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dbskylerSo I just listened to the commentary for "Frontier in Space," and they did something I had never before heard of: they had someone on the commentary who was unconnected with the making of the show, whose function seemed to be to play the role of "instigator" for the others (Barry Letts, Katy Manning and Terrance Dicks), and to pose questions and just generally make sure that the flow of commentary kept coming and was reasonably interesting.
It's a great idea, and I have to say that it really worked, and I hope the BBC does it again. So well done, Clayton Hickman, who while not having made "Frontier in Space," is apparently a former editor of Doctor Who Magazine, at least according to Google. He definitely was knowledgeable about the show, and he did a wonderful job instigating the commentary.
Now for some other interesting tidbits of information from the episode and from the commentary:
I just loved Roger Delgado in this episode. I knew he was in it, but it takes awhile before he makes his entrance, so when he finally appeared, I actually applauded -- and I was alone in my livingroom at the time. Yes, I am a geek. But a happy geek to see Roger Delgado. He's my favorite Master, definitely. There's just something about him -- he's so effortlessly evil, but charming as well. I could watch him all day.
There's a fairly extensive scene where the Doctor is escaping a cell, and the Master is listening in to the conversation so Jo just starts talking, and she goes on, and on, and on, and on, and on . . . seriously, it takes an amazingly long time for the Doctor to exit that room while Jo chatters on as if he's still in the cell but she's just not letting him get a word in edgewise. Anyway, in the commentary it came out that none of that was scripted. Instead there was a general stage direction "Jo talks," and Katy Manning had to ad-lib that entire thing. And really, she just babbles on forever, but you can hear every word and it all makes sense, and not only that, it all sounds like stuff Jo would say. So, well done Katy Manning! The funniest thing was, in the commentary Katy said to Terrance Dicks (script editor) "Thanks for trusting me," and Terrance replied "If there was anyone who could do that, I knew it was you," with this clear implication that Katy herself just naturally talks a lot. Which apparently is true.
Terrance Dicks also talked about how the previous season had had the Master in every story, and how that was actually a mistake. I can't recall exactly how he put it, but basically he said: "Every episode there was some mysterious villain, and then it would turn out to be the Master. So by the end it was "Who could be behind this? Oh look, it's the Master! My word!'"
So, there you go. A really enjoyable commentary, and a good episode, too. Very sad that it was Roger Delgado's last appearance in Doctor Who, though. There's a bonus disk for the episode that apparently has a Delgado tribute on it, and I think I'll have to rent that one next.
It's a great idea, and I have to say that it really worked, and I hope the BBC does it again. So well done, Clayton Hickman, who while not having made "Frontier in Space," is apparently a former editor of Doctor Who Magazine, at least according to Google. He definitely was knowledgeable about the show, and he did a wonderful job instigating the commentary.
Now for some other interesting tidbits of information from the episode and from the commentary:
I just loved Roger Delgado in this episode. I knew he was in it, but it takes awhile before he makes his entrance, so when he finally appeared, I actually applauded -- and I was alone in my livingroom at the time. Yes, I am a geek. But a happy geek to see Roger Delgado. He's my favorite Master, definitely. There's just something about him -- he's so effortlessly evil, but charming as well. I could watch him all day.
There's a fairly extensive scene where the Doctor is escaping a cell, and the Master is listening in to the conversation so Jo just starts talking, and she goes on, and on, and on, and on, and on . . . seriously, it takes an amazingly long time for the Doctor to exit that room while Jo chatters on as if he's still in the cell but she's just not letting him get a word in edgewise. Anyway, in the commentary it came out that none of that was scripted. Instead there was a general stage direction "Jo talks," and Katy Manning had to ad-lib that entire thing. And really, she just babbles on forever, but you can hear every word and it all makes sense, and not only that, it all sounds like stuff Jo would say. So, well done Katy Manning! The funniest thing was, in the commentary Katy said to Terrance Dicks (script editor) "Thanks for trusting me," and Terrance replied "If there was anyone who could do that, I knew it was you," with this clear implication that Katy herself just naturally talks a lot. Which apparently is true.
Terrance Dicks also talked about how the previous season had had the Master in every story, and how that was actually a mistake. I can't recall exactly how he put it, but basically he said: "Every episode there was some mysterious villain, and then it would turn out to be the Master. So by the end it was "Who could be behind this? Oh look, it's the Master! My word!'"
So, there you go. A really enjoyable commentary, and a good episode, too. Very sad that it was Roger Delgado's last appearance in Doctor Who, though. There's a bonus disk for the episode that apparently has a Delgado tribute on it, and I think I'll have to rent that one next.
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(no subject)
Date: 2010-04-13 01:40 pm (UTC)(Besides his editorship of DWM, I think Clay is still one-quarter of the ongoing "Time Team" epic project, which takes a true enthusiasm for the stories as well as a knowledge thereof - which makes him a great instigator, clearly.)
(no subject)
Date: 2010-04-13 05:05 pm (UTC)And yes, Clay showed a lot of knowledge and a lot of enthusiasm. He also showed a talent for commentary -- I really think that it takes a special skill (which, by the way, appears to be completely unrelated to acting skill).
(no subject)
Date: 2010-04-14 01:31 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2010-04-13 01:40 pm (UTC)I shall have to see if the library has Frontier...
(no subject)
Date: 2010-04-13 05:08 pm (UTC)It's definitely worth checking out!
(no subject)
Date: 2010-04-13 05:14 pm (UTC)I've just shoved it onto my wish list to remind me to borrow it when I'm not so snowed in by other stuff...
(no subject)
Date: 2010-04-13 02:27 pm (UTC)Every time I hear people say Delgado was on too often in that season I'm just shaking my head, because with his premature death it's all the Master we got to have. I'm grateful they 'overused' him while they could.
(no subject)
Date: 2010-04-13 03:01 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2010-04-13 05:16 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2010-04-13 05:38 pm (UTC)But with no Delgado.
Still, 4 episodes of Delgado in Frontier in space! (there is no such thing as too much Delgado!)
(no subject)
Date: 2010-04-13 06:09 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2010-04-13 06:24 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2010-04-13 05:34 pm (UTC)Yes, me too. Well, I have to agree that he was overused, but I'm grateful that he was overused and we have those episodes. Btw, the commentary included a lot of fond recollections of Delgado, and also of Jon Pertwee. Sad though that the next commentary will have fond recollections of Barry Letts. I don't know if this was the last commentary he did, but it must have been one of the last.
may have to rationalize buying a dvd, in spite of already owning it on vhs.
I go through that too.
(no subject)
Date: 2010-04-13 03:37 pm (UTC)KATY MANNING I LOVE YOU! That was one of the bits I enjoyed most in the episode!
Looks I should listen to the commentaries.
And yeah, I'm totally happy they used Delgado as much as they could. He's such a brilliant Master. And who cares about the fact the mystery was obvious - the joy was to see how he'll be revealed, not wonder whether it's the Master. Although, it could be me watching it 35 years after broadcast...
(no subject)
Date: 2010-04-13 05:43 pm (UTC)I know! I was shocked. In fact, I now want to go back and listen to that scene again before I return the DVD. She really did an amazing job.
And who cares about the fact the mystery was obvious - the joy was to see how he'll be revealed, not wonder whether it's the Master.
Yes! I mean here I was watching this episode for the first time, but already knowing that the Master was behind it all didn't diminish my enjoyment one bit. In fact, I kept waiting in glee for the reveal -- and loved it when it came. And I say that as someone who doesn't normally like spoilers. It's just somehow impossible to spoil the Master.
(no subject)
Date: 2010-04-13 06:24 pm (UTC)And oh yes, I so need to rewatch that scene now. she did such a brilliant job at that! :) (Damn you, LJ. You have made me start feeling the need for more icons. I SO want a Three & Jo icon now.)
(no subject)
Date: 2011-04-07 08:12 pm (UTC)* Katy Manning is hilarious! As is Jo, really. (I take it you've read Prim's Grant Me Just a Little Speech (http://www.whofic.com/viewstory.php?sid=37887), right? Sounds like it was inspired by this ep. I should really watch more Who.)
(Also I should get around to watching that ep of SJA, somehow. Maybe when it comes out on DVD...)
* It is impossible to have too much Delgado!Master. I kind of wish he'd been in every single serial between "Terror of the Autons" and whenever it was he died... yes, it got silly, but Classic Who is silly anyway. *g* (My family, non-Whovians all, tend to use Classic Who as the standard of bad special effects and plot silliness when talking to me. o_O Well, they did see "Sea Devils" and "Three Doctors" first...)
(no subject)
Date: 2011-04-07 11:51 pm (UTC)On the other hand, I really disliked Simm!Master, but I don't think that was John Simm's fault.
Yes, I've read that story! It's marvelous. I don't know why Jo doesn't get more credit. Have you seen a lot of Jo yet? What do you think of her?
And yes yes yes, you should see "Death of the Doctor!" Katy Manning was terrific in it.
(no subject)
Date: 2011-04-08 06:07 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2011-04-09 06:00 am (UTC)