TV Gold

Here's some 'gut reaction' thoughts on the second story of the 2006 David Tennant season...

A dramatic preview at the end of episode one and for once I felt this was largely maintained up there in the stories locale of the Scottish highlands of 1879. The sinister Father Angelo (played with menacing conviction by Ian Hanmore) leads his hooded followers into an impressive rural castle intent on taking charge of the property from those currently present. It made me wonder as I watched the quick cutting scene as if the fast paced fighting that these red outfit attired monks engaged in could possibly be a precursor to the type of combat we might possibly see in BBC1?s forthcoming updated ?Robin Hood? drama series. I liked, in the subsequent scene, the way in which the robed and hooded silent figure seated cross-legged in a cuboid barred cage certainly managed to draw the viewer into wondering just what dark secret he holds. When we eventually focus in on his features I rather felt that his black contact lenses were slightly reminiscent of when ?the darkness? possessed Sapphire towards the latter stages of the ?Sapphire & Steel? ?Adventure Two? story or indeed the a similar situation which befell Grace in the 1996 movie. It was indeed an effectively realised dramatic transformation from human into werewolf and the intermittent use of the beasts murderous pursuit of the house?s inhabitants, occasionally seen through its slightly distorted rather mono coloured vision (whilst understandably a cost cutting exercise (CGI use is undoubtedly fairly expensive)) certainly helped to maintain and intensify the tension of the dangerous situation that had developed on that fateful night.

I loved the period detail rendered to the observation room which we saw early on and then, to great effect, in the exciting impressively realised dramatic finale which led me to punch the air in delight at the inventive manner in which the Doctor finally defeated the beast.

As the most high profile name present in ?Tooth and Claw? I thought Pauline Collins was reasonably convincing in portraying the regal figure of Queen Victoria in a story replete with entirely authentically reproduced period costumes, something that the BBC have always excelled in. Her strongest scene was undoubtedly the final one she shared with the Doctor and Rose where she both congratulated and then denigrated the visiting duo.

There was undoubtedly some links to the past on offer, some were more obvious than others to those long term fans among the viewing audience. You?d have to go right back to December of 1966 when the series last visited the Scottish moors during the Patrick Troughton story ?The Highlanders?. In recognition of their surroundings and paying tribute to that classic series monochrome era maybe other fans joined with me in cheering when David Tennant?s Doctor introduced himself as ?Doctor James McCrimmon? (a pleasant nod to Frazer Hines endearing travelling companion), presenting his credentials to the assembled military force accompanying the period horse and carriage. During the heat of their fearful flight away from the werewolf the Doctor asks whether Rose has silver bullets, believing that they will be the only effective deterrent against their foe. This rather reminded me of the Seventh Doctor relating a similar belief to the Brigadier about combating ?The Destroyer? in 1989?s classic series story ?Battlefield?. Later whilst standing amongst the assembled armed occupants of the house the Doctor exclaims that ?bullets can?t stop it?. Again I felt that this rather echoes Third Doctor?s retort to the Brigadier about the disguised Policemen in the 1971 classic series story ?Terror of the Autons?.

I felt there was a distinct and entirely appropriate claustrophobic feel to the darkened surroundings of this period dwelling and despite the naturally frantic pace there was time for plot development although at times I did find the incidental music rather overpowering. Despite the rather relentless delivery there was in the midst of the story we are presented with a moment of welcome relative calm which finds our quartet (Doctor, Rose, Queen Victoria and Sir Robert) retreating to the temporary sanctuary of the library where they evaluate their current situation and plan their future survival strategy. My only negative point was the truly groan-worthy link to forthcoming spin-off series ?Torchwood? which set the foundations for an organisation directly opposed to the Doctor?s future intervention in the affairs of the planet Earth. However on balance this was an entirely successful, dramatically engaging, exciting story which certainly bodes well for the remainder of this season.
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