Thursday, 4 June 2020

Who Reviews The Space Pirates by Matt Rabjohns



The Space Pirates came as the penultimate story of the Patrick Troughton era. Season six of the show had been plagued with so many script and production problems that the originally intended four-part serial that Robert Holmes had prepared for the show was lengthened to six parts. The question was: was this to the detriment of the story? ​
My personal informed answer is a resounding no. The Space Pirates may not have any aliens wobbling around the sets but it does have some superb character driven drama and a sublime cast who bring these cowboys and Indians style romp onto the grand stage of deep space. ​
In an unusual move for the show at the time a very large amount of the first episode is given over to introducing us to the main characters in the story, and indeed the three regulars don’t turn up until the 14th minute, a record number of minutes before the TARDIS crew appear. A Good Man Goes to War didn’t have the Doc appear until the 19th minute but The Space Pirates still has the record for the longest length of time before the entirety of the lead actors appear in the story! This is actually once a really good idea as we are not only introduced to some excellent characters, namely the deep space creep Caven and his obedient bloodhound Dervish. And then there’s General Nicolai Hermack and Major Ian Warne. ​
Robert Holmes gives the character of Miles Caven a real vein of nastiness that makes him a delicious villain to listen to (as one can only listen to the narrated soundtrack of this sadly almost completely lost six-part serial). Dudley Foster makes the character absolutely his own, injecting the character with venom and a totally overblown sense of self-importance. ​
Jack May gives a nuanced performance as the highly motivated and driven Hermack, and Donald Gee is perfect as his second in command also. Lisa Daniely also has to be mentioned as she injects her Madeleine Issigri with such a believable warmth that even though she's not a lily-white hero, one still likes her. When she breaks down at learning that the father, she thought dead is still alive she gives a superb display of emotional and broken intensity which really helps sell her character very well indeed. ​
But the shining jewel of the whole story is the revelatory casting of Gordon Costelow as Milo Clancey. Upon my first watching of the sole remaining episode two of this tale I was totally loving his space cowboy act. He is comedic without ever verging into rediculous territory. He absolutely steals every scene he is in and makes this story truly stand and sparkle. ​
This was only Robert Holmes second full script for the series but one can already see clear signs of the master story teller who would go on to weave some of the most inventive and ghoulish stories in the whole history of the show. Hios superb grasp of characterisation was always one of Robert's best talents. Honestly, I cannot pick out a single dull character in any of his stories for the show at all, I kid you not. The Space Pirates is packed with spicy and accomplished performances and crammed with witty and amusing dialogue. ​
This story also possesses some extremely effective model work. Indeed, just in part two we are given some gorgeous views of space ships, all sleek and dart like and shot extremely slickly. It gives the tale a definite feel of being set way out in the middle of deep space. The palpable sense of fear within just part two for the regulars (The Doc, Jamie and Zoe) is superbly directed and actually quite gripping. Or at least I seriously think so. As the TARDIS crew begin to slowly run out of air, we get some very good interplay between the regulars which is just yet another reminder of why this team remains my favourite from the show’s history. ​
I can’t honestly see why Michael Hart was never contracted again as a director. He clearly has an eye for great visuals and the whole story hangs together superbly well in my view. ​
This story also is the better for its not being overburdened with sub plots galore. Far too many new series episodes are weighted down under a fierce vein of incomprehensibility that leaves me cold. But this story is tightly plotted and keeps the pace for the length of its six-episode run. This is yet another prime example of how brilliant the show always was at maintaining interest in over 2 hours of TV. ​
I for one find it odd that The Space Pirates isn't more fondly remembered. This is probably largely due to its missing most of the sum of its parts. Were this story to be either found once more or animated and released this would certainly make this fan one very happy bunny indeed. The Space Pirates is nowhere near being the worst of Doctor Who. What it may lack in alien monsters it more than makes up for in involving storytelling and intrigue. ​
 Despite the monumental difficulties the shows had during Patrick's final year The Space Pirates stands as a fitting and very strong penultimate adventure for my very favourite Doctor in the history of the show. 

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