9th February, 2020.
Right …
JUST so you know?
My name’s Paul: and I live in the United Kingdom.
And?
Right at the moment, it’s 20:14 …
To the point where the video I caught this morning is possibly seriously out of date.
It’s been breezy, in other words!
Breezy enough that the BBC transmitters went down this morning!
Personally … ?
I’m thankful that didn’t happen this evening!
~≈¥≈~
At any rate, I felt I should tell you two things.
For starters?
I’ve got Marley’s* Exodus album on in the background.
You have to put a classic on, sometimes, don’t you?
The other thing?
I’ve seen tonight’s episode of Doctor Who.
And I’m thinking Can You Hear Me? has quite an atmosphere!
~≈¥≈~
Episode 7 — Can You Hear Me? — opens in 14th Century Aleppo: introducing us to a panicked Tahira (Aruhan Galieva) desperately trying to persuade Maryam (Sirine Saba) to let her back into the hospital where’s Tahira’s been staying since her parents died.
Tahira … ? Is being pursued by things … with claws …
Meanwhile … ?
Meanwhile, the Doctor (Jodie Whittaker) is dropping off Ryan, Yasmin and Graham for some much needed shore leave: their travels mean the three have not seen friends and family for a while.
Graham (Bradley Walsh)? Is playing poker with old friends, Gabriel and Fred (Everal A. Walsh and Michael Keane): until he is suddenly hit by a strange dream … or a woman, seemingly trapped and asking for his help.
Ryan (Toisin Cole)? Ryan drops in on old friend, Tibo (Buom Tihngang) … and stays over … when Tibo starts having strange dreams that involve a strange old man.
Yas (Mandip Gill)? Drops in on her much loved sister, Sonya (Bhavnisha Parmar) … so the pair can mark an anniversary … when Yas, herself, has a nightmare …of herself on a an isolated road on the Moors …
Back in the TARDIS? The Doctor manages to find the colliding planets that Graham saw: out in the back of the interstellar beyond: half a galaxy beyond the Gesken Straits.
The planets … and the base that’s monitoring the prison in-between them.
It’s only when the team explore the base? That Yas, Ryan and Graham are captured …
And the Doctor gets to meet Zellin (Ian Gelder†).
It seems Zellin … ?
Isn’t as human as he looks
And needs help to release and old friend …
~≈¥≈~
Now …
What on Earth did I make of Can You Hear Me? … ?
I have to say, loved it.
Granted, there’s possibly one or two flaws: the plot didn’t last for the duration of the complete episode.
But that did give writers, Charlene James and Chris Chibnall time to put in a scene near the end of the episode that shows us Ryan having doubts about travelling with the Doctor: but with Yas re-assuring him the pair are doing good things.
That’s possibly something that will pay out, near the end of the series: don’t quote me on that.
The companions, Ryan, Yas and Graham?
Seemed underused.
And please let me stressed, only seemed: certainly in Yas and Graham’s case.
Ryan, I think is not getting as stretched as he could be.
I’m thinking Can You Hear Me?, is the Doctor’s episode.
Its given Jodie a chance to step out of the shadows: to stretch … and show us her Doctor doing stuff … rather than being completely encumbered.
Complain about not having the family around, yes …
But being able to concentrate on action, rather than talk.
She certainly got a workout, I think.
~≈¥≈~
Can I ask you a question, here?
Have you read any of the Culture novels by the late Iain M. Banks?
I’ve read a few, over the years.
Frankly?
If you wanted honking great space opera, you could not go far wrong than by getting hold of a copy of Excession, Consider Phlebas, Look to Windward, what have you.
I don’t know how many other writers have managed to pull off the same tricks.
Extremely large technology, a society managed by god-like artificial intelligences, vast planets …
In a setting that could run to the dark … and villains that could be equally overwhelming.
I think that’s what I’m seeing here.
Consciously or otherwise?
Zellin seems both menacing, and powerful: and potentially overwhelming. Whilst his partner deity, Rakaya (Clare-Hope Ashitey) both powerful … and graceful …
With both seeming threateningly alien, despite their human forms.
On top of that … ?
I found the tone of Can You Hear Me? both dark … and reminiscent of Banks at his finest.
I, frankly, loved it.
Can You Hear Me? is possibly one of the best episodes of Dr Who I’ve seen in a while …
* Personally? I think 20th century only produced one hymn: Marley’s Redemption Song. Yes: I know it’s on Uprising, rather than Exodus. But the thing is spirituality with a back beat … and an acoustic guitar line so plaintive, it’s a prayer in and of itself.
† Geldar played Mr Dekker in Torchwood: Children of Earth.
2 comments:
Hi, Paul. Lucky that the problem didn't happen until after you'd watched the series. My friend has come for the author/friend's funeral, that won't be until Tuesday, so I'm not sure when I'll be able to join in again (as I'm not sure when she'll be leaving), perhaps Wednesday, but I didn't want you to worry.
Be careful with the weather and keep safe.
An homage to Roald Dahl's BFG, written in full pantomime focus.
Seriously underwhelmed by the naivety
Post a Comment