Doctor Who Club of Australia

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

What do people make of this (Season 21) 1984 story written by Anthony Steven?

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

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

I've given it a good rating.

It's so hard to be objective with this story, as it rides the coat tails of the unbeatable Caves of Androzani.

But it really isn't as bad as it's given credit for.

Maurice Denholm as lovely as Azmael, and in fact I have a story that I have had in mind for years containing him, where ultimately that 'night at the fountain' is played out.

The major disappointment is Nicola Bryant's acting. She seems to find it very difficult to play against the 6th Doctor, as opposed to her great acting in Caves and Planet of Fire. She doesn't really pick up again until Revelation of the Daleks and gets it just about right in Mysterious Planet before she is killed of in Mindwarp. Nicola's acting is my main beef with season 22.

So give Twin Dilema a chance. It doesn't have the combination of Robert Holmes and Graeme Harper, so it can't possibly come close to Caves, but it is a reasonable opener for the reign of the 6th Doctor.

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

Personally I think it is probably Doctor Who's worst moment. I just find it mind-numbingly boring and very badly acted and I don't find saying that about Doctor Who very easy Sad

Dougy · Posted: Fri Dec 02, 2005 7:21 pm Post subject:

It's funny. I've never seen a Colin Baker WHO ep before. My dad, who is the biggest WHO fan I know (appart, perhps, from those on this forum) really, really dsen't like him at all. He feels its the shpws worst era. A number of my WHo watching mates don't like him either, the others don't really mind.

However, I found this episode (well, the first two parts at least) very intersting. This would have to be the most effected the Doctor has ever been by his regeneration. Observing the various Doctors it seems with each regerneration one aspect of his personality it brought forth and the others pushed back. Obviously here it's the Doctors arogance, he absolutaly loves himself. This personality trait is apparent in other Docs, probably most notably the first Doctor, but even with hartnel the arogance wasn't as bad as this.

But then he still has the humour of Baker, the soft touch of Pertwee as seem when the Docotr is talking to Azmael. And he's cheeky like Thoughton.

These something about this Docotr that I like, and I think its the idea that the writers are triyng to get you to not like him. I mean ,he's a right bugger!

So, apart from everything I've been told, I'm quite liking the 6th Doctor at first apperance. He's fresh and a little challenging and his character really builds upon the previous mythos. I think it's all very intersting.

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

I was probably a bit harsh in my previous post but I will stand by what I said about the acting, did you see the clffhanger to episode 1 where the Doctor is supposed to have a look of shock/terror on his face from having a gun pointed at him? Mmmm Confused

. Enough said I reckon Smile

dave · Posted: Sat Dec 03, 2005 1:13 am Post subject:

I agree with you Meglos - we've finally come around to the era of Who that made stop watching it, despite my predilection for well-endowed brunettes.

However, even Peri's bouncy goodness couldn't make me stomach the other changes. I mean, the Doctor tries to strangle his companion? That just makes me wonder whether or not John Nathan-Turner was deliberately trying to kill the show so he could escape from it.

You're right about that cliffhanger, and about Colin's acting in general, too, I think. This time around, I'm determined to keep watching, as I've never seen most of TTOATL. I just hope my resolve remains firm...I'm sure watching Peri will help with that! :p

Kerr Avon · Joined: 15 Jul 2005 Posts: 478

I have no problem with the attempted strangulation - it seems absolutely appropriate within the context of the story.

Theta Sigma · Joined: 26 Jun 2005 Posts: 4109

Apart from the series very first story with William Hartnell, Colin Baker is the first Doctor whose first formal adventure The Twin Dilemma was written by someone completely new to the series as Anthony Steven delivers his only script for the show.
For the first episode only, The Twin Dilemma sees the return to the series of Dennis Chinnery. Here he plays the twins' father Sylvest which is in stark contrast to his role as Kaled rebel leader Gharman in Genesis of the Daleks. Fellow Genesis guest star Stephen Yardley will soon be seen in Vengeance on Varos.
The late Adric would have definitely gotten along with the twins.
Like Jon Pertwee's first story Spearhead from Space, The Twin Dilemma does not start with the aftermath of the recent regeneration.
The Second Doctor's furcoat is briefly seen as the Sixth Doctor looks for a new outfit. He then briefly tries on the Four Doctor's crimson coat before taking it off. The crimson coat however is seen for the rest of Part 1 and briefly in Part 2.
In the DVD commentary of Caves of Androzani, Nicola Bryant says that one of the extras in that story is actually the father of the twins in this story.
The Fourth Doctor is briefly mentioned in Part 2 as the Sixth Doctor reminds his old friend and mentor Azmael the last time they met during the Doctor's fourth incarnation. That is of a drunken experience by a fountain.

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

I just think this is one of the worst stories to meet a new Doctor. Its terrible. The plot is bad, the acting doubly bad and the new Doctor very disturbing. The beginning of the end for me. Crying or Very sad

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

I fail to see what is so terrible about this story. What's wrong with the plot (as opposed to any other story you can pull to bits)?

The bad acting comes from primarily the twins (who Colin Bakers admits couldn't act for peanuts!) and Nicola Bryant. I have no idea why she is so bad in this, as up to this point she acted really well.

I'm not watching the current screening on abc, but the negative feedback here is promting me to dig it out of the video pile and give it a fresh viewing.

dave · Posted: Mon Dec 05, 2005 12:14 am Post subject:

Have a look at the ending of the first episode then. Nicola wasn't the only one having problems with their acting.

I'm not familiar enough with the story to criticise the plot. I just find Colin Baker's incarnation of the Doctor somewhat unpalatable. I know this wasn't entirely his fault, he wasn't writing these episodes, etc, but his acting I find to be really flat throughout most of what I've seen thus far in this story.

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

Dave its probably why this story is often cited as one of the worst for Dr Who.

Suketeh_the Destroyer · Joined: 22 Aug 2005 Posts: 52

Sorry! this story is one of the 'Turkeys' of the Season 21! Like it or leave it!!

Cool

Theta Sigma · Joined: 26 Jun 2005 Posts: 4109

Romulus was credited to Gavin Conrad but from the Doctor Who Reference Guide that is not his real name. His real name being Paul Conrad but couldn't be credited as such as there was another actor already working under that name.

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

Heres a better story, considering we had to have two characters from history - Romulus and Remus. How about the Doctor going back in time to meet the real ones? That would have been a lot better than this drivel.

Dougy · Posted: Tue Dec 06, 2005 2:22 pm Post subject:

THe last ep really let this one down. After setting up that bug bloke as a undefetable force the Doc just hurls some orange sherbert at him an its all over. Sad

Darth Sidious · Joined: 27 Jun 2005 Posts: 105

An Underrated all time classic Razz

charlie · Posted: Thu Dec 08, 2005 5:50 pm Post subject:

I thought that story had real potential

Romulus, Remeus and wolf creatures. why didn't they get banished to Earth and found Rome?

Instead they just stole their names.

THAT WAS SO BAD!
Not a good start for the 6th doc Mad

Kerr Avon · Joined: 15 Jul 2005 Posts: 478

some of what I've read about this story (in About Time 5 and The Television Companion) suggests that it was significantly "toned down" from what the writer originally submitted. If this is true I'd like to read a synopsis of the original plot if one ever surfaces.

what was the dilemma?