📝8/10

Thworping through time and space, one adventure at a time! 

This time: The Last Missing Adventure!

MY SCATTERED AND TOTALLY IRRELEVANT NOTES:

Originally intended to conclude Doctor Who's Season 17, the six-part serial Shada, written by outgoing script editor Douglas Adams, was never completed due to a union strike and thus never aired. Over the years, Shada has been revisited in various formats, including an audio drama, a novel, an animated webcast, and a hybrid version that combines existing footage with animation and narrated inserts to bridge the gaps. This review focuses on the 2019 reconstruction, which incorporates newly animated segments to complete the story. This version aired on BBC America in 2018 and was later released on Blu-ray.

The serial begins with one of the series' most memorable opening scenes: a mysterious space station where white-clad figures awaken in a striking control room before one departs for Earth. This evocative sci-fi setting transitions into the heart of the story—a Cambridge college featuring the delightfully eccentric Professor Chronotis, who keeps a TARDIS hidden in his study.

Douglas Adams' script introduces significant elements to the Doctor Who universe. The Time Lord prison planet, Shada, is unveiled, along with Professor Chronotis, a retired Time Lord living quietly as an academic on Earth. Adams even cheekily refers to young Time Lords as "Time Tots." True to his signature style, the script is packed with sharp humor, quirky characters, and offbeat sci-fi concepts, including the mysterious white orb, Skagra’s mind-stealing ship, and the eerie process of extracting consciousness from a body.

The story unfolds with a leisurely pace in the first part, establishing characters and mysteries in a cozy yet engaging manner. The second part deepens the intrigue, building tension around a missing book and culminating in the memorable cliffhanger featuring the ominous "Ball of Doom" and Tom Baker's classic comedic reaction. The third and fourth parts offer standout moments, such as the Doctor and Romana interacting with an invisible spaceship and deciphering gibberish from a Time Lord text. However, these episodes slightly drag as they tread water narratively. The final two parts pick up the pace, bringing more action and momentum, delivering the excitement expected of a season finale. The resolution sees the Doctor and Romana face off against Skagra and his henchmen in a satisfying conclusion.

Tom Baker and Lalla Ward are in top form as the Doctor and Romana, their chemistry elevating every scene. K9 gets several moments to shine as well. Denis Carey’s portrayal of Professor Chronotis is delightful, reminiscent of an older Patrick Troughton—warm, bumbling, and endearing. Although his character initially seems to serve as a plot device, a late twist involving the legendary Time Lord criminal Salyavin adds depth to his role.

Among the secondary characters, Parsons stands out as a fun, well-meaning “third wheel,” akin to Harry Sullivan. Clare only becomes significant in the fifth part, stealing the spotlight from Romana, who spends much of the middle episodes sidelined. Wilkin, though entertaining, feels somewhat extraneous. Skagra makes for a memorable villain—equal parts ridiculous and menacing—with Christopher Neame exuding a Julian Glover-like charisma. The Krarggs, his brutish minions, look better in animation than live action and provide K9 with a worthy challenge.

The 2019 reconstruction impresses with its updated visual effects, particularly the striking white orb, and its crisp, clear picture quality. The integration of animated segments with the original footage is seamless, though the voice performances, recorded decades later, betray the actors' ages. The Cambridge location shots shine, and the Shada set effectively conveys the eerie grandeur of the prison planet. The final scene—newly filmed with Tom Baker reflecting on his legacy before flashing his iconic grin—adds a poignant touch to the reconstruction.

This serial is a fascinating piece of Doctor Who history, combining Douglas Adams' wit with ambitious sci-fi storytelling. Despite some pacing issues, the reconstructed version offers a satisfying glimpse of what could have been. For fans of classic Doctor Who, this is a must-watch—both for its historical significance and its sheer entertainment value.

RANDOM OBSERVATIONS:

• Shada holds the distinction of being the last missing serial of Doctor Who, albeit for entirely different reasons than the 1960s episodes lost to archival purges.
• It is also the final six-part serial in the show’s history, as subsequent seasons favored shorter formats.
• Professor Chronotis’ claim that retired Time Lords are forbidden from owning TARDISes is an intriguing detail that hasn’t been explored further in other Doctor Who media.