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Doctor Who: Galaxy 4 - A Mixed Bag on a Lost Planet

"Galaxy 4" is a lost serial from Doctor Who's classic era,
 originally airing in 1965 as part of the First Doctor's tenure.  
 Due to missing episodes, reconstructions are used to view the story,
 which can affect the overall experience. Here's a breakdown 
 to help you decide if you'd like to  venture to this mysterious planet:

Story

The TARDIS lands on a seemingly barren planet called Galaxy 4. 
The Doctor, Steven, and Vicki encounter the ammonia-based 
alien race, the Rills, who  communicate  telepathically  
and  appear  somewhat  repulsive  due  to  their  reliance
  on  ammonia  environments.  Meanwhile,  a  group  of  humanoid
  aliens  called  the  Drahvins  arrive,  claiming  ownership  
  of  the  planet.  The  companions  get  caught  
  in  the  middle  of  this  conflict 
  while  the  Doctor  tries  to  unravel  the  truth  
  about  Galaxy 4  and  the  intentions  of  both  alien  races.

Review

Strengths

    Unique Alien Concepts: The story introduces the concepts 
	of ammonia-based life forms (the Rills) and telepathic 
	communication, which were original ideas for television at the time.
	
    Moral Complexity: The serial doesn't present clear-cut heroes 
	and villains. Both the Rills and the Drahvins have their 
	own motivations, raising questions about perception and prejudice.
	
    Strong Voice Acting (Rills): Despite not being seen fully, 
	the voice acting for the Rills is considered a highlight, 
	bringing them to life in a memorable way.

Weaknesses

    Missing Episodes: Unfortunately, a large portion of "Galaxy 4" 
	is lost, with only reconstructions available. 
	This can disrupt the narrative flow and make certain plot 
	points less clear for modern viewers.
	
    Dated Special Effects: The visual effects used for the alien 
	races and the planet itself might seem primitive by modern 
	standards, especially when relying on reconstructions.
	
    Slow Pacing in Parts (Reconstructions): The reconstructed 
	version might feel slow at times, especially during 
	exposition scenes explaining the alien races 
	and the conflict on the planet.

Reception:

    Positive:  Praised for its  unique  alien  concepts,  
	exploration  of  moral  complexity,  and  strong  
	voice  acting  for  the  Rills.  Some  fans  also  
	appreciate  the  subversion  of  expectations  
	regarding  the  alien  races.

    Negative:  Criticized for its  large  amount  
	of  missing  episodes  that  hinder  the  narrative,  
	dated  special effects  (especially  noticeable  
	in  reconstructions),  and  slow  pacing  in  certain  sections.

Overall Thoughts:

"Galaxy 4"  has  interesting  ideas  but  suffers  
from  the  limitations  of  its  era  and  the  loss  of  episodes. 
 While  the  reconstructions  might  not  be  ideal,  
 the  story  offers  a  glimpse  into  the  inventiveness  
 of  early  Doctor Who  and  explores  thought-provoking  
 themes  about  appearances  being  deceitful.

Would I recommend watching it?

    For Fans of Classic Doctor Who: 5/10 
	(Especially those interested in the show's 
	exploration of alien societies and moral dilemmas, 
	but be prepared for the missing episodes)
	
    For Fans of Modern Doctor Who: 3/10

If you're a die-hard fan of classic Doctor Who  
and  are  willing  to  overlook  the  limitations  
of  lost  episodes  and  reconstructions, ...

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