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Classic Who "The Caves of Androzani" Parts 3&4 Early Access! (Patreon)

Published:
2025-01-17 14:00:03
Imported:
2026-06
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Classic Who "The Caves of Androzani" Parts 3&4 Reaction

Patreon for Full Reactions, Movie Reactions & More!: https://www.patreon.com/sesskasays Twitter: https://twitter.com/sesskasays

Comments

Aimee Lynn

So sad to watch the moment you realized you were losing Five. I am utterly delighted that he made your top 3. You should definitely rewatch the Time Crash minisode now that you've seen Five's run. It's both Ten gushing over that part of his life and David Tennant fanning over Peter Davison, HIS Doctor (and now his father-in-law).

William McRae

John Nathan Turner was the producer of DW throughout the 80's (1980-1989) and he is seen as a rather divisive figure amongst fans whose opinion of him is sharply divided to this very day. "The Caves of Androzani" is considered to be the best story he did during his time as showrunner. But it did mark a turning point as you'll see. Peter Davison ends his three-year stint as our intrepid Time Lord on a strong and memorable note. All the elements were in place. A solid script, well-crafted performances, fine direction and guest characters who were intriguing if deeply flawed people. Davison was keen to avoid the same trap as his immediate predecessor by not overstaying his time in the role - a tradition which every lead actor has taken into consideration and followed when playing the role in the modern era on the show. This season also marked the third and final time during the classic run of DW when the entire cast changed in the span of a season with Peter Davison, Janet Fielding and Mark Strickson all departing and Nicola Bryant and Colin Baker coming on board.

David Vandervliet

Yes, this wasn't the final story of season 21, John Nathan Turner (JNT) decided it would surprise fans by having the regeneration not be at the end of the season.

Dave Sanders

The regeneration happening one story before the end of the season was a complete surprise back in 1984. Looking back on it now, it's quite heavily signposted throughout season 21. Ever since Earthshock, the cockier Fifth Doctor has been finding himself more and more out of his depth. Now, the universe is actively kicking him when he's down, telling him that just being nice and trying to do the right thing is not going to work when nobody around you wants to listen to reason. Resurrection sees Tegan leave from literal PTSD, and the Doctor lamenting that he has to change. In Planet of Fire, the last connections he had are severed along with the apparent death - the first time to get to see what actually looks like a 'death' - of his arch-enemy. In Androzani, everything boils over. The genius of the story isn't just that every single support character is varying degrees of irredeemably horrible and the Doctor has no real allies of any kind for his own sake. It's that the setup is the most threadbare of ongoing status-quos that starts to fall apart just from the Doctor happening to arrive on Androzani Minor as an outside factor the equation was not designed to accomodate, and from there, everything further and further and further to shit. Shit which the Fifth Doctor is now SO DONE with - the situation is hopeless, time is running out, there's nothing he can do except try and extract the one person he can and feels obliged to. That the inevitable bloodbath also include the Fifth Doctor sacrificing himself for the sake of one life isn't just the appropriate way to end the story, it's the ONLY way to end it. There is nowhere left for the Fifth Doctor's arc to go.

Frank Shailes

Ah yes. The story with two women in it, who survive, and all the men, who don't...

Rob Walters
>>161594203

Is that how you gage the story?!!! My god, talk about obsessed with D.E.I!

Dave Sanders
>>161591780

And while JN-T was occupied with oversee the new direction, Eric Saward, who had become close friends with Robert Holmes and pulled every string he could to get one of the classic 70s writers a gig, made sure the producer didn't come anywhere near this one.

Amy Chlebus

I don't think the 6th Doctor is really a fan favorite, but I love him. I hope you eventually do too.

Alex Cafetzoglou

Can I make an early request for, when the time comes, Classic Who Friday to turn into a Blake's 7 Friday. Special Effects wise it's much the same as Classic Who (ie cheap!) it was made in the last few years of the Tom Baker Doctor Who era but it's a character driven BBC science fiction show which I think will be right up your street.

Rob Walters
>>161594203

Don't try and style it, that was a never an observation because I was there, decades back.

Matt

That was a great reaction to watch. A special story and Doctor.

Frank Shailes
>>161594203

It's in several publications, a matter of record. Even Radio Times mentioned it 13 years ago (https://www.radiotimes.com/tv/sci-fi/doctor-who-guide/the-caves-of-androzani/). Stop being obnoxious.

Lucas
>>161599106

His Big Finish run is a fan favourite but not his TV run

Amy Chlebus
>>161599106

I don't read Big Finish. Don't have the money. I do love his tv run. He's better than people think.

Lucas
>>161591544

And also Moffat fanboying over 5's run since 5 is Moffat's favourite

Kleineganz
>>161600127

I second this! I loved Blake's 7. I'd also love a reaction to the Tripods, but that's nearly impossible to find in the US (I've tried).

Kleineganz

I had a feeling this regeneration would catch you off-guard, since you hadn't mentioned anything yet. Plus, the recent losses of Nyssa, Teagan, and Turlough were fresh on your mind, I didn't think you were prepared for this. I had to go back and check your earlier reactions to see if you had reacted to the Doctor Who movie with #8, since you didn't mention that (I went back and saw you have done that reaction). I don't know if you ever do a second reaction to things, but it's been 7 years since that reaction, and I'd love to see you do a new reaction to the movie after Sylvester McCoy's run, now that you have all this context to draw from. You have awhile to think about that yet, but please consider it.

Kleineganz
>>161648331

About 20 minutes before Sylvester McCoy regenerates into Paul McGann, and I'd still love to see how Sesska would react to the movie once she has all the Classic Who context.

Jerome Withers

Thank you for a fantastic review of my favourite Doctor Who era. I first discovered DW just as 4 regenerated into 5. Glad to see you are such a fan of 5 and rate him so highly. You're reviews of the entire 5 run have been delightful. If you can find it, I'd recommend watching Peter in The Last Detective.

Rob Morris

I was so looking forward to this reaction. Your reactions to losing Tegan, then Turlough made me think this would be a rough one. And I really have loved how you connected with Five. I agree with Aimee that you should rewatch Time Crash.