Dragon Misfire: The 150th Story Stumbles Across the Finish Line - "Dragonfire"
Jim and John tackle the Season 24 finale and the show's 150th story, featuring Bonnie Langford's abrupt departure, Sophie Aldred's introduction as Ace, the return of Sabalom Glitz, and one of the most infamous cliffhangers in Doctor Who history. Jim struggles to find redeeming qualities in a season he considers possibly the worst in Classic Who, while production issues and budget constraints become increasingly evident.
The 150th Story Milestone: Written by Ian Briggs (who will later write fan-favorite "The Curse of Fenric"), directed by Chris Clough (completing his second "last two stories of a season" after Trial of a Time Lord). Originally pitched as story about an intergalactic shopping center owner wanting the TARDIS for the ultimate shopping experience. The BBC counted Trial of a Time Lord as one story arc, so technically this should be story 153.
Andrew Cartmell brought writers into his office for collaborative discussion—closest thing to a "writer's room" Doctor Who ever had. Cartmell considered this the best story of Season 24, which Jim finds bewildering given his own assessment of the season.
The Infamous Umbrella Cliffhanger: Everybody fixates on McCoy lowering himself over a parapet by his umbrella, stopping mid-descent and hanging there looking confused. The scene has become legendary for all the wrong reasons—why did he do it in the first place when he wasn't trapped?
According to Briggs, the script called for the Doctor to lower himself because he was trapped with nowhere to go, and the actual cliffhanger was supposed to be the dragon appearing. The awkward execution wasn't the writer's fault. Director and production team share blame for one of the series' most criticized moments.
Sophie Aldred as Ace: Cast at age 26 to play 16-year-old Ace (10 years younger than her actual age—more than Burt Ward's 6-year gap playing Robin). Actually two years older than Bonnie Langford despite playing significantly younger. Sophie auditioned for Ray in "Delta and the Bannermen" but didn't get it—worked in her favor as Ace became iconic.
Character is human from late 20th century Earth who arrived on Iceworld when chemistry experiment triggered time storm in her bedroom. Uses homemade explosive "Nitro-9" and shouts "Ace!" frequently (which doesn't work for Jim). Calls the Doctor "Professor" which he tries to discourage.
John admits he initially hated Ace in this story—found her annoying and grumpy, a "miserable brat." But promises a "Richter scale" shift in appreciation with the next story, suggesting maturation between seasons and genuine chemistry developing with McCoy that was absent with Mel.
Bonnie Langford's Awkward Exit: Mel's departure makes no narrative sense—no setup, no telegraphing, completely out of nowhere. She suddenly decides to stay with Glitz to "keep him out of trouble" with zero romantic hints or friendship development to justify it.
The farewell scene wasn't written by Briggs—it was McCoy's audition piece that he loved so much he convinced Cartmell to insert it into the script. Both later regretted this decision. Briggs washes his hands of it: "I didn't write that."
Bonnie had to act opposite her replacement throughout, standing back while production sells Sophie/Ace hard, often getting relegated to the background. Classic Who pattern of treating departing companions poorly. Jim notes tiny bit of charm finally emerging between McCoy and Bonnie right at the very end—too little, too late.
Bonnie's Post-Who Career: Didn't get the serious acting career she hoped Doctor Who would provide. Continued successful musical theater and light entertainment work but remained the butt of jokes for years—including a 1990s condom commercial depicting her parents with slogan "if only they'd used a condom."
Public perception shifted when she appeared on "Strictly Come Dancing" (British dance competition) alongside John Barrowman. Fans hoped for Doctor Who face-off but she was injured during rehearsal and had to withdraw; Barrowman voted out shortly after. Her bravery with the injury softened public opinion—now considered a "national treasure" in Britain. This is why she was brought back for New Who, not just fan service.
The Glitz Problem: Tony Selby returns as Sabalom Glitz—JNT read the script, liked having Tony Selby (who was "hot" at the time appearing on other British TV), and suggested using Glitz instead of similar character. Glitz owns the Nosferatu (referenced in Trial of a Time Lord).
Jim couldn't stand Glitz's hair. Compares him to Star Trek's Cyrano Jones/Harry Mudd. Softened for this story, lost whatever bite he had before. No chemistry with anyone—not Ace, not the Doctor. Tony Selby passed away in 2021 at age 83.
In New Who, Mel references traveling with "Sabalom Glitz" until he was 107, slipped on a bottle, cracked his head and died. She returned to Earth by "hopping on a Zingo" (running joke—no one knows what a Zingo is).
Kane and the Ice World Setting: Edward Peel plays Kane, the villain who controls Iceworld trading colony on dark side of planet Svartos. His touch is so cold it can kill. Marks employees with his symbol iced into their flesh. Basically "Mr. Freeze redux" per Jim.
Kane is half of Kane-Xana criminal gang from planet Proamon. Xana killed herself to avoid arrest; Kane was exiled to cold dark side of Svartos. Iceworld is actually a spacecraft—the "treasure" is a crystal that activates the ship to end his exile.
Kane's head-melting death scene well-executed (reminds Jim of Star Trek TNG's "Conspiracy" but actually inspired by Toht/Belloq melting in Raiders of the Lost Ark). Jim wishes they'd lingered on the effect a second or two longer—it was actually done well.
Patricia Quinn as Belazs: The only character Jim cared about in Part One. Reminded him strongly of Glynis Johns. Plays officer who realizes Kane won't release her, tries to escape, attempts to overthrow Kane by raising temperature in his chambers.
Patricia Quinn interviewed on Blu-ray—now a British Duchess with purple hair, incredibly eccentric despite aristocratic status. Behind the Sofa caught her looking off-camera for cue cards "like a Saturday Night Live skit."
Belazs killed by Kane, goes out "like a chump" when Jim thought she deserved to be the one to dispatch Kane. New lackeys introduced in Part 3 waste screen time that could have developed her character better.
The Derivative Dragon: Jim catalogs extensive borrowing from other sci-fi properties:
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Dragon is blatant Alien/Aliens ripoff—H.R. Giger's xenomorph design copied almost exactly (long thin arms, fingers, back protrusions, head shape like Alien Queen)
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Described as "biomechanoid" (Giger's biomechanical design philosophy)
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Superman Fortress of Solitude hologram crystal stolen wholesale—hologram woman appears to conveniently explain backstory exactly like Lex Luthor scene in Superman II
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Alien tracker guns copied from Aliens (complete with "it should be right on us" suspense)
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Zombies added to cliché pile
Jim notes the show stopped ripping off Star Wars and moved on to Alien franchise and Superman movies. This is "perhaps never more" derivative than in this story.
Production and Budget Collapse: "Batman Season 3 worthy sets"—budget clearly ran out by season's end. Station sets not impressive, doesn't sell the Ice World concept. Model of planet surface done well, but interior sets very lacking.
Shot brightest possible lights, no atmosphere or mystery. Dragon walks around "like a costume character at Disney World." Almost entirely studio-bound with minimal location work.
Cliffhanger at end of Part 2 "one of the most horribly dull ever"—Kane just declares "the dragonfire shall be mine" with no tension whatsoever.
The McCoy Problem Continues: Jim still doesn't know who McCoy's Doctor is. An engaging Doctor can carry even poor stories (citing Colin Baker), but McCoy isn't doing that. Not a force within the show, just reacting. Both McCoy and Mel "treading water" all season.
This is McCoy's "freshman year" but with a producer trying to rebuild without reaching out to anything—soft reboot that plays it safe with half the budget. Jim sees all the tropes and clichés but not innovation.
Brief moment of crankiness when McCoy yells "SILENCE!" at the girls—is this the temperamental side promised? Tiny bit of charm emerges at very end with Mel but too late. No chemistry with Bonnie throughout until final seconds.
John's thesis: "These three seasons walked so New Who could run." Season 24 feels like desperate attempt to make it a kids' show again but dumbing it down ("Uncle Miltie's Carnival of Fun"). Philosophy discussion scene interesting but "puts everyone in the audience asleep."
Cast Notes:
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Tony Osoba (Kracauer) played Lan in "Destiny of the Daleks," returns in New Who episode "Kill the Moon"
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Sharon Duce (customer with milkshake dumped on her) was the camper killed by Ogri in "Stones of Blood" (the scene that scandalized Jim and John for depicting unmarried relations)
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Little girl Stellar played by Miranda Borman—wearing a dress Bonnie Langford wore at that age for a role. Hosts wonder if this was a stage mother situation
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Large cast overall—perhaps one of the largest in Doctor Who history
The Cartmell Philosophy: Andrew Cartmell doesn't like interior TARDIS scenes, so "we're not gonna see the console room much moving forward." Jim outraged: "That's inane... good writing doesn't drag a scene down." Lost opportunities for insightful TARDIS interactions between Doctor and companions.
Fandom Division: By end of Season 24, fandom most divided over show's direction. Fanzine DWB went on crusade to get JNT sacked—he considered suing but BBC told him to leave it. BBC willing to let him go after 25th season (which he wanted to see through) but he stayed on longer than that.
Jim's Season Assessment: Can't think of another time the show has felt this low overall. Rough, a slog. Still not sure who McCoy is as a Doctor. Compares unfavorably to Colin Baker era—at least Colin was consistent and worth watching even in poor stories.
Sees Season 24 as show desperately wanting spunky girl companion (keeps trying over and over) but not knowing what to do with them when they get one (Mel being prime example).
Both agree it's not a good way to end the season.
Coming Up Next:
Patreon Exclusive 170: Music selection, Season 24 retrospective, at least one Season 25 spoiler for Jim, comic strip reviews of "Redemption" and "The Crossroads of Time" (both one-parters), and Memory TARDIS wheel spin.
Hiatus Special (Patreon early): "Wartime" shorts featuring the return of Sergeant Benton with the interesting behind-the-scenes story of how this fan production came to be (approximately 30-35 minutes).
(Main feed) BBC audio drama "Slipback" with Colin Baker and Nicola Bryant.
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