Doctor Who (TV Series) The Twin Dilemma: Part Four (1984) User Reviews

Disappointing, but the best of the four

[Sleepin_Dragon · 6/10 · 23 January 2019]

I wouldn't go so far as to say I enjoyed it, but it wasn't bad, Twin Dilemma improves as it progresses, albeit from a dismally low point. Colin improves so much, I know he intentionally played him as I'll tempered and angry, but that coupled with the garish outfit, was a little off putting. He certainly signed off well, and with that smile, we knew we were ok with him.

Maurice Denham gets to show his talents, finally, in a touching scene with Colin, Kevin McNally was also rather good, after ditching that jacket.

The Doctor perhaps overcomes the gastropods a little too easily, but the story itself was quite good, even if the realisation wasn't quite up to scratch.

Why on Earth did they have to give those twins the names Romulus and Remus? They were always up against it.

It's not great overall, but it at least ends with a half decent episode. 6/10

Colin Bakers disappointing first story as the Doctor.

[poolandrews · 5/10 · 10 March 2007]

Doctor Who: The Twin Dilemma: Part 4 starts as things are not looking good for the Doctor (Colin Baker) as Peri (nicola Bryant) has been captured & taken to the evil slug Mestor (Edwin Richfield) who plans to flood the entire universe with Gastropod eggs which will hatch & colonise entire planets & it's down to the Doctor to stop it & save his friends...

This Doctor Who adventure was episode 24 from season 21 that aired here in the UK during early 1984 & was Colin Bakers first story as the Doctor, directed by Peter Moffatt The Twin Dilemma isn't the best story ever but I will admit that it has got better with each episode. The script by Anthony Stevens finally reveals it's big revelation about Mestor wanting to colonise the entire universe & it's during these silly sci-fi moments when Doctor Who is at it's entertaining best & not when it's focusing on boring character's. To be fair to it I thought it was OK over it's four parts but The Twin Dilemma certainly isn't classic Doctor Who by any stretch of the imagination, even though he started out very unlikable Colin Bakers Doctor has grown on me as this story has unfolded & he's settled down a bit.

Tight budgets are all the rage at the BBC & it shows here, the sets, the majority of the special effects & the awful creature costume for Mestor in particular are not of a high standard. I still can't believe Hugo Lang wears that multi coloured monstrosity of a shirt, it's absolutely hideous.

The Twin Dilemma isn't a great first story for Colin Baker but it's not quite as bad as a lot of people make out & I'd say it isn't the worst Doctor Who story of all time either, worth a watch for Doctor Who fans but more casual viewers would be advised that there are better stories out there.

OH MY WORD..

[wetmars · 4/10 · 3 April 2020]

The Doctor and Edgeworth deduce that the real plan of Mestor, the gastropod ruler of Jaconda, will not only destroy Jaconda but lead to the devastation of other planets. Together they hope to thwart him despite his formidable ability at slipping into people's minds and controlling them.

God damn, this story really stinks..

The best episode of the story.

[michaelherman-56753 · 7/10 · 30 December 2020]

The plot moves well through this episode, and less acting from the twins. A beautiful scene between The Doctor and Azmael cements Colin in the role. A bit more humor and it all ends with a smile. Definitely a huge difference to the first three episodes.

Best for some of it's moments

[gabrielwho-44390 · 8/10 · 6 April 2022]

The Twin Dilemma is worth a watch, irrefutably so it has excellent comedy to the leading Doctor played by Colin Baker, and performances by the Conrad twins, Maurice Denham, Kevin McNally, and Edwin Richfield, were so good, so i can't say this story is the worst at all.