As I undertake an entire Doctor Who marathon, including one or two spin-offs and related media, I'll post a short review of each serial as I finish it. Please comment if you like any of my reviews.

Sunday, 19 October 2008

Galaxy 4

"Galaxy 4". A simple tale which has moral undertones about beauty being only skin deep. In this four parter, the TARDIS lands on a planet where two races at war only have 2 dawns before the planet they're on explodes, killing them all.

We're first introduced to the menacing but rather silly 'chumblies' which are machines appearing to belong to the villains, and then soon after the warlike Drahvians. The Drahvians provoke much thought as they are a civilization where females are the dominant. They are instantly unlikeable and extremely manipulative; forcing the Doctor to cooperate with their plans to capture their enemy's spaceship to escape the dying planet.

When the Doctor and Vicki are (stupidly) sent to seize the Rill's spaceship, they discover that the Rills - horribly ugly creatures - are in fact kind hearted souls. You really feel for these people, who receive grief due to their appearance. The story concludes when the regulars assist the Rills in their escape from the planet and leave the evil Drahvians to their doom.

Overall, it's quite an enjoyable story, with some good dialogue and intriguing concepts. However, the chumblies really spoil the story, as they have a terrible design, and don't do very much. They reminded me a little of the Scutters in another BBC series: "Red Dwarf". Also in Red Dwarf is an episode where females are dominant.

A feel-good ending completes a well-rounded serial, and as the TARDIS dematerializes, you are left with the knowledge that the TARDIS crew intervening really saved honest people's lives.

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