There are stories which are simply embarrassing and un-defendable to anyone who tries to mock Doctor Who. Wobbly sets are one thing but monsters shaped like a body part is something else. The main problem is essentially Tom Baker. The 1979 came at a time when the show started to go off the boil slightly and where it became a lot more comedic than perhaps it should have been. The story was ranked 184th in the Mighty 200 Poll from Doctor Who Magazine, perhaps just the right position.
Set on the planet of Chloris where the Doctor and Romana find themselves involved in the affairs of Lady Adrasta who rules the planet with fear and uses the mysterious creature that she keeps in the pit. The story spends four episodes just pottering about at a steady speed. The problem is obviously the creature. A lot is made of the creature at the beginning of the story so it’s a major disappointment when we actually see the whole damn thing. When the title is ‘Creature From The Pit’ it emphasises that the story is about the creature so a lot more money and time should have been spent on it. I know that it was a long time ago but surly someone could have come up with a better design that this. On the DVD where the effects makers try to explain it was said that they tried to change it slightly by adding dangly bit to it but that just makes it worst. Really nothing can defend this story. The story has only one redeeming feature and that is the quality of filming. Whilst I thought that the story would have benefited from some location filming the scenes in the forest. Also the scenes down in the cave have a nice feel to them its just a shame about the stupid creature.
I’m not totally bowled over by Tom Baker’s performance. It’s partly down to his performance but also down to the dull script. Had this story come earlier in his time then perhaps his energetic performance might have made more of the story. Lalla Ward technically makes her debut in this story as this was the first story she recorded as Romana (even though her first story to air would be Destiny of the Daleks). Ward is perfectly good but does suffer from David Fisher’s inadequate script. David Brierley makes his debut as the voice of K9. Unfortunatley for long term fans like myself it just doesn’t work. John Leeson IS the voice of K9 and what Brierley has managed to do is make K9 sound more human than robot.
The character of Lady Adrasta was very pantomime like. She wasn’t really believable but at the same time it wasn’t the fault of Myra Frances. She was just doing the best with what she was given. The story features the return of Eileen Way who first appeared as Old Mother in the very first story ‘An Unearthyl Child’. She plays Karela and is perhaps my favourite of the guest stars in this story. She has a comforting style of acting and was a joy to watch.
The Creature from the Pit is a story that has to be seen to be believed. Quite what was going on at the BBC to allow this to get to the stage it did before realising the failings which ultimately fall to the story. Take the creature out of the picture and what we’re left with is a dull, uninspiring affair which just solidifies the fact that the 1979/80 series was the worst of the Tom Baker era. Fact – In the Mighty 200 the 1979/80 series was voted the 25th best series.
Set on the planet of Chloris where the Doctor and Romana find themselves involved in the affairs of Lady Adrasta who rules the planet with fear and uses the mysterious creature that she keeps in the pit. The story spends four episodes just pottering about at a steady speed. The problem is obviously the creature. A lot is made of the creature at the beginning of the story so it’s a major disappointment when we actually see the whole damn thing. When the title is ‘Creature From The Pit’ it emphasises that the story is about the creature so a lot more money and time should have been spent on it. I know that it was a long time ago but surly someone could have come up with a better design that this. On the DVD where the effects makers try to explain it was said that they tried to change it slightly by adding dangly bit to it but that just makes it worst. Really nothing can defend this story. The story has only one redeeming feature and that is the quality of filming. Whilst I thought that the story would have benefited from some location filming the scenes in the forest. Also the scenes down in the cave have a nice feel to them its just a shame about the stupid creature.
I’m not totally bowled over by Tom Baker’s performance. It’s partly down to his performance but also down to the dull script. Had this story come earlier in his time then perhaps his energetic performance might have made more of the story. Lalla Ward technically makes her debut in this story as this was the first story she recorded as Romana (even though her first story to air would be Destiny of the Daleks). Ward is perfectly good but does suffer from David Fisher’s inadequate script. David Brierley makes his debut as the voice of K9. Unfortunatley for long term fans like myself it just doesn’t work. John Leeson IS the voice of K9 and what Brierley has managed to do is make K9 sound more human than robot.
The character of Lady Adrasta was very pantomime like. She wasn’t really believable but at the same time it wasn’t the fault of Myra Frances. She was just doing the best with what she was given. The story features the return of Eileen Way who first appeared as Old Mother in the very first story ‘An Unearthyl Child’. She plays Karela and is perhaps my favourite of the guest stars in this story. She has a comforting style of acting and was a joy to watch.
The Creature from the Pit is a story that has to be seen to be believed. Quite what was going on at the BBC to allow this to get to the stage it did before realising the failings which ultimately fall to the story. Take the creature out of the picture and what we’re left with is a dull, uninspiring affair which just solidifies the fact that the 1979/80 series was the worst of the Tom Baker era. Fact – In the Mighty 200 the 1979/80 series was voted the 25th best series.
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