Monday, 12 October 2009

"The Long Game"

"The Long Game" is a great little tale, effectively told. It has the Doctor finding something wrong, getting to the bottom of it and effecting a solution. The storyline is well executed and contains the great dialogue and characters that we have come to expect from RTD. In a tale where the monster is a fanged gelatinous blob hanging from the ceiling, news broadcasts that use human brains as processors and have people having ‘kronkburgers’ and beef milk shakes, there is still room for competition between co-workers and an exploration of what it takes to become the Doctor’s travelling companion. There is also a continuation of an important theme in Doctor Who that has really been brought to the fore in this season- the Doctor doesn’t just save the day, he makes people better. Cathica is one of the myriad unquestioning drones that the 2001st Century seems to have developed- yet the influence of the Doctor enables her to break out of the box she has been trapped in and it is through her that the day is saved.

The guest cast is superb. Anna Maxwell-Martin gives a wonderful performance on the cusp of her recent, highly deserved, success and Christine Adams puts in a great performance as Cathica. There is a wonderful little role for Tamsin Greig as the nurse, though it is a pity her formidable gifts as a comic actress weren’t better utilised. However, the most memorable guest role has to be Simon Pegg. Pegg is one of those who dreamed of being a Doctor Who baddie since childhood and it is clear he is having a blast. This doesn’t mean he goes over the top- it is a quietly menacing performance, gilded with Pegg’s comic charm. The regulars are excellent and, as the dynamic for the TARDIS crew has changed, so have their interpretations of their characters. Bruno Langley is very skilful in making Adam a man who gave into a very understandable temptation and refused to take responsibility for it- however, I was as glad as anyone when the Doctor chucked him out.

The production values are excellent with good design work and some excellent effects- especially the opening foreheads. The Jagrafess is a fun addition to the Doctor Who bestiary. Brian Grant’s direction is good, although he doesn’t have the instinctive feel that Euros Lyn or Joe Ahearne posses.

"The Long Game" is an entertaining story that seems like an enjoyable one-off. But, of course, we now know better…

NEXT: "Father’s Day"

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