[Counting.No.Age]

Just finished watching my very first classic Who episode, not including The Five Doctors, a Troughton episode called 'The Mind Robber" absolutely brilliant! the first episode had me hooked The white void space was extremely creepy, as were the Robot noises....

I liked how they got around the guy who plays Jamie being ill... the wonders of Sci-Fi... will definitely be buy some Troughton episodes i reckon. cant believe how short the episodes where though, and i thought we had it bad with the 45 mins, when ep1 ended i was so glad i was watching a DVD and not having to wait a whole week!

whilst some of the effects certainly are abit naff now ...near the end you clearly see where a nose has been stuck on... you can look past them considering it was filmed about 40 years ago.

[chuffnobbler]

It was nice to read your comments about The Five Doctors on another thread, and nice to read this about The Mind Robber now.

It's a great story, with plenty of eerie bits and plenty of ingenuity: the Medusa sequence always gives me the shudders.

The 25min episodes can be a blessing, and it amaazes me that they expected people to rememebr from one week to the next what had happened before. TV just isn't made like that anymore. Maybe if it was, we'd cope. I am watching The War Games att he moment, and the 25min episodes are whizzing by.

Patrick Troughton is currently my favourite Doctor. I can recommend The Invasion, with great animation to cover the missing episodes. So nice to read someone discovering OLD Who, on the back of the shiny new stuff.

[crazzyaz7]

I love the Mind Robber....one I watched not long ago.....and my one regret is that I never was able to watch this as a child....I mean while growing up, my imagination was huge, books and their characters, and their worlds were almost like another dimension that existed somewhere....so to watch a story where stories come alive....just wow....

Still was great watching it as an adult too though


and I just love Jamie and the Second Doctor!!!!

[Section8grl]

I know of another Mind Robber. It's called:

ALCOHOL!!

One of these days I might actually post something serious. That day is not today.

[darthbibble]

Originally Posted by Section8grl

I know of another Mind Robber. It's called:

ALCOHOL!!

One of these days I might actually post something serious. That day is not today.

I prefer Rohypnol



It's a brilliant story though, I love the first episode

[Counting.No.Age]

just ordered the Invasion. makes sense seeing as its the next one along.... what do you mean missing? still i suppose if i can watch Black and White i can watch animation im guessing not all of PT's stories are dvd? can't seem to find many out there.... i think by the looks of things some of these old stories hold up better than shiny new who... love and monsters anyone....

anyway best get ready for work, need to earn some money if im gonna buy Dr Who's back catalogue haha

p.s agree on the alcohol front...

[Solamenn]

As a new Classic Who viewer, I've also very much liked The Tomb of the Cybermen with Patrick Troughton too.

[Eowyn W]

Originally Posted by Counting.No.Age

just ordered the Invasion. makes sense seeing as its the next one along.... what do you mean missing? still i suppose if i can watch Black and White i can watch animation im guessing not all of PT's stories are dvd? can't seem to find many out there.... i think by the looks of things some of these old stories hold up better than shiny new who... love and monsters anyone....

anyway best get ready for work, need to earn some money if im gonna buy Dr Who's back catalogue haha

p.s agree on the alcohol front...

'Mind Robber' is great - glad you enjoyed it.

The BBC destroyed some old episodes back in the 60's and 70's to make space (before it occurred to anyone that video would be sold one day), so some episodes are lost. For 'The Invasion', Cosgrove Hall has animated the two missing episodes which are on the DVD - I reckon they did a pretty good job!

[Face Of Jack]

The Mind Robber is one of my favourites - I might watch it tonight you've set me off now! I remember watching it originally (I was about 8 or 9) and couldn't believe it when the Tardis blew up!! I seem to remember it being a hell of a long wait until the next episode!

[Jon Ross]

Originally Posted by Counting.No.Age

im guessing not all of PT's stories are dvd? can't seem to find many out there

Of the 21 stories Patrick Troughton made between 1966 and 1969, only six still exist in their entirety. These are The Tomb of the Cybermen, The Dominators, The Mind Robber, The Krotons, The Seeds of Death and The War Games. All except The Dominators and The Krotons have already been released on DVD. Six of the eight episodes of The Invasion still exist, so this was also released on DVD with animation for the two missing episodes. Four of the six episodes of The Ice Warriors still exist, so this story will also be coming out on DVD. All the other episodes from the Patrick Troughton era have been released already on this:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Doctor-Who-L...9419843&sr=1-1

Sadly, the likelihood is that the many missing episodes have gone forever and if more are found it will only be one or two. But audio recordings have survived for all stories and these are available on CD.

[Mr Giggles]

^^^

Troughton's last story exists only parts one, two and three, on video episode four was made up from the original audio and various bits of film and stills.

[Jon Ross]

Originally Posted by Mr Giggles

^^^

Troughton's last story exists only parts one, two and three, on video episode four was made up from the original audio and various bits of film and stills.

I'm not sure what you mean, sorry. Troughton's last story was The War Games. All ten episodes exist and this came out on DVD this year.

[Counting.No.Age]

Originally Posted by Eowyn W

The BBC destroyed some old episodes back in the 60's and 70's to make space (before it occurred to anyone that video would be sold one day), so some episodes are lost.

idiots.....

Originally Posted by Face of Jack

Couldn't believe it when the Tardis blew up!! I seem to remember it being a hell of a long wait until the next episode!

i know. it was shocking even now! think it shows what an iconic image the Tardis is. just been watching some of the extras, now makes complete sense why the first ep is so 'bare' compared to the others. and yet it is possibly the best of the bunch. comparing it to new who, it reminds me of episodes like the midnight, which i loved. i sometimes think that in Sci-Fi less is more. the whole psychological attack is very scary. will have to look out for War Games.. is that the one where Jamie and Zoe get their memories wiped?

Originally Posted by Jon Ross

Sadly, the likelihood is that the many missing episodes have gone forever and if more are found it will only be one or two. But audio recordings have survived for all stories and these are available on CD.

ohhhh if they are anything like to Torchwood audios' then i'll look into them.

[DavetheScot]

The Mind Robber and The Krotons are the only two Troughton stories I've seen. I preferred The Mind Robber out of the two.

[TimCypher]

I'll be honest - I don't rate 'The Mind Robber' at all.

* runs *

I don't think Season 6 was particularly strong for 'Doctor Who', aside from the magnificent 'The War Games' and the quite OK 'The Invasion'.

'The Krotons', 'The Seeds Of Death' and 'The Dominators' I generally found tedious and borderline unwatchable.

It's a shame that it was this season that survived over the others, as the majority of the highly regarded Troughton stories seem to have occured in his first two seasons.

And, from that, we only have 'Tomb Of The Cybermen', which, although it didn't quite live up to the pre-discovery hype generated by those who had such fond memories of it from the 60s, it's still rather splendid, and does make the BBC's mass-junking action of the 70s seem even more criminal.

Regards,

Cypher

[Counting.No.Age]

the BBC where definitely criminals. but then i suppose in their eyes in made sense right?
no need to run Cypher, all opinions welcome. im brand new to old who so everything looks wonderful to me whilst i thoroughly enjoyed the mind robber i, as of yet, have nothing substantial to compare it to. apart from the five doctors which was a mixing pot of everything... and in my opinion Troughton was better in that. but then from having the facts on screen whilst re-watching it, it appears Troughton was not happy at the time of filming, so perhaps that shows to a more seasoned viewer? although i did notice he seems to sit down alot... its a shame that so many of the episodes are lost, quite unimaginable nowadays where everything gets a DVD release at some point.

i will get round to buying The War Games its the last of the second doctor right? regeneration scene?

[TimCypher]

Originally Posted by Counting.No.Age

i will get round to buying The War Games its the last of the second doctor right? regeneration scene?

Yes that's right - it was Troughton's final story, and he regenerates at the end.

If you like Troughton's Doctor (and, who doesn't? ), then I'd personally put up 'The War Games' as his finest surviving story, and, indeed, as one of the finest stories in the show's history.

It may initially seem a bit daunting at 10 episodes in length, especially when some other Who sagas have been considered to drag at 6 episodes, but the pacing is remarkably good. The interplay between the War Chief and the Security Chief is especially good, and really does prop up that 'difficult middle bit', where lesser serials can appear to sag.

I actually re-watched it over the weekend in two 5-ep each sittings. Never once found myself looking at the clock, never once found my attention waning; I was riveted right the way through.

It's marvellous.

Regards,

Cypher

[Counting.No.Age]

that'll be next on my list then i'll order it after i've watched the invasion. got to keep myself from buying too much in one go. haha think i might use your idea and do two 5 ep sittings. i did actually do the mind robber in two sittings. 1-4 then 5 the next day. it's my own fault for starting too late... or is that early? like now. shows how good who is... 40 years on, and im much younger than that, and up till all hours discussing it haha

[chuffnobbler]

If you are going from the Invasion to War Games, try Seeds of Death in between. I love Seeds of Death. The Ice Warriors are very good monsters, and there are some quite tense bits on the space station.

I finished The War Games last night: took three sittings. Excellent stuff. Far more life to it than some longwinded six parters. The final episode is outstanding, but there is some great material in the previous nine. The War Lord is quite a terrifying character, and the War Chief and Security Chief have a fascinating relationship.

A shame that so many episodes are missing, but that's the way TV was treated up til the mid 70s. These programmes were never going to be repeated; VHS, DVD and digital repeats channels hadn't been invented yet ... hundreds of thousands of tapes piling up on every surface at the BBC, getting in the way and taking up space. The obvious thing to do was chuck em away. Tragic with hindsight, but practical and sensible at the time. It just makes old DW all the more exciting, wondering about the unknowable, wondering if another episode will turn up (most recent was approx 3yrs ago).

[carefactornil]

Originally Posted by TimCypher

Yes that's right - it was Troughton's final story,

Well, apart from The Five Doctors and The Two Doctors.

[TimCypher]

Originally Posted by carefactornil

Well, apart from The Five Doctors and The Two Doctors.

Noooooo, not season 6B!

Regards,

Cypher

[carefactornil]

Originally Posted by carefactornil

Well, apart from The Five Doctors and The Two Doctors.

And The Three Doctors - not sure why I forgot that.

[norrisa552]

I have a real affinity for The Mind Robber, as the final episode was broadcast the day after I was born (the shortest ever proper episode of DW, fact fans). I think the first episode in particular is original, disturbing and fascinating, and the whole story, short as it is, whips along at a good pace and is charming and fun.

[Counting.No.Age]

i would definitely agree that, bar the first episode, it is very fun. i think thats the fantasy coming through. the first episode genuinely freaked me out, and enthralled me at the same time. the fight in the end i didn't think was particularly great but then, you can't get everything right...

having been confused by some of these comments... 6b?... i decided to check wikipedia. i quite like the idea that we don't get to see everything the doctor does. it's nice that he can go off and do things, and keep us all wondering. like you said chuffnobbler ...

It just makes old DW all the more exciting, wondering about the unknowable

The invasion should be here tomorrow

[DS9]

Originally Posted by Mr Giggles

^^^

Troughton's last story exists only parts one, two and three, on video episode four was made up from the original audio and various bits of film and stills.

You're thinking of William Hartnell.