1.6 - The Oseidon Adventure

After an uneven first half in Trail this 2nd part hits the ground running. Beevers' Master steals the show as The Doctor navigates a fun plot of android imposters and grand schemes. It's a light-hearted affair and an excellent close to the first 4DA series.

'The Oseidon Adventure' both written by Alan Barnes and recorded in August 2011. Tyngworg mentions code Quadruple J. The production code of The Android Invasion was 4J.

Again lots of sounds of the country side and obviously a very similar acoustic feel to the preceding adventure. There is a bit more humour in this one with quite a Douglas Adams feel to it. Interestingly Leela rescues the Master but not before giving him a good slap. LOL! We also see the Kralls from ‘The Android Invasion’ return and immediately turn against the Master.

'Colonel Spindleton' is silly as are the Kralls who are reminiscent of 'Strax' from the new series. So more warrior like characters who give humour by acting out of place in non-warzone environments like: 'Leela', 'Strax' and now the Kralls. The only reason Kralls are in this rather than say Ogrons is because the story requires their android duplication technology, as well as being underused compared to other foes. This is all fair enough; apart from making them 'Strax' replicas.

What it comes down is whether you can embrace the tongue in cheek elements. Funnier and that bit more enjoyable than 'Trail of the White Worm.'

The Oseidon Adventure's main flaw is that it feels like a remake of The Android Invasion with the Master thrown in for good measure. This wouldn't be that bad if it was spread out over both parts, but it ends after Part One, and Part Two focuses on the Master trying to recover from the end of The Deadly Assassin. Part Two drags on and on and really isn't that enjoyable except for whenever Geoffrey Beevers opens his mouth. He steals every scene he's in and is a joy to listen to. Also Michael Cochrane's Spindleton is great as the insane millionaire who's goals are hilarious. He's extremely sexist but more importantly he wants to get rid of the BBC and control the whole of England populated by Androids. The plan is just insane so they get points for that.

Tom Baker and Louise Jameson continue to impress as the Doctor and Leela. Jameson's interactions with the Master are great as she doesn't take anything he throws at her. If this happened on TV it would have been praised. My biggest problem is that Dan Starkey plays the Kraals and really is just doing his Sontaran voice. It almost sounds like Strax except much more stupid.

Some Doctor Who stories are high concept thrillers and then you have the Oseidon Adventure in which Alan Barnes brings back the Master along with the Kraals to face the Fourth Doctor and Leela in the continuation of the story that began in Trail of the White Worm.

This is one of those Doctor Who stories where you can complain about the lack of "real drama" or you sit back and enjoy the absurdity of the whole thing. I opt for the former and there's plenty to enjoy here: The Doctor and the Master face off in a battle of Android duplicates, while the Master's plan is full of trademark manipulation and complexity that leaves you guessing as to what is going on. The Doctor doesn't quite get off as many great one liners as in the previous story but Leela more than makes up for it with her horse riding, as well as many great action scenes.

The one negative is that the end is a bit cheap and too neat for a story like this. Still, I found this to be an enjoyable in to the first Season of Fourth Doctor Adventures.