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PETER DAVISON 1982-84
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FIFTH DOCTOR | TERMINUS

 
"...It's a relief.
I am hoping for something rather better
on the other side..."


STORY PLOTLINE

The TARDIS attaches itself to a space liner after Turlough, still under the Black Guardian's influence, damages its controls. The Doctor and Nyssa meet two space pirates, Kari and Olvir, who have come on board the liner in search of plunder, while Tegan and Turlough get lost in the infrastructure.

The liner docks with what appears to be a hulk floating in space. This is Terminus, which claims to offer a cure for lazar disease. It is crewed by a group of armoured slave workers, the Vanir, while the cure is administered by a huge dog-like creature known as the Garm.

THINGS TO LOOK OUT FOR - Recommended by Rob Semenoff (3D Animator of the new CGI inserts for this boxset)

The Cloister Room from LOGOPOLIS can be seen at the end of the hallway (see screengrab - far right) as the TARDIS interior is affected by the exterior universe.

On the Lazar transport there's the 'Universal' Green half-moon hospital logo from NEW EARTH beside the scrawled out ship name.  That same ship was designed to be remind the viewer of trains taking victims to concentration camps in WWII. If viewed directly from the front with the engines in the dock postion the ship looks like a skull. The TARDIS light can be seen flashing on the side of the ships hull (first compartment after the front engine part. close to the skull emblem)

COMMENT

Reputation. It can flux or wane theough random acts or theough a designed & focussed influence. The 1983 DOCTOR WHO CLASSIC SERIES Steve Gallagher story, TERMINUS has a reputation that is similar to a well-known yeast extract savoury spread or even eyeofhorus.org.uk . You either like it or loathe it.

A production that could have been sponsored by Nytol (the popular UK non-prescriptive sleeping aid), TERMINUS delivers the same sense of excitement as a night out in Margate (the North Sea seaside town that been lost in the ebbing sands of time & entertainment) in the middle of winter. TERMINUS - the place of no return, seemingly no hope and end.

Literally, CLASSIC WHO that is "retro-WHO" as it submits itself to inactivity to a point when it stops, spins on its heals and then inexorably moves backwards away from itself. Dull.

Or is it?

Could it be that after 26 years that TERMINUS is a "slow-burner", gently simmering beneath the surface reticent to erupt. The core concept is pure & clinical science yet it is saturated with a fictional conceit that only DOCTOR WHO could ratify with any level of credulity. An errant space vessel that causes the creation of the universe by dumping a gallon (read: litre) of fuel is the biggest "If." that the series has had the audacity to deliver. Gallagher's plot (enhanced by the "Turlough-kill-the-Doctor-now") is onion-like; translucent layers that peel away to a solid heart.

However, the story's lack of success and appreciation (apart from the expected jaw-dropping skirt-dropping revelation and resulting "glamour pic" - as Davison drools) is due in part due to the perambulation of Mary Ridge's direction and the unavoidable delays caused by BBC Industrial Action. With that said, certain elements within the production is exemplary such as the filmed sequences (with Tegan & Turlough traversing the air-ducting) at Ealing studios that demonstrated that a single camera filming method and subtle lighting results in stunningly atmospheric footage.

The highlight of TERMINUS is (even though it is Sarah Sutton's Nyssa's final story) Strickson's performance - forever watchable and subtle and occasionally chilling. The saving grace.

This BBC DVD release gives fans an opportunity to assess for themselves the validity of TERMINUS as either a misunderstood work of genius or a dodo.

The DVD EXTRAS (including studio commentary with Davison, Strickson, Sutton and writer Gallagher) represent an interesting conglomeration of fact & fiction.

BREAKING POINT's thesis foreword was simple and straight to the point - the narrated stated that TERMINUS was "much troubled" primarily due to the Gallagher's admission that it was "theatrically ambitious" with Davison concluding that "the end result was not great".

Tales were recounted that there were 2 hour electrical delays at TV Centre and of set designs there were a fraction of 3 inches off their studio-floor location that resulted in Health & Safety to sanction the production. And then there were costumes by the BBC's most inept costume designer, Dee Robson. However, thankfully in some redemption, it seems that the final realisation of the Garm was not Gallagher's fault as he had described ".seen as a black silhouette with just red glowing eyes". And in a concluding revelation Sutton reveals, probably theough gritted teeth some 26 years later, that "it wasn't my decision to leave".

Less absorbing are the laboriously presented ORIGINAL STORYBOARDS and UNUSED MODEL SHOTS. For the true fan that has no friends or even a FACEBOOK page.

The most interesting EXTRA was ORIGINS OF THE UNIVERSE. A non-WHO feature, co-presented by Sir Patrick Moore (a iconic that should appear in DOCTOR WHO at some stage) that briefly explains how, potentially, "it" all started. Fascinating. We are all so insignificant.

The STUDIO COMMENTARY is marked by the very fact that it frequently "goes off topic" (again, non-WHO) and, surprisingly, after tens of DVD commentaries sat theough over the years, is a breath of fresh air.

On having to endure the torment of filming, Mark Strickson admits the delight of filming TERMINUS: Four episodes of being on my knees and at Janet Fielding's bum.

Admitting that not everything on screen was his own work, Steve Gallagher: The first and final scenes were added by Eric Saward.

And that TERMINUS was always in flux, Gallagher: So many versions and developments you lost track of what you wanted to do.

But then perks up after seeing a re-vamped Nyssa and Tegan, Gallagher asks: Are those the famous "crumpet" outfits?

During the first episode, Turlough leaves the TARDIS and finds a clue (a textbook) to Nyssa's whereabouts, Gallagher: He's found the Script. Sarah Sutton: Someone's tried to burn it.

On the employment of Dee Robson's costume designs, Davison: The last person you'd want to be a costume design.

And at the Nyssa skirt dropping sequence, Gallagher: We have a famous moment now!
Sarah Sutton: Could I explain why this happens?
Peter Davison: Here goes! Let's pause for a moment.

Gallagher explains the origins of the Vanir and the costumes: Copulating crabs.
Sarah Sutton: I'm actually learning something.
Davison: You should be happy that Janet isn't here. You'd never get a word in.

On the "hand-acting" employed by both Davison and Strickson, Davison reflects that he always tried to put his hands in his pockets: Strickson: Unless you've got your hand up a cow's backside.
Gallagher: Different kind of pocket.

At seeing Nyssa prostate on the Decontamination Chamber, Gallagher: Who never said that TV wasn't educational!
To Sarah Sutton, an encouraging Davison: I've been told that this commentary is sound only, so if you want to remove clothing; "Oh, its so hot!". An FHM spread. A glamour pic. All stems from JNT. Not the best appreciation of girls.
Mark Strickson: I have a vision that we'll see the Garm in his underwear soon.

And wrapping things up, Davison: That's the end of TERMINUS. And the end of Nyssa.
Sarah Sutton: Bye byes.

Certainly, having been released on DVD, TERMINUS deserves to be re-appreciated in a positive light. A light that had, at the time of broadcast, been dimmed the glaring proximity of both trilogy bookends (MAWDRYN UNDEAD and ENLIGHTENMENT) but, now, will be able to shine.

 

EOH CONTRIBUTOR
MATTHEW WALTER
EOH RATING

eyeofhorus.org.uk DVD rating: 7/10

INFORMATION

DOCTOR WHO - PETER DAVISON is the Doctor


ENLARGE IMAGE

New CGI treatment - screengrabs below

Thanks to Rob Semenoff (Interocitor Media) for the additional CGI notes & images



ENLARGE IMAGE


ENLARGE IMAGE


ENLARGE IMAGE


ENLARGE IMAGE

 

DVD Release: 10 August 2009


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