2 replies to this topic

[Lantern7]

When I was looking to see if an episode thread for "The Claws Of Axos" had already been set up, I found a post written by me years ago. I had found a copy of Doctor Who Magazine, where they recommended episodes for newbies. "The Claws of Axos" was deemed to be one of the worst. After seeing the story yesterday at the Paley Center, I think that's a bit harsh, save for two knocks:

1. There aren't really any claws. The Axons have two forms: the angelic beings with the visible zippers on their backs, and the "relaxed" formless wooly entities that might have originally been Yeti costumes. "Claws" do ensnare prisoners within the Axons' funky organic spaceship, and the Doctor snarls that "the Claws of Axos are entrenched in the Earth!" (or something like that), but the claws are secondary compared to the aliens' tendrils.

2. There's a guy named Chin who is a humungous asshole. He's like Yvonne Hartman from the GhostCybermen/Torchwood arc, in the sense that he'll do anything for Queen and country.  In this case, that mean getting his mitts on Axonite, a miracle "gift" that would end world hunger. To him, this is something that only England  should have, and he goes as far as arresting our heroes from UNIT. You keep waiting for somebody -- anybody -- to slap the mustache off his face. Also, he was Brigadier Sanders before we got a look at the White Guardian years later.

It's a good story, though the Third Doctor doesn't throw down with the Venusian Aikido on any hapless fools. This being 1971, the Master is involved, as he offers the Axons the Earth to feast upon in order to gain his freedom. Natch, he's on his own side . . . and at one point, the Doctor teams up with him, shocking Jo, the Brig and the others (remember, this was back when the TARDIS was grounded and the Doctor had mental block on how to travel through time). In the end, the Axons are stuck in a time loop, the Master gets away yet again, and the Doctor is still stuck on Earth; the Time Lords having the TARDIS drawn back to Earth like a yo-yo.

Has anybody else gotten a hold of the "special edition" DVD set? Also, does anybody think that the Axon-centered story in DWM from a few years ago made for a good follow-up?

[lacorelli]

I've always liked "Claws of Axos," but then I've also always had a huge crush on Roger Delgado's Master, so as long as he's in it, the story can't suck entirely, though some stories where he shows up late tend to get the early episodes skipped.

I love the part when the Master's forced into trying to save the complex and makes a sarcastic comment about the Brigadier putting sticky tape on the windows. Also, when the Doctor and the Master are actually working together, where you do get the impression that they really once were friends. And the moment when the Doctor has forgotten to put back the component he took out to keep the Master from hijacking his TARDIS without him there. Ok, so I love this for the Master and the Master - Doctor interactions. The fact that the Axons look lame and Chin deserved to be their victim are completely irrelevant to me.

And of course, the formless Axon costumes make another appearance spray-painted green for "Seeds of Doom" later on. Doctor Who has always been a great one for recycling.

Again, I bought the first release and am feeling a bit peeved about the special edition, though as it's the Master, I'll probably break down and buy the special edition. I really loathe this practice which punishes anyone who actually makes the releases viable by buying the first version sold.

Also, does anybody think that the Axon-centered story in DWM from a few years ago made for a good follow-up?

What was the Axon-centered story?

[Lantern7]

lacorelli: here's a summary of "The Golden Ones," which can be found in the first collection of Eleventh Doctor stories, The Child Of Time.

I went to a viewing of the story, so I don't know how the new extras stack up. I do share your frustration about re-releases . . . and given how "Claws" isn't a classic story, I can see why some would be pissed off.