Doctor Who was saved. After being cancelled the show was
saved although its clear that the show was now living on borrowed time. Instead
of 13 x 45 minute episodes, the twenty-third season would be 14 x 25 minutes
episodes. So it was a shorter run because instead of 585 minutes there would
now be 350 minutes. The idea that the season would have one theme is something
that had been done before in the form of the Key to Time and the new series
would have a similar idea. However to have the Doctor on trial when the show
itself was on trial is something in retrospect wasn’t the strongest idea. First
that is evident about this new season is that there is a new theme tune which I
hated when I first heard it but over the years via Big Finish plays its grown
on me.
The open shot of the space station is one of the greatest
sequences in Doctor Who history. It’s impressive to the point that for a few
moments it seems like Doctor Who had stepped up a gear since it was off the air
but it wouldn’t take long for that to change. The opening scene where the
Doctor has landed is quite well done. The Doctor had previously been on trial
in The War Games (1969) and is put on trial for pretty much the same thing.
One of the two new supporting characters for the season is
the recently deceased Lynda Bellingham who plays the Inquisitor. I don’t think
that it’s a very rewarding role however I think that Bellingham does a good job
of acting like she is in charge. Michael Jayston plays the Valeyard and he is
one of the strongest things about this season. Jayston is most recognisable to
me as the father-in-law of Del Boy in Only Fools and Horses and also appeared
in Emmerdale recently. He just has a sense of evil that he is rather enjoying
and that is what makes the court room scenes half watchable.
The Valeyard intends to use two examples of why the Doctor
is guilty and his first example form the first four episodes. When Peri appears
in this story, its clear that their relationship is a lot more warm than it had
been. It’s the only thing that is warm in this part of the story. There is a
nice mystery (hence the title) about where they are. The planet is called
Ravolox but soon its revealed to be Earth.
There are occasional moments where the action is broken up
by a short scene back in the courtroom. To be this slightly ruins the momentum that
the story has had. Instead of the bit in the middle which doesn’t contribute
anything to the story. However the ending is slightly more important because it
sees the Valeyard says he wants the Doctor’s life put on trial.
As this is a Robert Holmes story there is of course a double
act. In this case its Tony Selby and Glen Murphy who star as Sabalom Glitz and
Dibber respectively. They are quite a good team and Robert Holmes’ magic works
in this department. They are both rubbish criminals and shouldn’t be taken
seriously. That is why I like them because there is something comedic about
them and that is what this story needs. Joan Sims is one of the big stars in
this season. In this part of the story she plays Queen Katryca and I remember
when Beryl Reid appeared in Earthshock and it was clear that she didn’t understand
the part and so didn’t come across as a convincing space pilot. Here I think
that Sims is far more convincing and as a result I buy into the fact that she
is a Queen. There is a character called Balazar who is somewhat annoying and
one of things that slightly ruins this opening episode. He keeps calling the
Doctor “old one” which is funny at first but becomes quickly annoying.
The cliffhanger is basically a zoom in on Colin Baker’s face
which is going to be a recurring theme during this season. It’s somewhat disappointing
that this is the way they have chosen to end each episode but I suppose a
cliffhanger doesn’t make or break a season. What has surprised me about this
episode is just how underwhelming it feels. There doesn’t feel like the opening
that it should. It doesn’t have the big selling point that Attack of the
Cybermen or Warriors of the Deep had. It is sort of half-hearted in certain was
which does worry me a little bit.
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