Season 21 - Planet of Fire / The Twin Dilemma

 Planet of Fire

`Planet of Fire` seems to have been somewhat forgotten over the years despite being only the second time the show filmed overseas as well as Turlough’s farewell and Peri’s debut. Yet amidst gemstones like `Revelation, `Frontios` and `Caves` its volcanic landscape cannot really compete when the drama happening within it is comparatively tepid. Its just one of those Doctor Who stories about which few fans have strong feelings about either way. So is that reputation justified?

Sharing some ideas with `Face of Evil` in its depiction of old tech unwittingly used for myth making, it lacks the ingenuity of that earlier story though scores thanks to it’s  location which at least gives the look of somewhere wild and alien.  I watched the special edition to see whether something more could be made of the material, whether there was anything to this odd tale other than the scenery.  Compiled by the original director Fiona Cumming herself back in 2010 as a single ninety minute version it develops some of the story’s potential. Re-edited with added visual effects to better convey the heat of the planet, this version enhances what is still a stodgy narrative.  The extra effects don’t exactly fit totally seamlessly into the picture but they do successfully add some sense of risk to Sarn. Ultimately though Lanzarote is more of a hindrance than a help to the thrust of the story with lengthy sequences of people tromping around which thankfully the special edition truncates. The dialogue is mostly ordinary save for a few melodramatic flourishes.

As an exit for Turlough it is suitably different for such an unusual companion. Yet the narrative is less interested in a brotherly reunion than it is in Timinov’s superstitions and rituals. Though played with zeal by Peter Wyngarde, the character appears to have been created solely to get in the way of the plot, to provide a second antagonist given how preoccupied with his own survival The Master is.

Its been long rumoured that the unspoken last word The Master is about to utter at the end was “brother” and if so then that word might have made for a more cohesive story given that Turlough finds his brother too. Writer Peter Grimwade seems less interested in that part of the plot- the reunion between the two Trion relatives gets so little attention when it should merit some more significance. The story does deliver one of Anthony Ainley’s better mid period performances., His plot is a lot of technobabble but the reveal that he is in a miniaturised state is well done conceptually and visually.

We’d all forgotten about Kamelion of course and though its put to good use here it never had potential as a regular. The transformation scenes from the android through Howard to The Master are amongst the story’s highlights as are Peri’s reactions to this. Making her debut Nicola Bryant already shows able to convey a lot more than her predecessors while she has some enjoyably feisty scenes with Anthony Ainley. `Planet of Fire` is not bad really, it just doesn’t really leave a big impression. Despite the themes and developments there is little emotion in the narrative and however visually impressive the location may be the package never delivers the Wow factor that it should.

 

The Twin Dilemma

I suppose any story having to follow something like `The Caves of Androzani` would suffer in comparison and `The Twin Dilemma` is one of those Doctor Who stories which feels like its needs more work on the script to make it exciting and involving. While the plot is ambitious it is put over in an unassuming almost apologetic manner which is surprising considering Eric Sward rewrote large portions of Anthony Steven’s script. The story lacks attack and doesn’t make us feel as fascinated as we should. Moving planets has never seemed so ordinary when it should be something to wonder at.  `Frontios` which contains a similar notion managed better. I mean look at this concept- Mestor’s plan is to explode the sun of the planet Jaconda to scatter his eggs throughout the universe to conquer it. How can that be less than exciting? Somehow they manage to make it so!

`The Twin Dilemma` is not demonstrably different in narrative to many others but there’s something uninspiring about it. Perhaps its because it isn’t offering anything especially new or different. What remains of Anthony Steven’s contribution seems to have been penned with the wordiness of a classic period drama adaptation meaning the dialogue sounds unusually performative or stagey.  Plus, however vital it may be to the plot mathematics is not dramatic. Visually Peter Moffatt does what he can with it though seems happier in the familiar Tardis set or outdoors in the brief location sequences. There is some excellent staging; the crashed spacecraft, the Art Dec offices of the intergalactic police with its wood panels and the unusual bird like masks of the Jacondans.

Its difficult to believe that sweating inside Mestor’s costume is none other than Edwin Richfield, who twelve years earlier had given one of the series all time memorable guest roles as Captain Hart in `The Sea Devils`. Here however the restrictions of what he is wearing means he can’t bring any real character to the creature.  Also in the cast is a youthful Kevin McNally who is mostly called upon to look puzzled or get knocked to the floor yet still manages to make an impression. Maurice Denham instils some dignity in the role of the physically frail but mentally sharp Edgworth/ Azmael even if its unclear exactly why he is helping the bad guys. However the rapport between Azmael and the Doctor is strong and both actors play it well. The former’s death scene brings an unexpected emotional heft to proceedings.

Of course, the plot is always secondary in a new Doctor story and here we get to see what Colin Baker can do. Making the Doctor unpleasant – and sometimes dangerous- as a result of regeneration trauma was a risky strategy but it does play well into Baker’s previous experience playing dodgy characters such as Paul Merrony and Bayban. Also it is something different, another angle for the Doctor. Seeing it now, a long distance from when it was first shown I can definitely see more in this new Doctor, provided of course you can try and forget about the costume.

We have been doing Colin Baker a disservice over the years as his performance in his debut is much more detailed than we might think we remember. He alters his mood in a second, he has an interesting way of being momentarily distracted or forgetting someone.  His commandingly abrasive exterior has something of the first Doctor about it. I have to say watching this story for the first time in a long time, my favourite thing about it is Colin Baker’s performance though my least favourite thing is his costume! I can’t help wondering how effective it would have been to have had a costume that more matches his mood, darker with greys, maybe a little red. In fact during the costume scene he briefly tries on a deep crimson velvet coat which suits him well.  Then again it was the Eighties!