tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5386390949828958591.post2917390278427418319..comments2024-03-14T05:07:57.110-07:00Comments on Doc Oho Reviews...: The Last Act written by Justin Richards and directed by Lisa BowermanDoc Ohohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01819922630249965949noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5386390949828958591.post-18548740304942434552017-04-07T14:02:46.448-07:002017-04-07T14:02:46.448-07:00I am with my colleague above, I'm afraid. Afte...I am with my colleague above, I'm afraid. After the first three episodes this series was in the running for best J&L so far, but sadly it finished with what I think is the weakest episode of the first five series.<br /><br />You've already mentioned the poor handling of Mr Sin, although I will add: just how *did* Litefoot get the better of him while Jago fetched the crystal? We just don't know, but George besting Sin 'off-screen' in an unclear way makes the latter seem rather pathetic, and in his first scene too. Peakius has mentioned the perfunctory killing off of DS Sacker, to which I want to add that Ellie's death, in contrast, would have been the perfect culmination of her arc in series 5, yet she lives while Sacker dies an unnecessary death that could have been anyone's. Why could Godiva not have been the vessel for Greel's return? It would have made far more narrative sense.<br /><br />Speaking of Godiva, I found her a very unconvincing villain. From her very first appearance her performance was far too mannered, and she was an obvious baddie, but I did hope at least that has plan would make sense. Alas, no. Why leave the heroes a cryptic puzzle when she *wanted* them to get to her lair? Why did her grandfather reassemble the crystal in the first place? Most importantly, why go through any of this at all of she is such an accomplished pickpocket? Why not just take the crystal from Jago on one of the many occasions earlier in the series when she was in his company, frequently when he was both drunk and distracted?<br /><br />I also disagree that the sixties setting made up for more or less recycling the plot of Talons - I thought this was the least sixties episode of the series, and the theatre and dragon place seemed to be almost identical to the original story. I thought the first half was mostly padding, while the second half seemed rushed, frequently hard to follow, and overstuffed with exposition. And, far from being "beautifully achieved", I thought the use of the time cabinet made their return home sadly predictable. And Greel's masterplan? Going back in time to muck about with our heroes' past in some unspecified way? How anticlimactic, small-scale and poorly thought through. The only thing that makes this episode stand out is the reveal that Greel and Sin are involved, and that was in the previous episode!<br /><br />However, despite all that, it's still Jago and Litefoot and Ellie and Sacker, so it was entertaining to listen to just on the back of their performances. I can't give it any lower than 4/10.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02815540101039768504noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5386390949828958591.post-27910230719562621312013-07-05T21:47:46.595-07:002013-07-05T21:47:46.595-07:00They killed Sacker. They. Killed. Sacker.
Again.
...They killed Sacker. They. Killed. Sacker.<br /><br />Again.<br /><br />We of the SPS (Sacker Preservation Society) would like the money spent on this season back, please.<br /><br />The original Sacker's death in the Ruthven Inheritance was a mistake and, in my opinion, the crowning flaw in what is possibly this range's weakest story. I really liked the character and felt that he had a really good opportunity to grow as part of the regular cast. It wasn't so much that he died, but the manner of his death - as mere cannon fodder for a creature which dies two seconds afterwards and has no other bearing on the plot whatsoever. It seemed like a waste.<br /><br />With Series 5 though, it seemed that Big Finish was finally acknowledging their mistake, by bringing Sacker's grandson into it. Detective Sacker was not only great, he was the character through which we were introduced to Jago and Litefoot in the 60's, as living, breathing legends straight out of an old man's delightful stories (playing to the same fairy-tale theme as Steven Moffat did in Series 5 of Doctor Who). <br /><br />And then, with no build-up whatsoever, Detective Sacker also dies, whatever character arc he had abandoned in a second as he's possessed by Magnus Greel (who's return is ultimately a bit s**t anyway). Is *that* the whole reason they brought the character in? So that they had someone for Greel to possess, in the process throwing away any resolution to his character whatsoever? What the heck, Big Finish?<br /><br />Disappointing someone once is ok, but disappointing me twice *in the exact same way* is almost like a slap in the face, albeit not as strong a one as the announcement that no classic Doctors would be appearing in the 50th. And while unlike NuWho, I still intend to keep following Jago and Litefoot, I can't help but feel rather ambivalent about the series at this point. What's the point of listening to a series that doesn't learn from its mistakes or grow as a result?<br /><br />On a similar note, am I the only one who thinks that Jago and Litefoot's stay in the 1960's was far too short? I wish they'd stayed for another season at least, to truly make their time in that decade matter, and maybe even leave them feeling a little regretful at having to leave. Ultimately, what was the point of their stay in the 60's, apart from throwing Sacker fans a bone and then taking it away as well as staging yet another poorly done sequel to a Classic Who story? Don't get me wrong, I loved "The Age of Revolution" and the 60's atmosphere of the season, but ultimately I would have liked it a lot better if it had actually *gone* somewhere. <br /><br />The way I would have done it would be to have the storyline for Series 5 be uniquely sixties in style, and then have the journey home in Series 6. But instead, in the end what we have is a stale and predictable rehash of Talons that ultimately shows up the changed setting of Series 5 to be merely a gimmick, when it could have been so much more.<br /><br />Overall, the next few seasons had better be something really special to win me back after this debacle of a finale (minus the regulars and Mr. Sin, who are great as always). But considering that the grand finale of Series 6 is going to be a courtroom drama of all things, I already have my doubts, sadly (though I hope they'll be dispelled when I listen to it :) ).<br /><br />A question for you Joe: Where does The Justice of Jalxar fit in in terms of this series' continuity?<br /><br />Christopher "Peaky" Brownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00623932380413168376noreply@blogger.com