Monday 25 May 2015

Episode 79 (S2): The Meddling Monk (May's view)

The opening scene of this episode would be quite unremarkable if it wasn't set in Saxon times. The Monk is using a toaster to make crumpets, he burns his hand and then smacks the toaster (oh Monk, you have no idea how many times I've wanted to do that!). It's just a small thing, but Peter Butterworth plays the comedy very well. He hums a little tune to himself as he makes breakfast, which is a good acting choice on Butterworth's part I think, it distracts us from the fact that the Monk is actually the antagonist of this serial. We think, "aw, he seems like a nice guy, doesn't he?". He makes a pretty good breakfast by the looks of it as well, like dad said, I'd stay at Hotel Monk! The Doctor throwing tea on him is a wonderful comedic moment as well.

Vicki and Steven's breakfast is a lot simpler than the Doctor's. In this scene I particularly like Purves' delivery of the line "Would you like some blackberries, or... some blackberries?" It really shows how Vicki and Steven's friendship is developing. Also, *cough* Peter Purves was very attractive *cough*.

The Monk and Edith's interaction is great. We get to see more of what a nice person Edith is!

The set for this serial as just amazing. If I didn't know it was studio filmed, I'd swear it was filmed on location. The projected sky, realistic rocks and plants, plus a clever use of stock footage provides a really immersive set. The Monk spotting the Viking longship and getting excited makes you want to know what his plan is.

I like how Edith is the voice of reason in this next scene. There's a definite gender divide in views. Edith and Vicki are amiable towards each other; Steven is hostile towards the male Saxons, and they are hostile back, particularly Eldred. I like Steven's hostility actually, it's another reminder of how he was affected by his time with the Mechanoids, but I also like Vicki correcting him, it shows how she's helping him recover.

The Vikings are here! The first thing I notice is some fab work from the costume department, I mean, completely historically inaccurate, but very striking. Also, is it me, or does Sven look like Asterix?

Once again, we see Steven's social ineptitude when he's talking to the Monk, I don't think I have to reiterate why I think this is good. As the others have said, Steven's arrogance is shown by his confidence in his own plan, and Vicki's intelligence is shown by her questioning of it.

Edith is shown to be resourceful. She knows to defend herself, and she doesn't hesitate in it. She is overpowered, but I don't think that this means she's weak, she was up against three Viking warriors! Her heavily implied rape is an interesting plot point, definitely not one I would have expected from Hartnell's era of Who! Rape is a very sensitive topic to handle, and it has to be done well for it not to fall into sexist tropes or 'torture porn'. However, it can't be ignored, as it's a horrific thing that happens to many women (and men). Nowadays, I think rape is used too much on television, just as a way to inject horror into the show, and it's often not handled well; however, in the '60s, it was a different case, not talked about much on TV or in day-to-day life. As for how Doctor Who handled the rape of Edith, I'll talk about that more in the next episode, because I really need to look at how the aftermath of it is portrayed to formulate a proper opinion.

The episode is rather let down by the horrifically choreographed fight scene. Oh, dear Lord, it's so awful. We've just had this really important, serious scene, and it's followed by this atrocity! I could cry.

Steven and Vicki going different ways in the monastery is a return to the comedic nature of the episode, which is nice (I like that it's the direction Vicki chooses that they go in!). I like the parallel to the end of the last episode, with Vicki and Steven finding the gramophone as well. The cliffhanger is kind of meh, but good enough that I wanted to find out what happens next.

Next Time:
A Battle of Wits.

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