Thursday, 6 August 2020

Who Reviews The Armageddon Factor by Matt Rabjohns



The Key to Time season was the first time in the show's long history that a "Series Arc" had been written in to the stories. For a first attempt at such an arc, it succeeds admirably well. Given that the Key to Time theme is not overtly prominent in every story, it's more of a background theme that is touched upon throughout the six stories of season 16.

The Armageddon Factor satisfies as a conclusion to the arc in almost every way. This story really has it all. It firstly boasts Tom Baker in marvellous form. Just watch out for his scene when the key is finally together and he begins his " We have the power to do anything we like" speech, and just marvel, as I do, at the frenetic speed with which he speaks his lines. I have no remote inkling how Tom could have spoken these lines so quickly and not get tongue tied. I wonder if this took more than a few takes for him to complete? But in the transmitted scene he makes it look effortless and his Doctor has never been more fun or childlike to watch. It's an innocence which always pervades Tom's Fourth.

And he is ably assisted by the sublime Mary Tamm as Romana 1. I was always miffed with Destiny of the Daleks because our wonderful Mary never got a farewell story. It grates on me no end when brilliant actors and actresses are never given the exit they deserve. Mary was a fantastic Romana, she really clicked with Tom, or at least this is how it always came over on screen. They are a marvellous pair of lead actors in all six stories in which they feature. The only thing I can say about Mary's final scene in the Armageddon Factor is that it's very special even despite not being a goodbye.

The other acting prowess on show is formidable too.

John Woodvine is totally mesmerizingly brilliant as the deranged Marshall of Atrios. His displays of Hitleresque tantrum and bluster are so brilliant to watch on screen. And his scenes with the more restrained Davyd Harries as Shapp are also memorable. These two are fantastic character actors and they really deliver the goods in both their roles. The Marshall is all pomp and shouting, and Shapp is more discernibly calm and more perceptive.

William Squire as the Shadow is also a true delight on screen. He brings a palpable sense of dark brooding menace to his Shadow. And his whispering yet unnerving voice is enough to give me a good dose of the goose bumps. His first scene where he meets the Doctor is simply superbly acted. His scenes where he explains to the Doctor of what the Shadow will do with the Key with absolute malevolent relish are frightening scenes.

And it's a delight to get our first Doctor Who performance from Lalla Ward. She portrays Princess Astra well, and would obviously go on to play Romana mark 2 from Destiny of the Daleks onwards. I always felt that Lalla never quite matched up to Mary at playing Romana. I am not saying she was bad at all, but she never rose to the height of Mary's performance for me. In fact, I am quite sure I even prefer her Princess Astra to her version of Romana. As Romana she just seemed rather aloof and this grated on me several times during her time as Romana. But Mary was just amazing as the first Romana.

Barry Jackson is one man who definitely needs the limelight this time though. As Time Lord Intergalactic Del Boy, Drax, he is absolutely side splitting and absolutely incredible to watch in this story. He is a blundering yet highly amusing character indeed. He brings an edge of sparkle to an already great story.

The Armageddon Factor only has one slight niggle, and it’s that Valentine Dyall's amazing Black Guardian only truly appears in the final episode of this superb drama. Valentine would later return in far greater fashion for a trilogy of stories with Peter Davison, but even despite his scene being short, he is still absolutely winning. Valentine has one of those voices that you never ever forget. It booms from the screen and definitely holds your attention. He makes a fine embodiment of refined evil and his presence is massive when he appears. It is great that he is trying to trick the Doctor into giving him the Key to Time so he can bring chaos to time, but the Doctor realises he is a liar and disperses the key pieces once more. It's a superb way to end the arc and as a conclusion is really satisfying.

Season 16 was an amazing season of Doctor Who. The first use of a serious Arc was wholly successful and written well and directed well. One cannot say the same of most of the modern series story arcs. Those seem remarkably long winded and confusing. But The Key to Time series was done smoothly and efficiently and that is why it remains one of my all-time favourite seasons of Doctor Who history.

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