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Sutekh The Destroyer
Time Lord
Joined: 23 Jun 2005
Posts: 272
Location: Pyramid Of Mars |
| The Trial of a Time Lord |
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The Trial of a Time Lord
144 The Mysterious Planet 4 episodes
145 Mindwarp 4 episodes
146 Terror of the Vervoids 4 episodes
147 The Ultimate Foe 2 episodes
der martin, the doctor, do your thing... i might not have time to prepare something today, but i'll get something up here re. the The Trial of a Time Lord soon..
also if you know when does the regen between the 6th and 7th doctor happen?
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"These Shoes They Fit Perfectly!" 8th Dr Paul McGann - Anybody Want A Jelly Baby ? |
Sun Jul 17, 2005 11:15 pm |
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The Doctor
Time Lord
Joined: 22 Jun 2005
Posts: 554
Location: Worthing, England |
I wouldn't bother asking me, the only info I have is on the sea devils and silurian, the autons, the daleks, the yeti, the slitheen, Jabe, the cybermen, and the master.
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Mistress should engage running mode
K9- School Reunion |
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Mon Jul 18, 2005 3:08 pm |
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Der Martin
UNIT Agent
Joined: 19 Jun 2005
Posts: 238
Location: Still no JBs |
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Hmmmmmmmmm Trial of a Timelord. I might have to make this one a two Parter. Not sure where to start. ......
I think the main thing is that season 23 (I believe it was season 23) was probably more interesting for what was happening around Doctor Who (and the BBC) than for the actual content of the stories. Then again, to understand the stories fully, one ought to have some background knowledge of what was happening at the time. Today, fandom is often critisiced for being very harsh in its appraisal of this particular season. Looking back on it now many fans that were then critical of generally everything have now mellowed, gone back for a second look at the series and have begun to make excuses for their uncompromising behaviour throwing in the odd "well its not actually as naff as we thought" kind of remark. Ocasionally the words "yeah Colin Baker did a really good job, considering what he was given" can also be heard in the corridors of fandom.
The second remark kind of sums up my thoughts about season 23. I did think then that the stories were naff and I did actually (I know its hard to believe) stop being interested in Doctor Who at that time. I stopped watching it. At that point in my life I was about 14 and was much more interested in trying to get to know things about the girl next door than about Gallifreyan politics. Anyway I have since realised the error of my ways and have tried to make up for it even if it means watching the Green Death and feigning absolute appeasement. (Green Death= third doctor epic, Bit naff all the same.)
Good. As I said just before I should like to make this one a two Parter. The first part will describe a little about the climate surrounding our favourite TV show at that time in Britain. The second part will probably come after my holidays in Hungary and will deal more with the over-arching storyline. ( I shall be gone about 3 weeks, sorry.) If anyone wants to wait to read both parts together, then stop reading now and come back to the thread after the 15th of August.
So here goes....
1) In the U.S.A. the PMRC (Parents Music Resource Centre) and other censorship groups were making great headway into controlling the kind of media that kids should be allowed to see. Law suits of biblical proportions were being waged against Record and TV companies that were not prepared to adhere to the parents group's demands. Law suits were also being filed by the dozen against artist whose lyrics were said to induce violence, murder and even suicide. In one famous case one teenager left a suicide note with the lyrics of a Judas priest song and all hell broke loose in the american courts (The head of the PMRC's Husband has since become the vice-president of the U.S.A. When he was in office his name was Al Gore).
Back in Britain, our favourite TV show had come up against a serious amount of criticism from british tv critics that the show was much too violent for the age group at which it was aimed. The show and stories had not really deteriorated in this direction, but censorship disciples were able to air their views much more openly than before. Championed by Mary Whitehouse, many licence payers wrote to the BBC and voiced their concerns. The newspapers also picked up on the story and battered Dr. Who accordingly. To some, Mary whitehouse was seen as a dopey old busy-body, to others she was a champion of the British stiff upper lip way of life whose only crime was to defend traditional British conservative values. In any case, no one wanted the kind of publicity she was bringing to many television programs. At one point it, as I recall, it seemed that at least twice a week, she would be on some tv program or other denouncing some other tv program in an interview or written letter. She had then, her own newspaper column, (i'm not sure in which of the Tabloids, I don't know if she still has a column), and she used it to condemn many aspects of society, one of which was TV, and Dr. Who tended to crop up on a regular basis as a children's show which seemed to wallow in unnecesary violence when it wasn't showing off Nicola Bryant's T**s.
2) Dr. Who Fans had seen Colin Baker's costume and had jugded him (rather poorly and unfairly) to be a dud Doctor, the worst to date. Such things also did not escape the Tabloid press. . He was also prettty nasty to Peri his assistant. The Snappy cantancarous old sack that was William Hartnell had long been forgotten and the fond memories of Peter davison and indeed Tom Baker were still fresh in peoples mind's. The fans had just not yet warmed to him as their Doctor
3) Dr. Who had already changed its format from a Saturday evening to twice a week on tuesday and thursday at 7pm. (approx.) It was no longer a 25 minute but a 40 minute program. Although its ratings were not in the doledrums, it could not compete with the likes of Emmerdale Farm (now Emmerdale is still going strong with omnibus on sundays into the bargain arrrgggggghhh!) or Coronation Street (even worse) which was the idea that the BBC had with the program's shift in the first place.
4) The quality of the script writing had waned somewhat (with the odd exception).
5) Dr. who had a bit of a reputation at the Beeb for always overspending its budget despite the mammoth efforts of producer Johnathan Nathan Turner to keep it in line. Science fiction series were also being written for American television that were having a lot more money pumped into them and could easily be bought up from american cable channels for half the price of what it cost to produce Dr. Who. The special effects departments in american television generally had a lot more wonga than the BBC and looked more impressive. This is a trend which has continued exponentially until the present day.
6) So finally, On wednesday the 27 February 1985 Sue Lawley revealed on the Six o' Clock News that, "The Timelord's time is up!", The series was to be put on hold by the BBC. The following Day the Sun printed a front page story that the show was being axed altogether. The BBC had become totally paranoid, the shows ratings were as good as ever they were, but the show was to be "rested for 18 months"
7) The fans went bonkers! With their TV series "Axed" they could do nothing but write to Doctor Who Magazine, and to the Sun and to the Star, and when that was finished they even started to write some Dr. Who themselves. A few of them even went as far as writing to the BBC (imagine that!). The tabloid press were united for the first time ever outside of wartime (hmm...maybe ) .All tabloids campaigned to bring back DW. The Star ran a "Save Doctor Who" campaign with a car sticker with Colin Baker's face in the middle of it. Daleks started cropping up in museums, schools and playgrounds all over the place. I can't imagine that a question was asked in the House of commons about the issue but it wouldn't surprise me if it was.
 After 18 months of reflection, the BBC decided to bring Dr. Who back to our screens. However with all that had gone before, they wanted to do it in a way that would ensure that people would watch it like they had never done before. And also in a way that not too many licence payers could complain about. It would have to be gripping stuff all the way through. Nail biting edge of seat kind of thing. It would have to appeal to all viewers and could not allow viewers to change channel after only one story. It would have to have an over-arching plot that would compell viewers to take in the season as a whole but not be so Epic that individual episodes turn into boring insignificant sub-plots (Bad wolf ring a bell here?). The Doctor should face more powerful adversaries than ever, definitively the most powerful in the universe if at all possible.
9) So, before comissioning scripts for season 23 they had a brainstorming session behind closed doors at the BBC to see what they could come up with. The session went something like this:
."........Errrrr what can we do with DW this time around so that it can be different but entirely captivating? ....regeneration?....... nah that's too soon after Peter Davison ......a quest?........nah The Key to time was also only a couple of years back........Daleks nah done that..... What about putting the Doctor on Trial, that's always good for a bit of drama? .... That hasn't been done since .... since Troughton and that was brilliant. ...
.......errrrrrrr Excellent idea, we'll have to stretch it out a bit to last the whole season though,...... wont that be a bit boring? ...... nah we'll put the cybermen in it and we'll set it on Gallifrey.and wait for it we can pit the Doctor against the best of his own people and maybe even against himself .............etc."
<Part two follows after my summer break>
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The Master returns ...Wow!
Jack Was the face of Boe the whole time.... ... Wow! |
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Tue Jul 19, 2005 12:59 am |
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Der Martin
UNIT Agent
Joined: 19 Jun 2005
Posts: 238
Location: Still no JBs |
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Sorry it took so long. but here it is . watch out for part 3 in the coming days...
So good we now have the scenario just before the series Trial of a Timelord was comissioned. So what about the Plot?
I will try to keep it short but it is complicated so bear with me.
The Doctors Tardis is drawn to a gallifreyan space station against the Doctor's will or so it would seem.In any case the Doctor has no knowledge of how he ended up there. It is explained to him that he has been brought to Gallifrey to take part in an official "inquiry" an inquiry set up to investigate the doctors behaviour. The inquiry is to be overseen by the inquisitor, a distinguished Time lady versed in Gallifreyan law, A jury is also there just to make sure that all is legal and above board. Accusations have been made against him and although he has not oficially been charged, the timelords have presumed that he should rather like to hear what has to be said at the inquiry and defend himself where necessary.
The Doctor declares that this is proposterous, after all the Lord President Elect of the High Council of Timelords cannot possibly be tried under gallifreyan law. The Doctor is then informed that in his absence he has since been removed from office. What then are the accusations asks the Doctor...enter the Valeyard. The Valeyard proclaims that the incompetent Doctor has irresponsibly interfered with the evolution of other lesser races and their timelines with no regard for the disastrous consequences that might and indeed have resulted. The Doctor suddenly realises that Peri is missing, and that his memory is decidedly groggy. The Valeyard proclaims that the Doctors lack of memory is just another trait of the Doctor's irresponsible behaviour and that Peri's tragic fate will soon become clear as the "inquiry" progresses.
The Valeyard will present his evidence as segments taken from the Matrix, the infallible structure at the heart of gallifrey which contains the untouchable records of all time and space. Just to be sure that there is no room for doubt or appeal the valeyard will let the damning evidence speak for itself from the Doctors near past, present and future. The Doctor is reluctant to take part in any of what he considers to be a farce but he is curious to find out where Peri is and so decides to play along with the "inquiry" certain that he will be able to defend himself against such laughable accusations.
The first recording from the Matix concerns the Doctor and Peri's visit to Ravalox, a "Mysterious planet" which bears quite an uncanny resemblance to Earth and is later revealed to be a future Earth which has bounced out of its normal orbit and flown to the other side of the univese. On Ravalox, two very shady characters try to steal the secrets of Ravalox which, coincidentally, are censored from the Matrix recording. The secrets are allegedly valuable documents important for Ravalox's past and future evolution. The documents are eventually destroyed, according to the Valeyard as a direct result of the Doctor's presence on Ravalox. For such crimes the Doctor should of course be put on trial and when found guilty the maximum penalty should be incurred, i.e. all traces of the doctor's past present and future regenerations should be wiped from the timeline. The charges to be brought against the doctor are 1) conduct unbecoming of a timelord and 2) transgression of the first law of time.
The Doctor retorts at the Valeyard's weak prosecution efforts and the Valeyard proceeds to his next even more damning piece of evidence:-
The Doctor and Peri go to Thoros Beta to investigate the Mentors who have been selling illegal energy weapons across the Galaxy (a big no no). They expect to find an old enemy called Sil and indeed they do find him but the Doctor is captured and his mind is seemingly fried in an experiment using a mind warp machine. The mindwarp machine is used to try and find a body suitable for the mentor leader Kiv's brain. Following the experiment, the doctor goes wappy and behaves in a rather hostile and unbecoming manner presumably because he is now altered and is in cohoots with the Mentors. During this time Peri, who was of course in the Doctor's care, goes missing and is chosen as the body perfect for the mentor leaders brain. She escapes and teams up with the dangerous Warlord Yancros who finds himself in a bit of a pickle and has also been experimented on. Peri and Yancros engage the Mentors and Peri is killed in the ensueing battle a few minutes after the Doctor was plucked from time and bought to the courtroom.
The Doctor protests that he is not responsible for Peri's death and if anything the Timelords are just as responsible because they snatched him out of time before he had a chance to rescue her. The Doctor then deduces that the Timelords have an alterior motive for bringing him to the trial and resolves to find out what it is as he begins his defence.
Events from Hyperion III are to be shown from the Matrix. What occurs there is allegedly part of the Doctor's future. The Doctor and Mel (new future companion), battle against the vicious Vervoid plant race and ultimately defeat them. The Doctor argues that the destruction of the vervoid race meant the survival of the human race and therefore his interference is justified. However his defence backfires on him as events from the matrix are replayed somewhat differently to the Doctors own recollections of them. The valeyard dismisses the Doctors actions as totally irresponsible and pleads with the court to add genocide to the list of charges.
With that, the evidence is now complete and the the court is ready to pass verdict and sentence. The Doctor it would appear is doomed. Before sentence is passed the trial is rudely interrupted by the Master, who has been watching in amusement albeit from a distance. The Doctor, resigned to the fact that his distruction is now more imminent than ever, is astounded to hear that the Master is there to help him out. The Master declares that the timelords have been tampering with the matrix to suit their own corrupt ends and to hide the abominable mistakes made as a result of the high council's own interference. Although this in principle seems impossible (the keeper of the matrix is the only being with access), the Master demonstrates that he himself has been afforded a way into the matrix and could tamper with it at his leisure. Moreover, the Valeyard who has been prosecuting the Doctor from day one is none other than a twisted amalgamation of the Doctor himself extrapolated from the matrix somewhere between the Doctors twelfth and final incarnations. Should the Doctor lose the trial the Valeyard would usurp the Doctor's remaining incarnations according to the deal he has made with the Timelord High council prior to the start of the trial. Upon hearing the truth the doctor declares a mistrial proclaiming that even gallifreyan law must recognise that prosecutor and defendant can never be one in the same person and the accursed Valeyard flees the courtroom presumably headed for the Matrix. The Doctor wraps up the trial with the following declaration and then resolves to follow the Valeyard into the matrix and defeat him for the common good.
'In all my travelling throughout the universe I have battled against evil, against power mad conspirators. I should have stayed here. The oldest civilisation: decadent, degenerate, and rotten to the core. Power mad conspirators, Daleks, Sontarans... Cybermen, they're still in the nursery compared to us. Ten million years of absolute power. That's what it takes to be really corrupt.'
The keeper allows the Doctor access to the matrix and the Doctor enters against all counsel and defeats the Valeyard on his own territory, a land of fictional illusion. Thus the Doctor saves his remaining regenerations and returns to the courtroom to find that all charges against him have been dropped, the existing high council has just resigned and he is to be reinstated as President Elect of the High Council of Timelords. He declines the offer and suggests that the inquisitor is the perfect lady for the job. The inquisitor is not so certain but thanks the doctor for his confidence and informs the Doctor that the matrix has now been restored and it is clear that Peri did not die but did in fact marry king Yancros and now lives happily on Thoros beta. The Doctor, comforted by this news returns to the Tardis with his new companion Mel who proposes that the doctor should uphold a new healthy lifestyle carrot juice and aerobics included. The inquisitor then oversees matrix repairs with the keeper who is told to ask for whatever is neccessary to complete the repairs. The keeper replies cooperatively and as he goes about his business his face is seen to fade out being replaced by that of the Valeyard.
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The Master returns ...Wow!
Jack Was the face of Boe the whole time.... ... Wow! |
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Sat Aug 27, 2005 5:58 pm |
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Der Martin
UNIT Agent
Joined: 19 Jun 2005
Posts: 238
Location: Still no JBs |
| Trial of a timelord pt III |
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As I remarked in Part one of this synopsis of trial of a Timelord, season 23 was probably a lot more interesting for what was happening around Doctor who at the Time. Michael Grade was director of the BBC and it was openly accepted that he had no love for our favorite show. He had in fact approached Jonathan-Nathan Turner, the shows long time producer, and asked him to tone the show down a bit as far as violence was concerned, and had also let it be known that if the show didn't pick up a bit, it would be axed. JNT was probably at this point browned off with Doctor who and wanted to do something else. My guess is that the epic trial idea, John found irresistable and decided to make a last stand on Dr. who before it was axed. The first overarching script of series 23 commissioned and approved by JNT and edited by Eric Saward was supposed to end on a cliffhanger with the Doctor and the Valeyard battling against each other and spinning away into infinity in the Matrix (some say that in the original script it was to be called the time vortex). Michael Grade allegedly interrupted and said something along the lines of.. "well I don't know if that makes much sense coz the show might be axed at the end of the season so a cliffhanger end is somewhat unappropriate." JNT apparently saw the logic in this and decided to change the ending of Trial half way through. Eric Saward was less than amused by such changes without his permisssion so he promptly fell out with JNT and withdrew permission to use his script. Writers Pip and Jane Baker were then called in at the last minute to come up with an ending to a story which had become increasingly complex. The Epic trial had basically dug a hole for itself and Pip and Jane Baker had approximately one month dig it out before recording. The result was the ultimate foe which was written somewhat blindfold.The Bakers were not allowed to know anything about the aforegone Saward story lest they copy the slightest detail, a team of lawyers were called in to be constantly present at all meetings during the writing to ensure this. The result was "the ultimate foe" as we know it today.
Here are a few other infos about season 23:
- The original series 23 was only ever called the Trial of a Timelord. The titles "The Mysterious Planet", "Mindwarp" "Terror of the vervoids" and "The Ultimate Foe" were posthumously brought in by the BBC in the stories' novelizations.
- Although Eric Saward was the script editor who originally came up with the trial idea, many writers were originally commissioned to write the scripts for season 23. The original script writing line up was: Robert Holmes, Philip Martin, David Halliwell and Jack Trevor. Halliwell and Trevor were "paid off" by the BBC in the middle of writing. Unfortunately Robert Holmes took ill and died of a liver complaint leaving only the first story in tact and a plot outline of the second.
- The opening shot of the TARDIS arriving at the space station was the most expensive effects shot in the series' history at the time, costing more than £8,000 for a forty-five second model sequence using the most advanced motion-controlled camera available.
Ten years after the story first aired, special effects footage of the TARDIS arriving at the space station, taken from the opening moments of episode one, was used in television promotions for the 1996 tv movie.
-The story is notorious for having 11 of the 13 cliffhanger endings to the episodes fade out on a close-up of Colin Baker's face. The two exceptions are episode 3, which has a character firing a crossbow in the Doctor's direction, and episode 9 which ends with the Vervoids emerging from their pods.
- After Trial had ended, the shows ratings were judged to be a sucess however Michael Grade only agreed to continue Doctor who if Colin Baker was no longer cast to be the leading actor.
- Jonathan Nathan Turner was 'sentenced' to break the news to Colin Baker that he was being axed from the show but only agreed to do so if he himself was allowed to leave Doctor who to work on other projects.
- Colin Baker was understandably miffed at the news and refused to come back to do a regeneration story or even a regeneration scene.
- Colin Baker's last words in character were "...carrot juice, carrot juice, CARROT JUICE!"
The odd quote taken from wikpedia.org
_________________
The Master returns ...Wow!
Jack Was the face of Boe the whole time.... ... Wow! |
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Sun Aug 28, 2005 11:55 am |
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Sutekh The Destroyer
Time Lord
Joined: 23 Jun 2005
Posts: 272
Location: Pyramid Of Mars |
i wonder if anyone has read all this, apart from me that is....
good job as always dude...
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"These Shoes They Fit Perfectly!" 8th Dr Paul McGann - Anybody Want A Jelly Baby ? |
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Tue Aug 30, 2005 5:45 am |
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Der Martin
UNIT Agent
Joined: 19 Jun 2005
Posts: 238
Location: Still no JBs |
I certainly hope that people have read it. There will be a test afterwards! 
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The Master returns ...Wow!
Jack Was the face of Boe the whole time.... ... Wow! |
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Wed Aug 31, 2005 7:55 am |
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Der Martin
UNIT Agent
Joined: 19 Jun 2005
Posts: 238
Location: Still no JBs |
Well it would appear that all interest has been lost on my trial of a Timelord series. So I will just make this post in the hope that It will get another chance to be read before the December rush 
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The Master returns ...Wow!
Jack Was the face of Boe the whole time.... ... Wow! |
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Fri Sep 23, 2005 4:05 pm |
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The Doctor
Time Lord
Joined: 22 Jun 2005
Posts: 554
Location: Worthing, England |
I read it. It was good, just didn't feel the urge to post. 
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Mistress should engage running mode
K9- School Reunion |
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Fri Sep 23, 2005 6:11 pm |
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Deako
Time Lord
Joined: 22 Jun 2005
Posts: 1010
Location: Withernsea, England |
I always read Der Martin's posts. -- Come on look at me, I'm 2 inches from the screen in my DW pajamas with a long skarf and some jelly-babies! 
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Three English teams in the CL Semi-Finals!
Liverpool to beat Chelsea then AC Milan just like in 05.
Why don't Arsenal play in the French League? |
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Sat Sep 24, 2005 7:34 am |
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Der Martin
UNIT Agent
Joined: 19 Jun 2005
Posts: 238
Location: Still no JBs |
Err do you really have DW pyjamas? If so Where did you get them?
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The Master returns ...Wow!
Jack Was the face of Boe the whole time.... ... Wow! |
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Thu Jan 26, 2006 2:12 am |
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Deako
Time Lord
Joined: 22 Jun 2005
Posts: 1010
Location: Withernsea, England |
Unfortunately, I don't have DW pajamas... But I do have a scarf which looks remarkably familiar and my dad's leather coat (CE-ish)...
Btw, to answer your sig: Yes, we have all missed you. We've been running around drinking petrol and not knowing anything intelligent and/or stuff... 
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Three English teams in the CL Semi-Finals!
Liverpool to beat Chelsea then AC Milan just like in 05.
Why don't Arsenal play in the French League? |
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Thu Jan 26, 2006 3:58 pm |
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Zhord
Site Admin
Joined: 22 May 2005
Posts: 641
Location: Didsbury, Manchester |
... and I inherited the name Der Zhord while you were gone.
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"Correctamundo! A word I have never said before and hopefully never will again" The Doctor in 'School Reunion'
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Thu Jan 26, 2006 5:26 pm |
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The Doctor
Time Lord
Joined: 22 Jun 2005
Posts: 554
Location: Worthing, England |
..in his head...
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Mistress should engage running mode
K9- School Reunion |
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Fri Jan 27, 2006 9:27 am |
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Deako
Time Lord
Joined: 22 Jun 2005
Posts: 1010
Location: Withernsea, England |
OVERZHORD; OVERZHORD OVERZORD, NA NA!!!!!
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Three English teams in the CL Semi-Finals!
Liverpool to beat Chelsea then AC Milan just like in 05.
Why don't Arsenal play in the French League? |
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Fri Jan 27, 2006 3:56 pm |
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