Since the series started up again in 2005, Doctor Who has dished out many a scary monster and episode in the bid to scare the youngsters of today. Some are classics pulled from the older stories like Daleks, Cybermen and Zygons. Others are new inventions like the Weeping Angels and the Silents. I believe it must be easier to put an older monster into a new episode if that monster appeared on Earth because clearly it travels or is found on Earth where the majority of episodes are based. One exception is the Macra who reappeared in 'Gridlock' thanks to some good writing. It was surprising because even though they are distinct, they didn't exactly make a lasting impression (but that could be because its first appearance in Doctor Who is lost).
What I am trying to say is unless it is very distinct, appeared in more than one story or appeared on Earth the likelihood of you meeting any other monster from the older series is very slim. The only way will be to watch the original story they were in.
Now I'm not discrediting the Weeping Angels or Silents, but I think their reappearances have made us too familiar with them. We remember they are scary but we are not so scared by them any more. Imagine how terrified of the Weeping Angels we would still be if they had only appeared in 'Blink'.
So for my scariest Doctor Who story I am harking back to a Third Doctor story called 'Death to the Daleks'. "Daleks" I hear you say, "we've had them silly". But I'm not talking about the Daleks. The title is 'DEATH to the Daleks' and I'll give you a clue...it is not the Doctor's doing. I think it is a simple principal. Something that is a threat to the Daleks is something to be feared. We have learnt in the new series that in actual fact, the Doctor is someone to be feared. So this leads me on to Exxilon.
Some people wonder how the Egyptians built the pyramids but are now a third world country. This is what happened to Exxilon but far more sinister. The native Exxilons built a living city but it became powerful, draining energy from everything for itself and its creators worshipped it. The natives make sacrifices to this city in the form of any trespassers which is common because the city drains energy from passing ships. The natives clothing can also help them camouflage as rocks on their barren planet. The city has a number of defence mechanisms too. It's rooted itself to the planet and...well see for yourself...
What I am trying to say is unless it is very distinct, appeared in more than one story or appeared on Earth the likelihood of you meeting any other monster from the older series is very slim. The only way will be to watch the original story they were in.
Now I'm not discrediting the Weeping Angels or Silents, but I think their reappearances have made us too familiar with them. We remember they are scary but we are not so scared by them any more. Imagine how terrified of the Weeping Angels we would still be if they had only appeared in 'Blink'.
So for my scariest Doctor Who story I am harking back to a Third Doctor story called 'Death to the Daleks'. "Daleks" I hear you say, "we've had them silly". But I'm not talking about the Daleks. The title is 'DEATH to the Daleks' and I'll give you a clue...it is not the Doctor's doing. I think it is a simple principal. Something that is a threat to the Daleks is something to be feared. We have learnt in the new series that in actual fact, the Doctor is someone to be feared. So this leads me on to Exxilon.
Some people wonder how the Egyptians built the pyramids but are now a third world country. This is what happened to Exxilon but far more sinister. The native Exxilons built a living city but it became powerful, draining energy from everything for itself and its creators worshipped it. The natives make sacrifices to this city in the form of any trespassers which is common because the city drains energy from passing ships. The natives clothing can also help them camouflage as rocks on their barren planet. The city has a number of defence mechanisms too. It's rooted itself to the planet and...well see for yourself...
As a last resort to defend itself inside the city, it creates 'anti bodies' that look like this:
Reminiscent of the recent Time Zombies right?
So you have not only the Doctor but the Daleks too, both quite vulnerable, battling this planet. Why don't you take a look at the DVD trailer:
Out of all the stories I watched when I was little that scared me, this is the only one which has the exact same effect now. Even Horror Channel chose to show it for their selection of Doctor Who stories they are showing. I think the Third and early Fourth Doctors had the scariest episodes mainly because of who was behind the scenes. Phillip Hinchcliffe wanted a Gothic approach to the Fourth Doctors stories and Barry Letts wanted people to be scared of everyday objects (like Moffat does) and the Earth and it's politics. Horror Channel has picked out a majority of these stories to show on their channel for these reasons. Scary Doctor Who can be good.
Lotty
xx
P.S. this story is one of Nicholas Briggs' (current voice of the Daleks, Cybermen, etc.) favourites.
Out of all the stories I watched when I was little that scared me, this is the only one which has the exact same effect now. Even Horror Channel chose to show it for their selection of Doctor Who stories they are showing. I think the Third and early Fourth Doctors had the scariest episodes mainly because of who was behind the scenes. Phillip Hinchcliffe wanted a Gothic approach to the Fourth Doctors stories and Barry Letts wanted people to be scared of everyday objects (like Moffat does) and the Earth and it's politics. Horror Channel has picked out a majority of these stories to show on their channel for these reasons. Scary Doctor Who can be good.
Lotty
xx
P.S. this story is one of Nicholas Briggs' (current voice of the Daleks, Cybermen, etc.) favourites.
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