Doctor Who Club of Australia

uhumanite · Joined: 17 Oct 2006 Posts: 89 Location: Sydney

In my eyes Vengence on Varoz is one of the 6th Doctor's best televison stories but before I pass judgement I want to hear what you guys think of this serial......

FredDag · Joined: 01 Jun 2006 Posts: 70

When I originally saw this in four parts it didn't work for me. When I watched the DVD release in 2 parts it seemed one of the better Colin Baker stories. Good plot, great nasty villans, great Doctor in full form, good sets for the time and very enjoyable to watch. Yep, it's one of the better stories for the 6th Doctor.

Chris · Joined: 27 Sep 2006 Posts: 37 Location: Launceston

Awesome Colin Baker story, it seems that even if people aren't a fan of him they still find themselves liking this one.

silver_smurfer · Joined: 25 Jan 2006 Posts: 22 Location: Launceston

It's a real classic, there's no doubting that but I don't think it was the best of the era. Despite the historical revisionism which has gone on since the late eighties, season 22 was full of very strong stories which balanced old concepts (eg. daleks, cybermen, Master) with new ones (eg. Sil, Rani, Borad). The sentimental fav for me has always been Timelash.

the_cyber_dalek · Joined: 18 Feb 2007 Posts: 2 Location: South Australia

Vengence of Varos was a good episode, but i think it is over rated. I am quiet a big fan of the Colin Baker era and i there isn't really an episode i don't like from him. I think he is a very underrated Doctor and so are his stories. I don't care what people say about it and im going to say it, The Twin Dilemma is good.

Fenric · Joined: 01 Feb 2007 Posts: 10

Well, to me the 6th Doctor's era is all a bit of a dud. It's the lame bit where Eric Saward was running out of ideas and the continuity started to become an even bigger problem. So, as you can guess, Season 22 isn't really a favourite.

But Vengeance on Varos is something different. Despite the season showing the strain of lasting 22 years, Vengeance on Varos shows that there is some inventiveness left in it.

It's enjoyable, but it's not as good as it could have been, and when Sil returns in Trial of a Time Lord it's a pity they couldn't make the 14-part boredom-fest a little bit more exciting.

phase5 · Joined: 07 May 2006 Posts: 246

The Colin Baker era wasn't that interesting.

I only watched in the hope it would get better, which it didn't. Not Colins fault I hasten to add. I recall seeing him the first "The Stranger" video and thinking how much better that interpretation of "The Doctor" character was. If he'd beeen allowed to play it that way perhaps things may have been different ...

To Vengance. These 45 minute episodes didn't work in the 22 minute version spread over 4 nights as originally shown on the ABC. I personally found the story distasteful and unpleasant. Aware that it was meant to be a critic about video violence and torture as entertainment; was it really necessary to do so by showing it?

I'd hardly call it a "classic". Passable, but should try harder.

"Is this a TV remote control I see before me or an alien torture actiavtion device?" It's bad when things are that obvious, and the producers think no one will notice.

BTW: Who needs Varos when you can watch true horror like 'The Biggest Loser" or God Forbid "Big Brother". True torture .....