Target: The Three Doctors

Some improvements, some bits that are actually worse than the screen version. The best example of the latter is the government 'VIP' who replaces the 'Security Council on videophone'. We don't even have a scene with this personage, he's merely referred back to. (Then Terrance realises we can't have him going into the black hole along with UNIT HQ, so more space has to be wasted on the Brig ordering Cpl Palmer to send him away, and yet more reassuring us that this has actually been done - he's 'whizzed away' in his limousine in best children's-book style.

(Yes, I know the Targets are children's books, but their attraction is that often they don't read like them).

Omega's planet is much better, endless grey dunes and grey sea (although the Brig strangely still makes a joke about it looking like a quarry - instead of the Cromer reference). His base is a fantastic brass castle, and to prove a point to the Doctors he temporarily creates a beautiful landscape. The singularity is a flame (although Tel assures us that even that is just a sort of solid metaphor), Omega's monitor takes up a whole wall instead of being a television behind a cut-out and he creates a mirror as required, rather than just having one hanging on the wall.

The Brigadier is given a bit more dignity by means of a scene where he leads the other humans, armed with various UNIT weapons, to drive away the 'blob-men' when the Doctors escape from the castle.

Ollis is renamed Hollis, he actually fires his shotgun on Omega's planet at least once, and his last line is delivered with an affectionate hug of his wife, rather than a churlish tone.

Finally, the Doctor proposes a trip to Metebelis Three when he gets his new dematerialisation circuit, thus setting the stage for the rest of the season (I'm sure that bit isn't done on screen). I was none too keen on this Target as a kid, but I always enjoyed finally seeing him getting his mojo back.

This idea that Omega's world only has life and colour when he bothers to concentrate - and usually it's too much strain - could that be a metaphor for the story itself, which only has life and colour during the multi-Doctor scenes?