2.10: The Ice Warriors
In which Doctor Who meets some really cold blooded reptiles.
Broadcast: November-December 1967.
Watched: October 2019.
The Ice Warriors, One
Okay, maybe it’s because I took a break, but... I really enjoyed that. The design is terrific. Barkworth is great, especially, “And one year... there was no spring.” Jamie flirting with Victoria. The music, which reminds me of The Space Pirates which I haven’t got to yet. The use of stock footage. Much more fun than the last story.
The entire conceit of a new ice age is quite fun. I love the way humanity screwed up the planet by concreting everything, even if they’ve got the science wrong. Also the weird, cold, efficient future is quite well realised.
Oh well I’m sure it can’t last for six episodes without getting dull, especially now the monsters are here.
“Eww, not Africa.” Victoria’s a racist. Jamie trying to get her to dress up for him is hilarious and also bloody filthy. The Doctor’s distrust of computers feels odd in retrospect. The TARDIS being on its side is cute, if nonsensical. “You’re on my hand!”
One other thought: the Innes Lloyd version of Who is much more like an ITC series isn’t it? Quite polished but empty. I’m glad the original “these stories should be IMPROVING” thing eventually reasserts itself, once Barry Letts arrives.
The Ice Warriors, Two
Well. That didn’t take long to get boring.
Okay, positive things. Meant to say: I love the way the title cards and the fonts they use are all over the place in this era. Can’t explain it, but I like the way it becomes part of the artistry, not just a standardised thing. That’s a Lloyd innovation too isn’t it? Also, the scene-setting stock footage. Which here, hilariously, they’ve animated. [Episodes Two and Three are missing, so the DVD contains animated replacements.]
The music continues to be great – I like the sort of King Kong/Frankenstein vibe in Varga’s scenes with Victoria. The 2013 animation, however, is a reminder that good animated reconstruction of missing episodes is a very recent thing.
I sort of like the “being shipped off to Africa is the worst thing anyone can imagine” motif. Probably a colonial subtext if you squint, but you have to really squint.
Penley’s “I won’t save the world because my boss is a dick” thing is weird, especially given how easily he gives in when he learns he’s needed. I do like the regimented society stuff though.
The thought occurs that this is the third story running about monsters on ice. [A pal points out that every story in season 5 has this theme… until the next one, which begins a week before Christmas, which doesn't. Baffling.]
The Ice Warriors, Three
Varga’s soft spot for Victoria is almost interesting. Not much else is. Also after a couple of good stories for her she’s back to damsel in distress here.
Convenient how the sonic blast kills Arden but not Jamie.
The Doctor’s distrust of technology remains weird considering he lives in a time machine.
The Ice Warriors, Four
I do like the way the chemical machine uses a dial up phone. The ice cave set is sort of impressive.
Otherwise, nothing.
The Ice Warriors, Five
Cleggy pulling Jamie on a sled where the latter wears sun goggles is pretty cool. Also nice use of stock footage of a bear and of that standard wolf howl FX.
The bit about the computer not being about to make a decision when either choice will destroy it might be interesting if it hadn’t taken a load of boring fluff to get there.
Jamie’s “You’ve got to help!” meaning “...my friends” is sweet. Though Clent is right, stopping the glaciers does matter more than helping the regulars, and it’s strange the show doesn’t know that.
The Ice Warriors, Six
The ending links to the theme. That’s something. Shame it’s all based on technobabble. Oh! The computer is spinning because it’s confused, how very 60s.
Oh yeah Clent and Penley are absolutely going to bang after this.
And the regulars leg it! There’s a surprise. Though how the TARDIS is the right way up is a mystery.
Well now. That wasn’t very good was it?