TV REVIEW: An Adventure in Space and Time

Just a little note, this review does contain spoilers.

An Adventure in Space and Time is one of those new fashionable programmes which takes an affectionate behind the scenes look at the creation and filming of Doctor Who, tracing the story of its inception and the journey of its star William Hartnell (David Bradley) through his time as the First Doctor. What makes this so special is that it's a drama about the people who brought it to life, people working passionately towards a project that they believe in. In this respect, the fact that said project is Doctor Who could have been treated as incidental. Instead, Gatiss treats the heart of his story with the utmost affection and the programme is full of little nods and curios that would warm even the most casual fan's heart. 

There is also a real sense that Gatiss has made this for everyone to enjoy, even people who have never watched an episode but are no doubt aware of the iconography that the show has given the world. I must admit, the Hartnell years are a big gap in my Who knowledge (I'm looking to rectify this, dear reader, never fear) but An Adventure didn't seek to alienate, but include. References weren't obscure, but knowing and I'm sure there were a tonne that I missed but will no doubt rediscover when I'm a bit more clued up on the First Doctor.

An Adventure also captures that attention to detail that fans have come to love over the fifty years; it's the little things that matter. For Hartnell, it is ensuring that each button on the TARDIS panel has a function and worrying that he couldn't just press any old button to open the doors. The wobbly sets and the malfunctioning doors was a great visual joke whilst Hartnell knowing how to work the TARDIS set added not only humour but a poignant moment towards the end of the episode too. 

However, the real triumphs were the performance given by its excellent cast. Jessica Raine (a recent Who star herself in the last series' episode Hide) stars as legendary producer Verity Lambert, here at the very early stages of her career. The only female producer at the BBC at this time and with something of a point to prove, her passion for bringing Doctor Who to the screen was matched well with Sacha Dhawan's Waris Hussein, the director who was less enthusiastic but just as dedicated.

However, An Adventure in Space and Time belongs to David Bradley from the moment in which he first appeared to his final scene. As the programme shifts its focus to Hartnell's story, it steps up a gear, transforming into a story about an old man who was giving a chance to do something completely different towards the end of his career and embraced it with open arms and enthusiasm. Bradley plays Hartnell with a great deal of respect, capturing the alternating grouchiness and passion with which he approached the role of the Doctor. As everyone around him moves on to other careers and he is forced to retire from the show, the sense of grief is palpable and his scene at the fireplace (echoing Ten's sentiments before his regeneration), exclaiming 'I don't want to go' just about broke my heart. 

The final moments of the episode in which the First Doctor came face to face with the Eleventh was not only an inspired nod to the future of the role, but also of the lasting legacy of Hartnell's work. Here was this character who had gone through so many incarnations to the one which currently graces our screens and it was Hartnell who laid those foundations, who established the 'twinkle' and capacity for imagination that the Doctor has become known for. It was a lovely nod to past, present and future and played wonderfully by both Bradley and the cameo-ing Matt Smith.

Doctor Who is a show founded on constant change, the endless possibilities that result from having a title character who can travel through time and space and go just about anywhere he likes. This is naturally to be celebrated as it has resulted in some great moments in not just science fiction, but television in general. However, what makes An Adventure in Space and Time so special is that it looks at the human aspect of this change, the loss that Hartnell feels as everything changes around him. It still celebrates this change, but acknowledges those that it leaves behind in the process.

All in all, An Adventure in Space and Time was a moving, heartbreaking and witty look at the early days of the Doctor and the people who brought him to life; it was a perfect tribute.

- Becky

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TV REVIEW: Doctor Who - Hide

On first look, it was easy to mistake this week’s episode of Doctor Who as something more in the way of supernatural than scientific. Whilst this isn’t necessarily a new theme for the show, it is the first of its kind in rather a while.

‘Hide’ told the story of the creepy Caliburn House, dwelled in by Professor Alec Palmer (Dougray Scott), his assistant Emma Grayling (Jessica Raine), oh and their friendly neighbourhood ghost. Only, it doesn’t seem quite so friendly. Naturally, The Doctor (Matt Smith) and plucky Clara (Jenna Louise Coleman) wade in to investigate, finding bits of the house that are colder than others, hearing odd voices and having their hands held by unseen beings. It’s worth mentioning at this point that Grayling is psychic, and is consequently picking up on a disembodied voice crying for help, in a rather nice twist on the usual scenario of The Doctor himself hearing said pleas before racing to anybody and everybody’s assistance. This being an episode of Doctor Who, however, naturally the ghost, or ‘ghast’ as everybody insisted upon calling it for reasons I never quite understood, was SPOILER ALERT not a ghost (or ghast) at all, but a time travelling lady caught in a shrinking ‘pocket universe’ whilst simultaneously being chased by what is quite possibly the ugliest alien in the show’s lengthy history.

The episode moved neatly from old school ghost story to quirky science fiction tale, a transition foreshadowed from the off by Clara introducing the two of them as ‘the Ghostbusters’ at the start of the show. There were also a couple of surprisingly touching stories of the ol’ romance genre running through ‘Hide’, the first, between Professor Palmer and his sweet yet talented assistant, and the second of a much more, er, ugly alien nature. Whilst heart-warming storylines in their own right, the romantic threads of the episode gave us all a well-earned break from our perpetual analysis and wonderment along the lines of WHO ON EARTH (nearly got through the review with that pun, then)  IS CLARA? WHAT is Clara? WHEN will we find out? Do you even KNOW, Moffat?  Which was nice, as all that shouting at your screen can become tiresome. Not least for your neighbours.

Performance of the week award goes to Jessica Raine as Emma Grayling, convincingly portraying both the doting assistant and tortured psychic elements of her character. Smith and Coleman were on form too, with the latter really settling into her sparky, quick witted role, and developing a charming relationship with the haughty TARDIS, despite this episode allegedly being the first one she actually filmed as the companion. Dougray Scott was also on hand to provide a brooding, almost Gothic sort of hero, initially appearing oblivious to both his own feelings and those of his assistant, but turning out to be something of a sweetie pie the second Grayling was in danger. 

If I have a criticism of the show, and what would an Assorted Buffery review be without a niggle of sorts, it’s that there was a little too much going on for me personally. Neil Cross’ plot had just a few too many lines, any one of which could have provided the crux of the episode. To name a few, we had the Professor’s role in WWII and The Doctor’s awareness of the two of them, the ghost-ghast, the time travelling lady, the pocket universe itself, the fact that it was shrinking, the monster, the second monster, the monster love story AND the family connections at the end. Phew. It all flowed nicely enough and didn’t feel jumpy, unlike several other Doctor Who episodes I could mention, but and call me boring if you will, the time traveller being stuck in a pocket universe which can only be accessed by a psychic was plot enough, thank you very much, especially with it shrinking. The presence of the monster as well felt a little overkill in places, even though the overall arc of the show did work very well.

All in all, however, a really rather nice, fun episode.  Particularly enjoyable as we suspect that it won’t be long until the questions start to be answered, and things all get a trifle serious again…

Doctor Who is next on tonight, 6.30pm. Look out for Becky’s review.

      Jen

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