Classic Doctor Who 14x03 "The Deadly Assassin" eps 3-4 full reaction
Added 2023-07-31 02:39:51 +0000 UTCComments
It will be a while before a we get to see more. She'll just have to finish out what she had already in mind. Although, I won't start liking the Tom Baker era again, for a while.
Amy Chlebus
2023-07-31 08:49:00 +0000 UTCIt could have been either or. We'll never know.
Amy Chlebus
2023-07-31 08:42:21 +0000 UTCHe may have also just simply used up all his regenerations, which would explain why he was retiring in the first place.
Azmat Mahmood
2023-07-31 08:39:30 +0000 UTCThe Deadly Assassin is a great political thriller and the best part is that it's entirely set on Gallifrey, which finally gives us the opportunity to explore the Time Lords extensively. It's really interesting then that this story completes their slow transformation from seeming God-like in The War Games to becoming the stuffy bureaucrats they are from this story onward. You get the sense that the Time Lords used to be a race of great ingenuity and innovation, but the ability to time travel and being able to see everything going on throughout time and space (the Time Lord's room of parliament is called the Panopticon for a reason, it literally translates to "all seeing") has stifled any progress on Gallifrey and stagnated Time Lord society. Everyone is obsessed with the "correct" order of things and maintaining control. They've all become obsessed with power, some in terms of worshipping and putting those in power on a pedestal, and others who wants to obtain that power for themselves. Chancellor Goth epitomises all that has gone wrong with Gallifrey and at the same time all of this emphasises and explains how different and at odds the Doctor is with the Time Lords. He's essentially an outcast, an alien on his own planet. Perhaps no other story better explains the Doctor's core beliefs and what makes him tick and why he left Gallifrey in the first place than this story does. The Master of course exploits Goth's hubris and ambition and plots with him to bring down the Doctor. Unbeknownst to Goth though, he was just a pawn in the Master's bigger game to destroy the Doctor and the Time Lords, he was disposable. They took the Master's character in a really interesting direction imo and instead of trying to replicate what Roger Delgado had done with the role, they went with something that fit better into the gothic horror tone of this era. He's the embodiment of hate and only his hate keeps him alive, which of course gives us the revelation that he's dying because he's used up all his regenerations. Establishing the 12 regeneration limit for the first time. I really like how single minded and determined the Master is in this story, his pitiful predicament has made him bitter to the point that he's obsessed with extending his life, while at the same time intent on destroying all those that he considers responsible for his plight in the first place. Along with the 12 regeneration limit introduced in this story, this story also gives us the Eye of Harmony and Rassilon. It's safe to say The Deadly Assassin is one of the most important and pivotal stories ever because of how much it contributes to the lore of the show. It also has a really well done and well executed plot that unfolds in a natural and very engaging manner across its four episodes. The way it combines its political themes with stark surrealism (it does the Matrix over 20 years before the movie of the same name comes out) is brilliant. I also have to give special mention to Tom Baker in this story. He may have had a point when he said he no longer needed a companion after Liz Sladen left (the main reason the Doctor is companionless here is to appease the leading man's ego) because he's at his absolute zenith here. His ability to switch from comedy to being serious seems completely effortless. You would think with Liz Sladen being gone, who of course was on the show before him and was a great support system once he came along, Tom would be a little nervous and apprehensive, but there's nothing of the sort in his performance here. Confidence is oozing off him at this point. The fourth Doctor/Sarah Jane pairing is iconic and is definitely the best and most successful Doctor/companion dynamic of his era, but I'd argue (and this might be controversial) that there's a period from The Deadly Assassin - Horror of Fang Rock (the first story of next season) that I consider Tom's peak as the Doctor specifically in terms of his performances. His chemistry isn't quite as good with his companion during this time (it's still great, I can't wait to watch the next reaction to see you meet her), but Tom himself went up a level imo. Anyway, fantastic story. The consistency of this era continues to be a strength and the next story certainly continues in the same vein.
Azmat Mahmood
2023-07-31 08:37:13 +0000 UTCThe eye of harmony was mentioned in the movie, and it was also mentioned in the Series 7 episode Journey to the Centre of the Tardis.
Amy Chlebus
2023-07-31 05:42:46 +0000 UTCThe President couldn't regenerate because he got shot and killed, before he could regenerate. Do you remember what happened to the 11th Doctor at the beginning of Series 7? River shot him. As far as the Master goes, he is on his last regeneration, so basically, his body is rotting. That's why he looks like a nasty juicy corpse.
Amy Chlebus
2023-07-31 05:27:04 +0000 UTC
