Castrovalva is the most intricate post-regeneration story in the show's history and the first one to utilise the companions extensively. It's a fun little adventure if the Doctor fighting to find himself while escaping the Master's deadly traps.
Peter Davison immediately convinces by capturing the erratic behaviour of the new Doctor. Sarah Sutton is great as Nyssa, while Fielding and Waterhouse struggle to keep up. Ainley seems to be bored by a part he doesn't take very seriously.
While the Doctor is incapacitated for most of the adventure, the screentime he gets immediately sets him apart from his predecessors and the final part in particular shows just what kind of Doctor this one will be.
Nyssa and Tegan work well together, even if Tegan remains somewhat limited. Adric is barely in the story and only works for the Master, which doesn't help to make him more likeable.
The Master feels very low-key, worn-out and pantomimic here, in what is probably one of the worst appearances of the character so far.
The production is simple yet effective, with some fine sets, convincing make-up and interesting incidental music particularly standing out.
Despite the adventurous story and the fascinating way the post-regenerative trauma is handled, this is not the most fast-paced four parters. It feels fresh thanks to a change of setting halfway through, and Davison largely jeeps it flowing until the end.
The sense of adventure and mystery is wrong, but also the sense of a new era beginning, not unlike Spearhead from Space.
Castrovalva remains perhaps the most fascinating post-regeneration story so far, and its introduction if the very human Fifth Doctor is a landmark moment.
While not as exciting and polished as Spearhead from Space (1970), and not as powerful as Power of the Daleks (1966), Castrovalva works well as an adventure to rewatch many times.
Review by Theo KallströmVIP 6BlockedParent2020-07-06T11:43:13Z
Castrovalva is the most intricate post-regeneration story in the show's history and the first one to utilise the companions extensively. It's a fun little adventure if the Doctor fighting to find himself while escaping the Master's deadly traps.
Peter Davison immediately convinces by capturing the erratic behaviour of the new Doctor. Sarah Sutton is great as Nyssa, while Fielding and Waterhouse struggle to keep up. Ainley seems to be bored by a part he doesn't take very seriously.
While the Doctor is incapacitated for most of the adventure, the screentime he gets immediately sets him apart from his predecessors and the final part in particular shows just what kind of Doctor this one will be.
Nyssa and Tegan work well together, even if Tegan remains somewhat limited. Adric is barely in the story and only works for the Master, which doesn't help to make him more likeable.
The Master feels very low-key, worn-out and pantomimic here, in what is probably one of the worst appearances of the character so far.
The production is simple yet effective, with some fine sets, convincing make-up and interesting incidental music particularly standing out.
Despite the adventurous story and the fascinating way the post-regenerative trauma is handled, this is not the most fast-paced four parters. It feels fresh thanks to a change of setting halfway through, and Davison largely jeeps it flowing until the end.
The sense of adventure and mystery is wrong, but also the sense of a new era beginning, not unlike Spearhead from Space.
Castrovalva remains perhaps the most fascinating post-regeneration story so far, and its introduction if the very human Fifth Doctor is a landmark moment.
While not as exciting and polished as Spearhead from Space (1970), and not as powerful as Power of the Daleks (1966), Castrovalva works well as an adventure to rewatch many times.
Score: 81/120