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Posted by Kenneth Morgan
on 2/15/2009, 9:57 pm
Once again, Kenneth Morgan sends no valentines.
*****
Well, it’s February 15th again, the day after St. Valentine’s Day. That means you probably figure it’s time for the annual “Ken has no sense of romance” review, where I bitterly write about a less-than-good item with a vague connection with a love story as a way of expressing my curmudgeonly attitude towards all the hearts and flowers of the previous day. Well, if you are figuring that…you’re pretty close to being right. But this is not the place for me to put my tortured (well, slightly bruised, actually) psyche on display. It’s where I write reviews for my fellow Blurters.
So, putting aside boring stuff about me, here’s our subject for post-Valentine’s consideration: “Love & Monsters”, an episode from the second series (that’s British for “season”) of the revived “Doctor Who”, first broadcast in 2006.
The story is presented in flashback, framed by excerpts from the video diary of Elton Pope (Marc Warren), a rather average guy (and proud E.L.O. fan) from London. We learn that, back when he was a kid, he once encountered the Doctor (David Tennant), but he has little memory of the circumstances. Since then, Elton has also found himself witnessing several mysterious events, all ultimately connected to the Doctor (and recounted in previous episodes, sans Elton). He prowls the ‘Net for more information, and discovers that he’s not alone in his interests.
Via an on-line blog, Elton meets Ursula (Shirley Henderson), a nice, if kind of nerdy, young lady who also has a fascination for the mysterious Doctor. After a while, they hook up with three other Doctorphiles (I guess that’d be a good term): Mr. Skinner (Simon Greenall), Bridget (Moya Brady) and Bliss (Kathryn Drysdale). Soon, the group is trading stories and theories about just who the Doctor could be and what he represents, and looking for clues as to his whereabouts. They also become fast friends, sharing their experiences both good (Mr. Skinner’s budding novel) and bad (the drug problems of Bridget’s daughter). They even come up with a name for their little group: London Investigation ‘N’ Detective Agency, a.k.a. L.I.N.D.A. (Okay, it’s not U.N.C.L.E. or S.H.A.D.O., but it’s catchy.) Things are actually pretty good for the group, briefly.
Trouble, however, arrives in the form of Kennedy (Peter Kay). A mysterious and commanding man, Kennedy seemingly has two obsessions: he can’t bear to be touched (supposedly due to a medical problem) and he’s also looking for the Doctor. Unlike the others, though, he’s deadly serious about his quest. He soon pretty much takes over the group and turns it into his own Doctor-hunting task force, scrounging for any information that will lead them to actually meet him. As for why he wants this, Kennedy is rather cagy.
Elton eventually realizes that things aren’t quite right. Once, when he briefly meets the Doctor again but loses track of him, Kennedy nearly physically attacks him. He also grows uncomfortable with Kennedy’s idea of cultivating a friendship with Jackie (Camille Coduri), the mother of the Doctor’s current companion Rose Tyler (Billie Piper), in order to get a line on the Doctor’s whereabouts. (Elton knows it’s dishonest and he’s already developed a close tie with Ursula). Oh, and there’s also the matter of members of LINDA mysteriously vanishing after private meetings with Kennedy.
In any case, it all comes down to a moment of truth when Elton learns who Kennedy really is, once again meets the Doctor, and discovers just how this whole thing started. It doesn’t really end well, actually…
Sounds like an interesting story, right? Actually, the concept is a good one. In spite of the fact that, as many have noted, the Doctor is and always should be the star of the show, there’s room for a look at the peripheral characters. It’s the whole “Rosencrantz and Guildenstern” idea that’s been transplanted to popular SF before, from “Babylon 5” (the “View from the Gallery” segment) to “Star Wars” (the Tag & Bink comics). Here, though, the problem is not the concept, it’s the execution. And the execution is pretty bad. In general, the acting could be better, the direction and visual style gets far too distracting, and the script (by series Executive Producer Russell T. Davies) was far too unfunny and obvious.
To be more specific, the problems start almost immediately, as the episode opens with a flashforward/flashback (yeah, it’s confusing) to Elton’s run-in with the Doctor, Rose and an alien in an old warehouse. A couple of mysterious and even haunting moments are utterly derailed by some way-too-goofy work from Tennant (not even Tom Baker would’ve gotten away with it) and a visual homage to, of all things, “Scooby-Doo”. (I understand I’m not the only Whovian who was dumbfounded by that one.)
Another big problem is Kennedy. I guess he’s supposed to be a pretty shadowy and menacing figure. Unfortunately, he’s heavily overwritten and really overplayed. I don’t mind over-the-top villainy on occasion, but there’s no real counterbalance here. Besides, the members of LINDA are, I guess, supposed to be average, sympathetic people, yet they come across as pretty darn dumb to go along with this joker and do his bidding, seemingly without realizing that’s he’s obviously the bad guy. And when we finally see just who Kennedy is and why he’s after the Doctor, it’s not a particularly good moment. I won’t say much more, except to note that the S.O.L. crew would’ve been laughing and riffing away like there was no tomorrow.
Oh, and since this is my annual “love stinks” review, there’s the matter of Elton and Ursula. Actually, they are both presented as a nice couple. They’re likable people and we want them to stay together. Well, things don’t quite work out that way, and it all comes down to yet another “what the heck?” moment (one of far too many in this story) and a final joke that will not so much inspire chuckles as exclamations of “yuuuuuck!” Again, you’ll have to see it for yourselves, if you wish.
Now, don’t get me wrong. This is not the worst “Doctor Who” story ever. (That title is still held by the cruel and annoying “Mindwarp” segment of “Trial of a Time Lord”.) It’s not even the worst episode from the revival series. (Any story with the Slitheen scores lower in my book.) As noted, it has some likable characters and a good basic idea. And it doesn’t beat you around the head with the “Rose and the lonely, lovelorn, angst-ridden Doctor” plotline that has been heavily overused on the show. With this one, they just messed up, that’s all. With any luck, somebody will remake the basic story and do it better. For all I know, some enterprising fanfic author has already done so. (I might give it a shot, but I’m too busy writing stuff for DBNS. It’s a tough job, but it has to be done.)
All in all, I really can’t recommend “Love & Monsters”. For a far better example of what the revival series can do, try “School Reunion” (with the wonderfulness that is Sarah Jane Smith) or “Dalek” (with possibly Christopher Eccleston’s best acting as the Doctor). Still, you might find it “quirky”, like some other fans have. I lean closer to those who can’t bear to even speak the ep’s title (shades of The Scottish Play).
Well, I guess I’ve done my bit to bring you down from yesterday’s romantic high. Now, go get yourself a copy of TESB right away, so Han & Leia can make you feel good again. (Hey, I do know a good romance when I see it. I’m not that far gone.)
CONNECTIONS NOTE: Peter Kay (Kennedy) was one of the voices in the previously reviewed (and much better) “Wallace & Gromit: Curse of the Were-Rabbit”.
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