| THE LAZARUS EXPERIMENT by Stephen Greenhorn |
| Story 27 Synopsis: The Doctor returns Martha home, but is intrigued by talk of an experiment that will change humanity. They meet Martha's family at the reception, and Professor Lazarus gives his demonstration, rejuvenating his body from its 76-year-old form into one that is much younger. But he soon feels the after-effects, and he devolves into a huge monster. The Doctor thinks he has stopped it by altering the original Lazarus machine, but that proves only temporary. He and Martha find Lazarus in nearby Southwark Cathedral, where he degenerates again. The Doctor tricks Lazarus into chasing Martha into the rafters, and then by playing the organ creates some sonic confusion, and Lazarus plummets to his death. Martha's mother is warned that the Doctor is dangerous, and pleads with her not to stay with him... |
| Review:- To change what it means to be human... a laudable plan, but these things never work, do they? Back to modern-day Earth, as Martha's run appears to be over... but the Doctor is soon diverted from that idea, and meets her family, especially her miserable mother. But it's Lazarus' experiment that justifiably draws the attention... The idea of bodily rejuvenation, an answer to the march of time, is nothing new, although the consequences of its failure here are less familiar. Lazarus turns out to be some kind of missing human link, rather than having been uncannily infected by aliens. Either way, turning into a huge monster won't win him the Nobel Prize. Whilst the Doctor and Martha struggle to stop Lazarus, her mother has her ear bent by mysterious people feeding her suspicions about the Doctor. Despite his later trouncing of the monster, and safe rescue of her daughters, she doesn't give him any credit for it. Oh dear, there's going to be trouble... Lazarus does briefly find time and a little lucidity to explain his yearning to live longer than he should, and Mark Gatiss plays him about as well as anyone could. But after being nearly nobbled by his own machine, it takes a second thrash in a cathedral to put him away. Sadly, this two-tone finish suggests a disjointed, tacked-on resolution. Quite why the monster should be so disorientated by an acoustic attack is left oblique, but presumably its second death is permanent. Martha shows a subtle difference to Rose, insofar as she seems to be a whole person outside of her family, whereas Rose, perhaps in retrospect, didn't. As for the Doctor and his bizarre new catchphrase "allons-y", it's a chance for him to watch someone standing on the shoulder of giants, but failing to reach the stars. Of course, a story like this shows science as a "now" subject, whereas arts & literature are more "then" topics. Why meet Faraday when you can meet Lazarus? Well... A harmless little runaround, lacking at times. |
| Disclaimer: I have watched this story. |