Customer Reviews

Doctor Who - Four to Doomsday [VHS]

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This is a slightly biased view, but I think this story is great, a little slow and more reliant upon dialog than action than usual, but still intelligent and interesting stuff. Davison is my favourite Doctor and he is NOT WEAK, he is deliberately placed into the underdog position by the writers to create suspense, he has to struggle against the odds, and it takes strength of will and courage and determination to win through when people no longer respect your authority because you look younger than you are. Robbed of the power to order people around, this Doctor has to do things for himself, like shooting the Cyberleader, bombing the Daleks and in this case fighting androids in space and rescuing the drifting TARDIS.
Yes, this is one of the slower stories and yes, his era features Timeflight and Terminus, as well. But let's not forget Tom Baker's appalling Robot, Revenge of the Cybermen, the dreary planet of evil and Android Invasion and Hand of Fear all in the "golden age". Davison had gems like Earthshock, Five Doctors, Resurrection of the Daleks, Frontios, Visitation and Caves of Androzani, easily a match for Tom's top six! This story is a lesser example of his era, but Stratford Johns is cool and compelling as the alien who seems so mannered and polite and is insane enough to think he is God, underneath! Philip Locke (Thunderball) chills us as he reveals he is an android who used to be human, and the finale in space, while typically outrageous and stretching the scientific credibility, is certainly a very well done and engaging four minute FX sequence, for a low budget show. And the sets by Tony Burroughs are just brilliant! This is the story which kicks off the Davison era for me, and it is a great way to start. At first, the new crew totally fail to get along, just like in the Hartnell days. They learn to accept each other as they go along, only to lose Adric tragically in Earthshock...but that's another story!

This is one of my favorite Doctor Who stories. This was the first episode filmed with Peter Davison as the 5th Doctor, though it was his second one to be aired. Some of the critques of this story claim that the plot developes too slowly, I don't agree. Its true that apart from the 3rd episode cliff hanger and the last 7-8 minutes of episode four, there are not many action scenes. The first 2 cliff hangers reveal a new major revelation to the plot.

The Story takes place on an Urbankan ship which is led by Monarch. Where the story shines is in the strong roles of the Doctors 3 companions. Adric, Nyssa and Teagan worked together better than any other trio. Each has specific skills, Adric is a genious in math, while Nyssa has a background in biological engineering. Teagan is the only Earthling and is very strong willed, and a bit uncertain about the Doctor. She tends to set out on her own a lot and create a good amount of friction between her and the Doctor as well as Adric. She does not take everyone at face value as many earlier companions who just tagged along did. This helped to give this episode more bite.

Much of the show involves the Doctor and his 3 companions exploring the ship, often times seperate from each other so that by part 3, they all have a different opionion about Monarch's motives. The Doctor has to spend a great deal of time convincing Adric to help him instead of Monarch.

The inside of the Urbankan ship was designed very well and doesn't look that dated even today. The outside of the ship is not as convincing but is adequate and is only shown briefly.

Four leaders from ethnic earth Races are on the ship. Each Ethic group; Chinese, Greece, Australian Aboriginy and Myan, have a dance or entertainment showcased. These dances are well costumed and add even more richness to the splendid backdrop for the story.

Peter Davison plays the Doctor more on a even keel than Tom Baker's eccentric Doctor. One of the 5th Doctors strengths is he spends much more time planning things out and does not rush into action pre-maturely. He also relies more on his companions skills in science and math than did the 4th Doctor.

The first time I watched this episode I thought the ending was paced a bit fast with things wrapped up quickly and not totally explained, this happened commonly in Doctor Who, sometimes due to time constraints. Every show can be nit-picked. One thing I didn't like was when the Doctor went into a trance to conserve oxygen it seemed more like he was hyper-ventilating.
This is an episode that I never tire of watching.

I absolutely love this story. Tegan is a great companion, showing off those natural human traits many of us really tend to have. Poor Adric hadn't had decent writing since he was with Tom Baker's Doctor, and that is when Matthew Waterhouse showed great potential as Adric. Then everything changes, two girls come aboard and the Doctor regenerates. This is actually the first story to be taped (as the hair on everybody is much shorter) People say Tegan overreacted when she stole the TARDIS and was able to fly it out of the ship. But she wanted to warn Earth what was going to happen. Of course something happens to Nyssa and she always has to be rescued, this is why she isn't part of the next episode, Kinda. Adric's chauvinist remark and Tegans reaction, wonderfully acted out by Janet Fielding, was great. You could feel the tension between those two the most, and Nyssa did feel a bit upset as well, but being a more boring character than the high-strung Tegan, she doesn't say much. Peter Davison is one of the best as the Doctor, and it's great to see him in a more serious role than a drunk young vet in All Creatures Great and Small.

This show was originally broadcast January 18 1982 and is the second story in the Peter Davison incarnation of the role.

This is a more cerbral story for the Doctor and lays the foundation for a number of similar stories which occur throughout the fifth Doctor period.

As far as the plot goes the Doctor and his travelling companions who always seem to be wearing the same clothes land on a giant ship heading for Earth. They encounter a number of apparent earth people and a being called Monarch who periodically returns to Earth and brings technological progress with him each time.

Nothing is ever so simple and the Doctor unravels the riddle and resolves the situation.

In a way this story establishes more of a rift between the Doctor and each of his companions which had never been found in a Doctor Who story before. It is almost as if someone said 'what would happen if a regenerated Doctor did not like or get on with the companions he inherited?'. Tensions between them mount with Tegan particularly seen as a whingeing nag. The tensions would be ultimately be resolved but that is for a different story.

For many viewers, Tom Baker was the ultimate Doctor Who, and his replacement, the young ex-vet from 'All Creatures Great and Small' did not seem to fit the bill. The switch in emphasis of the stories is clear from the surreal Logopolis and this follows in that tradition. Clearly too, the targeted audience is no longer children but it is not clear who the audience that is being aimed for is.

The slow pace and the nature of the story means that this is not the most popular of the Davison years. On the other hand he had big shoes to fill and no matter what he did it was going to take some time before he made the role his own.

This is a bad example of Peter Davison, and unfortunately, is the second(or rather first story as DW was sick and did not have dialogue through Castravalva). It is also my first impression of this youth. Although Peter Davison was potentially better than this, I was ruined to him when I saw this story for the first time in '82 or something. This story which is nothing more than a lot of dancing around and silly festival costumes(episodes 3 and 4 are nothing but a dance show and have no content of a story) has no action and little dialogue of any kind and what is there is bland and humorless. It also has little story except for a silly robot dressed like a human or something. As usual the "Three Stooges" as I like to call them, bundle things up for the Doc and are not even funny doing it. When Romana left the show, it just got silly. Nyssa and Adric pretend to be intellectuals but come off as idiots saying scientific gobledygook. Adric is always saying(in every story) "I could make this work, Nyssa." And and Nyssa comes up with some strange word which she can't even say right, and I am saying "who cares!". Tegan is marginally better, and different from the Nyssa/Adric cardboard cutout, but just marginally. She herself is annoying, just not so annoying as the other clowns. This show is called "Four to Doomsday" because the "Fantastic Four" from the TARDIS are the heros of the day, however I would have thought of a better title, leaving importance to the Cast of this Story rather than the Doctor and his Compainions. Perhaps "Androids of Earth". ;/

If your a big fan of the Peter Davison years there is a lot better stuff you can get. Only get this if your trying to complete your Peter Davison collection other wise don't get it .

Let me give a rundown of some of the problems. First off I've rarely seen an episode so obviously padded to fill time. There are alot of people just walking around in what looks to be an attempt to show movement so you won't notice nothing or very little is happening plot wise. There are the various cultural dances and displays they keep showing again and again and again in an attempt to have you not notice how slow the plot is going. Here is what I think happened Four till Doomsday had enough plot for two episodes the director do too format needed four episodes thus the endless walking around and cultural displays.

Other problems Adric is annoying you know the only Doctor Who's I have seen in years are the ones I own. And I have Adric only in the E-Space trillogy, I thought he did rather well in that and was suprised to read so many people thought he was annoying, all I can say is now I understand.Tegan acts like a panicky idiot the whole episode in a attempt to rachet up the tension. Nyssa she doesn't seem to have much to do.

In conclusion of the Peter Davison Doctor Who's I own I would highly recommend, Terminus,The Five Doctors, Resurrection of the Daleks and The Caves of Androzani.You can do a lot better than Four Till Doomsday, the only reason I gave it two stars instead of one is that for all it's problems it's more enjoyable than not but only barely.This is weak tea people.

The TARDIS crew land on a giant craft under the Urbankan leader Monarch. He and his two ministers, Enlightenment and Persuasion, are humanoids with green-brown frog-like complexion. The Urbankans are going to settle Earth, as their irregular variable sun went nova. However, as there are three billion Urbankans aboard, wherever they are, and three billion people on Earth, is it possible? And in a surprise moment, after Tegan provides some sketches of current Earth fashions, Enlightenment and Persuasion turn themselves human, wearing clothes from Tegan's sketch!

Other humans onboard: Bigon the Athenian philosopher, the Chinese Lin Futu, the Mayan Princess Villagra, and Kukurtji the Australian aborigine, as well as representatives of their tribe. Bigon's a valuable ally, as he tells them the inside story of Monarch's plan. However, if Bigon was rescued 100 generations ago, how can he survive for 2,500 years? The answer comes in the cliffhanger of Episode 2.

I found some of Monarch's intentions disguised as messages that actually hold water. He tells Adric that they are coming to save the Earthlings. "They war amongst themselves. They make more weapons than food and two-thirds of them are starving." I don't know--with the sorry state of the world today, maybe Monarch's grand scheme would be the best for mankind.

The Doctor marvels at the instruments of Monarch's ship in child-like wonder, flicking buttons. He's even polite to the monopticons, Monarch's black globular monitors, even making a pun: "Hello again. You must be having a ball."

Adric, not content to showing off--"...in the inner spiral arm of Galaxia Kyklos [Greek for the Milky Way]," berates the grumpy Tegan, who keeps going on about the TARDIS missed Heathrow Airport and how she'll lose her job. "That's the trouble with women--mindless, impatient, and bossy." WHOA! Tegan counters with "You chauvinist! I heard that." Adric: "You were meant to." Nyssa, also offended, happens to be reading Alfred North Whitehead's Principia Mathematica, and shows Adric the book. He backs off with, "You're not a woman... You're a girl." Kids, stop fighting now! And Nyssa, you're just amazing!

Tegan seems to have had a double serving of sour grapes in her breakfast cereal. When asked how her ancient history is, she answers, "Like I feel--awful." She's so high-strung and eager to get to the TARDIS, I thought, "Just as well, whiny! You're no fun anyway."

Nyssa comes off best of the trio. She not only tops Adric in scientific knowledge (bioengineering, cybernetics, biology concepts) she's more resourceful, well read, and more able to see the danger Monarch poses than Adric.

Many great lines also abound in this story. Enlightenment describes the Doctor as "too jocular, irresponsible. Such a being prefers mental anarchy. They call it freedom." Me too. Monarch on Bigon's tendency to doubt: "the greatest intellectual galvanizer." The Doctor teases the impatient Tegan by saying half a quote by Sir Francis Drake: "There's time enough to be at Terminal 3 and beat the Armada too." Bigon says, "In a civilized world, there is no substitute for democracy." Well, ideally, yes.

Four To Doomsday was the Fifth Doctor's second televised adventure, but the first one made. Having seen it so late after all the other Peter Davison stories, I was surprised and relieved that this story didn't disappoint. Davison is really feeling fresh and cheerful here.

The TARDIS crew land on a giant craft under the Urbankan leader Monarch. He and his two ministers, Enlightenment and Persuasion, are humanoids with green-brown frog-like complexion. The Urbankans are going to settle Earth, as their irregular variable sun went nova. However, as there are three billion Urbankans aboard, wherever they are, and three billion people on Earth, is it possible? And in a surprise moment, after Tegan provides some sketches of current Earth fashions, Enlightenment and Persuasion turn themselves human, wearing clothes from Tegan's sketch!

Other humans onboard: Bigon the Athenian philosopher, the Chinese Lin Futu, the Mayan Princess Villagra, and Kukurtji the Australian aborigine, as well as representatives of their tribe. Bigon's a valuable ally, as he tells them the inside story of Monarch's plan. However, if Bigon was rescued 100 generations ago, how can he survive for 2,500 years? The answer comes in the cliffhanger of Episode 2.

I found some of Monarch's intentions disguised as messages that actually hold water. He tells Adric that they are coming to save the Earthlings. "They war amongst themselves. They make more weapons than food and two-thirds of them are starving." I don't know--with the sorry state of the world today, maybe Monarch's grand scheme would be the best for mankind.

The Doctor marvels at the instruments of Monarch's ship in child-like wonder, flicking buttons. He's even polite to the monopticons, Monarch's black globular monitors, even making a pun: "Hello again. You must be having a ball."

Adric, not content to showing off--"...in the inner spiral arm of Galaxia Kyklos [Greek for the Milky Way]," berates the grumpy Tegan, who keeps going on about the TARDIS missed Heathrow Airport and how she'll lose her job. "That's the trouble with women--mindless, impatient, and bossy." WHOA! Tegan counters with "You chauvinist! I heard that." Adric: "You were meant to." Nyssa, also offended, happens to be reading Alfred North Whitehead's Principia Mathematica, and shows Adric the book. He backs off with, "You're not a woman... You're a girl." Kids, stop fighting now! And Nyssa, you're just amazing!

Tegan seems to have had a double serving of sour grapes in her breakfast cereal. When asked how her ancient history is, she answers, "Like I feel--awful." She's so high-strung and eager to get to the TARDIS, I thought, "Just as well, whiny! You're not much fun anyway."

Nyssa comes off best of the trio. She not only tops Adric in scientific knowledge (bioengineering, cybernetics, biology concepts) she's more resourceful, well read, and more able to see the danger Monarch poses than Adric.

Many great lines also abound in this story. Enlightenment describes the Doctor as "too jocular, irresponsible. Such a being prefers mental anarchy. They call it freedom." Me too. Monarch on Bigon's tendency to doubt: "the greatest intellectual galvanizer." The Doctor teases the impatient Tegan by saying half a quote by Sir Francis Drake: "There's time enough to be at Terminal 3 and beat the Armada too." Bigon says, "In a civilized world, there is no substitute for democracy." Well, ideally, yes.

Four To Doomsday was the Fifth Doctor's second televised adventure, but the first one made. Having seen it so late after all the other Peter Davison stories, I was surprised and relieved that this story didn't disappoint. Davison is really feeling fresh and cheerful here.

Highly underrated, and deservedly so. It's filled with double entedres, OTT acting and dialogue, and unsual theatrical staging. But, that's why I enjoy it. Four to Doomsday is also a very odd piece if Who, even though it's presentation is totally straight forward. I feel this story helps flesh out Adric and Tegan's relationship. And Adric, annoying as he is, is not bad in this serial, still showing his immaturity and impressionability. The design of the spaceship is done very well, giving a feeling of a lot of space.
As said before, this one always seems to get lost in the shuffle. But if you're a non-discriminating Who fan, you might find enjoyment when Tegan can understand the dialect of an Aborigne taken from Earth over 25,000 years ago and believe her draftsman abiltiy, watch silly swordsplay(why is all JNT era swordfighting look like they're rehearsing it?) and Chinese Dragons, then this might be the Who serial for you...