Doctor Who: The Twin Dilemma Episode 137 2010 Horror Movie Review

    O.K. Sixth Doctors Haters; Here is your last chance to throw stones at the Colin Baker Era of the classic series and I am sure you have all been waiting to trash this episode in particular. As a fan of Colin Baker’s performance (and there are far more of us than most Dr. Who fans will admit)I say to you from the bottom of my heart… YOU WILL NOT BE MISSED! Oh and by the way, Of the doctors with the fewest possible DVD releases (Troughton 8, C.Baker 8 and McCoy 12) who crossed the finish line first?

    The review: Breaking from the show’s tradition The twin Dilemma did not open a new season but in fact closes 5th Doctor’s Peter Davison’s third season. It deals with the newly regenerated and remorseful doctor’s wish to become a hermit following his post -regeneration tirade that finds the doctor trying to strangle his new companion Peri. Fortunatly she fights him off but this scene is disturbing to say the least. Of course the hermit thing does not work out as the Doctor’s hide-a-way on the planet Titan 3 winds up to be the safe house for two genius, kidnapped, twin, earthing boys who are pawns in a plot by an alien slug named MESTOR. Mestor’s plan is to use the twin’s genius to cause the sun of the planet Jocanda to go super nova thus spreading millions of tiny Mestor eggs throughout the universe. Long story short The doctor “scrambles’ To “poach” the plot before it gets a chance to “hatch”.

    The Twin Dilemma has some good moments. Colin Baker throws himself into the role with gusto setting his portrayal apart from the previous doctor from scene one. Their is an excellant supporting performance by aging actor Maurice Denham who plays fellow timelord and freind of the 4th doctor (or so we are told) Asmale Edgeworth. There is also a noteworhty and “ARCHY” performence by actor Seymour Green as the Chamberlain to Mestor. The episode itself is brightly light and full of color (costumes,sets,etc.). There is a quick pace to the story as we jump from location to loacation as each episode ends: Earth-Tardis-Titan 3-Jocanda. Where the episode loses focus is in the performances of the remaining supporting cast. I would rather not metion names in case they goggle their own names but they know who they are. Then there is the main ‘badie” Mestor who is just plain awful from design to voice. In a season full of poorly designed monsters (season 21)Mestor is one of the worst…I would say second only to that silly four legged thing (Merker I think)from the season opener “Warriors of the Deep. The Twin Dilemma story line itself lacks a certain plausibility even by Doctor Who standards. Last and certainly least are the bird-like Jocandians. All I can say here is, “Oh Boy. Not good”.

    In summary I would say buy it if you are fans of the sixth Doctor or like regeneration episodes. Skip it if you do not like the sixth doctor (don’t get me started again) or if you only buy the best of the classic series. As for me I have this episode on pre order and will have my carot juice chilled come 1-10-2010. Has anyone seen my orange spats?