The Doctor Who 3-packs of figures in B&M have been a summer staple for a number of years now. Within the 2020 B&M sets is a new 3-pack that builds on the single carded general release figures from early 2020 and completes the TARDIS crew for the 13th Doctor with figures of az and Ryan packed with a Judoon Trooper, complete with new gun.
Packaging
The 2020 packs continue the packaging design established in 2019. It uses the new Dr Who logo, but in a silver colour with the box artwork themed around silver and blue and outline images of the TARDIS. There has been some improvement on the 2019 boxes with the top rail now removed and the window extended to wrap the top of the box and the right hand side. While this resolves issues with the figures head or feet being hidden in the box, it does leave the left hand figure as you look at the box a partially obscured.
The window is stickered with a gold foil "limited edition" sticker. Beneath this is confirmation of the set name as Friends & Foe of the Thirteenth Doctor. A small red insert then confirms the scale as 5.5 inch. The character names are not included at all on the front.
The left hand side spine continues the TARDIS illustration with a repeat of the set name. The right hand spine is simply coloured blue with a circular insert that now finally confirms the contents and character names. I am not sure why they have not put this on the box front?
The back of the box is very basic and carries pictures of each figure with the character name underneath and then repeats itself with a further circle insert with the character names listed again. With so much background detail included on the Dalek and TARDIS sets, I am confused as to why Character cannot include some basic background text for each figure on these sets?
The set opens up from the top flap and the figures and tray slide out as one piece. The figures are set against a grey lined cardboard backdrop that replicates the design used on the box reverse. Each figure is strapped in by two clear elasticated ties - one around the waist and another at the feet. It is easiest to snip these with scissors from behind as these can rub the paint if you try to pull them while the ties are in situ.
Paint & Sculpt 3/5
Yaz is a superb head sculpt with a brilliant likeness to Mandip Gill, while remaining sympathetic in terms of paint app to the rest of the line. The hair is impressive two with double buns and then lengths of hair from a second hair piece that drape over her shoulders.
Yaz uses a Primeval Claudia Brown body, the same one used in this years set for Romana I. While this may be a reuse, it fits perfectly for Yaz both in proportions and design. The outfit is based on the one worn in Arachnids in the UK with the white shirt, not the pink top. It is not a 100% match, but is close enough and in keeping with Jaz's style of clothing. Each element is well painted and detailed including the belt on the jeans and the two tone of the boots.
While Yaz is an awesome looking figure, Ryan is less impressive. We have a new head sculpt here too with a passing likeness to Tosin Cole. The head is perhaps too neutral for Ryan and looks too dour, having him smiling or at least with his mouth open as often seen on screen would have worked better.
After the head, the body is sadly poorly executed. It starts with the choice. It is a re-use of a Cutter figure from Primeval and that original figure was itself a bit odd in terms of proportions and the huge collar. There was a much better version released in later series of Primeval that would have worked better - they could have also used other figures like the End of Time Master with the hoodie or a Rory with the gilet for a style that Ryan would wear. What he gets is far too formal and it looks like a poor head swap custom.
Painting on the jacket is patchy with layers of green design to make the coat weathered just looking odd. The buttons are neatly painted in gold, while the shirt underneath is a vivid and far too bright turquoise. The trousers are grey, again with a quite intensive wash and the boots a jet black. The figure is meant to represent Ryan's outfit in Rosa and while the colours are right, the cut of the costume is wrong and it just isn't Ryan for me.
Our final figure is a full repack of the Judoon Trooper. The figure has no substantial changes since it was last released and is predominantly cast in black plastic. The helmet is sculpted into place and there is no option to remove it. Paintwork, where applied, is neat with bright silver on the helmet seal and around the various straps and rivets of the costumer. The skirt sections are a softer rubbery plastic that can be moved with the leg articulation.
For some reason, my Judoon arrived with very warped legs as you can see on the image which is disappointing.
Accessories 4/5
The set includes a single accessory, a new sculpt blaster rifle for the Judoon. The piece is pretty impressive with a sleek design and various paint apps including black, burgundy, silver and some intricate red dots.
It fits into the Judoon hand, but the fit is not overly tight.
Articulation 3/5
All three figures utilise the same articulation, 14 points in total. This is of course consistent with the line as a whole and fully as expected considering all three figures use bodies previously used in this or similar lines.
Head : rotating neck plug
Body : rotating waist
Arms : rotating shoulder joint, bicep swivel, single pin elbow, rotating wrist
Legs : T-Joint hip, thigh swivel, single pin knee
None of the figure are overly expressive. The arms are quite mobile, but engaging the bicep swivel will throw the look of the arm. With no ability to extend the shoulder away from the body, only rotating round, simple gestures are probably the order of the day.
The legs have more scope thanks to the T-Joint hip which can swing the leg out in front or to the side. This allows for wider stance posing, or some level of bend in the knees. There is a drawback though with the feet as there is no ankle joint to keep the feet flat to the floor as the other leg joints are moved. That leaves all leg posing in the hands of the figure to balance on the turned foot.
The Judoon can just about get its hands round for a two handed weapon pose, although the left hand struggles to fully grip his blaster weapon. Those warped feet on the Judoon, coupled with some loose leg joints and a top heavy design, make him difficult to stand
Summary
The Friends & Foe of the Thirteenth Doctor is an odd set in so much it is bringing Ryan and Yaz into the mix for the first time rather than granting them a single general release like Graeme, and then coupling them with a recent villain that itself would normally be an army builder and perhaps more fit for single release.
The figures themselves range from the very impressive Yaz, to the middle of the road Judoon, to the Ryan figure which just does not do it for me thanks to poor choice for the body/outfit. The overall look of the figures and the articulation is still in keeping with the main line that has now been running for 14 years - and therefore Ryan, Yaz and the Judoon will fit perfectly into any display. The packaging also presents some missed opportunity for background text, and even simple things like naming the figures on the front of the box.
I score the Friends & Foe of the Thirteenth Doctor a 3 out of 5. Individually I would score Yaz a 4, Judoon a 3 and Ryan a 2.
About Me : As a child of the 70's and 80's I grew up in a golden age for action figures and in my youth bought and sold myself through collections of Star Wars, G.I. Joe (Action Force) and M.A.S.K. while also dabbling in He-Man, Transformers and Ghostbusters. Roll forward and I am now reliving that Youth with the action figures of today and am a collector and fan of the larger 6-8 inch figures from my favourite movie and TV licences - including the ones mentioned above, but also the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Doctor Who and the Aliens. I launched The Mephitsu Archives in 2015 with a view of creating a UK focused site or these figures where fans can pick up the latest action figure news, read reviews and get information on where to buy their figures and what is currently on store shelves. I hope I am delivering that to you guys...
action figures, reviews, review, articulation, doctor who, dr who, 13th doctor, yaz, ryan, judoon, B&M, character options, toys
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