The Brain of Morbius: Part Two

Review of all 4 episodes:

Correctly this is acclaimed as one of the true classics, it really is exceptional and fully deserving of classic status.

Famously the story is heavily influenced by Frankenstein. It has the Gothic horror feel that was common in this era of the series, being one of the most Gothic horror based stories of all in fact. As well as the style it also shares the idea from Frankenstein of a 'mad' scientist putting a being together from parts of other bodies.

The Doctor and Sarah are forced to land on Karn where scientist Solon is carrying out his experiments to try to create a body to house the mind of evil Time Lord criminal Morbius. The Sisters of Karn (who reappeared in the 2013 mini-episode The Night of the Doctor) are also on the planet and think The Doctor has come to steal the elixir of life that they worship and protect.

The story and all the dialogue is absolutely first class. Intelligent, entertaining, literate, exciting - everything you could want. Also the production as a whole is very well made and extremely atmospheric in its presentation. The incredibly good performances from Tom Baker and Elisabeth Sladen are taken for granted in this era. Unsurprisingly Philip Madoc who had already played characters in Doctor Who (such as in The War Games) to immensely impressive effect gives another awesome performance as Solon. There is very little to fault. The final episode goes into full Frankenstein's monster on a rampage mode which is perhaps less intelligent than the rest of the story but extremely entertaining.

One of the top 40 stories of all time easily and another great classic in the Hinchcliffe & Holmes era which is the peak of the show's history. Holmes takes a lot of credit for the quality here as does another of the greats of Doctor Who, writer Terrance Dicks.

All 4 parts 10/10.

The Doctor takes the part, of the heroine Joan of Arc, all he needs to emulate, is the smallest of small sparks, but Sarah Jane provisions, to disrupt the supervisions, then finds herself locked in the dark, surrounded by collisions.

The second part builds on the first. When you watch it, you get the sense of true peril for The Doctor and Sarah, they have no safe space, no team of plucky allies to depend on, just one another. The pair bravely save one another, Sarah particularly tenacious as she rescues The Doctor from true danger. That scene in particular is incredibly well staged, you can't imagine the health and safety nuts would allow something like that now, an actor tied up, with real flames.

I love the dialogue between The Sisterhood, the history that exists between them and the Timelords, finally a race that seem on equal footing, and for once an all powerful race that is female.

One of the funniest moments, where Sarah blurts out fresh violets for sale guv, and one of the darkest most memorable, the cliffhanger, poor Sarah always got in a scrape.

Wonderful. 9/10