tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7789262377783653415.post720758644787570977..comments2024-03-15T00:14:51.739-07:00Comments on Classical Gallifrey: Serial 117: Four to DoomsdayGungaDinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07571959874070196405noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7789262377783653415.post-6237106490465264782012-04-09T22:43:01.434-07:002012-04-09T22:43:01.434-07:00I took Monarch as a religious leader and the conve...I took Monarch as a religious leader and the conversion of living people into immortal androids as a rather chilling metaphor for the way religion offers eternal life as the reward for faith from its followers. A friend told me the villain is called Monarch because the King was the one who led the crusades. The fact Monarch is nuts and thinks he is God seems to be a dig at people like Charles Manson. The biggest chiller for me is when Monarch has to ask Enlightenment the meaning of "love" and she tells him it is fantasy-swapping!straker2https://www.blogger.com/profile/02539799815028323045noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7789262377783653415.post-19419494534666167112012-02-18T07:29:19.992-08:002012-02-18T07:29:19.992-08:00Your review reminded me, Matt, that in Who-ville, ...Your review reminded me, Matt, that in Who-ville, there are as many opinions as there are fans. I read along noting all the spots where I disagree, to wit: I think "Visitation" is a bore; I have no problem with Tegan; I find the Sutekh saga to be the most overrated in Who history; I love the Silence, "Wedding of River Song" and the vast majority of Moffat's reign to date; I prefer Davison's first season to the two that follow. But so many other points on which we agree. I too find "Four to Doomsday," as you put it, "a fun, watchable episode." As always, Terence Dudley excels at dialogue, atmosphere, and characterization, but can't devise -- or heaven knows, resolve -- a plot to save his life. In fact, his scripts seem almost determined NOT to tell a story: they always have these set-pieces -- masquerade parties, jousts, dance recitals -- that stop the action cold. But his divertissements are so, well, diverting, and his conceits are graceful that you forgive a lot. I can't imagine Pertwee or Baker in a Dudley story, but they work well for Davison, who demonstrates during his Who tenure that he can play just about anything. And Dudley gets lucky: here, as in "Black Orchid," the production design is top-notch.TommyKnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7789262377783653415.post-38829997204280130302011-11-24T14:32:40.573-08:002011-11-24T14:32:40.573-08:00Couldn't agree with you more re: Tegan and Nys...Couldn't agree with you more re: Tegan and Nyssa, super excited for next time!! :)liminalDhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06621859737411962756noreply@blogger.com