Evolution of the Daleks

I've been avoiding 'Confidential' like the intergalactic plague this season, partly because I don't want the 'magic' to be spoiled (I'm kidding of course... magic has been entirely absent from season three) and partly because I can't handle another talking head shot of RTD, grinning like a maniac as he lets rip as to how 'brilliant' his version of 'Who' is, and how much we're in dept to him for having been paid a huge amount of dosh to re-imagine it.

Anyway... I was so numbed by the 'brilliance' of this weeks episode that I was unable to lift the remote control to change the bloody channel, and was only able to summon the huge amount of will to do so, when RTDs grinning head appeared to utter the 'b' word about 30 seconds in.

'Evolution of the Daleks' was I'm afraid, far from brilliant. After last weeks debacle, I hoped the show would have improved, but, no... it was actually worse. Story wise, this was a mess. A half baked concoction of non-sensical ideas that played out with stunning predictability. The basic idea of the Daleks employing the concept of evolution as the key to their survival was actually pretty sound, and in the hands of an intelligent writer could have made for an excellent drama (as long as there were plenty of 'shootie' bits for people like myself... cos I like the 'shootie' bits!). In fact, by coincidence I've just finished watching the complete 'Neon Genesis Evangelion'. A Japanese sci-fi cartoon (or 'Anime', to the initiated) that deals with roughly the same basic concept of forced evolution. Evangelion, however, has an intelligence and depth so outwith the grasp of the Who production team as to make it seem that it was written by beings who have evolved onto the next level themselves.(and in case you're wondering, the 'shootie' bits are bloody brilliant as well).

It just gets my goat... for the last 15 years or so, British television Sci Fi has been camping out under a bridge, all damp and smelling of wee (and lets not forget, that despite the BBC currently heralding Dr Who as the second coming, for years it was a dirty phrase the utterance of which would have resulted in instant dismissal at best... extermination at worst) only to be rescued, cleaned up in the station toilets and sent to 'Top shop' before being housed in a nice semi in Cardiff!

And this is what we get!

Okay, hold tight, cos this is gonna be bumpy!!!

A series of events and character motivations that made no sense whatsoever. The wonkiest science I've ever witnessed in a television programme that wasn't targeted at two year olds. Tennant shouting a lot, waving his arms a lot, and over acting a lot (actually, somebody in the forums remarked on him being an excellent stage actor, and suddenly my dissatisfaction with him finally clicked. That's it... he's 'stage acting', exaggerating everything so that everybody at the back can see. Unfortunately, this style is no use when you're being viewed close enough to see whats up you're left nostril.). The Doctor hoaching with indignation and outrage whenever the Daleks did anything remotely 'Dalek' like, as if he knows nothing about them, let alone fought them in a cataclysmic war, (they shoot things, that's what they do' thats all they do, so don't look so damn surprised when they shoot somebody). The Doctor offering himself up for sacrifice twice (oh, just shoot him!) despite the end result of such actions achieving absolutely nothing. Flat, surprisingly lifeless direction which did, however feature a hilarious shot of a dalek, filmed with a wide angle lens so that it's plunger appeared in huge perspective, with the camera strapped to it's front as it trundled along. (Actually the direction was the least of this episodes problems, Spielberg couldn't have sorted out this mess.). An astonishing level of inconsistency from the Daleks ( having made his impassioned speech, Solomon is instantly exterminated... the Doctor takes stage and the Dalek hesitates). In fact, the Doctor spent most of this episode wandering round with a giant target on his head which the Daleks (all talk and no action) took zero advantage of, despite their continual promises of intent. Taloolah failing to bat an eyelid when Martha states she's a doctor (cos black women doctors were ten a penny in 1930's "Nu Yaawwrrk", apparently.) More running around the same 15 feet of sewer, more climbing up thing's at the end and more famous buildings used as focal points. An invasion of Manhattan by 12 'Dalek' blokes (real shades of 'Plan 9 from outer space' here). Egg whisk Dalek Tommy guns, being 'chambered' (despite firing energy bolts). Vast amount's of dull exposition. The playing of the same musical cue that accompanied the cult of Skaro's glide from the void ship at the end of (the genuinely exciting) Doomsday, over a similar sequence that just looked pathetic in comparison ( the Daleks 'big' entrance onto the stage, a crawling Dalec Sec in tow, via the kind of 'explosion' that would have made Paul Daniels blush!) The much vaunted New York shoot being nothing more then a collection of matte plates. The same threadbare locations/sets used in the first episode (Hooverville being no more then a collection of tents and props). Cliched characterisation and some terrible accents (the lead human/Dalek in the theatre had the worst American accent I'veever heard outside a comedy show). A ridiculous song and dance from Tennant as he mixes up some solutions for the second time in the space of 15 minutes in order to alter DNA or somesuch crap! Daleks that can "temporal shift" anytime, anywhere at will, but only when the writer decides. And finally, some truly dreadful dialogue (Dalek Sec... "For all their faults, such courage!", and my personal favourite "Pig slaves will take the lift!")

You know, it's a testament to how bad this all was that there still loads of things I can think of to list, however, a line has to be drawn, and I'm drawing it now, before I die from old age!

'Evolution' was terrible on so many levels it beggars belief. I'm not even sure that the most undemanding kid would have stayed the distance, boredom being this episodes most cardinal sin. There were a couple of good angle's/stuntmen falling about, when the Daleks (albeit briefly) attacked Hooverville and I liked the tracking shot when the Human/Daleks opened fire in the theatre. But that was it. I still think Murray Gold is providing movie quality scores, and should be complimented on doing so, but his bombast is now starting to feel distinctly out of step with the increasingly shoddy visuals ('Who' as a production in general is nowhere near as gleaming as many people seem to think, compare it with 'Farscape' and you'll see what I mean). Apparently this story was put together via a shopping list thrown at the writer by RTD, (who referred to Helen Raynor in the Radio times as being "Brilliant". That's a surprise!). Well... if you're listening Russel, here's a list for next season's two parter.

The Spanish civil war.
A plate of porridge.
Carnie folk.
An Onion.
The mutant tax collectors of Kelloss.
Existentialism.
Dusty Bin.

Ridiculous isn't it. Okay, so I'm having a laugh. It's fine for me to do so, because I'm not getting paid to entertain people. RTD is, and he's clearly having nearly as big a laugh as I am (ok... not quite, but...). The writing process is a creative endeavour that should not be polluted by stupid pre conceived lists whose elements must all be shoehorned in to satisfy some unnecessary brief. It show's a contempt for the audience that makes RTD, in my opinion unfit for the job he's doing. To conduct such an 'experiment' with the Daleks, and with a two part adventure no less is unforgivable He's turning Dr Who into some kind of joke, and I fear when the audience realises, it'll end in tears. (maybe that's the point, could he deliberately be trying to kill it off, so that when he's bored and finally leaves, nobody will take his place to potentially mess with his vision.).

I'm really coming over like the most paranoid of fanboys here, and that last bit is, I'm sure, nonsense, but I'm annoyed Godamnit!!!

Dr Who has always had it's bad episodes (most of them produced by John Nathon Turner, heh, heh, heh!). I reckon It comes with the territory, due to it's, anthology nature. But a good episode would usually be along pretty soon. Some of the first season episodes were pretty bad, but just as many were good. Some were very good, and Ecclston, while not ideal, had a gravitas and vulnerability that worked (hey... maybe he was too serious, the 'gurning' not sitting well, and perhaps contributing to his departure). Season two unfortunately seemed to have been built on, ( what I perceived to be ) season one's flaws, but there was still a lot of good stuff in there (and some nice subtext as well). I've never much cared for Tennant... his performance is all over the place and the self importance he's imbued his Doctor with just grates. Anytime I have got close to liking his portrayal (He doesn't do 'serious' well, but he can be impressively introspective... remember the 'theological' conversation he conducted with the female scientist in episode 2 of 'The Satan pit''.), he's blown it all away the following week. Less is often more, as Tom Baker proved time after time (a truly 'alien' performance by a genuine oddball... perfect). Piper, however, was still on board and she proved surprisingly capable of being the hook the show seemed to be hung on. Now, she's gone, and the third season appears to have been built entirely on the flaws, Pipers replacement being as uninteresting as she is 'airbrushed'. It's not the actors fault, she's been given practically zero to work with. Martha has no real backstory, and no distinctive personality traits, nothing! If there was a leash on Tennent (certainly in place during some of 'The girl in the fireplace', The Satan pit' and Doomsday'), it's been cut and he's being allowed to run rampant. Five stories in and the best of the bunch (The Shakespeare code) was no more than ok! Next weeks looks fine, but only if you haven't seen 'The Relic'. (which immediately sprung to mind, and I'm sure it'll be ripped off mercilessly, without Peter Hyams murky camerawork, of course, but also unfortunately minus Tom Sizemore and Penelope Anne Millar).

I'm afraid I've just lost faith in all of this. The show seems to have moved in a direction I'm just not in tune with. Maybe 'Doomsday' was too climactic, too grandiose, and the programme now feels smaller as a result. Maybe this sieries is exactly where the production team have always wanted it to be (it's all down to subjectivity). Maybe I'm taking this all too seriously. All I can say, however, is that where 'Who' currently seems to be is definitely not where I want to see it. I'm sure out of the remaining episodes The Harper directed ones will be competently put together, and Stephen Moffat's effort, potentially good (okay, so his 'drunken Doctor' stank, but he knows how to construct a story). But these are the only glimmer's of hope to cling onto during a season that up to this point has, as far as I'm concerned, gone to hell in a handbasket. Even the fx work seems a little less consistent then before.

The show is sinking in a morass of repetition, inconsistency and plain amateurishness. When the programme should be at it's peak, 'Evolution' marked a new low.

A shame!