Into Season 15... which starts with an atmospheric story written
by Terrance Dicks set on an offshore island in Victorian
England...
For this version of the base-under-siege trope we get a
lighthouse on a dark stormy night, with fog rolling in from the
sea, the wind howling and the wild waves crashing against the
dangerous rocks (see, I said atmospheric, didn't I?) I thought
this setting was quite cosy, in a way. Agatha herself could have
used it as a setting for one of her novels... oh hang on, she
kind of did. (And Then There Were None - remote island, everyone
dies!) Anyway, Uncle Terrance delivers us a Victorian murder
mystery with a difference... we get a claustrophobic setting
with flickering candles and people disappearing one by one...
however, the villain of this story is an alien blob with a
hunger for electricity and an anti-social disposition. As George
Harrison was to find out early on as he became the first victim
of the killer Rutan.
The Doctor and Leela, fresh from Victorian London, (for us)
arrive on this remote foggy island - that isn't Brighton - and
instantly walk into trouble, not as much trouble as the boat
that crashes onto the rocks to bring some doomed humans to the
party shortly afterwards... but enough trouble that the Doctor
has to use all of his guile to defeat the alien blob which had
crash landed in the sea not far from Fang Rock. A victim of an
oft mentioned war with the Sontarans... who just like all
extra-terrestrials only wants to phone home.
As with much of classic era "Doctor Who", the limitations of the
production and effects are offset by the strength of the writing
and performances, and once again Tom Baker and Louise Jameson
give stellar performances. The Fourth Doctor's era at this stage
was like a well-oiled machine, it just rolled out great story
after great story. Despite a change in producer and some
behind-the-scenes issues (The original planned opening story of
S15 was cancelled by the BBC at short notice, plus a new studio
also had to be found.) Season 15 carried on how Season 14 had
finished, with another high quality outing for the Fourth Doctor.
Overall, "The Horror of Fang Rock" stands as a well crafted,
tightly structured story that's full of suspense and tension as
the people in the lighthouse realise that they are trapped with
a shape-shifting alien intent on eliminating them one by one.
(Which it does!) The Rutan itself wasn't very impressive, and
the effects were basic enough, but it was 1977 so we can forgive
the BBC effects department for that. (The Blu-ray version does
have the toggle option for enhanced special effects including a
green puppet Rutan, which tidies things up a bit.)
"The Horror of Fang Rock" was always a personal favourite of
mine, maybe because like "The Robots of Death" it was pretty
much a murder mystery blended with sci-fi and horror themes. I
have seen this story good few times. Mrs Blueshirt seemed to
think that we watched this one fairly recently, which is
possible, but the S15 Blu-ray box set was released in 2024 so I
reckon it was not long after it arrived when we last watched it,
so for "fairly recently" read two years! It's all relative I
suppose...
This story is up there with the best of them... I feel inclined
to give it a 10/10 rating, but being honest it's not as good as
"The Robots of Death" so I'll compromise and go with a 9.5/10
instead. (Because I can!)
On 01/05/2026 23:02, Blueshirt wrote:
dies!) Anyway, Uncle Terrance delivers us a Victorian murder
mystery with a difference... we get a claustrophobic setting
with flickering candles and people disappearing one by one...
however, the villain of this story is an alien blob with a
hunger for electricity and an anti-social disposition. As George
Harrison was to find out early on as he became the first victim
of the killer Rutan.
The Rutan killed of one of The Beatles? I didn't notice his name until
you mentioned it.
Into Season 15... which starts with an atmospheric story written
by Terrance Dicks set on an offshore island in Victorian
England...
For this version of the base-under-siege trope we get a
lighthouse on a dark stormy night, with fog rolling in from the
sea, the wind howling and the wild waves crashing against the
dangerous rocks (see, I said atmospheric, didn't I?) I thought
this setting was quite cosy, in a way. Agatha herself could have
used it as a setting for one of her novels... oh hang on, she
kind of did. (And Then There Were None - remote island, everyone
dies!) Anyway, Uncle Terrance delivers us a Victorian murder
mystery with a difference... we get a claustrophobic setting
with flickering candles and people disappearing one by one...
however, the villain of this story is an alien blob with a
hunger for electricity and an anti-social disposition. As George
Harrison was to find out early on as he became the first victim
of the killer Rutan.
The Doctor and Leela, fresh from Victorian London, (for us)
arrive on this remote foggy island - that isn't Brighton - and
instantly walk into trouble, not as much trouble as the boat
that crashes onto the rocks to bring some doomed humans to the
party shortly afterwards... but enough trouble that the Doctor
has to use all of his guile to defeat the alien blob which had
crash landed in the sea not far from Fang Rock. A victim of an
oft mentioned war with the Sontarans... who just like all
extra-terrestrials only wants to phone home.
As with much of classic era "Doctor Who", the limitations of the
production and effects are offset by the strength of the writing
and performances, and once again Tom Baker and Louise Jameson
give stellar performances. The Fourth Doctor's era at this stage
was like a well-oiled machine, it just rolled out great story
after great story. Despite a change in producer and some
behind-the-scenes issues (The original planned opening story of
S15 was cancelled by the BBC at short notice, plus a new studio
also had to be found.) Season 15 carried on how Season 14 had
finished, with another high quality outing for the Fourth Doctor.
Overall, "The Horror of Fang Rock" stands as a well crafted,
tightly structured story that's full of suspense and tension as
the people in the lighthouse realise that they are trapped with
a shape-shifting alien intent on eliminating them one by one.
(Which it does!) The Rutan itself wasn't very impressive, and
the effects were basic enough, but it was 1977 so we can forgive
the BBC effects department for that. (The Blu-ray version does
have the toggle option for enhanced special effects including a
green puppet Rutan, which tidies things up a bit.)
"The Horror of Fang Rock" was always a personal favourite of
mine, maybe because like "The Robots of Death" it was pretty
much a murder mystery blended with sci-fi and horror themes. I
have seen this story good few times. Mrs Blueshirt seemed to
think that we watched this one fairly recently, which is
possible, but the S15 Blu-ray box set was released in 2024 so I
reckon it was not long after it arrived when we last watched it,
so for "fairly recently" read two years! It's all relative I
suppose...
This story is up there with the best of them... I feel inclined
to give it a 10/10 rating, but being honest it's not as good as
"The Robots of Death" so I'll compromise and go with a 9.5/10
instead. (Because I can!)
On 01/05/2026 23:02, Blueshirt wrote:
Into Season 15... which starts with an atmospheric story written
by Terrance Dicks set on an offshore island in Victorian
England...
You beat me to it again.
For this version of the base-under-siege trope we get a
lighthouse on a dark stormy night, with fog rolling in from the
sea, the wind howling and the wild waves crashing against the
dangerous rocks (see, I said atmospheric, didn't I?) I thought
this setting was quite cosy, in a way. Agatha herself could have
used it as a setting for one of her novels... oh hang on, she
kind of did. (And Then There Were None - remote island, everyone
It think you actually mean +o+!+|+# +++|+|-U+++> +++!+|-U+++| (Deka
mikroi negroi). It
wasn't offensive in Greece. Agatha Christie was big there.
dies!) Anyway, Uncle Terrance delivers us a Victorian murder
mystery with a difference... we get a claustrophobic setting
with flickering candles and people disappearing one by one...
however, the villain of this story is an alien blob with a
hunger for electricity and an anti-social disposition. As George
Harrison was to find out early on as he became the first victim
of the killer Rutan.
The Rutan killed of one of The Beatles? I didn't notice his name until
you mentioned it.
The Doctor and Leela, fresh from Victorian London, (for us)
arrive on this remote foggy island - that isn't Brighton - and
instantly walk into trouble, not as much trouble as the boat
And now we know where they got Romana II's costume design from plus the >Doctor's gray coat from City of Death, minus the bowler hat.
that crashes onto the rocks to bring some doomed humans to the
party shortly afterwards... but enough trouble that the Doctor
has to use all of his guile to defeat the alien blob which had
crash landed in the sea not far from Fang Rock. A victim of an
oft mentioned war with the Sontarans... who just like all
extra-terrestrials only wants to phone home.
As with much of classic era "Doctor Who", the limitations of the
production and effects are offset by the strength of the writing
and performances, and once again Tom Baker and Louise Jameson
give stellar performances. The Fourth Doctor's era at this stage
I am starting to really fancy Leela for her personality. I always
thought the Leela Big Finish stories were the best of the Tom Baker's, >except maybe Mary Tamm but she could only do one series before she died.
was like a well-oiled machine, it just rolled out great story
after great story. Despite a change in producer and some
behind-the-scenes issues (The original planned opening story of
S15 was cancelled by the BBC at short notice, plus a new studio
also had to be found.) Season 15 carried on how Season 14 had
finished, with another high quality outing for the Fourth Doctor.
Overall, "The Horror of Fang Rock" stands as a well crafted,
tightly structured story that's full of suspense and tension as
the people in the lighthouse realise that they are trapped with
a shape-shifting alien intent on eliminating them one by one.
(Which it does!) The Rutan itself wasn't very impressive, and
It looked better than I originally remember it. The main problem with
all the effects is the lighting, with the green glow added on in >post-production which would have probably looked better with a lamp
inside the puppet. Fortunately they didn't do a laser effect for the >lighthouse beam at the end which would have displayed the wrong type of
glow and not the speckled glow of a real laser.
the effects were basic enough, but it was 1977 so we can forgive
the BBC effects department for that. (The Blu-ray version does
have the toggle option for enhanced special effects including a
green puppet Rutan, which tidies things up a bit.)
Not seen that. Just as long as it doesn't look like modern CGI.
"The Horror of Fang Rock" was always a personal favourite of
mine, maybe because like "The Robots of Death" it was pretty
much a murder mystery blended with sci-fi and horror themes. I
have seen this story good few times. Mrs Blueshirt seemed to
think that we watched this one fairly recently, which is
possible, but the S15 Blu-ray box set was released in 2024 so I
reckon it was not long after it arrived when we last watched it,
so for "fairly recently" read two years! It's all relative I
suppose...
Sill waiting for the S16 Key to Time Blu-rays to complete the Tom Baker era.
This story is up there with the best of them... I feel inclined
to give it a 10/10 rating, but being honest it's not as good as
"The Robots of Death" so I'll compromise and go with a 9.5/10
instead. (Because I can!)
I thought your mark would be lower, but it's 0.5 higher that I expected.
----
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
On 02/05/2026 02:07, The True Doctor wrote:
On 01/05/2026 23:02, Blueshirt wrote:
dies!) Anyway, Uncle Terrance delivers us a Victorian murder
mystery with a difference... we get a claustrophobic setting
with flickering candles and people disappearing one by one...
however, the villain of this story is an alien blob with a
hunger for electricity and an anti-social disposition. As George
Harrison was to find out early on as he became the first victim
of the killer Rutan.
The Rutan killed of one of The Beatles? I didn't notice his name until
you mentioned it.
No, wait. You meant the character that looked like George Harrison from
the Sergent Pepper late 60s early 70s era, with the silly moustache and >sideburns.
----
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
On 01/05/2026 23:02, Blueshirt wrote:
Into Season 15... which starts with an atmospheric story
written by Terrance Dicks set on an offshore island in
Victorian England...
You beat me to it again.
For this version of the base-under-siege trope we get a
lighthouse on a dark stormy night, with fog rolling in from
the sea, the wind howling and the wild waves crashing
against the dangerous rocks (see, I said atmospheric, didn't
I?) I thought this setting was quite cosy, in a way. Agatha
herself could have used it as a setting for one of her
novels... oh hang on, she kind of did. (And Then There Were
None - remote island, everyone
It think you actually mean +o+!+|+# +++|+|-U+++> +++!+|-U+++| (Deka mikroi negroi). It wasn't offensive in Greece. Agatha Christie was
big there.
dies!) Anyway, Uncle Terrance delivers us a Victorian murder
mystery with a difference... we get a claustrophobic setting
with flickering candles and people disappearing one by one...
however, the villain of this story is an alien blob with a
hunger for electricity and an anti-social disposition. As
George Harrison was to find out early on as he became the
first victim of the killer Rutan.
The Rutan killed of one of The Beatles? I didn't notice his
name until you mentioned it.
The Doctor and Leela, fresh from Victorian London, (for us)
arrive on this remote foggy island - that isn't Brighton -
and instantly walk into trouble, not as much trouble as the
boat
And now we know where they got Romana II's costume design from
plus the Doctor's gray coat from City of Death, minus the
bowler hat.
that crashes onto the rocks to bring some doomed humans to
the party shortly afterwards... but enough trouble that the
Doctor has to use all of his guile to defeat the alien blob
which had crash landed in the sea not far from Fang Rock. A
victim of an oft mentioned war with the Sontarans... who
just like all extra-terrestrials only wants to phone home.
As with much of classic era "Doctor Who", the limitations of
the production and effects are offset by the strength of the
writing and performances, and once again Tom Baker and
Louise Jameson give stellar performances. The Fourth
Doctor's era at this stage
I am starting to really fancy Leela for her personality. I
always thought the Leela Big Finish stories were the best of
the Tom Baker's,
except maybe Mary Tamm but she could only do one series
before she died.
was like a well-oiled machine, it just rolled out great story
after great story. Despite a change in producer and some
behind-the-scenes issues (The original planned opening story
of S15 was cancelled by the BBC at short notice, plus a new
studio also had to be found.) Season 15 carried on how
Season 14 had finished, with another high quality outing for
the Fourth Doctor.
Overall, "The Horror of Fang Rock" stands as a well crafted,
tightly structured story that's full of suspense and tension
as the people in the lighthouse realise that they are
trapped with a shape-shifting alien intent on eliminating
them one by one. (Which it does!) The Rutan itself wasn't
very impressive
It looked better than I originally remember it. The main
problem with all the effects is the lighting, with the green
glow added on in post-production which would have probably
looked better with a lamp inside the puppet. Fortunately they
didn't do a laser effect for the lighthouse beam at the end
which would have displayed the wrong type of glow and not the
speckled glow of a real laser.
and the effects were basic enough, but it was 1977 so we can
forgive the BBC effects department for that. (The Blu-ray
version does have the toggle option for enhanced special
effects including a green puppet Rutan, which tidies things
up a bit.)
Not seen that. Just as long as it doesn't look like modern CGI.
"The Horror of Fang Rock" was always a personal favourite of
mine, maybe because like "The Robots of Death" it was pretty
much a murder mystery blended with sci-fi and horror themes.
I have seen this story good few times. Mrs Blueshirt seemed
to think that we watched this one fairly recently, which is
possible, but the S15 Blu-ray box set was released in 2024
so I reckon it was not long after it arrived when we last
watched it, so for "fairly recently" read two years! It's
all relative I suppose...
Sill waiting for the S16 Key to Time Blu-rays to complete the
Tom Baker era.
This story is up there with the best of them... I feel
inclined to give it a 10/10 rating, but being honest it's
not as good as "The Robots of Death" so I'll compromise and
go with a 9.5/10 instead. (Because I can!)
I thought your mark would be lower, but it's 0.5 higher that I
expected.
On 02/05/2026 02:07, The True Doctor wrote:
On 01/05/2026 23:02, Blueshirt wrote:
dies!) Anyway, Uncle Terrance delivers us a Victorian
murder mystery with a difference... we get a
claustrophobic setting with flickering candles and people
disappearing one by one... however, the villain of this
story is an alien blob with a hunger for electricity and
an anti-social disposition. As George Harrison was to find
out early on as he became the first victim of the killer
Rutan.
The Rutan killed of one of The Beatles? I didn't notice his
name until you mentioned it.
No, wait. You meant the character that looked like George
Harrison from the Sergent Pepper late 60s early 70s era, with
the silly moustache and sideburns.
We debate wheter is it Victorian or Edwardian Eras.
The True Doctor wrote:
On 01/05/2026 23:02, Blueshirt wrote:
Into Season 15... which starts with an atmospheric story
written by Terrance Dicks set on an offshore island in
Victorian England...
You beat me to it again.
It's not a race! I'm busy this weekend, so it was Friday evening
or nothing. It'll probably have to be Sunday next week.
For this version of the base-under-siege trope we get a
lighthouse on a dark stormy night, with fog rolling in from
the sea, the wind howling and the wild waves crashing
against the dangerous rocks (see, I said atmospheric, didn't
I?) I thought this setting was quite cosy, in a way. Agatha
herself could have used it as a setting for one of her
novels... oh hang on, she kind of did. (And Then There Were
None - remote island, everyone
It think you actually mean +o+!+|+# +++|+|-U+++> +++!+|-U+++| (Deka mikroi >> negroi). It wasn't offensive in Greece. Agatha Christie was
big there.
I have the Fontana paperback of the original title.
In fairness, "And Then There Were None" works as a better title
anyway... as basically, that's what happened! Using that old
nursery rhyme might have seemed like a good idea, but 'Niggers'
have no bearing on the story at all.
dies!) Anyway, Uncle Terrance delivers us a Victorian murder
mystery with a difference... we get a claustrophobic setting
with flickering candles and people disappearing one by one...
however, the villain of this story is an alien blob with a
hunger for electricity and an anti-social disposition. As
George Harrison was to find out early on as he became the
first victim of the killer Rutan.
The Rutan killed of one of The Beatles? I didn't notice his
name until you mentioned it.
Well, it wasn't really George Harrison. It just looked [a bit]
like him!
The Doctor and Leela, fresh from Victorian London, (for us)
arrive on this remote foggy island - that isn't Brighton -
and instantly walk into trouble, not as much trouble as the
boat
And now we know where they got Romana II's costume design from
plus the Doctor's gray coat from City of Death, minus the
bowler hat.
Yes! :)
that crashes onto the rocks to bring some doomed humans to
the party shortly afterwards... but enough trouble that the
Doctor has to use all of his guile to defeat the alien blob
which had crash landed in the sea not far from Fang Rock. A
victim of an oft mentioned war with the Sontarans... who
just like all extra-terrestrials only wants to phone home.
As with much of classic era "Doctor Who", the limitations of
the production and effects are offset by the strength of the
writing and performances, and once again Tom Baker and
Louise Jameson give stellar performances. The Fourth
Doctor's era at this stage
I am starting to really fancy Leela for her personality. I
always thought the Leela Big Finish stories were the best of
the Tom Baker's,
Big Finish must do as well, as they've done a lot of stories
with Tom & Louise... the 4DAs must 'sell'.
except maybe Mary Tamm but she could only do one series
before she died.
"The Auntie Matter" is my favourite of that season, but they
were all good.
was like a well-oiled machine, it just rolled out great story
after great story. Despite a change in producer and some
behind-the-scenes issues (The original planned opening story
of S15 was cancelled by the BBC at short notice, plus a new
studio also had to be found.) Season 15 carried on how
Season 14 had finished, with another high quality outing for
the Fourth Doctor.
Overall, "The Horror of Fang Rock" stands as a well crafted,
tightly structured story that's full of suspense and tension
as the people in the lighthouse realise that they are
trapped with a shape-shifting alien intent on eliminating
them one by one. (Which it does!) The Rutan itself wasn't
very impressive
It looked better than I originally remember it. The main
problem with all the effects is the lighting, with the green
glow added on in post-production which would have probably
looked better with a lamp inside the puppet. Fortunately they
didn't do a laser effect for the lighthouse beam at the end
which would have displayed the wrong type of glow and not the
speckled glow of a real laser.
There was a YouTube video comparing the old/new effects side by
side. It's worth checking out.
[edit] Found it:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MoDXzDETK9s
and the effects were basic enough, but it was 1977 so we can
forgive the BBC effects department for that. (The Blu-ray
version does have the toggle option for enhanced special
effects including a green puppet Rutan, which tidies things
up a bit.)
Not seen that. Just as long as it doesn't look like modern CGI.
It looks better, a more polished version. They didn't go OTT
with the enhanced effects like do in the modern era of the show,
just made them a bit nicer.
"The Horror of Fang Rock" was always a personal favourite of
mine, maybe because like "The Robots of Death" it was pretty
much a murder mystery blended with sci-fi and horror themes.
I have seen this story good few times. Mrs Blueshirt seemed
to think that we watched this one fairly recently, which is
possible, but the S15 Blu-ray box set was released in 2024
so I reckon it was not long after it arrived when we last
watched it, so for "fairly recently" read two years! It's
all relative I suppose...
Sill waiting for the S16 Key to Time Blu-rays to complete the
Tom Baker era.
Hopefully, soon.
This story is up there with the best of them... I feel
inclined to give it a 10/10 rating, but being honest it's
not as good as "The Robots of Death" so I'll compromise and
go with a 9.5/10 instead. (Because I can!)
I thought your mark would be lower, but it's 0.5 higher that I
expected.
Oh no, this was always one of my faves... next week will be
different though, as I never really liked "The Invisible Enemy".
The True Doctor wrote:
On 02/05/2026 02:07, The True Doctor wrote:
On 01/05/2026 23:02, Blueshirt wrote:
dies!) Anyway, Uncle Terrance delivers us a Victorian
murder mystery with a difference... we get a
claustrophobic setting with flickering candles and people
disappearing one by one... however, the villain of this
story is an alien blob with a hunger for electricity and
an anti-social disposition. As George Harrison was to find
out early on as he became the first victim of the killer
Rutan.
The Rutan killed of one of The Beatles? I didn't notice his
name until you mentioned it.
No, wait. You meant the character that looked like George
Harrison from the Sergent Pepper late 60s early 70s era, with
the silly moustache and sideburns.
Bingo! :)
Doctor wrote:
We debate wheter is it Victorian or Edwardian Eras.
Dave, you don't debate anything!
I went with Victorian... if you wish to put forth a proposal
why it was Edwardian, we're here to join in the debate with
you.
I assume your favourite online script site wasn't any help to
you?
;-)
All right why not discuss some of the snobbish norms at the time.
Leela vs the Other lady is an interesting subplot.
Verily, in article <10t4v4o$1kim$1@gallifrey.nk.ca>, did >doctor@doctor.nl2k.ab.ca deliver unto us this message:
All right why not discuss some of the snobbish norms at the time.
Leela vs the Other lady is an interesting subplot.
Yeah, I was intrigued that Leela the savage ended up educating the
British lady. What did you notice?
----
The True Melissa - Canal Winchester - Ohio
United States of America - North America - Earth
Solar System - Milky Way - Local Group
Virgo Cluster - Laniakea Supercluster - Cosmos
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