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Reviews
Lexx: I Worship His Shadow (1996)
Really good actually????
While looking for new sci-fi shows to get into, one of the more obscure ones I came across was Lexx. From what I'd heard of the exaggerated sexual content and copious amounts of cheap CGI, my hopes were not high. However, I was amazed by I Worship His Shadow in a way I have not been amazed for some time.
The mesmerising visuals and music create a rich dark tone, and the constant bizarre imagery generates a truly visceral and uniquely horrifying atmosphere. If anything, the ultra-cheap visuals just add to the horror and amplify the surreality. Despite a number of silly moments and bizarre humour that would make many viewers (and sane people in general) run for the hills, here it just feels so... right.
This episode is one I will remember for a long time. The feeling of watching it was exactly like the dreams I had when I was pumped full of morphine during a hospital visit in 2021 - this will definitely stay with me for a long time and I will be watching every episode.
Doctor Who: The Planet of Decision (1965)
Surprisingly good finale
To finish a story comprised of some of the worst episodes of Doctor Who, Terry Nation delivers a finale which is... acceptable. Despite the bizarre mechanoids and Steven's even more bizarre behaviour, some memorable model shots and a surprisingly well-shot battle sequence for 60's Doctor Who provide perfectly serviceable entertainment.
A particular highlight is the stylish and touching departure of Ian and Barbara, which also manages to get an emotional performance out of Hartnell.
However, the dark shadow of the previous episodes hangs over this one, as it has its fair share of unimpressive action (a Dalek is incapacitated by a tiny puff of smoke) and some truly strange and clunky dialogue. Good thing the Time Meddler comes after this story or I would probably throw my Blu-ray box set into a wood chipper(and then myself).
Doctor Who: Journey Into Terror (1965)
I am.... Count Dracula
Highlights of this spectacular mess include:
-The Doctor theorises that the crew have arrived in a physical manifestation of the human subconscious which means the Daleks cannot follow them(even though they themselves arrived there???)
-Count Dracula popping out and saying "I am Count Dracula"
-The audience being treated to a nice fat camera shadow all the way across Ian's body and a microphone sliding into frame at the same instant
-Count Dracula attacking the Daleks (for no reason)
-Terry Nation realising he didn't write enough plot to fill the episode so adding some nonsense about a robot duplicate of the doctor
-Said duplicate being conspicuously not played by William Hartnell except it is dubbed by William Hartnell and is sometimes William Hartnell in closeup shots(?????)
Doctor Who: Flight Through Eternity (1965)
They don't make em like that in Alabama
The Chase is a pretty accurate title in relation to this episode because the crew never actually have to face the Daleks.
The crew lands in 60's New York and instantly Morton Dill is upon them, jabbering and raving with the most terrifying fake accent the Doctor has evidently ever heard(Presumably this interaction was one of the events that eventually caused his regeneration). Making some quick excuses, the crew immediately flees, missing the Daleks entirely. When the Daleks arrive, they are also evidently terrified of Mr. Dill's hijinks because they run away pretty quickly too(why didn't they exterminate him?).
The crew then arrives on the Mary Celeste, messes about a bit, then leaves before the Daleks have a chance to make the episode entertaining. They inevitably turn up and exterminate everyone on the boat, and then one of them falls into the water (for no reason). Unfortunately its head comes off before it hits the water for maximum incompetence.
Doctor Who: The Executioners (1965)
No way! The Beatles!
The Doctor is tinkering with the time - space visualiser. To show off its capabilities, he treats the crew to a viewing of a speech from Abraham Lincoln. The audience now knows the capabilities of the machine. Surely it's time to move on?
So then they all stand around gaping at it for a few more minutes watching William Shakespeare muck about, all the while hooting about the wondrous capabilities of the machine. The audience now understands beyond a shadow of a doubt what the machine is capable of. Can we go now?
So then they all crowd round to watch stock footage of the Beatles for a bit.
It doesn't get much better from there: two people cosplaying as Ian and Vicki run around a sandpit, the Doctor gets some sun, and the time - space visualiser inexplicably shows the daleks talking about coming after the TARDIS. Without anyone changing the settings from the Beatles.