Sorry to hear you've been struggling with your mental health. This story is something of a curate's egg, especially if you're coming to it blind. It's also hampered by the fact that, aside from the surviving episode - and possibly some other footage - there are no archival visual records of this 6-parter. It's also hampered by the quality of the audio recording as well. That said, I do think this an underrated - not gem, exactly - more an above average, and somewhat ambitious, attempt at a space opera. I certainly agree that, if it were ever animated, it would gain a new appreciation, albeit a qualified one. Finally, Milo Clancy is brilliant. I remember I wrote to Doctor Who Magazine years ago to suggest that Big Finish do a Milo Clancy: Space Ranger series. Although the letter was published, for some reason they've yet to take up my suggestion. Can't think why.
Good to hear from you Andrew! I'll make sure to add this one to my little list of stories to revisit (The Faceless Ones, Sentient Seaweed from the Deep). I love that you've been published in the official mag, haha! And now I know what a curate's egg is.
@@Dirvinator Yes, sorry I've been a bit quiet of late. I've not had much to say, as I've not been well myself, both mentally and physically. I'm on the mend now, though, and normal service will hopefully be resumed from The War Games onwards. It's my favourite Troughton story, after all.
I'm on my 2nd watchthrough of Classic Who, and the stories I know are great are less good this time, and the stories I have the worst expectations of are somehow turning out to be amongst my favs this time around. Love that about Doccy Who. Genuinely loved this story this time around. It was cool doing space stuff... it had some of the 2001 Space Oddyssey vibe, but obviously done much cheaper, and it was less slow which is good coz that movie is way too indulgently slow. I also enjoyed seeing the Doctor up against a genuinely competent ruthless human gangster coz somehow that feels really rare. Like, he genuinely reacted creatively, decisively and had back-up plans and everything, it was wild. Also yeh, Milo is such a fun disruptive presence to all the stuffy hierarchy military people we are exposed to so relentlessly on Doccy Who, especially the Classic era. Idk, I think I really vibed with the whole beauty and drama of this being played out in space. Like, it really considered how to integrate space travel into the story which is relatively unique perhaps?
This is so cool! I'm happy you're having this experience, I can't wait to re-watch all of these in another decade or so :p Which version of this did you watch? Tele-snap? Fan animation?
@@Dirvinator telesnap with abridging commentary on dailymotion! The account is dsilver88 - they only have Troughton stories but yeh they seem to combine Loose Cannon with abridging commentaries that I presume u get to hear if u just listen to it on cd, and it makes for a much easier experience having visuals plus that. My first watch of Classic Who started at the start of last year and took 6 months. This watchthrough is taking longer and its a very different experience now that I know roughly what to expect from each story. Also I'm sorry u have been doing badly... life can be so bleak...
I will defend this story till the day that it is finally found or animated, and then people will at last realize that it isn't actually as bad as they think
I have the Target book of this one. Haven't read it, but to be fair, I have every Patrick Troughton Target book. I look forward to next week's review of The War Games. I'm sure you'll love it! P.S one mediocre serial in a season of Doctor Who is still a really good season!!!
I was secretly hoping you might have read the book and could share some insight. Perhaps the novel is just as uninteresting. And you're right, it's not bad enough to sour an otherwise great season
