An excellent conclusion to what has proved to be an excellent season. The Green Death is an impressive story in many ways, not least for offering, for the first time, a "companion leaves the TARDIS to pursue a relationship" plot that actually succeeds. Cliff Jones is a believable partner for Jo because of his passion for his cause and his work. So despite him and the Doctor being very similar in some ways (being very clever and dedicated scientists, and quite prickly at that), his more down-to-Earth concerns and devotion to his causes seem like the sort of thing that might lure Jo away. For all that the romance that develops between them is still quite quick, it's nothing like that between Vicki and Troilus or between Susan and David Campbell. I can actually believe that these two people would love each other, so it works.
I'm fascinated to see the show return whole-heartedly to the issue of environmentalism, nine years after Planet of Giants. The Green Death certainly holds nothing back in showing the human suffering that results from abusing the planet we call home, and of the unexpected consequences of reckless industrialization. For all that the residents of the Nuthutch come across as a bit woolly-headed and silly, at least they aren't the ones unleashing a horde of killer maggots into South Wales. They are fundamentally good people, and the show makes the right call by treating their desire for a better world with respect. I was very amused by the scene in the Nuthutch where the Brigadier has joined them for dinner. Seeing such an "establishment" character like a fish out of water in this setting accentuates one of the central themes of this story, namely that of moral right versus legal restriction.
I think it's very much intentional that this story shows just how little the Brigadier gets anywhere by trying to follow protocol to stop Global Chemicals. They're simply better at that game than he is, and get bigger, scarier ministers to order him to back down. It's left to the Doctor, trespassing and transgressing, to really get anything done. It highlights the central contradiction of the UNIT era, which is at this stage growing long in the tooth. How can the Doctor save the day by being a part of a military hierarchy? Simply put, he can't. He has to stand just outside of it.
Stevens and BOSS are totally brilliant as antagonists. Jerome Willis puts on a coldblooded performance, but despite the obsession with efficiency and the hard gaze, there are flashes of humanity and doubt sprinkled judiciously in. And John Dearth is tremendous as the mad computer, humming songs and speaking cheerily to his comrade as if Stevens were a wayward child. The ending scene where Stevens realizes there must be another way and betrays BOSS is one of the best the show has ever had. Stevens, exhausted and teary, sits in the silence after he's hit the button to destroy BOSS, and only after a yawning moment of despair does the inevitable explosion occur. Just genius.
I've heard people poke at the bad CSO in this story, particularly when the Doctor and Benton are driving through the hills, but on the whole I found this story's special effects highly successful. The CSO when the newly hatched grub is crawling through the Nuthutch is actually extremely good, and those snarling bugs themselves are some of the most convincing practical effects that have ever been devised for Doctor Who. The striking visuals are almost as good as the thrillingly dark atmosphere of this, almost as gloomy as the stories of Season Seven. Although the effect doesn't come across well, the very idea that the grubs might metamorphose and fly around the world is a chilling one, and moments like the regrettably named Fell's death scene definitely stuck with me.
And of course, everyone justifiably talks about the last few minutes, where we see the Doctor more vulnerable than he's ever been. He's clearly happy for Jo, but her departure from his life still leaves both his hearts broken. Honestly, so is mine.
One of the all-time classics, for sure. We'll round up Season Ten shortly.
(Modified from the original posted at Gallifrey Base on 9 April 2021.)
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