Most Helpful Customer Reviews
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8 of 10 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Enjoyable comedy start to McCoy era (spoilers below), 18 Sep 2003
1987 saw the exit of Colin Baker as the Doctor and the casting of Sylvester McCoy as the Doctor. Baker didn't return for a "regeneration" scene, so the McCoy doubles up for him in the early moments of this story. McCoy's first season would see a comedy approach to his stories. In some instances (this story and "Delta and the Bannerman") this works but in others ("Paradise Towers" and to a lesser extent "Dragonfire") it does not. If not taken too seriously, "Time and The Rani" proves to be a very colourful and enjoyable story that gets Sylvester McCoy off to a solid start.A pre-credits sequence the TARDIS being attacked in space and forced to land on Lakertya. The Doctor, having been knocked unconscious and regenerated, is captured by his old nemesis the Rani (Kate O'Mara). The Rani needs the Doctor's intellect to help complete her plans to turn Lakertya into a time manipulator, which she has been building with the help of her henchmen, the bat-like Tetraps, and Lakertya's weak-willed natives. The Doctor's companion Melanie (Bonnie Langford), also knocked unconscious comes to and forms an alliance with a Lakertyan rebel to rescue the Time Lord.... The script by Pip and Jane Baker is filled with comic dialogue and some interesting and wacky concepts. Unlike "Star Trek", which has alot of science-based plots, the writers keep it simple and never go too far into the realms of technobabble. Their writing characterises the Doctor and Mel right, even making reference to the latter's expertise with computers. There are a number of plot holes, but this is entirely forgivable in what is basically a comic story. Sylvester McCoy makes a lively debut as the Doctor, although there is no hint yet of the dark and manipulative persona he would eventually develop throughout his era. Instead he is given to alot of mixed metaphors, running around and the odd spot of slapstick violence. As for Bonnie Langford, she turns in an enthusiastic performance but does not endear herself to the viewers by screaming at length at nearly everything in sight. Kate O'Mara is a graceful, smooth contrast to McCoy and does a reasonably good job of impersonating Bonnie Langford. Other performances (from Donald Pickering and Mark Greenstreet) are a bit one-dimensional and dull. The whole story is complemented by some wacky, very angular sets (particularly for the Rani's headquarters) and special effects (the bubble traps). The crazy incidental music adds to the manic feel of many chases and action scenes. A good start to the McCoy era but the best was yet to come.
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2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Brilliant, 5 Jan 2001
By A Customer
Now a number of fans hate this little gem - why? Well they give their reasons below. However I like this story. Basically it is this story that got me interested in Dr Who in the first place way back in 1987. I was only 7. For a child I think that this story is supreme. It is full of some great creatures : the Tetraps in particular, but also the Lakertyans and the two brains. IOt also has some great graphics - in particular the bubble traps. Give this story a go. Its not that bad! Its certainly better than The Twin Dilemma or Timelash!!!
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1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
1.0 out of 5 stars
The worst story ever , 9 Jul 2007
In 1985, the then controller of the BBC, Michael Grade axed Doctor Who. In hindsight this was a very strange decision, as the debut story of season 22 Attack of the Cybermen had attracted very good ratings, and the programme maintained healthy audience figures throughout the rest of the run. Grade had justified dropping the programme because he felt that the series had become violent and had declined in quality. Although it is true that at this stage in the programmes history, the series had become over reliant on maintaining continuity with what it happened past, the viewing figures suggested that people were not that unhappy with the programme and still tuned in. Rather it appears, as Grade admitted some years later, that he simply disliked the programme, and but for the public outcry, Doctor Who would not have reappeared at all. Following an 18 month hiatus, the show did return. Unfortunately the season entitled, The Trial of a Timelord, was not a success, and Colin Baker was informed that he was being axed from the role after just 2 years. Understandbly, Colin Baker refused to return either for a farewell story or a regeneration sequence. Although Baker would later come back to Doctor Who as the Sixth Doctor, with his highly acclaimed series of audio adventures. These help demonstrate just how good a Doctor he was.
Several people were considered for the role of the seventh Doctor, including Ken Campbell. Joh Nathan Turner eventually chose the 43 year old Scottish comedian and entertainer Sylvester McCoy. In contrast to the adult nature of season 22, season 24 was much lighter in tone and the programme appeared to be aiming for the children's market.
Time And The Rani begins with The Tardis being attacked by laser beams in outer space, and forced to crashland on an alien planet. Presumbly as a consequence of injury from this attack, The Doctor regenerates. Although companion Mel suffers no serious injuries. Due to Baker's refusal to return. McCoy simply wore a blond wig for this sequence. It was hoped that nobody would notice that prior to his regeneration The Doctor had also lost 6 inches in height. It is revealed that renegade Timelady The Rani is behind the crash, and she needs the Doctor as part of a scheme, involving transferring his knowledge into a giant brain. The Rani has also set numerous traps on the planet, to enslave the population there. These traps are maintained by alien monsters called the Tetraps.
McCoy very much emphasises humour as the new Doctor, and indeed he said that when he started, he was playing it very much for laughs. Unfortunately this does not work. One early characteristic which was thankfully dropped, is The Doctor regularly getting familar sayings wrong.
It is also not clear why The Doctor is not more angry with the Rani for taking away one of his lifes. The supporting characters are also not memorable, and the plot is unengaging.
This ultimately is not just the worst debut story of any Doctor, but also the worst story and season. Thankfully the programme would get better, but this would not be until the following year
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