History YMMV / DoctorWhoS24E1TimeAndTheRani

* {{Narm}}: The Sixth Doctor's regeneration into the Seventh during the ColdOpen is framed as a dramatic twist meant to catch audiences off-guard, given that the Doctor's regenerations usually occur at the end of their respective stories. However, the execution of it is widely derided as inappropriately goofy due to a combination of its suddenness, the lack of explanation about what caused the Doctor to regenerate (leading to widespread jokes that he [[UndignifiedDeath fell off his exercise bike and/or banged his head on the TARDIS console]]), and the very obvious {{Fake Shemp}}ing that Creator/SylvesterMcCoy had to do on account of Creator/ColinBaker refusing to appear for the story after he was fired by the BBC[[note]] which itself is why the regeneration opens the serial; the Sixth Doctor was originally going to regenerate at the end of it[[/note]]. The scene has been so widely mocked over the years that the Literature/DoctorWhoNewAdventures, the Literature/PastDoctorAdventures, and the AudioPlay/{{Big Finish|DoctorWho}} audio play [[Recap/BigFinishDoctorWhoSpecialTheLastAdventure "The Last Adventure"]] all took up the task of writing a more satisfactory exit for the Sixth Doctor at one point or another, with "The Last Adventure" now being widely considered the Sixth Doctor's canonical final story.

* {{Padding}}: A common criticism of this story is that Part 3 is just marking time, and it would have been better at three episodes, leaving room to expand one of the season's three-parters to four episodes - for instance, "Delta and the Bannermen"'s [[StrangledByTheRedString love story could have been fleshed out more]].

* {{Narm}}: The Sixth Doctor's regeneration into the Seventh during the ColdOpen is framed as a dramatic twist meant to catch audiences off-guard, given that the Doctor's regenerations usually occur at the end of their respective stories. However, the execution of it is widely derided as inappropriately goofy due to a combination of its suddenness, the lack of explanation about what caused the Doctor to regenerate (leading to widespread jokes that he [[UndignifiedDeath fell off his exercise bike and/or banged his head on the TARDIS console]]), and the very obvious {{Fake Shemp}}ing that Creator/SylvesterMcCoy had to do on account of Creator/ColinBaker refusing to appear for the story after he was fired by the BBC[[note]] which itself is why the regeneration opens the serial; the Sixth Doctor was originally going to regenerate at the end of it[[/note]]. The scene has been so widely mocked over the years that that the AudioPlay/{{Big Finish|DoctorWho}} audio play [[Recap/BigFinishDoctorWhoSpecialTheLastAdventure "The Last Adventure"]] eventually took up the task of writing a more dignified exit for Baker.

* {{Narm}}: The Sixth Doctor's regeneration into the Seventh during the ColdOpen is framed as a dramatic twist meant to catch audiences off-guard, given that the Doctor's regenerations usually occur at the end of their respective stories. However, the execution of it is widely derided as inappropriately goofy due to a combination of its suddenness, the lack of explanation about what caused the Doctor to regenerate ([[UndignifiedDeath leading to widespread jokes that he fell off his exercise bike and/or banged his head on the TARDIS console]]), and the very obvious {{Fake Shemp}}ing Creator/SylvesterMcCoy had to do on account of Creator/ColinBaker refusing to appear for the story after he was fired by the BBC[[note]] which itself is why the regeneration opens the serial; the Sixth Doctor was originally going to regenerate at the end of it[[/note]]. The scene has been so widely mocked over the years that that the AudioPlay/{{Big Finish|DoctorWho}} audio play [[Recap/BigFinishDoctorWhoSpecialTheLastAdventure "The Last Adventure"]] eventually took up the task of writing a more dignified exit for Baker.

* {{Narm}}: The Sixth Doctor's regeneration into the Seventh during the ColdOpen is framed as a dramatic twist meant to catch audiences off-guard, given that the Doctor's regenerations usually occur at the end of their respective stories. However, the execution of it is widely derided as inappropriately goofy due to a combination of its suddenness, the lack of explanation about what caused the Doctor to regenerate ([[UndignifiedDeath leading to widespread jokes that he fell off his exercise bike and/or banged his head on the TARDIS console]]), and the very obvious {{Fake Shemp}}ing Creator/SylvesterMcCoy had to do on account of Creator/ColinBaker refusing to appear for the story after he was fired by the BBC[[note]] which itself is why the regeneration opens the serial; the Sixth Doctor was originally going to regenerate at the end of it[[/note]]. The scene has been so widely mocked over the years that that the Audio/{{Big Finish|DoctorWho}} audio play [[Recap/BigFinishDoctorWhoSpecialTheLastAdventure "The Last Adventure"]] eventually took up the task of writing a more dignified exit for Baker.

* {{Narm}}: The story starts with what is widely considered the worst regeneration, beginning with the TARDIS being shot down and then the Doctor regenerating, apparently from banging his head on the console. Creator/ColinBaker understandably refused to participate after being fired, so the first part of the scene has Creator/SylvesterMcCoy already playing the role with a sparkly effect hiding his face and a very obvious curly wig; the end result of this is a [[SarcasmMode spectacular scene]] in which Sylvester [=McCoy=] very clearly transforms into...[[ShapedLikeItself Sylvester McCoy]]. It has been rectified by [[AudioPlay/BigFinishDoctorWho Big Finish]], which explains the Sixth Doctor's demise very well, but doesn't change the awkward regeneration. The DVD release uses updated effects to show Colin Baker's face changing into Sylvester [=McCoy's=].

* NarmCharm: Kate O'Mara's sneering, arch impression of Mel is hilarious once you accept that [[RuleOfFunny it's meant to be funny]] and not deadly serious, and she and [=McCoy=] are clearly enjoying playing off each other.

* WhatAnIdiot:
** The Seventh Doctor is knocked out and given an amnesia drug by the Rani, a rogue Time Lord who has battled the Doctor at least once before. He eventually wakes up, and she disguises herself as his companion Mel and tells him that he's in his laboratory (actually the Rani's). Moments later however, the Doctor finds a gun that he actually says out loud is powerful enough to blast any passing spaceship out of orbit and -- unbeknownst to him -- shot the TARDIS down so violently it caused him to regenerate.[[note]](At least, that was the intended explanation when the story was first broadcast. It was later retconned. ''Three times'')[[/note]]\\
'''You'd Expect''': The Doctor to immediately realize that there's no reason why he'd have such a deadly weapon at all, to say nothing of leaving it just laying around in his "lab," and that something's obviously wrong.\\
'''Instead''': He just tosses it aside and never even looks at or mentions it again.\\
'''That Said''': He is both in a post-regenerative state and under the influence of memory-affecting drugs at the time, which presumably have disorientated him somewhat.
** Later on, the real Mel happens by the lab, and the Doctor realizes that the "Mel" he's been dealing with until this point is actually the Rani. He also meets two of the planet's natives, one of whom has been forced into reluctantly collaborating with the Rani, but the other of whom is actively opposing her. The Doctor realizes that the Rani will soon be returning to the lab.\\
'''You'd Expect''': The Doctor to have Mel and at least the rebellious alien (even if the other one doesn't want to co-operate) hide somewhere, then ambush and capture the Rani when she walks in.\\
'''Instead''': He just sends them all out, then assists the Rani in repairing a machine which she's been adamantly demanding that he fix while refusing to explain what it actually does, and then just stands around like a lemon as she drops her guise as Mel and activates the machine.

* NeverLiveItDown: Despite very decent performances from most actors involved ([=McCoy=] deserves particular credit for wringing a compelling Doctor out of of a haphazard script originally meant for a completely ''different'' version of the Doctor), the story was probably never going to get out of the shadow of the spectacularly botched regeneration scene, and elements such as the giant brain and the Rani's impersonation of Mel have helped further its reputation as a completely absurd mess, to the point where it regularly competes with "[[Recap/DoctorWhoS21E7TheTwinDilemma The Twin Dilemma]]" for the title of the absolute worst story in the show's entire history (with most fans agreeing that this one only stays ahead on grounds of better production values and that the Doctor doesn't try to kill Mel[[note]]in fact, when the Doctor (who thinks Mel is the Rani) and Mel (who doesn't know that the Doctor regenerated) confront each other and fight, Mel winds up having the upper hand for the most part[[/note]]).

* {{Padding}}: A common criticism of this story is that Part 3 is just marking time, and it would have been better at three episodes, leaving room to expand one of the season's three-parters to four episodes - for instance, "Delta and the Banner men"'s [[StrangledByTheRedString love story could have been fleshed out more]].

* NarmCharm: Kate O'Mara's sneering, arch impression of Mel is hilarious once you accept that [[RuleOfFunny it's meant to be funny]] and not deadly serious, and she and McCoy are clearly enjoying playing off each other.

* {{Narm}}: The story starts with what is widely considered the worst regeneration, beginning with the TARDIS being shot down and then the Doctor regenerating, apparently from banging his head on the console. Creator/ColinBaker understandably refused to participate after being fired, so the first part of the scene has Creator/SylvesterMcCoy already playing the role with a sparkly effect hiding his face and a very obvious curly wig; the end result of this is a [[SarcasmMode spectacular scene]] in which Sylvester [=McCoy=] very clearly transforms into...[[ShapedLikeItself Sylvester McCoy]]. It has been rectified by
[[AudioPlay/BigFinishDoctorWho Big Finish]], which explains the Sixth Doctor's demise very well, but doesn't change the awkward regeneration. The DVD release uses updated effects to show Colin Baker's face changing into Sylvester [=McCoy's=].

* {{Narm}}: The story starts with what is widely considered the worst regeneration, beginning with the TARDIS being shot down and then the Doctor regenerating, apparently from banging his head on the console. Creator/ColinBaker understandably refused to participate after being fired, so the first part of the scene has Creator/SylvesterMcCoy already playing the role with a sparkly effect hiding his face and a very obvious curly wig; the end result of this is a [[SarcasmMode spectacular scene]] in which Sylvester [=McCoy=] very clearly transforms into...[[ShapedLikeItself Sylvester McCoy]]. It has been rectified by BigFinish, which explains this very well, but doesn't change the awkward regeneration. The DVD release uses updated effects to show Colin Baker's face changing into Sylvester [=McCoy's=].

* {{Narm}}: The story starts with what is widely considered the worst regeneration, beginning with the TARDIS being shot down and then the Doctor regenerating, apparently from banging his head on the console. Creator/ColinBaker understandably refused to participate after being fired, so the first part of the scene has Creator/SylvesterMcCoy already playing the role with a sparkly effect hiding his face and a very obvious curly wig; the end result of this is a [[SarcasmMode spectacular scene]] in which Sylvester [=McCoy=] very clearly transforms into...[[ShapedLikeItself Sylvester McCoy]].

'''Instead''': He just tosses it aside and never even looks at or mentions it again.

** Later on, the real Mel happens by the lab, and the Doctor realizes that the "Mel" he's been dealing with unti this point is actually the Rani. He also meets two of the planet's natives, one of whom has been forced into reluctantly collaborating with the Rani, but the other of whom is actively opposing her. The Doctor realizes that the Rani will soon be returning to the lab.\\

* VisualEffectsOfAwesome: The special effects are pretty much the only good thing about the serial. The planet and the bubble traps in particular look incredible for their time. The fact that the opening sequence used from this serial to "[[Recap/DoctorWhoS26E4Survival Survival]]" was the first CGI intro to a TV show '''period''' makes it all the more impressive.

* NeverLiveItDown: Despite very decent performances from most actors involved ([=McCoy=] deserves particular credit for wringing a compelling Doctor out of of a haphazard script originally meant for a completely ''different'' version of the Doctor), the story was probably never going to get out of the shadow of the spectacularly botched regeneration scene, and elements such as the giant brain and the Rani's impersonation of Mel have helped further its reputation as a completely absurd mess, to the point where it regularly competes with "[[Recap/DoctorWhoS21E7TheTwinDilemma The Twin Dilemma]]" for the title of the absolute worst story in the show's entire history (with most fans agreeing that this one only stays ahead on grounds of better production values and that the Doctor doesn't try to kill Mel).

* NeverLiveItDown: Despite very decent performances from most actors involved (McCoy deserves particular credit for wringing a compelling Doctor out of of a haphazard script originally meant for a completely ''different'' version of the Doctor), the story was probably never going to get out of the shadow of the spectacularly botched regeneration scene, and elements such as the giant brain and the Rani's impersonation of Mel have helped further its reputation as a completely absurd mess, to the point where it regularly competes with "[[Recap/DoctorWhoS21E7TheTwinDilemma The Twin Dilemma]]" for the title of the absolute worst story in the show's entire history (with most fans agreeing that this one only stays ahead on grounds of better production values and that the Doctor doesn't try to kill Mel).

* NeverLiveItDown: The story was probably never going to get out of the shadow of the spectacularly botched regeneration scene, and elements such as the giant brain and the Rani's impersonation of Mel have helped further its reputation as a completely absurd mess, to the point where it regularly competes with "[[Recap/DoctorWhoS21E7TheTwinDilemma The Twin Dilemma]]" for the title of the absolute worst story in the show's entire history (with most fans agreeing that this one only stays ahead on grounds of better production values and that the Doctor doesn't try to kill Mel).

* {{Narm}}: The story starts with what is widely considered the worst regeneration, beginning with the TARDIS being shot down and then the Doctor regenerating, apparently from banging his head on the console. Creator/ColinBaker understandably refused to participate after being fired, so the first part of the scene has Creator/SylvesterMcCoy already playing the role with a sparkly effect hiding his face and a very obvious curly wig.

* {{Narm}}: The regeneration, without a doubt the worst ever done. It begins with the TARDIS being shot down and then the Doctor regenerating, apparently from banging his head on the console.
* NeverLiveItDown: The story was probably never going to get out of the shadow of the spectacularly botched regeneration scene, and elements such as the giant brain and the Rani's impersonation of Mel have helped further its reputation as a completely absurd mess, to the point where it regularly competes with "The Twin Dilemma" for the title of the absolute worst story in the show's entire history (with most fans agreeing that this one only stays ahead on grounds of better production values and that the Doctor doesn't try to kill Mel).
* VisualEffectsOfAwesome: The special effects are pretty much the only good thing about the serial. The planet and the bubble traps in particular look incredible for their time. The fact that the opening sequence used from this serial to ''Survival'' was the first CGI intro to a TV show '''period''' makes it all the more impressive.

* VisualEffectsOfAwesome: The special effects are pretty much the only good thing about the serial. The planet and the bubble traps in particular look incredible for their time.