As I have been watching the previous three episodes, I have
done so knowing that this is the episode where everything happens. The
cliffhanger from the previous episode is one of the best of the McCoy era
(probably just behind the Dalek going up the stairs in Remembrance). It doesn’t take long for this episode to show
why it’s so good. The performances are superb and Dinsdale Landen is immediately
impressive as the Fenric version of Judson. Despite the strong performances I
have to address an issue that is quite visible in the opening minutes of the
episode. That is the issue of rain where its coming down like it’s a thunderstorm
yet there the skies are either blue or near enough.
The Great Serpent is a great looking monster and could
easily have worked as the lead monster. It’s first appearance is quite good
because it comes out of the sea and its quite an imposing figure. If I was
nit-picking then I would say that Judson doesn’t quite seem as imposing himself
as he did in the previous episode.
Nurse Craine’s death was a shame really and made even more
horrific with the massive toothy grin on Judson’s face. I think that Anne Reid
has done well with a role that could have been totally annoying. Not many
people would have made me miss a character like this. Jean and Phyllis suffer a
rather grim death but its in keeping with the deaths in this era of the show. I
am surprised with how much these two characters have developed in just four
episodes. Fair play to both Joann Kenny and Joanne Bell.
The big battle comes between Fenric and the Doctor playing a
game of chess. Fenric is quite easily defeated (almost) as at one point he begs
Ace to help him. Ace stupidly tells him how to win although he has now jumped
bodies by this point as he is now in Sorin’s body. I like how its revealed that
Fenric has been laying traps for the Doctor since Dragonfire. The obvious part
was the chessboard in Silver Nemesis and its nice to see that this something
that has been in the works for two years.
There is a lovely moment with Sophie and Kathleen where Ace
tells her to go to London, effectively creating her own future because the baby
is her mother. Ace has another great moment when she shows Sorin that she has
faith and the Doctor tries to destroy that faith by saying that she’s a social
misfit and an emotional cripple. It’s hard to imagine any earlier companions
pulling this off. Sophie Aldred has really impressed me in this episode and has
made me think that she is underrated as a companion
The Serpent is the one that kills Sorin by releasing the gas
which does seem a bit of a rush job but I suppose that with everything else
that has been going on, I don’t really mind because the rest of the episode and
story in fact have been worth it.
The final scene sees Ace almost symbolically wash away all
her troubles. It’s a lovely scene and it seems that Ace has come to terms with
her past. This has been a very enjoyable story that has really worked in the
final episode. The final four parter in the shows history (to date) has been
another example of why McCoy has been such a good Doctor. It’s weird to think
that there is just one more story in the classic era and just one more story
before Sylvester McCoy goes to America.
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