Doctor Who: The Trial of a Time Lord: Part Four starts as Valeyard (Michael Jayston) begins to wrap his case up, the Matrix continues to play out the events on Ravolox as the Doctor (Colin Baker) tries to prevent a black light explosion which could theoretically destroy the galaxy but at the very least will destroy Ravolox & it's inhabitants. The evidence seems to vindicate the Doctor but the Valeyard says he still has evidence that will surely condemn him to death...
Episode 4 from season 23 this Doctor Who adventure originally aired here in the UK during September 1986, directed by Nicholas Mallett this episode was the fourth & final part of The Mysterious Planet segment of The Trial of a Time Lord which spanned the whole season. The scripts for these opening four episodes were by Robert Holmes & feels like a rather routine & average Doctor Who story with the narrative cutting back to the court room trial scenes every so often, personally I didn't think it was anything overly special. The character's weren't great, there wasn't much incident to get excited about, the sci-fi elements are unimaginative & as a whole the story is uninspiring. The main villain Drathro just isn't menacing enough for me, he doesn't seem evil enough & isn't so much defeated as just falls over & dies. The ending wasn't great either with lots of talking which doesn't go anywhere. There's some humour in The Mysterious Planet, Dibber was the comedy relief, the way the Doctor behaves in the court room is amusing & there's a slap stick moment where someone gets a face full of green slime.
This has been quite a well made serial & there isn't too much to complain about apart from some awful looking red laser beams. Apart from the wonderful opening shot from Part 1 of the space station Drathro the robot is probably the most impressive aspect of the production & it must have been a nightmare for the poor guy stuck inside it! There hasn't been anything scary in this so far, it's more of a morality tale dressed in sci-fi clothing.
The Trial of a Time Lord: Part Four of The Mysterious Planet is alright, as a four part story in it's own right it's not much better than average. The next instalment of The Trial of a Time Lord starts another mini four part story called Mindwarp.
Episode 4 from season 23 this Doctor Who adventure originally aired here in the UK during September 1986, directed by Nicholas Mallett this episode was the fourth & final part of The Mysterious Planet segment of The Trial of a Time Lord which spanned the whole season. The scripts for these opening four episodes were by Robert Holmes & feels like a rather routine & average Doctor Who story with the narrative cutting back to the court room trial scenes every so often, personally I didn't think it was anything overly special. The character's weren't great, there wasn't much incident to get excited about, the sci-fi elements are unimaginative & as a whole the story is uninspiring. The main villain Drathro just isn't menacing enough for me, he doesn't seem evil enough & isn't so much defeated as just falls over & dies. The ending wasn't great either with lots of talking which doesn't go anywhere. There's some humour in The Mysterious Planet, Dibber was the comedy relief, the way the Doctor behaves in the court room is amusing & there's a slap stick moment where someone gets a face full of green slime.
This has been quite a well made serial & there isn't too much to complain about apart from some awful looking red laser beams. Apart from the wonderful opening shot from Part 1 of the space station Drathro the robot is probably the most impressive aspect of the production & it must have been a nightmare for the poor guy stuck inside it! There hasn't been anything scary in this so far, it's more of a morality tale dressed in sci-fi clothing.
The Trial of a Time Lord: Part Four of The Mysterious Planet is alright, as a four part story in it's own right it's not much better than average. The next instalment of The Trial of a Time Lord starts another mini four part story called Mindwarp.
