When I occasionally watch the final episode of The Dalek Invasion of Earth and hear Hartnell's speech I still half expect the Davison title sequence to start.
Carole Ann Ford came across Hurndall at the filming site from behind when he was sat on a rock and had a shock of "recognition". She had no trouble accepting him. Heather Hartnell at Longleat a short time later said Peter Davison reminded her strongly of a young Bill Hartnell!
Lovely! John Nathan Turner originally didn't want the Dalek in the story as he knew they were going to be brought back the following season and thought the Dalek's appearance here would lessen the impact of their return. Fortunately, Terrance Dicks was able to convince him that a celebration of all things Doctor Who had to include the Daleks in some capacity.
@UCO7VSpHtkbjYCEyXT3uaz7A Sorry about that, I knew that of their next reappearance. I just forgot that these videos are weeks, if not months old and are just now being uploaded, so she's most likely seen it by now. My bad.
@@louiswright8282 No worries. You were just looking out for Medusa's best interests. I actually deleted my reply a few seconds after posting it, because it read as being more cross and ruder than I intended it to. Sorry if I offended you.
Lovely reactions, especially the 'bloody 'ell,' after Sarah's awkward hillside tumble! What a story! I had tears in my eyes watching that: so many of them are gone.
A remarkable piece of writing by Terrance Dicks, who was brought in to write the story when Robert Holmes dropped out. Interestingly, Holmes's storyline _"would have featured Cybermen kidnapping five incarnations of the Doctor, in an attempt to extract Time Lord DNA [and] turn themselves into Cyberlords"_ (Wikipedia). Hmm...
a bit negative on my part here but this is one of my biggest problems with New Who as a whole - taking ideas from the classic show or even the later 7th/8th Doctor eras but then executing them in the shallowest often stupidest ways possible. It is frustrating to no end that the modern show always gets a pat on the back and placed on a pedestal despite stuff like this being a near constant (don't get me wrong I like certain episodes in the modern show but feel only series 1, 5 and arguably 3 are even close to as good as people and the media present them as).
Indeed, it's what the Master was attempting to steal - that black monolith thing is presumably a dimensionally transcendental box they keep the black hole in so that they can plug it into the planet.
The Eye of Orion is the folly tower at Plas Brondanw near Portmeirion. The first Doctor's garden is the garden of Plas Brondanw house itself. Well worth a visit to both (it was free with an honest box for donations when I went). Very beautiful in summer. The BBC left two sides of a police box prop there after they filmed.
In reality he's not really much like Hartnell in either look or performance, but of course back in 1983 viewers hadn't really seen Hartnell in the role for 16+ years outside of his brief appearances in The Three Doctors and a recent repeat of An Unearthly Child. It worked because Terrance Dicks wrote a good script and Hurndall played it straight. He doesn't capture Hartnell's portrayal, but he does give a respectful performance. Personally I hate recasting, but given all that plus the fact that Hartnell was the only actor who played the Doctor who was no longer with us I can happily make an exception. *Nu Who Spoiler* Whilst I've always enjoyed David Bradley's acting performances, I thought it was a terrible and completely unnecessary idea to cast him in Nu Who. Hartnell is the First Doctor and, like Hurndall, Bradly bears only a passing resemblance to him and doesn't sound or act like him. I therefore found his appearance very jarring, made a hundred times worse by a risible script that insulted Hartnell's portrayal by making his Doctor out to be a sexist misogynist which he simply wasn't. It was a disgrace.
He's not far off the way Hartnell looked in 1972 (especially the press photos of them in the grounds of the film studio) but the costume isn't very close. Same with Troughton's - a rough approximation of his actual era's costume.
@@frankshailes3205 Troughton's hair is what always stood out to me rather than his clothes. How difficult was it to give him a Beatles mop top rather than a bowl cut? 😄
I own the VHS tape of the five doctors had it all my life used to watch it constantly I didn't have other episodes at that time have fond memories of this story more than any other
Saw this on first broadcast in 1983, when it was shown as part of ‘Children in Need’. I was 6 at the time and wasn’t familiar enough with the history of the show to get all the references. It was my first time seeing Troughton, Pertwee, Sarah, & Susan. About a year later, BBC showed it again, this time edited into a 4 part story. My family had a video by then, so I recorded this version and for years I had the story as a 4 parter. Almost forgot it had been a 90 min special to begin with! The first part ended with Sarah rolling down that little hill.
I no longer have the tape, got rid of it ages ago. I think if the BBC want to put the 4 part version on the season 20 boxset, they’ll reconstruct it in high quality from the editing notes made in ‘84.
I mentioned in another reaction that when Romana II aired in the US, I was dating a girl who was a dead ringer for Lalla Ward. When this episode aired, I was dating a girl who was a dead ringer for Janet Fielding. While there had always been a strong resemblance, it was this episode in which it became striking. Tegan's makeup, hairstyle and clothes began to exactly match my girlfriend's. There was no effort on my girlfriend's part. It just happened that they changed Tegan's look. It was almost eerie, but as with my previous girlfriend, I was once again the envy of all my fellow geek friends.
Although the clip of William Hartnell plays merry hell with your thought processes when you subsequently see Richard Hurndall (who, apparently, had acted with Hartnell), I think we were still so grateful to see these vintage vignettes that it didn't really matter. Where else was I going to see a moment from 'The Dalek Invasion of Earth'?
I think Carole Ann Ford said that when she first saw Richard in costume and with his wig, even though she knew it wasn’t Bill, something just clicked in her head and she felt like she was back working with him.
I hadn't quite got up to date with your 5th Doctor reactions but I couldn't resist skipping straight to this one! As far as I remember, I've only ever see extracts from and reaction videos for this story. Not the whole thing. Which I really should remedy. Can't wait for Marie-Clare and, later, Sesskasays to catch up with it. Unlike yourself I don't think either of them will be expecting the reappearance of Susan. Should be interesting!
Second chatting to the Brig before they get scooped, knows what Third will be like, + remembers 3 Doctors - "don't forget Omega" strikingly matches if he has just remembered him. I reckon this: Bcos the Brig was in 3 Doctors, they were both in it, so when they meet, their time streams are put back in sync. [from Day of the Doctor, when Eleventh says "the time streams are out of sync"] That makes that Second can remember it again.
I don't think the 2nd ever forgot... at least until the end of this story when the Wisdom of Rassilon might have a hand in things (Time Lord society is good at memory-wipes as we know from The War Games)...
'Tomorrow's Times...' LOVE this story. Watched it when it came on in 1983 and recorded it onto a betamax tape which was then played to destruction! Great fun celebration.☺
It's strange to think that, in an alternative timeline, the Anniversary Special was called 'The Six Doctors' and featured an android duplicate of the 1st incarnation. At least that was Robert Holmes' version, but as usual he couldn't really get to grips with the ever-changing list of characters and actors and dropped out. Thankfully, Terrance Dicks was waiting in the wings with his own story breakdown ready to go...
My chief memory is of sitting, waiting patiently through Children In Need, with mounting excitement. I wasn't privy, at that stage, to all the behind-the-scenes shenanigans; like Tom Baker deciding to pull out (it was the 4th Doctor that was originally going to confront Borusa - which I think you can tell by the dialogue), or the whole special being pushed back two days in order to be part of the telethon schedule (meaning you could go out and buy the Target novelization and not only read all the bits that happened but all the bits they left out!). It seemed to produce a buzz at school too - but I suspect that was the last time. There was a wind of change in the air.
one thing to love about this episode......EVERYTHING all new who fans should see it...eye of harmony mentioned earlier in deadly assassin and later in Dr Who movie
@@robalexander8065 I agree no Tom so bad so wrong but everything that did happen I LOVED...maybe the plot problems (so many callbacks)could be solved with a series long anniversary story arc hint hint Mr Chibnall
@@geoffmason7215 I always thought a series of audio adventures on R4 leading up to a TV anniversary story would work rather well. This would negate any issues with actors having aged and those who are no longer with us could be recast with good soundalikes. Chris Walker-Thompson does a good Troughton and Jon Culshaw a good Pertwee for example (as well as an excellent Nick Courtney). The Doctors could even be paired up. It would be fun to listen to a story with the 2nd and 3rd Doctors bickering away, the 5th and 10th teaming up etc. Oh, and I wouldn't get your hopes up with Chibnall. His expertise is creating plot problems not solving them.
@@frankshailes3205 I've not listened to many Big Finish audios. How much does he sound like Pertwee? I understand that Frazer Hines stands in for Troughton too, but I've not heard him either. I have heard Chris Walker-Thompson and Jon Culshaw on UA-cam which is why I mentioned them.
Everything goes up a notch from this story onwards. There is a noticeable improvement in effects and the incidental music gets much more dynamic. And if course there's the new TARDIS console that'll see us through to the end of the classic run.
@@frankshailes3205 Yes, completely absurd. Michael Grade takes over waving his willy about and taking great personal pleasure in killing off something loved by millions. It never recovered from this disaster.
This was the first time a Doctor looking at something he knew and it had changed, said, 'I don't like it.' It has been used in New Who a number of time. The Eye Of Harmony was first mentioned in the Tom Baker Episode, 'The Deadly Assassin'. I loved this story and so far your Reactions have been perfect.
@@Rocket1377 I am SO Glad you said that. Six weeks ago one of my Friends asked if he could borrow it for a couple of days and I still haven't got it back. I will phone him later when he get's in from work. I completely forgot all about that. The Eye of Harmony was also know as Rassilon's Star and The Eye Of Time. Unfortunately the Doctor Who History it took years to create in Classic Who has all but been destroyed in New Who. That includes information on the Eye.
I've never understood. If the time lords can offer the Master a whole new set of regenerations then why is Borusa scared about mortality? He's President, surely he can just give himself a whole new life cycle. You can tell this was written in a hurry.
It seems like they were making up all that technobabble on the fly. Notice the Timelord council said they checked EVERY incarnation of the Doctor so no one older than Hartnell, eh Chibnall? He's ruined new Who for me. I always enjoy seeing Patrick Troughton, it's a shame Tom Baker didn't want to be in it, I expect he'd take the spotlight.
When I occasionally watch the final episode of The Dalek Invasion of Earth and hear Hartnell's speech I still half expect the Davison title sequence to start.
Carole Ann Ford came across Hurndall at the filming site from behind when he was sat on a rock and had a shock of "recognition". She had no trouble accepting him. Heather Hartnell at Longleat a short time later said Peter Davison reminded her strongly of a young Bill Hartnell!
Lovely! John Nathan Turner originally didn't want the Dalek in the story as he knew they were going to be brought back the following season and thought the Dalek's appearance here would lessen the impact of their return. Fortunately, Terrance Dicks was able to convince him that a celebration of all things Doctor Who had to include the Daleks in some capacity.
NO SPOILERS
@UCO7VSpHtkbjYCEyXT3uaz7A Sorry about that, I knew that of their next reappearance. I just forgot that these videos are weeks, if not months old and are just now being uploaded, so she's most likely seen it by now. My bad.
@@louiswright8282 No worries. You were just looking out for Medusa's best interests. I actually deleted my reply a few seconds after posting it, because it read as being more cross and ruder than I intended it to. Sorry if I offended you.
@@whobp8 nah you didn't. Don't worry about it :) it's fine
The Brigadier's replacement was played by David Saville. Lt. Carstaires in The War Games
NEVER realised that. Of COURSE it is. 🤦♂️
And Winser in The Claws of Axos
They couldn't get Benton so they did the next best thing for a Season Six military reunion!
Lovely reactions, especially the 'bloody 'ell,' after Sarah's awkward hillside tumble! What a story! I had tears in my eyes watching that: so many of them are gone.
Yes, awkward falling over is something of an unfortunate theme in this story!
One of my ABSOLUTE Favorites of all time! And a wonderful anniversary episode to boot!
A remarkable piece of writing by Terrance Dicks, who was brought in to write the story when Robert Holmes dropped out. Interestingly, Holmes's storyline _"would have featured Cybermen kidnapping five incarnations of the Doctor, in an attempt to extract Time Lord DNA [and] turn themselves into Cyberlords"_ (Wikipedia). Hmm...
a bit negative on my part here but this is one of my biggest problems with New Who as a whole - taking ideas from the classic show or even the later 7th/8th Doctor eras but then executing them in the shallowest often stupidest ways possible. It is frustrating to no end that the modern show always gets a pat on the back and placed on a pedestal despite stuff like this being a near constant (don't get me wrong I like certain episodes in the modern show but feel only series 1, 5 and arguably 3 are even close to as good as people and the media present them as).
The eye of harmony was also mentioned in the Deadly Assassin.
This is the Eye of Orion... different thing.
@@frankshailes3205 The high council mention an energy drain from the eye of harmony which is what was being referred to.
Indeed, it's what the Master was attempting to steal - that black monolith thing is presumably a dimensionally transcendental box they keep the black hole in so that they can plug it into the planet.
This was the first classic serial I ever bought. Still remains one of my favourites
Sarah Jane is rescued from the perils of a gentle slope
No budget for the camerawork, fx and stunt doubles needed.
The Eye of Orion is the folly tower at Plas Brondanw near Portmeirion. The first Doctor's garden is the garden of Plas Brondanw house itself. Well worth a visit to both (it was free with an honest box for donations when I went). Very beautiful in summer. The BBC left two sides of a police box prop there after they filmed.
On first watching, I was in tears by the time Sarah Jane appeared!
Richard Hundrall does a great job playing the first Doctor here, at least the first doctor gets a bigger role than he did in 3 Doctors
In reality he's not really much like Hartnell in either look or performance, but of course back in 1983 viewers hadn't really seen Hartnell in the role for 16+ years outside of his brief appearances in The Three Doctors and a recent repeat of An Unearthly Child. It worked because Terrance Dicks wrote a good script and Hurndall played it straight. He doesn't capture Hartnell's portrayal, but he does give a respectful performance. Personally I hate recasting, but given all that plus the fact that Hartnell was the only actor who played the Doctor who was no longer with us I can happily make an exception.
*Nu Who Spoiler*
Whilst I've always enjoyed David Bradley's acting performances, I thought it was a terrible and completely unnecessary idea to cast him in Nu Who. Hartnell is the First Doctor and, like Hurndall, Bradly bears only a passing resemblance to him and doesn't sound or act like him. I therefore found his appearance very jarring, made a hundred times worse by a risible script that insulted Hartnell's portrayal by making his Doctor out to be a sexist misogynist which he simply wasn't. It was a disgrace.
He's not far off the way Hartnell looked in 1972 (especially the press photos of them in the grounds of the film studio) but the costume isn't very close. Same with Troughton's - a rough approximation of his actual era's costume.
@@frankshailes3205 Troughton's hair is what always stood out to me rather than his clothes. How difficult was it to give him a Beatles mop top rather than a bowl cut? 😄
This story is the oldest VHS tape I still own. Yes, it still works 38 years ago. And i didn't own a VHS Deck until 1984! I rented it.
I own the VHS tape of the five doctors had it all my life used to watch it constantly I didn't have other episodes at that time have fond memories of this story more than any other
Saw this on first broadcast in 1983, when it was shown as part of ‘Children in Need’. I was 6 at the time and wasn’t familiar enough with the history of the show to get all the references. It was my first time seeing Troughton, Pertwee, Sarah, & Susan.
About a year later, BBC showed it again, this time edited into a 4 part story. My family had a video by then, so I recorded this version and for years I had the story as a 4 parter. Almost forgot it had been a 90 min special to begin with! The first part ended with Sarah rolling down that little hill.
If the BBC ever need a copy of the four part version to get ready for a possible Blu Ray version, would you be happy to loan it to 'em?
I no longer have the tape, got rid of it ages ago.
I think if the BBC want to put the 4 part version on the season 20 boxset, they’ll reconstruct it in high quality from the editing notes made in ‘84.
love that you are watching the televised version w/o the new special effects!!
I mentioned in another reaction that when Romana II aired in the US, I was dating a girl who was a dead ringer for Lalla Ward. When this episode aired, I was dating a girl who was a dead ringer for Janet Fielding. While there had always been a strong resemblance, it was this episode in which it became striking. Tegan's makeup, hairstyle and clothes began to exactly match my girlfriend's.
There was no effort on my girlfriend's part. It just happened that they changed Tegan's look.
It was almost eerie, but as with my previous girlfriend, I was once again the envy of all my fellow geek friends.
You're just sharing that to make those of us of a certain age very, very jealous!
And it WORKED damnit!
Although the clip of William Hartnell plays merry hell with your thought processes when you subsequently see Richard Hurndall (who, apparently, had acted with Hartnell), I think we were still so grateful to see these vintage vignettes that it didn't really matter. Where else was I going to see a moment from 'The Dalek Invasion of Earth'?
I think Carole Ann Ford said that when she first saw Richard in costume and with his wig, even though she knew it wasn’t Bill, something just clicked in her head and she felt like she was back working with him.
I hadn't quite got up to date with your 5th Doctor reactions but I couldn't resist skipping straight to this one! As far as I remember, I've only ever see extracts from and reaction videos for this story. Not the whole thing. Which I really should remedy. Can't wait for Marie-Clare and, later, Sesskasays to catch up with it. Unlike yourself I don't think either of them will be expecting the reappearance of Susan. Should be interesting!
Oh nice, been waiting for this one **rubs hands**...
I love the five doctors, it's such an easy and fun watch
Oh, you didn’t watch the new effects version? It has the Time Travelling Toilet Tissue of Rassilon in it for the Time Scoop! It’s hilarious!
The Eye of Harmony was first mentioned in The Deadly Assassin and last talked about in the TV movie with the introduction of the Eighth Doc.
Gosh I love that TARDIS console!
Second chatting to the Brig before they get scooped, knows what Third will be like, + remembers 3 Doctors - "don't forget Omega" strikingly matches if he has just remembered him. I reckon this: Bcos the Brig was in 3 Doctors, they were both in it, so when they meet, their time streams are put back in sync.
[from Day of the Doctor, when Eleventh says "the time streams are out of sync"]
That makes that Second can remember it again.
I don't think the 2nd ever forgot... at least until the end of this story when the Wisdom of Rassilon might have a hand in things (Time Lord society is good at memory-wipes as we know from The War Games)...
Love that ur watching the (in my opinion) superior original version and not the later re-edit.
'Tomorrow's Times...' LOVE this story. Watched it when it came on in 1983 and recorded it onto a betamax tape which was then played to destruction! Great fun celebration.☺
"I bet, like, people watching this were just so happy when all these people came back."
Indeed we were!
I one of my favourite Peter Davison stories. Terrance Dicks wrote a very good story
It's strange to think that, in an alternative timeline, the Anniversary Special was called 'The Six Doctors' and featured an android duplicate of the 1st incarnation. At least that was Robert Holmes' version, but as usual he couldn't really get to grips with the ever-changing list of characters and actors and dropped out. Thankfully, Terrance Dicks was waiting in the wings with his own story breakdown ready to go...
My chief memory is of sitting, waiting patiently through Children In Need, with mounting excitement. I wasn't privy, at that stage, to all the behind-the-scenes shenanigans; like Tom Baker deciding to pull out (it was the 4th Doctor that was originally going to confront Borusa - which I think you can tell by the dialogue), or the whole special being pushed back two days in order to be part of the telethon schedule (meaning you could go out and buy the Target novelization and not only read all the bits that happened but all the bits they left out!). It seemed to produce a buzz at school too - but I suspect that was the last time. There was a wind of change in the air.
one thing to love about this episode......EVERYTHING all new who fans should see it...eye of harmony mentioned earlier in deadly assassin and later in Dr Who movie
The lack of Tom was a big disappointment back in 1983. Terrance Dicks did a good job getting so many great characters without overwhelming the plot.
@@robalexander8065 I agree no Tom so bad so wrong but everything that did happen I LOVED...maybe the plot problems (so many callbacks)could be solved with a series long anniversary story arc hint hint Mr Chibnall
@@geoffmason7215 I always thought a series of audio adventures on R4 leading up to a TV anniversary story would work rather well. This would negate any issues with actors having aged and those who are no longer with us could be recast with good soundalikes. Chris Walker-Thompson does a good Troughton and Jon Culshaw a good Pertwee for example (as well as an excellent Nick Courtney). The Doctors could even be paired up. It would be fun to listen to a story with the 2nd and 3rd Doctors bickering away, the 5th and 10th teaming up etc.
Oh, and I wouldn't get your hopes up with Chibnall. His expertise is creating plot problems not solving them.
@@jjc5407 Tim Treloar is Big Finish's Third Doctor, I believe.
@@frankshailes3205 I've not listened to many Big Finish audios. How much does he sound like Pertwee? I understand that Frazer Hines stands in for Troughton too, but I've not heard him either. I have heard Chris Walker-Thompson and Jon Culshaw on UA-cam which is why I mentioned them.
Cool you're watching the original version of this. I never really cared for the special edition
same
Great reaction as always 😀
Everything goes up a notch from this story onwards. There is a noticeable improvement in effects and the incidental music gets much more dynamic. And if course there's the new TARDIS console that'll see us through to the end of the classic run.
Funny to think that in about 16 months' time, and less than 2 seasons, the BBC would cancel the show for the first time.
@@frankshailes3205 Yes, completely absurd. Michael Grade takes over waving his willy about and taking great personal pleasure in killing off something loved by millions. It never recovered from this disaster.
I see you're watching the original 1983 version and not the later improved sfx version🎩
With it's badly-paced fan edit that didn't consult the original director...
This was the first time a Doctor looking at something he knew and it had changed, said, 'I don't like it.' It has been used in New Who a number of time. The Eye Of Harmony was first mentioned in the Tom Baker Episode, 'The Deadly Assassin'. I loved this story and so far your Reactions have been perfect.
No, the second Doctor said that in The Three Doctors when he saw the new console room.
@@Rocket1377 Indeed, one of a number of little nods to the show's past beyond the obvious nature of the story that adds to the fun. 😀
@@Rocket1377 I am SO Glad you said that. Six weeks ago one of my Friends asked if he could borrow it for a couple of days and I still haven't got it back. I will phone him later when he get's in from work. I completely forgot all about that. The Eye of Harmony was also know as Rassilon's Star and The Eye Of Time. Unfortunately the Doctor Who History it took years to create in Classic Who has all but been destroyed in New Who. That includes information on the Eye.
Part one? It's better as a one part story (as originally) though it basically is just a four-parter with cliffhangers and credits removed.
Of course we didn't know at time that Tom's stuff was from Shada and not shot specifically for the specifical🎩
...I mean special,obvs🎩🙄
I would love to know where those figures are now.I would love to have them.
The figures now sit in someone's private collection, bought from an auction a few years ago.
@@markbelsom3174 Nice.
I've never understood. If the time lords can offer the Master a whole new set of regenerations then why is Borusa scared about mortality? He's President, surely he can just give himself a whole new life cycle. You can tell this was written in a hurry.
Maybe the Lord President is not allowed to ask for a new life cycle?
@@gumdeo Maybe he's like Ten and doesn't want to go and be replaced by another Borusa?
How many parts will this reaction be in?
I kinda wish you were watching the special edition, since this is a rewatch you could have compared them. I prefer the new version myself.
I've seen the special edition before as well.
Christopher Eccleston's in that one...
How many parts is it going to be in
2 or 3
It seems like they were making up all that technobabble on the fly. Notice the Timelord council said they checked EVERY incarnation of the Doctor so no one older than Hartnell, eh Chibnall? He's ruined new Who for me.
I always enjoy seeing Patrick Troughton, it's a shame Tom Baker didn't want to be in it, I expect he'd take the spotlight.