Rewatching this episode over a decade after it first aired was an odd experience. The most striking thing about it is just how much the show's changed over the years. The Russell T. Davies era had a very specific vibe about it: it was more cartoonish, the plotting was simpler, and prosthetically speaking it was subject to frequently fails. Yet, despite having such a negative reaction to 'Daleks in Manhattan' first time around, I rather enjoyed revisiting it.
Not that it's suddenly a maligned classic. The things I disliked ten years ago are still there: from the dodgy accents and broad stereotypes, to the ridiculous pig slaves and cliched love story. Maybe it because I watched it in isolation rather than off the back of a string of weaker episodes ('Gridlock' excluded) that I felt more forgiving of its frequent missteps. For example, this time around I saw the pig slaves as more a matter of poor implementation rather than a frontal assault on our ability to suspend disbelief. The idea of the Cult of Skaro experimenting with human biomatter made a modicum of sense in light of their rather tastelessly named 'final experiment', it's just a shame that the physical manifestation of their research resulted in such a unimaginative looking creature. They were essentially just men in pig masks.
I also remember being initially dismissive of the Cult of Skaro modus operandus, deeming it contrary to the Dalek ethos, but in retrospect, that was kind of the point. They were created to think outside of the box, to pursue unconventional methodologies in an attempt to improve Dalek longevity. Becoming a hybridised version of their worst enemy, although unthinkable to a regular Dalek, makes absolute sense coming from a group designed to think like their enemies. It's just a pity that the manifestation of the Cult's experiment should result in such a poorly realised foe. Hybrid Dalek Sec looked ridiculous. Again, an example of the foundation being sound, but the on-screen realisation being lacklustre. It also didn't help that the Radio Times spoiled the big reveal by featuring Dalek Sec's tentacled mug on their front page the week before the episode aired.
And after some hideous scenery-chewing from Tennant early on in the season, tonight his Doctor was intelligent, reserved, and most importantly asked all of the right questions. If Ten had displayed this level of scene-appropriate restraint back in 'New Earth' and 'Tooth and Claw', I'm tempted to think he'd have had a more successful season. I like this version of the Doctor. Maybe he's restrained because Helen Raynor didn't fully understand the idiosyncrasies of his character and as a result his worst eccentricities were pared back, or maybe she just understood that there's a time and place for the Doctor's over the top shenanigans, and Daleks experimenting on humans just wasn't it. (Look and learn, Russell.) Either way, this version of the Doctor I rather liked.
Martha's had a rougher outing, sadly. Her deeming the alien mass 'not human' (no shit, Sherlock) felt like redundant dialogue, and her pursuing Lazlo clumsily across a stage full of dancers felt like an attempt at slapstick humour which entirely failed to land. Considering Martha was initially pitched to us as a quick witted trainee physician, it was hard to believe it from her behaviour tonight. She was little more than a generic side-kick, there to ask the right questions and stand around looking perplexed. Couldn't she have at least showed a professional interest in the processes creating the pig slaves? You know... like a real Doctor would? Martha is a doctor first and a companion second. Her medical experience could have given the script some much needed depth, but instead she was relegated to the comic relief: a mistake far too many of the show's writers make.
Yet, despite it's many flaws the central story itself was reasonably coherent, Rayner's characterisation of the Doctor was spot on, and there were much to enjoy about seeing the Doctor and Martha visiting New York during the roaring 30s. I mean, it was fuck all like the roaring 30s, but it was a roaring thirties. Whether you found the accents helpful or detrimental to the overall picture, I suspect is pretty much down to taste. Sure, they were occasionally excessive, and the stereotypes as broad as Lazlo's septum, but that's true of a lot of the show's historical stories. Take either Queen Victoria ('Tooth and Claw') or Shakespeare ('The Shakespeare Code') and compare and contrast. Sometimes they do it for humour, sometimes to just evoke a particular sense of time and place. It's not a great device, but it's no more offensive here than elsewhere.
Sadly, the real offence comes next week...
Other Thoughts:
—Inexplicably, 'Daleks in Manhattan' got the second lowest viewing figures of the season. Why do I say 'inexplicably'? Because bottom of the list was 'Blink', probably the best episode of the season.
—Not one cry of 'Exterminate!' all episode.
—Yay for Spider Man. Boo to his accent.
Quotes:
The Doctor: 'Listen... what was your name?'
Tallulah: 'Tallulah.'
The Doctor: 'Tallulah.'
Tallulah: 'Three L’s and an H.'
Tallulah: 'Have you ever been on stage before?'
Martha: 'Oh, a little bit. You know. Shakespeare.'
Tallulah: 'How dull is that! Come and see a real show.'
The Doctor: 'Fundamental DNA type 467-989. 989? Hold on, that means planet of origin… Skaro.'
Tallulah: 'And I’m not stupid, I know some guys are just pigs, but not my Laszlo. I mean what kind of guy asks you to meet his mom before he vamooses?'
The Doctor: 'Yeah, might just help if you put that down.'
Tallulah: 'Huh? Oh, sure. Oh come on, it’s not real. It’s just a prop. It was either that or a spear.'
No comments:
Post a Comment