Carnival of Monsters: Episode Four

Review of all 4 episodes:

The ideas for this story are very good with plenty of interesting and exciting elements. It is not always fully successful in presenting these ideas so is not one of the greatest serials but it is great fun and very good. All 4 episodes are very satisfactory but could have been greater with a little more cleverness in the presentation. Even with the imperfections in execution this is still good quality and a lot of fun.

The effects are not great but I do not judge that too harshly as it was OK for the day. The costumes, make-up and sets/equipment is more problematic to me, it is like a premonition of the mid 80s serials with these gaudy, over the top and unimpressive elements but the story, script and acting are all strong enough which is the main thing and overcomes visual shortcomings.

The story involves The Doctor having been given back his power to travel through space and time unhindered by the Time Lords. He and Jo then find the TARDIS has landed aboard the S.S. Bernice, an early 20th Century ship but finding that events keep repeating in a loop. Meanwhile we see a pair of travelling entertainers arriving on a distant planet in the future where they encounter a hostile reception from the ruling class of alien beings. These two seemingly unconnected story lines are revealed to be very much linked.

The interest of the two apparently unrelated story lines and the mysterious repeating of events aboard the ship are a great idea and the script is very good. The first episode is the best in my opinion as this mystery element is great. The appearance and actions of the travelling entertainers is a bit over the top and a slight let down for me as are some of the design aspects throughout the story. The alien beings two classes both look pretty unconvincing and also provide a strangely unresolved moral element as the seemingly cruel oppression of the servant beings is inexplicably ignored. These faults stop the adventure from reaching its potential but there is still good material to make it a very decent, enjoyable story overall. There is lots of nice dialogue, interesting characters, Pertwee and Manning in great form as The Doctor and Jo and a story which is good.

My ratings: Part 1 - 8.5/10, Part 2 - 8/10, Part 3 - 7.5/10, Part 4 - 8/10. Overall - 8/10.

You must really give credit to Barry Letts, for producing and directing, and Robert Holmes, for bringing to life a wonderfully imaginative story, and foe realising some pretty big ideas.

The ideas are so clever, and those ideas allowed Robert Holmes to push through many political points. The Drashigs were a great creation, and well realised, but it's the concept of the miniscope that's the best idea. I love how Vorg becomes a kind of hero.

A very good ending, to what's a great story overall. 8/10

When watching a show such as this, it is important to remember that one is looking back over 40 years – and that a lot has happened in that 40 years in terms of ideas, pop culture, film, and other such media that makes ideas and plots more common or more accessible. This thought occurred to me as I watched this serial because it involves a miniaturized zoo of real creatures, all contained within replicas of their own world and in some sort of time-loop whereby their lives are played out consistently for the amusement of whomever happens to be watching. It is such a smart and interesting idea and it is to the show's credit that it remains that way so many decades later.

The delivery of the idea of course involves monsters, races against the odds, and the usual dangers that make up the serial, but at only 4 episodes long it keeps it tight and trim, making the delivery of the narrative mostly good. I say mostly because the framing of these ideas occurs on a planet where two gaudily dressed circus masters try to sell their wares to a bunch of aliens in grey make-up (mostly). Their plot involves one of their number plotting a power move while the rest seem tied up with administrative matters. This is the aspect of the serial that is not so good, and unfortunately it is the aspect that starts to be the main one as we move on. It is an odd mix of comedy, flamboyance, and yet also driving a dramatic plot. I'm not sure it works.

I'm also not sure about the cast involved in it either. The main cast are good in terms of Pertwee and Grant (who I am starting to warm to now – which usually means she be dropped soon). The rest are a mixed bag, some playing well for laughs but not able to balance it with anything else, while conversely some play it very serious thinking they are in a different story perhaps. Either way, mostly they work as performances as required. As a serial I did enjoy Carnival of Monsters; it had a base of good ideas and imagination, it is just a shame that some of the framing elements were not as sharp as they needed to be, because it did rather weaken the whole.

Once the third Doctor staggers out of the miniscope and grows in size. He complete control and gives the tribunal members of Inter Minor a dressing down.

There is fun as Vorg mistakes the Doctor as another showman. I also chuckled that just as the Doctor has trouble controlling the Tardis. Vorg really does not know how the miniscope works. He won it while gambling.

As the Doctor returns to the miniscope to rescue Jo and the others.

It becomes clear that Kalik's plan is just pants. It is a weak point of the story. The Drashigs also escape the miniscope and Kalik is killed. He had no escape plan and it is left to Vorg to come to the rescue.

The plus points of Carnival of Monsters was how Robert Holmes created another duo in Vorg and Shirna. How the miniscope world was created. It was colourfully done.

The officious members of Inter Minor were a let down.

A very imaginative plot that keeps one entertained!