Best thumbnail ever! The Awakening is an underrated gem of the Peter Davison era. Brilliantly atmospheric with a creepy central premise. Take care and enjoy your break! :)
To me, "The Awakening" it's a very underrated story that deserved to be re-appreciated by the fandom. A great premise, a creepy monster, a charming supporting cast, and the fact that it's only two episodes does wonders for the pacing. Very good.
Others may also point out that the actress who played the woman teacher from the village, was in a 1970s comedy with the scientist woman from Kinda, called "The Liver Birds".
Crazy to think this was the first story not to feature a returning villain since Black Orchid. The giant Malus face in the wall is wonderfully creepy as is that green-spewing homunculus invading the Tardis which is usually a place of sanctuary. Not really too big on this one - everything it does I feel _The Daemons_ did better - but there are some fun little touches, like the tinclavic metal from Raaga, which was mentioned as what the Terileptil convicts from The Visitation were mining before they escaped.
I wonder if Steven Moffat got the inspiration for the cracks in the wall from this story. The Malus' face being revealed behind the wall does look very similar to when we see The Atraxi behind the wall in The Eleventh Hour.
@@GeordieJoe1892I believe Moffat was also inspired by a crack in the wall of his son’s bedroom. I wouldn’t be surprised if this story also contributed to the idea.
This is definitely one of the more enjoyable 2 part stories of Classic Who. They did well to flesh out so many of the side characters given the short time they had to work with. Tegan's grandfather is the only one that really suffers from limited screen time. It's a shame we didn't get to see more of him and Tegan together. I liked the idea of two time periods interacting, or at least one bleeding into the other one. (kind of like the intro to this reaction) It certainly had great potential but it isn’t really focused on that much here, probably because of the limited time. If this had been a 4 parter, then maybe they could have played around with that element of the story a bit more. The Malus is intriguing and worthy of being added to the list of Classic Who monsters that I'd like to see reappear in New Who at some point. The Doctor encountering a second Malus would be another nice reward for us Classic Who veterans, just like when we got Sutekh recently. It was a creepy looking thing but at least the Malus gargoyle that was crawling on the wall in the TARDIS didn't take snake form. Enjoy your break Jess. 🥂
@@stickytapenrust6869 It does have silver 1970 logo. It also has a painted cover pic which narrows down the few even more as the covers switched to photomontages before the logo went to blue.
Very underrated story! A nice refresher before what's to come!! I always forget another of Tegan's relatives shows up, from Aunt Vanessa (RIP), to her cousin and now her granddad! It was a mini-tradition!! While no classic monsters/villains returned, we do see an actor from "Image of the Fendahl" returning as another crazy leader!
This is a great, often forgotten little story that perfectly fits the two-episode format. It tells the story it needs to tell with great detail, and without any extensive padding. But again, poor Tegan! It's always her family members that find themselves in danger!
I had forgotten how much Denis Lill chewed the scenery as Sir George. Great stuff! A little gem of a two parter with more than a touch of The Daemons and The Wicker Man. A good story in a strong season.
“The Awakening” was the first ever Doctor Who story I saw back in 1997, when my parents bought me the VHS for my Birthday. I didn’t like it at first, however as my VHS collection grew, so did my interest… I am still a huge Doctor Who fan today, 27 years later! Peter Davison remains my favourite Doctor, who of course was also my first ❤️❤️
This is a great story that's highly underrated. Will and Jane Hampton are great additions to the cast and I wish we saw more of them. Especially have a companion like Will. We haven't seen a historical companion in half a century. One way I Especially love the way it ties into The Visitation but is done subtly. Building on continuity but still acts as standalone story. The Malus whilst being a face in the wall is actually kind of brilliant. It's mental influence and psychic projections can lead for creative kills and the backstory of it being a war machine/organic computer is really inventive.
The great Denis Lill. Another member of the Survivors alumni featuring in Dr Who. And the second in a row after Ian McCulloch appeared in Warriors of The Deep.
This has always been one of my favorites. It is steeped in creepiness and the story still manages to give me a chill even after all these years. "The Awakening" is very reminiscent of another cult TV show, Sapphire and Steel, which is well worth a watch. I haven't read through all of the previous comments, and I have to apologize if I'm repeating this. After managing to get Kamelion working again, the android appeared in a TARDIS scene with Tegan. Although the sequence was cut, I quite liked it when it was eventually available to view on DVD.
"The Awakening" has been my favorite story from Season 21 (and one of my top 5 Fifth Doctor era stories) since I first saw it on my local PBS station way back in the 80s. Also, Jane Hampden (the teacher) is in my opinion of the the companions that could have been - right up there with Professor Amelia Rumford, Duggan, and Richard Mace. I'm glad you enjoyed this story.
The best of the Davison two-parters. Enjoyed the re-enactment spin on a "historical" story. The result being a hybrid of contemporary and historical. Will is a great neo-companion, as is Jane (never noticed her pulling the dematerialisation lever on the TARDIS console before!) There are so many nice touches. Good to hear of the Terileptils (though cut from the reaction) and have a pleasing link to The Visitation. Thanks, Jess. Glad you enjoyed this terrific tale. Thinking of your dog. Happy hols!
What I really enjoyed during this period when John Nathan Turner was "showrunner" (in those days showrunners were not allowed to write a script for the series they worked on - I wish it was the same today) was that every story had at least one major character played by a familiar actor from the 1960s and 70s appearing on screen after a long absence. This one had Polly James who starred in the popular comedy series "The Liver Birds" (with Nerys Hughes who co-starred in "Kinda" the year before).
The Awakening is a good story. Out of the three two parters in 5th doctor’s era this is my favourite. I mainly like the story because of its monster The Malus. I think The Malus is one of the scariest monsters in the show, especially its mini gremlin form clinging inside the Tardis. Because I’ve seen pictures and videos of The Malus displayed in various Doctor Who Exhibitions and it’s really scary looking there too. Besides that a harmless yet enjoyable short story in my books
I like this one too. It does get overshadowed by all else in the season, but for me it is a solid story, and kind of a template for how New-WHO would shift to this as the usual story length. Malice or its people should return at some point, would be fun.
There was originally a scene where Tegan interacts with Kamelion that was filmed but cut for time. John Nathan-Turner liked the character of Will Chandler so much that he considered keeping him on as a regular companion. It was decided that the character would not have a lasting appeal and that his childlike character would quickly wear thin and lacked any clear path of development. Originally intended to be a four part serial but cut to two early in the script editing stage.
This is such a great little story, which is totally underrated and I’m not sure why…. It’s such a clever premise that’s quite well written, and (mostly) well acted. The Malus is also really terrifying, and as you say, there’s a lot of scary and pointed imagery. I’d give it 9/10
The Awakening is probably the most successful of the two parters. It manages to fill its episodes well and there are some lovely throwaway lines that tie it in with past stories - in this case the other fifth doctor 17th century related tale - The Visitation
The English Civil War re-enactors were in many cases, members of a real ECW recreation society, called The Sealed Knot, which I was a member of myself though I didn't join for 20 years after this story was done
@DeanStrickson I heard that too he was disappointed with his last season but from the 5 doctors just before he decided to leave he said his 3rd season was his best
There's Peter's voice getting all squeaky again 😂😂😂 Love it. I haven't seen this story in a long time, forgot that it was this dark, must watch it again.
This is a personal fave of mine from the 5th Doctor's run (also, being a two-parter and so brisk, it kind of has a new who vibe as well) Also, the 5th Doctor had at least a few characters that could have made a good companion (our school teacher being the latest one) Also, be sure to have a lot of fun & rest for your break and we'll catch you on the other side of it.
I like how you say "reenacting" in the same tone that you say "fuckery" in some of your other reactions 😂. There is a famous blooper from this story where the horse that's pulling the Queen of the May cart follows Peter Davison as he gets off the cart to head into the church, demolishing the lych gate in the process. Fortunately, the lych gate was a fake, built by the scenery department, and not part of the actual church grounds. This is the last story to be worked on by designer Barry Newbery, who had worked on the series right from the beginning, as the designer on An Unearthly Child. A brief scene with Kamelion in the TARDIS was filmed for this story, but ended up being cut for time. Have a good break, Jess!. Take time to recharge and enjoy yourself. 👍
After a serious mis-step right at the start, Season 21 gets back on track with this story. But it's still interesting how this series is weighed by the influence of 'The Five Doctors' and the growing knowledge base of fandom. Not only were they bringing back old foes, but old types of story. This one plugs straight into a pattern established by 'The Daemons' (alien menace influencing events and a church blowing up - although this time the BBC didn't receive many complaints) or 'Image of the Fendahl' (even bringing back Denis Lil as the alien cat's paw). And, in Will Chandler, we get one of fandom's favourite 'What if?' lost companions. Keith Jayne had been a child actor in things like 'Survivors' (also starring Lil) and was best known to a young audience as a caveman in modern times, in a TV adaptation of Clive King's children's book 'Stig of the Dump' (which, handily, coincided with us reading it at school). I still prefer tea over ale, though.
Tegan's family have no luck when it comes to aliens! Its funny, I never put this on for fun like other stories or think about it, but each time I do return to it , I think Oh this is a great tight little story! Underrated.
I think the acting in this story is what made it so good. They could have made this a little campy but for the most part the Actors stayed within their characters and maybe that is why it's such a good story
Another great reaction Jess. I agree with you about the story. A very enjoyable and well paced little two parter that would likely have dragged a bit if it had been any longer. As it was though, there is really nothing to fault.
Just an adorable entertaining story. Some scary moments. Superb cast. Will and Jane could have been great companions. Jane was the best character wearing a cardigan since Barbara. Have a great break Jess.
This is one of my favourites! Fear the Malus! Such an awesome monster design and that horn like roar it makes when it's making someone do something evil!
Bit of a Sapphire and Steel vibe to this one. Suprised no Amy's crack joke. The Mallus puppets are really creepy. When you are done with classic Who. Maybe Sapphire and Steel and Blakes 7 will scratch that classic Who itch for a while.
00:00 Introduction: Reminder about upcoming two-week break; update video mentioned. 00:39 Reaction setup: Context about the two-part episode; intrigue over shorter stories. 01:27 Discussion: Comparing the appeal of short and long Classic Who episodes. 02:19 Observation: Scene resembling a Monty Python skit; characters discuss war reenactments. 03:12 Conflict: War reenactments cause accidents; tensions rise. 04:04 Plot development: Village isolated; discussion on historical reenactments and safety. 05:43 Encounter: Intrigue around church and mysterious events in the village. 06:18 Mystery deepens: Missing grandfather revealed; tensions with reenactment participants. 07:07 Historical setup: Celebration of a Civil War battle; introduction of the Doctor. 07:54 Danger: Warning about the church’s collapse; eerie happenings in the village. 08:52 Creepy events: Psychic energy phenomena begin; characters are chased. 09:56 Flashback: Discussion about events in 1643; supernatural malice introduced. 10:41 Ritual threat: Concern about May Queen tradition and potential harm to Tegan. 11:22 Exposition: Psychic projections and their implications explained. 12:01 Search: Characters investigate psychic disturbances in the village. 13:06 Revelation: Psychic energy tied to malevolent force; malice linked to war. 14:10 Escape: Efforts to avoid danger escalate; Doctor plans to spoil reenactments. 15:09 Resistance: Tegan resists being part of the ritual; chaos in the church. 16:17 Explanation: Doctor explains malice’s origins and its connection to psychic energy. 17:21 Confrontation: Malice revealed in its terrifying form; plans to undermine its power. 18:26 Climax: Doctor confronts Sir George; attempts to stop malice's destructive influence. 19:23 Strategy: Doctor outlines how the war games fuel the malice’s energy. 19:57 Conflict: Doctor and companions work to stop the final reenactment battle. 20:37 Suspense: Grandfather’s role explained; urgency to escape danger builds. 21:22 Realization: Final battle is real; reenactments lead to real destruction. 22:01 Plan: Efforts to reduce psychic energy to weaken the malice’s power. 22:31 Final showdown: Doctor and companions take decisive action against the malice. 23:36 Resolution: Doctor talks down Sir George; malice’s influence is broken. 24:44 Conclusion: Malice destroyed; reflections on its origins and purpose. 25:48 Aftermath: Malice's death and destruction of the church; survivors regroup. 26:55 Reflection: Doctor explains malice’s reengineering as a war instrument. 28:38 Farewell: Doctor and companions prepare to leave; a brief stay is requested. 30:06 Closing remarks: Positive reflections on the story’s atmosphere and characters. 31:33 Final thoughts: Praise for the plot, character development, and eerie vibe. 33:10 Discussion: Impact of side characters and storyline within a two-part format. 35:17 Comparison: Contrasts with other stories; appreciation for character depth. 36:36 Companion praise: Reflections on Tegan and Turlough as companions. (Sponsored by NetflixByProxy.com)
Breaks are good, and breaking at the end of a story is good timing. And this is a fun story to break off on as well, and fully agree that it makes good use of its shorter timeframe. (Though your enjoyment of this one reinforces my feelings that you'd probably enjoy Sapphire and Steel)
I absolutely adore this story. Perfect example of less is more. Don't pad it out. That said, as a kid, I got this one confused with the next one, I think because I wasn't an avid viewer and didn't realise that at this point Doctor Who was on twice a week so I only caught episode 1. And then I caught episode 2 of the next serial. And in my head they fused together. (I still maintain that my head-story would be an amazing thing on screen. But the next one is great anyway!)
I like this one too Jess. It could've done with another episode I think but it still works great as a two partner. I'm glad you're loving The Doctor,Tegan & Turlough dynamic too. One of my favourite TARDIS teams Great reaction.👍
Does anyone know if a fan or maybe possibly the BBC recently has taken the cutscene with Kameleon in it and restored it back into the episode? I've never really seen a real good copy of the scene but nowadays most people with a laptop and a little bit of software could AI enhance it, clean it up, remove the timing marks etcetera without too much fuss. I don't have the equipment at the moment nor the time for the learning curve but it's just occurred to me that one of you might know of someone having already done it. Anyone?
Wasn't Malice namedropped as one of the gods under Sutekh during the reveal last season? I hope you have an awesome break and give Rocco a hug for me! 🐕💙💙
I know it will never happen but you should read the novelisation of the story. And many other classic TV stories. You would get a real enhanced appreciation of the author"s intent as well as learning of The Doctor as a proper literary character.
❤ have a great vacation have a great Thanksgiving this episode has a lot of controversy it was being written while the other episode that you just watched what is the Deep was being written Ryder kept getting interrupted every 10 minutes about continuity from another fella so it went on and on and that's why I kind of just has that Rush ending it has some good ideas but oh well and it was shot in a real Village in England
I really like this run of the 5th doctor this and the next 4 stories are fantastic the awakening great two part story but I still how much kameleon helps out on these adventures ps happy 61st birthday for tomorrow 23/11
When I first started watching Doctor Who in the '80's it was on the local PBS station. On Saturday nights they'd show all episodes of a story, so I was used to getting at least an hour and a half of Who. The only thing that disappointed about this one was it was too short. Like you I could have spent at least a little more time with these characters.
![Noob To Max With DRAGON REWORK In Blox Fruits [FULL MOVIE]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/LnBMOinoOvA/mqdefault.jpg)
![The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring [EXTENDED CUT] | First Time Watching | REACTION](/img/1.gif)
Best thumbnail ever! The Awakening is an underrated gem of the Peter Davison era. Brilliantly atmospheric with a creepy central premise. Take care and enjoy your break! :)
To me, "The Awakening" it's a very underrated story that deserved to be re-appreciated by the fandom. A great premise, a creepy monster, a charming supporting cast, and the fact that it's only two episodes does wonders for the pacing. Very good.
And introduces another 'chararacter who could have been a companion but wasn't' in Will. We're long overdue a earthling from the past.
Others may also point out that the actress who played the woman teacher from the village, was in a 1970s comedy with the scientist woman from Kinda, called "The Liver Birds".
Crazy to think this was the first story not to feature a returning villain since Black Orchid. The giant Malus face in the wall is wonderfully creepy as is that green-spewing homunculus invading the Tardis which is usually a place of sanctuary. Not really too big on this one - everything it does I feel _The Daemons_ did better - but there are some fun little touches, like the tinclavic metal from Raaga, which was mentioned as what the Terileptil convicts from The Visitation were mining before they escaped.
"You speak treason"
"Fluently"
A line for any Doctor.
Wall cracks are always surprisingly dangerous in Doctor Who
I wonder if Steven Moffat got the inspiration for the cracks in the wall from this story. The Malus' face being revealed behind the wall does look very similar to when we see The Atraxi behind the wall in The Eleventh Hour.
@@GeordieJoe1892 Probobly - a lot of Nu-Who written is essentially fan-fic based on the classic series.
@@GeordieJoe1892I believe Moffat was also inspired by a crack in the wall of his son’s bedroom. I wouldn’t be surprised if this story also contributed to the idea.
This is definitely one of the more enjoyable 2 part stories of Classic Who. They did well to flesh out so many of the side characters given the short time they had to work with. Tegan's grandfather is the only one that really suffers from limited screen time. It's a shame we didn't get to see more of him and Tegan together.
I liked the idea of two time periods interacting, or at least one bleeding into the other one. (kind of like the intro to this reaction) It certainly had great potential but it isn’t really focused on that much here, probably because of the limited time. If this had been a 4 parter, then maybe they could have played around with that element of the story a bit more.
The Malus is intriguing and worthy of being added to the list of Classic Who monsters that I'd like to see reappear in New Who at some point. The Doctor encountering a second Malus would be another nice reward for us Classic Who veterans, just like when we got Sutekh recently. It was a creepy looking thing but at least the Malus gargoyle that was crawling on the wall in the TARDIS didn't take snake form.
Enjoy your break Jess. 🥂
A favourite of mine. I had the VHS doublepack of this and the next story. Fond memories.
One of the few with the “silvered” 1970 Doctor Who logo on the front cover IIRC?
@@stickytapenrust6869 It does have silver 1970 logo. It also has a painted cover pic which narrows down the few even more as the covers switched to photomontages before the logo went to blue.
Still have my copy.
Very underrated story! A nice refresher before what's to come!! I always forget another of Tegan's relatives shows up, from Aunt Vanessa (RIP), to her cousin and now her granddad! It was a mini-tradition!! While no classic monsters/villains returned, we do see an actor from "Image of the Fendahl" returning as another crazy leader!
This is a great, often forgotten little story that perfectly fits the two-episode format. It tells the story it needs to tell with great detail, and without any extensive padding. But again, poor Tegan! It's always her family members that find themselves in danger!
Every once in awhile you have to give props to the SFX people, this being one of those occasions as church model shots were pretty good.
I had forgotten how much Denis Lill chewed the scenery as Sir George. Great stuff! A little gem of a two parter with more than a touch of The Daemons and The Wicker Man. A good story in a strong season.
“The Awakening” was the first ever Doctor Who story I saw back in 1997, when my parents bought me the VHS for my Birthday. I didn’t like it at first, however as my VHS collection grew, so did my interest… I am still a huge Doctor Who fan today, 27 years later! Peter Davison remains my favourite Doctor, who of course was also my first ❤️❤️
One of the best two parters there is and one of my favourite 5th Doctor stories - glad you enjoyed it 😁
This is a great story that's highly underrated. Will and Jane Hampton are great additions to the cast and I wish we saw more of them. Especially have a companion like Will. We haven't seen a historical companion in half a century.
One way I Especially love the way it ties into The Visitation but is done subtly. Building on continuity but still acts as standalone story.
The Malus whilst being a face in the wall is actually kind of brilliant. It's mental influence and psychic projections can lead for creative kills and the backstory of it being a war machine/organic computer is really inventive.
Enjoy your time off Jess, all the best to your dog, hope he's ok.
The great Denis Lill. Another member of the Survivors alumni featuring in Dr Who. And the second in a row after Ian McCulloch appeared in Warriors of The Deep.
(Also Lill's second Who appearance after appearing as Dr. Fendelman in Image of The Fendahl).
This has always been one of my favorites. It is steeped in creepiness and the story still manages to give me a chill even after all these years. "The Awakening" is very reminiscent of another cult TV show, Sapphire and Steel, which is well worth a watch. I haven't read through all of the previous comments, and I have to apologize if I'm repeating this. After managing to get Kamelion working again, the android appeared in a TARDIS scene with Tegan. Although the sequence was cut, I quite liked it when it was eventually available to view on DVD.
"The Awakening" has been my favorite story from Season 21 (and one of my top 5 Fifth Doctor era stories) since I first saw it on my local PBS station way back in the 80s. Also, Jane Hampden (the teacher) is in my opinion of the the companions that could have been - right up there with Professor Amelia Rumford, Duggan, and Richard Mace. I'm glad you enjoyed this story.
The best of the Davison two-parters. Enjoyed the re-enactment spin on a "historical" story. The result being a hybrid of contemporary and historical. Will is a great neo-companion, as is Jane (never noticed her pulling the dematerialisation lever on the TARDIS console before!)
There are so many nice touches. Good to hear of the Terileptils (though cut from the reaction) and have a pleasing link to The Visitation.
Thanks, Jess. Glad you enjoyed this terrific tale. Thinking of your dog. Happy hols!
What I really enjoyed during this period when John Nathan Turner was "showrunner" (in those days showrunners were not allowed to write a script for the series they worked on - I wish it was the same today) was that every story had at least one major character played by a familiar actor from the 1960s and 70s appearing on screen after a long absence. This one had Polly James who starred in the popular comedy series "The Liver Birds" (with Nerys Hughes who co-starred in "Kinda" the year before).
JN-T was producer, no such thing as showrunner back then.
The Awakening is a good story. Out of the three two parters in 5th doctor’s era this is my favourite. I mainly like the story because of its monster The Malus. I think The Malus is one of the scariest monsters in the show, especially its mini gremlin form clinging inside the Tardis. Because I’ve seen pictures and videos of The Malus displayed in various Doctor Who Exhibitions and it’s really scary looking there too. Besides that a harmless yet enjoyable short story in my books
I like this one too. It does get overshadowed by all else in the season, but for me it is a solid story, and kind of a template for how New-WHO would shift to this as the usual story length. Malice or its people should return at some point, would be fun.
There was originally a scene where Tegan interacts with Kamelion that was filmed but cut for time.
John Nathan-Turner liked the character of Will Chandler so much that he considered keeping him on as a regular companion. It was decided that the character would not have a lasting appeal and that his childlike character would quickly wear thin and lacked any clear path of development.
Originally intended to be a four part serial but cut to two early in the script editing stage.
This is such a great little story, which is totally underrated and I’m not sure why….
It’s such a clever premise that’s quite well written, and (mostly) well acted.
The Malus is also really terrifying, and as you say, there’s a lot of scary and pointed imagery.
I’d give it 9/10
The Awakening is probably the most successful of the two parters. It manages to fill its episodes well and there are some lovely throwaway lines that tie it in with past stories - in this case the other fifth doctor 17th century related tale - The Visitation
How very timey-wimey 😄 Happy holidays Jess, I hope you enjoy your well-deserved break. Miss ya ❤
Didn't The Legend of Ruby Sunday retroactively make Mallus part of the Pantheon? I seem to remember it being on the list of names Harbinger read out.
The Awakening is pretty underrated, it’s not the most amazing story ever but it’s very enjoyable.
The English Civil War re-enactors were in many cases, members of a real ECW recreation society, called The Sealed Knot, which I was a member of myself though I didn't join for 20 years after this story was done
Peter Davison's Third season is probably his best.
I agree apart from the first one which has gone the rest are fantastic
Right? Davison said if he knew how good his third season was going to be, he would have stayed for a fourth.
@DeanStrickson I heard that too he was disappointed with his last season but from the 5 doctors just before he decided to leave he said his 3rd season was his best
@@DeanStrickson Hmm ... I wonder how Davison would have handled certain scenes in VoV?
great reaction as always. enjoy the time off & take care of yourself & your dog too.
There's Peter's voice getting all squeaky again 😂😂😂 Love it. I haven't seen this story in a long time, forgot that it was this dark, must watch it again.
This is a personal fave of mine from the 5th Doctor's run (also, being a two-parter and so brisk, it kind of has a new who vibe as well) Also, the 5th Doctor had at least a few characters that could have made a good companion (our school teacher being the latest one) Also, be sure to have a lot of fun & rest for your break and we'll catch you on the other side of it.
Have a fantastic break, and look forward to seeing more when you're back.
I like how you say "reenacting" in the same tone that you say "fuckery" in some of your other reactions 😂.
There is a famous blooper from this story where the horse that's pulling the Queen of the May cart follows Peter Davison as he gets off the cart to head into the church, demolishing the lych gate in the process. Fortunately, the lych gate was a fake, built by the scenery department, and not part of the actual church grounds.
This is the last story to be worked on by designer Barry Newbery, who had worked on the series right from the beginning, as the designer on An Unearthly Child.
A brief scene with Kamelion in the TARDIS was filmed for this story, but ended up being cut for time.
Have a good break, Jess!. Take time to recharge and enjoy yourself. 👍
One of my favorites. Doesn’t break new ground. Just fun.
What a lovely reaction, thanks as always Jess!
After a serious mis-step right at the start, Season 21 gets back on track with this story. But it's still interesting how this series is weighed by the influence of 'The Five Doctors' and the growing knowledge base of fandom. Not only were they bringing back old foes, but old types of story. This one plugs straight into a pattern established by 'The Daemons' (alien menace influencing events and a church blowing up - although this time the BBC didn't receive many complaints) or 'Image of the Fendahl' (even bringing back Denis Lil as the alien cat's paw). And, in Will Chandler, we get one of fandom's favourite 'What if?' lost companions. Keith Jayne had been a child actor in things like 'Survivors' (also starring Lil) and was best known to a young audience as a caveman in modern times, in a TV adaptation of Clive King's children's book 'Stig of the Dump' (which, handily, coincided with us reading it at school). I still prefer tea over ale, though.
I visited the church and village in this a couple of years ago with my besties
Tegan's family have no luck when it comes to aliens!
Its funny, I never put this on for fun like other stories or think about it, but each time I do return to it , I think Oh this is a great tight little story! Underrated.
Enjoy your break, there is loads more classic Who to look forward to when you return.
Being obsessed with the Civil War, I have always loved this one.
I think the acting in this story is what made it so good. They could have made this a little campy but for the most part the Actors stayed within their characters and maybe that is why it's such a good story
Another great reaction Jess. I agree with you about the story. A very enjoyable and well paced little two parter that would likely have dragged a bit if it had been any longer. As it was though, there is really nothing to fault.
have a lovely break! 😊
I love this episode two of my favorite parters in the series
Just a Spring clean for a May Queen. Very underrated story and add Will Chandler to the ‘companions that got away’ list
The Malice is a member of the Pantheon of Sutek.
Just an adorable entertaining story. Some scary moments. Superb cast. Will and Jane could have been great companions. Jane was the best character wearing a cardigan since Barbara. Have a great break Jess.
This is one of my favourites! Fear the Malus! Such an awesome monster design and that horn like roar it makes when it's making someone do something evil!
And the church blowing up at the end is pretty epic!
Bit of a Sapphire and Steel vibe to this one. Suprised no Amy's crack joke. The Mallus puppets are really creepy. When you are done with classic Who. Maybe Sapphire and Steel and Blakes 7 will scratch that classic Who itch for a while.
Absolutely - two shows that really deserve to be done in the future.
Wow I was thinking that while I was watching it. Sapphire and steel would be great to react to and so would Blakes 7.
Tea, it works quite well to bring the Doctor around after a tricky regeneration too. But I'm with Will, I think I prefer ale.
Great little story. I especially love the ending. For once the Doctor gets to chill out and have a nice cup of tea!
00:00 Introduction: Reminder about upcoming two-week break; update video mentioned.
00:39 Reaction setup: Context about the two-part episode; intrigue over shorter stories.
01:27 Discussion: Comparing the appeal of short and long Classic Who episodes.
02:19 Observation: Scene resembling a Monty Python skit; characters discuss war reenactments.
03:12 Conflict: War reenactments cause accidents; tensions rise.
04:04 Plot development: Village isolated; discussion on historical reenactments and safety.
05:43 Encounter: Intrigue around church and mysterious events in the village.
06:18 Mystery deepens: Missing grandfather revealed; tensions with reenactment participants.
07:07 Historical setup: Celebration of a Civil War battle; introduction of the Doctor.
07:54 Danger: Warning about the church’s collapse; eerie happenings in the village.
08:52 Creepy events: Psychic energy phenomena begin; characters are chased.
09:56 Flashback: Discussion about events in 1643; supernatural malice introduced.
10:41 Ritual threat: Concern about May Queen tradition and potential harm to Tegan.
11:22 Exposition: Psychic projections and their implications explained.
12:01 Search: Characters investigate psychic disturbances in the village.
13:06 Revelation: Psychic energy tied to malevolent force; malice linked to war.
14:10 Escape: Efforts to avoid danger escalate; Doctor plans to spoil reenactments.
15:09 Resistance: Tegan resists being part of the ritual; chaos in the church.
16:17 Explanation: Doctor explains malice’s origins and its connection to psychic energy.
17:21 Confrontation: Malice revealed in its terrifying form; plans to undermine its power.
18:26 Climax: Doctor confronts Sir George; attempts to stop malice's destructive influence.
19:23 Strategy: Doctor outlines how the war games fuel the malice’s energy.
19:57 Conflict: Doctor and companions work to stop the final reenactment battle.
20:37 Suspense: Grandfather’s role explained; urgency to escape danger builds.
21:22 Realization: Final battle is real; reenactments lead to real destruction.
22:01 Plan: Efforts to reduce psychic energy to weaken the malice’s power.
22:31 Final showdown: Doctor and companions take decisive action against the malice.
23:36 Resolution: Doctor talks down Sir George; malice’s influence is broken.
24:44 Conclusion: Malice destroyed; reflections on its origins and purpose.
25:48 Aftermath: Malice's death and destruction of the church; survivors regroup.
26:55 Reflection: Doctor explains malice’s reengineering as a war instrument.
28:38 Farewell: Doctor and companions prepare to leave; a brief stay is requested.
30:06 Closing remarks: Positive reflections on the story’s atmosphere and characters.
31:33 Final thoughts: Praise for the plot, character development, and eerie vibe.
33:10 Discussion: Impact of side characters and storyline within a two-part format.
35:17 Comparison: Contrasts with other stories; appreciation for character depth.
36:36 Companion praise: Reflections on Tegan and Turlough as companions.
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I'm curious how much Jess (and Americans in general) knows about the English civil war.
Have a great break!!!!
If you're watching this more than a month in the future, you can skip to here 1:21
The location in this story is awesome and this story is similar to the Daemons.
Breaks are good, and breaking at the end of a story is good timing. And this is a fun story to break off on as well, and fully agree that it makes good use of its shorter timeframe. (Though your enjoyment of this one reinforces my feelings that you'd probably enjoy Sapphire and Steel)
I absolutely adore this story. Perfect example of less is more. Don't pad it out.
That said, as a kid, I got this one confused with the next one, I think because I wasn't an avid viewer and didn't realise that at this point Doctor Who was on twice a week so I only caught episode 1. And then I caught episode 2 of the next serial. And in my head they fused together. (I still maintain that my head-story would be an amazing thing on screen. But the next one is great anyway!)
Enjoy the break Jess! Sending you❣
I like this one too Jess. It could've done with another episode I think but it still works great as a two partner. I'm glad you're loving The Doctor,Tegan & Turlough dynamic too. One of my favourite TARDIS teams
Great reaction.👍
Does anyone know if a fan or maybe possibly the BBC recently has taken the cutscene with Kameleon in it and restored it back into the episode? I've never really seen a real good copy of the scene but nowadays most people with a laptop and a little bit of software could AI enhance it, clean it up, remove the timing marks etcetera without too much fuss. I don't have the equipment at the moment nor the time for the learning curve but it's just occurred to me that one of you might know of someone having already done it. Anyone?
I like this story but have always felt that the end Tardis scene seems tacked on to an underunning episode
I love a good “Tis I”
This a fun one! See ya when you get back from break! Enjoy yourself!!
Wasn't Malice namedropped as one of the gods under Sutekh during the reveal last season?
I hope you have an awesome break and give Rocco a hug for me! 🐕💙💙
The blooper reel you can now enjoy after viewing "The Awakening". Perhaps if you know animals you can see what might happen next.
A neat little tale, a little Daemonsy but different enough. Denis Lill's Sir George is a wonderfully suave villain
I love this story.
Sir George is none other than Dr. Dr. Fendelman. We have been used! Mankind has been used! (again)
I know it will never happen but you should read the novelisation of the story. And many other classic TV stories. You would get a real enhanced appreciation of the author"s intent as well as learning of The Doctor as a proper literary character.
I remember falling asleep during The Awakening.
Maybe the head would be scary if you saw this as a little kid, but I laughed when it popped out of the wall.
That sudden jerk forward at 17:18 doesn’t help it look scary, does it? 😂
The Malus is so scary.
Jane and Will would have made good companions. Some even suggest, better than Tegan and Turlough.
❤ have a great vacation have a great Thanksgiving this episode has a lot of controversy it was being written while the other episode that you just watched what is the Deep was being written Ryder kept getting interrupted every 10 minutes about continuity from another fella so it went on and on and that's why I kind of just has that Rush ending it has some good ideas but oh well and it was shot in a real Village in England
I really like this run of the 5th doctor this and the next 4 stories are fantastic the awakening great two part story but I still how much kameleon helps out on these adventures ps happy 61st birthday for tomorrow 23/11
Kameleon was a very underated companion. 😂
When you return, you have to hit Dune: Prophecy!
Have a good break :)
She didn't noticed the new costume variant for 5
Anyone else expecting a "Ben's dead" at 2:07?
Enjoy your well-deserved break.
When I first started watching Doctor Who in the '80's it was on the local PBS station. On Saturday nights they'd show all episodes of a story, so I was used to getting at least an hour and a half of Who. The only thing that disappointed about this one was it was too short. Like you I could have spent at least a little more time with these characters.
I sorta wish Andrew Varney would have been as bloody-minded as his granddaughter
have fun
Daemons ending revisited
You fit right in in a panto ( pantomime audience) "Oh no he didn't" watch one and see :) .
I always forget what happens in The Awakening. It's got to be my least favorite of Five's two parters.
3:00 - There are way better historical events folks could re-enact.
To much!!!
Hoping you do the Dune Prophecy episodes and maybe the movies 🥺 we really like your reaction videos 💚