Geeks across this great nation are waiting in eager anticipation for this weekend, and the grand two-hour season premiere of Battlestar Galactica. I know I am. The show shook itself out of its rut and is promising some big changes this year, and it should be interesting to see how it all transpires.
However, another show — tied for the title of Best Show on Television at the moment — is about to get its season debut this weekend as well. The revived Doctor Who will return to our screens on the CBC, this Monday at 8 p.m. (You can also see the actor playing the current Doctor starring in the BBC’s Casanova this Sunday at 9 p.m. on Masterpiece Theater. I recommend you all see it.)
It has been a long wait for Doctor Who fans tied to the CBC for their TARDIS fix. The first season, starring Christopher Eccleston, aired over eighteen months ago, but it was only able to air at that time because hockey was on strike. Rather than compete with the 2005-2006 playoffs, the CBC wisely decided to use the second season of the new Doctor Who to bolster their fall schedule.
But as I am a geek with connections (to other geeks with DVD burners), I’ve seen the second season of Doctor Who already (it debuted in Britain this past April). However, such is my love for this show that I fully intend to watch each episode as it appears on the CBC. And for fans who have waited patiently, I would like to offer you this (mostly) spoiler-free preview of what to expect.
The tenth Doctor was introduced to viewers this past Boxing Day, on the 90-minute special, The Christmas Invasion (reviewed here). The second season starts some time after the Christmas special, with David Tennant’s Doctor rested and recovered from his regeneration. He and Rose are ready to return to the stars, and their first trip takes them back to familiar territory…
New Earth (by Russell T. Davies; directed by James Hawes)
Plot: The Doctor and Rose return to Five Billion AD (a few years after the events of last season’s The End of the World) and encounter a rebuilt Earth, a hospital staffed by feline nuns, human lab rats and Cassandra, the last human. It’s Saturday night and she ain’t got no body!
What to Expect: A stylish and funny episode carried primarily by rapid-fire dialogue and the acting talents of David Tennant, Zoe Wannamaker and especially Billie Piper. A plot thread about the Doctor’s people is introduced, and then set aside, never to be touched for the remainder of the season.
My Impressions: As a season opener, New Earth should serve the audience well. Its not an ambitious story, and there are some serious writing flaws, here (the motivation of the villain is very unbelievable in the final minutes). The ending seems forced, but the story works as a comedy. It’s a very good showcase of the new Doctor’s character, and it promises better things to come.
My Rating: 5/10
Tooth and Claw (by Russell T. Davies; directed by Euros Lynn)
Plot: The Doctor and Rose help a recently widowed Queen Victoria escape a werewolf and kung-fu monks in this stylish gothic thriller. The Torchwood subplot gets firmly established here.
What to Expect: Decent performances by every cast member and excellent special effects. The dialogue is strong and the pace effective.
My Impressions: This episode is among the most popular with fans this season, but there are elements at the end which just rub me the wrong way. The plot resolution is far too pat for my liking, and the Doctor and Rose’s attitude just doesn’t ring true. But that’s probably just me.
My Rating: 8.5/10
School Reunion (by Toby Whithouse; directed by James Hawes)
Plot: The Doctor and Rose investigate strange goings-on at a school near Rose’s old home and discover former companion Sarah Jane Smith investigating the same thing. Rose is brought face-to-face with the realization that her time with the Doctor is fleeting, and the Doctor is brought face-to-face with the impact he has on the lives of those around him — even years after he goes away.
What to Expect: Sarah Jane Smith and K-9 — an obvious tip of the hat to fans of the old series. There’s also Anthony Stewart Head playing an evil Giles. But this tale has considerable depth in spite of (or perhaps because of) these elements so clearly designed to appeal to fans, rather than the wider audience.
My Impressions: Stylishly directed and well-written. Yes, it contradicts a few things the old series established (Sarah Jane Smith never thought that the Doctor was dead), but as a self-contained story, it’s very well put together, and full of nice touches. All of the actors are in fine form, and it all coalesces into a satisfying whole.
My Rating: 9/10
The Girl in the Fireplace (by Steven Moffat; directed by Euros Lyn)
Plot: The Doctor, Mickey and Rose intervene when they discover 18th century French courtesan Madame de Pompadour stalked by clockwork robots from the 51st century. There’s also a horse named Arthur.
What to Expect: A surprising, touching, funny love story, with creepy monsters and some horrific effects. There’s wonderful chemistry between the Doctor and Rennette Poisson (Sophia Myles), and the same rich dialogue you’ve come to expect from Steven Moffat (author of The Empty Child / The Doctor Dances; last season’s best story). The final moments are wonderful tragedy.
Quotable: “Who the devil are you?!” / “I’m the Doctor! And I’ve just snogged Madame de Pompadour!”
“What’s a horse doing on a spaceship?” / “Get some perspective, Mickey; what’s eighteenth century France doing on a spaceship?”
My Impressions: Flawless. Powerful. Neil Gaiman’s favourite episode so far. Need I say more?
My Rating: 10/10 (tied for best of the season)
Rise of the Cybermen / The Age of Steel (by Tim MacRae; directed by Graeme Harper)
Plot: The TARDIS falls through a portal and ends up on a parallel Earth, where events are underway towards creating that universe’s version of the Cybermen. Even here, Rose can’t get too far away from her family — not that I mind.
What to Expect: The heralded return of Graeme Harper is moderated by the fact that the three other directors Russell T. Davies hired for this season are just as good as he is. Still, Harper does his job, and there’s no complaints on the direction front. Look for references to the Troughton Cyberman story The Invasion, and an effective use of the Nylons’ song In the Jungle.
P.S.: You know those Bluetooth earphones that are now all the rage among cellphone users, that fit to your earlobe? If some company tries to convince you to wear one on each ear, refuse. You’ll see why.
My Impressions: I like the approach Davies has taken of bringing back two returning monsters or villains each season, giving one a big showcase, and sneaking the other in under our noses. The Cybermen are nicely redesigned and deliver a good amount of heft (although not much stealth).
But I fear that this two parter misses a number of opportunities to deliver something special for the return of the Cybermen, in the way that Dalek so surprised us last season. Neat though it was to use of a parallel Earth to reboot the Cybermen’s origins, it’s worth comparing this tale to the Peter Davison audio play Spare Parts, upon which parts this story is supposed to be based. As I said in this review, Spare Parts tells a harrowing tale of planetary disaster which makes the creation of the Cybermen almost logical. This two parter makes the Cybermen the creation of a crippled genius. The Daleks did it better with Davros.
For the real origin of the Cybermen, go borrow, rent, or buy a copy of the Peter Davison audio play, Spare Parts.
My Rating: 7/10
The Idiot’s Lantern (by Mark Gatiss; directed by Euros Lynn)
Plot: The Doctor (boasting an Elvis hairstyle) and Rose arrive on the eve of the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II, and find an alien force hiding within the wires, attacking people through their television sets.
What to Expect: An effective period piece which tries to emulate the surrealistic gothic sensibilities of Sapphire and Steel. The villain may be thin in character, but she is effectively played by Maureen Lipman. A stylishly-told story with good characters but a very thin plot.
My Impressions: It doesn’t have the pat ending of New Earth, but neither does it have quite the verve of Russell T. Davies’ offerings. There is good characterization, here, and good acting, but the villain’s motivations are quite pedestrian.
My Rating: 5/10 (possibly the weakest story of the season)
The Impossible Planet / The Satan Pit (by Matt Jones; directed by James Strong)
Plot: The Doctor and Rose land on a planet in a stable orbit on the event horizon of a rapidly growing black hole (this is, of course, impossible). They encounter a group of plucky humans who have been sent to investigate the planet, arriving by rocket through a gravimetric funnel the planet is putting out (this is, of course, impossible). Everything is held in place by a gigantic power source at the core of the planet (this is, of course, impossible). With the restaurant at the end of the Universe unavailable, the Doctor and Rose have no choice but to stick around and see what happens. There is obviously an intelligence at work here, and the humans know they may be on the verge of unleashing it. They keep digging anyway.
What to Expect: Aliens which owe their appearance to H.P. Lovecraft, a voice of evil that sounds suspiciously like that of Sutekh (see Tom Baker’s classic episode, The Pyramids of Mars), a nightmarish man with red eyes and ancient text written all over his skin, and a spectacularly rendered alien environment. Amongst this, look for the Doctor’s quiet reflections on the nature of God, and effective character moments all round.
My Impressions: Hard though it is to believe, but I think Doctor Who just managed to out-Alien Alien, here. This is a wonderfully spooky story, deftly directed, delivering chills through effective use of lighting, voice acting and sound. The story also has depth, and a simple message that’s delivered very well. I especially like the fact that, with the exception of two extras, all of the on-screen deaths count for something and are mourned. The story also plays with a number of Doctor Who cliches, giving them a fresh and fun twist.
I should note that my opinion on this episode, while widely shared, isn’t universal. The monster, when it’s finally revealed, isn’t as scary as the build-up promises, but in my view that’s the point. It’s not the monster that’s truly terrifying, but the idea behind it. I’ll say no more than that.
My Rating: 10/10 (tied for best of the season)
Love and Monsters (by Russell T. Davies; directed by Dan Zepp)
Plot: A wild comedy about the chaos left in the Doctor’s wake, told from the point of view of a young man devoting his life to tracking the Time Lord down. Torchwood gets mentioned a lot.
What to Expect: Written by Russell T. Davies to give a home to a monster designed by a 10-year-old contest winner, do not expect big things from Love and Monsters. The Absorbaloff is silly but, if you’re prepared for that, you will have a good time. More interesting is the tale of the lives of those people affected by the Doctor, and how they end up supporting each other.
My Impressions: It’s a wild and funny ride, and strangely uplifting. My main complaints amount to a nitpick (I would have structured the teaser slightly differently) and a character’s plot resolution that’s needlessly icky. But these are easily overlooked.
My Rating: 8/10
Fear Her (by Matthew Graham; directed by Euros Lyn)
Plot: The Doctor and Rose land in London during the opening of the 2012 Olympics and deal with a troubled young girl that is snatching her neighbourhood’s children with her crayon drawings.
What to Expect: Creepy moments spice up a lightweight, lighthearted story carried by a strong cast. Particular credit must go to the child actor who lends key credibility to the threat. The directorial verve of Euros Lyn manages to pave over most of the story’s hokey ending.
My Impression: A decent tale with a number of good elements that just doesn’t seem to click. Attempts to build up to the season’s two-part finale seem tacked on and false.
My Rating: 6/10
Army of Ghosts / Doomsday (by Russell T. Davies; directed by Graeme Harper)
Plot: The Doctor and Rose return to an Earth swamped by ghostly spectres. Torchwood finally gets the Doctor in its clutches. Various plots come together. TWO major monsters return. It all blows up, literally and metaphorically.
What to Expect: Stylish direction by Graeme Harper (as usual), a fast-paced story, and a nice and unexpected resolution to the running plot thread about Rose’s family. And Torchwood is revealed. And the Earth is invaded. Twice. Oh, and look for those Bluetooth earphones. As you can guess, a lot gets packed in here. Maybe too much.
My Impressions: My full (and extremely spoilerific) review can be found here. Another viewer bashed this story to heck, saying that this was the moment that Doctor Who abandoned narrative for spectacle. That’s a little unfair, but only a little. The story is flawed but, if the fan reaction is anything to go by, those flaws have gone unnoticed by the wider audience. It will leave you breathless.
My Rating: 7/10.
Overall Impressions
The first season of the revived Doctor Who blows away fans and viewers alike as it shows what the program can do with a big budget and the best actors, writers and directors. Christopher Eccleston nailed his performance as the ninth Doctor and Russell T. Davies took care to build the season to show the audience what was possible. Christopher Eccleston’s early departure was planned from the start, to give the concept of regeneration its dramatic due and capping off a season of superlatives.
That done, Russell T. Davies rolls up his sleeves and sets down a second season that builds up Doctor Who as a long-term investment. David Tennant isn’t as strong a Doctor as Eccleston, but there is a sense that he is growing into his role, and it should be interesting to see where his character goes over the next couple of seasons.
Three of this season’s thirteen episodes are among the best the revival has offered so far. The rest are more pedestrian, but still offer much for the audience. Some may seem to travel familiar ground, but I think they’re more filling out that ground, establishing the par for the series as a whole.