So, this week's episode featured the Doctor throwing an alien OAP off a roof, an imaginary butcher and a chase in a minivan...it also did a lot of things which would piss me off in any other context. This includes pointedly artificial situations, fake-deaths, alt-universes, minor villains (indeed, anyone) making sweeping but correct statements about the Nature Of The Doctor's Character, scenarios being arranged predominantly to make the heroes cry and baddies who say "oh, go on then" when defeated and evaporate.
But I don't care, becase I think the Valeyard has the right to be that person. He's always had a circusmaster vibe, and his evident love of melodrama makes me forgive the obviously heart-tugging nature of the episode. He's certainly stagey and artificial enough to think something like this was a good idea. And he knows his mark well enough to make things hurt.
The problem with alt-universes is they have no tangible impact on the real world; they're just a way to tinker with the characters and watch them under pressure. An example of this would be Turn Left. It's interesting, but the fact it only ever happens potentially makes it on many levels a wasted experience. The audience take what they have learnt and apply it to Donna, but the characters can not. Flashing between two zones was an ingenious way to tackle this problem, as acts in one directly impacted the other and contributed to an ultimate emotional point.
So somehow, I enjoyed this episode an awful lot. And I loved how unsettling it was, with the quality of light in particular making both atmospheres crazy and beautiful. A particularly brilliant scene was the Doc struggling not to sleep - add Invasion of the Body Snatchers to the roster of classic horror referenced. My one crit would be too much telling, not showing, in the dialogue.
I also love Rory, in a way I never found myself loving Mickey. Mickey always came across as a bit insecure, and his relationship with Rose was less interesting because she so clearly preferred the Doctor; and even if she treated him badly, we as the audience couldn't help but sympathise. To treat these three statements in turn: We've seen Rory go from totally,blissfully happy to an insecure wreck - watch him try not to panic at the prospect of protecting Amy on his own - with the Doctor's presence clearly more of a threat than a challenge. It doesn't have as visible an effect on Mickey - he's cheesed, but it doesn't diminish his self image in the same way. It's always clear who Rose would rather spend her time with, whereas with Amy we're not so sure and that makes it easier for us to see Rory as a viable choice, not second best. Life on Planet Earth - and hence, the alternative Mickey presents - is constantly downplayed, as boring and meaningless; it's not meant to reflect on him, but it does. But Amy's life at home is always depicted as pretty swell (compared to Rose and Donna*) - her "alternative" life isn't television and routine, and this episode gives her a fantastic future, making Rory's option seem much more attractive. There is also a difference between "dating" and "engaged", if only one of emphasis.
Arguably, Mickey can't do much to stop Rose dumping him. It's mean, but he doesn't have the same level of implied posession as a fiancee. Amy owes Rory much more, and this leads to a more interesting balance of tension.
Now I've started thinking about options, it makes me think about the three companions. I've always held the theory that companions work best when both they and the Doctor need something of one another. Classic example would be Seven and Ace; classic example of doing it wrong is Six and Peri. Peri starts and ends confident on her own terms, and her time with the Doctor does not change her - nor does her presence effect the Doc. I've always felt this about Martha too - she does not need the Doctor, and the Doctor never takes advantage of what she offers him. Human Nature and the Timelord trilogy are her best episodes, and they are the two where she is absolutely pivotal.
Nevertheless, maybe this explains why she gets a happy ending? Rose and Donna's home lives are depicted as fairly poor - though there are positive aspects, one is characterised as tedious, and the other oppressive. Martha's home life has a sort-of conflict with her dad's behavior, but in general she is focused, training, knows what she wants out of life and surrounded by supportive figures. Rose and Donna are aimless and sleepwalking. When she returns to that life (and she does it out of choice), it is because she has something to go back to. Whereas Rose and Donna get back accidentally, and it's a tragedy because the preceding season has reinforced how lousy that other life is.
Anyway, I made a fairly sweeping statement at the top about the Dreamlord's identity. It doesn't matter whether he "is" or "isn't", he occupies the same story function regardless. But assuming he is the real Valeyard makes the episode, overall, less lame - magic dust fell into the time rotor? Well that's just feeble plotting, unless - as seems more likely - it's the Doctor making a feeble excuse. There's magic dust that dangerous, and you're just going to blow it out the door? It makes more sense to set the whole thing in Who's ready-made imaginary dreamworld - The Matrix - which, last time we saw it, was under the Valeyard's direct control. First he hid and hyjacked it, and then masqueraded as the Keeper of the Matrix. If you want to be bumper-geeky, it is also compatible with the Valeyard's appearance in the novel Matrix.
I didn't like him so much, that goes without saying. But they were patently trying to do something else, and succeeded adequately. I'm not sure the original grand guignol wouldn have suited the episode in the way this shabby, bland children's party entertainer did. He was a bit pathetic, but deliberately so - he seemed more like an alt-Doctor who was ashamed of his own rubbishness, instead of owning it and turning it into eccentricity. I could never understand how Trial's Valeyard got so cold; this guy was a more accurate mirror in retaining the Doctor's daftness. The Dreamlord also seems to retain fondness for companions, albeit in his twisted angry fashion, which makes better sense. I particularly liked him propositioning Amy, something the Doctor will (or can?) never do. A Valeyard who has mellowed, then? Or maybe one more suited to his Doctor?
Although I was disappointed by his more mundane vocabulary.
And now, my random supporting evidence:
ONE: When reviewing Matrix, I noted that it was a book "about" dark sides:
The Doctor and the Valeyard. Ace, and Cheetah Ace. Malacroix who blackmails people by hanging onto their twisted secrets, and who it is hinted has a nasty secret himself. The Dark Matrix, the dark TARDIS, the evil past incarnations (oh, I'll be getting onto them in a minute...) Even dark London.My argument being that the Valeyard isn't just a dark side, his presence also brings out the darkness in those around him. I'd be interested in reviewing Trial of a Timelord with this in mind and see whether the same rule applies. Arguably it does, if you believe the Seventh Doctor developed into a control-mastermind as a result of Trial happening without his foreknowledge.
Before I start, what do we mean when we're saying "dark"? For me it has two meanings, equally correct. The first is like a "shadow" self, the unreal, the other version. The alternative. The Valeyard is a "dark" Doctor because he is his opposite, not because he is bad; and on this rationale, the Doctor is a "dark" Valeyard. The second meaning is the obvious one - the Valeyard is a "dark" Doctor because the Doctor is outstandingly good, and therefore any opposite must be evil.
Amy's Choice presents real and shadow lives for our characters, but is also more complex than any "Valeyard" story ever presented. She does not know which version is her shadow "dark" mirror. And this is made increasingly complex because neither version is wholly good, and free from literal "darkness". We can't tell which Amy is the "better" one, as she has darkness in both worlds. Is the Dreamlord's come-on a manifestation of the Doctor's darker desires, or hers? It also brings out the worst in the Doctor and Rory. Episode also features: Dark TARDIS and Dark Old People. Very interesting; an essay beckons.
TWO: his two references to companions neatly align with Mel and Peri: redheads, and people the Doctor has abandoned. True, he does that to a lot of companions - and the descriptions correspond perfectly with Amy also - but Peri's fate is the most shocking and distinctive in that group.
THREE: Did you notice the Gratuitous Planet Of Fire Reference Of The Week? The retirement home was called Sarn. If I wanted to unnerve the Doctor, reminding him of that afternoon would be top o' my list. Particularly if you consider that the McGuffin in [I]Planet of Fire[/I] was a rejuvination dust, and the care-home contains OAPs who won't die...
FOUR: A very similar ending to Trial of a Timelord, as he glances at his reflection. This could be metaphorical "Your dark side never leaves you!" rather than literal "He's still alive!", but it is still a curious parallel.
FIVE: partially excuses how unforgiveably dark this episode is. I'm not sure any Doctor Who episode should end with a potentially hopeless suicide. Amy was _not_ wholly convinced it was a dream, and it was the decision of a distraught mind.
SIX: pushing it, but someone on GBase picked up the "vegitarian" comment as a reference to Two Doctors. I like this, and it makes sense that the V's disdain for Six would be slightly more personal.
Random other theories: someone on GBase hypothesises that the Doctor somehow causes this to sort Amy and Rory out, and it does come straight after a quote to that effect in Vampires in Venice. A neat possibility, either if it is done with the Doctor's consent or accidentally. The Doc states he knew the cold star was never a danger, supporting the former - and indeed the crew were never in any real danger: the scenario was thoroughly "safe". Or the TARDIS/Matrix could have picked up on the Doctor's thoughts and done it. The Dreamlord wasn't as evil as the Valeyard, never actually malicious...or, if it was the Valeyard escaping from the Matrix, maybe this was the worst he could do. I mean, he couldn't actually harm them trapped in there, so he exploits everyone's darkness and it's accidentally helpful, but he causes a lot of pain along the way.
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