| THE GAME by Darin Henry |
| Story 66 Synopsis: The Doctor takes Nyssa to Cray so he can meet famous negotiator Darzil Carlisle. But before he can, he's co-opted by the Gora into joining them for a game of Naxy. When Nyssa reaches Carlisle, she learns that Naxy occupies most of the planet, and is fought to the death. She tries to save him, but he has to stay until the end of the game period. Whilst trying to prevent his side being massacred, he unwittingly leads them to a position where they can strike decisively against the Lineen. Chances for peace seem remote. Nyssa learns that Carlisle isn't the big success the Doctor thinks - he just gets the credit when the Doctor sorts problems out. Nyssa finds that his assistant, Faye, also has an ulterior motive, and is nearly killed by a mysterious monster. The Doctor is challenged to a 1-on-1 game of Naxy, but tries not to win it. He persuades his opponent that the killing must end. Then they're interrupted by a stranger called Morian, and his army of bestial Bornoxes, who embark on a killing spree. The Doctor learns that Morian has been manipulating the games for his own ends, whilst earning a fortune in bringing rich spectators to Cray to watch the game. When he learns of the TARDIS, he demands the Doctor hands it over. Carlisle dies as a result of saving the Doctor, during their escape. The Gora and Lineen, and the rest of Cray, band together against their new common opposition. The Doctor lures Morian into a trap, during which the Bornoxes are all dealt with. But Morian escapes. Despite an offer to stay, Nyssa decides to stay with the Doctor, who believes Cray has a more peaceful Naxy-less future ahead. He also promises to fulfil his mission to Carlisle. |
| Review:- A deadly war game, and the Doctor in the thick of it... The idea of war games is as old as the hills (cf. The War Games, for example), but here it's slightly different in that war is more of a bloodsport than just a gentle pastime. Naxy has encompassed the society of Cray so much that the two remaining teams, the Gora and the Lineen, appear to be the focus of interest for everyone on the planet. So, the idea that someone should come in to try and stop the show permanently has an added drama - Naxy is a way of life, and its removal would leave a dangerous vacuum. Fortunately, that someone is noted negotiator Darzil Carlisle, whom the Doctor knows as a formidable hero, a bringer of peace to millions, and a good reason to visit, to watch his final triumphant settlement. Of course, it's not that simple. Especially when the Doctor is playing Naxy himself, and Nyssa learns that Darzil is not all he's cracked up to be. The swift pace means that the 1st part sets everything up, and pitches the Doctor into the thick of the action, whilst Nyssa is on the sidelines meeting the history-making Darzil. With most of the 2nd part given to a depiction of Naxy, ably commentated by Jonathan Pearce as Garny Diblick, there is only a little time for little clues as to what's the game behind the game. When the Doctor is forced into a 1-on-1 confrontation, his refusal to participate leads to another of the many dramatic cliffhangers, and a reason for things to start happening at the start of part 5. The first 6-parter for this Doctor, and only the 2nd BF 6-parter, has plenty of elements to sustain interest in it. With an occasional tendency for BF plays to have really long episodes, the chance that this might end up exceedingly long is removed because each of the parts clocks in around 20 minutes, making it shorter than some of the 4-parters, illogically. In fact, the plot does break down into a 4+2 format, once the bad guy, Morian, is revealed at the start of part 5. Played with oily malice by Christopher Ellison, it's quite easy to appreciate what he's done to the Naxy game, and his hold over Darzil's assistant Faye gives an added touch of depravity on top of basic greed. His downfall and escape feels unsatisfying, but perhaps more realistic. He does at least manage to bring Darzil's career to a brutal conclusion. Casting William Russell as Darzil makes better use of his age and stature than scripting an excuse for an aged Ian Chesterton to turn up. Sadly, the gimmick behind his prowess is rather too smug - whilst it's often seemed an unstated joke that the Doctor never takes the credit for the revolutions he leads and the peace he creates, to fill this vacuum with someone who does get the credit feels like one element too many. It could as easily have served as a plot of its own, probably with someone using their status for preferential treatment, or just greed. Here, it's one plot element that feels out of place with the rest. All he achieves is to give Nyssa a futile subplot of planning to leave the Doctor, which the listener knows won't happen because of the ongoing continuity. So, peace comes to Cray, and the question of a replacement for Naxy is left up in the air. Despite occasional missing the target, it still scores highly enough. |
| Disclaimer: I own a copy. |