Written by Russell T. Davies
Directed by Ashley Way
Some random thoughts on the Doctor’s return to The Sarah Jane Adventures’ corner of his universe…
- Russell Davies’ first contribute to the Whoniverse, after his departure from Doctor Who’s executive producer position, shows that he hasn’t lost a single bit of his touch for character, especially that of the Doctor. His command of Matt Smith’s 11th incarnation is faultless, and offers the actor plenty of Doctorishness to sink his teeth into…matched with hthe actor’s own inimitable style. Smith owns the screen from the moment he arrives, but he never steals it away from the regulars; he manages to enhance both Elisabeth Sladen & Katy Manning, reminding all of us why the Doctor chose Jo & Sarah as companions…and why we continue to love them to this day.
Make no mistake…Katy Manning is STILL Jo Grant, after 37 years. She remains delightfully fluffy and warm, and caring and passionate. We laugh with Sarah as Jo smashes her way into the funeral…we have our breath taken away as the Doctor tells us about witnessing some of the heroic deeds on her world-wide travels…and we want to shout with happiness as she and Sarah all-but-high-five each other for both having had the chance to visit the planet of Peladon. Katy Manning’s return is a triumphant success…and Elisabeth Sladen seems positively energized by sharing the screen time.
Reportedly, some fans have not been impressed (perhaps they are allergic to over-sized puppets) with the Shansheeth and their vulture-ish appearance…but I think they’re completely wrong. The Shansheeth are a throwback to a more Jim Henson-style of special effect: something large, tactile and creepy, as if it were taken wholesale from a deleted scene in The Dark Crystal. They are a nightmare to children, and disorienting & incongruous to adults. No wonder Matt Smith adored them, and has lobbied Steven Moffat to have them appear in Doctor Who proper….
…on the other hand, the UNIT base in Mount Snowdon IS outrageously over-the-top! And I could have used a bit of an explanation as to what led Colonel Karim to such a betrayal. Perhaps there will be a deleted scenes pacakge in the DVD set…
In the end, Death of the Doctor is Russell T. Davies’ love letter to fandom, old and new. It’s his invitation to those who don’t know about Doctor Who’s rich history to go and explore the past…but it’s also a thank you to the newcomers, who realize what an incredible legacy they have inherited, and how they cherish that responsibility. Even MORE important is the fact that, in spite of the darkness and terror inherent in the Doctor Who universe, this is a series (in all its forms…yes, even Torchwood) about happy endings and snatching victory from the jaws of defeat. The coda, where Sarah reveals the good work the Doctor’s former companions are continuing to do, around the world, speaks volumes about our own dreams and aspirations, which we have taken from Doctor Who. And just like Ian and Barbara Chesterton, we too are made ageless by exposure to this wondrous, fantastic universe. If you don’t feel absolutely content after concluding your viewing of Death of the Doctor, then you have no romance in your soul.
