Black Orchid commentary fun

[dbskyler]

One of my favorite things about DVDs of Classic Who episodes is the commentaries, and I love it when a commentary is good. thisbluespirit recommended the Black Orchid commentary to me ages ago, and I have finally gotten around to listening to it.

I should explain here that I never liked Black Orchid. As it turns out, Peter Davison, Janet Fielding, and Matthew Waterhouse didn't much care for it either. (Sarah Sutton tried to defend it a little, but gave up early on.) Peter spends the commentary pointing out the numerous plotholes and ridiculous tropes, except for when he's complaining about the dressing gown and Harlequin costume he had to wear.

Oh wait, Peter did one other thing, too. See, the episode has a cricket sequence, and Peter excitedly went on and on about the way the sequence showed off his cricket-playing skills. Then came Matthew's observation: "It's amazing how it's only a two-parter [episode], and yet we're spending five minutes watching cricket."

But the best part of the commentary was the following exchange:

Peter: "But see, his neck shouldn't be broken."
Janet:" I bet the BBC are now glad they asked us to do this commentary."
Matthew: "I want to say something in favor of the staircase."

And then everyone agreed that it was a very fine staircase, and they all started looking for other good things to say, but gave up after wall sconces.

Anyway, I'm really glad I finally listened to it. It was like the Doctor Who version of MST3K! Now can we get Peter and the rest of the crew in to do a commentary on Last of the Time Lords?

Comments

[persiflage-1.livejournal.com]

LOL I may have to give this a listen myself...

[dbskyler.livejournal.com]

You should! It's a fun one!

[persiflage-1.livejournal.com]

It's on my To Watch list...

[shadowturquoise.livejournal.com]

I grinned all the way through your post because I've always felt the same way about that episode, but your last line really made me laugh. Excellent suggestion!

[dbskyler.livejournal.com]

It would be the one thing that would get me to watch that episode again! :D

[thisbluespirit]

:-)

Peter and co do give good commentary. I love Black Orchid (it's 1920s! Murder! Dancing! Go away. ;-p) but hearing them run it into the ground is just huge fun anyway.

Arc of Infinity still wins best DW commentary ever, though. They really should just put Peter, Colin and Janet onto any random adventure as a 50th anniversary celebration... :lol:

[dbskyler.livejournal.com]

They really should just put Peter, Colin and Janet onto any random adventure as a 50th anniversary celebration

OMG, yes!!!!!!!!! Where's the petition for me to sign?

[lolmac]

This is the only thing that might actually get me to watch Black Orchid again! (I'm in the camp that holds that once was one time too many.) When I saw The Unicorn and the Wasp, I loved it all the more for the virtue of Not Being Black Orchid.

I've only tried to listen to episode commentary a couple of times (total! ANY fandom!), and bailed out each time. Accordingly, part of my reaction here is 'You mean there are actually SOME good commentaries? Wow!"

[dbskyler.livejournal.com]

Oh believe me, I've bailed out of many a commentary too, but yes, there really are some good ones out there! As thisbluespirit says above, Arc of Infinity really is excellent (see my post about it here). I also really enjoyed the "Five Doctors" commentary done by David Tennant, Phil Collinson, and Helen Raynor (it's a well-publicized easter egg on the 25th anniversary edition). Those are probably my two favorites, but yes, Black Orchid is also very fun, especially if you don't like the episode! ; )