shadowhive

So yesterday the Doctor Who season 8 boxset arrived and, instead of waiting till a Monday like an usually do, I decided to watch it last night. I think this’ll be the way I continue watching the season (the ep on Saturday and the special features Sunday) since I think it works better and will mean I won’t miss Maxx’s streams or have to watch the ep late.

The first episode of season 8 was Terror Of The Autons, which saw the return of the Autons (from season 7) as well as the introduction of some new characters, Jo, The Master and Mike Yates. While the episode’s title has the Autons in the name (and they certainly have stuff to do) the story is very much focussed on the Master. Right from the start he’s introduced, showing his hypnotic powers, his ruthlessness and his ability to manipulate people. In fact the time lords consider him such a threat they actually send someone to warn the Doctor he’s there (though just warn, they don’t give him any help whatsoever which you think they would considering how dangerous he is). As such I think it does a pretty good job of introducing him.

Jo joins in this ep as the Doctor’s new assistant, though it’s a little sad that Liz doesn’t get a send off (just getting a comment that she went back to Cambridge). The ep does a good job of introducing her though, she’s sweet and a little clumsy but she’s also quite capable. Mike’s introduced as another UNIT guy and I liked that he was mentioned to have been part of the clean up from the Autons first appearance.

As for the Autons themselves, while they appear mostly in plastic doll form they also bring with them a variety of seemingly innocuous plastic based weapons. There’s an inflatable chair that eats someone, a phone wire that wraps around the Doctor and daffodils that spray a film designed to suffocate someone. And then there the troll doll which looks... well, ugly and creepy. The original plan was they were meant to more involved, being given away from a circus, though that had to be dropped as there was issues with the guy performing the movements. I think that’s a good call because who would want one of those? Even for free.

It’s perhaps ironic that the episode ends with the Doctor and a Master on a radio telescope thing (considering that results in the fourth Doctor regenerating) although this time the Doctor convinces him the Autons will turn on him. Would they really though? It was unclear, though the Autons were definitely willing to drive off and leave him behind when he was late one time so who knows.

The addition on the blu ray came with some updated effects and I think they worked pretty well. They replaced the dolls movements (making it creepier) and I think they also improved the Nestene’s arrival at the end. I really hope that they do a similar thing when they get to season 11, improving Invasion Of The Dinosaurs.

I’m looking forward to seeing the other eps of the season too, I’ve not seen any of them in a long time. I think the last one I seen was Claws Of Axos cause it was one of the last dvds I got (and I got it signed).

After watching the ep I watched one of the special features which was a making of (clearly done for the original dvd). The first part of it was nice, covering the introductions of the new characters as well as including a few stories that were mentioned in the box set’s booklet. It was also nice that they included some clips from a Jon Pertwee interview from before his death. However there was a problem with it towards the end as it stopped being about the episode itself and became more of a comparison with the new series, which I didn’t think was either fair or fit too well.

I’m gonna watch the rest of the special features tonight, which includes behind the sofa, something about the master and something on plastic.

I was gonna read the Klaus comics earlier but I’ve been a bit headache and blah which sucks.