Doctor Who Club of Australia

[ADAMK]

What do people make of this (Season 21) 1984 story written by Christopher H Bidmead?

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

[Wester]

I remember when first seeing it it freaked me out. The Tractators were evil looking and I was disturbed seeing the Tardis all broken up. It was certainly an eye opener.

[Theta Sigma]

Aha we see the helmets from Blake's 7. I have heard that they were there but this is the first time that I noticed them since I saw Frontios on video way before I checked out Blake's 7 and therefore did not understand the significance of them at the time.

Perhaps the most bizarre fact that is associated with this serial is the casting of the Mr Range. Although played by William Lucas it was originally cast to Peter Arne whose previous roles included being in three Pink Panther movies and Chitty Chitty Bang Bang. Just after he arrived for his scheduled costume fitting Arne was murdered in what appeared to be a gay-related crime. (From IMDb: "The prime suspect in Arne's murder was a young student he was involved with, who drowned a few weeks later in an apparent suicide. The case remains unsolved.")
That was not the only tragedy to befell Frontios' production, a month earlier, designer Barrie Dobbins had committed suicide after accomplishing much of the preparatory work for the serial. Dobbins'
assistant, David Buckingham subsequently replaced him on the serial.

After this serial Lesley Dunlop (Norna) later returned to Doctor Who as another character in the Sylvester
McCoy story The Happiness Patrol. Long before I got to see her in either story I saw her as her regular character of Zoe in the the BBC comedy series May To December.

[drouyn]

I just read in the Television Companion that there is a long-standing (and false) rumour that this story was going to feature the Doctor slipping and banging his head on the TARDIS console. In his concussed state, he remembers a past adventure, shown in B&W and starring Richard Hurndall as the First Doctor.

Does anyone know how this got started? I presume it is from confusion over 'The Five Doctors', but I would love to know more.

[Theta Sigma]

The final scene of Frontios which leads into Resurrection remained intact despite the fact that the ABC won't be showing the latter story.

Although this was William Lucas' (Range) only appearance on Doctor Who, he had been considered for key parts in three other stories:
From IMDb-
"Shortlisted for Hedin (played by Michael Gough) in Doctor Who: Arc Of Infinity.

Among Christopher Barry's casting ideas for Bennett (played by Ray Barrett) In Doctor Who: The Rescue.

Considered for Doctor Fendleman (played by Dennis Lill) in Doctor Who: The Image Of The Fendahl"

It is a shame that he finally got a Doctor Who gig due to the tragedy with Peter Arne.

Coincidentally I saw a much younger William Lucas in the 1956 Hammer movie X - The Unknown during this week while waiting to see the Frontios episodes on the ABC. This movie is definitely of interest to us Doctor Who fans as it featured a brief appearance of a very young boy by the name of Frazer Hines, a decade before he first turned up on Doctor Who.

[Wester]

Wait - I just realised - with no Dalek story next its goodbye Tegan

[SharazJek]

.....and hello Nicola's assets!!!

[MikeYates]

I say i think i'm beginning to like Turlough now - and have just watched Ressurection of the Daleks was liking him in that one as well.

The whole thing with the TARDIS found a bit tough to swallow, and the resolution seemed rather convienient; they just take out the leader and everything's fine. Still i'll give it a good.

The Doctor wearing glasses now, a bit odd but i think it worked. I'd say it would be possible that with a Regeneration not every part of the body would regenerate precisely as it should - in fact now i wonder what other parts of the Doctors might could be disproportionate after a Regeneration

[Ickabod]

I say i think i'm beginning to like Turlough now - and have just watched Ressurection of the Daleks was liking him in that one as well. [/quote]

Turlough grows on you........and l liked him better then Adric....hard to believe that it was 1984......21 years ago.......time flies.......or travels as far as the Doctor's concerned.....can anyone remember when Peter Davison graced our shores...l know he was here for the logies and it was around his birthday....but the year escapes me....old age is catching up on me......

[MikeYates]

Of course just as i'm beginning to like Turlough he will be gone on Tuesday

[Ickabod]

[charlie]

I really hate Turlough

[Hiruma]

So did I at the start. I remember one scene in particular .. I believe it was Terminus where Turlough and Tegan are crawling around some smallish ventilation ducts. I believe a line by Turlough was 'I want you to like me!'. I laughed out loud, it was one of the worst pieces of dialogue I believe I had heard in Dr Who. Tegan was probably thinking 'Hes a Red haired git, who is hiding something, wears a school kids uniform even though he aint at school and is probably learing at my but as we crawl around'

I was half expecting Tegan to punch him the head, but sadly it didnt come. I just found it a very ordinary/laughable scene.

I think Turlough operated with a far better repetoire when not around Tegan and I never picked really up on much character development between Nyssa and Turlough. Did they ever share any scenes?

So I guess Turloughs best days were after Tegan's Dalek Story.

[guest]

http://www.redbrick.dcu.ie/~montoya/frontios.jpg