Comic Relief: Doctor Who - The Curse of Fatal Death

I have seen every episode of the Doctor Who series, and so I felt obligated to watch this as well. I loved it. Rowan Atkins as the 9th Doctor is totally believable. You wonder why he never was picked as the Doctor in the tv series. Johnathan Pryce made the most hilarious Master, giving credibility to such lines as "The deadly vengeance of deadly revenge!". Long time Doctor Who fans should love this. In fact, anyone who never saw an episode of Doctor Who will find it funny as well.

I found this comedy to be hilariously funny and smart. A fitting tribute to a series that still can attract millions of viewers and should continue for many years to come. The writer and producers were very careful not to make this into a "parody" and send up the series - this would have been wrong and objected by its many fans.

Rowan Atkinson makes a fine Doctor Who. Jim Broadbent is remarkably similar to the Master in the actual Doctor Who TV series - they should allow him to continue the role should the series ever be brought back. And the surprise appearance of Hugh Grant was wonderfully placed - he would also make a very fine Doctor Who should it be continued.

Overall, a very enjoyable adventure.

Following the original series, which ran from 1963 to 1989, and Fox's unsuccessful attempt to Americanize Doctor Who in 1996, the closest we got to a revival of Britain's most celebrated TV show was this affectionate Comic Relief spoof from 1999, which pays homage to and lampoons the Time Lord's adventure.

Structured like a regular story from the classic show (i.e. divided in multiple parts), The Curse of Fatal Death stars Rowan Atkinson, once a candidate to play the role in the official series, as a mock-up version of the Ninth Doctor, who's traveling through time and space with a new female partner when he runs into the latest incarnation of the Master (Jonathan Pryce) and the Daleks.

At this point, any sign of actual plot evaporates, as Steven Moffat, who later went to write the new Doctor Who series, is more interested in making fun of two of the show's trademarks: time paradoxes and regeneration. The first aspect is handled through a classy battle of wits between Master and Doctor, based on an elementary pattern: the Master traveled back in time to set up a deadly trap, the Doctor anticipated the move and traveled further back in time to stop him, and so on. The second aspect, the fact that Time Lords can have thirteen different incarnations, constitutes the bulk of the episode's second half, as the Ninth Doctor is wounded and keeps regenerating, effectively using up all his lives. Then again, why complain when you transform into Richard E. Grant, Jim Broadbent, Hugh Grant and, um, Joanna Lumley?

It's all a bunch of nonsense, but delivered with that typical Britishness which makes it a must-see. The dialogue, no matter how stupid, manages to come off as extremely witty, and the actors are a joy to behold, especially Atkinson, the two Grants and Pryce, as they infuse their performances with the correct mix of seriousness and self-parody. And let's not forget the terrific idea of having everyone, including the Daleks, address possible continuity problems or plot holes with the deadpan "We'll explain later!".

Bottom line: fan of Doctor Who? You'll love this humorous take on the legend. To quote the "real" Ninth Doctor (Christopher Eccleston): "Fantastic!".

This parody, originally aired on Red Nosed Day as a 4-part skit, is now available in the US as a two-part story on VHS, along with additional footage on the making of, and some interesting extras, and is well worth the purchase.

Rowan Atkinson is brilliant in his very Tom Baker-ish portrayal of the Doctor, although I do detect a hint of Sylvester McCoy. Jonathan Pryce is hilariously sinister as the Master, bringing much Roger Delgado to the role.

The show pokes good-natured fun at the original series, especially the infamous "I'll tell you later" asides that are never explained.

Worth a look by all Dr. Who fans.

I read the reviews. Most say it's brilliant. Some say it's terrible. I think it's just what you could ask for a parody. It can stand up on it's own, but if you are familiar with the series, it can be a lot of fun. Take Dr. Who, Steal a bit from "Bill and Ted", and add a twist of Blackadder and you get a suprisingly good story that's easy to follow and fun to watch. The multiple regenerations are quite silly, but what do you expect. Jonathan Pryce adds a touch of class as the Master in spite of everything. If you know anything about Dr. Who, you will probably enjoy it if you remember not to take it too seriously.