Well, this is more like it! The pacing is much better in this episode,
and there is a theme running through it. When the Menoptera in the
temple are deciding whether or not they can trust Barbara, she tells
them "you have no choice." Soon after, Ian says to Vrestin "we have no
choice" but to rely on Hetra. Both the Doctor and Prapillus struggle
with believing in the other. I finally find I'm interested in the plot,
and it once again feels properly atmospheric. The variety of sets is
impressive, and each has a unique tone. In fact, the best way to tackle
this review is probably to take each in turn, untangling the interleaved
strands of the story.
Let's start with the plateau at the Crater of Needles. Curiously, the
recap from last time works much better as an opener, and this is
certainly an example of why it's better to split up the episodes rather
than 'mainlining' them. I think this is because it is an action- and
emotion-packed scene that gets us right back into the story, firing us
up for the events ahead, rather than just the tail end of a battle
scene; but I admit I'm just extrapolating, looking for possible causes.
Anyway, this leads into the (admittedly clumsy and forced) discovery of
the Temple of Light.
The temple set itself isn't John Wood's finest and the scenes here could
have been very dull because there is a lot of exposition and debate,
but everything comes together to make them work. Most of the credit must
go to Roslyn de Winter's choreography, since the Menoptera are always
moving, providing a little dynamism even to the most static moments; and
to Richard Martin's direction. He seems to be having fun, making
excellent use of the set and positioning actors and cameras in
interesting ways. He mentions it in the commentary, something he only
does rarely; but I noticed it on my first watch anyway. The acting is
good, particularly when William Hartnell's Doctor confronts Martin
Jarvis' Prince Hilio, and the background sound when we first enter the
temple also enhances the mood.
Moving on, we have Vicki and the Doctor in the Carsinome and on the
planet's surface. I've commented on the sets before, so all I'll add is
that the shot of the outside of the Carsinome which shows its organic
origins really adds something. After the terror and panic of the plateau
and the battle against despair in the temple, these scenes are used to
defuse the tension. It's a balancing act: you can't keep the adrenaline
flowing for 25 minutes, and if you try it will flag anyway; but if you
add too much humour, or the wrong sort, it can wreck the feel of the
piece. Fortunately that balance is struck perfectly here. Vicki peeking
out to see if the Zarbi are watching, the Doctor trying out his control
of the Zarbi, the little hand gesture signalling it to follow, the name
Zombo - they are all enough to give us a break without going too far.
And we need that break, because the final strand - in the tunnels with
the Optera - is pretty grim. It was horrible the way the Zarbi amputated
the slave Menoptera's wings, but even worse is the scene where Nemini
sticks her head into the flow of acid to save the others. The camera
lingers, first on Ian's reaction as it happens, then as he stands over
her, then on the body after he moves away. The leader's reaction -
effectively shrugging and saying that this is just the sort of thing
that happens, but with an underlying sadness to his delivery -
highlights the horror.
The Optera themselves are an interesting creation. Thematically they are
a great addition, a neotenic offshoot of the Menoptera. Unfortunately,
because of the late decision there was very little left in the budget
for costumes; the ones we get are well designed but nevertheless look
rather like cuddly toys. Doing something to roughen them up a bit would
have helped, or filming them with the vaseline lens. They certainly look
better when they are obscured by fumes! William Russell didn't like the
guttural voice, but I think it's appropriate; and their speech
patterns, using metaphor so heavily, are lovely. They also have one of
the more interesting backstories, which works better for being only
partly revealed. Their final scene, with the mirror shot showing us the
party from above, really emphasises how low down they are, in more ways
than one.
The episode ends with a great twist. The Doctor and Vicki, stars of the
plot that has been reducing our tension, return to the Carsinome. They
pretend to be more scared than they are in order to get close to the
Animus - but that fear turns real, and they are shot with a web-gun,
enveloping them in the stuff that is taking over the planet.
Symbolically at least, it's the extinguishing of our last hope; the grim
reality of the near-hopeless struggle wins out over fun and adventure.
Where can it go from here?
Broadcast:
Date: Saturday, 13th March 1965
Viewers: 12.0 million
Chart Position: 12
Appreciation Index: 48
Rating:
8.5/10.
Next Time:
The Centre.
No comments:
Post a Comment