(608) The Awakening - Part 2

This story really doesn’t have anything going for it. Being a science fiction show it is not that surprising when non-science fiction stuff and on occasion it does it rather well. Sadly when the story cant quite make up its mind then that is when problems tend to arise and boy do they appear in this episode. It does seem like this story is more concerned with Sir George’s actions rather the Malus. Now I know that the two are connected by I think that as there are only two episodes then there isn’t really the time to split the story.

I wish we had had more of the Malus because it was quite a good creature and I think that more time should have been put aside to explain what it was and why it was there because it did seem a bit rushed. The Malus appearing in the TARDIS towards the latter stages of the episode is quite good. There is a good bit of CSO to realise this and its one of the few successes in the entire story. I honestly don’t remember how it was defeated because I was so disconnected with what I was seeing on screen that I am at a loss to explain it. The ooze coming from the Malus’ mouth is quite grim, another death which is perhaps stronger than it needed to be. Also the Trooper’s death was perhaps more shocking considering that you don’t actually get to see it.

The Malus’s destruction in the church is quite dramatic but the thing about blowing up church models is that it will never look as good as the one in The Daemons which really did look impressive and that was 12 years before this story aired. Ok so I think that on reflection this is an average story. No, forget that it’s a terrible story and just think how bad it would have been had it been four episodes long.

What makes the past two episodes even more frustrating is that Resurrection of the Daleks aired in two parts when it could have been shown in its intended four episode format. I know that this option is available on the DVD but it just shows that clear problems with the script should have meant that this story was cancelled and the Daleks story was extended but that’s all in the past and The Awakening exists but I think that the two episode format (as it is) thankfully ends but out of the three that there have been during the Davison era, this is by far the worst and that’s saying something considering how little there was in The Kings Demons.

(607) The Awakening - Part 1

I’ve decided (suddenly) that I don’t like two parters. I think that it’s got something to do with the fact that its simply not long enough to tell a proper story. There are plenty of examples of four parters that should have been two (such as Warriors of the Deep) but there aren’t any two part stories that I thought would have benefited from being a four parter. Warning, there is going to be a bit of history in todays review.

The episode does start off with a nice sequence of horse running. The location filming is rather good in this episode and its nice when there is this amount of filming in nice surroundings. This was filmed in July 1983 and the parts of Dorset that is used look really nice and one of the few positives that I take from this is the location filming.

The Doctor is trying to take Tegan to visit her grandfather. Though of course this story would be very good if this were the case. Not only Tegan get to meet her grandfather but by the end of the episode she is about to be the Queen of the May. Her costume that she wears at this point is possibly the best thing that she has worn since her air hostess costume from season 18.

Now here’s the history bit. The village is involved in War Games led by Sir George who is quite obsessed with ensuring history is remembered. There is a particular date in history Battle of Roundway Down which tookplace on July 13^th 1643 during the English Civil War which saw Lord Wilmot win over the Parliamentarians under Sir William Waller in Wiltshire.

There is a moment which sees the Doctor in peril and saved by Will Chandler who by the looks of it could have been seen as a future companion. There is a nice bit where Will is looking at gravestones which seems like a nice bonding moment between the two. It’s clear that there is some potential for the character because it is intellectually the same as Leela although the limitations of having a character not know things and I think that after a short time it would have got a bit tiresome. The performances from the regulars aren’t really that good or bad. I think that the material doesn’t really allow them to do very much.

The episode ends with the crack in the wall in the church made even bigger and a face with green eyes appearing. It then engulfs the Doctor in smoke. This is a fairly good cliffhanger but its fair to say that this has been a largely unforgettable episode. I think that there was about five minutes of interesting stuff surrounded by 20 minutes of people running around, galloping on horses and more running around. This is perhaps the upside of there being two episodes is that at least it will be over tomorrow.