Previously … A Race Against Death

With the episode being called “kidnap”, I spent the entire episode thinking “so who’s been kidnapped?”  Apparently it refers to the cliffhanger at the end of the episode.  That made me think that a number of these episode titles have done that.  They don’t describe the episode, they just signpost the episode’s cliffhanger.

The episode opened with the cliffhanger of the previous episode – all eerie lighting, monsterish noises, and the Doctor being slightly more concerned than usual.  The resolution was – oh, his coat’s been ripped a bit, now let’s all go home.

This is what makes the episode feel like it’s just 25 minutes of padding.  The episode begins at the aqueduct, everyone goes back to the city, and then the Doctor wants to go to the aqueduct.  Can’t help but feel that they could have stayed at the aqueduct and run straight into the final episode without this episode there at all.  I started watching the episode from the previous cliffhanger wanting to know what the “monster” was, what was really so terrifying about the aqueduct, and the significance of the Deadly Nightshade (yes, okay, I do know the answers – but I tried to watch it as though I didn’t).

Instead, we’re back at the city with everyone and their dog saying “I wonder if Barbara’s back from her holiday yet?  No, not ’til next week, so we’ll mention that we want her back several times, but not actually implement it until near the end of the episode.”

Mix in a little “frame the Doctor story” (which I actually enjoyed – always love the comeuppance when the Sensorite is so quickly seen to be a liar), and that’s the episode sorted until the next one.

Having the Doctor say, at the beginning while in the aqueduct, that he’s solved one problem, which he doesn’t reveal, and doesn’t mention it again throughout the episode, doesn’t help.

In fact, this is why it’s probably not a good thing to watch the episodes any more frequently than once per week.  The Doctor being framed for murder, and the Doctor “knowing but not telling” the answer to the mystery, feels a lot like Ian being framed for murder, and the Doctor “knowing but not telling”, from The Keys of Marinus.  I probably wouldn’t have noticed that if watching one episode per week.

Susan is a much better character in this story and in this episode.  I’m starting to wonder if she only turns into the “screaming whiner” when Barbara’s around to comfort her.  Without Barbara, Susan comes out as a very capable character.  Maybe this was why a three-team crew such as the Doctor/Steven/Vicki dynamic has a bit less of the ankle-twisting frightened-of-own-shadow feel about it.

Whilst the City Administrator is a fun-in-an-annoying way antagonist, I can’t help but question his promotion.  Yes, it seems cleverly done (even convincing the TARDIS crew to vouch for him), but would it really happen?  Is it really the case that the entire planet has just two Elders controlling it, and when a position opens up they promote someone who’s only experience is administering a single city?  A city he doesn’t seem to administrate a lot, given that his personal selfish goals preoccupy all of his time.  I can’t help but feel that there must be other Elders elsewhere on the planet, one of which would take up the Second Elder’s position.  If not, it seems very shaky for a system of government.

Nevertheless, time to put this episode behind me and get ready for the finale!  Been waiting since the end of episode 4, so I can’t wait now!

Next time … A Desperate Venture