13.2 Planet of Evil

Rating 2/10

Alternate title: The Evil Planet or Another Stupid Uninteresting Weird Planet or Who Gives A...

Umm...so looking back on this one, I actually don't remember much of it. I had to go back into my notes and try to remember it all over again. Oh, it's another one of those strange inhospitable freaky weird jungle planet? Oh that's...memorable...

So do you anticipate an enormous Mardi Gras party complete with piñata, on this fun planet? Nope.  Sometimes I have issue with the episode titles, because already I set myself up for hating this episode, just because anything with Planet of Something, is going to be really bad.  It just is.  Sometimes the titles give away the monsters, so there is no element of surprise.  I know that I can't reach existential experiences while watching Doctor Who, but at least try to surprise me sometimes.  Then again, I've not usually liked the surprises when there have been ones.  Dinosaurs? Really? 

Money must have been a bit tight for this episode.  It looks like a 4th grader chalk picture on the sidewalk.

Oh, your thirty thousand years off from the time when you left the Zygons?  Good one, Doc!  Actually the TARDIS received a distress signal, so it's there because it's been summoned.  Time Lord slave, I laugh at you!

Moral of this story? Don't trust Professor Sorenson.  And don't ask.

Oh, the Doctor just fell into a bloody pit, and we think he's dead! Is he dead? Is he DEAD? IS HE DEAD???? Oh, nah....he's not.  Psych!  They did it again.  I think I'll dub Tom Baker, the "Nearly Dead Doctor".  See, nearly dying has ceased become a surprise or cliffhanger, because there is no way that he's actually going to die, and it happens in every episode.  I know that he isn't one of the shortest running Doctor, so there is just no way he is going to die yet.  Or maybe we have magically passed through time, and I just don't remember all those Tom Baker years.  Or maybe they want to numb us, so when it actually happens we will be surprised. Am I rambling?

I'm not really liking the outfits.  What's with all the rabbit fur lining?

"ANTI-MAN"?  What?

How do you get rid of Anti Men? With antimatter canisters!  Actually there were quite a few canister-carrying scenes.  They must have been proud of those things.  If only I had one, I would keep it full of jelly babies for our neighbor children.

I love scruffy, dirty, angry men.  They don't have enough of those in Doctor Who.

The Doctor mentions that he met William Shakespeare, which David Tennant accomplishes.  Thanks for confusing me!

Let's not return to that planet ever again, please.

Next Up: Pyramids of Mars

13.1 Terror of the Zygons

Rating 7/10

Alternate Titles: The Zygon Terror or The Friggin Ugly Red Meany Head Things. Not to be confused with Terror of the Autons. 

Wow, Steven Moffat is a nerd!  The Zygons made a minor appearance in the 50th Anniversary Special.  I had not yet seen the original episode when the Zygons were first introduced, so they didn't mean much to me when I saw them in the 50th special.   I don't know if they became popular or why they did, but it seemed kind of random to bring these guys back.  I didn't really find the Zygons very likable, but they stand out in my brain.  Maybe it was their look.  They are very unique.

I love UNIT and all its characters.  I don't care if the plots are really bad.  I just love UNIT.  Did I mean to say that out loud?  Am I labeling myself?  And the Brigadier summons the Doctor back to Earth! That's awesome! No self respecting renegade Time Lord would ever allow that to happen. Actually, the Doctor is rather annoyed that the Brigadier used said summons.  I don't think he expected the Brigadier to actually use it.

The Loch Ness monster is really a robot controlled by the Zygons.  That's....peculiar.

I can't look at a stag's head without thinking that I'm being watched by some rabid red aliens.  My life is so strange now.

Poor Harry, getting assaulted like that.  He reminds me a bit like the old Ian Chesterton character, except with a little less direction.  There's something rather likable about Harry.  But then again, he's rather cute so I don't mind if he does the wrong thing.  Go away Sarah Jane! Shoo!

Tibetan monks can teach you many things.  Listen, my child, and I will teach you how to put yourself in a trance.  That's a useful skill you can use in math class.  Wasn't Pertwee doing that in every other episode? So he does remember things from his previous life.

All these doubles are confusing me!!!!!!!!

The Doctor has 'nearly died' on several occasions, including in this episode.  I certainly hope it doesn't become a habit.  That's why you have girl companions.

I hate all that science fiction terminology they used in this episode.

Next Up: Planet of Evil