• The Invisible Enemy [Review]

    From Blueshirt@blueshirt@indigo.news to rec.arts.drwho,uk.media.tv.sf.drwho on Sun May 10 17:05:23 2026
    From Newsgroup: rec.arts.drwho


    "The Invisible Enemy" starts in typical 1970's sci-fi tv
    fashion... a model spaceship on strings shakily moving
    against a hand painted space backdrop... with electronic
    music and weird noises to set the scene... as "Doctor Who"
    does a Fantastic Voyage/Andromeda Strain mash-up... with
    vibes of Blake's 7/Space 1999 thrown in for good measure.

    Visually, "The Invisible Enemy" is ambitious... in the way
    only 1970s television could be. Some effects are charmingly
    dated, while others look like they were assembled five minutes
    before transmission using leftover Christmas decorations and
    plenty of optimism. The traditional white TARDIS control room
    returns (with some modifications) as does Leela's leather
    'savage' costume... but then, in episode three we get...
    the shrimp! At the time of broadcast I probably didn't pay too
    much attention to it, but on a big TV screen in 2026 it does
    look a little bit ludicrous.

    The story itself is pure sci-fi... a space virus, a medical
    satellite, laser gun battles, cloning and shrinking, etc. But
    for me, the story stumbles once it becomes apparent that the
    realisation is not as good as the ideas, so it all comes across
    as a bit clunky.

    I suppose the real highlight of this story is the debut of K9,
    which instantly gives "The Invisible Enemy" historical
    importance within Doctor Who lore... K9 is one of those ideas
    that sounds a bit silly on paper, a robotic dog with a laser
    nose, but K9 became one of the most beloved companions of the
    classic era. He steals the scenes in "The Invisible Enemy"
    anyway and is a lot more memorable than the King Prawn monster.

    Overall "The Invisible Enemy" is an imaginative Doctor Who story
    with a great core idea, strong performances from Tom Baker and
    Louise Jameson (as usual)... but while there was a lot to enjoy
    the story is held back by its shaky special effects, pacing that
    drags in places, and a few moments that come off a bit too
    silly. So for me, I'll give this a 7/10 rating.
    --- Synchronet 3.22a-Linux NewsLink 1.2
  • From doctor@doctor@doctor.nl2k.ab.ca (The Doctor) to rec.arts.drwho,uk.media.tv.sf.drwho on Sun May 10 18:46:00 2026
    From Newsgroup: rec.arts.drwho

    In article <xn0ppm89s15puu000@post.eweka.nl>,
    Blueshirt <blueshirt@indigo.news> wrote:

    "The Invisible Enemy" starts in typical 1970's sci-fi tv
    fashion... a model spaceship on strings shakily moving
    against a hand painted space backdrop... with electronic
    music and weird noises to set the scene... as "Doctor Who"
    does a Fantastic Voyage/Andromeda Strain mash-up... with
    vibes of Blake's 7/Space 1999 thrown in for good measure.

    Visually, "The Invisible Enemy" is ambitious... in the way
    only 1970s television could be. Some effects are charmingly
    dated, while others look like they were assembled five minutes
    before transmission using leftover Christmas decorations and
    plenty of optimism. The traditional white TARDIS control room
    returns (with some modifications) as does Leela's leather
    'savage' costume... but then, in episode three we get...
    the shrimp! At the time of broadcast I probably didn't pay too
    much attention to it, but on a big TV screen in 2026 it does
    look a little bit ludicrous.

    The story itself is pure sci-fi... a space virus, a medical
    satellite, laser gun battles, cloning and shrinking, etc. But
    for me, the story stumbles once it becomes apparent that the
    realisation is not as good as the ideas, so it all comes across
    as a bit clunky.

    I suppose the real highlight of this story is the debut of K9,
    which instantly gives "The Invisible Enemy" historical
    importance within Doctor Who lore... K9 is one of those ideas
    that sounds a bit silly on paper, a robotic dog with a laser
    nose, but K9 became one of the most beloved companions of the
    classic era. He steals the scenes in "The Invisible Enemy"
    anyway and is a lot more memorable than the King Prawn monster.


    King Prawn is very iteresting!

    Overall "The Invisible Enemy" is an imaginative Doctor Who story
    with a great core idea, strong performances from Tom Baker and
    Louise Jameson (as usual)... but while there was a lot to enjoy
    the story is held back by its shaky special effects, pacing that
    drags in places, and a few moments that come off a bit too
    silly. So for me, I'll give this a 7/10 rating.
    --
    Member - Liberal International This is doctor@nk.ca Ici doctor@nk.ca
    Yahweh, King & country!Never Satan President Republic!Beware AntiChrist rising! Look at Psalms 14 and 53 on Atheism ;
    Go for the Double Arsenal and Vote LDem 7 May 2026 !
    --- Synchronet 3.22a-Linux NewsLink 1.2
  • From The True Doctor@agamemnon@hello.to.NO_SPAM to rec.arts.drwho,uk.media.tv.sf.drwho on Sun May 10 20:05:17 2026
    From Newsgroup: rec.arts.drwho

    On 10/05/2026 18:05, Blueshirt wrote:

    "The Invisible Enemy" starts in typical 1970's sci-fi tv
    fashion... a model spaceship on strings shakily moving
    against a hand painted space backdrop... with electronic
    music and weird noises to set the scene... as "Doctor Who"

    You mean like it had virtually the idea for the opening scene as Star
    Wars, except Star Wars had developed Motion Control which Doctor Who
    could not have used even if it could have afforded it (which it couldn't
    until a decade later) because it was being filmed, I mean videoed, at
    exactly the same time Star Wars was being made. It even had it's own
    Death Star disguised as a medical base on an asteroid influenced by the
    same source that influenced the design of the Death Star, Triplanatar, Galactic Patrol, and Grey Lensman, from E E Smith's Lensman series.

    does a Fantastic Voyage/Andromeda Strain mash-up... with
    vibes of Blake's 7/Space 1999 thrown in for good measure.


    Blake's 7 didn't premier until the following year, and just like it the
    sets wobbled.

    Visually, "The Invisible Enemy" is ambitious... in the way
    only 1970s television could be. Some effects are charmingly
    dated, while others look like they were assembled five minutes
    before transmission using leftover Christmas decorations and
    plenty of optimism. The traditional white TARDIS control room
    returns (with some modifications) as does Leela's leather
    'savage' costume... but then, in episode three we get...
    the shrimp! At the time of broadcast I probably didn't pay too
    much attention to it, but on a big TV screen in 2026 it does
    look a little bit ludicrous.


    No more ludicrous than the alien races in Star Wars which came out in
    the same year at the end of May.

    The story itself is pure sci-fi... a space virus, a medical
    satellite, laser gun battles, cloning and shrinking, etc. But
    for me, the story stumbles once it becomes apparent that the
    realisation is not as good as the ideas, so it all comes across
    as a bit clunky.

    You mean clunky like with the laser battles in corridors, with tin
    robots trundling through. Yes, the opening of Star Wars was a bit
    clunky. And then Darth Vader bursts through the melting polystyrene door.


    I suppose the real highlight of this story is the debut of K9,
    which instantly gives "The Invisible Enemy" historical
    importance within Doctor Who lore... K9 is one of those ideas
    that sounds a bit silly on paper, a robotic dog with a laser
    nose, but K9 became one of the most beloved companions of the
    classic era. He steals the scenes in "The Invisible Enemy"
    anyway and is a lot more memorable than the King Prawn monster.


    Same goes for R2D2 and C3PO. Graham Williams must have known that Star
    Wars was being made in the UK and recognised that the droids would
    become the real stars of it so came up with the idea of K9 as a companion.

    Overall "The Invisible Enemy" is an imaginative Doctor Who story
    with a great core idea, strong performances from Tom Baker and
    Louise Jameson (as usual)... but while there was a lot to enjoy
    the story is held back by its shaky special effects, pacing that

    And shaky sets. The painted backdrops are called mattes in the industry
    and Star Wars used them as well before George Lucas replaced them with CGI.

    drags in places, and a few moments that come off a bit too

    There was no dragging for me. Every episode flowed perfectly and was
    segmented to break the story up based on different themes for each
    episode as I explained in my review.

    silly. So for me, I'll give this a 7/10 rating.

    It deserves more than that. You have Horror of Fang Rock 10/10 and this
    story was better than that and had a more intellectually stimulating
    monster, even if it looked like a shrimp or lobster. Look at the giant
    fish, (was it a trout?) who was the rebels' admiral of the fleet in
    Return of the Jedi. Which was more ridiculous?
    --
    The True Doctor https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCngrZwoS0n21IRcXpKO79Lw

    "To be woke is to be uninformed which is exactly the opposite of what it stands for." --William Shatner
    --- Synchronet 3.22a-Linux NewsLink 1.2
  • From doctor@doctor@doctor.nl2k.ab.ca (The Doctor) to rec.arts.drwho,uk.media.tv.sf.drwho on Mon May 11 01:23:40 2026
    From Newsgroup: rec.arts.drwho

    In article <10tqktd$jlbv$1@dont-email.me>,
    The True Doctor <agamemnon@hello.to.NO_SPAM> wrote:
    On 10/05/2026 18:05, Blueshirt wrote:

    "The Invisible Enemy" starts in typical 1970's sci-fi tv
    fashion... a model spaceship on strings shakily moving
    against a hand painted space backdrop... with electronic
    music and weird noises to set the scene... as "Doctor Who"

    You mean like it had virtually the idea for the opening scene as Star
    Wars, except Star Wars had developed Motion Control which Doctor Who
    could not have used even if it could have afforded it (which it couldn't >until a decade later) because it was being filmed, I mean videoed, at >exactly the same time Star Wars was being made. It even had it's own
    Death Star disguised as a medical base on an asteroid influenced by the
    same source that influenced the design of the Death Star, Triplanatar, >Galactic Patrol, and Grey Lensman, from E E Smith's Lensman series.

    does a Fantastic Voyage/Andromeda Strain mash-up... with
    vibes of Blake's 7/Space 1999 thrown in for good measure.


    Blake's 7 didn't premier until the following year, and just like it the
    sets wobbled.

    Visually, "The Invisible Enemy" is ambitious... in the way
    only 1970s television could be. Some effects are charmingly
    dated, while others look like they were assembled five minutes
    before transmission using leftover Christmas decorations and
    plenty of optimism. The traditional white TARDIS control room
    returns (with some modifications) as does Leela's leather
    'savage' costume... but then, in episode three we get...
    the shrimp! At the time of broadcast I probably didn't pay too
    much attention to it, but on a big TV screen in 2026 it does
    look a little bit ludicrous.


    No more ludicrous than the alien races in Star Wars which came out in
    the same year at the end of May.

    The story itself is pure sci-fi... a space virus, a medical
    satellite, laser gun battles, cloning and shrinking, etc. But
    for me, the story stumbles once it becomes apparent that the
    realisation is not as good as the ideas, so it all comes across
    as a bit clunky.

    You mean clunky like with the laser battles in corridors, with tin
    robots trundling through. Yes, the opening of Star Wars was a bit
    clunky. And then Darth Vader bursts through the melting polystyrene door.


    I suppose the real highlight of this story is the debut of K9,
    which instantly gives "The Invisible Enemy" historical
    importance within Doctor Who lore... K9 is one of those ideas
    that sounds a bit silly on paper, a robotic dog with a laser
    nose, but K9 became one of the most beloved companions of the
    classic era. He steals the scenes in "The Invisible Enemy"
    anyway and is a lot more memorable than the King Prawn monster.


    Same goes for R2D2 and C3PO. Graham Williams must have known that Star
    Wars was being made in the UK and recognised that the droids would
    become the real stars of it so came up with the idea of K9 as a companion.

    Overall "The Invisible Enemy" is an imaginative Doctor Who story
    with a great core idea, strong performances from Tom Baker and
    Louise Jameson (as usual)... but while there was a lot to enjoy
    the story is held back by its shaky special effects, pacing that

    And shaky sets. The painted backdrops are called mattes in the industry
    and Star Wars used them as well before George Lucas replaced them with CGI.

    drags in places, and a few moments that come off a bit too

    There was no dragging for me. Every episode flowed perfectly and was >segmented to break the story up based on different themes for each
    episode as I explained in my review.

    silly. So for me, I'll give this a 7/10 rating.

    It deserves more than that. You have Horror of Fang Rock 10/10 and this >story was better than that and had a more intellectually stimulating >monster, even if it looked like a shrimp or lobster. Look at the giant
    fish, (was it a trout?) who was the rebels' admiral of the fleet in
    Return of the Jedi. Which was more ridiculous?


    The nuclear exchange continues!

    --
    The True Doctor https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCngrZwoS0n21IRcXpKO79Lw

    "To be woke is to be uninformed which is exactly the opposite of what it >stands for." --William Shatner
    --
    Member - Liberal International This is doctor@nk.ca Ici doctor@nk.ca
    Yahweh, King & country!Never Satan President Republic!Beware AntiChrist rising! Look at Psalms 14 and 53 on Atheism ;
    Go for the Double Arsenal and Vote LDem 7 May 2026 !
    --- Synchronet 3.22a-Linux NewsLink 1.2
  • From Blueshirt@blueshirt@indigo.news to rec.arts.drwho,uk.media.tv.sf.drwho on Mon May 11 10:08:59 2026
    From Newsgroup: rec.arts.drwho

    The True Doctor wrote:

    On 10/05/2026 18:05, Blueshirt wrote:

    So for me, I'll give this a 7/10 rating.

    It deserves more than that. You have Horror of Fang
    Rock 10/10 and this story was better than that

    Blasphemy! No way.

    --- Synchronet 3.22a-Linux NewsLink 1.2
  • From Daniel70@daniel47@nomail.afraid.org to rec.arts.drwho,uk.media.tv.sf.drwho on Mon May 11 21:06:33 2026
    From Newsgroup: rec.arts.drwho

    On 11/05/2026 4:46 am, The Doctor wrote:
    In article <xn0ppm89s15puu000@post.eweka.nl>,
    Blueshirt <blueshirt@indigo.news> wrote:

    "The Invisible Enemy" starts in typical 1970's sci-fi tv
    fashion... a model spaceship on strings shakily moving
    against a hand painted space backdrop... with electronic
    music and weird noises to set the scene... as "Doctor Who"
    does a Fantastic Voyage/Andromeda Strain mash-up... with
    vibes of Blake's 7/Space 1999 thrown in for good measure.

    Visually, "The Invisible Enemy" is ambitious... in the way
    only 1970s television could be. Some effects are charmingly
    dated, while others look like they were assembled five minutes
    before transmission using leftover Christmas decorations and
    plenty of optimism. The traditional white TARDIS control room
    returns (with some modifications) as does Leela's leather
    'savage' costume... but then, in episode three we get...
    the shrimp! At the time of broadcast I probably didn't pay too
    much attention to it, but on a big TV screen in 2026 it does
    look a little bit ludicrous.

    The story itself is pure sci-fi... a space virus, a medical
    satellite, laser gun battles, cloning and shrinking, etc. But
    for me, the story stumbles once it becomes apparent that the
    realisation is not as good as the ideas, so it all comes across
    as a bit clunky.

    I suppose the real highlight of this story is the debut of K9,
    which instantly gives "The Invisible Enemy" historical
    importance within Doctor Who lore... K9 is one of those ideas
    that sounds a bit silly on paper, a robotic dog with a laser
    nose, but K9 became one of the most beloved companions of the
    classic era. He steals the scenes in "The Invisible Enemy"
    anyway and is a lot more memorable than the King Prawn monster.

    King Prawn is very iteresting!

    WHAT?? No Score, Binky??

    Overall "The Invisible Enemy" is an imaginative Doctor Who story
    with a great core idea, strong performances from Tom Baker and
    Louise Jameson (as usual)... but while there was a lot to enjoy
    the story is held back by its shaky special effects, pacing that
    drags in places, and a few moments that come off a bit too
    silly. So for me, I'll give this a 7/10 rating.
    --
    Daniel70
    --- Synchronet 3.22a-Linux NewsLink 1.2
  • From doctor@doctor@doctor.nl2k.ab.ca (The Doctor) to rec.arts.drwho,uk.media.tv.sf.drwho on Mon May 11 12:54:05 2026
    From Newsgroup: rec.arts.drwho

    In article <xn0ppnbx715h09005@post.eweka.nl>,
    Blueshirt <blueshirt@indigo.news> wrote:
    The True Doctor wrote:

    On 10/05/2026 18:05, Blueshirt wrote:

    So for me, I'll give this a 7/10 rating.

    It deserves more than that. You have Horror of Fang
    Rock 10/10 and this story was better than that

    Blasphemy! No way.


    More kilotoone exchanges!
    --
    Member - Liberal International This is doctor@nk.ca Ici doctor@nk.ca
    Yahweh, King & country!Never Satan President Republic!Beware AntiChrist rising! Look at Psalms 14 and 53 on Atheism ;
    Go for the Double Arsenal and Vote LDem 7 May 2026 !
    --- Synchronet 3.22a-Linux NewsLink 1.2
  • From doctor@doctor@doctor.nl2k.ab.ca (The Doctor) to rec.arts.drwho,uk.media.tv.sf.drwho on Mon May 11 12:55:35 2026
    From Newsgroup: rec.arts.drwho

    In article <10tsd7p$128le$1@dont-email.me>,
    Daniel70 <daniel47@nomail.afraid.org> wrote:
    On 11/05/2026 4:46 am, The Doctor wrote:
    In article <xn0ppm89s15puu000@post.eweka.nl>,
    Blueshirt <blueshirt@indigo.news> wrote:

    "The Invisible Enemy" starts in typical 1970's sci-fi tv
    fashion... a model spaceship on strings shakily moving
    against a hand painted space backdrop... with electronic
    music and weird noises to set the scene... as "Doctor Who"
    does a Fantastic Voyage/Andromeda Strain mash-up... with
    vibes of Blake's 7/Space 1999 thrown in for good measure.

    Visually, "The Invisible Enemy" is ambitious... in the way
    only 1970s television could be. Some effects are charmingly
    dated, while others look like they were assembled five minutes
    before transmission using leftover Christmas decorations and
    plenty of optimism. The traditional white TARDIS control room
    returns (with some modifications) as does Leela's leather
    'savage' costume... but then, in episode three we get...
    the shrimp! At the time of broadcast I probably didn't pay too
    much attention to it, but on a big TV screen in 2026 it does
    look a little bit ludicrous.

    The story itself is pure sci-fi... a space virus, a medical
    satellite, laser gun battles, cloning and shrinking, etc. But
    for me, the story stumbles once it becomes apparent that the
    realisation is not as good as the ideas, so it all comes across
    as a bit clunky.

    I suppose the real highlight of this story is the debut of K9,
    which instantly gives "The Invisible Enemy" historical
    importance within Doctor Who lore... K9 is one of those ideas
    that sounds a bit silly on paper, a robotic dog with a laser
    nose, but K9 became one of the most beloved companions of the
    classic era. He steals the scenes in "The Invisible Enemy"
    anyway and is a lot more memorable than the King Prawn monster.

    King Prawn is very iteresting!

    WHAT?? No Score, Binky(Word used by paedophiles to indicate
    their joy of child sexual molestation)??

    Overall "The Invisible Enemy" is an imaginative Doctor Who story
    with a great core idea, strong performances from Tom Baker and
    Louise Jameson (as usual)... but while there was a lot to enjoy
    the story is held back by its shaky special effects, pacing that
    drags in places, and a few moments that come off a bit too
    silly. So for me, I'll give this a 7/10 rating.
    --
    Daniel70
    --
    Member - Liberal International This is doctor@nk.ca Ici doctor@nk.ca
    Yahweh, King & country!Never Satan President Republic!Beware AntiChrist rising! Look at Psalms 14 and 53 on Atheism ;
    Go for the Double Arsenal and Vote LDem 7 May 2026 !
    --- Synchronet 3.22a-Linux NewsLink 1.2
  • From Daniel70@daniel47@nomail.afraid.org to rec.arts.drwho,uk.media.tv.sf.drwho on Tue May 12 20:03:23 2026
    From Newsgroup: rec.arts.drwho

    On 11/05/2026 10:54 pm, The Doctor wrote:
    In article <xn0ppnbx715h09005@post.eweka.nl>,
    Blueshirt <blueshirt@indigo.news> wrote:
    The True Doctor wrote:
    On 10/05/2026 18:05, Blueshirt wrote:

    So for me, I'll give this a 7/10 rating.

    It deserves more than that. You have Horror of Fang
    Rock 10/10 and this story was better than that

    Blasphemy! No way.

    More kilotoone exchanges!

    "kilotoone"??
    --
    Daniel70
    --- Synchronet 3.22a-Linux NewsLink 1.2
  • From Idlehands@hidefromu@hushmail.com to rec.arts.drwho on Tue May 12 06:54:15 2026
    From Newsgroup: rec.arts.drwho

    On 2026-05-12 4:03 a.m., Daniel70 wrote:
    On 11/05/2026 10:54 pm, The Doctor wrote:
    In article <xn0ppnbx715h09005@post.eweka.nl>,
    Blueshirt <blueshirt@indigo.news> wrote:
    The True Doctor wrote:
    On 10/05/2026 18:05, Blueshirt wrote:

    So for me, I'll give this a 7/10 rating.

    It deserves more than that. You have Horror of Fang
    Rock 10/10 and this story was better than that

    Blasphemy! No way.

    More kilotoone exchanges!

    "kilotoone"??

    The predecessor to Movietone, it failed to catch on due to high costs
    and no one was interested in training required.

    Or just another binky failure to use the English language.
    --
    The word rCLBupkis,rCY common slang for rCLnothing,rCY comes from the Yiddish phrase meaning rCLhaving about as much worth as goat turds.rCY
    --- Synchronet 3.22a-Linux NewsLink 1.2
  • From Daniel70@daniel47@nomail.afraid.org to rec.arts.drwho on Wed May 13 20:11:19 2026
    From Newsgroup: rec.arts.drwho

    On 12/05/2026 10:54 pm, Idlehands wrote:
    On 2026-05-12 4:03 a.m., Daniel70 wrote:
    On 11/05/2026 10:54 pm, The Doctor wrote:
    In article <xn0ppnbx715h09005@post.eweka.nl>,
    Blueshirt <blueshirt@indigo.news> wrote:
    The True Doctor wrote:
    On 10/05/2026 18:05, Blueshirt wrote:

    So for me, I'll give this a 7/10 rating.

    It deserves more than that. You have Horror of Fang
    Rock 10/10 and this story was better than that

    Blasphemy! No way.

    More kilotoone exchanges!

    "kilotoone"??

    The predecessor to Movietone, it failed to catch on due to high costs
    and no one was interested in training required.

    Or just another binky failure to use the English language.

    Sorry!! WHAT?? Asswipe TRIES to use the English Language?? REALLY?? ;-P
    --
    Daniel70
    --- Synchronet 3.22a-Linux NewsLink 1.2
  • From doctor@doctor@doctor.nl2k.ab.ca (The Doctor) to rec.arts.drwho on Wed May 13 13:41:19 2026
    From Newsgroup: rec.arts.drwho

    In article <10u1io7$2jr68$1@dont-email.me>,
    Daniel70 <daniel47@nomail.afraid.org> wrote:
    On 12/05/2026 10:54 pm, Idlehands wrote:
    On 2026-05-12 4:03 a.m., Daniel70 wrote:
    On 11/05/2026 10:54 pm, The Doctor wrote:
    In article <xn0ppnbx715h09005@post.eweka.nl>,
    Blueshirt <blueshirt@indigo.news> wrote:
    The True Doctor wrote:
    On 10/05/2026 18:05, Blueshirt wrote:

    So for me, I'll give this a 7/10 rating.

    It deserves more than that. You have Horror of Fang
    Rock 10/10 and this story was better than that

    Blasphemy! No way.

    More kilotoone exchanges!

    "kilotoone"??

    The predecessor to Movietone, it failed to catch on due to high costs
    and no one was interested in training required.

    Or just another binky(Word used by paedophiles to indicate their joy
    of child sexual molestation) failure to use the English language.

    Sorry!! WHAT?? Asswipe(Word used by paedophiles to indicate their
    joy of child sexual molestation coverup) TRIES to use the English Language?? >REALLY?? ;-P
    --
    Daniel70
    --
    Member - Liberal International This is doctor@nk.ca Ici doctor@nk.ca
    Yahweh, King & country!Never Satan President Republic!Beware AntiChrist rising! Look at Psalms 14 and 53 on Atheism ;
    Go for the Double Arsenal and Vote LDem 7 May 2026 !
    --- Synchronet 3.22a-Linux NewsLink 1.2