The Seeds of Death
Previous: The Krotons
The Seeds of Death
(Note: Due to the nature of this commentary happening in my earliest days of live-blogging, I didn't do the entire serial the first time around. The first part of this commentary was done on July 10, 2011.)
Ah yes, this story got its own special title sequence. Don't think I've seen that since The War Machines.
I don't know how that monotone computer voice doesn't drive them all nuts after a while.
They keep using the term "Moonbase." I wonder if this is the future or the past of the one we see in, well, The Moonbase.
Ice Warrior POV! Wow, their voices are a lot different this time.
*sigh* When will fiction learn that "infallible" and "indestructible" really mean "marked for death?"
Wow. And it isn't until 8 minutes into the episode that we finally get to see our TARDIS crew.
"We're in a museum! A space museum!" Uh oh. Doctor, I hope you remember what happened the LAST time you landed in one of those.
Ah, Fewsham, ya damn coward.
"You're wrong. There IS just one man, one man alone who can help us now." The Doctor...!...oh...you mean that other guy.
Ah yes, good ol' Future of Space Travel According to the 1960s.
Well, at least Eldred's not pointing guns at them anymore.
"How would they get beyond the moon?"
"Nobody cares anymore about exploring space!"
Poignant words just after the last Space Shuttle launch
You know, when dealing with a reluctant old scientist, it might be a good idea to *actually tell him the whole truth.*
Aww, rehearsal for this story was when the announcement of Pat's departure came out.
"I'm afraid the TARDIS is not suited to short-range travel." Don't worry, Doctor, it will be eventually.
Wait. What. There's a robot in the background that looks suspiciously like a creepy version of Rosie from The Jetsons.
Not sure if I noticed this the first time, but this is a great cautionary tale of the world's over-reliance on technology.
Of course, something like that would probably be more relevant in today's iWorld than back then. *caresses iPod and MacBook lovingly*
And that one guy somehow managed to evade Ice Warrior detection...how? Seriously, he's just hiding in plain sight.
technobabble technobabble technobabble technobabble
Ho boy, Jamie's getting ready for his first experience in "antiquated" space travel.
Obligatory Everything Goes Wrong Scene.
Meanwhile on the Moon, SCIENCE.
Oh well, I guess you couldn't boil an Ice Warrior and eat it lobster-style. It'd just melt.
"Whatever you do, keep transmitting!" Aaaaaand cue the transmitter burning out.
And now it's replaced in the same minute. Crisis averted?
("Frazer Hines somehow manages to get his hands stuck between Wendy Padbury's legs!!") Gee, I wonder how that could've happened...
I wonder what the laces on Jamie's sleeves were supposed to be for. I'd image they've gotten in the way or something.
Hah! I love how the music completely cuts out when Phipps pops up.
Wait. I know this is a weird thing to be noticing right now but, I don't seem to remember Pat having sideburns.
Ah, my commentary's all caught up now!
But before I sign off, I just want to say: This is a Patrick Troughton's Running Style Appreciation Post.
And also
"YOUR LEADER'LL BE ANGRY IF YOU KILL ME. I...I'm a genius!"
"Geeeeeniuuuuusssssssssssss..."
---------------------
Woah wait where did that random hall of mirrors come from. TWENTY TROUGHTONS!
I think that's the first Classic example I've seen of "RUN!" followed by an extended sequence of...well...running.
Also, I love Two's running style for some reason.
OH NO EXPLODING PUFFBALL KNOCKED OUT THE DOCTOR WHAT
"That is unusual. Most humans would be dead." Well, guess what? HE'S A TIME LORD, MUTHAFUCKA.
OH SHIT NOT ZOE.
Yay, Zoe's okay! Also, DOCTOR THIS IS ACTUALLY A VERY INCONVENIENT TIME TO BE NOISILY REGAINING CONSCIOUSNESS.
Dammit, Fewsham, and just when I was starting to regain faith in you as a character...
So the Doctor didn't try to reverse the polarity of the fungus' neutron flow. He just frantically poured random chemicals on it. Nice.
WATER. I had a funny feeling...
WAIT NEVER MIND FEWSHAM'S STILL GOT A FEW TRICKS UP HIS SLEEVE.
Heroic Sacrifice. As expected.
OH I GET IT now Two can't get in to rescue them. THAT'S what the door-closing was about.
OH SHIT HE'S LEGIT TRAPPED NOW
"Oh my word, that was a dangerous situation!" Ladies and gentlemen, The Second Doctor: Time Lord of Understatements.
Ahahahahaha, Two looks like he's covered in snow...
Okay, Two's portable solar "ray-gun" is easily the funniest awesome thing I've seen in the Classics so far.
Wow. Even back then, the Doctor needed his companions to save him every few episodes.
Two's acting surprisingly chill about the whole "I'm trapped on the moon alone with Ice Warriors who want to kill me" thing...
And so concludes my instant-Troughton run. Farewell for now, Two. I'll see you again in The Three Doctors.
Next: The Space Pirates