Jackdaw Meanderings

After a long absence Dave is back and this time the randomizer throws him to the other end of the classic Doctor Who timeline with an episode from the late 80s. He gives his thoughts on villains who feel like they have walked in from a different story, what he thinks of light-entertainment "stunt casting" and which almost companion he thinks is lovely.

The Randomiser keeps Dave in the company of the Fourth Doctor. He establishes a scale for measuring the quality for Doctor Who jungle sets, shares how many times he has seen Arsenic and Old Lace on stage and salutes the professionalism of the guest cast soldiering on and bringing gravitas to their performances while being hampered by the choices of the wardrobe department.

The randomiser takes Dave to the 80s and some of his earliest memories of Doctor Who. He wonders at terrible policing, poorly thought out plans and an episode where not much actually happens but it happens in glorious HD because he gets to crack open a Blu-ray set.

Dave is finally free of the Daleks as the Randomiser sends him to the final episode of a 70s story with several Star Wars actors, lots of gold and silver lamé and a villain obsessed with his laundry, probably.

The Randomiser seems determined to keep Dave in the company of the Daleks for the time being and so he finds himself still in the 70s and a story that includes a lot of make-up, impractical getaway vehicles and conjures up memories of the Target novelisation.

The randomiser takes Dave to the 70s but keeps him in the company of the Daleks. Hear him ponder on perils of being trapped in a plastic tube, despair at very poorly thought out android Achilles heel and be unable to keep a straight face at the casting of a Davors who is a little too small for the chair. 

The randomiser continues to buffet Dave about in the sixties gives him his first Dalek episode. He learns how not to introduce yourself in a benevolent seeming way, ponders how one sequence would have been rather different in the modern show and decides that an entire culture is obsessed with hats.

The Randomiser keeps Dave in the sixties and he ponders the episode's tone, enjoys one character's interactions with a companion, enjoys the fashion choices of the villain and celebrates the unsung art of the sinister security camera reveal.

The randomiser sends Dave back to the sixties and his first final episode. There is praise heaped on the regulars, dabbling in his knowledge of real history and discloses which side of the fence he comes down on when it comes to a story that divides opinion.

The randomiser sends Dave to the early 70s and it is a hot time on the old town tonight. He visits a world of enormous name badges, gratuitous cravats, and big cold pipes. He also devises a spin-off, praises good acting all around and welcomes Batman as some light comedy relief.  

Dave's first viewing journey via the randomiser takes him to the 1960s. Which item of clothing in the episode would he really like to own? Which two characters does he think don't get on? Who makes for uncomfortable viewing? What names does he give to the space mice? All this and more will be revealed as Dave records a commentary for an episode of classic Doctor Who selected at random.