Doctor Who: Classic 9x2: "The Curse of Peladon" Parts 1-4 | Reaction!

[@majkus]

And yet, the Centauri character proved to be among the things that stuck in people's memory for decades.

[@Mrazmatmahmood]

Jon Pertwee and Katy Manning are just brilliant in this story together. They have such a wonderful, charming dynamic. Pertwee in particular was superb in this story. Equally believable whether he's being Earth's delegate or hypnotising the great beast Aggador. I thought the plot itself was really well done and paced at 4 episodes. It was obvious from the start that Hepesh was behind it all, but the twist that there was someone from inside the federation working with him was really good. A very good story all things considered.

[@AmyWarriorPrincess]

FUN FACT: King Peladon was played by David Troughton, Patrick Troughton's son. If you remember he played professor Winfold Hobbes in the episode Midnight. 😁

[@blacktronlego]

Jo is related to someone in the government who 'pulled some strings' to get her into UNIT. She has skills in safe-cracking and escapology, although you hardly see her use these skills. She works as the Doctor's assistant but is not a scientist like her predecessor Elizabeth (Lix) Shaw,

[@jcortese3300]

She uses escapology in the first show we see her in, "Terror of the Autons," as well as "Day of the Daleks" and "The Mutants." She uses the safecracking in "Carnival of Monsters." Also, she rescues Pertwee's Doctor twice when he's tied to a chair.

[@kemmdog4444]

Hey,no dissing Alpha Centauri.LOL.

[@TheZodiacz]

Was starting to raise an arched eyebrow when Dad was pickling dear old Alpha! Fortunately he redeemed himself by his appreciation of Benny Hill!

[@josefschiltz2192]

"Klokleda partha mennin kletch. Haroon, haroon, haroon. Klokleda sheena tirra nach. Haroon, haroon, haroon. " A snatch of an old Venusian lullaby, which, coincidentally, has the same tune to 'God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen'. One of my own favourite Pertwee stories and I loved the hermaphroditic hexapod Alpha Centauri and the miscellany of alien ambassadors and, at the age of 10, was fascinated by such a motley assortment of civilisations 'getting along'. Both Katy and Jon excelled in this story and really engaged the imagination.

[@jpbitable]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/eafRdGynaauHa6M after I read your post, I found this... hope you enjoy

[@benichsthepheonix4418]

The Tardis didn’t break he was exiled to earth by the Timelords for a short and couldn’t leave

[@donaldb1]

14:30 - It's common, I think, for hereditary lords to be referred to by the name of their land. Think of all those characters in Shakespeare referred as "My Lord Sussex", (or York, or Lancaster, or whatever). Kings, not so much, but it makes a sort of sense.

[@richardlemin7840]

Donaldb1: I was thinking about Mesopotamian (Assyrians) like Ashurbanipal and Ashurnasirpal. Ashur was their capital, so you are correct in usages like "My Lord Sussex." ~Dad

[@richardlemin7840]

Hereditary! Not heretical or heritage... Good Lord, my memory is worthless. ~Dad

[@whobp8]

Okay, I was not expecting The Deadly Assassin to be announced as your next Classic story. With all the talk of these Classic episodes tying into the 50th Anniversary I was honestly expecting a very specific 4th Doctor story but C'est la vie. Curse of Peladon is one of only two 3rd Doctor stories that have no location filming at all. It was directed by Lennie Mayne, an Australian with a very colorful vocabulary. When he initially saw the Alpha Centauri costume he proclaimed that it looked like a giant green penis and insisted the costume department add the cloak to make it less suggestive looking. As a result of this in the completed episodes Alpha Centauri looks like a giant green penis in a cloak. You've seen David Troughton before, as a much older (and balder) man he plays the Professor in the David Tennant episode Midnight. Always nice to see you and your Dad exploring the Classic series. Looking forward to more!

[@thomasleedham6572]

To give a bit of background. This story took place around the time the uk was entering the European trade league the precursor to the European union. The fact peladon is trying to enter the galactic federation with the people of peladon shown be both for and against it. This is always one of the examples I point out to people that say doctor who only just got political. I actually would like to see a modern story on peladon considering that the uk is leaving the EU now

[@stevencassidy6982]

They don't batter you over the head with it like Nu Who

[@thomasleedham6572]

I mean classic who can be unsubtle as well look at happiness patrol

[@thomasleedham6572]

Not seen batwoman yet but it's a new show trying to find its place among the other cw shows so I can imagine it's a bit rocky at the moment. As for happiness patrol I see the Orwellian elements in it too but the main villain was clearly a sci fi Margaret Thatcher. I do enjoy that story but it is not subtle

[@MrPaulMorris]

The plot has a bit more spice, particularly in the earlier parts, if you are familiar with the Doctor's prior encounters with the Ice Warriors. Having met them as ruthless opponents a number of times it is an unexpected twist to find they have changed their ways and are now peaceful representatives of the Federation. Those who had watched at the time would have been waiting for them to be revealed as the true antagonists making that cliffhanger must more suspenseful. Alpha Centuri was certainly a memorable design and one that I still clearly remembered over the decades between seeing the episode on first transmission and watching again recently. The 'curtain' cloak was a late addition. Apparently, the director took one look at the unclothed Alpha and declared it way too phallic for family viewing. I'm not 100% sure the curtain thing helped... Still, it was good to see the designers making an effort to introduce some clearly non-humanoid species. Jo Grant was an agent of UNIT although it was implied that she gained her position more on the basis of family contacts than ability. She mentions training at various points including escapology--sadly they seem to use the wrong sort of knots rather too often! Jo was one of my favourite companions although rather overshadowed in the eyes of the general viewership by Sarah Jane Smith (and in the eyes of fandom by her predecessor, the rather more cerebral Liz Shaw). I had something of a crush on her at the time so it is probably just as well for my peace of mind that I wasn't aware until decades later that, after leaving the show, Katie Manning (Jo) had done a nude photoshoot draped over a Dalek. Incidentally, her look of wide-eyed innocence was not unrelated to the fact that she was extremely short sighted.

[@donaldb1]

I quote from Wikipedia, without comment. "Ysanne Churchman [voicing Alpha Centauri] was instructed by director Lennie Mayne to make the creature sound like a 'gay civil servant'."

[@selkie76]

A "pickle"? That's sweetly innocent when I think of what Alpha Centauri is frequently compared to ^.^

[@josefschiltz2192]

I think that was superceded by the creature from the pit.

[@ftumschk]

Alpha Centauri initially lacked the curtain/cloak thingy, but when the director of the story, Australian Lennie Mayne, first saw it, he said "It looks like a giant dick! We've got to get it covered up!" (or words to that effect).

[@ericafletcher8416]

"Dancing pickle" is a delightful take 😆

[@ftumschk]

50:23 Troughton is indeed an unusual name, but the Tennant story _The Doctor's Daughter_ was directed by Alice Troughton, who is no relation to the Troughton "dynasty" of Doctor Who actors.

[@icantthinkofagoodusername4575]

The Third Doctor literally has a different costume every story but the look is always similar

[@icantthinkofagoodusername4575]

Back Then The Doctor was exiled to Earth and was only allowed on other worlds when The Time Lords remote Controlled The Tardis

[@iansmith4023]

David Troughton is Patrick's son. He also turned up in modern Who,in the story "Midnight",as the professor on the space bus. When you talk of the 50th Anniversary, please bear in mind that it was more than just.... That's to say,it actually... Well, you'll find out in due time. The individual episodes of these stories were usually recorded in one day (not counting filmed inserts); but they would do dress rehearsals for several days beforehand - mostly to get the actor and camera positions worked out;but partly to allow all the giggling to get out of everyone's system. There must have been quite a bit of that this time around. That being said,I love Pertwee in this. He strikes just the right balance between straight-laced and tongue in cheek. No other Doctor actor could get away with all that 'naroon naroon naroon' schtick,and yet still come out of it with credibility.

[@Mrazmatmahmood]

Yeah, I'm a bit disappointed they didn't even bring up Pertwee once in their conversation. I think he deserved credit for his great performance.

[@robvanriot]

One of the slight issues with watching out of sequence is that you'd have had some context for the Ice Warriors if you'd seen everything in order. It's not vital for the plot for you to know about them, though. As for Alpha Centuri - somehow, it went on to gain cult status. I think it's a 'so bad it's good' thing.

[@ximovac]

Geoffrey toone hepesh in the story was also in that film you watched dr who and the daleks as one of the thals. The lead one I think.

[@RetroRobotRadio]

I think these "stuck on Earth" episodes were trying to make the show into Quatermass.

[@derrenlodge6502]

I love the reactions from your dad on these old Doctor Who's.👍👍😎

[@Concreteowl]

Alpha centuri is sweet. He/she is an alien. It’s kind of speciesism to find him/her amusing.

[@gametrollerprime1594]

Dare disrespect Alpha Centauri?!

[@7thHourFilms]

Yeah, actually.

[@josefschiltz2192]

@@7thHourFilms I sincerely hope you two don't meet an actual alien and start laughing that it looks like a gherkin, then everything gets really serious, and it no longer is a laughing matter! Ooops. So much for diplomacy.

[@Holyroller-pl7ek]

7th Hour Films chill out alex .a flawed but much loved character.early seventies with a low budget give them a bit of slack guys.....one off character?😉

[@richardlemin7840]

Josef: We live in Oklahoma. A sentient Pickle wouldn't get a raised eyebrow around here... other than it would be more intelligent than much of the local populace.

[@josefschiltz2192]

@@richardlemin7840 Ouch! So, might I ask, were you to come across one, do you speak their local Gherkin language, which, I believe, is a form of Piccalalien? (:-/

[@Kasterborous1963]

This is my favourite Pertwee story.

[@stevencassidy6982]

With this one with the Galactic Federation they were explaining why we went into the EEC (European Economic Community) in 1972.....but forty years later look what happened to Britain

[@7thHourFilms]

They should do a sequel episode about a new king of Peladon leaving the Federation. That would be fun.

[@glenmcculla6843]

@@7thHourFilms The Curse of Pexit.

[@richardlemin7840]

Glen: Brilliant!

[@iansmith4023]

@@7thHourFilmsQuick summary of plot: King Peladon declares that he's leaving the Federation. Then decides to stay a bit longer. Then declares that he still intends to leave. Then stays a bit longer. Then declares... etc etc.

[@heatsinker_5517]

You guys are great, but obviously its gets confusing when you jump into episodes randomly, glad you finally decided to watch them all in order. Hope you revisit the this and the other random ones when the time comes, you'll appreciate them better.

[@brucesimmons5517]

"It'll be probably around March" **Looks at date** Oh, no!

[@glenmcculla6843]

All of these years and i never realised how much Aggedor looks like ALF until it was pointed out. What with that, more Young Frankenstein gags, and a Jabberwocky reference i'm going to wind up imagining that i dreamed this whole thing.

[@matthewjh138]

How come when star Wars dose weird Aliens people think thay are cool yet when Doctor Who dose it its seen as bad personally I love the creativity put on display here i much prefer it to most alien we see now days.

[@7thHourFilms]

Because Americans are, by nature, more critical of anything the British do. jk.

[@wellington-rq2br]

The Deadly Assassin!!!!!!!!! So hyped!!!!!!!

[@iain9757]

So there’s two Peladon stories the next one is with Sarah Jane and it’s one of the things Jo and Sarah connect on- know personally I don’t really care for either story. I also don’t really care for the first two encounters with the Ice Warriors with the 2nd Doctor

[@carlc1980]

Klokeda, partha, mennin klatch Ablark araan, aroon Klokeeda shunna teerenatch Aroon, araan, aroon, araan Aroon, araan, aroon Aroon, araan, aroon, araan Aroon, araan, aroon.

[@ftumschk]

...to the tune of "God rest ye merry, gentlemen", of course. (Tis true, for those who don't know.)

[@iain9757]

But the chances of anything coming from Mars is a million to one they say

[@Nosregni]

But still they came

[@iain9757]

So Alpha Centauri originally didn’t have the cape... and yes they looked much worse

[@jsjo3997]

20:17

[@daryl9434]

I've watched a few of these of you watching classic episodes with Richard. Your Dad is very enjoyable to listen to. May I suggest that could definitely use the word interesting a whole lot less. The frequency you use it throughout your videos, it has started to loose all "like" all meaning. 😬

[@7thHourFilms]

Interesting and Like are our bread and butter. I get it. We'll try to diversify our vocabulary in the future.

[@icantthinkofagoodusername4575]

As much as I like Earthshock I think his final story is his best episode

[@ftumschk]

One of the best of anyone's tenure as the Doctor, not just Davison's. _Earthshock_ is certainly good, but _The Caves of Androzani_ is in an entirely different league.

[@wobaguk]

Please tell me you are going to watch 'A Journey in Space and Time' together

[@7thHourFilms]

Yep. It will be the last stop on our 50th anniversary block before be circle back around to Marco Polo.

[@flaggerify]

This is not one of the better Pertwee ones.