More Old Who impressions

[selenak]

It’s a great time to travel through the Rhineland, which I must do right now; sunshine, and a great part of yesterday’s journey to Brühl was the railway right next to the Rhine (if you go by car, you have to drive at the other side and are much further away from the shore), one of the prettiest in Germany. Castles left and right, vineyards, and no traffic jam stress. Okay, so I had to switch two times and both trains were late, but hey. As far as professional journeys go, I had a lovely day.

When I wasn’t admiring the Rhine and the rest of the scenery, I finished season 10 of Dr. Who and watched the first adventure of s11, which couldn’t have come at a more apropos time, what with Sarah Jane Smith making her debut there. (I had seen her in adventures with Four already, but never her original meeting with Three.) More on SJS later.


By now, I’ve learned that Jo has a bit of a bad reputation as the “screaming” type of companion. I find this undeserved. She dealt with the Master beautifully (loved his “you will obey me” hypno act being foiled by her “Mary had a little lamb” recitation), didn’t wait to be freed in Frontier in Space but used the proverbial spoon to get herself out of jail (okay, so she was recaptured, but that happens to the Doctor as well!) and when seeing she couldn’t save Three & Co. by her lonesome in Planet of the Daleks, went for the bombs instead. Sensible girl. Granted (no pun intended!), she also did the flinging herself in the arms of the Doctor or other available males in a panic thing, but her next reaction was always to soldier on. She reminds me a bit of Dawn Summers in this – Dawn panicked, yes, but then she went back and came through, and that’s far more real than a stiff upper lip all the time. Also, I appreciate that when the writers wrote her out, they didn’t imply she married her love interest to settle down but made it clear what attracted her about the guy, even before romance was an issue, was that he a) was a travelling adventurer as well and b) fought for things she believed in. So, Jo, saying goodbye to the Doctor and embarking on a journey on the Amazon river? Fine by me. Loved her “a girl’s gotta do what a girl’s gotta do” to the Brigadier when telling him she was off to Wales to save the environment, too.

Last year when watching Aliens of London/ World War Three I thought that in ten years, this will make it easy to date these episodes, influenced as they are by contemporary issues such as the Iraq War etc (this, btw, is not a criticism); the s10 eps I saw, Frontier in Space and The Green Death in particular, are also so clearly products of their time. Frontier in Space had a plot that reminded me of that era’s Bond movies – two superpowers manipulated by a third (though the last was not headed by Blofeld, but the Master did fill out the empty spot very well), and Our Heroes discover the deception and save the day. Also a none too subtle but nicely done anti (Cold-) war message, what with “seeing the enemy” in your opposite out of fear and ignorance etc. I must say, whenever I saw Madam President and the General, I thought they were Light Side Servalan and Travis.*g* (This is also not a criticism but a note of approval.) The Master as embodied by Roger Delgado was a deliciously suave villain, and I must harrass cavendish to get me the other Delgado/Master episodes as he’s just too much fun to be missed. Also, I was tickled that they had him reading War of the Worlds.

Planet of the Daleks was okay, but I remain a bit irritated that the Thal still have eradicated the brunette gene and are walking around as blonde posterchilds. As I distinctly recall Thals with different hair colour from Genesis of the Daleks, this must have been a post- nuclear war thing. On a less snarky note regarding the Thal, I do appreciate that the cautious intellectual was actually right in his tactics and did not have to learn the lesson that he was supposed to be a beat ‘em up action hero.

(Speaking of action, I must say that with Three getting to display his judo or karate skills (read: the BBC giving me more proof that they really, really couldn’t choreograph fight scenes in the 70s, no more for Dr. Who than they could for Blake’s 7) at least once per adventure, Ten’s little duel in The Christmas Invasion looks far less out of the ordinary for the Doctor. Clearly, he was having 70s flashbacks.)

The Daleks are just too easy to overpower, though. Having rewatched Dalek recently, I’ve decided that the whole sequence where the Dalek escapes and systematically wipes out Van Statten’s troops is the only time where a Dalek comes across as really, really scary to me.

The Green Death: wow. When was this produced exactly? Because I think the Greens and the increasing public awareness they brought to environmental issues didn’t happen until the late 70s in Germany, whereas this, judging by the clothes, were still the early 70s. Anyway, it’s blatant, what with the Big Bad being the powerful cooperation pumping its toxic waste into the ground. And said cooperation having various government officials, including the PM, under their thumb. Meanwhile, the good guys are the hippies looking for alternative energy and veggie food. This is so the anti-Forrest Gump. (One of the annoying things about Forrest Gump being that the love of his life keeps participating in all the counter culture stuff of the 60s and 70s which is constantly shown to be bringing her misery and being hollow.)

Meanwhile, the computer joins those computers foiled by Kirk into representing that kind of 60s and 70s paranoia – the evil sentient machine which of course can’t compete with human ingenuity. This is where my teenage years in the 80s come in. Between Blade Runner and TNG’s Mr. Data, I so can’t help being annoyed by that. No wonder I have a thing for the Cylons on (new) BSG. They think, therefore they are, I say.

You could see this being a goodbuye story from the start, when Jo turned the Doctor’s offer of the next trip to an alien planet down in favour of going to Wales and investigate the deaths of the miners plus join the fight against pollution on her lonesome instead. Like I said, I appreciate that this is before she meets her future love interest, so this is not a choice between two men for Jo, more a coming-of-age story. Mind you, it helps that Three never exuded anything but a fatherly vibe towards Jo for me. His behaviour was also interesting to compare with the way Nine behaved in World War Three and Father’s Day, because there are traces of (attempted) manipulation there as well, but nowhere near as blatant and strong as what Nine pulls with Rose. Nine really clings and is absolutely shameless in wanting to keep Rose; Three is anything but thrilled to be increasingly de-throned as Jo’s priority (first by an issue, then by an issue and a guy), but after an early attempt in “I’m going, young miss!” style, resigns himself to watching it happen. This makes sense considering the emotional state Nine was in due to the Time War, but now I wonder whether he also projected what happened with Jo on Rose? Because that would also explain his irritation with Rose’s various love interests in s1/27 way before they did anything to irritate him.

The Time Warrior: ah, Robert Holmes again, and wow, does he keep the pseudo medieval speech up. This was glorious fun, and not just because it introduced Sarah Jane. He even got around to let the Doctor make Errol Flynn’s patented swinging by chandelier move. Fun flashbacks to all the Robin Hood movies one ever saw. And a sword fight. (See: above re: Three being responsible for Ten’s Christmas Invasion duel).

But the heart of the story to me was of course SJS’s debut. She looks so young here, younger than in the Baker era adventures I had seen her in before, and yet even if you had nothing but School Reunion to go on, you’d have spotted her instantly. Lovely continuity stuff I suddenly was able to discover: so, the first time they meet they’re both undercover and investigating, too. And he introduces himself as John Smith to her, just as he does in School Reunion. Loved Sarah Jane being so unimpressed and calling him out on the condescension. And then she becomes a stowaway on the TARDIS! Methinks the TARDIS must have liked her instantly, too, as the blue box didn’t alert the Doctor to her presence.*g*

Sarah Jane’s conclusion that the Doctor was behind the abductions etc. made sense given what she witnessed, and makes me wonder: are there other occasions where a companion meets the Doctor while believing him to be the bad guy? Her organzing the Doctor’s “capture, not rescue” was lovely, and you could see how good she was at improvising when she was discovered by the cook. All the same, she never came across as too good to be true; some of her assumptions – most pointedly the Doctor=villain one were wrong, and she clued in the fact she had travelled in time and hadn’t just landed in a bizarre kind of display for tourists somewhat late. Given the entire medieval setting, I can think of yet another tie-in in School Reunion - when she and Rose first start to get testy and Rose says “where are you from, the Dark Ages?”

Interestingly, though the age difference between the actors must be about the same, Three doesn’t come across as fatherly in his behaviour towards her, as opposed to Jo. Definitely as challenged and intrigued, though. Must get their next adventures before he becomes Tom Baker!

...Having just arrived in Trier, I find my lovely old and very beautiful little house of a hotel doesn't have online access at all (such is the price one pays for old-fashioned looks, I guess), but the concrete ugliness next door does. Sitting in the lobby of same to post at least now.

Comments

[altarielbooklog.livejournal.com]

'The Green Death' was transmitted in 1973. There are eco-themes in Doomwatch (1970-72) and later, of course, in Survivors (1975-77). There's a very good essay which puts Survivors in the context of ecology movements of the early 70s in (shameless plug) British Science Fiction Television: A Hitchhiker's Guide (http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/184511048X/qid=1146752599/sr=1-1/ref=sr_1_2_1/026-7837314-7957251).

[selenak.livejournal.com]

I'll check it out as soon as I have longer online access (says she, eying the people behind the reception desk who are eying me nervously).

[kalypso-v.livejournal.com]

I really liked Jo, and yes, The Green Death was 1973, because they just showed it in the "1973 week" BBC 4 staged on the back of Life on Mars! Annoyingly, I missed most of it, but my recollection is that Cliff doesn't mention marriage until after Jo agrees to the trip up the Amazon, which was going to benefit the world somehow or other, wasn't it? And I thought the Doctor was very cut up about her going.

Re contemporary issues, have you seen The Curse of Peladon (in which Jo gets to flirt with Pat Troughton's son)? I seem to remember hearing that it was supposed to be a skit on England joining the Common Market.

And Delgado... my heart was broken when he died in a car crash. I've never really cared for any Master since.

[selenak.livejournal.com]

Yes, he doesn't mention it until she has already agreed to come along on the expedition. I was very happy about that. (They were scouting for alternative plants, insects and other protein supplies to solve the world's food problem, I think.)

No, haven't seen The Curse of Peladon yet.

[kalypso-v.livejournal.com]

Also, Jo's choice has a bearing on redstarrobot's complaints re School Reunion implying that, relationship-wise, Sarah Jane has sat around moping because she lost the Doctor. Jo solves that problem, as you say, by finding a bloke who embodies the Doctor's best qualities, while being mortal so capable of ageing with her. So she can be idealistic and pragmatic at the same time.

[astrogirl2.livejournal.com]

are there other occasions where a companion meets the Doctor while believing him to be the bad guy?

Well, there was Turlough, who was told the Doctor was evil and that he'd be doing the universe a favor by killing him. You can see him sort of trying to convince himself that it's true well after he knows better, I think, and then trying to convince himself that he doesn't care. :)

Chang Lee from the TV movie is in a similar situation, too, where the Master spins a line of BS to him about how the Doctor is the bad guy... I really wouldn't count him as a companion, though, even if Grace is.

[selenak.livejournal.com]

I tried to expurge the tv movie from my mind as much as possible, Paul McGann notwithstanding.*g*

And thank you - which Doctor was Turlough a companion to, Two?

[astrogirl2.livejournal.com]

I had to watch the TVM again recently for Research Purposes. Alas. (Well, nah, actually, it wasn't that bad. The presence of Paul McGann makes up for a heck of a lot.)

And Turlough was with Five.

[ide-cyan.livejournal.com]

Didn't Leela also think the Doctor was evil, initially, what with him being the "Face of Evil" and all?

[astrogirl2.livejournal.com]

Oh, yeah, true!

[redstarrobot.livejournal.com]

There's also Leela, who seems to think he's the embodiment of the Evil One himself, and promptly decides that, hey, she's exiled anyway, so she might as well hang out with the Evil One. :)

[bimo.livejournal.com]

Well, there was Turlough, who was told the Doctor was evil and that he'd be doing the universe a favor by killing him. You can see him sort of trying to convince himself that it's true well after he knows better, I think, and then trying to convince himself that he doesn't care. :)

It's been a while since I watched Mawdryn Undead (the episode in which Turlough got introduced), so my memories might fail me... But wasn't it also part of Turlough's dilemma that he was not only tricked but also partly blackmailed by the Black Guardian? Some rather bizarre "Get rid of the Doctor. In case you succeed you are free to do whatever you want. Fail and you're dead as well" deal?

[astrogirl2.livejournal.com]

Right. The Black Guardian is nothing if not thorough. He not only appealed to morality (e.g. telling Turlough that the Doctor is evil and he'd be doing him a favor), but also employed both the carrot (do this and I'll get you off this stupid planet you hate!) and the stick (don't do this and I'll kill you!). You can kind of see why Turlough wanted to believe the BS... It would have been much more convenient for Turlough's (admittedly not highly developed) conscience if the Doctor had been evil. :)

[bimo.livejournal.com]

I've just returned from a rather extensive barbeque dinner,so instead of a reasonably eloquent reply just the following:

1)Gorgeous icons! I especially love how Five, still wearing his predecessor's clothes, is being reflected by the mirror, while the Edwardian Cricket outfit is already hanging on the hat stand, waiting to be filled out by the newly regenerated and somewhat disoriented Doctor. Very "meta"!

2)Both convenience and relative lack of conscience are very important key issues with Turlough. He's the one companion who always seemed to place his own survival, his own safety and personal comfort above the fate of his fellow travelers or any kind of idealistic goal the the Doctor might fancy. So the Black Guardian probably chose the best possible method of manipulating him, because he not only tried to make the decision appear easy, but also appealed to Turlough's strong sense of self preservation.

3)Shameless bit of self promotion. Please feel free to ignore ;-)
Since we now know what became of Sarah-Jane after the Doctor had left her, here's my own little take on Turlough...

[bimo.livejournal.com]

Argh, so I for once try to pimp myself, but forget to include the URL ...
http://www.whofic.com/viewstory.php?sid=5341

[astrogirl2.livejournal.com]

1) Thank you! Although, really, I can't take credit, as all the icons I've used on comments here were made by other people, my own icon-making abilities being mediocre-to-nonexistent. I do make a point of stealing from people with talent, though. This "Time Lord" one, for the record, was made by redstarrobot, who gets extra generosity points for making it for me, as she's not even very fond of the Fifth Doctor. :)

2) Turlough's the most interesting of all the companions in terms of his moral ambiguity. IMO. He's certainly not completely amoral or lacking in compassion: he was troubled when he realized the person the Black Guardian was trying to get him to kill was in fact a decent guy, and he did save Peri from drowning, unfortunately. But he was definitely more selfish than most of them, and much more inclined to choose self-preservation over doing the right thing, even if it gave him twinges of conscience. And, yeah, I think the BG knew exactly what he was doing in taking that triple-pronged approach. He had all the bases covered, the sneaky old deity. :)

3) Interesting fic! Thanks for sharing it! It seems pretty believable to me as a future for Turlough. And, you know, it seems to me that there's a lot that could be worth exploring about what happened to Turlough after he left the Doctor.

Funny...

[hmpf.livejournal.com]

I went that way by train just less than a week ago, myself! It's so pretty it's almost unreal, especially in the dramatic post-rainstorm, early evening light I had. I kept thinking I'd somehow been transported into a tourist brochure.

And apparently our lives run parallel in more ways than just geography this week, for I also watched some old Doctor Who! *g*

Re: Funny...

[selenak.livejournal.com]

Parallels indeed! And it's extremely pretty here.

[redstarrobot.livejournal.com]

I'm very fond of both Jo and Sarah Jane; they're both women of their time and not perfect or the ideals of independence or anything, but they're very strong, personality-filled characters who do things their own way and show a lot of independence, even in the face of such an overwhelming (overbearing?) character like the third Doctor. I think they compare very well to a lot of the other companions.