Doctor Who's Tragical History TourDoctor Who's Tragical History Tour
  • Nu-Who
    • Ncuti Gatwa
    • Jodie Whittaker
    • Peter Capaldi
    • Matt Smith
    • David Tennant
    • Christopher Eccleston
  • Tweeners
    • John Hurt
    • Paul McGann
    • The Master List
    • Regeneration X
    • The Mystery Guest
    • The Hand of Fear
  • Colo(u)r
    • Sylvester McCoy
    • Colin Baker
    • Peter Davison
    • Tom Baker
    • Jon Pertwee
  • Monochrome
    • Patrick Troughton
    • William Hartnell
  • Tour du Jour
    • On This Day
    • The House of Holmes
    • 50 for 50
    • The Randomizer
    • THT Rand-o-pix of the Day
    • The Feast of Steven
    • Tour Notz
    • The Watcher
    • Contact the Tour
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Doctor Who's Tragical History Tour
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  • Nu-Who
    1. Ncuti Gatwa
    2. Jodie Whittaker
    3. Peter Capaldi
    4. Matt Smith
    5. David Tennant
    6. Christopher Eccleston
    7. View All

    Who Told You There Wouldn’t Be Any Math?

    December 5, 2022

    The Next-iest of Doctors

    May 29, 2022

    Svelte 16

    May 8, 2022

    Who Told You There Wouldn’t Be Any Math?

    December 5, 2022

    B-Bye Bradley

    October 6, 2022

    Svelte 16

    May 8, 2022

    Now You Sea Devil, No You Don’t

    April 24, 2022

    E-Spaced

    August 4, 2023

    Svelte 16

    May 8, 2022

    The Dark Jacket Dimension

    November 13, 2021

    Bad Hair Month

    September 9, 2021

    60 for 60 — The Greatest Stories in Doctor Who History — (54→49)

    September 20, 2023

    E-Spaced

    August 4, 2023

    Who Told You There Wouldn’t Be Any Math?

    December 5, 2022

    The Wedding of SMW

    August 27, 2022

    60 for 60 — The Greatest Stories in Doctor Who History — (54→49)

    September 20, 2023

    60 for 60 — The Greatest Stories in Doctor Who History — (60→55)

    September 15, 2023

    Who Told You There Wouldn’t Be Any Math?

    December 5, 2022

    The Next-iest of Doctors

    May 29, 2022

    The Dark Jacket Dimension

    November 13, 2021

    The (W)hole Ruth

    January 31, 2020

    Ten Days Till the Tenthiversary of the Tenting of the Tenth

    December 22, 2019

    The Last ‘Last Christmas’ Specials Rankings #3

    December 24, 2018

    Toyz in the Good

    September 24, 2023

    60 for 60 — The Greatest Stories in Doctor Who History — (54→49)

    September 20, 2023

    60 for 60 — The Greatest Stories in Doctor Who History — (60→55)

    September 15, 2023

    60 for 60 — The Prelude

    September 8, 2023
  • Tweeners
    1. John Hurt
    2. Paul McGann
    3. The Master List
    4. Regeneration X
    5. The Mystery Guest
    6. The Hand of Fear
    7. View All

    Hurt So Good: A Doctor and His Umbrella

    April 27, 2023

    Who Told You There Wouldn’t Be Any Math?

    December 5, 2022

    Svelte 16

    May 8, 2022

    Ten’ll Get You Five

    September 4, 2020

    60 for 60 — The Greatest Stories in Doctor Who History — (60→55)

    September 15, 2023

    McGann Before McGann

    May 26, 2023

    … And All That Yaz

    November 16, 2022

    Fivey at Forty: The First Companion Death of 1982

    March 16, 2022

    Toyz in the Good

    September 24, 2023

    60 for 60 — The Greatest Stories in Doctor Who History — (54→49)

    September 20, 2023

    60 for 60 — The Greatest Stories in Doctor Who History — (60→55)

    September 15, 2023

    60 for 60 — The Prelude

    September 8, 2023

    Ghost Re-Write

    November 16, 2021

    The (W)hole Ruth

    January 31, 2020

    Dup-topia

    January 29, 2020

    The Glue Guy

    June 24, 2018

    Doctor on Doctor ACTION!

    November 19, 2017

    The Wheel in Cheese

    August 10, 2014

    The Hurt Locker

    May 25, 2013

    Toyz in the Good

    September 24, 2023

    60 for 60 — The Greatest Stories in Doctor Who History — (54→49)

    September 20, 2023

    60 for 60 — The Greatest Stories in Doctor Who History — (60→55)

    September 15, 2023

    60 for 60 — The Prelude

    September 8, 2023

    Toyz in the Good

    September 24, 2023

    60 for 60 — The Greatest Stories in Doctor Who History — (54→49)

    September 20, 2023

    60 for 60 — The Greatest Stories in Doctor Who History — (60→55)

    September 15, 2023

    60 for 60 — The Prelude

    September 8, 2023
  • Colo(u)r
    1. Sylvester McCoy
    2. Colin Baker
    3. Peter Davison
    4. Tom Baker
    5. Jon Pertwee
    6. View All

    A Studio Film (or rather a film in the studio)

    June 9, 2023

    … And All That Yaz

    November 16, 2022

    Fivey at Forty: The First Companion Death of 1982

    March 16, 2022

    Roomba With a Prenumbra

    March 1, 2022

    60 for 60 — The Greatest Stories in Doctor Who History — (60→55)

    September 15, 2023

    Hurt So Good: A Doctor and His Umbrella

    April 27, 2023

    … And All That Yaz

    November 16, 2022

    B-Bye Bradley

    October 6, 2022

    60 for 60 — The Greatest Stories in Doctor Who History — (54→49)

    September 20, 2023

    60 for 60 — The Greatest Stories in Doctor Who History — (60→55)

    September 15, 2023

    The Inevitable Adric

    July 14, 2023

    The Box(ing) Day of Delights

    December 26, 2022

    60 for 60 — The Greatest Stories in Doctor Who History — (54→49)

    September 20, 2023

    Destiny of the Costume Closet

    September 1, 2023

    The Inevitable Adric

    July 14, 2023

    Hurt So Good: A Doctor and His Umbrella

    April 27, 2023

    McGann Before McGann

    May 26, 2023

    The Warrior Before Time

    May 19, 2023

    Purple Shag Carpet

    May 11, 2023

    Hurt So Good: A Doctor and His Umbrella

    April 27, 2023

    Toyz in the Good

    September 24, 2023

    60 for 60 — The Greatest Stories in Doctor Who History — (54→49)

    September 20, 2023

    60 for 60 — The Greatest Stories in Doctor Who History — (60→55)

    September 15, 2023

    60 for 60 — The Prelude

    September 8, 2023
  • Monochrome
    1. Patrick Troughton
    2. William Hartnell
    3. View All

    60 for 60 — The Greatest Stories in Doctor Who History — (60→55)

    September 15, 2023

    When Patrick (almost) Met Ian

    August 25, 2023

    When Patrick Met Verity

    August 11, 2023

    More For Letts

    July 25, 2023

    60 for 60 — The Greatest Stories in Doctor Who History — (54→49)

    September 20, 2023

    When Patrick Met Verity

    August 11, 2023

    The TARDIS whirled on it’s way again…

    December 23, 2022

    Invasion of The Invasion

    December 17, 2022

    Toyz in the Good

    September 24, 2023

    60 for 60 — The Greatest Stories in Doctor Who History — (54→49)

    September 20, 2023

    60 for 60 — The Greatest Stories in Doctor Who History — (60→55)

    September 15, 2023

    60 for 60 — The Prelude

    September 8, 2023
  • Tour du Jour
    • On This Day
    • The House of Holmes
    • 50 for 50
    • The Randomizer
    • THT Rand-o-pix of the Day
    • The Feast of Steven
    • Tour Notz
    • The Watcher
    • Contact the Tour
Doctor Who's Tragical History TourDoctor Who's Tragical History Tour
50 for 50

50 for 50 — The Greatest Stories in Doctor Who History — #17

By -- DSWJuly 31, 201304 Mins Read
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Across the personal lists created by the four reviewers for this countdown, there are numerous stories that appear in most, and in some cases, all of them. And you can see why. Obvious classics. And then, showing the truly eclectic and personal nature of our favourite show, there’ll be stories that just appear in one countdown. And at number 17 in our continuing odyssey, is just one of those. Carnival of Monsters appears in my list and my list alone. And it’s there because it has everything. It’s exciting, is hugely inventive story wise, has some great monsters in the Drashigs and is, overall, immensely fun, with possibly the best double act ever seen in the show.

Following the groundbreaking events of The Three Doctors, this is the first story since The War Games that the Doctor has been allowed to fly the TARDIS himself. And it’s interesting that the Doctor chooses to take Jo to Metebelis 3, a planet that would have a very profound effect on the Third Doctor’s ultimate fate. But, of course, the Doctor misses his destination (or does the TARDIS deliberately take him to Inter Minor, given what we now know from The Doctor’s Wife?)

And although we’ve seen the Third Doctor visit the odd planet of two, never have we seen anything as over the top and outright fun as Inter Minor. We have the Minorians, who have a huge male pattern baldness problem and seem to do nothing except stand around and grunt. And then we have the technicolour feast that are showman Vorg, with his choice of natty head gear and his assistant Shirna with her interesting grasp of interstellar fashion and make up. The planet is wonderfully whimsical and Vorg and Shirna are a brilliant double act, with some cracking dialogue. In fact, the story would work as a Seventh Doctor story, as it’s brimming with whimsy and over the top design.

The story itself is very clever as, from the outset, you are unsure of the connection with the scenes on the SS Bernice and those on Inter Minor. And, what seems like a typical foray into the past for the Doctor, starts to turn into something more like an episode of Sapphire and Steel, as the ship and it’s crew experience their very own groundhog day. The intrigue mounts up even further when you see the Drashigs, who, even though we know they are actually glove puppets. are a design masterpiece, genuinely scaring the hell out of me as kid.

And then, just when we thought the story couldn’t get anymore twisty-wisty, we discover that the Doctor and Jo have been miniaturized and are inside a machine! I mean what? I remember thinking I really wanted a Miniscope. I wasn’t bothered about the ethical stuff the Time Lords were. I was seven and it seemed like a very cool idea to be able to stick all your favourite things into one box!

The story is a master class in sleight of hand and something that Steven Moffat would have been proud to have written, I’m sure. In fact, it’s interesting that in 2010, when Mr. Moffat decided that he wanted to create a live stage version of Doctor Who, it was to Carnival of Monsters he turned, with the show effectively being a sequel to it.

And I was lucky enough to see the show and it was a perfect follow up to one of most fun and inventive stories in Doctor Who history. It was just as enjoyable and equally wacky. However, I was a bit disappointed that the main character, Vorgenson didn’t share his father’s taste in head gear…

So what’s not to love about Carnival of Monsters? And with that in mind, I’m going to ask my esteemed fellow reviewers to grab their copy from their Doctor Who DVD shelves, all neatly arranged in broadcast date order and watch it again. Honestly, it’s a masterpiece.

Now if you’ll excuse me, I’ve just found a Miniscope for sale on eBay. Comes complete with a spotty bowler hat apparently…. — Steve

Alan’s #17 — The Empty Child
Andy’s #17 — The Enemy Within
David’s #17 — Blink

How sweet will #16 be in the Countdown?  Find out next week.

Short Hops:
  • Announcing 50 for 50 … The 50 Greatest Stories in Doctor Who History
    Announcing 50 for 50 … The 50 Greatest Stories in Doctor Who…
  • 50 for 50 -- Flick of the List
    50 for 50 -- Flick of the List
  • 50 for 50 -- Missing ... Presumed Dread
    50 for 50 -- Missing ... Presumed Dread
50 for 50 Jon Pertwee Blink The Enemy WIthin The War Games The Empty Child Steven Moffat The Three Doctors The Doctor's Wife Carnival of Monsters
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On This Day in Doctor Who History
  • September 24
    • 1977: The Horror of Fang Rock [4]
    • 1966: The Smugglers [3]
    • 2011: Closing Time
  • September 25
    • 1976: The Masque of Mandragora [4]
    • 1965: Galaxy 4 [3-- [Air Lock]
  • September 26
    • 2015: The Witch's Familiar
  • September 27
    • 2014: The Caretaker
    • 1975: Planet of Evil [1]
    • 1980: Meglos [1]
    • 1986: The Mysterious Planet [4]
    • 1989: Battlefield [4]
  • September 28
    • 1968: The Mind Robber [3]
    • 1987: Time and the Rani [4]
  • September 29
    • 1979: City of Death [1]
    • 2012: The Angels Take Manhattan
  • September 30
    • 1978: The Pirate Planet [1]

Random Thoughts
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The Faster Horse
By -- DSWApril 22, 2018 Off the Reservation 1 Min Read
Cut (to) The Chase
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