Another rather weird day, with some setbacks in the road put in front of me, and a change to the routine that I have started to put together that was disappointing. These things do happen, and this too shall pass. I have lots to bet organized for the big India trip, and routines will still be there to be developed when I get back, as will all sorts of other things!
I am starting to think about what I shall do with the free weekend in Bangalore. There is not much that is touristy there, although I will have to see at least one temple, just because. I think I will investigate the hiking in the area, to see if there is some outdoors adventure I can go on. I’ve also had some friends who have been there reach out to offer suggestions of places to go out. I really hope this visa comes through this week!
Episode 1 – The Steel Sky
This is a fascinating opening to a story. We’ve got real wildlife, which looks somewhat earthlike, and an interesting one-eyed alien.
What *is* Dodo wearing? It looks like leftovers from the adventure in the Crusades. She appears to have a similar attitude to Steven when he first traveled in the TARDIS. She doesn’t believe a word of time travel and thinks she’s at Whipsnade Zoo. I don’t know why though, I’ve been to Whipsnade, and it looks nothing like this arboretum on the Ark.
This courtroom scene is quite interesting, and sets the scene rather well. We are in the far future, with advanced technology, and the punishment of the court is presented well. We also seem to have humans and Monoids living together quite nicely at this time.
Wow. An elephant. I wonder if they had the same problems with this animal in the studio that they had on Blue Peter when a baby elephant visited. It was repeated ad nauseum, and any British readers of a certain age will know exactly what I am thinking of. This is a nice surprise to see in the story though, and gives the jungle on the Ark a sense of scale and grandeur.
The Doctor touches the ground, and that’s what makes him realize they are on a spaceship. It reminds me of the opening of The Beast Below and how the Doctor realizes there are no engines on Starship UK. There have been echoes of future stories all the way through this marathon, and it’s enlightening to have to reinforced time and time again that this really is all one long story, with the same man, just with a different face.
It’s nice to see the Doctor is also commenting on Dodo’s stupid outfit! And on her accent. It’s rather Henry Higgins of him!
Audio space research huh? They can shrink everything, but space research is audio? There are some odd concepts in this story! Although the silliest is yet to come.
The thought that a cold could wipe out humanity is a scary idea. It makes you consider that perhaps the odd cold every now and then is not so bad, if a future super-version could be so damaging. Considering some of the flu strains that have been discovered over the last few years, perhaps this is more prescient than we would like.
Episode 2 – The Plague
I’m not sure how those masks could actually protect from germs. They seem to have an awful lot of openings. The fact that the cold can actually kill is a shock, and the burial is shocking. It is nice to see that the old and wise Commander that we met in the previous episode is able to inspire his daughter, who understands that the TARDIS crew are not malicious, and that they can help.
Steven makes a nice speech about humanity, and its weaknesses, but it is shocking to see him to succumb to the cold as well (is it mutating already?), and quite a relief when the Doctor is eventually able to cure him.
This has seemed like a very slight story so far, but the ending to this episode really distinguishes it. This is one of my favourite cliffhangers in the show ever. It’s very simple, but at the same time extremely shocking, and extremely well done.
Episode 3 – The Return
The Doctor’s philosophy is stated quite plainly as he introduces himself and his friends to the Monoids. “We are friends to all”. Quite right too. But the shift to seeing the Monoids being in charge and treating the humans so poorly is really quite disconcerting.
It turns out that the cure was not as complete as the Doctor had hoped, and that weakened humanity. It is also interesting that the human innovations that were intended to help the Monoids, ended up giving them the ability to take over. The Monoids did not seem that badly treated in the first two episodes, and their rights were advocated by the Commander of the Ark. But something went very wrong with them somewhere along the line, or perhaps they were treated worse later, or the humans judged badly in empowering them.
The security kitchen. That always makes me laugh.
This is the first example I think of showing how the Doctor and his friends make an impact on the places that they land. This is a theme that has become more prevalent in the new series, but was occasionally brought to the fore in the older stories. Their first adventure on the Ark made quite an impression. Indeed the naming of the ship came from them, and they have become mythic figures on the Ark, that everyone has heard stories of from their parents, and parents’ parents.
Episode 4 – The Bomb
Oh these Monoids are chummy with each other. They seem to like gloating to camera as well. That’s a pretty big weakness when enemies overhear, and will be part of their downfall, I suspect.
The set with the launchers in it is really well done, especially the background that shows a great number of the stretching off into the distance. It gives the Ark a great sense of scale, which it needs. The model shot of the launchers exiting the ship isn’t horrible either.
Now this story turns into a traditional race against time. We’ve got a ticking clock. But of course the bomb was in the statue. Where else would it be? I like the confidence the Doctor shows in knowing he can get the location from the Monoids. He has realized how chatty they can be!
The Monoids have become terribly militant and fight too much among themselves. So much so that the last Monoid standing e just tosses his weapon aside at the end. It’s a bit of an anticlimax really.
The Refusians provide a nice moral about living together to end the story. Understanding and acceptance. It’s what it’s all about, and I like that the show reinforces that whenever it can.
Oh my. We have a disappearing Doctor. What’s going on? (Other than Dodo’s taste in clothes getting no better. Is that a trend too? I hope not.)
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