| THE LONG GAME by Russell T Davies |
| Story 6 Synopsis: The TARDIS lands on a space station, Satellite Five, in the year 200,000. Adam doesn't seem to fit in, so Rose gives him the TARDIS key and lets him go back. But he accesses a computer, and tries to download information to send home. Meanwhile, the Doctor and Rose meet Cathica, and learn that Satellite Five transmits news to the whole human Empire, but the Doctor says their technology level is outdated, and they're being held back by someone. To find out, he and Rose head to Floor 500, where workers dream of being promoted to. There, they meet the Editor, nominally in charge of Satellite Five. He introduces them to his boss, an alien who is manipulating the human race for its own survival. He finds there is no knowledge of them anyway, and wants to find out. Adam connects to the news network, allowing the Editor to learn about time travel. But Cathica has also followed the Doctor's footsteps to Floor 500, and realises the truth about the Editor. She connects to the system, reversing the heating controls, causing the alien to explode. The Editor is beaten. Cathica takes over. The Doctor takes Adam back to his time, erasing the info download he sent back there. Then he leaves with Rose. |
| Review:- So, Adam wanted to see the future. The Doctor brings him into the far future, to a space station above Earth (well, he did the same for Rose). This time, it's a news company, whom the Doctor is soon suspicious of. But he lets Adam loose... which is a mistake. There has been a lot of negative comment about this episode, but I really quite liked it. Perhaps it was too straightforward, and assumed its audience was not that sophisticated, but is that so bad? A series aimed (or directed) at a younger audience would hopefully have found it worthwhile. Satellite Five was mildly reminiscent of Platform One (from The End Of The World), but the whole 500-Floor aspect over-rode too much similarity. The Doctor again used his psychic paper as a means of acceptance, even though Cathica eventually worked out it was a fake. But in the circumstance, encouraging her to realise this was a good plot point. In fact, it was the trusting Rose who let Adam slip, though the Doctor's frosty attitude probably didn't help. He clearly had his own agenda, though, which made a fine subplot countering the progress of the Doctor and Rose. The news media is a good idea for a story. The Doctor makes the point that the news providers have huge power, which is very much a modern concern. Of course, it's not this that seduces Adam, but the knowledge of history. When presented with unlimited money, he fails the trust test, deciding he wants to have it all. The idea that Floor 500 is a special and highly desirable place, compared to the somewhat grimy and unpleasant lower levels, is very reminiscent of Paradise Towers, and the stories that was inspired by. Here, it works well as a simple plot direction - though the Doctor notes that the technology is holding people back, and the pipes are directing heat one way, these are just clues to lead him into the heart of the mystery. The idea that knowledge is power soon becomes crystal clear, when the Editor is frustrated that he cannot identify the Doctor and Rose, despite having a census of the human race. But Adam gives him away. Fortunately, the Doctor manages to inspire Cathica to see the truth behind the lies of Floor 500, and she takes action to save the day, rescuing Adam, and causing a hot situation for the Editor, and his boss, the Mighty Jagrafess of the Holy Hadrojassic Maxarodenfoe. The settings and background is all familiar, and appreciable, the quest for advancement is very much a human preoccupation, whilst the brief interlude with Suki allows for a bit of drama, and the poignant finish, as the Editor tries to leave the sinking ship, but is prevented from leaving. The main plot and the subplot are well paced, and watchable. There are loose ends, and another mention of Bad Wolf (with another appearance for the Face of Boe). But, overall, I liked this a lot. |
| Disclaimer: I have watched this story. |