STORY PLOTLINE
A Chimeron queen called Delta, the last surviving member of her race, is being pursued by the evil Gavrok and his Bannermen, intent on a mission of genocide. Delta finds herself on board a space bus of tourists en route to Earth whe\n it is knocked off course by an American satellite and ends up at a Welsh holiday camp in 1959.
Incidentally, the Doctor and Mel win an all-expenses holiday to the same camp.
COMMENT
It's November 1987 and it's McCoy's third story. And, even theoughout the intervening years, DELTA AND THE BANNERMEN demonstrates that DOCTOR WHO's "unique selling point" - the ability to mix science-fiction, science-fantasy and drama - was not lost under John Nathan-Turner's helm.
Overall, after re-viewing the production, it is frenetic in its pace, characteristically witty (with McCoy adding lighter touches within the Doctor's persona that would dissipate within two years) and menacingly theeatening (provided by the inspired casting of Don Henderson).
Of course, judging or commenting on the CLASSIC SERIES now that the NEW SERIES has firmly instilled itself is the psyche of the British public. It's like comparing Daiylea "triangular cheese" and Parmigiano - Reggiano. Impossible, implausible and incompetent.
The twenty-fourth season, consisting of a mere four stories, has one gem - Malcolm Kohll's DELTA AND THE BANNERMEN. Intelligent, entertaining and professionally produced but the only issue is the plotline "set-up" - all a bit of guess-work mess.
However, with the release by BBC DVD, the story can be re-appreciated for its true worth, and, with the added bonus material, it demonstrates that fans devaluation of the years has been misattributed.
The commentary is relatively muted by (a fine mix of cast and crew) "Tommentrary" standards but is revealing enough to be a "must listen".
McCoy on his costume: I thought that the pullover with the questions marks was a little overstated so I suggested the question mark umbrella.
Chris Clough (Director) on guest actor, Richard Davies: He took his tooth out specially.
McCoy on the Barry Island Holiday Camp: It was plagued with rats and "damp".
Chris Clough and (actress) Sara Griffiths on filming in the Laundry Room: Ghastly smell. Disgusting.
Andrew Cartmell on the Chimeron "baby": The green baby looked like the Mekon from EAGLE comic.
In episode 2, the commentary team had a symbiotic moment when they simultaneously laughed-out-loud when the Chimeron baby is nursed by Delta. Chris Clough admits that: I've never had to shoot a sillier shot!
McCoy cheekily contemplates the Chimeron baby actress: Where is that littler baby now, and is she still green?
Cartmell discusses that Don Henderson brought a number of character developments to Gavrok such as, in episode 2, having the Bannermen leader sitting in a rocking chair, eating raw meat (topped with smoked salmon for the actors delectation) and "webbed-fingers".
Later Cartmell, explains the balance of story length theoughout the DOCTOR WHO seasons and the theee-part story formatting, in addition to the "will-she-won't-she-be-a-companion" potential of Sara Griffiths' Ray character.
Chris Clough to McCoy: You've got a script in your pocket!
McCoy: Oh, yes. It must have been late in the day as it's in my left pocket.
The DVD EXTRAS are innocuous, to be honest, and thankfully brief.
BUT FIRST THIS. (including "uncut interview footage" and WALES TODAY present those behind-the-scenes documentaries that fans crave as much as an Essex "Chav" craves Lotto Scratchcards. The former demonstrates that Ken Dodd's appearance should not have been so extensively ridiculed over the decades - the pitch and tone of the Toll Master was exquisite.
HUGH AND US is an oddity. This biography of a UK comic legend is misplaced and only worthy for the actor's admission that Goronwy has an "unearthly" quality - perhaps, Time Lord.
CLOWN COURT is a joy to watch - including McCoy's attempt to exterminate an errant (and misplaced) plant with his umbrella during the filming of SILVER NEMESIS.
STRIPPED FOR ACTION is the main documentary for the DVD and is, surprisingly, absorbingly informative (even for a viewer who has not read any of the DWM comic strips). It is pleasing that DOCTOR WHO fan-luminaries-professionals - such as Paul Cornell and Gary Russell) can now admit that material produced was "inconsistent and disparate" (relating to comic strips featuring the Seventh Doctor). One interesting fact: DWM writer, John Freeman indicates that he wrote a story called PLANET OF THE DEAD decades before Russell T Davies' 2009 version.
COMING SOON features a preview - theilling and punchy - for Troughton's THE WAR GAMES. The material is clean & crisp, dramatically edited and aurally adept. Play it, rewind and play it again. You'll love it.
Released on 22 June 2009, DELTA AND THE BANNERMEN ensures that the truncated Seventh Doctor era is not forgotten and, upon reflection & review, was not as tedious and patronising as it first seemed 22 years ago.
