Closing the Lost Stories
range is the only viable option for a Third Doctor Lost Story. The
Mega had enough material to be adapted and enough of the original cast
happens to still be living, so regardless of quality it had to be
produced. It was written originally by
Bill Strutton, but unlike The Web Planet,
provides commentary on the then escalating Cold War as it involves aliens who
wish to see the western world disarm, the governments disbanded, and the Prince
Cassie of Austria put in charge of the world until it can be totally
united. It’s a really good piece of
political commentary shrouded in a six episode traditional Third Doctor story
with UNIT, a peace conference, an alien menace who disguises itself as wanting
to help, and plenty of gadgets for the Doctor to enjoy. Even the Master turns out to be behind the
menace even if the tragic passing of Roger Delgado makes it impossible for him
to appear outside of getting a few mentions in the story. It’s really just a fun story and a good look
at the political climate of the past, the Jon Pertwee era of the show, and
nothing more.
Like many Jon Pertwee
stories the latter half of the story does drag on to a spectacular finale, but
that barely takes away from a lot of philosophical discussion the story goes
for. The Doctor of course is on the side
of the Mega, played by the wonderful Derek Carlyle in the fact that he wishes
to avoid war, but their methods of killing those who oppose them is something
that he opposes. Carlyle plays the Mega
as a hive mind, but also gives them their own individual personalities that can
be distinguished in very subtle ways.
This makes the tone of the story feel similar to that of a spy movie as
the Doctor flees to Austria and almost double-crosses UNIT, before being
revealed to be a clever trick to get Prince Cassie to trust him and Jo. The Doctor is played as James Bond in this
story and it is a part that really only works for the Third Doctor. The story may be rough but Strutton and
Guerrier understand how to write for this incarnation of the Doctor. The six part story is very easy to listen to
as the characterization of everyone is strong.
Katy Manning takes the job of playing Jo Grant and the Doctor. Now Manning is a brilliant actress, almost
too good for 1970s Doctor Who, and that allows her to recapture the magic of
Jo. Through Manning’s narration and
performance you get lost in the era and her Jon Pertwee is interesting. Now it is obviously an impersonation, but as
Manning has deep admiration for her former costar and worked with him for three
whole years, she’s got his mannerisms down pat.
It doesn’t sound like Pertwee, it feels like a performance Pertwee would
be giving. The interviews at the end of
the story offer some great insight into the decisions Katy Manning made in
performing this story which helps with the ambiance.
Richard Franklin has the
more difficult job as he is playing three characters. Sadly he is the weaker link in the story as
while his Mike Yates and Brigadier Lethebridge-Stewart are both great, his
imitation of John Levene as Benton really is quite a bad imitation. It might be because of John Levene’s meek and
stern performances as the Sergeant, but there isn’t really something that is
able to be replicated in the audio drama.
Franklin however is giving it his all in this story as he has to play
through just as many, if not more emotional scenes as Katy Manning has to
perform. Bo Poraj also plays quite a few
characters, ranging from the villain Prince Cassie, a man going down the road
to hell paved with good intentions, to the moustache twirling General Wiley,
and even the murdered Prime Minister who all have distinct voices and
personalities. Poraj is a great
performer in this story and almost tops the likes of Katy Manning.
To summarize, The Mega is a fitting end to the Lost
Stories range. While it goes back to the
style of the Companion Chronicles instead of the incumbent Early Adventures,
Katy Manning and Richard Franklin are great in their roles and the two actors
brought in for the supporting cast are great as well. The biggest flaw is the pacing which makes
Episode Four, Five, and Six extremely difficult to get through with some great
scenes to bring me back into a listening mode.
80/100
No comments:
Post a Comment