The Eccleston Era Pros and Cons

 The pros and cons of the one and only Doctor Who season with the ninth Doctor, Christopher Eccleston.

Power of the Daleks

 

Power of the Daleks

(episode 1)

Apparently, this show renews the lead character. That’ll never catch on…

Luckily we’ve got Ben and Polly to talk us through the change. Ben is very sceptical, like a normal person. Polly is more encouraging, because the script needs someone to be, else the show will get axed. And they can’t axe the bloody thing before The Moonbase has even been broadcast!

The Dalek Master Plan

Dalek Master Plan (part 1)

Steven lies on a makeshift bed on the TARDIS floor, dying. I'm sure things can only get better in this, the grimmest Dr Who story ever written, surely?

The Nightmare Begins, the title card reassuringly tells us.

Steven needs specialist drugs to live so the Doctor is going to land in the future to get some.

We cut to... Brian Cant and Nick Courtney!!!!

Brian Cant lies injured on the ground, while Courtney tries to unleash an SOS beacon much like we saw another chap try to do a few weeks previously. In a very familiar looking jungle.

Meanwhile, Nick's desperate SOS is missed because at HQ, the people meant to be watching, Roald Dahl and Lizan Phil, are arguing over what to put on the TV, the football or The Guardian of the Solar System's Speech.

Hey, maybe we should look out for that missing agent, thinks Roald, before getting distracted.

The Chase

The Chase (episode 1)

We are reminded that the Daleks now have time travel and are after the Doctor and friends. This is followed by music far too jaunty for the occasion, and the Doctor whistling as he fixes things in the TARDIS. He then tells off Vicki for joining in.

Ian is reading a book called "Monsters from Outer Space" and calls it far-fetched. We are in Terry Nation jokes land.

"I am a useless person," says Vicki who sits on a seat which collapses onto Barbara's project. The much vaunted Terry Nation character writing skills on display here as he waits anxiously to get his pepperpots into action.