With the return of Mel and the mention of Sabalom Glitz, I decided to go back and watch Trial of a Time Lord. I marathoned all 14 episodes with fairly fresh eyes, I had not watched it in well over a decade. Each story is honestly super well put together, and the stories themselves are pretty interesting sci-fi on their own standing. The way the trial is woven into the stories, the edits, the way characters act “out of character” when in parts that had been manipulated within the Time Lord Matrix, feels well ahead of its time for 1986 television. also, it feels like a waste to have The Valeyard pop up and not be dead at the end, and then we never see him again. Like, that was a huge reveal. The Valeyard is actually The Doctor, but only his dark side, and is looking to eliminate his virtuous half. That honestly sounds like something straight out of modern Dr. Who. I’d always hoped we would see more of him.
I had heard that this season was not well liked, and that Colin Baker was partially to blame for being not very popular as The Doctor… But I dunno. This season feels like an amazing season. I think it’s a shame Baker didn’t get one more season as was originally planned.
It’s not a bad season and Mel is over of my favourite Classic Who companions. And I liked all the Valeyard name jokes.
While I know it wasn’t meant to be funny, the final scene of the Doctor exercising and then having regenerated in the first scene of the next season really looks like he died from exercising and healthy eating. They even make fun of that in the series 8 intro with the Pater Noster Gang.
Lol I know! Man. In the 80’s, we had VHS copies my aunt had taped off late night PBS and our recording of Time and The Rani started late, with the Rani entering the TARDIS and we didn’t see the crash. I distinctly remember being VERY confused! But now it all makes sense! Carrot juice! Damn it, Mel!
So I just jumped ahead today and watched Dragonfire, and wow, I forgot how sudden Mel’s decision to leave with Glitz was. So hard headed! She did not want to be second fiddle to the Doc or anyone. You could call it rushed writing, but it somehow enhances her character a lot now with the context of what she said in The Giggle.
I hope we see a lot more of her and UNIT in the next season.
