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Character Options Doctor Who - Faceless Grandma Connolly and the Wire
by benlepensive
I know what you are thinking, how can you possibly survive without a faceless granny action figure. All these years and now there exists a chance to own such a figure, courtesy of toy maker Character Options who have produced a faithful figure based on the character from the show 'Doctor Who' This is one of the first figures to have come ... from the action figure range and you can buy the toy loose for about a pound or boxed for about five pounds online. Due to the age of the figure, at three or so years old, you will struggle to one in toy stores on the high street.
The figure comes in at five inches in height and has been made from plastic. You can mover her head and arms, leg movement is hindered by the dress, which is fixed and cannot be peeled off..shame aye? Grandma does have a blank look on her face, which makes the figure look half finished and also a bit scary. Maybe not one to take to bed with you!
The outfit looks like the one from the show, with the floral dress very nicely coloured and shaped and the outer cardigan moulded in a very grannyish way. To add substance to the package, she comes with the wire, a small television set which also featured in the programme. This is the device that steals people's faces. The wire is a good little accessory and I am glad it was included with this toy and not sold as a separate item.
In terms of play value, she might not be the most exciting figure in the bunch, but she is unique looking because she is faceless, she is elderly and she is a victim and there are not that many figures that tick all these boxes. This makes her pretty desirable in my eyes, so a worthy addition to a busy line up.
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Character Options Doctor Who - Toby Possessed
by benlepensive
You will find Toby in his possessed state in the show 'Doctor Who'. He was an unfortunate victim onboard a spaceship, falling foul of some body altering effect. The character was quite a strong one in the episode though and was deemed significant enough to be turned into an action figure. You can actually buy a Toby in his normal state ... and also this one, the Possessed version.
The figure can be bought loose for about three pounds or boxed for around eight pounds. What you get is a poseable action figure made from plastic. He can be moved at the head, the arms and legs move too, so you get plenty of dynamic movement out of the toy.
The facial design is pretty accurate with a good hair match and the possessed effects coming across strongly in the eyes and skin. The detailing has been mapped onto his face well and if you study up close then you will see the difference between the normal Toby and this one. Moving onto his outfit, not the wildest costume we have seen on a figure, but the colour scheme echoes what he wore in the show and there is some good pleating on the shirt and round the knee area which brings the figure to life.
There is not much more to comment on here, a lack of extras let the product down, so you essentially get the basic five inch figure. In terms of desirability, younger kids might find the face fun and quirky, though I am not sure he represents long term play value as a character, in the way that a Dalek or The Master might. For that reason, I would not deem him an essential purchase, but a pleasing enough addition to the line up.
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Character Options Doctor Who - Laszlo
by benlepensive
Poor old fellow. He started his life as a rather dashing showbiz sort before having the misfortune of being turned into a pig. Laszlo is a character in the show 'Doctor Who' and made an appearance in the epic 'Daleks In Manhattan,' which is one of my favourite Tennant episodes. He was made into an action figure by Character Options ... after the show aired and you can buy him now online for stunningly cheap prices. Laszlo appears to be the most common of all the figures and sells for pence on auction sites and even boxed versions only command a mere pound or two.
The figure is made from a plastic resin and is fully poseable at all limbs. You can move the head, raise the arms and bend the legs and knees which gives him plenty of fluid movement. The size comes in at about five inches and he was one of the more slender of the figures. Where the figure excels is in the facial work. The combination of human and pig face has been captured nicely and the snout looks like a pig snout to me. His skin tone is impressive and the way his natural hair is still there, slicked back gives him the human appeal.
The costume lets him down though, for it is very bland to look at for long periods. While he does wear a maroon boiler suit in the show, on a plastic toy, it just does not command enough attention. The colour match might be strong, yet the outfit remains dull. Whether this has something to do with his cheap price I am not sure, but he does not rank that highly on my list of desirables. A charming character, but an unrewarding figure for the fans I feel.
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