What's the word I'm looking for here? "Cozy"? This is the most comfortable that the show has felt in a while, but it's in a setting that has so far been absent from the Pertwee era. It's a funny little paradox, but perhaps a sign that the program is slowly starting to come back around to its original format again after two years with the drier UNIT format. Colony in Space went some of the way toward allowing this story to happen, but as we are now unchained and let loose in an entirely alien environment full of very alien characters, it feels worlds apart from that serial. In fact, it feels rather like Doctor Who again! Although this is certainly not the best specimen of that breed, I thought it was a very cute story and came away with a strongly positive impression.
Despite all the warm fuzzies prompted by the familiarity of this story - such that it is, despite the fact that I've never watched it before - it still contains the same core of social awareness that's shared by the other Pertwee stories of these early seasons, this time as a parable for the UK's entry to the Common Market. This certainly feels different in a post-Brexit world, but the forward-thinking attitude of this story is still appreciated. It's certainly deserving of kudos as well for not talking down to those who were (and are) opposed to such a thing, because the duplicitous Hepesh, for all his crimes, is treated in a very humanizing way. The scene where he admits to the Doctor how afraid he is of change is a nice touch, and his death at the end of the story feels more sad than anything else.
The Galactic Federation delegates are a great addition; Alpha Centauri is justifiably memorable, and the Ice Warriors get an interesting touch of complexity by turning out to be good guys this time around. This twist accomplishes two things, namely another rebuke of the simpler monster story style of the Troughton years (à la Silurians), and by showing that the Doctor is no more immune to prejudice than Hepesh and his ilk. It's nice that the Ice Warriors finally get to do something different from what they did in their previous two outings, and it makes for Hayles's best script yet.
Words of praise are also owed to Katy Manning, who is on fire as Jo during this story. I was greatly amused by the posh accent she so effortlessly puts on once inhabiting her royal persona, and was also a bit startled the first time I heard it. David Troughton is also quite magnificent as King Peladon, putting a lot of gravitas into the role.
All in all, a fun, classic little story. It's almost a shame that I have another literary review coming up before I can continue with what's proving to be a nice season! But I remain curious to behold The Face of the Enemy nevertheless...
(Modified from the original posted at Gallifrey Base on 1 April 2021.)
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