appearing with every Classic Doctor. Maybe this would have been the right time for the first ever Dalek/Cybermen adventure? All The Dalek stories would be beefed up and improved and Planet Of The Daleks in particular would be a bit more fun than it was.
The rest of the Era I don't have too may alterations to make. Yes, maybe I'd have Pertwee leave at the end of the Tenth Season as well and Sarah could have started off with the Fourth straight away.
As with The Tenth Planet, I'd love to have a fully fit Hartnell in The Three Doctors and see how he got on with his successors in person rather than on the TARDIS Scanner.
There would also be less quarries used as locations as they looked very samey throughout the Pertwee Era.
So there you go, that's how I'd change it. It's probably the Era I'd change more than any other. It has a lot going for it and the stories themselves, with a few exceptions, are never substandard. My issues with the Era are with the format and incumbent himself at times.
”
^^^^^^^^^^^^^ Once again Daveyboy you have said it all!!
Originally Posted by Face Of Jack:
“^^^^^^^^^^^^^ Once again Daveyboy you have said it all!!”
“^^^^^^^^^^^^^ Once again Daveyboy you have said it all!!”
Thought you'd like that! I know from previous discussions on the subject that you hate the exile scenario as much as I do!
Originally Posted by Face Of Jack:
“^^^^^^^^^^^^^ Once again Daveyboy you have said it all!!”
“^^^^^^^^^^^^^ Once again Daveyboy you have said it all!!”
and once again wrongly
The 7 parters are too long but they are not tiresome. The exile situation was, as far as storytelling goes, a wrong decision but it saved the show. The War Games was getting only 3 million viewers in places (something that wouldn't happen again until the disaster of the McCoy Years) and the decision was to change the show or cancel it.
Season 7 s one of the best in the series and without it and Pertwee the programme would not have continued. Not to say one or two tweaks wouldn't have improved it, I would have liked to see Liz travel in the Tardis.
One thing about the exile scenario that had never occurred to me until reading the write up on The Doctor's Wife in the DWM poll (then again, I'm not the quickest pigeon in the aviary) it must have been a pretty bad time for the TARDIS as well as the Doctor. (and Daveyboy. )
At least the Doctor was kept busy and had friends.....and cheese and Wine on occasion. Sexy must've been completely stir crazy.
)At least the Doctor was kept busy and had friends.....and cheese and Wine on occasion. Sexy must've been completely stir crazy.
Originally Posted by Jethryk:
“and once again wrongly
The 7 parters are too long but they are not tiresome. The exile situation was, as far as storytelling goes, a wrong decision but it saved the show. The War Games was getting only 3 million viewers in places (something that wouldn't happen again until the disaster of the McCoy Years) and the decision was to change the show or cancel it.
Season 7 s one of the best in the series and without it and Pertwee the programme would not have continued. Not to say one or two tweaks wouldn't have improved it, I would have liked to see Liz travel in the Tardis.”
“and once again wrongly
The 7 parters are too long but they are not tiresome. The exile situation was, as far as storytelling goes, a wrong decision but it saved the show. The War Games was getting only 3 million viewers in places (something that wouldn't happen again until the disaster of the McCoy Years) and the decision was to change the show or cancel it.
Season 7 s one of the best in the series and without it and Pertwee the programme would not have continued. Not to say one or two tweaks wouldn't have improved it, I would have liked to see Liz travel in the Tardis.”
Yes they are tiresome, the Silurians especially.
If the exile scenario was so perfect, then why did the producers feel the need to break away from exclusive Earth Stories come Season 8? I think reintroducing the concept of The Doctor travelling back in space was absolutely key to the show's survival. It would have become very boring if the show had stayed like Season 7. The show would have felt like 2 different sections, from where it used to be and I for one would have switched off.
According to the Third Doctor Handbook, Inferno and The Ambassadors Of Death were the lowest rated stories of the Pertwee Era, with The Silurians about midway, so maybe there's something to be read into the popularity of the exclusive earthbound stories.
Everyone to their own. I respect many people love the Exile Scenario but for me, it sucks, big time.
]Yes they are tiresome, the Silurians especially.
The Silurians is a great story, Ambassadors I struggle with but would have been good as a four parter.
If the exile scenario was so perfect, then why did the producers feel the need to break away from exclusive Earth Stories come Season 8? I think reintroducing the concept of The Doctor travelling back in space was absolutely key to the show's survival. It would have become very boring if the show had stayed like Season 7. The show would have felt like 2 different sections, from where it used to be and I for one would have switched off.
It was a short term quick fix. It was cancellation or do something different. Simple as that. The Earthbound scenario and the longer stories decisions as bad as they were saved money and served the purpose.
According to the Third Doctor Handbook, Inferno and The Ambassadors Of Death were the lowest rated stories of the Pertwee Era, with The Silurians about midway, so maybe there's something to be read into the popularity of the exclusive earthbound stories.
They had to build on 3 million for The War Games. Pertwee had to get his own audience. The other seasons had the advantage of following a strong season. Season 7 followed a weak season.
The Silurians is a great story, Ambassadors I struggle with but would have been good as a four parter.
If the exile scenario was so perfect, then why did the producers feel the need to break away from exclusive Earth Stories come Season 8? I think reintroducing the concept of The Doctor travelling back in space was absolutely key to the show's survival. It would have become very boring if the show had stayed like Season 7. The show would have felt like 2 different sections, from where it used to be and I for one would have switched off.
It was a short term quick fix. It was cancellation or do something different. Simple as that. The Earthbound scenario and the longer stories decisions as bad as they were saved money and served the purpose.
According to the Third Doctor Handbook, Inferno and The Ambassadors Of Death were the lowest rated stories of the Pertwee Era, with The Silurians about midway, so maybe there's something to be read into the popularity of the exclusive earthbound stories.
They had to build on 3 million for The War Games. Pertwee had to get his own audience. The other seasons had the advantage of following a strong season. Season 7 followed a weak season.
Originally Posted by Jethryk:
“]Yes they are tiresome, the Silurians especially.
The Silurians is a great story, Ambassadors I struggle with but would have been good as a four parter.
If the exile scenario was so perfect, then why did the producers feel the need to break away from exclusive Earth Stories come Season 8? I think reintroducing the concept of The Doctor travelling back in space was absolutely key to the show's survival. It would have become very boring if the show had stayed like Season 7. The show would have felt like 2 different sections, from where it used to be and I for one would have switched off.
It was a short term quick fix. It was cancellation or do something different. Simple as that. The Earthbound scenario and the longer stories decisions as bad as they were saved money and served the purpose.
According to the Third Doctor Handbook, Inferno and The Ambassadors Of Death were the lowest rated stories of the Pertwee Era, with The Silurians about midway, so maybe there's something to be read into the popularity of the exclusive earthbound stories.
They had to build on 3 million for The War Games. Pertwee had to get his own audience. The other seasons had the advantage of following a strong season. Season 7 followed a weak season.”
“]Yes they are tiresome, the Silurians especially.
The Silurians is a great story, Ambassadors I struggle with but would have been good as a four parter.
If the exile scenario was so perfect, then why did the producers feel the need to break away from exclusive Earth Stories come Season 8? I think reintroducing the concept of The Doctor travelling back in space was absolutely key to the show's survival. It would have become very boring if the show had stayed like Season 7. The show would have felt like 2 different sections, from where it used to be and I for one would have switched off.
It was a short term quick fix. It was cancellation or do something different. Simple as that. The Earthbound scenario and the longer stories decisions as bad as they were saved money and served the purpose.
According to the Third Doctor Handbook, Inferno and The Ambassadors Of Death were the lowest rated stories of the Pertwee Era, with The Silurians about midway, so maybe there's something to be read into the popularity of the exclusive earthbound stories.
They had to build on 3 million for The War Games. Pertwee had to get his own audience. The other seasons had the advantage of following a strong season. Season 7 followed a weak season.”
Don't get me wrong, it's obvious the production team had to do what they had to do. We all know financially they had to introduce the exile scenario. I think if Derrick Sherwin had stayed in charge, the show would have stayed the same as Season 7 until he left. Thankfully he didn't.
I agree Pertwee had to build his audience but he could have done that without the exile scenario. I personally don't think Season 7 is a strong Season but at least as you say it set some sort of basis for the Pertwee Era, though the real template for the rest of his era was in Season 8 imo.
I also prefer Ambassadors over The Silurians, in fact The Silurians is the weakest story of the Season imo.
Originally Posted by Jethryk:
“and once again wrongly
The 7 parters are too long but they are not tiresome. The exile situation was, as far as storytelling goes, a wrong decision but it saved the show. The War Games was getting only 3 million viewers in places (something that wouldn't happen again until the disaster of the McCoy Years) and the decision was to change the show or cancel it.
Season 7 s one of the best in the series and without it and Pertwee the programme would not have continued. Not to say one or two tweaks wouldn't have improved it, I would have liked to see Liz travel in the Tardis.”
“and once again wrongly
The 7 parters are too long but they are not tiresome. The exile situation was, as far as storytelling goes, a wrong decision but it saved the show. The War Games was getting only 3 million viewers in places (something that wouldn't happen again until the disaster of the McCoy Years) and the decision was to change the show or cancel it.
Season 7 s one of the best in the series and without it and Pertwee the programme would not have continued. Not to say one or two tweaks wouldn't have improved it, I would have liked to see Liz travel in the Tardis.”
I too would have lined Liz to stay on for another season. Seeing her entering the TARDIS console room for the first time would have been interesting.
Don't get me wrong, it's obvious the production team had to do what they had to do. We all know financially they had to introduce the exile scenario. I think if Derrick Sherwin had stayed in charge, the show would have stayed the same as Season 7 until he left. Thankfully he didn't.
I agree with this, I like the exile/earthbound stories but it couldn't go on forever. Letts and Dicks knew this, they didn't like the situation but knew they reasons for it. Once they got on their feet they gradually changed it. Sherwin I think preferred the style and would have kept it for as long as he was in charge.
I agree Pertwee had to build his audience but he could have done that without the exile scenario.
Possibly but it was all part of the package. Think they wanted to change a lot of things.
I personally don't think Season 7 is a strong Season but at least as you say it set some sort of basis for the Pertwee Era, though the real template for the rest of his era was in Season 8 imo.
I know the world is all about opinions but I don't see how you can say it wasn't a strong season. The audience increase on the last year is massive, all four stories remain popular, with two of them, Spearhead and Inferno regularly in the top thirty of whatever poll you see. It's not to your taste and that's fine but it was a strong season.
I agree with this, I like the exile/earthbound stories but it couldn't go on forever. Letts and Dicks knew this, they didn't like the situation but knew they reasons for it. Once they got on their feet they gradually changed it. Sherwin I think preferred the style and would have kept it for as long as he was in charge.
I agree Pertwee had to build his audience but he could have done that without the exile scenario.
Possibly but it was all part of the package. Think they wanted to change a lot of things.
I personally don't think Season 7 is a strong Season but at least as you say it set some sort of basis for the Pertwee Era, though the real template for the rest of his era was in Season 8 imo.
I know the world is all about opinions but I don't see how you can say it wasn't a strong season. The audience increase on the last year is massive, all four stories remain popular, with two of them, Spearhead and Inferno regularly in the top thirty of whatever poll you see. It's not to your taste and that's fine but it was a strong season.
Originally Posted by daveyboy7472:
“I personally don't think Season 7 is a strong Season but at least as you say it set some sort of basis for the Pertwee Era, though the real template for the rest of his era was in Season 8 imo.
”
“I personally don't think Season 7 is a strong Season but at least as you say it set some sort of basis for the Pertwee Era, though the real template for the rest of his era was in Season 8 imo.
”
Originally Posted by Jethryk:
“
I know the world is all about opinions but I don't see how you can say it wasn't a strong season. The audience increase on the last year is massive, all four stories remain popular, with two of them, Spearhead and Inferno regularly in the top thirty of whatever poll you see. It's not to your taste and that's fine but it was a strong season.”
“
I know the world is all about opinions but I don't see how you can say it wasn't a strong season. The audience increase on the last year is massive, all four stories remain popular, with two of them, Spearhead and Inferno regularly in the top thirty of whatever poll you see. It's not to your taste and that's fine but it was a strong season.”
I did say that personally I didn't think it was a strong Season, but you know I'm not a big fan of Season 7. I do like the stories to a degree and yes, compared to the McCoy Era they are a masterpiece(as most Seasons are)
The increase in audience share I haven't disputed with you. My take on the Season is that it is more popular now than perhaps it was at the time. As I said Inferno got the lowest audience ratings of the entire Pertwee Era but it's approval ratings now is very good and I like it, even(So it must be good!
) It always gets good reviews on here, but maybe towards the end of the run it was first shown in, perhaps people were tiring of the long stories and the Earthbound Settings. Spearhead from Space started off at 8.2 million viewers but by Inferno it had dropped to 5.2. Read into that what you will.
Originally Posted by daveyboy7472:
“I did say that personally I didn't think it was a strong Season, but you know I'm not a big fan of Season 7. I do like the stories to a degree and yes, compared to the McCoy Era they are a masterpiece(as most Seasons are)
The increase in audience share I haven't disputed with you. My take on the Season is that it is more popular now than perhaps it was at the time. As I said Inferno got the lowest audience ratings of the entire Pertwee Era but it's approval ratings now is very good and I like it, even(So it must be good!) It always gets good reviews on here, but maybe towards the end of the run it was first shown in, perhaps people were tiring of the long stories and the Earthbound Settings. Spearhead from Space started off at 8.2 million viewers but by Inferno it had dropped to 5.2. Read into that what you will.
”
“I did say that personally I didn't think it was a strong Season, but you know I'm not a big fan of Season 7. I do like the stories to a degree and yes, compared to the McCoy Era they are a masterpiece(as most Seasons are)
The increase in audience share I haven't disputed with you. My take on the Season is that it is more popular now than perhaps it was at the time. As I said Inferno got the lowest audience ratings of the entire Pertwee Era but it's approval ratings now is very good and I like it, even(So it must be good!
) It always gets good reviews on here, but maybe towards the end of the run it was first shown in, perhaps people were tiring of the long stories and the Earthbound Settings. Spearhead from Space started off at 8.2 million viewers but by Inferno it had dropped to 5.2. Read into that what you will. ”
I know we're looking at this from different angles but i would put that down more to them going into the summer months.
Originally Posted by Jethryk:
“I know we're looking at this from different angles but i would put that down more to them going into the summer months.”
“I know we're looking at this from different angles but i would put that down more to them going into the summer months.”
Interesting point, just been looking at the other Pertwee Seasons to see how they shape up.
Season 8- Terror Of The Autons-8.0/The Daemons 8.3 - An improvement but it did dip mid season by the looks of it with the mid stories hovering round the 7.5 million mark.
Season 9- Day Of The Daleks-9.6/The Time Monster-7.4. You could put that down to the Daleks coming back at the start.
Season 10-The Three Doctors 10. 3(Top rated Pertwee story)/ The Green Death-7.7. Again, Multi Doctor story could be a factor in that. Interestingly, Planet Of the Daleks is the second highest rated Pertwee story on 9.7m
Season 11- The Time Warrior-8.3/ Planet Of The Spiders 9.0- The higher end figure you could put down to Pertwee's departure.
So I would say summer is maybe a factor, maybe it was in Season 7, not so sure about the rest.
IMO the third Doctor series improved from THE THREE DOCTORS!! He got full control of his Tardis again...even moreso than before! He could decide whether or not to help the good old Brigadier, Benton and Yates - or to go to Metebelis 3 or wherever!! He had freedom again! Which was how it always was in the first place.
Ironic that his final adventure was back on Earth with UNIT and battling silly spiders!
Tom Baker was trapped with UNIT too for a long time wasn't he!?
Ironic that his final adventure was back on Earth with UNIT and battling silly spiders!
Tom Baker was trapped with UNIT too for a long time wasn't he!?
A couple of opposing views on the Earth exile scenario with reference to Season 7, I would be inclined to mix it up, a Time Lord task type adventure or two would have been a better balance. Listen some of the stories are good but it just needed a refresh like they attempted with Colony in Space, granted Colony in Space as a standalone story could have been better, but it would have broken it up better.
Would have like to see a Cybermen story, on reflection I can't understand why there is only one cyberman story after the Invasion until Earthshock in the early 1980's. Strange.
Again another one that didn't happen like no Cybermen, Liz in the TARDIS would have been good to have seen also.
Can't agree with Jo's time been shortened as suggested, after all Sarah Jane didn't do too bad as a time span in the show. I doubt anyone would question the quality of Jo's departure in The Green Death, go I dare you
Lots of stories weren't really up to scratch, lots of padding so episode length needs attending to. Some I'd cut down would be The Silurians, The Ambassadors of Death, The Time Monster, Planet of the Daleks, The Mutants.
Spearhead from Space is a good start to the era, and Pertwee's regeneration is at this point in the show's history the best yet, so no complaints there.
Would have like to see a Cybermen story, on reflection I can't understand why there is only one cyberman story after the Invasion until Earthshock in the early 1980's. Strange.
Again another one that didn't happen like no Cybermen, Liz in the TARDIS would have been good to have seen also.
Can't agree with Jo's time been shortened as suggested, after all Sarah Jane didn't do too bad as a time span in the show. I doubt anyone would question the quality of Jo's departure in The Green Death, go I dare you
Lots of stories weren't really up to scratch, lots of padding so episode length needs attending to. Some I'd cut down would be The Silurians, The Ambassadors of Death, The Time Monster, Planet of the Daleks, The Mutants.
Spearhead from Space is a good start to the era, and Pertwee's regeneration is at this point in the show's history the best yet, so no complaints there.
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