Classic Who "Black Orchid" Parts 1&2 Reaction

[@TheElderBlotch]

As someone who pretty much camps out at the buffet table at any party I go to and avoids dancing like the plague (sober, anyway) I relate to Adric so much in this scenario.

[@robert_bbiii]

While similar if Nyssa asked I'd be dancing

[@yee-raplantar-maximoff4318]

Me too, if people talk to me I try to respond but aside from that I just hang by the food and stuff my face lol

[@dupersuper1938]

I love a buffet, but I relate even more to he and Nyssa when they look at each other perplexed while people watch sports.

[@Vincornelis]

Best Adric story just because he's actually relatable for once.

[@robalexander8065]

I like that Adric still wears his blue and gold star badge on his fancy dress costume.

[@timidwolf]

Peter Davison was so happy they got his bowled wicket in one longshot.

[@Sandman_jazz1983]

What I love about this story is that the TARDIS crew get to have some "hang time"- a chance to chill, relax, and enjoy their surroundings

[@noneya3635]

For a little while.

[@Sandman_jazz1983]

@noneya3635 Well, half a loaf is better than no bread.

[@rogvortex58]

Very true. Their last chance to enjoy themselves. Before…

[@lbd-po7cl]

I’ve always loved this story. As you say, it’s a pleasure watching the Tardis crew actually having fun for a while. As an Australian who was keen on cricket when this came out, I especially loved the Doctor showing off his skills with bat and ball (Peter Davison was actually a good cricketer, and the game was played for real, including clean bowling a batsman - which I know means nothing to you, Jess😀). But also Tegan’s joy and enthusiasm. This was also the first true historical (as in no aliens or sci-fi elements in the plot) since the first Doctor’s era, and I wish modern Who would occasionally do the same.

[@Tyrconnell]

Second Doctor. Remember 'The Highlanders'.

[@timidwolf]

@@Tyrconnell If only we had more opportunity to remember. Ironically the only surviving scenes were the ones edited out for, iirc, the Australian broadcast.

[@ArthurChappell]

Love the gag about The Doctor assuming the reference to The Master means his nemesis, when they mean Master cricketer, the famous Doctor W G Grace

[@Lokeydin7]

When the 10th Doctor met the 5th Doctor, he mentioned how he was running about and playing cricket, this story was what he was talking about.

[@jacobhogan3208]

I adore a ton of black orchid just being everyone having a good time. We need more of just the Tardis crew having fun every now and then.

[@Nyssa337]

Love this story. My favorite lines: "YOU could only be Nyssa." and "Brazil? Where the nuts come from." (it's a reference to a hilarious English play called "Charlie's Aunt").

[@geoffreykahler1616]

Which is where 2s "oh my giddy aunt" comes from.

[@robalexander8065]

​​​​@@geoffreykahler1616 "Oh my Giddy Aunt" was first used in the 1880s as a more playful version of "my sainted aunt." The word Giddy dates to Shakespeare's time, deriving from "gidi" a Tuetonic word for God. The expression is a sanitised version of "Oh my God!" Charley's Aunt was first performed in 1892. Brandon Thomas's play doesn't actually feature the phrase, however, it does feature a character one might describe as being "a giddy aunt".

[@scottboswell6406]

Many people don't know now, but the 5th Doctor is dressed as a cricket player (cricketeer). In his first public appearance, he even had a few hits with a bat (or paddle). I know all this from my Doctor Who Weekly collection from this time!

[@robalexander8065]

Peter is a keen cricketer in real life. A photo from a charity cricket match of the actor was pinned to John Nathan - Turner's office wall. JN-T had worked on All Creatures Great and Small with Peter Davison for three years.. The photo played a big part in JN-T's decision to cast Davison as the Doctor and it also informed the basic idea for his costume.

[@timkinss]

The 5th Doctor is perfect for a story about just being at peace once in a while

[@seannetworkblogsandgames7504]

I love the black orchid. One of my top stories ever. Also notable as it's the last pure historical the show has done - i.e. An episode with no sci-fi elements beyond the TARDIS itself. The previous one was Jamie's introduction story. Also, fun fact: Peter Davison was an avid cricket player in real life and loved being able to play on camera. They had planned to just montage the game, but when he bowled a perfect wicket on his first ball they decided to keep it in

[@DuncanEvans-t7q]

It's nice to have a story where the TARDIS crew are all getting along for once and enjoying themselves. I always find it odd that the regular cast always say they don't really like it. I also think of it as almost a pilot for a later Peter Davison series called Campion

[@djco5782]

"Strike me pink!" is one of my favourite TARDIS reactions.

[@johntomlinson6849]

It's utterly stupid and unrealistic.

[@djco5782]

@@johntomlinson6849 So is much of the series.

[@robalexander8065]

​@@johntomlinson6849 Yet it is not so unlikely a policeman from 1925 would say it. Less likely is the police in 1925 recognising a Police Box (short of having its name above the door). They didn't come into service until 1929.

[@johntomlinson6849]

@@robalexander8065 You miss the point entirely. Half an episode and more in 1963 is devoted to two characters being stunned by the TARDIS being bigger on the inside reveal.The Brig and Benton struggle to understand the concept in 1972/3. Here it's dealt with in three words.Just weak.

[@robalexander8065]

@@johntomlinson6849 To be fair, if they were to convey the policeman's sense of amazement in more than three words, Black Orchid would overrun. A little economy, in what was - as Jess noted - an already very fast-paced second episode. You could argue the policeman wasn't as fascinated as Ian and Barbara or Sgt Benton. By season 19 the viewer had seen quite a few such reactions, also the transcendentalism impacts different people in different ways - Lawrence Scarman's more rational " it's like that novel by Mr Wells!" Is particularly memorable.

[@jonathanmurphy3141]

The first History story, since "The Highlanders" in 1967.. The BBC was/is known for their history/mystery/costume dramas. Fun, and a nice break from invasion and universe travel.

[@TheMorlun]

Everybody should watch the DVD commentary for this. Peter absolutely destroys it. Literally shits on it nonstop. Matthew sounds like he is high. Even Janet and Sarah are having blast making fun of it.

[@dylanshadowstar9779]

That's what I love about the classic commentaries compared to the modern ones. They're not afraid to just have fun

[@fadikhoory5350]

It's funny a lot people loved this when it came out but when Peter criticised it, that's when it lost its favour.

[@TheMorlun]

@@fadikhoory5350 I always thought it was shit. And it does feel like absolute hell to film from actor's perspective.

[@BernardJKD]

​@@fadikhoory5350Everyone loves this story

[@frankshailes3205]

@@fadikhoory5350 Yes, sadly they were put up to it.

[@AnthonyP73]

The ladies apparently froze in the dancing scenes, it was cold and windy when they shot. Peter Davison actually bowled the guy out, he genuinely connected with the stumps.

[@kemmdog4444]

I believe that this is the first two parter since the Sontaran Experiment.

[@7bestthings]

I agree with you and many of the other comments, it's great to see our Tardis crew have a good time together. Love seeing Tegan dance, Nyssa and Adric have a fun dynamic, and it's great seeing the 5th Doctor play cricket! This is definitely the 5th Doctor's era, it would be great to see more stories in this kind of setting. Black Orchid is unique, it has no monsters and no science fiction elements. Just a good old fashioned English murder mystery. This story has always been one of my favorites.

[@tokublwhovian]

I love Black Orchid, it’s underrated. I like the historical setting, 5 and his companions chilling out, the costumes and the companions not being annoying for once (especially Adric and Tegan) I wish Nu Who would do historicals again, I mean without adding an alien into the mix.

[@noneya3635]

Agreed twice the Sarah Sutton is also a big plus in anyone’s world.

[@Wellch]

I loved it too.

[@HudsonMedia]

I adore this story. Loved this first watch and ever since. The period is terrifically represented, the house sets are cool, the murder mystery’s a hoot. Yeah love love love it.

[@robertkramer2271]

The next two weeks are going to be so much fun! 😁

[@benji274]

Topping! You’ve seen Black Orchid. A splendid little interlude

[@paulhammond6978]

"The Master?" which was a reference to W.G. Grace, not the time lord.

[@curmudgeone]

The actor who plays the uniformed police sergeant, Ivor Salter, also played the lethargic, world-weary Morok second-in-command to Governor Lobos in The Space Museum, followed by the fierce-yet-funny Odysseus in The Myth Makers, threatening that he would make the 1st Doctor pilot the fallback suggestion of a flying machine into Troy.

[@DaleRibbons]

This is one of my favorite 5th Doctor stories. Watching the reaction, I was struck by how much they managed to fit into part one (the Doctor and the companions' entrance, the cricket game, the ball, two murders), but yet it didn't feel rushed to me. Casting trivia: Barbara Murray (Lady Cranleigh), Moray Watson (Sir Robert Muir), and Michael Cochrane (Lord Cranleigh) were all in the BBC historical drama 'The Pallisers' together. I can't wait until next week/next time. The story coming up is my favorite 5th Doctor story, and I look forward to seeing how you react to it.

[@hornorsilk2901]

This is a favorite story of mine. Just love they finally had a pure historical story once again.

[@johnwirenius8152]

I love the grace note of the book by “George Cranleigh”-the prop is credited to a real publisher of the appropriate time, ie, Cassell & Co.

[@resiseven7407]

really like this one, its a nice breather before things get real intense

[@rogvortex58]

Great thing about these two episodes, the companions finally get to dress in something different.

[@mauriceedwards9588]

I really like this story it more grounded just a murderer mystery and mistaken identity the cricket match was from a picture of Peter Davison charity match that got him the job when the producer saw him and cast him as the Doctor.

[@Wannabe_Baby]

When you talked about how pacing is sometimes a little slow in Classic Who, I know you were thinking of that one Third Doctor story with an extra-long chase for a whole part. :) I like this story for the reasons you mentioned, since it's nice to see the Tardis crew just having fun. This is the most that I like Adric in his whole run too.

[@NicoleM_radiantbaby]

I know this story isn't the best, but I loved it aesthetically as a kid and so it has a soft spot for me.

[@TheBrainOfMorbius]

"Is this going to be the whole episode?" If only

[@Paul_1971]

For me seeing this at the time of transmission, this was a classic episode. But don't you worry Sesska, you want a MEMORABLE episode, it will be coming soon....

[@sixstanger00]

IMO this is the most underrated story for the Davison era. It's one of my top 5

[@lucasdolding6924]

First pure historical since we met Jamie way back in The Highlanders, shame it's not a more eventful story but like you I do really enjoy the Doctor and companions just enjoying themselves for a bit and just vibing.

[@stickytapenrust6869]

One of my favourite serials and a Tory party wipeout… I’ve had worse days!

[@Adeodatus100]

There was a minor flare of interest in the 1920s on British tv in the early 80s - Black Orchid being shown just a few months after the classic Brideshead Revisited. The Charleston dance and the use of 1920s upper-class slang and manners were fun (and any kids watching in 1982 could have more fun relating that time to their grandparents).

[@ryanpollard1166]

Black Orchid is a nice little breath of fresh air after the big concepts from the previous stories of the season. There's some truly stunning set designs, and there's some genuinely good character moments. Interestingly, both Peter Davison and Janet Fielding are not the biggest fans of this story, disliking the lack of sci-fi elements and finding the script to be trite.

[@Jeremy-f3s]

W.G. Grace was a cricketer and doctor, hence the reference cos the 5th Doctor is wearing cricket clothing.

[@paulhammond6978]

Hey, a whole story in one reaction! Black Orchid is a lot of fun, and the first purely historical Doctor Who story since the sixties (I think "The Highlanders", Jamie's first story, was the last historical until this one in 1982)

[@imafgc]

I've always enjoyed this episode, I love the fact it's a pure historical (something that NEEDS to return) and genuinely do like the setting and story. It's a shame it's not really well liked in the fandom, at least from my experience

[@minximayhem]

24:20 That's pretty much the great divide between classic Who and modern Who. Classic took it's time to tell a story and endear the audience to companions and the Doctor and situations. You could have stories like Black Orchid. Now it's like they make these episodes for goldfish rushing everything to a blur so you literally can't remember what you just saw 10 minutes later. Every story is just throw away. Until you get that one gem a series that let's it's self and the viewer breathe. When I complain about new Who and point to the original series, this is what I mean. We need Doctor Who back in the hands of people that truly care and tell stories, not soap boxing to trash alley social media. That's why these are classic. And why new Who never will be.

[@dwilborn1257]

That one time the 5th doctor was dressed just right...

[@jimcat6795]

I love how the Doctor's way out of this mess is basically to let all the other characters know that they're in Doctor Who 😆

[@Eltonlaleham]

I say the location,for this story is awesome and also, I was sorry for George who was facially disfigured and was unable to speak the actor Gareth Milne was awesome in this role and he was on tv alot in the 80s. I do say Seska if you had not seen sci-fi series Blake,s Seven it is worth seeing and reacting to if you have not already watched Blake,s Seven .

[@williamhuebler68]

I think ur assessment is pretty spot on. I have a soft spot for the twenties so I always liked this one. Tegan is actually enjoying herself for once which is a pleasure to see. Like there is so much in the first part to like. It is a pure historical which i also have a soft spot for. I def think there is a lot in this story the new series could play with. Show the doctor and companions actually enjoying their travels. Let us play with the characters. It’s like some of the marvel scenes that r just the characters Chatting. Throw them in a setting and let each character enjoy it in their way. The sort of light mystery is a nice mix for the pure historical. I think the flaw here is we reveal too much too early. Like imagine if we hadn’t seen George at all till he tries to steal Anne. Then keep him hidden till everyone sees him. The premise of George is a great one but it could be executed better. And yeah once they find the tardis the plot kinda solves itself pretty fast. If u can get the doctor to either escape or find a way to get himself off instead of using the tardis to prove his alienness that would be better. I also enjoy that everyone else is having fun and the doctor completely accidentally manages to land himself in hot water and get accused of murder anyway. And comically everything seems to go wrong trying to defend himself. It’s classic doctor stuff.

[@hepsycamellia5459]

I always enjoy this story, it's so ridiculous. I have seen it described as a murder mystery with no mystery. An outdoor party on a horrible windy day, Adric's constant eating (and wearing of his math's badge over his fancy dress outfit lol), the police being shown the TARDIS, Nyssas's and Adric's dazed expressions at 1920s earth pursuits -- I could go on. Have to say, though, that Lady's Cranleigh's moral compass needs some work. Thanks for another great reactgion.

[@OnlyOneTubing]

Your hair is especially amazing in this video.

[@cameronmonaghan6883]

Good little murder mystery and glad Nyssa is the focus for once. Just two issues: 1, the Doctor showing people the TARDIS and suddenly every accusation is resolved. 2, Tegan in the end focusing more on the costumes and not the fact someone just died.

[@scottboswell6406]

I agree about the TARDIS reveal taking away something from the story (it would have been better just keeping it a mystery like Agatha Christie) but it's nice Tegan got something nice, with all the trauma and getting possessed/controlled she's suffered this season.

[@stacyp2186]

Wow. One of the few stories where the only aliens are from the Tardis.

[@misti-step]

the ending of this story is so strange 😂 like doctor... she tried to frame you for murder. why are you being so friendly lol

[@dupersuper1938]

Some day The Doctor and his companions will show up at a party, eat, dance, have a grand old time and leave without incident.

[@Jaketherobonrd]

Black Orchid is good. The first pure historical episode since The Highlanders. Im not a huge fan of the pure historical stories, but this one i do like. As I said before I first watched this story on vhs when i got it from my charity shop. I didn’t watch this story as much, unlike The Visitation which I watched alot. Next week oh boy! Jess you’re going to be in for a Earthshock!

[@scottredding7357]

One of the only The Doctor plays sports story … everyone likes a good actor in a double role.

[@ericreese7792]

Black Orchid is perhaps my favorite from this season.

[@Stephen-Fox]

I think the issue with this story's pacing is that the murder mystery genre is one that benefits from being around 90 minutes, so cramming what is basically a murder mystery into 45 was always going to be ambitious, even if it hadn't have opened with a sustained period of cricket.

[@kant12]

I always like this one. The 5th really does start out pretty good.

[@JulieFreyHomeWebBiz]

Three 2 part stories in Davison era. Other experimental episode formats to come much later. It was mostly either 4 part or 6 part format.

[@whobp8]

Short, but sweet. You're going to get two parters more often now, due to a behind the scenes decision to stop making six parters. The party looked like fun, but it was actually raining quite hard and pretty cold while they were filming.

[@neilmcdonald9164]

One of only 2 stories which see Adric out of his "uniform "" (the other is "State of Decay")🎩

[@zu-becca4151]

You should watch the new tv show My Lady Jane, it's an interesting twist on England's forgotten queen Lady Jane Grey, and if it's not your thing that's alright. Worth the watch tho

[@alexjames4507]

Next week is gonna be a fun one!

[@stecurrell5863]

Love this story,one of my favourite 5th doctor stories

[@papalaz4444244]

Even JNT thought this was an old rejected historical script Terrance Dudley had and he just changed some of the names to make it Dr Who lol

[@Cruithneach]

Not having aliens or (traditional) monsters was a bold move. It probably should be a rarely used strategy given the nature of the show, but I'm surprised it's not been done more

[@noneya3635]

This is a guilty pleasure episode for me. Double the Sarah Sutton brings me back more than anything else. Can’t wait until the next couple weeks of reactions vids. I think you find the “excellent.”

[@stevesmith3515]

This is a great episode of Classic Doctor Who. Something a little different from the usual affair.

[@chrisbrooker7260]

It’s a fabulous little story. It’s almost like a new who story in it pacing (as you pointed out), but classic Who 2-parters are mostly pretty good. The period detail is, as usual for the BBC, superb, and the lack of science fiction elements is fabulous. And it gives Peter Davison the chance to play cricket (another tick in his favour from me), the cast to dress up - and Janet Fielding & Sarah Sutton look great. The only slight downside is taking random people in the Tardis, something that happens too often in this era. Anyway, much heavier material is soon to come….

[@ilailaquer8182]

Black Orchid gets a lot of hate but I really enjoy it. It's pure lighthearted fun (with a bit of grisly murder and family drama sprinkled in)

[@Alexandrashepiro]

Oh..the next two weeks..you are not ready for what's to come!

[@mrandrews3616]

I've been waiting for it since she started classic who.

[@DaleRibbons]

Careful...

[@fadikhoory5350]

@@mrandrews3616 You've waited for one episode since she started, forget the Mara, forget Sarah Jane, it was one episode not even as altering as Spearhead.

[@djco5782]

​@@DaleRibbonsIt's up on Patreon already.

[@coopercane500]

Despite being a fan-favorite period piece, Black Orchid is not so beloved by stars Peter Davison and Janet Fielding, mostly due to the fact that there was no cheesy alien monster.

[@moviesrocks2]

of all the 5th doctor story this is at the bottom of my list. just my opinion. can't wait for the next story

[@fabiofarrooficial]

Oh, Brazil mentioned!

[@jvieceli]

Love this one. Fun romp and quick enough to not give you enough time to notice its flaws….if you allow yourself to just enjoy it.

[@neilmcdonald9164]

The 1st wholly Historic story since 1966🎩🎩

[@jmcdonald.1998]

RIP the pure historical

[@mark-s]

First two parter for ages first historical story for ages and one of the better stories this season but next week hope you're ready for a classic one of the best 5th doctor stories see you next week

[@Eltonlaleham]

I say seska have fun with the next story and enjoy it

[@alexfletcher5192]

Ignoring the various factoids about this story - such as it being the first 'pure historical' (without any extraneous sci-fi gubbins except for the TARDIS) since 'The Highlanders' in 1966, or being the first two-part story since 'The Sontaran Experiment' in 1975 - Yadda-yadda - means paying attention to the fact that it was less of an outlier at the time than it might appear. For this was the period in Britain where everything from Captain Beaky & his Band to ITV's adaptation of Evelyn Waugh's 'Brideshead Revisited' revealed an interest in the old aristocratic Britain of yore. The same schtick that did well for 'Downton Abbey' this century. And, as this story makes clear, the 5th Doctor's look, sound and adopted attitude all stem from this age of Manservants and Rolls-Royce Silver Ghosts. Except when his Edwardian cosplay suddenly doesn't work any more and he has to resort to showing them around his time machine...

[@andrewgwilliam4831]

I like the story, although the ending is a bit rubbish. Two memorable moments, for very different reasons: 1) The butler very carefully putting his tray down before attempting to help Ann from being attacked! 🤔 2) The policeman saying "Strike me pink!" when seeing the inside of the Tardis. 🤣

[@Concreteowl]

I think it's my second favourite 5th Doctor story.

[@alexfletcher5192]

I agree with your sentiment about this story and it has, at various times, been quite liked in fandom. The regular cast, by contrast, don't seem to have enjoyed it at all!

[@fadikhoory5350]

We need another pure historical, its been more than 40 years. We say it every year.

[@ftumschk]

I agree that it would be nice to have another pure historical, but Black Orchid isn't one. The "historicals" were meant to teach the audience about actual events/people in history, but Black Orchid is entirely fictional... even the location was made up!

[@joshuajoshua2732]

@fadikhoory5380 Unfortunately that's never going to happen now because the younger audience are not interested in pure historicals they only want to see the monsters or the aliens or the Daleks that's why they stopped doing them in the first place because the pure historicals weren't getting as higher ratings as the space stories were let's also not forget "An Unearthly Child" is a pure historical but what made the show a huge success wasn't that story but when the Daleks appeared atleast you get historicals just not pure ones but atleast it's something good for both sides.

[@joshuajoshua2732]

First pure historical since "The Highlanders" back in 1966. I have to say it's my least favourite story the only bit I did like and I know this means nothing to americans but as an australian my favourite scene out of the whole of this story was the Doctor playing cricket as I'm a very big cricket fan it was nice to see Peter Davison show off his cricket skills similar to Matt Smith showing off his football skills the rest I was kind of bored with though what happened to George was sad abit.

[@thethinkingcatakaneonormie3527]

The 5th doctor has this The Kings demons and my favourite the awakening

[@IsiahBradley]

THANKS for this!!!!

[@javelldunn3379]

Classic who is the best show I haven’t seen it but it’s good

[@Melancthon7332]

lol this seems to be the week that everywhere I go on the interweb people are gushing about CRICKET

[@Allancarlostani]

I admire what this story is trying to do, but I don't think it's entirely successful. In theory, a pure historical two-part story is a good idea, mainly as a breath of relief before what will happen to our heroes in the next story... The costumes are beautiful and I like seeing the Fifth Doctor and his companions having a brief moment of peace and fun. Also, Adric and Nyssa being confused by Earthling customs is hilarious. But the pacing and script are the big problem. The entire first episode is pure preparation for the cliffhanger that will start the plot, and only after that the filmmakers seem to have remembered that they only had one more episode to develop the plot instead of the usual three. The result is a weak mystery plot, a rushed pace and an anticlimactic ending. Still, it's an interesting experiment. I want the return of the pure hystorical stories in "Doctor Who". Next week... EARTHSHOCK! This one is amazing.

[@rafttaleryder]

Cant wait for the next eps

[@thewhovianwithasmallcollec7319]

Peak story right here

[@TheMakoShark90]

yay outfits! *murder ensues* oh no!

[@BernardJKD]

I love the BO flow but we are all here waiting for next week's ep already!!!!

[@WeeWeeJumbo]

_i'm so distracted--_

[@Alexandrashepiro]

Great story!

[@glochidiatus]

The next episode should be good! (if you've seen it you will know why).

[@benji274]

Ah…cricket. It’s a long story…kind of the British analogue to baseball. You looked as bemused as Adric and Nyssa

[@Joey15811]

Why has youtube unsubbed me from you and many other people recently 😡 Used to not be a fan of this one but its grown on me

[@UnderhillKoufax]

9…

[@neilmcdonald9164]

And,in contrast,next..😢🎩