I always have a bit of trouble taking the War Chief seriously cos he's played by Mr Meaker from Rentaghost 
The War Games DVD
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Originally Posted by Verence:
“I always have a bit of trouble taking the War Chief seriously cos he's played by Mr Meaker from Rentaghost”
“I always have a bit of trouble taking the War Chief seriously cos he's played by Mr Meaker from Rentaghost
”
THANKYOU!!! I have been watching The War Games and knew I recognised him from somewhere. I have 3 more episodes to watch, but the threat of the War Chief has now dimished somewhat
Just finished this, I'd been watching an episode per day. I had expected this to be another story, whose primary flaw was that it had been stretched for budget reasons.
It is too long, but not badly stretched as some others (Pertwee era has the worst offenders). The shoestring budget does show, lots of running about between three sets which are shot from a limited number of angles. In best Who tradition, the set decorators do their best with a dozen shower curtains and some metalwork they found next to the bins.
None of this matters, as of course Troughton is wonderful. As long as he's given enough material, and is reacting well with the cast it all works.
It is too long, but not badly stretched as some others (Pertwee era has the worst offenders). The shoestring budget does show, lots of running about between three sets which are shot from a limited number of angles. In best Who tradition, the set decorators do their best with a dozen shower curtains and some metalwork they found next to the bins.
None of this matters, as of course Troughton is wonderful. As long as he's given enough material, and is reacting well with the cast it all works.
In haven't seen the DVD yet, but my biggest emory of my ratty old VHS copy isd how unpadded the story feels. The Pertwee six-parters are far more drawn out and boring than this ten-parter.
Originally Posted by chuffnobbler:
“In haven't seen the DVD yet, but my biggest emory of my ratty old VHS copy isd how unpadded the story feels. The Pertwee six-parters are far more drawn out and boring than this ten-parter.”
“In haven't seen the DVD yet, but my biggest emory of my ratty old VHS copy isd how unpadded the story feels. The Pertwee six-parters are far more drawn out and boring than this ten-parter.”
Chuffnobbler, you been on the sauce or what
Yes, thank you for asking !
Which was the controversial bit? Pertwee six parters being padded, or War Games not? Or both?!
Some Pertwee stories are endless. Time Monster. Colony in Space (the very worst DW story of the whole 46yrs). Mutants. Planet of the Daleks. Stodge, stodge, stodge.
The War Games changes its location frequently, introduces new characters frequently, and has enough going for it to keep the viewer on their toes. Or, at least, it did three or four years ago when I last watched it. Not got round to the DVD yet. So many Pertwee six parters don't have that reinvention and energy, and are completely thankless.
Which was the controversial bit? Pertwee six parters being padded, or War Games not? Or both?!
Some Pertwee stories are endless. Time Monster. Colony in Space (the very worst DW story of the whole 46yrs). Mutants. Planet of the Daleks. Stodge, stodge, stodge.
The War Games changes its location frequently, introduces new characters frequently, and has enough going for it to keep the viewer on their toes. Or, at least, it did three or four years ago when I last watched it. Not got round to the DVD yet. So many Pertwee six parters don't have that reinvention and energy, and are completely thankless.
Reading the in vision notes while watching the story, you realise there's a lot of padding to stretch it to 10 episodes.
The second foray into the 1917 zone suffers because they don't explain the the absence of characters that contributed to the first part of the story - no doubt the actors were let go when it was thought they wouldn't be missed. The producers of the day must have thought that viewers in 1969 wouldn't have noticed, let alone 40 years later.
These days I expect the current producers would have worked it down to a story across two or three episodes.
Back then this was best probably at around 6-7 episodes, and harder work on producing a better stories for transmission to proceed or follow it to end the Troughton era. From the only episode I've seen, The Space Pirates should have been ditched before it got studio time.
Then 'The War Games' could have been shortened to make time for a longer story featuring the Timelords after their intervention, chasing the Doctor to face his trial.
The second foray into the 1917 zone suffers because they don't explain the the absence of characters that contributed to the first part of the story - no doubt the actors were let go when it was thought they wouldn't be missed. The producers of the day must have thought that viewers in 1969 wouldn't have noticed, let alone 40 years later.
These days I expect the current producers would have worked it down to a story across two or three episodes.
Back then this was best probably at around 6-7 episodes, and harder work on producing a better stories for transmission to proceed or follow it to end the Troughton era. From the only episode I've seen, The Space Pirates should have been ditched before it got studio time.
Then 'The War Games' could have been shortened to make time for a longer story featuring the Timelords after their intervention, chasing the Doctor to face his trial.
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