Ahh, Britbox. With the BBC and ITV's new streaming service, I've been able to watch many more Classic Stories, and I'm building up the bank of them a lot more. Here I will review the Season 17 Classic that is The City of Death.
I love this episode. I think it's probably the story in the Classic Series that feels most like the New Series, what with the Timey-Wimey plot, big locations, and humour.
The story is so enjoyable. We start of with a really nice shot of a spaceship lifting off and failing, which feels out of place with the rest of the first two parts, but then ties in at the end. After that beautiful shot, Romana II and the 4th Doctor land in Paris. Not green screen Paris, mind you, actual Paris, with the Eiffel Tower and all. (This story is actually the first ever to be filmed overseas.) Then, what follows is one of the finest story set-ups of all time. Cutting between shots of the Doctor and Romana enjoying their holiday and This strange lab with a TARDIS-like contraption, and including these beautifully shot Time loop things, with sections repeated. We clearly learn that this contrapion is something to do with the Time Oddities. Also, in the Louvre, we learn of suspicions of a plot to steal the Mona Lisa. How are these things linked?
Well I won't tell you, because who wants spoilers? What I will tell you, is that this story is expertly crafted and well-thought-out, as everything ties in to make an incredible masterpiece of a plot.
Also, this episode is HILARIOUS. Like, properly funny. Tom Baker puts in one of the funniest Doctor Who performances ever, and the new one-time companion, Duggan, played off him, with the punchy attitude, which makes for some very funny moments. Also, when Tom Baker plays the fool, it's very funny. Plus, John Cleese (Fauwlty Towers, Monty Python) makes a very funny cameo at the end. This is one of few stories in the classic series that has made me laugh out loud multiple times.
The Doctor, not only funny, also is really cool and Doctory, with some nice dialogue and some heroic moments. Lalla Ward puts in another cracking performance as Romana II (She's a great companion) and, as I mentioned, Duggan is a good edition, and he is one of the few one-timers that I actually wished to stay on, because he had great chemistry with Tom Baker and Lalla Ward.
Scaroth, the Last of The Jagaroth, who is this story's villain, played by Julian Glover, is exceptional. Not gonna lie, I wouldn't mind seeing him or his green-faced buddies return. His objective was just survival, after his race got wiped out, which is a good concept when done well. *Ahem* Praxeus *Ahem*
I think I just coughed weirdly.
Anyway.
I would probably say that this should be the story to introduce fans of the New Series to the Classic Series, as it's similar to the New Series in almost every way. (But like, Series 1-4 quality and better. Not Series 11 Quality.)
Overall, The City of Death is an absolute masterpiece of a story. My second favourite EVER, actually. What's my favourite? You'll have to wait and see...
Anyway, an easy 10/10 from me.
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