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Logopolis Format Reviewed: VHS Review The Tom Baker era draws to a close with an old enemy, the Master. The master is played by Anthony Ainley having taken the body of Tremas in the previous story, The Keeper of Traken. It's possibly a function of my age and that I grew up with Ainley as the Master but I really like this incarnation of the Master. Roger Delgado did a wonderful job in the 70's, but for me Ainley is the embodiment of the character. The story also sees the introduction of three of the regular cast members I was hooked on when first watching the series as a kid: Sarah Sutton as Nyssa, Janet Fielding as Tegan and Peter Davison as the Doctor. It was one of my early confusions as a child that a bumbling farmer from a show my parents watched (All Creatures Great and Small) could be the Doctor. Looking back on this serial now, it is also strange to me that the Monitor is the absolute spit image of my father (except the hair), it really is an uncanny resemblance. Anyway, on to the story. As a kid, I liked Adric as a companion. As an adult, I am much less fond of him as I think Matthew Waterhouses acting really lets him down on occasion. On the otehr hand though, Sarah Sutton and Janet Fielding play their roles well in my opinion, and are much better on the eye for me at least. The performances of the companions in Logopolis is largely the same as for the whole of their time on the show. Adric sort of bumbling around as he does, Tegan shouting and being domineering while Nyssa is demure and intelligent. Tom Baker had long becme slightly bored with his role in my opinion and for the previous couple of seasons often tried to broaden the role, sometimes succedding, sometimes not. In Logopolis however, I feel that he returned to what he did best, and puts in a great performance. The guest cast is largely circumstantial, although the Monitor is relatively convincing. Ainley as the master is probably about as close to Delgados incarnation as at any point during his stories. He is more cunning and ruthless, and some of the interplay between him and Tom Baker is great. The first few times I watched this story, I loved it so thoroughly that I have since watched it over and over again. In the last few years though I have come to regard this story as more of a vehicule to launch Anthony Ainley as the Master, and to say a final farewell to Tom Baker. There is little real action and the story does drag a little in places, such as when the Doctor and Adric are going through the recursive Tardises. That said, it's still rather compulsive viewing for me and overall I like the story a lot. Rating:  |