Bad Wolf

I have a strange relationship with Reality TV Shows and Quizzes. I find myself frequently watching the things, even enjoying them В– but then resenting them for the hour of my life just lost. To watch them for a while therefore, part of me must like them, but there is another part of me that switches over too. Whatever, there is something amazingly addictive about them, something that draws the viewer in like a tractor beam.

Many comments I have read about this episode, before it aired, have dismissed it already. The frequent comment being that Doctor Who shouldnВ’t be lowering itself to such TV fare. Yet this high and mighty attitude is quite farcical. For a start itВ’s judging something before sampling it, which I find very strange on its own. Another problem is that just because someone hates some TV or other, it doesnВ’t mean that someone else will hate it too, or that it doesnВ’t have a place. There are plenty of fans of Reality TV and Quiz Shows В– itВ’s very narrow minded to dismiss them out of hand, just because they arenВ’t your viewing preference.

My initial thought about Bad Wolf, before it had aired, was that this could very well be a satire on current TV. Doctor Who tapping into the collective consciousness of modern popular culture. I was intrigued whether the show would glorify these kinds of TV, or have something cautionary to say about them. The closer transmission came, the more intrigued I became, especially when reading the preview from Heat magazine В– surely one the most positive articles about new Who, and possibly the greatest indication that Russell T Davies is a genius for pitching new Doctor Who exactly at the right level for now.

The shows referenced here are fairly representative or their genre. Big Brother, What Not To Wear and Weakest Link are also very well known - itВ’s great kudos to the makers of DW that original presenters all voice their android contemporaries from the future. DW is again the show to be in В– and is relevant for the mass media. After years in the relative shade itВ’s all rather weird.

The episode itself took a little getting used to. The first half is chock full of the above mentioned TV shows, complete with android hosts. The reason for them being there was an excellent idea. Like in the previous episode Russell T picked up strands of previous stories of new Who В– to produce an often surprising result.

Christopher Eccleston was splendid as he tried to escape from his confinement in the Big Brother House. His clear boredom and restlessness at where he had ended up, quickly turned to concern for Rose. Rose is also her lovable self in the Weakest Link part. Yet she pulled off the giggles turning to horror supremely well as the truth emerged. Jack got to strut his stuff in the What Not to Wear segment В– a highly appropriate place for him.

I particularly liked the Doctor in the Big Brother house segment. The lovely Lynda with a Y was delightful. The Doctors exasperations were hilarious. Due to the short lifespan of the 9th Doctor I think I am enjoying him more, like a friend who comes and visits every few years, and you cram in as much as you can in the short time available, because you know they soon will be gone. The Weakest Link and What Not to Wear segments were less successful I thought. Rose and Jack were ever watchable В– but there were very little laughs, and it strayed a little too close to the real thing for my liking. The androids in charge were novel creations В– and after watching Confidential I couldnВ’t help but feel admiration for the actor inside each suit. The reality shows and quiz segments were highly unusual for Doctor Who В– and the premise behind their inclusion highly original.

As our heroes emerged from their respective shows, then the episode seemed to up a gear again. Jack was excellent as the Doctors muscle В– clearly loving the adventure, and highly heroic. Christopher Eccleston showed how well he can do pathos, as he thought his world had turmbled down. The last 15 minutes of Bad Wolf were amongst the best of the season, as the Doctor, Jack and Lynda charged through the Gamestation trying to find answers. The Doctors rant at the Daleks (with its Abslom Daak inspiration) was glorious. Then that Cliffhanger to finish the episode off, and whet the appetite brilliantly for the Seasons Finale.

What also impressed me about this episode was the Music. IВ’m more used to Murray Golds style now, and appreciate it far more. The TV Shows riffs were already there, but his adaptations were subtle yet effective. The Dalek chorus was terrifyingly atmospheric, and the whole scale of the oncoming battle pushed up a few notches as a result.

Every week for the last 12 weeks I have looked forward to Saturday like I used to when I was younger. For that alone the creators of new DW are forever in my debt. After Bad Wolf that expectation has been heightened further. The big explosive finale, with an ending we kind of know, but one that isnВ’t any less exciting.

This new series of Doctor Who has been a revelation В– a real rollercoaster ride, full of surprises and thrills, yet remaining essentially the same programme I have always loved. Onto the last Hurragh for the 9th Doctor В– it will be brilliant. 8/10