Wolfgang B
Has its moments but didn't do anything to successfully change the minds of viewers or the BBC that the show was in decline
Rated 2/5 Stars •
Rated 2 out of 5 stars
07/02/23
Full Review
Audience Member
Overall the sixth doctor's second season with it's conjoined 'Trail' storyline is pretty solid viewing, with only 'The Ultimate Foe' hindering it from getting full marks.
Rated 4.5/5 Stars •
Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars
01/09/23
Full Review
Audience Member
The Trial of a Time Lord isn't at all bad - It's just not as intense as some moments, including the EPIC opening shot (which was groundbreaking for its day) would lead you to believe. Primarily, this is just more akin to the E-Space Trilogy or the Key To Time in that it's just a collection of standard-design Doctor Who stories, just with an overarching theme; the difference here is that the stories in The Trial of a Time Lord aren't as good. However, none of them are bad either, and honestly I would argue that The Mysterious Planet is very solid, its only serious missteps being that some of the elements thrown in during the climax feel very much of the "Turn it to 11!" school of thinking (like, The Doctor's statement that the villain's black-light experiments can literally end the Universe if everything possible goes wrong). The next story acts as a sequel to Vengeance on Varos, which was itself just an okay episode, and honestly, I'm not sure Sil needed a follow-up (and now that we got one, and he kinda-sorta won, I'm actually slightly upset that we didn't get one final appearance where he was finally beaten). Terror of the Vervoids was adequate in its writing, pacing and execution, but was nothing special. And The Ultimate Foe is both great and somewhat poor, as it's a mish-mash of some cool scenes and ideas, but it does not all go into a singular picture effectively -- Now, this is NOT the fault of anyone; the first half was written by Robert Holmes but then he died, and then Eric Saward was writing the second half, only to suddenly have an absolutely massive falling-out with Producer JNT, so in a rush, it was then handed to the Terror of the Vervoid writers, whom were actually legally unable to use any of Saward's ideas on finishing the story - yes this is all true. And because of that, The Trial of a Time Lord ends on a rather odd and only semi-climactic finale, with an interesting "To Be Continued" that was sadly never followed-up upon. Hopefully, someone will finally do a follow-up of this, just as long as it's AFTER Chibnall is fully gone from the franchise. But all in all, The Trial of a Time Lord is fine, just nothing special, which is sad considering how much potential there was for genuine excellent with the overarching story at play.
Rated 3.5/5 Stars •
Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars
01/09/23
Full Review
Audience Member
even our least favourite doctors have their moments, and when i find out what was happening behind the scenes it found it's source of inspiration by imitating life. also, I do wish they bring back the Valeyard before it's too late. (3.57/5)
Rated 3.5/5 Stars •
Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars
01/09/23
Full Review
Audience Member
The Trial of a Timelord season 23 was not originally planned out this way. Despite behind the scenes bickering and the death of a famous Who writer, this season is very entertaining. 4 separate stories putting the Sixth Doctor on trial has some twists and turns not yet seen I'm Doctor Who. Sometimes a little confusing(i.e. Mindwarp and Ultimate Foe) you do get a sense of what is really happening upon reevaluation. I love the cast, the visuals improve from previous Doctor who seasons, and what a finish!
Rated 5/5 Stars •
Rated 5 out of 5 stars
01/09/23
Full Review
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Episode 1
Aired Sep 6, 1986
The Trial of a Time Lord
The Doctor faces death for galactic meddling.
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Episode 2
Aired Sep 13, 1986
The Trial of a Time Lord
The high council reviews evidence.
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Episode 3
Aired Sep 20, 1986
The Mysterious Planet
[Trial of a Timelord 3/14] With the black light converter destroyed, the Doctor fears for the planets safety and needs to find the Secrets of the Sleepers and discover why they are there in the first place.
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Episode 4
Aired Sep 27, 1986
The Mysterious Planet
[Trial of a Timelord 4/14] The Doctor is foxed by Drathros logic so it takes Glitzs blunt lies to buy them some time until Ravolox can be saved. Meanwhile the Tribe make a foolhardly attack on Marb Arch.
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Episode 5
Aired Oct 4, 1986
The Trial of a Time Lord
The Doctor and Peri encounter a brain surgeon whose experiments have led to horrible mutations.
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Episode 6
Aired Oct 11, 1986
The Trial of a Time Lord
Crozier is looking for another body to house Kiv's brain.
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Episode 7
Aired Oct 18, 1986
The Trial of a Time Lord
The Doctor's memory is apparently affected by Crozier's experiments.
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Episode 8
Aired Oct 25, 1986
The Trial of a Time Lord
Film shows the Doctor's past.
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Episode 9
Aired Nov 1, 1986
The Trial of a Time Lord
The Doctor tries to prove his innocence.
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Episode 10
Aired Nov 8, 1986
Trial of a Timelord: Terror of the Vervoids
The Vervoids begin to attack the crew and passengers.
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Episode 11
Aired Nov 15, 1986
The Trial of a Time Lord
The Doctor and Melanie search for the killer aboard the space liner.
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Episode 12
Aired Nov 22, 1986
The Trial of a Time Lord
The Doctor races to prevent the Hyperion III from entering the Black Hole of Tartarus.
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Episode 13
Aired Nov 29, 1986
The Ultimate Foe
[Trial of a Timelord 13/14] The Valeyards true identity is revealed and the trial aborted, but the Doctor and Mel must pursue his new enemy into the Matrix itself, where nothing is quite what is seems.
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Episode 14
Aired Dec 6, 1986
The Ultimate Foe
[Trial of a Timelord 14/14] Mel realizes that the Valeyard has created a weapon within the Matrix that will destroy the Time Lords, and the Doctor is forced to rely on the Master for help...
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