Temporarily embarrassed proletarians

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Elizabeth Sandifer

Elizabeth Sandifer created Eruditorum Press. She’s not really sure why she did that, and she apologizes for the inconvenience. She currently writes Last War in Albion, a history of the magical war between Alan Moore and Grant Morrison. She used to write TARDIS Eruditorum, a history of Britain told through the lens of a ropey sci-fi series. She also wrote Neoreaction a Basilisk, writes comics these days, and has ADHD so will probably just randomly write some other shit sooner or later. Support Elizabeth on Patreon.

6 Comments

  1. Adeodatus
    August 1, 2011 @ 7:33 am

    I first saw "Colony" when I was 9, and all I really remembered afterwards was being a bit scared of the little wrinkly bloke in the fancy chair. I later got re-acquainted with the story through Hulke's novelisation, which I still think is one of the best novelisations in the series. I like that you give Hulke the credit for being the highly skilful writer that he was. The only criticism I would make of him is that, left to himself (as in the novelisations) his ethical exploration of his stories could make him a bit preachy.

    I'd be interested in your reaction to a couple of questions. First, how do you think the role of "science vicar" (brilliant!) has developed down to the present day? And secondly, do you think from this story onwards that the characterisation of the Third Doctor changes, the more that he's away from Earth? In other words (and I'm not sure about this myself) could it be that some of the annoying character traits you've mentioned recently could come out of the Doctor's frustration at being Earth-bound?

    Reply

  2. 7a1abfde-af0e-11e0-b72c-000bcdcb5194
    August 2, 2011 @ 9:51 pm

    Has no one here yet made the obligatory "incredible Hulke" joke?

    Reply

  3. Wm Keith
    August 2, 2011 @ 11:56 pm

    I'm really glad that you're finally able to enjoy what you're finding in Pertwee's stories. It's lifted the whole atmosphere of this blog – you were seemingly finding early Pertwee a bit of a strain, and I'd hate it to go the same way as The Nintendo Project.

    Reply

  4. Elizabeth Sandifer
    August 3, 2011 @ 8:32 am

    There was thankfully no real worry about that. Whatever my frustrations with the Pertwee era (and I knew going into it that I was going to have some issues with it, but also that it improved from seasons 8-10), unlike the Nintendo Project, I know that after the Pertwee era comes a run of ten seasons that I mostly love.

    It's also worth noting that the general arc I'm tracing is one that Letts ultimately traces as well. Ultimately, he opts to frame the Pertwee era as a parable of spiritual enlightenment. I think that in a lot of ways Planet of the Spiders makes many of the same critiques of the Pertwee era that I already have. But as Adeodatus points out, there is a turning point as well. I'm about halfway through season nine in my watching now, and there's no question in my mind that the series is changing and learning, and that many of the things I've been complaining about are being consciously addressed.

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  5. IMFI Pty. Ltd.
    August 29, 2011 @ 9:45 pm

    Sometimes a western in space is just a western in space.

    Reply

  6. orfeo
    October 30, 2013 @ 4:01 am

    Well I'm now back to agreeing with you. Which is nice. I used to enjoy that back in the day…

    The last episode is something of a disappointment with the rather cavalier way that the remains of a civilisation are blown up (and one wonders why they would wait until the Master found the weapon before deciding, in the space of 60 seconds, that it was a horrible thing that absolutely must be disposed of), but apart from that I found this quite enjoyable.

    And that was down to the quality of the characters. As you say, they are nuanced. I found it particularly rewarding seeing the contrast between one IMC subordinate who would merrily do whatever his ruthless leader wanted, and the other who visibly wrestled with his conscience and would do what he could to subvert the worst effects of his leader's edicts.

    Reply

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