Doctor Who - Tom Baker/4th Doctor appreciation thread #1 ~Because he is still the definite article~

sum1 · 09-03-2007, 08:37 PM

We need a thread for the best Doctor ever. Tom's portrayal was pure genius. The man's a megawatt talent.

Tom's official site:

Welcome to the Official Tom Baker Website

Also

Profile on TOM:

screenonline: Baker, Tom (1936-) Biography

Entry on the 4th Doctor:

Fourth Doctor - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

indigo sunrise · 09-04-2007, 01:17 AM

I just started getting into Classic Who (I have seen some episodes before but just random ones here and there, thought it was about time to seriously sink my teeth into it now), and I started with Tom Baker. I've seen Robot and The Ark in Space now, and I'm really liking him so far!

Raonaild · 09-04-2007, 01:56 AM

Robot was a bit shaky, but a good introduction to the new Doctor. I think Ark in Space is an excellent story that still stands up today, although the effects are primitive (particularly the bubble-wrap Wirrn). That whole first season is brilliant - I love the Fourth Doctor/Sarah Jane/Harry team. I'd like to see more of that sort of trio in the new series - like the few episodes with Rose/Mickey, Rose/Jack and Martha/Jack.

One Fourth Doctor companion I really didn't like was Leela. She was in a couple of excellent eps, like Talons of Weng-Chiang, Robots of Death and Horror of Fang Rock, but her character just seemed way too fake to me. His other companions - Sarah Jane, Harry, K-9, Romana I/II - were excellent, some of the best companions of all the Doctors.

sum1 · 09-04-2007, 10:16 PM

Robot doesn't deserve its bad rep. It had one of Baker's most enjoyable performances. The Ark in Space is very weak.

Raonaild · 09-05-2007, 01:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sum1 (View Post)

It had one of Baker's most enjoyable performances.

I don't agree. I think Robot was TB feeling around for how to play his version of the Doctor, and the writers trying to figure out what version of the Doctor would best suit TB. I think there are noticable differences between the Doctor in Robot and in Ark in Space, and TB seemed much more comfortable in the role by the second ep. It's not that he was bad in Robot or anything, and I enjoyed the ep well enough, I just don't think that episode was even close to TB's best performance as the Fourth Doctor.

sum1 · 09-07-2007, 01:32 AM

While I think it really stands out as one of his best. Robot is one of the highlights of Tom's tenure. Whereas some other (overrated) stories aren't. Ark in Space, Pyramids of Mars, Robots of Death -real letdowns those three. Some of his best work is also in the much maligned 17th season and in the 16th.

chandelier2 · 11-01-2008, 04:08 PM

Time to dust off your curly wigs and stripey scarfs. Just in case anyone missed it Tom was guest presenter on last night's Have I Got News For You. The man is a legend! Really funny and even got a bit fanboy-ey (just invented a new word) over his own action figure with interchangeable head

(although I think that's only in the extended version shown earlier tonight)

He also materialised into the chair at the beginning to the TARDIS noise. Awesome.

"Knit 8, purl 8, exterminate"

BBC iPlayer has it for those in the UK. Not sure if I'm allowed to post a link or not but it's easy to find.

stoptheqtip · 11-01-2008, 04:11 PM

Wow, that's the guy who does the voiceover for Little Britain? But he looks so... innocent, like the grandpa who gives you 50p to buy sweets but warns you not to tell your grandma. I didn't know what he looked like now!

I need to go on iPlayer and watch that. It looks awesome!