The Mark of the Rani by Pip & Jane Baker
2 - 9 February 1985
I don't know what it says about me
that the first thing I said to myself was: "Is that a new cat pin?" Sure
enough, Sixie has changed his out since Vengeance. It's good to know that my powers of observation have turned me toward productive ends.
The next thing I noticed was that Peri, while still not much of a
fully-realized character or anything crazy like that, seems noticeably
happier and has more personality in this story than usual. I note that
this is one of the rare Who stories to actually be both written (by Jane
Baker) and directed (by Sarah Hellings) by women, and wonder if that
might have something to do with it. The last (also first) time this
happened was with Enlightenment, written by Barbara Clegg and
directed by Fiona Cumming, where Tegan notably got more to do than usual
and some more focused writing. I may be imagining things, but it was
nice to see Peri smile a little more and reveal her interests for what
feels like the first time, when she talks about conservation and the
chopping down of English hedgerows toward the start of the first
episode.
There are still plenty of risible moments where she is concerned, of
course. Here I'm thinking of the cliffhanger, where she accidentally
pushes the Doctor's cart the wrong way and sends him rolling down a
hill! (I thought it was pretty funny, but I can't fib and say it was a
flattering character moment.) And toward the end of the story, when
asked what she and the Doctor do in the TARDIS, the Doctor remarks
wryly, "Argue, mainly." Don't say that like it's a good thing!
This is not the Master's most edifying hour, coming into the story
disguised as a scarecrow with one of his most bonkers plans yet. (Still,
it must be said, not quite as bonkers as the one from The King's Demons.)
I wonder what fan's thoughts were at the time after his seeming death
in the previous season? "Oh, not him again"? His presence does distract
from the new villain a bit, but I did find his rapport and banter with
her fairly entertaining.
Speaking of whom, Kate O'Mara is absolutely wonderful. I think it's a
pity that her part here is a little underwritten and she doesn't get
much time to be a true threat to the Doctor. It would have been for the
best to withhold the Master and give her more room to get into conflict
with the protagonists. Just the same, I enjoyed every moment she was on
screen. Her dramatic exit with the T. rex embryos growing in her TARDIS got a real laugh out of me.
I've heard that Mr. and Mrs. Baker are known for their excessively
verbose dialogue, but I was more thrown off by the Northumbrian dialect of the
miners, which was at times a little difficult
for my delicate Yankee ears to parse. BritBox subtitles came through for
me on that front. The historical setting is an intriguing one, though I
was forced to ask myself just how well-known George Stephenson really
was, as I'd never heard of him before this. Is he more popular in his
native Britain perhaps?
But do you know what the really odd thing is? Despite all the quibbles
and the plot basically being held together by string, I really, really
enjoyed this. It's inoffensive, it's cute, and it has a bit of manic
energy to it that I'd take over Attack of the Cybermen any day. I can't bring myself to give it a negative review.
Is it already another anniversary year? The Two Doctors is next.
(Modified from the original posted at Gallifrey Base on 13 May 2024.)
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