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

Oh, Goody. Another Space Trial. Still My Favorite!

Feb 14 2018
Oh, Goody. Another Space Trial. Still My Favorite!

I saw that doctor this morning about my pinched nerve, and she started me on a round of Prednisone to see if that will help calm it down. It has been getting gradually better, but my right index finger is still mostly numb and I regularly get the janglies all down my arm. At least it is not actively painful anymore. It is making it harder to type, though, which is a problem since as a software developer typing is how I pay my bills. It's a six day course of medication, which means by the time I finish I still won't be done watching the longest single story in Doctor Who history. Although, whether or not it is considered a single story or four thematically related stories is a frequently-debatable topic.

So let's talk about that.

The Trial of a Time Lord  - Parts 1 & 2 (A.K.A. The Mysterious Planet - Parts 1 & 2)

(TARDIS Data Core page for The Trial of a Time LordTARDIS Data Core recap for The Mysterious Planet)

Way back at the end of The War Games the Second Doctor was put on trial by the Time Lords, found guilty of breaking the laws of non-interference, and exiled to Earth. Now here we are, eighteen years and four regenerations later, with the Doctor once again on trial for essentially the same thing. On top of that, it is eighteen months since Doctor Who was last on the air, having been very nearly canceled. In hopes of restoring the show to its former popularity, the episodes went back to the 25 minute format. In addition, the season went back to airing in the fall for the first time in six years.

Honestly, a lot of effort went into making a splash with this new season. It boasts a new (and awful) arrangement of the opening title music, which I find to be completely mushy and forgettable. It tries to be ethereal like the very original theme, but the lead melody line gets buried beneath the more bombastic background line. It's a mess, and it only lasts for this season.

Also, the story begins with a genuinely impressive special effects sequence featuring a slow pan around the exterior of a space station with the TARDIS being apparently trapped in a light beam and drawn inside the station itself. This was shot on film with a motion control camera, and was the most expensive single sequence in the entirety of Classic Who. Producer John Nathan Turner argued that it was needed to hook the audience back in after the near-cancellation and long hiatus. 

Also impressive is that the initial set of four episodes was written by Robert Holmes. Originally he was supposed to write the entire season, but he tragically passed away before he could finish. Script editor Eric Saward tried to finish them, but gave up and quit the show completely after numerous arguments with John Nathan Turner. Ultimately the other ten episodes were written by Pip and Jane Baker, who had previously written The Mark of the Rani. This does not bode well for my appreciation of the majority of this season, but I suppose I will get there soon enough.

As for today, the story opens with a framing sequence setting up the trial. The Doctor is placed on the stand and informed that due to his woeful negligence and willful abandonment he has been deposed as the Lord President of Gallifrey. Playing the part of the prosecuting attorney is a Time Lord called the Valeyard, wearing all black. Playing the part of the judge is a Time Lord known as the Inquisitor. You can tell she's the judge, because much like Judge Judy and the Notorious RBG, she has tricked out her formal attire with a white lace jabots.


Fashionable Jurisprudence

With the necessary framing set up, the story moves on to the Valeyard showing a past escapade of the Doctor and Peri to demonstrate why the Doctor is a menace to society and must be put to death. In the non-courtroom sequences, the TARDIS materializes on the titular Mysterious Planet which seems to be exactly like Earth but in completely the wrong place. Also, most of the inhabitants were wiped out five hundred years previously by a giant fireball. There are some survivors living a fairly primitive life above ground, and other survivors who have lived a more technologically advanced life underground but under the control and supervision of The Immortal - an over-glorified maintenance robot who is dutifully fulfilling his programming to maintain the underground systems.

It is a classic Robert Holmes story, and it works very well. Absent the stupid Space Trial framing it might even be an excellent story. The Doctor is much less smug and egotistical, having dampened it back down to just being charmingly acentric. Peri continues the trend of the last two stories, by being dressed like an actual adult human female instead of a busty Barbie doll. She still doesn't do much aside from providing exposition opportunities, but she is generally likable. Of course you know I much prefer strong female companions like Barbara Wright - Goddess and Sarah Jane Smith, but Perpegillium is what we have now so I'll take whatever improvements I can get.

I will readily admit that I came into this story ready to hate it and all of its Space Trial stupidity, but Robert Holmes has stepped up to the plate and delivered a solid story concept and execution. Interesting location, interesting mystery, varied and watchable characters, it's all much better than I had expected. Let's hope the trend continues.

STATS:

Doctor(s): Sixth
Companion(s): Peri
Episode(s): The Trial of a Time Lord - Parts 1 & 2 (A.K.A. The Mysterious Planet - Parts 1 & 2)
Steps Walked: 6,647 today, 2,323,956 total
Distance Walked: 3.53 miles today, 1,199.33 miles total
Weight: 248.08 lbs (five day moving average), net change -59.22 lbs


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