Classic Who "Time-Flight" Parts 3&4 Reaction

[@mikalmos369]

"So did I..."😢 Janet Fielding's subtle acting here was brilliant.

[@nesshane71]

It's refreshing to see such joy for a story such as Time-Flight which has had so much hate over the decades. You manage to look past the stock footage, simple effects and sets and really embrace the characters. You will LOVE the next Davison seasons

[@frankshailes3205]

Time-Flight has some gorgeous design work.

[@BernardJKD]

I read one critic even give out about the novelisation cover. Which has a perfect picture of concord where its nosetip is centred perfectly in the O of WHO. It's a sublime cover. But no, folk gotta moan.

[@paulhammond6978]

Well, so the Doctor did finally get Tegan back to Heathrow as he promised. And she had been complaining about being kidnapped and wanting to get home for most of the season. I always think it's sweet that Tegan actually does get to do a bit of her air-hostess job when she's getting the passengers back on the plane for the take-off in the final episode.

[@smackthepony2140]

You inspire such warmth and love in your reviews, even when you are sick. What a superwoman. Thanks for brightening a Friday evening on the opposite side of the globe (Perth🇦🇺)

[@peternolan5501]

The father of Sarah Sutton, who plays Nyssa, was a commercial pilot and she says loved the character of Captain Stapley because he was just like she thinks her dad would have been in that situation. In particular the scene where he takes off his jacket at the TARDIS controls to say "Right, let's give this a go," she says is 100% like her dad.

[@yorkshirespider-man]

I remember watching that ending on a black & white portable TV and crying my eyes out

[@yorkshirespider-man]

@@Georgie_Rfunnily enough I wasn’t moved by Adric’s departure

[@jimcat6795]

The captain is so proactive and a quick study I love it

[@lumariadp]

I'm so glad to see someone shares my love for the captain. People always say they wish Todd from Kinda were a companion, my pick would've been him. Not the greatest story, but he's a great character.

[@lumariadp]

Also, I get why he left Tegan-he promised he'd get her there after all, and Nyssa probably told him she'd been wistful about it a few moments before when they were chatting. But no goodbye? Diabolical.

[@moviesrocks2]

@@lumariadp i think he just forgot her

[@Skeezer66]

There was a now-gone Dr. Who podcast that LOVED the Concorde crew, even wishing they had their own spinoff!!

[@Wannabe_Baby]

It was great to see your reaction to Tegan leaving. "Serves me right, talking about how I love big Tardis teams!" I also quite enjoy this story and don't know why it has the reputation it does. I think the downsides are that the resolution is a bit too convenient and the part where the Doctor, Nyssa and Tegan are mentally helping the Xeraphin is a bit too cheesy. Apart from that, it's kind of fun. It has nice moments, like Tegan getting to be an air hostess and the Captain is a great character.

[@Jeremy-f3s]

Yeah I don't know why this story is being so heavily criticised. There are worse stories than this.

[@cruelangel8689]

Same. Are most of the 5th era serials better, yes. But bad, no... never felt Time Flight was terrible.

[@davidpo5517]

I think its reputation is cuz Timeflight comes directly after Earthshock, otherwise it probably would've been thought of better. Ending the season with this instead of Earthshock prob didn't help, but yeah, the story is decent, bigget problem is the ending was rushed, and realistically would've taken days or even weeks

[@Jeremy-f3s]

@@davidpo5517 I don't think realism is a big part of doctor who....

[@resiseven7407]

its not well communicated, but i _think_ the idea is that the doctor just assumes tegan wants to stay at heathrow, as that's where she's been trying to be the whole season. getting rushed out by the grumpy authority figures means he doesn't have time to check with her either. its a bit convoluted and not very good, but i like what i think they were going for with it.

[@DonnaLang42rockglobally]

My head cannon says that the Doctor subconciously remembered "Professor Grumpy-Pant" wardrobe choices and gravitated towards emulating when he had just regenerated and was dealing with Prisoner Zero. ^_^

[@alexfletcher5192]

Nigel Stock's role here as Professor Hayter is a reminder that he once played another sidekick - Dr Watson. Another veteran of British film and TV - he's even in The Prisoner - he was as much a coup for the producers as Richard Todd in 'Kinda'. But God only knows what he made of this script. I still have to watch it again to understand what's going on.

[@BernardJKD]

Don't be a Hayter.

[@mikalmos369]

In all fairness to the doctor it seems pretty clear he thought that Tegan left without saying goodbye, granted he did have a little bit of motivation to skedaddle and maybe he did purposely leave her because he knew she probably wouldn't leave to go back to her life. Now that these more subconscious motivations have been explored about the doctor in previous years it gives a whole new context to a lot of these older stories that they just didn't take the time to explain more more thoroughly even though it's often in the novelizations OR expanded upon in big finish stories

[@BernardJKD]

Happy landings in the Big Finish world.

[@f1since08]

Tegan's departure does make sense from The Doctor's point of view. In the previous story he's just seen his friend killed horribly, so Tegan being home safely is a guarantee to him that she'll be OK.

[@DarknessLovesAll]

Brilliant reaction to this season, your reaction to earthshock was truly heart breaking and this story was good. Looking forward to the next season reactions in particular. No Spoilers for what is to come.

[@bryananderson8241]

I can't believe how much i've enjoyed rewatching this season! So much better than I remember, and I'm now looking forward to the next one. 😃😃😃

[@alexfletcher5192]

Captain Stapley's ability to randomly choose the right TARDIS control loops us neatly back to the recent fuss about 'Pyramids of Mars'. Our hero tells his greatest enemy - that week - that the controls of his time machine are 'isomorphic' ('One to one', replies Sutekh. 'They answer to you alone.') and then himself tries to debunk this idea in 'A Christmas Carol' decades later. Only the concept appears to be true in that instance. But now it's not just Time Lords who can steer the old girl. And we're not talking about River Song either...

[@therealpbristow]

I think the Tardis makes up her own mind who should be allowed to pilot her, and either helps them get it right if she approves of what they're trying to do or just snorts "Invalid command. Guess again." if she doesn't. =:o}

[@lucasdolding6924]

Between this season and the next are a whole bunch of Big Finish audios with 5 and Nyssa, some really great stories in there which would be great for you to check out some day (whether that's in your own time or on camera, they are worth it if you enjoy audios). K9 & Company also aired between this season and the next so if you wanted to rewatch that in your own time you know when it's set.

[@TheElderBlotch]

Agree with the Big Finish shoutout, Spare Parts and Creatures Of Beauty are two top-tier audios with Five and Nyssa. Even better, they're both free on Spotify!

[@lucasdolding6924]

@@TheElderBlotch I also really liked Primeval and Circular Time is one of the best (tho not on Spotify and has future spoilers sort of).

[@alexjames4507]

While not strictly a 5th Doctor / Nyssa story, The Light at the End is a fun Multi-Doctor story that takes places (chronologically) during their travels

[@lucasdolding6924]

@@alexjames4507 Yeah Light at the End was a lot fun tbf

[@Jeremy-f3s]

They don't really listen to radio plays in America. She watches so many TV shows she wouldn't have the time anyway.

[@Eltonlaleham]

This story was not originally intended for the 5th Doctor, and it did not originally include the Master as the principal villain he was never intended as the storys main villain and also the original principal villain was either to be the chinaman Khalid been controlled by the alien race the Zeraphin originally called the Zanadin while trying to control the rogue spirit of the Zanadin/ Zeraphin who was called Zarak and and another story was that the main villain was the evil Zeraphin spirit Zarak who took over the race and created Khalid the chinese magician and use him to manipulate and control the rest of the alien race.This story came about while Tom Baker was still the Doctor, and it is possible it would have been a season 18 story which would have been interesting. The more I watch this story it becomes clear it was never meant to have the Master in it as the storys main villain.

[@TheElderBlotch]

Considering this has been consistently voted the worst of the Fifth Doctor era for ages, yours is probably one of the most glowing reviews of it out there. It's a shame Anthony Ainley got dealt a bad hand as The Master, he wanted to play it more menacing and calculated but was consistently told to ham it up. In many ways, this is the Master's 'jump the shark' moment because of the ridiculously pointless disguise, hare-brained and boring scheme, glossing over the companions' trauma resulting from his past actions and starting the trend of him inexplicably returning from near-death situations with zero explanation other than a "So you escaped from ".

[@fadikhoory5350]

According to Jon Pertwee, he felt as though Ainley was close to Delgado and should have been slightly different.

[@Jeremy-f3s]

​@@fadikhoory5350 I don't really find Ainley as good as Delgado at all. He does lack gravitas. Delgado was a hard act to follow he just automatically looked so menacing and dangerous but telling Ainley to "ham it up" really wasn't going to serve him in any way when he already comes across as softer than Delgado.

[@BernardJKD]

​@@Jeremy-f3s If there is one thing Ainley has it is gravitas.

[@Jeremy-f3s]

@@BernardJKD I disagree, certainly wasn't displayed in this role...

[@kant12]

it's always been a fun episode. the online group think among who nerds always leads to bad conclusions

[@mattyh2464]

Tegans departure came as a huge surprise back then with her going so soon after Adric! I think some people in production felt that the TARDIS had been overcrowded with 3 companions and it was felt Nyssa was the best match as a solo companion for this Doctor (I disagree…I loved the group dynamic)…however it did kind of explain why she was so mad at the Doctor in The Power of the Doctor

[@jamsea389]

Bro, she's in the next series (cwl)

[@darthken815]

​@@jamsea389 Shh. Just say she's in Aberdeen for next season. 😜

[@cruelangel8689]

@@jamsea389 Only took a hour before someone just HAS to spoil things. Very sad.

[@robertkramer2271]

Supposedly, that's why the writers came up with Adric's death. To "lighten the load" of companions.

[@TheMoonRover]

Thankfully she's usually a couple of stories ahead, so that's not a spoiler.

[@The-Cosmic-Hobo]

Time and again it's been stated that the best combination is the simple 1 Doctor + 1 companion. The Doctor and Nyssa, set to roam the universe of Time and Space together!

[@alexfletcher5192]

To lose one companion in a season may be considered unfortunate. To lose two amounts to gross negligence! Of course Tegan is still very much with us. Interestingly, Peter Davison himself preferred his Doctor's dynamic with Nyssa - perhaps because it was less confrontational. He may have had a point. But with Doctor Who soon to enter it's twentieth year in production, Who was to say what was around the corner?

[@DaleRibbons]

A few months ago, I decided to rewatch this story. It had been years since I had seen it, my memory had grown dim, and I wanted to judge for myself if it was as bad as others had claimed. Honestly, I quite enjoyed it. Is it a great story? No, but it was an enjoyable way to spend an evening. As far as Tegan goes, she'll be back. The Power Of The Doctor shows that. Who knows? Time will tell... it always does.

[@GavinBollard]

This is generally a bit of a naff story but I enjoyed it this time with the reactions. Also, the youtube subtitles really helped. Professor Hater was good (haters will hate) and of course, the doctor saying "the Master has activated his comedian circuit". Anthony Ainley was funny ... true.

[@BeagleBabyBeastie]

Now that you're caught up to when it takes place, is there any chance for a Spare Parts reaction?

[@jmcdonald.1998]

I think the Doctor’s decision to leave Tegan behind makes a lot of sense on two fronts. Firstly, Tegan spent all season complaining about wanting to get back to Heathrow, and a good portion of the season terrified, and now she’s finally there. Secondly, he’s just lost Adric - his first companion death in hundreds of years and several companions. He’s likely still feeling a lot of guilt about Adric, and doesn’t want to lose Tegan in a similar way. Just like 9 sending Rose home, and 11 sending Clara home, he’s elected to keep Tegan where he thinks she’s safe, away from him and life on the TARDIS.

[@resiseven7407]

spare parts is a story absolutely made for you, definitely recommend checking it out at some point! it fits pretty snugly between this story and the next, as does a fair bit of fivey BF, so there's no worries of being spoiled by it now :]

[@Smilliereacts]

I'm really looking forward to the next season/ next batch of reactions for those that have seen the next season you all should know what i'm referring too.

[@DNulrammah]

"...Oooh, I once spent an 'ell of a long time getting a gobby Australian to Heathrow airport." Next time, Try a shot of your favorite alcoholic beverage.

[@frankshailes3205]

Yeah, they thought having four TARDIS travellers was too many, even though it had worked in the Hartnell era. Nyssa was going to be cut, but Davison argued she worked the best with his character.

[@bobsteele9581]

Another excellent reaction Jess. Looking forward to the next one 👍

[@whobp8]

I don't want to sound like I'm down on Tegan, I like her and think actress Janet Fielding does a great job. But, perversely, your wish for a scene next episode addressing the departure of Tegan makes me imagine the Doctor and Nyssa wearing party hats and popping a bottle of champagne. 😂

[@andrewgwilliam4831]

This was such a mess of a story, and probably suffering even more in fans' eyes because it followed on from "Earthshock" and because it had a mostly sound first episode. For me, this does have elements that could've been put together to make a much stronger story, but they basically ran out of money making it as well, so even with a complete rewrite it was going to struggle. I enjoyed your enjoyment of it, though! This was the final story of Season 19 so it seems doubtful they'll pick up on Tegan's departure with the next season. Then again, they were influenced by the 1960s stories leading into each other...

[@Stephen-Fox]

"A little rough to get through" might be the most complimentary I've ever heard someone be of this story. (Though, yes, I do agree with you about the characters in the story being a lot of fun) Some additional context since it's often easy to miss when viewing how you view stuff - This was the end of a season. Tegan getting left at Heathrow, clearly having wanted to keep travelling with the Doctor? Is how they chose to end S19. Make of that as you will.

[@conscienceaginBlackadder]

0:56 "I do not wish to believe, therefore I hallucinate." Exactly the philosophy of anti-paranormal materialism, scientism, as is famously followed by Lalla Ward's second husband. Her first husband too, so someone answered before when I posted it under another Marie-Claire's reaction.

[@kelvinb4683]

Come on Tegan was always bitching about going home to start her job now she's there and all the Doctors always say DO NOT WANDER off.

[@thethinkingcatakaneonormie3527]

If you get the DVD of this Story listen to the Audio Commentary as Peter Davison is so funny as he actually hated this story

[@tl1110]

Oh nooo!!! Not Tegan!!!!!!!!!!!!! 🤣🤣

[@wispa1a]

He did exactly the same to the tardis in utopia. Lock the coordinates.

[@joshuajoshua2732]

I think 1 or 2 companions is enough personally because I don't think the 3 companion route works anymore.

[@mikalmos369]

Hey, didn't K-9 and Company come out after the end of the season during the Christmas holidays?... or was that earlier perhaps after Logopolis? Either way it's a good time to watch it. I can't remember if Jess has already seen it, but because she's seen The Five Doctors for sure we know this isn't really a spoiler that it takes place sometime around now in the chronology if not a little bit before.

[@dylanshadowstar9779]

She has seen it years ago

[@jasoncaldwell5627]

One of the swankiest Master depictions ever.

[@Skeezer66]

Sooo . . . this story started out with the fake ancient guy, gets revealed as The Master, then we meet the real aliens, they seem like a problem until they're suddenly not, then The Master does shenanigans that don't really go anywhere, then back to Heathrow where we beat The Master who hasn't been on camera and The Doctor rushes off without Tegan. What I would have liked is, the professor was The Master, we skip the fake ancient guy altogether, and concentrate on The Master and the aliens and maybe Nyssa getting some revenge on The Master! Have the Concorde go someplace that was more than just rocks and caves! Sigh. #BringbackTegan

[@SKIP-yj3xp]

I prefer Nyssa as a companion, because I like the technobabble, and she understands it.

[@Problembeing]

And, there endeth the 19th season...

[@jcortese3300]

For decades, I've never understood the hate this story has gotten. I adore it, and a huge part of that is the Alpha Charlie crew who are awesome in every way. Plus, the Concorde was popular back then and seeing it on the show was a lot of fun. Who else thinks the flight engineer looks like Peter Dinklage?

[@MrChiddler]

Much much MUCH better stuff is coming very soon

[@gumdeo]

Tegan is so funny.

[@GeoffreyBrundell]

Not one best story’s for Peter Davison era but fair story for end of is first season shock see Tegan go. Hope you better Jess.

[@thethinkingcatakaneonormie3527]

Don't panic you'll be surprised in the next story as well as an old enemy there's more surprises.

[@brendangriffiths7748]

Great vido

[@mark-s]

Yes not a great story and ends the fifths doctor first season the following season was in 1983 and the Dr's 20th anniversary year one really good surprise in that season 😊

[@R.senals_Arsenal]

You may like bigger TARDIS teams, but the writers didn't 🤣 The story here is kinda meh for me, but it does have good characters. Tegan was not universally loved, my father for example, still hates her, but I always liked her for the same reasons you listed.

[@Jamie_E_Pritchard]

I see The Master drives with the handbrake on too... (My god I hate Nu-Who and its retcons with a passion)

[@pravusprime]

It's funny how much the cast themselves disliked this episode. Between running out of money, cold locations, scenes needing extending, and the product placement and other issues, it was just a mess.

[@joshuajoshua2732]

Considered one of the worst season finales as I said in the comments last week "Earthshock" should had been the finale of this season. I'll be honest regarding Tegan's exit I know I'm going to sound like a broken record but to be honest I was so glad to see the back end of her she was so insufferable and always complains about everything and questions the Doctor's authority who has more experience than she does. So why would you feel horrible for Adric and Tegan you didn't write the scripts 😂 😊. Also you should put your health first and do your reaction videos later when your feeling better then that way you enjoy the shows alot more without feeling down theres nothing worse than a headache and being sick.

[@wispa1a]

They could have cut this into a 2 part.

[@simoncolenutt5228]

Running out of money wasnt so much of a problem as having a script that was all over the place

[@thomaslance5428]

It's not that I disliked the 5th Doctor, but once you've been with the 4th, there's no going back lol. I basically binged them on BritBox awhile back. I had only been aware of Tom Baker...and nothing I watched changed my mind. TOM BAKER RULES. May the 4th Doctor and Puddleglum live forever! Lol.

[@patrickdepew4976]

I don't dislike the 5th Doctor either (I don't dislike any of the Doctors), but I've always felt 5th is one of the weakest. It might be because he followed 4th, it might be because he was a little too wishy-washy. It may also be because there aren't a tremendous amount of standout stories, especially in this season.

[@TakeNoteOfThat]

Four is much more accessible and easy, yes

[@joshuajoshua2732]

It took me decades to accept Peter Davison as the Doctor as Tom Baker was so good and very alien while Peter was abit more too "human" and "nice".

[@raybearoz]

Given what I think may be your appetite for the more bent side of things... behind the scenes the three actors playing the flight crew were all...um... "camp" and apparently the filming was hilarious

[@jacobhogan3208]

A

[@MrChiddler]

So glad you are past this. It’s awful drivel.

[@kant12]

I love this season except for Kinda tbh. I never understood why people like that one so much lol

[@markpatrick2735]

so the next episode is the twentieth-anniversary special- the five doctors. ...

[@Nosregni]

No it’s not.

[@TheMoonRover]

Maybe let's not spoil the title. Also there's a whole season before that.

[@joshuajoshua2732]

It's the twentieth anniversary season but the special is not the next episode I also hope she watches the original version.

[@jamescole8771]

Honestly tegan was so annoying couldn't stand her