Thursday, 6 August 2020

Who Reviews The Stones of Blood by Matt Rabjohns



Seldom has there ever been a show that can successfully blend within one story several different tones and still be successful. At first when one comes to the Stones of Blood it can at first really seem like two stories put together. But it isn't, it is just really clever. It's a brilliantly inventive and superb story from newcomer at the time David Fisher. It's a very rich script populated with superb set pieces and a superb villainess and superb alien creatures.

Also, the Stones of Blood is noteworthy for being the 100th Doctor Who story to air on British TV, so it is rather a celebratory story for me too. And The Stones of Blood as a part of the Key to Time season also works so beautifully well indeed. There is so much packed into this four parter that never once does it seem like a debut script. David Fisher definitely has a keen grasp of character and also of sparkling dialogue too.

Tom Baker for beginners is on very fine form in this story. I love the scenes of where he takes on his own defence when put on trial by the Megara, the justice Machines. I think these scenes are just endlessly amusing and yet the balance is just right. Tom never goes over the top into farce at all.

Mary Tamm has already firmly found her feet as the original and best form of Romana. She is such a great asset to the Key to Time series. it's good to see a friend that at last the Doctor treats as an equal more than just a time space pal. She holds her own against the Doctor and is just as winning in every scene she is.

Susan Engel is simply delicious as the Cessair of Diplos otherwise known as Vivien Fay. She is so wonderful to watch as a villain, but she is not just some cardboard cut-out without character. She approaches the role with zeal and relish and it's no less than an awesome wholesome joy to see her on screen. She was an inspired choice for the role of the criminal of Diplos and the story is lifted so much by her aplomb.

But the real winner of performance in this story is Beatrix Lehmann. oh, dear wonderful Beatrice. What can I say about her that hasn't been dwelt upon before? That she totally steals every scene is an understatement. I truly wish Professor Amelia Rumford could have become an older companion. She would have been a revelation in the TARDIS. It's such a crying shame that she is only in this story. She has the exact same appeal as Jago and Litefoot, and we deserved to know more about her! The scene where she berates the Doctor for losing his marbles is priceless and totally winning TV! The Stones of Blood most definitely would not have been the same success it is without Beatrix. She truly deserves the mantle of one of the best one-off characters to have ever appeared on the show, perhaps maybe even THE best one-off character ever, yes, I do love her that much!

And the Ogri are a superb looking menace. And earlier scenes of blood being sacrificed on the stones is amazingly chilling to watch, especially as a heartbeat sound effect plays through the scenes. It's an eerie and creepsville score. There is also a very explicit scene where a camper and his girl both lose their lives as their essence is stolen by the Ogri and I am sure that this scene had Mary Whitehouse again reaching for the phone to berate the BBC once more. But for me it's a very very effective and truly bleak scene among many in this superb story.

I can't even really think of any major faults with this story at all. The Stones of Blood fits wonderfully into the Key to Time arc, and yet again the Key theme isn't overdone and doesn't dominate the storyline which is a wise scriptural move.

The ever-present squawk of crows too and shots of them throughout the story too are really well handed and add an eerie edge to the drama. It's really quite a shame that perhaps until Battlefield in Sylvester McCoy's era that this is the last time the show really does full on gothic. It's a wonderful genre of Doctor Who and the Stones of Blood illuminates this brilliantly from the get go.

Darrol Blake's direction is assured and smooth, and he certainly gets his monies worth from the entire cast of this story. I'm quite surprised that he was never asked back to the show to do another slot of directing after this. The Stones of Blood is a brilliant mix of styles of the gothic and the space age mixed together in a wonderful cake that is just so delicious to eat time and time again.

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