| FULL CIRCLE by Andrew Smith |
| Story 111 Synopsis: The TARDIS passes through a Charged Vaccum Emboitement, depositing the Doctor, Romana and K9 in a pocket universe called Exo-Space. They first land on Alzarius, where the crew of the Starliner are awaiting the chance to take the ship back to Terradon. They are imperilled by Marshmen, apparently native to Alzarius, and who keep attacking the Starliner, preventing it from taking off. Romana is infected and becomes possessed by the Marshmen. The Doctor makes a new ally in Adric. It transpires that the Deciders, the three men who rule on the Starliner, have been perpetrating a misconception for centuries. The Starliner is all ready to go, but the people have actually never been to Terradon, and they can't fly the ship. They are part of the same evolutionary cycle as the Marshmen. The Doctor puts them straight, and they finally leave Alzarius. The Doctor and Romana start looking for a way out of E-Space, not realising that Adric has stowed away on board. |
| Review:- If there is a story that cements the new direction JNT was to take Doctor Who in, under his producership, this was probably it. Although superficially a clean-cut monsters story, it showcases some new ideas and new input which shows that changes are not just coming, but already happening. Andrew Smith's commission may be partly through a wish to break ties with the past, but at least it shows that new people can get their chance to write for the show. Admittedly only 1 other guy would get the same chance (see Ghost Light), but it was still a bold move to make. The other main new element is the arrival of Adric. The first new male companion since Jamie left in 1969, Adric helps bring DW into the 1980's, and is as liked/loathed as the decade is. Okay, more loathed than liked. Does Matthew Waterhouse deserve the flak he gets? I couldn't say. But Adric provides yet more spike into a show that had become all too cosy. The Deciders give an unwitting pre-echo of the Three Who Rule, and number George Baker and Alan Rowe. I also like the name Dexeter. The Marshmen are monsters that look quite good, have a sensible motivation, and quiet nefarious methods. They are possibly one of the greatest-yet-underrated monsters of all time. Perhaps having a mask that makes them look permanently disgruntled helps. The Doctor gets a chance to shine scientifically, and his condemnation of the Deciders in part 3 is clearly under-rated. Romana gets to play a major role when she falls under the influence of the Marshmen, which must have been preferable to putting up with the Outlers. K9 seems to be motoring along well, until he gets his head knocked off. On the whole, this is a decent little tale that doesn't sell itself long, and has much to enjoy. Having now seen this story, all I can add is that the first episode comes as a shock. The scenes in the outdoor settlement remind me of nothing else in the series, and it is a huge contrast with the later episodes being confined to the Starliner. The first appearance of the Marshmen makes good use of slow motion to create a frightening effect. Indeed, the three cliffhangers are all great, being necessary plot-derived scares. There is no pause for a shock - these are all crucial to the plot. I do wonder about costs, though. There are a lot of actors employed here, a lot of Marshmen costumes, a lot of Starliner sets, etc. Not sure whether it's important, but the mind wanders... |
| Disclaimer: I've seen the video, and read the book. |