In the last entry I was speaking of memory, and how certain things lodge themselves permanently in ones psyche, yet some seem destined to dance forever beyond one's mental grasp.
So in the quest for symmetry (if nothing else), I guess it's time to have a look at one of those seemingly Teflon-coated tales.
You see? Even some of my allegedly memorable stills from "The Invisible Enemy" used to seriously mess with my head. For years I thought that one of Tom was from "The Creature From the Pit".
But it isn't.
In fact, that whole "Fantastic Voyage" homage section of Serial 4T is a prime example of what I'm titting on about. I simply keep forgetting it's there, but as a result it's always a lovely surprise when I watch and rediscover it all over again.
It's kind of like TV Alzheimers, and a rather worrying glimpse at a possible personal future...
Ah, that's better. Firmer mental ground at last...
Yes, "The Invisible Enemy" is of course best remembered (even by myself) as the story that introduced K-9 to the series. Whether you think this is a good thing or not is entirely up to you.
It's more than ok with me, though.
For example, the K-9 Mk I prop had a very amusing motor that was often incredibly loud at inappropriate moments, and both the characterisation and John Leeson's performance are a total hoot.
Poor old Frederick Jaeger doesn't fare so well, however. A personal favourite actor of mine, his third Proper Who outing is his least effective. Which is a shame, and rather indicative of the story in general.
Dragged unwillingly into the first production slot of the season, "The Invisible Enemy" suffers more than most from the edict bequeathed to Graham Williams to make the series less scary.
And being a script commissioned by Robert Holmes, we're again looking at themes of body horror and possession. But this time, it involves a giant prawn and comedy eyebrows.
Under Hinchcliffe's careful gaze, Bob Baker and Dave Martin could well have got the serial they envisaged. But despite having (in Season Fifteen terms) quite a lot of cash thrown at it, "The Invisible Enemy" never quite achieves what it could possibly have become.
Some of the model work is quite wonderful though, if you forget some of the Bi-Al Foundation shots being mucked up so it looked battle-scarred when it wasn't meant to be.
K-9's still good, though. And here he is again, in case you've forgotten about him already.
Dull people tend to criticise Serial 4T as being the Baker/Martin script that sealed their Doctor Who fate; all catchphrases and schlocky science. And considering their sterling track record, it's a harsh view that doesn't accomodate the many production problems that the serial faced.
A Target novelisation with Terrance Dicks at his perfunctory worst doesn't help. And once again, I always totally forget the wonderful "Quatermass II" references in the final episode that always make me smile when I encounter them.
"Contact has been made!"
If only I could bloody remember it...
