Comic Relief: Doctor Who - The Curse of Fatal Death

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 grew up with Dr. Who, I enjoy the show, and I laughed my socks off during "The Curse of Fatal Death"

The piece tries to amuse both long-time fans of the show, and casual viewers who only know it 'that cheesy British sci-fi show', so it has a fair bit of juggling to do. However, the the comedy draws from both ends of the spectrum and, I think, can provoke laughter from anyone who has a passing familiarity with the original.

All of the actors (Atkinson, REG, Broadbent et al) manage to put their own mark on the character during their brief interlude as the Gallifreyan Timelord and seemed to have fun doing it. Pryce was clearly having far too much fun hamming it up as The Master. Pryce's comments about prepping for his role make watching the 'making-of' segment on the video worth the time, alone - and the rest of it is quite entertaining, too.

Granted, the humor can be a bit broad, but this isn't a subtle social satire, folks, it's a blatant parody and, as such, some silly things are going to happen. I've heard rumbling complaints from purists about CoFD being "disrespectful" or something and I think that mayhaps those fans are taking themselves too seriously. If you can't laugh at yourself, then it's probably too late for you...

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!".

Curse of Fatal Death is one of the best produced Doctor Who parodies I've ever seen. It has jokes not only poking fun at the show but jokes genuinely meant to appeal to fans of the series. Rowan Atkinson makes an excellent choice as the comic Doctor along with the various other surprising guest stars to play the role in this rapid regeneration riot.

Produced originally for Red Nose Day this will no doubt be a favorite of fans for years to come. Highly recommended to all Doctor Who fans!