Audience Rating: NR (Not Rated) Binding: VHS Tape EAN: 9786302665178 Format: Color ISBN: 6302665175 Label: 20th Century Fox Manufacturer: 20th Century Fox Number Of Items: 1 Publisher: 20th Century Fox Release Date: 1995-06-01 Running Time: 99 Studio: 20th Century Fox Theatrical Release Date: 1975-09-29
When this four-part adventure first appeared in 1984, it was the only thing fans had to go on as their first impression of the new sixth Doctor (Colin Baker) until another season could be produced the next year. Baker gave it his all, drawing on his years as a character actor and frequent villain on British TV to play a manic, possibly schizophrenic, Time Lord immediately after regenerating, quoting Longfellow and nearly strangling his American assistant Peri (Nicola Bryant) at one point. The question was, would he ever settle down? Even by the last frame of this story, viewers couldn't be sure.
Thus, it's a shame such a heady performance couldn't have been engaged with a first-class script. Instead, writer Anthony Stevens, perhaps inspired by a recent garden infestation, pits the Doctor against the less-than-terrifying menace of giant slugs bent on conquering the universe using the computational powers of a pair of twin boys (hence the title). Even the Doctor must agree, saying, "In my time I have been threatened by experts. I don't rate you very highly at all." But through it all, Baker takes center stage, attempting to forge a bond with a skeptical audience (if not Peri) as the new Doctor who may not be as cuddly, warm, or even human, as previous incarnations. TV fixture Kevin McNally makes an early appearance as the young Lt. Hugo Lang, an aggressive space officer who takes his share of lumps during the story. --Ryan K. Johnson
Spotlight customer reviews:
Customer Rating: Summary: bizarre!!! Comment: The story is not as bizarre as fan reaction to it! We have everything from someone who assumes that Eric Saward, who wrote Colin Baker's best story, is to blame for this, to those who think it is total genius, and everything else in between! Sheesh! Amazing! How can I put this. This story is remarkable in that, which ever way you want to look at it, it is at least entertaining (then again, so was Plan Nine From Outer Space!)and Colin Baker, while pretty painful at times, is also very compelling and engaging a lot of the time. There is also a beautiful turn from the guest star Maurice Denham as Azmeal, a great, great actor who does wonders with the role. The script is fairly poor, but contains some outrageous and memorable dialog. The game plan, to make this Doctor seem evil and unlikeable and then redeem him gradually, seems ok in theory but the realisation, having him try to throttle Peri, is really off-putting and many think it hurt the show big time. Here I agree, I met teenagers who hated it and thought it sunk the whole series. The slug villain is pretty poor and the production has a tacky look, with a tasteless costume and garish titles at its heart, too detract further. But it is compelling viewing all the same. I cringe at the Doctor being so twisted in parts, but overall, this is contrived, tasteless but hypnotic viewing. Not a flawed classic, but a shonky pantomine with an utterly compelling black heart. It points to the series it was going to become before Michael Grade interefered, a black comedy of the darkest, most garish variety, realised brilliantly in later Bakers like Varos and Revelation. Initially, I loved the costume worn by Colin Baker, but grew tired of it later. But what an expression of individuality in the face of robotic sameness like Cybermen and Daleks. The last true Doctor is malajusted and over the fence, tasteless and annoying at times, but still has something edgey and interesting to offer. If nothing else, watching this will make you be thankful for the tasteful Peter Davison era!!! Overall, it's a bad story with redeeming qualities and is worth watching. But it's not your regular Dr. Who story! Customer Rating: Summary: Debut of the Multicoloured Action Man Comment: Suffering from post-regenerative trauma worse than he did before (q.v. Castrovalva), he chooses as his new outfit a patchwork orange overcoat, yellow trousers with red stripes, a blue cravat with white polka dots. He also sinks down amid his wardrobe and wails of the "grinding wheels of the universe and the crashing boredom of eternity" before breaking down into mad laughter, and to top it all, he attacks Peri. Seeing that in regenerating he has become "unregenerate," he decides to become a hermit in order to cleanse himself and pilots the TARDIS to the moon of Titan III, where by chance his best teacher, Azmael, has kidnapped twins gifted with mathematical genius in order to procure them for his master Mestor.
The Doctor and Peri also rescue Lieutenant Hugo Lang, space corps commander who was pursuing the twins along with his squad, of which he is the sole survivor. After foiling an attempt to kill them by Noma, one of the two Jocondans assisting Azmael, they go to Joconda, once a beautiful forest world devastated by the attack of Gastropods, giant beings half human/half slug.
The new Doctor seems keen on denouncing his previous self, saying that he had a "feckless charm which wasn't me." On an interesting note, when Peri calls him "Doc," he brings up the memory of the First Doctor in "The Five Doctors": "Kindly refrain from addressing me as Doc, Perpugilliam!" And his remark on becoming "unregenerate" forecasts the Valeyard in the Trial Of A Timelord season.
The new Doctor's outfit fits his personality fine, and Peri's plaid blouse is not bad either--it's Hugo's shiny metallic shirt that fits the epithet "yuck." Heck, if I found an outfit like the Sixth Doctor's, I would "go out like that."
Colin Baker's verbal repartee is one of the reasons he was a successful Who actor, whether he is quoting from poets or rattling off words that silkily roll off his tongue: "I'm a knight errant, not an errant fool." Or how about this alliterative verbal attack on his assistant: "Poor pusilanimous Peri! What a pitiful performance!" Mentally wandering off is a "mental stroll in the park of psychic tranquility." It's easy to see why John Nathan-Turner picked Baker to succeed Peter Davison.
His Doctor is very expressive, and unpleasantly arrogant, but beneath all that, beats two kind hearts, which is important in keeping in line with his personality.
Mestor resembles a furry giant snail with a cross-eyed owl-like face. While his tone is menacing, the cross-eyes make him laughable. As the Doctor tells him, "In my time, I've been threatened by experts. You hardly rate at all."
And Gavin and Andrew Conrad as the Sylvest twins give a good performance as being rational, cerebral, but vulnerable. Remus tells his father: "Just because she gave birth to us, does that automatically grant her a place in our affections?" and that "respect must be earned." Those familiar with Roman mythology know the reference to Romulus and Remus.
Not a bad debut story, although not as excellent as Spearhead From Space or Castrovalva.
Customer Rating: Summary: I Am The Doctor, whether you like It, or not Comment: How dare you critcize the greates Dr Who of all time? This has to be a master piece. I love the over-the-top costumes, excellent dialogue and interesting music. Colin Bakers theatrical performance shines throughout the story, and its interesting to see how Peri copes whith the Doctors excentric outburts. The Jacondans makeup is amazing, the gatropods brilliant, and the XV-773 Freighter is very convincing. Ilove the seen where the Doctor is walking across a scorched, radioactive wasteland whilst reciting Longfellow. All Peri can do is scramble over rocks in High-Heel boots. The Sets are interesting, ranging from the symetry of the twins room to the Jacondan throne room filled with statues of giant frogs and golden insects. Azmaels performance is rivaled only by the doctors, showing his suffering, which makes the end scene where he dies (sorry to give it away) a truly sad moment. One thing I can't understand is why people criticize the twins performance, because they lack character. Don't you get it? They are supposed to be with out emotion, which is why you see them mature throught the story. Overall, The Beast of the Best, be sure to add this video to your collection. Customer Rating: Summary: I Am The Doctor, whether you like It, or not Comment: How dare you critcize the greates Dr Who of all time? This has to be a master piece. I love the over-the-top costumes, excellent dialogue and interesting music. Colin Bakers theatrical performance shines throughout the story, and its interesting to see how Peri copes whith the Doctors excentric outburts. The Jacondans makeup is amazing, the gatropods brilliant, and the XV-773 Freighter is very convincing. Ilove the seen where the Doctor is walking across a scorched, radioactive wasteland whilst reciting Longfellow. All Peri can do is scramble over rocks in High-Heel boots. The Sets are interesting, ranging from the symetry of the twins room to the Jacondan throne room filled with statues of giant frogs and golden insects. Azmaels performance is rivaled only by the doctors, showing his suffering, which makes the end scene where he dies (sorry to give it away) a truly sad moment. One thing I can't understand is why people criticize the twins performance, because they lack character. Don't you get it? They are supposed to be with out emotion, which is why you see them mature throught the story. Overall, The Best of the Best, be sure to add this video to your collection. Customer Rating: Summary: Oh, Child Of Little Faith Comment: When I first saw Twin Dilemma on TV, I kept on watching it constantly and never got bored. It is, undoubtubly the best Doctor Who ever. I grew up watching Colin, and to hell with anyone says an ill word against him. Twin Dilemma has the BEST soundtrack, great endings and interesting diologue. The only thing bad about it is that its no-longer on video. And the Doctors costume is great. I mean, what did you expect? Peri is also my favourite companion. So, all I can say is, Buy It.
