Most Helpful Customer Reviews
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1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
The Spectrox of regeneration looms large, 2 Jun 2009
This fan favourite from 1984 marks the final appearance of the Fifth Doctor as played by a boyishly enthusiastic Peter Davison. The Doctor and his forever whining lycra-clad companion Peri, decide to visit the planet Androzani Minor, and naturally become caught up in an interplanetary conflict; this time involving a valuable commodity known as Spectrox. Hideously disfigured rebel Sharaz Jek and his android replicants have taken over the Spectrox mines, but the military, under orders from ruthless politician Morgus, are locked in a grim battle with Jek in order to quash the uprising.
The Doctor's sixth sense alerts him to the danger, but of course he still blithely drags his young companion into an adventure that will prove fatal for at least one of them...
Like many long-time fans of Doctor Who I think that this story is excellent; fast-paced, well acted, exciting, and containing moments of real pathos; Professional dancer Christopher Gable is superb as the rebel leader Sharaz Jek, who in the style of the reclusive Phantom of the Opera, skulks in his underground lair growing more and more insane every hour; while his androids attempt to infiltrate the enemy camp and destroy it from within. Of course, after 25 years these episodes still look dated; however like the show's best serials, it transcends the budgetary limitations and costume deficiencies with a strong cast (as well as Gable we have John Normington as Morgus, Robert Glenister - brother of Philip - as Salateen, and Maurice Roeves as mercenary Stoltz); great direction from Graeme Harper, and an intense and claustrophobic atmosphere.
This serial is now available on DVD, and with a better picture and host of extras, I recommend you go for that instead.
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5 of 10 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
The story that killed Dr. Who, 27 Jul 2003
By A Customer
The Caves of Androzani was the story that killed Dr Who. I don't mean the character - I mean the TV series. What the production team achieved on this story - especially given what had preceded it that season - was extraordinary. Here was a production that was accomplished and polished, that was witty and dark, that was played with conviction. The design was good, hte lighting (for a change) was moody and fitting. Its being a regeneration story served only to draw attention to its strengths. It isn't difficult to see that the production team spent Davison's last season, especially this story, on trying to build on the show's success in the 60s and 70s.
It was obvious that after the demise of Tom Baker's Doctor the show was becoming perceived as rather old, and a bit tired, and the show wouldn't last much longer, and if there is one story that depicted the show's demise, it's this story. The end of an era; the end of a programme. After this (no offence to Colin Baker and Sylvester McCoy) the show went on a downfall, with only 4million people tuning in. It's fitting that we should see Caves of Androzani as a great way to end a great series.
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