(no subject)

[arcanetrivia]

Did any of my fellow Yanks watch "Shada" on BBC America last night? I thought there were a couple of places I might have liked to cut a line or two or shorten a sequence, but overall, not just good for more leisurely 1980 Doctor Who, but just plain good. (It was a little strange to hear differences in the actors' voices in the dialogue that was recorded in 1992. Lalla Ward's voice particularly sounded deeper to me.)

Comments

[shivver]

They showed it on BBC America? That's awesome! (We don't have TV service, so I wouldn't know.)

I saw it back in February at Gallifrey One, and I loved it! I had no idea what to expect, except that I knew it was written by Douglas Adams - and it really showed. The story was fantastic, and there were only a couple of cringeworthy-in-hindsight moments (the long floaty silver ball chase was one of them - I'm sure it would have been nailbiting at the time). The modern drawn scenes and sound recordings fit in just fine, too.

Have you read Dirk Gently's Holistic Detective Agency? After seeing "Shada", my husband said that Dirk Gently is basically a mix of that and "City of Death", so I read it, and yes, it really is. It's also a great book.

[arcanetrivia]

I have read Dirk (and Long Dark Teatime), but it's been a while. My husband tells me Professor Chronotis is in both, but I wouldn't have noticed if it hadn't been pointed out.

[shivver]

I haven't read Long Dark Teatime. My husband said that it wasn't as good as the first, so I haven't yet gotten to it.

Yes, Professor Chronotis is in both. Basically, take him and the setting from Shada and the villain's purpose from City of Death, and you have Dirk Gently. Dirk himself, of course, is the Doctor.

[sir_guinglain]

The new dialogue was recorded in 2017, I thought!

[arcanetrivia]

Hmm, now I'm doubting. See https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shada_%28Doctor_Who%29#1992_VHS_reconstruction and then the 2017 animated thing is just underneath that. I thought there had been some dialogue recorded for the 1992 thing but maybe I'm wrong. Anyway, the point is how different they sound, which would only be more if it was all 2017!

[sir_guinglain]

Lalla didn't record any new dialogue for the 1992 VHS, I'm sure.

[dbskyler]

I didn't know it was on! But it looks like I might be able to still watch it via On Demand. Thanks for the heads-up!

[dbskyler]

Just watched it! The copyright at the end said 2017 (I paid attention), so it's definitely a new reconstruction.

(Spoilers below.)

I thought the reconstruction was very well done -- the animated scenes flowed seamlessly into the live action, and vice versa. I also admit that I got a bit of amusement from tracking what had been filmed and what hadn't. It's very clear that they shot scenes out of order! And then I was surprised that the last scene in the TARDIS wasn't animated, because I'd noticed that all the other TARDIS scenes were, and then OMG THAT'S NEW FOOTAGE WITH TOM BAKER!!!!!! I mean, actual new footage, not previously-recorded-but-we-just-didn't-air-it footage. I still have this big silly smile on my face, I swear.

As for the episode itself, I am sad to say that I found it pretty disappointing. I do have to wonder if I would've liked it better without the animation -- I did notice that Tom managed to save some pretty stupid dialogue with his facial expressions, which of course you don't get with the animation -- but from a script point of view, it was very mediocre. Definitely not as good as "Pirate Planet," and not even close to the same level as "City of Death."

Things I liked: Professor Chronotis, the whole "living in his TARDIS for 300 years without anyone at this ultra-discreet college commenting on it" (re-used in Dirk Gently because it's just that good), the twist of Chronotis being the big villain that the main villain was trying to reach, and of course the new footage at the end with Tom Baker (grin).

Things I disliked: The silver spheres, pretty much every single scene with main villain guy (sorry, but he was a very "one-note" character), pretty much every single interaction between the ship and the Doctor (cringeworthy, although I do wonder if Tom's expressions could've saved it), the whole climactic scene with Romana and what's-her-face holding onto levers (more cringe), the monster-things that looked like giant collections of post-it notes, pretty much everything with K-9 (portable weapon and portable fix-it), all the gratuitous technobabble, and the lack of explanation around Chronotis' "death," subsequent "I'm alive, but only in the time vortex," then "never mind, not only am I alive, but I'm a huge villain," followed by him not doing anything particularly villainous, followed by "I think he's dead," and ending with "no wait, they're all friends again and having tea." Some of that might have been fixed if the episode had been properly finished and had a good editor, but based on what they just broadcast, it was very confusing. Oh, and I also didn't care much for the magic gizmo on the Doctor's head that saved the day, and reminded me far too much of the mindbending contest device from "Brain of Morbius". A story resolution that had something to do with Chronotis would've made far more sense.

(Speaking of "Brain of Morbius," did anyone else besides me wonder if Morbius was in one of those cells?)

[peoriapeoriawhereart]

I saw it last century when it came with text and was sans silver ball. Glad it's more viewer ready now.

[arcanetrivia]

*blinks at username* I'm going to guess you're peoriapeoriarhetoria on Pillowfort?

[peoriapeoriawhereart]

Yep!

*waves*

Don't worry, I'm as mostly harmless as a collection of living cells can be.

[arcanetrivia]

Tempted to think that's your entry in the Hitchhiker's Guide... :)

[peoriapeoriawhereart]

Figured I should add a little something extra.