One fat geek's SUCCESSFUL attempt to regenerate into a not-so-fat geek by watching the entirety of Doctor Who while walking on a treadmill

Make Gallifrey Great Again

Oct 31 2017
Make Gallifrey Great Again

I have lost more than twice as much weight in the past week than I did in the entire previous month. How cool is that? The numbers are consistent for four days running, so it's not a fluke. Whatever brick wall I was up against, I seem to have burst through. I have broken four miles on the treadmill in six out of the last seven days. and I feel really good. Who knew that Doctor Who was the key to healthy living?

Anyway, I started a new story today. Let's talk about that.

The Invasion of Time - Parts 1 & 2

(TARDIS Data Core recap)

It is very usual for a Classic Who story to begin in situ, with the Doctor already engaged in some plot. The norm is to maybe get a little bit of setup from the guest characters and then have the Doctor and companion(s) stumble into a situation. With The Invasion of Time, however, the story opens with the Doctor finalizing an agreement with a group of mysterious aliens (whom we never see, only the backs of their chairs). He is behaving in a very uncharacteristic manner, doubly so because he has left Leela inside the TARDIS with K-9 guarding her to ensure she does not eavesdrop. After signing some kind of contract, the Doctor then proceeds in the TARDIS to Gallifrey where he claims his right to become President of the council of Time Lords (and, hence, of the entire planet). The office is his to take because of his actions in The Deadly Assassin, and he continues to behave in a very strange manner. He does everything he can to keep Leela away from him, he is verbally abusive and dismissive to the other Time Lords, and he actively arranges for an invasion of Gallifrey by the mysterious aliens from the opening scene.

This is just a fantastically interesting and entertaining story so far. On presumes that the Doctor's motives will eventually be revealed, but it is very unlike the show to have his actions cast in so much doubt and mystery. At one point he specifically instructs that his new Presidential office be lined entirely with lead panels, including the door. He keeps insisting that Leela (who has escaped and is running about and hiding) be captured and removed entirely from the Citadel. K-9 is actively conspiring with the Doctor, and takes action to destroy the planet's defensive shields. By the last shot of the episode the Doctor is laughing like a megalomaniac and welcoming three invaders who have teleported into the main ceremonial hall.

It is also fun to see actor Milton Johns back for his third appearance in the series. He was unforgettable as Salamander's enforcer in The Enemy of the World, and later appeared in the memorable role of the kidnapped astronaut in The Android Invasion. Here he plays a  politically ambitions Time Lord named Kelner, and he is a delight to watch as always. It's a little strange to see him back in another prominent role after only 2 1/2 years, but I'll take it.

This story also features an unusual sequence showing a deeper part of the TARDIS, as Leela goes for a swim in the pool. Which, again, I'll take it.


"Marco!"

This story is a six-parter, so I still have two more days to go with it. A great many twists and turns lie ahead, and I can hardly wait.

STATS:

Doctor(s): Fourth
Companion(s): Leela, K-9
Episode(s): The Invasion of Time - Parts 1 & 2
Steps Walked: 7,592 today, 1,636,616 total
Distance Walked: 4.21 miles today, 818.51 miles total
Weight: 255.44 lbs (five day moving average), net change -51.86 lbs


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