There's no stopping it now, not even a plough, there's a giant thing growing and it's as big as cow, greener than Hulk, it's got quite a skulk, gathering great mass and putting on bulk.
4 Reviews
The Incredible Bulk...
Xstal30 June 2022
Great story back on track after a dull Part 3.
poolandrews9 August 2007
Warning: Spoilers
Doctor Who: The Seeds of Doom: Part 4 starts as the Doctor (Tom Baker) literally drops in & saves Sarah Jane (Elisabeth Sladen) from being infected by the Krynoid pod, in the confusion of a fight with Harrison Chase (Tony Beckley) & Scorby (John Challis) in which the Doctor & Sarah escape the pod manages to infect botanist Keeler (Mark Jones). Wanting to know the result of a Krynoid infecting a human Chase has him taken to a nearby cottage in the grounds of his manor, tied to a bed & fed raw meat for the mutation to feed on... Time is running out as if Keeler develops into a full Krynoid & escapes the Krynoid intergalactic weed would spread & destroy all animal life on Earth...
Episode 24 from season 13 this Doctor Who adventure was originally aired here in the UK during Febuary 1976, directed by Douglas Camfield after a padded Part 3 this has gotten the story right back on track. The script by Robert Banks Stewart has ditched the more overt horror themes & ideas that were particularly prevalent in Parts 1 & 2 & The Seeds of Doom now feels a bit like a James Bond flick with Chase sounding & acting like an archetypal Bond villain from the 70's with some insane plan & there's a very James Bond moment where he places the Doctor in a huge compost compactor machine which will eventually crush him & turn him into compost! This is such a foolproof plan Chase even leaves the room because, like you know, nothing could go wrong like Sarah saving him could it? This episode also doesn't forget the horror & after a complete absence from Part 3 the Krynoid is back, there's quite a chilling scene here as Chase has Keeler tied to a bed & watches Keeler's agony as he turns into a Krynoid & to aid the Krynoid Chase has his butler feed Keeler raw meat! This is a great episode, it's lots of fun, it has plenty going on & it's pretty creepy in parts too as this is when Doctor Who actually tried to be scary.
It's obvious the same Krynoid suit from Part 2 was used here but I guess the raw meat did the trick as it then mutates into a huge green slimy blob of tentacles that menace the Doctor & Sarah Jane for a fantastic cliffhanger ending to this episode. It actually looks pretty horrid & a lot better than the average Doctor Who 'man in a badly made & fitted rubber suit' monster. The lack of CSO during this episode is also very good after some horrible use of it during Part 3. Unusually there's some atmospheric nighttime shooting as well which was more expensive than daytime shooting so was used less often. For those who are concerned about such things there's been a fair amount of guns on show & some fist fights as well so along with the scary scenes maybe this isn't suitable for very young children.
The Seeds of Doom: Part 4 is a great episode in a great story & it's as simple & straight forward as that, well worth a watch if your looking for some creepy, action packed fast moving & entertaining sci-fi about killer plants from outer space!
Episode 24 from season 13 this Doctor Who adventure was originally aired here in the UK during Febuary 1976, directed by Douglas Camfield after a padded Part 3 this has gotten the story right back on track. The script by Robert Banks Stewart has ditched the more overt horror themes & ideas that were particularly prevalent in Parts 1 & 2 & The Seeds of Doom now feels a bit like a James Bond flick with Chase sounding & acting like an archetypal Bond villain from the 70's with some insane plan & there's a very James Bond moment where he places the Doctor in a huge compost compactor machine which will eventually crush him & turn him into compost! This is such a foolproof plan Chase even leaves the room because, like you know, nothing could go wrong like Sarah saving him could it? This episode also doesn't forget the horror & after a complete absence from Part 3 the Krynoid is back, there's quite a chilling scene here as Chase has Keeler tied to a bed & watches Keeler's agony as he turns into a Krynoid & to aid the Krynoid Chase has his butler feed Keeler raw meat! This is a great episode, it's lots of fun, it has plenty going on & it's pretty creepy in parts too as this is when Doctor Who actually tried to be scary.
It's obvious the same Krynoid suit from Part 2 was used here but I guess the raw meat did the trick as it then mutates into a huge green slimy blob of tentacles that menace the Doctor & Sarah Jane for a fantastic cliffhanger ending to this episode. It actually looks pretty horrid & a lot better than the average Doctor Who 'man in a badly made & fitted rubber suit' monster. The lack of CSO during this episode is also very good after some horrible use of it during Part 3. Unusually there's some atmospheric nighttime shooting as well which was more expensive than daytime shooting so was used less often. For those who are concerned about such things there's been a fair amount of guns on show & some fist fights as well so along with the scary scenes maybe this isn't suitable for very young children.
The Seeds of Doom: Part 4 is a great episode in a great story & it's as simple & straight forward as that, well worth a watch if your looking for some creepy, action packed fast moving & entertaining sci-fi about killer plants from outer space!
They don't come much nastier then this.
Sleepin_Dragon28 January 2019
There really is something nasty about this episode, we see The Doctor manhandled by Scorby, worse we see The Doctor threatened with the compost maker, and worse still, we see poor Keeler transformed into a Krynoid, and cruelly fed.
It amazes me how this story seems to get better and better, it's the mid point of a six part story and it's arguably the best part so far, it's so wonderfully well made and produced, the performances are wonderful, Sylvia Coleridge just delightful as Miss Ducat.
It really is deliciously nasty, with some marvellous seventies villains. 10/10
Maybe new Dr Who could do with a Krynoid return.
It amazes me how this story seems to get better and better, it's the mid point of a six part story and it's arguably the best part so far, it's so wonderfully well made and produced, the performances are wonderful, Sylvia Coleridge just delightful as Miss Ducat.
It really is deliciously nasty, with some marvellous seventies villains. 10/10
Maybe new Dr Who could do with a Krynoid return.
Seeds of Success!
A_Kind_Of_CineMagic30 November 2014
Review of all 6 episodes:
The story here is that The Doctor and Sarah go to an Antarctic base where three scientists have discovered a form of unknown plant life buried in the snow. It has been there for many thousands of years but is of alien origin. The pods found turn out to be Krynoids, a plant which is carnivorous, parasitic, powerful and immensely fast growing. The Doctor knows this plant is a threat to all humanity but a pod is stolen by crazed millionaire Harrison Chase who is obsessed with plants.
Horror content was at its peak at this point in the series history and this story is one of the most horror based of all. There are some genuinely grim and macabre scenes which must have had children AND parents hiding behind the sofa. After having a lot of complaints during this time for being too adult and horrific, Doctor Who producers were forced to tone it down. The series, whilst still always continuing to have brilliant thrills, scares and adult qualities was never again to have quite the level of grown up thrills found in series 13 and 14. A scene where someone gets chewed up by a recycling machine is one example but there is a lot of quite gritty and dark content here and that only serves to make this a superb and memorable adventure.
This is another example of the brilliance of this era with Robert Holmes as script editor and Phillip Hinchcliffe as Producer. They created the best sustained quality I think the show has ever had. This story is just one of many top standard classics from this time and writer Robert Banks Stewart has provided a great story to follow his equally great Terror of the Zygons.
The dialogue of this story is intelligent and thoroughly enjoyable and it is delivered with superb acting by the whole cast while director Douglas Camfield again shows he is one of the finest directors the show had. The first 3 episodes in particular are tremendous and are at the highest possible standard. The engrossing science fiction/horror story and remote setting enriched with phenomenal characterisations and an alien threat makes this electrifying entertainment. The final 3 episodes are a bit less cerebral and more about monster attacks, confrontations and action but still have a tough, dark feel and the interesting human villain as well as the fun giant monster.
Right from the start when the story begins with the three research scientists in the Antarctic those three characters are all very convincingly written and acted. It is actually a shame that such a well acted part as Moberley (Michael McStay) only lasts one episode. The sinister villain Chase (the superb Tony Beckley) has a smooth, slimy, creepy menace which is really entertaining and perfectly played. His violent thug Scorby (played brilliantly by John Challis, 'Boycie' from comedy classic 'Only Fools and Horses') is far more than your average 'heavy', he is another effective and interesting villain. Dunbar, Thackeray, Keeler and Hargreaves are all also extremely well acted. In addition we also get the larger than life eccentric Amelia Ducat (Sylvia Coleridge) who adds a humour and lightness amongst the mostly serious characters. There are actually lots of wonderful, witty moments interspersed with all the drama and menace.
Tom Baker is magnificent as The Doctor. He delivers numerous witty lines with sparkling charisma whilst mostly is at the toughest and most stern we ever see him. He tells people off and barks orders one moment then makes a great joke the next, both with equal conviction. He is seen to be both selflessly heroic and the most actively tough the character has ever been. He engages in punch ups and even points a gun but this is all done so well that it works.
The suspense and shocks, intelligent, engaging script and the enjoyable action make this a true classic. Even the Krynoid, which at times shows up the limitations of the show's effects, has some great moments. The stop motion work with the giant monster and the house is actually impressive. This is a fantastic, gripping and entertaining pleasure from start to finish. A 10/10 classic that all 'Whovians' must see.
My ratings: All 6 Parts - 10/10.
This story finished off the awesome series 13 which is a front runner for best season ever along with Season 14 and just ahead of Season 12. This Hinchcliffe & Holmes run era is simply incredible standard. 23 out of the 26 episodes of Season 13 got the full 10/10 from me which is unbelievable standards over a season. Only Parts 2 to 4 of The Android Invasion failed to get full 10/10 with only Part 4 being a real disappointment for me. Any Doctor Who 'show-runner' now or in the future should aim to copy the qualities of this era as it is as good as TV gets.
My Season 13 Average Rating: 9.67/10!
The story here is that The Doctor and Sarah go to an Antarctic base where three scientists have discovered a form of unknown plant life buried in the snow. It has been there for many thousands of years but is of alien origin. The pods found turn out to be Krynoids, a plant which is carnivorous, parasitic, powerful and immensely fast growing. The Doctor knows this plant is a threat to all humanity but a pod is stolen by crazed millionaire Harrison Chase who is obsessed with plants.
Horror content was at its peak at this point in the series history and this story is one of the most horror based of all. There are some genuinely grim and macabre scenes which must have had children AND parents hiding behind the sofa. After having a lot of complaints during this time for being too adult and horrific, Doctor Who producers were forced to tone it down. The series, whilst still always continuing to have brilliant thrills, scares and adult qualities was never again to have quite the level of grown up thrills found in series 13 and 14. A scene where someone gets chewed up by a recycling machine is one example but there is a lot of quite gritty and dark content here and that only serves to make this a superb and memorable adventure.
This is another example of the brilliance of this era with Robert Holmes as script editor and Phillip Hinchcliffe as Producer. They created the best sustained quality I think the show has ever had. This story is just one of many top standard classics from this time and writer Robert Banks Stewart has provided a great story to follow his equally great Terror of the Zygons.
The dialogue of this story is intelligent and thoroughly enjoyable and it is delivered with superb acting by the whole cast while director Douglas Camfield again shows he is one of the finest directors the show had. The first 3 episodes in particular are tremendous and are at the highest possible standard. The engrossing science fiction/horror story and remote setting enriched with phenomenal characterisations and an alien threat makes this electrifying entertainment. The final 3 episodes are a bit less cerebral and more about monster attacks, confrontations and action but still have a tough, dark feel and the interesting human villain as well as the fun giant monster.
Right from the start when the story begins with the three research scientists in the Antarctic those three characters are all very convincingly written and acted. It is actually a shame that such a well acted part as Moberley (Michael McStay) only lasts one episode. The sinister villain Chase (the superb Tony Beckley) has a smooth, slimy, creepy menace which is really entertaining and perfectly played. His violent thug Scorby (played brilliantly by John Challis, 'Boycie' from comedy classic 'Only Fools and Horses') is far more than your average 'heavy', he is another effective and interesting villain. Dunbar, Thackeray, Keeler and Hargreaves are all also extremely well acted. In addition we also get the larger than life eccentric Amelia Ducat (Sylvia Coleridge) who adds a humour and lightness amongst the mostly serious characters. There are actually lots of wonderful, witty moments interspersed with all the drama and menace.
Tom Baker is magnificent as The Doctor. He delivers numerous witty lines with sparkling charisma whilst mostly is at the toughest and most stern we ever see him. He tells people off and barks orders one moment then makes a great joke the next, both with equal conviction. He is seen to be both selflessly heroic and the most actively tough the character has ever been. He engages in punch ups and even points a gun but this is all done so well that it works.
The suspense and shocks, intelligent, engaging script and the enjoyable action make this a true classic. Even the Krynoid, which at times shows up the limitations of the show's effects, has some great moments. The stop motion work with the giant monster and the house is actually impressive. This is a fantastic, gripping and entertaining pleasure from start to finish. A 10/10 classic that all 'Whovians' must see.
My ratings: All 6 Parts - 10/10.
This story finished off the awesome series 13 which is a front runner for best season ever along with Season 14 and just ahead of Season 12. This Hinchcliffe & Holmes run era is simply incredible standard. 23 out of the 26 episodes of Season 13 got the full 10/10 from me which is unbelievable standards over a season. Only Parts 2 to 4 of The Android Invasion failed to get full 10/10 with only Part 4 being a real disappointment for me. Any Doctor Who 'show-runner' now or in the future should aim to copy the qualities of this era as it is as good as TV gets.
My Season 13 Average Rating: 9.67/10!
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