The Macra Terror (Doctor Who) [Audiobook] [Audio CD]

Colin Baker (Contributor)

Book Description

Series: Doctor Who | Publication Date: May 2001

The television soundtrack, with Patrick Troughton as the second doctor.

Product Details

• Audio CD
• Publisher: London Bridge (May 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0563477563
• ISBN-13: 978-0563477563
• Product Dimensions: 5.6 x 4.7 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5.6 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #896,745 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Good story crawls out of BBC's vaults, September 1, 2001

By 

"grrreg" - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Macra Terror (Doctor Who) (Audio CD)

The BBC, in the days before home video, decided that some of its programs were no longer required in its archives. In a somewhat unsystematic purging, many classics were consigned to the flames, including several Doctor Who stories. Fortunately, some fans of the series had made their own audio recordings, and these (following a thorough re-mastering by the BBC) are being released.

'The Macra Terror' is one of these releases. The story features a human colony under siege from a race of monsters - not an unusual description of a Patrick Troughton story. What makes this story unique is the nature of the colony - set up like an archetypical British holiday camp, the enforced bon hommie and cheerful tunes cast it in a different light. (This kind of society was revisited some 21 years later in the Sylvester McCoy story 'The Happiness Patrol'.)

The comparatively recent addition of Jamie to the TARDIS crew mean that all three companions (the other two being Ben and Polly) have smaller roles than might be desirable. The Doctor is very much on centre stage in this story, and Pat Troughton is well in his stride in the part.

Linking narration is by Colin Baker, who played the Doctor's sixth incarnation, and is surprisingly subdued given Baker's portrayal of the Doctor. The visual aspects of the show would probably added quite a bit to the enjoyment of the show (particularly in setting the holiday camp tone), but based on stills the appearance of the Macra is probably not truly missed.

The story is quite strong and not unduly tied in to the shows ongoing history, so is suitable for both fans and casual listeners.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars THERE IS NO MACRA!, November 29, 2001

By 

Matthew L. Roffman (Smyrna, GA USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Macra Terror (Doctor Who) (Audio CD)

Neat little Dr. Who story. Not one of the best. Gets four stars because of the work BBC has put into repackaging these stories with linking narration. I enjoyed hearing Ben and Polly since there are so few existing stories with them in it. It's a pretty two dimensional plot which is characterisitc of most of the Patrick Troughton "ooo look at the scarey monster" stories. Basically it's about a brainwashed culture that is dominated by ugly crab creatures that would probably be yummy with some garlic butter or tartar sauce. If you're a who fan, get it.

4.0 out of 5 stars **SPOILERS** Doctor Frees Colony from Controlling Claws, January 28, 2012

By 

paul m fauber (cleveland, ohio United States) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: The Macra Terror (Doctor Who) (Audio CD)

In the 1960s and 1970s, British television shows were rarely rebroadcast. Because no aftermarket existed and magnetic tape was costly, wiping tapes for reuse was common. Thus, the BBC's archives were depleted until home video created demand for older shows. DOCTOR WHO was famously hard hit and many of its monochrome episodes starring the original Doctor, William Hartnell, and even more with Patrick Troughton, his successor in the lead roll, remain missing today.

The BBC's Archives hold none of "The Macra Terror's" four episodes, but clips of Macra attacking Polly (Anneke Wills) from the shadows hint at their appearance. Fan audio recordings of DOCTOR WHO episodes exist and enabled "The Macra Terror" to be sold on cassette. Actor Colin Baker, who played the Sixth Doctor, narrated the action around the dialogue, and those recordings were released again on CD. Of course, neither medium showed Patrick Troughton's face in the opening titles for the first time. As the familiar theme faded, though, a rapid heartbeat suggested tension in the Colony, where cheerful songs and propaganda regulated happy workers' lives.

After raving about hideous creatures' nightly invasion, Medoc fled the Colony, attacking Ben (Michael Craze) and Jamie (Frazer Hines) as they arrived with the Doctor and Polly. The strangers' help capturing the escapee earned them a warm welcome, and, amidst the ensuing frivolity, a machine rendered the Doctor immaculate. He immediately exercised his free will and resumed his usual, rumpled appearance with a second machine. The Orwellian image of the young Controller together with this decision suggest the serious themes were woven into Ian Stuart Black's script.

As the script developed, Macra changed from spiders to insects and ultimately became crustaceans to keep viewers from confusing them with monsters from an earlier serial, "The Web Planet". Speaking of Macra, monsters who will never be mistaken for men in rubber suits, was forbidden on the Colony and required "correction" whenever it happened. The Macra's varying description, which enhanced their aura of mystery, and the image of a fearsome claw on the TARDIS time scanner he had seen before anyone arrived prompted the Doctor to free Medoc and follow him into the night.

They found the Macra before guards caught them both. Until Medoc intervened, the Doctor tried describing Macra to the Pilot, a Colony leader. The Controller, his boss, insisted, "No one on the Colony believes in Macra! There is no such thing as Macra! Macra do not exist!" and ordered voices in the night to condition the time travelers. The Doctor sabotaged Polly's conditioning, telling her she had been given bad advice. Jamie could not sleep and resisted, but Ben gave in, reporting the sabotage. After the Doctor and Jamie were taken to see the Pilot, Polly fled. Ben followed, defending her against the Macra while being unsure what was attacking her. The voices told Ben, "There are no Macra!" So, he insisted he had not fought them.

When the Pilot appealed to the Controller, the Doctor insisted upon seeing the Colony's leader in person. After agreeing, the young Controller was revealed to be old and emaciated. Then, a claw dragged him from sight, proving the Macra had enslaved the Colony. The Doctor; Jamie; and Polly were promptly condemned to the Danger Gang, which mined toxic gas upon which the Colony depended. As supervisor, the Doctor found the principle behind the gas pumping operation and undermined the voices' influence over Ben. The young sailor said nothing when Jamie stole the key to a locked, old mineshaft. Inside, the Scot found more Macra.

Control, the Macra, sent deadly gas along the old shaft instead of having it searched for Jamie. Wondering why, the Doctor realized Macra both occupied the old shaft and needed the gas to live. With Polly's help, he reversed the gas flow, to send fresh air toward Jamie. The Doctor's comment, "I've revolutionized the entire gas flow of the Colony," shows the story is a leftist allegory. One must, though, note where the story sets the political spectrum's boundaries.

The right controlled the Colony, regulating individuals' actions, and directing their thoughts. Since the human spirit yearns for freedom and tyrants typically try increasing control as their authority diminishes, the Macra's admonition against speaking to the Doctor failed. His metaphor, describing Macra as parasitic bacteria, helped the Pilot understand the truth. Jamie being mistaken for a dancer and demonstrating the Highland Fling provided needed comic relief as the tension built. Desperate to maintain power, the Macra caught the Doctor; the Pilot; Polly; and Jamie, planning to kill them with the deadly gas. Ben, no longer influenced by the voices, found the prisoners, and destroyed the pumping equipment. He even told the hysterical Macra to "shut up" before ending their tyranny and freeing the Colony.

This story showcases my favorite Doctor as a curious renegade with an unshakable belief in his convictions and it moves moves along, holding listener interest as "The Macra Terror" is slowly revealed. The BBC Audio Collection offers the only opportunity to enjoy this classic story from the second Doctor's first season, and it should not be missed.