PurpleDalek
Since: Sep, 2011
03/14/2012 00:00:00
You should watch the re-edited special edition version. It's much better paced.
And now for me to be nitpicky: they didn't try to cram it all into one episode. They crammed it into four episodes.
I've said this before and I'll say this again: Sylvester Mc Coy and his era fucking rock. Very underrated.
Laura
Since: Dec, 2010
05/03/2012 00:00:00
I found that, though there were quite a few plot holes, and I never did figure out how there were descendants of the viking settlers when all of them died, it was fun once it got going. Once the haemovores showed up, basically.
He's the Doctor. He could be anywhere in time and space.Leave a Comment:
The Curse of Fenric
Okay, I thought I'd backtrack through some old Who, given that I was introduced to the mythos through new Who. Watched a bit, enjoying things so far, but I have a problem with an episode that's been deemed an all-time classic: The Curse of Fenric.
Eh. Everyone always brings up The Curse of Fenric, but man, the plotting of that episode is all over the place. They introduce a billion elements, and it never really comes together in 90 minutes. We've got a guy who tries to think like Hitler, an early computer that decodes German codes AND ancient runes, Soviets attempting to steal the computer (during WWII!), a turn around plot to get the Soviets to steal the computer so as to destroy the Kremlin, Sealed Evil inna Can that is conveniently found by Ace, an evil poison produced by said Evil, sort-of vampires, an evolved humanesque fish person brought to the past by force, mention of the child refugees from London, a quick flirtation between the Soviet captain and Ace in which he cares enough for her in the 20 minutes he knows her that he gives up his talisman, a self-doubting vicar, a town founded by Vikings who were touched by Pure Evil that ran through ancient lines, Ace meeting her mother and grandmother with allusions to Ace's poor relationship with her mother,an allusion to the Doctor meeting Pure Evil in the past and playing a game of chess with it — and playing yet another game of chess and *GASP* Ace being forced to lose faith in the Doctor, which is never clearly explained since before it is mentioned that the sort-of vampires are repelled by the psychic forcefield formed by faith.
I mean, it's admirable that the writers tried to cram so much into one episode, but we're never allowed to sit back and explore any one aspect. Ace suddenly loves her baby-mom (before she knows it's her mom), even though she's known it less than a day. The Soviet captian, again, shows affection for Ace after a few hours tops. The vampires being repelled by faith rather than actual, physical talismans was an excellent idea. Evil in a chess match with the Doctor? Awesome! Any of these could have made one excellent, in-depth episode. Having them stirred into Doctor gumbo ruins the soup — too many spices in the pot, and now it tastes sour and undercooked.
I haven't watched any other Mc Coy eps, but I certainly hope he're better than that one.