TARDISWATCH: DOCTOR WHO FEATURE REVIEWS AND NEWS
EPISODE 7: THE UNICORN AND THE WASP
Since Doctor Who came back to our screens, it has become something of a yearly tradition to have a ‘famous’ guest character in each series. Thus far we’ve had Charles Dickens, Queen Victoria, William Shakespeare (plus Elizabeth the First briefly in the same episode) and now Agatha Christie. This is a marvellous thing to do, and is another example of how different Doctor Who is from any other genre show around now or previously. The format is so flexible that we could meet pretty much anybody each week, and why the hell not? It is a great, fun idea that harks back to the days of the show being intended as an educational tool. It doesn’t always work out, but when it does, like in Chris Eccleston’s episode The Unquiet Dead (featuring Simon Callow as Charles Dickens) it can be incredible. It is a little strange for the ‘guest historical’ episode to air so late on in the season (they’re usually shown in the first three), but this is a nice thing as it mixes the pattern up a bit and keeps us on our toes. When it works, it is incredible TV. When it doesn’t, well, read on…Keep checking back for the latest news on new Doctor Who merchandise!
The Doctor and Agatha Christie? That sounds like a great idea doesn’t it? It is a good idea, but sadly it falls a bit short of being great TV, and it is hard to work out why. Gareth Roberts’ script is very good, even though it does have too many groan moments when Donna keeps trying to copyright the Miss Marple character. I think this is one of the first episodes that was shot for this series, as the backgrounds and hair etc tie in with the first promo photos of the Doctor and Donna together. That might be why it feels a bit disjointed- they were still trying to find their feet and a direction for the series. It also explains why Donna seems to have taken a backwards step in characterization, and why it has been screened later in the series, thus minimizing the negative aspects as people are now used to seeing Donna and Ten together onscreen. I think the main problem with this otherwise serviceable episode is with the guest cast. It seems that aside from Felicity Kendal, they are playing it as something of a pantomime. Its great to see such British archetypes onscreen, and funny in the context of a modern SF show, but they come across as very artificial and take the viewer right out of the story. There are moments where it comes across as a village amateur dramatics production, which is a shame, as otherwise it would have been much, much better. Next week? A spooky galactic library and Alex Kingston. That sounds more like it. This week? First damp squib of the series since the opening episode…
4/10
WAR ON SKARO?
Rumour has it that the twelfth episode of this series is to be entitled ‘War on Skaro’ and feature the return of Davros and the Daleks, not to mention a load of other popular characters too, including, as you already know, Rose Tyler. The title has long since been known to consist of three words, and has been kept secret thus far as it ‘Gives too much away’. This title would fit that, plus there is a ‘war on Skaro box set’ of figures coming out in October… Of course, until this is all confirmed, it remains a rumour. Either way we’ll be watching!