The Randomiser: The Underwater Menace
I suspect The Underwater Menace is the least well-regarded second Doctor story among fans. It's not difficult to see why. The era is dominated by the base-under-siege story and while they are fairly repetitive, there is an underlying recognition of a formula that works and the central focus of the stories can lend an illusion of tight plotting even when it amounts to little more than "aliens capture the base. The base gets free again" rince and repeat. The Underwater Menace actually has a similar structure in which the Doctor attempts to undermine Professor Zaroff and Professor Zaroff works around it, but without the unifying point of a base to capture or re-capture a lot of it feels like padding of some kind.
It doesn't help that Professor Zaroff is probably the maddest of Doctor Who villains and mostly not in a good way. There is no descent into madness here. The Doctor points out immediately on meeting him that his plan will involve blowing up the Earth, including himself and Zaroff agrees claiming that this is the pinnacle of scientific achievement. To be honest, in contrast to that, his famous declaration that nothing in the world can stop him now, seems almost restrained and sensible.
All this is shame, because there is much to like about The Underwater Menace not least of which is the costumes and sets. We started out our viewing giggling at the headresses and fish masks but actually, in context, particularly once we got to the moving episodes, they are remarkably effective. There are lovely small touches, such as the Doctor's quiet delight when he gets to dress up a as a priest. For many years the only extant episode was episode 3, saved for its fish people "ballet" (a source of some derision among fans) but actually you can see why it was preserved. The "ballet" is an ambitious set piece involving wire work behind some kind of screen that simulates an underwater effect, accompanied by music from the radiophonic workshop. It doesn't outstay its welcome and is a fascinating bit of early telly. Maybe the 1980s, when so much fan opinion was formed, was just too close to the time to appreciate it for what it is where now we (well Doctor Who fans) are more accustomed to recognising that early Doctor Who has to be viewed through the lens of the production capabilities of the time.
Even the script has its moments - mostly notably in the cast of characters who are not Professor Zaroff. The sympathetic priest, Ramo, the helpful servant girl, Ara, and the two shipwrecked sailors come miners, Sean and Jacko are all distinct characters and interesting in their own right. In a way its a shame that the central villain is basically both over-the-top and unconvincing to an extent that overshadows much else that is going on in the story.
This entry was originally posted at https://purplecat.dreamwidth.org/585044.html.
It doesn't help that Professor Zaroff is probably the maddest of Doctor Who villains and mostly not in a good way. There is no descent into madness here. The Doctor points out immediately on meeting him that his plan will involve blowing up the Earth, including himself and Zaroff agrees claiming that this is the pinnacle of scientific achievement. To be honest, in contrast to that, his famous declaration that nothing in the world can stop him now, seems almost restrained and sensible.
All this is shame, because there is much to like about The Underwater Menace not least of which is the costumes and sets. We started out our viewing giggling at the headresses and fish masks but actually, in context, particularly once we got to the moving episodes, they are remarkably effective. There are lovely small touches, such as the Doctor's quiet delight when he gets to dress up a as a priest. For many years the only extant episode was episode 3, saved for its fish people "ballet" (a source of some derision among fans) but actually you can see why it was preserved. The "ballet" is an ambitious set piece involving wire work behind some kind of screen that simulates an underwater effect, accompanied by music from the radiophonic workshop. It doesn't outstay its welcome and is a fascinating bit of early telly. Maybe the 1980s, when so much fan opinion was formed, was just too close to the time to appreciate it for what it is where now we (well Doctor Who fans) are more accustomed to recognising that early Doctor Who has to be viewed through the lens of the production capabilities of the time.
Even the script has its moments - mostly notably in the cast of characters who are not Professor Zaroff. The sympathetic priest, Ramo, the helpful servant girl, Ara, and the two shipwrecked sailors come miners, Sean and Jacko are all distinct characters and interesting in their own right. In a way its a shame that the central villain is basically both over-the-top and unconvincing to an extent that overshadows much else that is going on in the story.
This entry was originally posted at https://purplecat.dreamwidth.org/585044.html.