DR WHO The Worst Tom Baker Story

4 of 4

DavetheScot

26-06-2009

Originally Posted by brouhaha:
“For example, The Creature From The Pit, while admittedly not the greatest story Doctor Who has ever produced, isn't the worst either, but I think much of its poor reputation rests on that embarrassing monster.”

Ah, the scrotum monster

Gutted Girl

26-06-2009

Originally Posted by davros's chair:
“Isn't that the name of the lingerie factory in Corrie!”

Yes Underworld is the name of the lingerie factory in Corrie, named by Gareth Roberts when he was a storyliner on Corrie and it was named after the dreadful DW story, but he's always been a big TB fan.

davros's chair

26-06-2009

Originally Posted by Gutted Girl:
“Yes Underworld is the name of the lingerie factory in Corrie, named by Gareth Roberts when he was a storyliner on Corrie and it was named after the dreadful DW story, but he's always been a big TB fan.”

Now that's a fact I didn't know. Still, better than calling it Timelash or something.

itv sucks

26-06-2009

Meglos, is the Tom story for which I couldn't give a... damn.

chuffnobbler

26-06-2009

Meglos isn't terribly good, is it?!

Great to know that the Corrie knicker factory is named after a DW story! (I've always called that story "Underpants").

The Creature from the Pit is not a bad story. Terrible monster and some terrible "rebel" type characters, but the two main baddies (Adrasta and Karela) are brilliant.

davros's chair

26-06-2009

The Leisure Hive wasn't very good was it. Nor Nightmare of Eden, or Horns of Nimon.

They all got a bit panto. Tom's best were nearer the start of his career but there are some good ones later on.

Paully_C

26-06-2009

It's Underworld. No question.

A silly, fun, daft Doctor Who story that has ridiculous elements but is still FUN is forgiveable.

The only unforgiveable crime in a Doctor Who story is for it to be BORING. Therefore, stand up 'Underworld' - the only truly awful Tom Baker story.

Steve Hartley

28-06-2009

Got me thinking now with all these candidates for poor TB stories do any other Doctors have that many poor stories to good ones ratio- possibly excusing CP and PM due to lack of stories they actually did

cobaltmale

28-06-2009

Originally Posted by Steve Hartley:
“Got me thinking now with all these candidates for poor TB stories do any other Doctors have that many poor stories to good ones ratio- possibly excusing CP and PM due to lack of stories they actually did”

CP?

Gusto Brunt

09-04-2015

Originally Posted by stuart62:
“Oh well, each to their own, I suppose. I remember as a teenager watching The Leisure Hive and thinking, "Oh no! What have they done to the theme tune? Oh no! What have they done to the title sequence?"

As the series continued, I began to feel for the first ime that I'd outgrown my favourite TV programme.

Looking back now, I can see that some stories had a little more merit that I perhaps first gave them credit for at the time but all in all, I feel that after that, the programme was never quite the same again. And not in a good way!”

Totally agree.

Originally Posted by stuart62:
“Well the theme tune is bland, 80s-synthesised screeching to me and the title sequence which was once a great mixture of abstract, hypnotic images was suddenly replaced by...stars. For me, it was completely lacking in imagination and mystery any more. I thought it was a very poor substitute for all the previous versions.

Anyway, as you say, people prefer "their" Doctor so it's understandable that you like that era of the show. I'm a fan of the programme as a whole but I feel that it certainly started to decline at this point and the choices of actor for the main role were less than inspired. It was beginning to get past its sell-by date by that point.

Anyway, this has strayed off topic a bit.”

I agree again.

tiggerpooh

10-04-2015

Originally Posted by JCR:
“Don't anyone dare say nimon, I love that story. It's funny as f***!

Edit- Underworld would be my choice. It's just so s l o w”

Yes, Underworld isn't all that. Apparently, the then Doctor Who team, led by Graham Williams, just didn't have enough funds for a swish set. That's why Underworld looks quite cheap, with grey, white colours.

The same happened during Colin Baker's time, too, with Timelash. But that's something left to discuss in another thread about Colin's Doctor.

Here's a few Fourth Doctor stories that I could mention as being under par, and a bit boring:

The Sontaran Experiment (only two parts. Not much happens)

Horror of Fang Rock (The story is set entirely on a Lighthouse, with only 6, maybe 7 people in the cast)

Planet of Evil (Looks drab, with a cheap computerised monster)

State of Decay (Too dark for my liking, and is the start of the end for TB's Doctor)

IMO, the best has to be The Brain of Morbius.

Destiny of the Daleks is great too, as is Meglos and Logopolis.

Hestia

10-04-2015

Originally Posted by tiggerpooh:
“Here's a few Fourth Doctor stories that I could mention as being under par, and a bit boring:

The Sontaran Experiment (only two parts. Not much happens)

Horror of Fang Rock (The story is set entirely on a Lighthouse, with only 6, maybe 7 people in the cast)

Planet of Evil (Looks drab, with a cheap computerised monster)

State of Decay (Too dark for my liking, and is the start of the end for TB's Doctor)

IMO, the best has to be The Brain of Morbius. Destiny of the Daleks is great too, as is Meglos and Logopolis. ”

But it's great (and there are 9 plus a Rutan, albeit that Ben with the dodgy accent gets moved on fairly soon)!

allisonbm2

10-04-2015

Originally Posted by tiggerpooh:
“
The Sontaran Experiment (only two parts. Not much happens)

Horror of Fang Rock (The story is set entirely on a Lighthouse, with only 6, maybe 7 people in the cast)

Planet of Evil (Looks drab, with a cheap computerised monster)

State of Decay (Too dark for my liking, and is the start of the end for TB's Doctor)”

All among my favourites

My poorest ones are:

Underworld (dull dull dull and substandard)
Leisure Hive (boring )
Meglos (despite being written by a person I know-albeit tenuously- really stupid)

If I had to plump for one I'd go for Underworld

Michael_Eve

10-04-2015

Alan Lake gives a spirited performance and the first episode is pretty good....but yep, Underworld for me too. Beige and boring. Boring is just about my worst criticism when it comes to Who. I'd take OTT or a bit/ extremely naff over boring!

Lewis Christian

10-04-2015

Underworld. Even Tom Baker looks bored as **** throughout this one.

Gusto Brunt

10-04-2015

Originally Posted by Lewis Christian:
“Underworld. Even Tom Baker looks bored as **** throughout this one.”

I've not seen Underworld YET but it isn't well liked.

nattoyaki

11-04-2015

Talons, Genesis, City of Death...

oops, wrong thread?

Originally Posted by carefactornil:
“Just in case you don't realise the publicity shot you're thinking of WAS of a waxwork Tom Baker leant by Madame Tussauds I believe!”

The really bizarre bit of it was that to get the waxwork from Madame Tussauds the real Tom had to stand there as its replacement for half a day trying not to move a muscle.

Rozes

11-04-2015

Originally Posted by nattoyaki:
“Talons, Genesis, City of Death...

oops, wrong thread?

The really bizarre bit of it was that to get the waxwork from Madame Tussauds the real Tom had to stand there as its replacement for half a day trying not to move a muscle.

”

I never thought the waxwork looked like Tom. For some reason I thought it looked more like crooner Dean Martin!

Michael_Eve

11-04-2015

I find that image very pleasing.

Poor Tom. Where's your friendly neighbourhood Auton when you need a bit of help?

alphonsus

12-04-2015

Originally Posted by Toshiba:
“The Five Doctors. His performance in that looked like an out take and even in the publicity shots he looked like a damn waxwork.”

Meglos: the cactus was ridiculous, the 'science' was hand-waved away and most of the supporting cast were as wooden or wax-like as the aforementioned publicity shots. And as for the plot...

allen_who

12-04-2015

As a kid i loved early tom baker but mary whitehouse stamped on everything that made his era great and from his fourth series onwards it nose dived... the worst ??? Hmmm i'd go with warriors gate ... but agree with all the above ... its a measure of how good tom was in the role that we dont mind the dross

tiggerpooh

12-04-2015

Originally Posted by itv sucks:
“Meglos, is the Tom story for which I couldn't give a... damn.”

Meglos is one of the best stories during Tom Baker's time as the Doctor. Great to see Jacqueline Hill back, even if it was for only for one story as Lexa and not Barbara.

The only let down were the wigs that some of the cast had to wear.

And the gloves you can see Tom wearing when he's done up to resemble Meglos the cactus.

https://whopix.files.wordpress.com/2...5p3-meglos.jpg

Not very picturesque to see is it?

Makes the UFO characters look amazing compared to them!

http://www.starburstmagazine.com/ima...n-ufo-news.jpg

Sarah_Ashley92

12-04-2015

Underworld

Unicyclatrix

15-04-2015

Keeper of Traken

Even if only for the glacial pace of storytelling.
Tom seemed bored throughout the whole thing, and I definitely was.

chuffnobbler

16-04-2015

The Armageddon Factor.

One hundred and seventeen episodes long. Each episode lasts a fortnight.

4 of 4