Tuesday 16 October 2018

Strange New Worlds



Strange New Worlds

OK, so it's not exactly a hard and fast rule, but it's interesting how many times the second story for a new Doctor takes us on a journey to a spaceship, a new planet or both.


There are obvious reasons for this, as the viewers identify with companions such as Ian & Barbara, or Harry, or Rose as they are shown the first hint of how far-ranging the series can be in its storytelling.

There's a deliberate Hartnell vibe about the 2018 stories so far, from the way the title sequence starts with a swirl of light in the centre of the screen, to three companions being transported to a planet with a very literal name.



Several people have already noted how 'The Ghost Monument' seems to have been partly inspired by, of all things, 'The Keys Of Marinus', with Art Malik taking the place of George Coulouris, a sea of death and some robot soldiery things. Whether Shaun Dooley and Susan Lynch have much in common with Altos and Sabetha is up for debate, though. Shaun Dooley's not showing his legs off as much as Robin Phillips, for one thing. ..



Even the final shot of the TARDIS (out of play for most of the story) leaving the planet for new adventures is suspiciously familiar. It's not actually in 'The Keys Of Marinus', I know, but as a bonus, the Custard Cream Dispenser must surely have come from the same manufacturer as the David Whitaker's beloved Food Machine.


We really, really hope that the custard creams come in all possible flavours, including the taste of eggs and bacon.


And if anyone complains that their bacon is soo salty, the obvious retort has to be that it shouldn't be, it's from Sheffield!


Our video about 'The Ghost Monument' can be seen here.

(Written by Andrew Trowbridge)

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