I have always preferred this Sontaran mask. Yet, this was the first WHO that I ever discovered on American PBS, when I was 11 years (1981) -I had no clue what this show was, but it was scary, and fun, and I had to watch more. The station ran one episode, then a Monty Python episode, around 5pm, so I couldn't always watch, due to family dinner. After a year, PBS started running "movie edits" on Saturday evenings, all through Tom Baker, and into other Doctors. We had a Beta Video, so recorded many stories (the Beta packed-in 1990, switch to VHS. I've visited Datmoor, fine landscape!
See I do enjoy The Sontarans as a villain with comical undertones. I think it’s a fun balance. But giving Styre that sort of monster hiding in the rocks, bogeyman and grotesque creature that is played straight. I wish we could explore that more. I think they’re horrifying to look at. If you were stuck alone with a Sontaran, I feel they’re the stuff of nightmares that don’t get enough credit.
I agree. I would say they are my favourite alien race in Doctor Who. I have an idea for a 4-part Sontaran story called, ‘Honour.’ I just don’t have the time to write it right now, but they have so much potential. If I wrote it I would see if anyone might be interested in it, like Big Finish.
Well Chris - once again, it seems I agree with every word! I love this littie story. As you say, it can’t, due to its length, quite stand in grandeur alongside its prequel or its immediate predecessor. But it’s a delightful miniature - a very appealing mezzanine between two staggeringly impressive floors. I also entirely agree regarding the comedic potential of the Sontarans. Holmes’s writing combined with Lindsay’s superlative subtlety and timing pulled off the feat of Linx being both frightening and drily funny. For me, that’s matched in Styre - who, thanks to the mask (no, it’s not as good as Linx’s, but…) looks permanently amused himself. Three instances that immediately spring to mind are: ‘Your opinion of my looks is of no interest to my programme.’ ‘Very touching!’ and ‘Worm!’ Strax is indeed a worthy successor to the two great ‘70s Sontarans. What a shame Styre didn’t have a rolled copy of The Times handy for the combat scene; with a well-aimed blow to the head, he could have sent Tom packing back into casualty! 😁
This episode gives me a bit of nostalgia. I became a fan of the show in 2007, I grew up with Tennant (1) as my Doctor. But I was really curious to get into all of Doctor Who. My Dad had the Sontaran Experiment and The Daleks Invasion of Earth, but in my misty memories I believe the Sontaran Experiment was my intro to classic who, so it does hold a special place for me, as the Doctor Who’s you watched in the 90s repeats.. I watched it more recently and I enjoyed it even more. It’s really a hidden gem in Season 12. I might even be tempted to put it above the Ark in Space, which for me drags just a little in the pacing. This is an excellent review and you said everything that I was thinking about this episode, so I don’t need to say nothing more!… …Other than this is definitely my favourite episode penned by Bob Baker and Dave Martin! For me this is the episode where they finally cracked the Doctor Who code.
It was Robert Holmes who basically concocted the need for the two parter, as John Lucaroattis version of "The Ark In Space" was scrapped, Holmes only wanted to write a four part replacement (which turned out to be the right move) I suspect having been discouraged of six parters by having to extend "The Space Pirates". I think "The Sontaran Experiment" is quite unique, thus rather wonderful! I love it's gritty feel!
Dean Martin was a great actor and it's really sad that he couldn't continue and we only see him one more time as a small part there is a novel that he wrote about Harry and he novelized many of the Doctor Who novels
I agree that the Sontaran mask wasn't as good as the first one, obviously you know why they changed it but it's a pity that making a lighter version for Kevin Lindsay to wear meant a trade-off in appearance.
I prefer the way Styre looks in this over Lynx, but both are superior to later Sontarans. Kevin Lindsay plays it perfectly. This is a highly underrated story.
I have always preferred this Sontaran mask. Yet, this was the first WHO that I ever discovered on American PBS, when I was 11 years (1981) -I had no clue what this show was, but it was scary, and fun, and I had to watch more. The station ran one episode, then a Monty Python episode, around 5pm, so I couldn't always watch, due to family dinner. After a year, PBS started running "movie edits" on Saturday evenings, all through Tom Baker, and into other Doctors. We had a Beta Video, so recorded many stories (the Beta packed-in 1990, switch to VHS.
I've visited Datmoor, fine landscape!
See I do enjoy The Sontarans as a villain with comical undertones. I think it’s a fun balance.
But giving Styre that sort of monster hiding in the rocks, bogeyman and grotesque creature that is played straight. I wish we could explore that more.
I think they’re horrifying to look at. If you were stuck alone with a Sontaran, I feel they’re the stuff of nightmares that don’t get enough credit.
I agree. I would say they are my favourite alien race in Doctor Who. I have an idea for a 4-part Sontaran story called, ‘Honour.’ I just don’t have the time to write it right now, but they have so much potential. If I wrote it I would see if anyone might be interested in it, like Big Finish.
Well Chris - once again, it seems I agree with every word!
I love this littie story.
As you say, it can’t, due to its length, quite stand in grandeur alongside its prequel or its immediate predecessor.
But it’s a delightful miniature - a very appealing mezzanine between two staggeringly impressive floors.
I also entirely agree regarding the comedic potential of the Sontarans. Holmes’s writing combined with Lindsay’s superlative subtlety and timing pulled off the feat of Linx being both frightening and drily funny.
For me, that’s matched in Styre - who, thanks to the mask (no, it’s not as good as Linx’s, but…) looks permanently amused himself.
Three instances that immediately spring to mind are:
‘Your opinion of my looks is of no interest to my programme.’
‘Very touching!’
and
‘Worm!’
Strax is indeed a worthy successor to the two great ‘70s Sontarans.
What a shame Styre didn’t have a rolled copy of The Times handy for the combat scene; with a well-aimed blow to the head, he could have sent Tom packing back into casualty!
😁
This episode gives me a bit of nostalgia. I became a fan of the show in 2007, I grew up with Tennant (1) as my Doctor. But I was really curious to get into all of Doctor Who. My Dad had the Sontaran Experiment and The Daleks Invasion of Earth, but in my misty memories I believe the Sontaran Experiment was my intro to classic who, so it does hold a special place for me, as the Doctor Who’s you watched in the 90s repeats..
I watched it more recently and I enjoyed it even more. It’s really a hidden gem in Season 12. I might even be tempted to put it above the Ark in Space, which for me drags just a little in the pacing. This is an excellent review and you said everything that I was thinking about this episode, so I don’t need to say nothing more!…
…Other than this is definitely my favourite episode penned by Bob Baker and Dave Martin! For me this is the episode where they finally cracked the Doctor Who code.
I love Harry. It’s really disappointing that he doesn’t continue on with the Doctor and Sarah in the next season.
It was Robert Holmes who basically concocted the need for the two parter, as John Lucaroattis version of "The Ark In Space" was scrapped, Holmes only wanted to write a four part replacement (which turned out to be the right move) I suspect having been discouraged of six parters by having to extend "The Space Pirates".
I think "The Sontaran Experiment" is quite unique, thus rather wonderful! I love it's gritty feel!
Glad to see you back, Chris.
I seem to remember the novelisation being very grim. The sontarans have never really looked as good again as Lynx in the original-best Toadface!
Worth the wait!
Alternate title: Chris defends Strax pt 2 :p (I actually really like Strax and didnt know people hated him so much until recently)
I've just noticed that Styre has 5 fingers on each hand - didn't Lynx have only 3? Maybe the clones evolved.
Or purposely "gene tweaked" to, well, ahem, handle different things from their 3 digits (per hand) "siblings".
Dean Martin was a great actor and it's really sad that he couldn't continue and we only see him one more time as a small part there is a novel that he wrote about Harry and he novelized many of the Doctor Who novels
Ian Marter?
@@ftumschk Dr Who really got going when they ditched Jerry Lewis as a companion!
@@johngough2958 ... although Jerry Lewis did make a welcome comeback as Malcolm in "Planet of the Dead". A brilliant Welsh accent he had, too ;)
@@ftumschk He also had a (mercifully) non-speaking role in the Green Death - second giant maggot if I remember correctly?
I always thought they were interesting characters that could have been done a little bit more fun as time went on
I agree that the Sontaran mask wasn't as good as the first one, obviously you know why they changed it but it's a pity that making a lighter version for Kevin Lindsay to wear meant a trade-off in appearance.
I prefer the way Styre looks in this over Lynx, but both are superior to later Sontarans. Kevin Lindsay plays it perfectly. This is a highly underrated story.
Remember this was made before Ark, first for the Hinchcliffe team and the grey stripe in the scarf was removed after filming.
The Sawntaran experiment?
I think this is fine but a bit sadistic for my tastes.