About
Reviews (1)
13 November 2009
Twin Dilemma
'The Doctor has regenerated and all is not well' says the DVD sleeve, and it couldn't be more right. This ep was nominated worst ever in the recent DW poll. 300th out of 300! It even fell below episodes which, due to the BBC wiping video tape in the late 60's and early 70's, have long since gone never and haven't been seen since transmission - nor ever will be.
Through the various chronicled interviews over theb years it is apparent the Beeb wanted DW to die. The show as well as the character and you have to feel for Colin Baker et alles in this tale.
Colin was then, and still is, a true pro. A hard working professional practitioner who serves the text he is offered well. That's where this piece starts to fall to bits. The script is quite frankly awful. The production values never stretch beyond the 50p budget the entire team are asked to mount the show on.
But that is where it excels.
Quite frankly The Twin Dilemma, above and beyond the troubles that it has with script, production, awful casting (the two titular characters are the worst child actors since Gary Coleman), unquestionably the worst 'villain' ever - need I go on - is an absolute joy.
Colin and Nicola are to be applauded; the scenes of the Doctor's schizophrenia are well played, would they had the time to develop the performances rather than the old rehearse then film.
Above all it's a must see.
Watch it bearing in mind the calamitous problems the show was experiencing, add to that the 'rushed job' this was and you can cut away the wood and see some of the trees (the finer points)
Had this been offered in the new re-imagined era what would Euros Lynne and Christopher Ecclestone or David Tennant have done with it?