Oh Look, Rocks!

Most of this serial's actual story happens in its final episode and that final episode still feels slow, what happened to Terry Nation between the masterpiece that is Android Invasion and this? Like I'll defend Planet of the Daleks and Death To The Daleks to my last breath (they're bangers I'll hear nothing to the contrary) but this...
Davros sits in silence making no resistance or noise while being captured, he's wobbling all over the show when he moves and the Daleks are nearly falling apart more than usual. The core concept could be interesting except it just never is, why is Davros just like... chilling there? I figured the Daleks would be resurrecting him but nah he's fine he was just REALLY sleepy I guess, needed a centuries nap?

The whole experience just feels flat and unsatisfying, absolutely my least favourite of Nation's serials, and possibly Dalek story in general so far (at least Asylum is entertaining)

Zagreus sits in the fandom's head,
Zagreus sleeps among the bookmarked wiki pages,
Zagreus sees you in your bed
and eats you while you're theorising.

Just finished my first listen of Zagreus and I am conflicted!
My immediate reaction is that I think a solid 75% of it is absolutely incredible, an honest to goodness stroke of genius. I will admit I teared up towards the end, and Paul McGann's desperate, furious, helpless performance is something to be in awe of. It's got me really curious about listening to Gallifrey and it has fuelled my hunger to listen and read more about the great vampires.

I was aware of its reputation (teetering on infamy) as confusing and dense when going in, and I have to say I was surprised how naturally i fell into it (though I devoted my full attention to it, I don't think I could've followed so well had I been doing anything else)

But that remaining 25% really did not do it for me, there is stuff in here I really deeply dislike. The TARDIS' misogyny is really quite upsetting, even if she was under the influence of Anti-Time it doesn't sit right to hear her making remarks about dirty underwear and how long they spend in the bathroom- an unnecessary addition. In fact the whole framing of the TARDIS as being jealous has a flavour of misogyny to it, Charley's retort highlights this especially. Also I was rolling my eyes for most of "Uncle Winkie's Wonderland" and despite the fact I loved hearing McCoy let off his leash to be as whimsical as he wanted, the whole Disney parody just didn't feel natural or well placed in the story.

Of course much of Zagreus draws on famous prose and poetry, the Jabberwocky and Alice in Wonderland mainly- it follows quite neatly on from Neverland's Peter Pan references and the titular force of Zagreus being a nursery rhyme character. But Disney land doesn't sit as neatly for me.

There was one line in this nearly 4 hour beast which has since been lost in the soup of Zagreus so I can't quote for you (nor will I be searching through all of it again) that genuinely made me roll my eyes so far back into my head I think I saw Zagreus sitting in there myself.

But overall, I actually think I really enjoyed it, the more I have sat with it since finishing, the more fond I'm getting of it. Is it exceptionally long and dense? Yes. But it's also full of exceptional character work, interesting mysteries and lore (if you're a lore fiend like me who salivates at the prospect of Gallifreyan history then this is for you!) and excellent performances from some of Who's most iconic actors.

Onwards to Scherzo and beyond! (one week at a time)