Rating: 3.5 / 5 Stars
The Verdict: A fascinating piece of Doctor Who history wrapped in a
messy, cheap, and ridiculous package of kludges and afterthoughts.
Shada has undergone numerous reconstructions over the decades, this is
the 2021 (and likely final) release. The improved video quality,
restored footage, and much better production set it well above low
points like The Horns of Nimon. The story itself remains a padded mess
of questionable plot points, baffling character choices, and classic BBC >budget shortcuts.
Episode-by-Episode Breakdown
Episode 1: High Standards, Dumb Plots
The episode kicks off with a decent space station model before
immediately devolving into absurd sequence setups, including a bizarre
ritual on the "Chair of Fake Plot Points" and a villain with facial
scars to make sure the audience knows he's a villain. Back on Earth, we
move to Cambridge, introducing Professor Chronotis (who seems equal
parts senile, ignorant and careless regarding Gallifreyan secrets), a
TARDIS sitting casually in a room, and the dramatic arrival of Skagra, >dressed up like an early Slade or Brian Eno wannabe.
Yeesh!!! Yuck!!! Puke!!!! Dave Hill and Eno should sue.
https://c8.alamy.com/comp/R89H4G/dave-hill-slade-1973-R89H4G.jpg
https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcTZcFzpO6O86vQgYGPxj >Z4_BvsIN50NkKE1wQf6MfMp8wsvbFHTxckcr24&s=10
Episode 2: Wile E. Coyote Logic
The plot begins to turn to puke quickly. Skagra takes on a
cartoonish quality while Chronotis's sheer incompetence drives the
narrative. After an "emergency" shortage of milk, Skagra sends a
floating "Death Sphere" that puts Chronotis into a coma by sucking out
his mind. What follows is an absurd bicycle chase scene where the Doctor >manages to lose the alleged most important book in the multiverse.
Episode 3: Padding & Zen Paradoxes
As the Doctor fails getting past a simple fence, there's also the heavily >padding with invisible spacecraft, a transparently silly trick to save on >set costs. much like the Tardis with standard door locks on advanced
alien technology.
Meanwhile, Claire unwittingly sabotages the equipment, forcing the
Doctor to use a Zen paradox and increasingly idiotic logic to outsmart
the ship’s AI, which responds by cutting off their oxygen supply. Is the >Doctor dead? Stay tuned for the next episode! Same Who-time, same Who- >channel!
Episode 4: The Golden Age of AI Idiocy
The cliffhanger resolves through a hilarious technological oversight:
the ship's advanced AI re-engages life support because a living
person steps aboard. Skagra delivers dramatic monologues about entropy >alongside his alien sidekick (resembling a cheap knockoff of Snork from
The Banana Splits), while the idiot physics professor who borrowed the
book in the first episode is subjected to the mind-draining chair. He
must work cheap, they kept him on.
Episode 5: Cheap Effects & Big Reveals
The budget constraints are embarrrasingly evident here. The monster
sidekick fails to intimidate, hindered by a terrible paint job and cheap >execution. Chronotis transfers his knowledge to Claire before the big
twist drops: Skagra isn't just trying to free Salyavin, Gallifrey’s most >notorious criminal. In a dramatic turn nobody cares about: Chronotis is >Salyavin. Skagra unveils his plan to absorb all minds into a "Universal >Mind," setting up a final confrontation with the Doctor.
Episode 6: Reconstructive Surgery
The finale attempts to tie up loose ends through Universal Mind
controlled zombies, pseudo-scientific jargon, and animated segments.
While loose plot points are discarded clumsily, the episode is ultimately >saved by its female leads taking charge. The story closes on a genuinely >touching note with a live-action appearance by an older Tom Baker,
bringing a warm, nostalgic end to a wildly inconsistent journey.
Final Thoughts
Shada is a Doctor Who "kludge." It suffers from pointlessly idiotic >character motivations, glaring plot holes, and obvious padding. Yet,
beneath the cheap props, floating death balloons, and questionable logic,
it possesses undeniable charm. It’s far from a masterpiece, they had a
lot of time to get it right. Too bad it's not quite that easy. At least
they tried and put in the effort.
Verdict: 3.5 out of 5 stars.
Note: I used AI to clean up my grammar, spelling and continuity from my >notes I took while watching it for the first time.
----
"I've known for over a year that this guy is the assassin of the Usenet >poetry community. When I first arrived, I thought he was keeping the
lights on in a dead group by reposting from archives. I soon realized
that he was just endlessly reposting his own stuff, that he had killed
the group by flooding it, and that most of the people he called
"trolls" were actually the members of the group.
I've joined the crowd. I'm done trying to work with him and speak reason
to him. It's exhausting and pointless." - Little Willie Douchebag gets >another asskicking from The One True Melissa
Verdict: 3.5 out of 5 stars.
Note: I used AI to clean up my grammar, spelling and continuity from my notes I took while watching it for the first time.
Cujo DeSockpuppet wrote in article ><XnsB4E1B3E70E0D6PantyheadPoorHouse@62.164.182.27>:
Verdict: 3.5 out of 5 stars.
Note: I used AI to clean up my grammar, spelling and continuity from my
notes I took while watching it for the first time.
Yeah, I noticed the hand of AI, but it's still a pretty good
sendup.
I liked this one, but your harsher take is funny and mostly fair.
----
The True Melissa - Canal Winchester - Ohio
United States of America - North America - Earth
Solar System - Milky Way - Local Group
Virgo Cluster - Laniakea Supercluster - Cosmos
Cujo is a critical thinker.
In article <MPG.453520de40246c6898a5c1@news.eternal-september.org>,
The True Melissa <thetruemelissa@gmail.comNOSPAM> wrote:
Cujo DeSockpuppet wrote in article >><XnsB4E1B3E70E0D6PantyheadPoorHouse@62.164.182.27>:
Verdict: 3.5 out of 5 stars.
Note: I used AI to clean up my grammar, spelling and continuity from
my notes I took while watching it for the first time.
Yeah, I noticed the hand of AI, but it's still a pretty good
sendup.
I liked this one, but your harsher take is funny and mostly fair.
Cujo is a critical thinker.
doctor@doctor.nl2k.ab.ca (The Doctor) wrote in >news:11afr2u$lor$10@gallifrey.nk.ca:
In article <MPG.453520de40246c6898a5c1@news.eternal-september.org>,
The True Melissa <thetruemelissa@gmail.comNOSPAM> wrote:
Cujo DeSockpuppet wrote in article >>><XnsB4E1B3E70E0D6PantyheadPoorHouse@62.164.182.27>:
Verdict: 3.5 out of 5 stars.
Note: I used AI to clean up my grammar, spelling and continuity from
my notes I took while watching it for the first time.
Yeah, I noticed the hand of AI, but it's still a pretty good
sendup.
I liked this one, but your harsher take is funny and mostly fair.
Cujo is a critical thinker.
I just watch a lot of bad movies with a group that rips them apart.
We just did a crapload of Coleman Francis films. If you can sit through
"The Beast of Yucca Flats" without MST3K, you may be able to handle the
rest of his catalog.
Dr. Who is mild by comparison.
----
"I've known for over a year that this guy is the assassin of the Usenet >poetry community. When I first arrived, I thought he was keeping the
lights on in a dead group by reposting from archives. I soon realized
that he was just endlessly reposting his own stuff, that he had killed
the group by flooding it, and that most of the people he called
"trolls" were actually the members of the group.
I've joined the crowd. I'm done trying to work with him and speak reason
to him. It's exhausting and pointless." - Little Willie Douchebag gets >another asskicking from The One True Melissa
In article <XnsB4E26955333FBPantyheadPoorHouse@62.164.182.21>,
Cujo DeSockpuppet <cujo@petitmorte.net> wrote:
doctor@doctor.nl2k.ab.ca (The Doctor) wrote in >>news:11afr2u$lor$10@gallifrey.nk.ca:
In article <MPG.453520de40246c6898a5c1@news.eternal-september.org>,
The True Melissa <thetruemelissa@gmail.comNOSPAM> wrote:
Cujo DeSockpuppet wrote in article >>>><XnsB4E1B3E70E0D6PantyheadPoorHouse@62.164.182.27>:
Verdict: 3.5 out of 5 stars.
Note: I used AI to clean up my grammar, spelling and continuity
from my notes I took while watching it for the first time.
Yeah, I noticed the hand of AI, but it's still a pretty good
sendup.
I liked this one, but your harsher take is funny and mostly fair.
Cujo is a critical thinker.
I just watch a lot of bad movies with a group that rips them apart.
We just did a crapload of Coleman Francis films. If you can sit
through "The Beast of Yucca Flats" without MST3K, you may be able to
handle the rest of his catalog.
Dr. Who is mild by comparison.
Interesting.
Must grab.
doctor@doctor.nl2k.ab.ca (The Doctor) wrote in >news:11agm6g$2q9k$3@gallifrey.nk.ca:
In article <XnsB4E26955333FBPantyheadPoorHouse@62.164.182.21>,
Cujo DeSockpuppet <cujo@petitmorte.net> wrote:
doctor@doctor.nl2k.ab.ca (The Doctor) wrote in >>>news:11afr2u$lor$10@gallifrey.nk.ca:
In article <MPG.453520de40246c6898a5c1@news.eternal-september.org>,
The True Melissa <thetruemelissa@gmail.comNOSPAM> wrote:
Cujo DeSockpuppet wrote in article >>>>><XnsB4E1B3E70E0D6PantyheadPoorHouse@62.164.182.27>:
Verdict: 3.5 out of 5 stars.
Note: I used AI to clean up my grammar, spelling and continuity
from my notes I took while watching it for the first time.
Yeah, I noticed the hand of AI, but it's still a pretty good
sendup.
I liked this one, but your harsher take is funny and mostly fair.
Cujo is a critical thinker.
I just watch a lot of bad movies with a group that rips them apart.
We just did a crapload of Coleman Francis films. If you can sit
through "The Beast of Yucca Flats" without MST3K, you may be able to >>>handle the rest of his catalog.
Dr. Who is mild by comparison.
Interesting.
Must grab.
Original: (54:24)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ooeQFpFoUpk
MST3K (1:31:21) - The crew watches "The Beast Of Yucca Flats" (1961) as
Crow petitions for film anti-preservation.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fC_ePuCWdOg
----
"I've known for over a year that this guy is the assassin of the Usenet >poetry community. When I first arrived, I thought he was keeping the
lights on in a dead group by reposting from archives. I soon realized
that he was just endlessly reposting his own stuff, that he had killed
the group by flooding it, and that most of the people he called
"trolls" were actually the members of the group.
I've joined the crowd. I'm done trying to work with him and speak reason
to him. It's exhausting and pointless." - Little Willie Douchebag gets >another asskicking from The One True Melissa
In article <XnsB4E2A742632DouchebagDelendaEst@62.164.182.25>,
Cujo DeSockpuppet <cujo@petitmorte.net> wrote:
doctor@doctor.nl2k.ab.ca (The Doctor) wrote in >>news:11agm6g$2q9k$3@gallifrey.nk.ca:
In article <XnsB4E26955333FBPantyheadPoorHouse@62.164.182.21>,
Cujo DeSockpuppet <cujo@petitmorte.net> wrote: >>>>doctor@doctor.nl2k.ab.ca (The Doctor) wrote in >>>>news:11afr2u$lor$10@gallifrey.nk.ca:
In article <MPG.453520de40246c6898a5c1@news.eternal-september.org>,
The True Melissa <thetruemelissa@gmail.comNOSPAM> wrote:
Cujo DeSockpuppet wrote in article >>>>>><XnsB4E1B3E70E0D6PantyheadPoorHouse@62.164.182.27>:
Verdict: 3.5 out of 5 stars.
Note: I used AI to clean up my grammar, spelling and continuity
from my notes I took while watching it for the first time.
Yeah, I noticed the hand of AI, but it's still a pretty good >>>>>>sendup.
I liked this one, but your harsher take is funny and mostly fair.
Cujo is a critical thinker.
I just watch a lot of bad movies with a group that rips them apart. >>>>We just did a crapload of Coleman Francis films. If you can sit
through "The Beast of Yucca Flats" without MST3K, you may be able to >>>>handle the rest of his catalog.
Dr. Who is mild by comparison.
Interesting.
Must grab.
Original: (54:24)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ooeQFpFoUpk
MST3K (1:31:21) - The crew watches "The Beast Of Yucca Flats" (1961) as >>Crow petitions for film anti-preservation.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fC_ePuCWdOg
This should be on my radar.
Ever saw the 1960s Barbarella?
doctor@doctor.nl2k.ab.ca (The Doctor) wrote in news:11ahbdf$29t3$5 >@gallifrey.nk.ca:
In article <XnsB4E2A742632DouchebagDelendaEst@62.164.182.25>,
Cujo DeSockpuppet <cujo@petitmorte.net> wrote:
doctor@doctor.nl2k.ab.ca (The Doctor) wrote in >>>news:11agm6g$2q9k$3@gallifrey.nk.ca:
In article <XnsB4E26955333FBPantyheadPoorHouse@62.164.182.21>,
Cujo DeSockpuppet <cujo@petitmorte.net> wrote: >>>>>doctor@doctor.nl2k.ab.ca (The Doctor) wrote in >>>>>news:11afr2u$lor$10@gallifrey.nk.ca:
In article <MPG.453520de40246c6898a5c1@news.eternal-september.org>, >>>>>> The True Melissa <thetruemelissa@gmail.comNOSPAM> wrote:
Cujo DeSockpuppet wrote in article >>>>>>><XnsB4E1B3E70E0D6PantyheadPoorHouse@62.164.182.27>:
Verdict: 3.5 out of 5 stars.
Note: I used AI to clean up my grammar, spelling and continuity >>>>>>>> from my notes I took while watching it for the first time.
Yeah, I noticed the hand of AI, but it's still a pretty good >>>>>>>sendup.
I liked this one, but your harsher take is funny and mostly fair. >>>>>>>
Cujo is a critical thinker.
I just watch a lot of bad movies with a group that rips them apart. >>>>>We just did a crapload of Coleman Francis films. If you can sit >>>>>through "The Beast of Yucca Flats" without MST3K, you may be able to >>>>>handle the rest of his catalog.
Dr. Who is mild by comparison.
Interesting.
Must grab.
Original: (54:24)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ooeQFpFoUpk
MST3K (1:31:21) - The crew watches "The Beast Of Yucca Flats" (1961) as >>>Crow petitions for film anti-preservation.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fC_ePuCWdOg
This should be on my radar.
Ever saw the 1960s Barbarella?
Yes. Hopelessly outdated and cheap but lots of cheesecake. Tries to go >overboard on outraging the sensibilities of 60's America but falls flat
now.
----
"I've known for over a year that this guy is the assassin of the Usenet >poetry community. When I first arrived, I thought he was keeping the
lights on in a dead group by reposting from archives. I soon realized
that he was just endlessly reposting his own stuff, that he had killed
the group by flooding it, and that most of the people he called
"trolls" were actually the members of the group.
I've joined the crowd. I'm done trying to work with him and speak reason
to him. It's exhausting and pointless." - Little Willie Douchebag gets >another asskicking from The One True Melissa
In article <XnsB4E2D97DF58A9DouchebagDelendaEst@62.164.182.23>,
Cujo DeSockpuppet <cujo@petitmorte.net> wrote:
Ever saw the 1960s Barbarella?
Yes. Hopelessly outdated and cheap but lots of cheesecake. Tries to go >overboard on outraging the sensibilities of 60's America but falls flat >now.
And the rise of Duran Duran.
The Doctor wrote in article <11ahi1i$26i5$1@gallifrey.nk.ca>:
In article <XnsB4E2D97DF58A9DouchebagDelendaEst@62.164.182.23>,
Cujo DeSockpuppet <cujo@petitmorte.net> wrote:
Ever saw the 1960s Barbarella?
Yes. Hopelessly outdated and cheap but lots of cheesecake. Tries to go
overboard on outraging the sensibilities of 60's America but falls flat
now.
And the rise of Duran Duran.
Duran Duran? That was after Barbarella. How are they related?
----
The True Melissa - Canal Winchester - Ohio
United States of America - North America - Earth
Solar System - Milky Way - Local Group
Virgo Cluster - Laniakea Supercluster - Cosmos
In article <MPG.4536786520f8cd8d98a5cf@news.eternal-september.org>,
The True Melissa <thetruemelissa@gmail.comNOSPAM> wrote:
Duran Duran? That was after Barbarella. How are they related?
1960s film Barbarella , starring a racy Jane Fonda,
had the character Duran Druan.
That is where 5 lads from Brum got the name.
The Doctor wrote in article <11aiv4q$23k$12@gallifrey.nk.ca>:
In article <MPG.4536786520f8cd8d98a5cf@news.eternal-september.org>,
The True Melissa <thetruemelissa@gmail.comNOSPAM> wrote:
Duran Duran? That was after Barbarella. How are they related?
1960s film Barbarella , starring a racy Jane Fonda,
had the character Duran Druan.
That is where 5 lads from Brum got the name.
I never knew that. Thanks for the fun fact.
----
The True Melissa - Canal Winchester - Ohio
United States of America - North America - Earth
Solar System - Milky Way - Local Group
Virgo Cluster - Laniakea Supercluster - Cosmos
| Sysop: | Scott Duensing |
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