The Matrix

The matrix was great in The Deadly Assassin. Wonderful, Part 3 was brilliant with a lovely atmosphere, reminding me of some old Public Information Films. The spider was a bit naff. The battle between the Doctor and the mysterious perpetrator was gripping, esp. the cliff-hanger.

The Ultimate Foe's matrix wasn't as great. the first part's was the better (from the writer of course). The same basic premise as the first time, in terms of things in a dream-like state, randomly moving between scenarios. I quite like it, the best section of the Trial, I think.

The matrix was in The Timeless Children and was unsurprisingly bad, but surprising how bad. A grey dull background with characters to state dull exposition. Completely pointless! Why not have the Doctor and Master battle in different locations? Why just have the Doctor stand there? It was completely awful. Why bother putting the matrix in if you aren't going to have things happen at all? That whole story was rather bad. Even the music was not great. I like seeing The Brain of Morbius (though the original is dull) but for a finale for a programme intended to be watched by a broad audience, for which this episode may be somebody's first, it should not have a plot point relating to a story that old as a centrepiece. I suppose it only flashed on the screen briefly, I liked it as I witnessed it, but on the whole, the story is bad.

(by asher)