Doctor Who Club of Australia

ADAMK · Joined: 29 Jun 2005 Posts: 216 Location: Canberra

What do people make of this (Season 20) 1983 story written by Johnny Byrne?

This is the analysis from the official BBC website (WARNING! SPOILERS): http://www.bbc.co.uk/doctorwho/classic/episodeguide/arcinfinity/analysis.shtml

SharazJek · Joined: 12 Aug 2005 Posts: 892 Location: Hobart, Tasmania

Not a bad story.....if it only explained why Omega looked like that and how the hell he was able to reach out from the universe of anti-matter.

Shame they couldn't get back the Borousa from Invasion of Time. I've never known a time lord to have so many different regenerations in such a short period of time.

I thought the Deadly Assasin Borusa was pretty cool too. Couldn't stand the 5 Docs version.

Ace · Joined: 27 Jun 2005 Posts: 114 Location: Sydney

Don't you just love Colin's 'I'mn a possessed zombie' face???

Ace Smile

Theta Sigma · Joined: 26 Jun 2005 Posts: 4109

We get the explanation why the Cybermen were able to fire their guns in Earthshock - the state of grace circuits was just not working. It's good to Michael Gough (who shares the same birthday as the Doctor, November 23) and this would be the only time that ABC viewers would see him on Doctor Who since The Celestial Toymaker only has episode 4 that still exists.
Colin Baker makes his first appearance in the series and later jokes that he did not shoot Peter Davison in order to get his job.
Colin Frazer's cousin leaves a call for him at the youth hostel, ooh I wonder who the cousin is. (I know of course but for those who don't just wait and see.)

Wester · Joined: 04 Aug 2005 Posts: 604 Location: Brisbane

Well call me dumb - it just dawned on me why Omega returned in the first story of the 20th season - because he appeared in the first story of the 10th. Embarassed

rundoctoritsthegatherer · Posted: Tue Sep 27, 2005 3:10 pm Post subject:

hallhotdogma · Joined: 30 Jun 2005 Posts: 54

I must admit that I am a sucker for any Gallifrey story. Similar to Time Flight, this is just one that I have missed bits of I think. I don't know why...perhaps I had my memory wiped for the two years that were season 21/22?!!?

Anyway, I must say how well scripted (tho not terribly well acted) the build up to the cliffhanger in episode two was done. I thought Sarah Sutton (Nyssa) did a fine job! Tegan has finally hotted up too, which no-one should complain about! Very Happy

hallhotdogma · Joined: 30 Jun 2005 Posts: 54

Ah! After reading the BBC's guide, no wonder Nyssa does well, Johnny Byrne (Keeper of Traken) wrote it!

Theta Sigma · Joined: 26 Jun 2005 Posts: 4109

Wester · Joined: 04 Aug 2005 Posts: 604 Location: Brisbane

Mind you - its good to see Omega back in the series. I thought he was a tragic figure unlike the Master who was just plain evil.

rundoctoritsthegatherer · Posted: Wed Sep 28, 2005 2:18 pm Post subject:

Dougy · Posted: Wed Sep 28, 2005 2:50 pm Post subject:

I was supprised to see Colin Baker in this story. I find it strange to have an actor play the Dcotor who was previously someone compltely diffirent in the series. Although I don't know the surrounding of the Davidson/Baker regeneration.

Theta Sigma · Joined: 26 Jun 2005 Posts: 4109

rundoctoritsthegatherer · Posted: Wed Sep 28, 2005 5:57 pm Post subject:

Dazza · Joined: 05 Jul 2005 Posts: 106

I find this one a little too slow. The trip to Amsterdam seems like a junket, as it adds little to the story. Other stories in this series are better.

Theta Sigma · Joined: 26 Jun 2005 Posts: 4109

Hedin is finally to be the traitor in Arc of Infinity Part 3 but the story does not succeed in disguising his voice before hand.
Just like Johnny Byrne's previous story The Keeper of Traken which ultimately revealed the Master, the identity of the villain here, in this case Omega, is revealed late in the story.
Colin Baker and Michael Gough makes their final appearances in this story here. Gough would have appeared with Colin again in Doctor Who when he was contracted to reprise The Celestial Toymaker in the ultimately abandoned story The Nightmare Fair starring Colin. Gough later played Alfred in the Batman movies. His most recent work was in Tim Burton's upcoming movie Corpse Bride.

Just hours after seeing Gough finishing work on Arc of Infinity on the ABC I finished listening to the CD of the missing story The Underwater Menace featuring and narrated by Gough's ex-wife Anneke Wills (Polly).

meglos · Joined: 29 Jun 2005 Posts: 660 Location: Perth

The only thing I don't like about this story is the whole Time Lord turned traitor thing. How many times has this been done? It wears a bit thin after a while.

Wester · Joined: 04 Aug 2005 Posts: 604 Location: Brisbane

T.S - were they really planning a sequel to Celestial Toymaker? That would have been great to see. Wonder if they still could?

Ace · Joined: 27 Jun 2005 Posts: 114 Location: Sydney

As far as I know Michael Gough is still alive, so they could do a Celestial Toymaker story I suppose. The character was a very good villain and he's been in a couple of novels since the tv story. I just read the Target novel for Celestial Toymaker and like most of the Target novels, the story is very good.

I remember reading an interview with Colin Baker once and he joked that he loved shhoting Peter Davison in that story because he wanted his job. I wonder whether it had already been mentioned to him by JNT that he wanted him for the next Doctor???

Ace Smile

Beatly · Joined: 24 Jul 2005 Posts: 375 Location: London