|
Post by Cyggy on Mar 4, 2022 0:50:13 GMT
Please rate and discuss this story here.....
|
|
|
Post by Cyggy on Mar 5, 2022 6:17:58 GMT
There's actually a rather nice scene between the Doctor, Jamie and Zoe in episode 3 that would be lovely to see if the episode were ever found, imo.... And a transcript of said moment..... www.chakoteya.net/DoctorWho/episodes2.htm
|
|
|
Post by Servo on Mar 5, 2022 7:47:46 GMT
I think everyone knows my opinion by now on this story. A story so boring I saw it twice (and remembered it).
It’s probably not as bad as my nine year old self thought. It’s lack of monsters and space travel that seemed to go on forever didn’t endear me to it at the time.
I suppose it has some sort of infamy as the last 60’s Doctor Who ever broadcast in Australia.
Would I be upset if it turned up? Probably not.
There are stories I’d far rather come back, but it’s been nearly 50 years since I last saw it and it can’t be any worse than The Time Monster can it?
|
|
|
Post by Black Orchid on Mar 14, 2022 19:49:37 GMT
From a 2020 rewatch on another forum:
Episode 1 review:
"Just sealing a coffin Dervish"
I was pleasantly surprised how well it held together.
Love the Ice Warriors-esque incidential music at the beginning.
It's very kind of General Hermack to explain the plot to his crew (and us) around the five minute mark.
Dudley Foster as Caven is the star name in the supporting cast, If all the Space Pirates existed and none of the Krotons, perhaps we would be more impressed his performance rather than Philip Madoc's?
A bit repetitive - Caven and his gang destroy three beacons during the episode. It's a shame that Caven and Dervish do not appear in episode 2 as they make a good double act.
This episode is 24 minutes long - the Doctor, Jamie and Zoe have three scenes totalling about 3 minutes.
7/10
But it's all downhill from here...
_____________________________
Episode 2:
"I would have put him through the mind probe sir"
Milo Clancy is introduced - his cowboy costume defines the character and so Gordon Gostelow has no choice but to portray Clancy in a hackneyed Wild West manner. He is not believable in any way - but at least he has some charisma unlike anybody else in this episode. I love the way he says Major? disdainfully to the young looking Major Warne.
The most boring parts of this episode are sadly the scenes featuring the Tardis crew - they have very little to do.
5/10
___________________________
Episode 3:
DOCTOR: Come on, you two, but for heaven's sake don't make a noise on the ladder.
(Jamie falls over something.)
ZOE: Jamie!
JAMIE: We're not on the ladder yet, are we?
No moving footage, no telesnaps, no publicity photographs - but all credit to Loose Cannon for making this episode watchable.
Not much to add to the previous two reviews, but episode three is certainly a welcome change of pace from the first two.
As mentioned before if you are presented with a cowboy costume then you are expected to act the character in a certain way and experienced actor Gordon Gostelow does the best with what he is given IMO. Sadly when there is only audio it’s a bit difficult at times to follow what is going on in the LIZ spaceship scenes as he is drowning everyone else out.
Milo calls Zoe my little chickabiddy! (an affectionate form of address for a small child or loved one).
General Hermack certainly is thick – willing to believe in Clancy’s guilt without any evidence and later authorizing his execution. The only Beta Dart he has seen belonged to the pirates - so when Madeline reveals she has two Beta Darts why doesn't it occur to him that she is in league with the pirates and not Clancy?
6/10 for this episode
___________________________________
Episode 4:
ZOE: What are you carrying drawing pins for?
DOCTOR: I like drawing pins. Ouch. Normally.
The Doctor has little to do, Jamie and Zoe even less so. Normally Jamie and / or Zoe would be separated from the Doctor and have a sub plot of their own but not in this story so far.
The episode benefits from having more of Dudley Foster and less of Gordon Gostelow. In common with other lesser sung villans like Captain Edal (The Savages) and The Marshal ( The Mutants) Caven is a utterly ruthless character. He coldly threatens Dervish with destruction and kills Lieutenant Sorba without a qualm. I enjoyed Sorba's performance, minor as it was (the actor had quite a large television CV).
Ridiculous that Hermack still hasn't twigged that the Pirates are using Madeline's Beta Dart.
A reasonably paced runaround 6/10.
________________________________
Episode 5:
DOCTOR: Jamie, pass me that marble will you?
JAMIE: This one?
DOCTOR: The green one. Thank you very much. It's one of my favourites.
The worst episode yet and a very noisy one. Everyone seems to be shouting.
As well as having magnets, a tuning fork and drawing pins in his pockets - the Doctor also has a bag of marbles.
For the first time in the story Jamie and Zoe leave the Doctor's side at the end of episode 5.
4/10 - can't wait for this story to end now.
________________________________
Episode 6:
DOCTOR: Oh, the Tardis. Well, that's no problem. It's orbiting Lobos, Milo's home planet, in one of the beacon sections.
ZOE: Oh no problem, hey? Well, how are we going to get to it?
DOCTOR: Milo's very kindly offered us a lift in the Liz.
JAMIE: Oh no, not the Liz again. Frankly, I'd rather walk.
MILO: You what?
DOCTOR: You never know. You might have to.
This episode wraps the story up nicely.
Shame the sympathetic Dervish didn’t survive, but in the end he stays loyal to Caven out of fear and his fate is sealed with the rest of the Pirates.
6/10
I have been pleasantly surprised by this story and it is much better than I thought it would be, but it is still the worst of the 21 Patrick Troughton stories.
5.5/10 for the story overall.
|
|
|
Post by GC on Mar 30, 2022 3:18:57 GMT
Doctor Who The Space Pirates Photo Gallery
|
|
|
Post by Cyggy on Jul 9, 2022 19:34:56 GMT
|
|
|
Post by Black Orchid on Mar 3, 2023 13:28:53 GMT
"there are off air recordings of “The Space Pirates” Episode Two that have some sound effects that aren’t on the 35mm soundtrack"
|
|
|
Post by Black Orchid on Mar 13, 2023 17:02:19 GMT
by Oliver Arkinstall-Jones
|
|
|
Post by GC on Mar 14, 2023 0:05:27 GMT
Blimey that poster actually makes The Space Pirates look dynamic and exciting...
|
|
|
Post by Servo on Mar 14, 2023 10:15:29 GMT
Blimey that poster actually makes The Space Pirates look dynamic and exciting... It’s by the same bloke who made the Monoids look scary. He’s obviously a genius. All he has to do now is do one that makes The Time Monster look good (and not the steaming turd that it is) and he’s a certified genius.
|
|
|
Post by Servo on Mar 14, 2023 10:18:46 GMT
I notice there wasn’t much comment from the film assessors and the censors about The Space Pirates.
They probably need a shed load of no doze and crates of Red Bull to get through it.
|
|
|
Post by GC on Mar 14, 2023 22:46:37 GMT
I notice there wasn’t much comment from the film assessors and the censors about The Space Pirates. They probably need a shed load of no doze and crates of Red Bull to get through it. They'd have their work cut with this one if they had to censor stuff that was coma inducing.
|
|
|
Post by Black Orchid on Mar 17, 2023 17:26:47 GMT
Doctor Who: Space Pirates - Inside Look (with Wendy Padbury!) Josh Snares
|
|
|
Post by Black Orchid on Mar 30, 2023 12:15:14 GMT
An article published in Radio Times when the Space Pirates was transmitted:
|
|
|
Post by Black Orchid on Apr 12, 2023 8:52:07 GMT
"Frazer Hines, Patrick Troughton and Wendy Padbury exiting the TARDIS onto the Beacon Alpha Four computer bay set in Lime Grove D on Friday 21st February 1969, during camera rehearsals for “The Space Pirates” Episode One." Colourised by Clayton Hickman
|
|