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.
No comments:
Post a Comment