Time-Flight

Total stinker, bereft of the 'so bad its good charm' of other infamous serials. Even after the target novelisation, the problems with timeflight go beyond the visual and deep into the script. Namely - its utter incoherence.

The Master, disguised and trapped on prehistoric earth, uses time-machinations to bring a Concorde flight back through time, to abet his breaking into an alien sarcophagus to harness the mental powers of an alien race (who also happened to crash land). To achieve this goal, the Master disguises himself (why?) as a jaw-dropping blobby quasi-racialist Chinese caricature magician. The Concorde crew of both the first (chosen by the Master... Why?), and rescue flights, are incredibly bland and lack any memorable quality.

The plot is incoherent, performances howlingly average and nothing immediately memorable in the dialogue department.

Of course, the effects are laughably poor which really doesn't help proceedings. CSO is somehow far worse than its execution in the early years of Barry Letts - after a decade of experience and technological progress. The sets are almost satirical (ala Garth Merenghis dark place) and lazy editing so poor, that cars and modern buildings can be seen on the flats of prehistoric earth... at the climax of the serial.

Even the commentary track of the DVD is lame, with no joyful reminiscence or kind-hearted dig at effects not quite holding up, but being passable due to the strength of the script. On every level from performances to sfx, there's just a sense that at the end of season 19, everybody gave up. Its one saving grace is that its utterly forgettable and makes no impact on canon at large - if it did (namely getting rid of Tegan for good.. perhaps I'd give it 3/10!)

This story is not nearly as awful as its reputation.There are several things to like. First of all, Peter Davison's Doctor has never seemed more in command during Season 19 than in this episode. The supporting cast is good. I loved the Captain and rest of the flight crew who took such an active part in the story.

Yes, there are plot holes (such as the Professor's reappearance and magical ability to land the TARDIS) and some dodgy effects. But I found myself more entertained watching this than an earlier story from Season 19, the Visitation. Overall, this was quite enjoyable and again not nearly as bad as its reputation.

What the hell happened here? The plot makes no sense (read the recent DW magazine which tries to decipher it!). The Master entertains dressed as a mythical wizard like character but why?? Despite Concorde the money clearly ran out on this one and it shows. How Eric Saward passed this one from the script editor desk beats me. It makes no sense, answers on a postcard...