User reviews

The Doctor Who production team made a big play about this episode being filmed in Seville. So far they seem to be in the outskirts of Seville.

Only in this episode they manage to film in the city. Director Peter Moffatt makes a cardinal mistake. He does not show off the historic sights of the city. The action is played in the narrow streets.

The Sontarans are looking for time travel and think they have an edge. Not fathoming that the Sixth Doctor laid a trap.

The Sontarans have also been double crossed by the Androgum, then again the Sontarans planned to cheat them. The Sixth Doctor mentions that no one wants to ally themselves with the Sontarans as they are untrustworthy.

Chessene wants to transform the Second Doctor into an Androgum by using some of Shockeye's DNA. Before the transformation is finished, both men take a gastronomic tour of Seville.

To be frank it was mainly silly. It was like two different adventures trying to mesh with Baker playing it straight. The death of Oscar was unnecessary and probably largely to do with Saward than Holmes. It looked odd given that James Saxon was playing his death scene for comedic effect.

Troughton and Stratton made it the restaurant scene work as they dressed up to dine out. It was bizarre black comedy.

I will give credit to John Nathan Turner for trying to push the limits of horror and scares, Revelation was very dark, and this perhaps has the darkest moment in classic Who's history.

I really did like Robert Holmes's script, it's clever, loaded with treachery and deceit, it flows well and moves very quickly.

The scenes between Baker and Troughton are great fun, each brings something out of the other, the tetchy Doctor and the space hobo. Best scene has to be where Chessene fails to fight off her Androgum roots and succumbs to The Doctor's blood, they'd never get away with that now, nor Shockeyes demise. The show's darker tones are confirmed by the unnecessary death of Oscar.

The restaurant scenes are also fun, and that's all down to the comic genius of Patrick Troughton, he's fantastic. The scenes out and about in glorious Spain look fabulous.

Baker is excellent here, a very strong outing, his personality and charisma shine through. However, It's Jacqueline Pearce once again though that I find steals the scenes.

All that for a TARDIS. 9/10