Story: Scream of the Shalka
Written By: Paul Cornell
Length: 6 Episodes
Year: 2003
Despite Shada, which is a remake of a story I've already reviewed (SEE: Shada), this was the next Webcast for Who. For the 40th Anniversary of Doctor Who, BBCi decided to do something special, something a little stronger than the previous webcasts. The animation in those three stories was limited, the mouths didn't move and whatnot.
"Scream of the Shalka" had decent animation. Mouths that moved. A brand spanking new Doctor and Master. This is a pretty good story and gave us a new Doctor, who was considered THE Ninth Doctor until 2005 (it wasn't long after this came out that the new series was announced and this all got quickly negated). Richard E. Grant, who played a Doctor in "Curse of the Fatal Death", portrays this version. Derek Jacobi, who will go on to portray him in proper Who, plays the Master. Grant isn't the greatest Doctor in the world, but he has his moments (only a fleeting few but still they are moments).
One of the nice things about this story, beyond the fact that we still get a really good looking TARDIS interior, is that Paul Cornell got it. He did what the TV Movie didn't do, and what RTD eventually would do in a couple of years. He added mystery to the Doctor. Characters don't know him, he is an enigmatic. Even the fans get some mystery. He yells at unseen forces. Who? He has an android holding the Master's consciousness inside it. Why? He seems to have had some tragedy involving a companion. What?
It is unfortunately questions that shall never be answered, for this was the only outing of this Doctor, before his canon status would be kicked to the curb. This is still available online, so I say look it up, its pretty good.
NEXT TIME: The New Beginning
Written By: Paul Cornell
Length: 6 Episodes
Year: 2003
Despite Shada, which is a remake of a story I've already reviewed (SEE: Shada), this was the next Webcast for Who. For the 40th Anniversary of Doctor Who, BBCi decided to do something special, something a little stronger than the previous webcasts. The animation in those three stories was limited, the mouths didn't move and whatnot.
One of the nice things about this story, beyond the fact that we still get a really good looking TARDIS interior, is that Paul Cornell got it. He did what the TV Movie didn't do, and what RTD eventually would do in a couple of years. He added mystery to the Doctor. Characters don't know him, he is an enigmatic. Even the fans get some mystery. He yells at unseen forces. Who? He has an android holding the Master's consciousness inside it. Why? He seems to have had some tragedy involving a companion. What?
It is unfortunately questions that shall never be answered, for this was the only outing of this Doctor, before his canon status would be kicked to the curb. This is still available online, so I say look it up, its pretty good.
NEXT TIME: The New Beginning
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