I started watching The Krotons today, which is particularly notable as being the first story written by Robert Holmes, who would later go on to become the Script Editor for Doctor Who from 1975 - 1977 and who wrote more episodes of the classic series than any other person. I mean, no big deal or anything but he's the guy who created Gallifrey, The Master, Rassilon, Sarah Jane Smith, Romana, and the entire notion that Time Lords get twelve regenerations. He's kind of an important figure in the show's history. So here we are today with his very first story.

Let's talk about that.

Today marks exactly four months since I started this ridiculous project, and I am so grateful to have had you (my imaginary readers) along by my side for every step of the way. Speaking of steps, in that time I have taken a total of 775,660 steps on the treadmill for a total distance of 374.91 miles. Also during that time I have lost 33.28 lbs, which is an average of 1.96 lbs per week. I have long understood that the healthy rate of weight loss is about 1-2 lbs per week, and so I feel like I am right on target.

Let's talk a bit more about that, plus about the end of The Invasion.

This morning's viewing of episodes five and six of The Invasion culminated in one of the most iconic shots in the history of Doctor Who. After much skulking about in the sewer system, the Cybermen are finally fully revealed as they emerge onto the streets of London, including a group of them marching down a flight of steps with St. Paul's Cathedral in the background. If you were going to pick a single image to represent the Second Doctor's era, this would be the one. So much so that a few years ago, when my wife and I took a trip to Great Britain, there was a moment when we were walking around London and I suddenly noticed exactly where we were and I had to take a photo. Sure, I took lots of other touristy pictures, but that was the one moment that really spoke to me. 

But long before we get to that point, there are two episodes full of story that made me realize that Professor Watkins' daughter Isobel is truly a sociopath.

Let's talk about that.

Keeping this one brief, because it's late in the day and I want to go to bed. Also, today's two episodes of The Invasion really just finish setting up the main story.

Let's talk about that.

Oh, there are just so so many things to say about The Invasion, which I started today. It's a slow-burner of a story (although not originally intended to be), and contains a long list of firsts for the show. But before I get there, just a bit about my progress -- after fighting mightily to break below the 280 mark, I had a very rapid drop of weight in what seemed like a very short time. It felt like I dropped from 280 to 274 virtually overnight. As generally happens whenever I have a rapid drop like that, it is followed by a short bounce-back, which is where I have been the past few days. The good news is, although the five day moving average still went up a bit again today, I am very much back on a downward trend in the daily numbers. I expect to see it turn around again tomorrow. In the grand scheme of things I am very much on pace with where I want to be. As a matter of fact, tomorrow I need to go shopping for a new belt because I have already punched one extra hole in my current belt and now that's too loose. How's that for a happy problem?

Anyway, getting back to The Invasion... let's talk about that.

With a running time of just barely over 18 minutes, the final episode of today's viewing of The Mind Robber is easily the shortest single episode of Doctor Who ever aired on television. Sure, in the modern era there are some web shorts and some Red Nose Day skits that run shorter, but nothing that ever played on television as a complete episode in the regular time slot. Honestly, the abbreviated nature of these ones served the story well -- even if it was a happy accident.

Let's talk about that.

Only glimpsed briefly and unnamed in the first episode of The Mind Robber, today's episodes more fully introduced and named the primary antagonist of the story (although we only ever hear his voice and see the back of his head). The baddie is named The Master, but don't get too excited. It's not the first appearance of the Doctor's arch-enemy from Gallifrey -- in fact, to date the Doctor's home world has not even been named. No, it's just the local Big Bad in the Land of Fiction. This is a totally surreal story, very much in the same vein as The Celestial Toymaker, and it is turning out to be much more enjoyable than I had expected.

Let's talk about that.

Originally I had intended to only watch the last episode of The Dominators today, but then I figured since The Mind Robber also has an odd number of episodes I may as well start on that. I was not optimistic for either episode, really. For the end of the stupid, stupid Dominators story my lack of anticipation was well-founded. For the opening to The Mind Robber, however, it wasn't quite as dreadful as I had feared.

Let's talk about that.

Ugh, day two of this stupid, stupid story. There's a chance that it's not as awful as I think it is, and that I am just in a cranky mood. But I'm pretty sure it's just no good. Apparently it was originally supposed to be a six-parter but was cut down to five at the script stage, and I can see why. I wish it had been cut down to zero parts. It wasn't though, so here I am slogging through it all for you, my imaginary readers.

Let's talk about that.

Oh, god. I have reached the Planet of Giants of the Patrick Troughton era, and it has sapped my will to live. Season six opens with The Dominators -- a five part story that is clearly going to test my endurance in every possible way.

Let's talk about that.