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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Willie Oleson" data-source="post: 435455" data-attributes="member: 8">Doctor Who And The Silurians (31-1 / 14-3-1970)[ATTACH=full]58315[/ATTACH]Whereas the longer 1960s stories sometimes suffered from padding, and often of the repetitive kind, the first 7 part story of the seventies unravels its mystery in smaller doses. It also helps that they keep adding new characters which, at the very least, gives the impression of new twists and turns.Actually, The Silurians doesn't just continue, it expands the story."If it's not one thing it's another" doesn't even begin to describe the catastrophic tone of this adventure.Another advantage is that the actors get more opportunity to act, and with much improved dialogue. This gives it a very "series" feel, and to enjoy spending time with characters is essential to the series format.Brigadier Lethbridge-Stewart always seems to be entering a room, or he's on the phone asking for more man power. There's something Terry Gilliam-esque about him.The Silurians are more funny than scary because they sound like the Russian version of Bert and Ernie.Unfortunately, some interesting plot devices are underdeveloped. The Silurians have the power to paralyse or kill, but the mental destruction that results in hysterical fear and compulsive ancient cave drawing is not further explored or explained. I think it's precisely the kind of thing that NuWho would sink his teeth into.It's almost as if it's replaced with the physical threat of the epidemic that could become a pandemic - which was very well done, btw.It's also not clear to me what the purpose of the dragon creature is, or how it relates to the Silurian race. Maybe it was just a pet.NuWho would always come with the solution in an ecstatic and bewildering way, and while the logic is questionable I could still believe in it thanks to the enthusiasm of those Doctor performers. Like a magician explaining but not really explaining his tricks.The Third Doctor has much more time to examine various problems and paradoxes but the results and solutions are exactly the same: this-or-that works because he says so, and rerouting a certain cable is the simple answer to destroying a hibernative molecuvectular neutronwave dispenser filter (??).Naturally, since those sci-fi devices don't exist at all it would be impossible to come up with a believably scientific solution, unless it's been established from the beginning why  it works the way it does.But I never rule out the possibility that I fail to notice/process a piece of vital information. After all, a mix of mad science and creature feature is a lot to take in.Favourite guest characters: Dr. Lawrence, his final scene is more explosive than when the reactor gets overloaded, and also Miss Dawson who wanted all the Silurians to be killed. She's a little bit racist, I think.[ATTACH=full]58314[/ATTACH]Who the soapy window.</blockquote>

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