[Doctor Who] continuing my catch-up on the Fourth Doctor with "The Pirate Planet".

Ooh, this was written by Douglas Adams!

I'm less than a minute in and already, the pirate captain is hamming it up like there's no tomorrow.

Though to be fair, that seems like it would come with the territory.

And he's got a robotic parrot with what seems to be a laser cannon for a beak.

Didn't realize the Doctor's been on the run for 523 years by this point.

(since he was 227, give or take)

"I'll show you a smooth materialization!" Naturally, this leads to one of the least smooth materializations that we've seen, and the Doctor banging his face on the TARDIS's console.

"Never trust gimmicky gadgets" says the guy who uses a Sonic Screwdriver for anything.

I like the banter between the Doctor and Romana I here more than the last serial. (it feels less mean-spirited)

Romana should probably learn not to tell people that she travels through time.

I'm not sure if it was intended to be funny, but I cracked up laughing at the actor running in place as his character tried to run down a hallway.

Apparently, the Doctor has been cruel towards an electron in a particle accelerator before.

I like the twist at the end of the second episode.

There's plenty of build-up to it, but I wasn't expecting the full extent of their operation.

The captain's bird has the terrifying power to kill people just off-screen.

I'd be surprised if Zanak is still standing by the end of this, given that the captain seems determined to devour every single piece of scenery in his general area.

Not literally, but he's certainly hamming it up even by his earlier standards.

The Doctor's rage at finding out what the captain does with the remains of the planets that he destroyed is almost palpable.

I love how K9's response to most situations is to show up and shoot things.

Mr. Fibuli reminds me of Kif from Futurama.

Tom Baker is clearly enjoying the chance to act opposite himself, with both "hims" playing the Doctor.

The Doctor claims that he inspired Isaac Newton by climbing a tree and tossing an apple at his head. Now I'm picturing him doing that, only to be interrupted by 14 and Donna materializing the TARDIS in that same tree, leaving him very confused. (even if he wouldn't remember that later)

Laughed out loud at the Doctor's mute "yeah!" and fist pump at the end.