Countdown to Christmas

With Christmas fast approaching, we’ll soon be getting our first substantial glimpse of the Twelfth Doctor (or Thirteenth, or Fourteenth, or whatever Moffat’s done to mess with the Whovians’ Doctor-numbering system.)  In anticipation of that glimpse, I’ll be taking a few days off from my Capaldi Winter reviews to post all manner of eager-Whovian scribblings.

First, let’s look over some of the PC roles I’ve reviewed so far and mine them for Doctory potential.  I think PC stands to be a fantastic Doctor, and the proof is in the filmography pudding.  Off we go!

 

Danny Oldsen, Local Hero

 

No place to start like the beginning.  Though PC was still developing his actor chops at this time, there’s a quirky zest to Danny that’s terribly watchable.  The Doctor is an ancient Time Lord, he’s frequently the smartest in the room, and he can stare down a Dalek with the best of them, but he can also be loveably, winningly awkward.  Eleven’s attempts to pass as human in “The Lodger” spring to mind, and Danny’s unique brand of oddity fits that aspect of the Doctor.

The British Ambassador, Rosie the Great

One of my favorite things about Doctor Who is its joy.  It delights in the universe’s infinite supply of beauty and adventure, and the Doctor frequently embodies that unbridled happiness.  Don’t get me wrong – the Doctor has more than his share of darkness, and we’ll be addressing that later, but the joy should never be discounted.  I think of Four’s delight at the wonderfully violent butler in “City of Death,” Eight dancing around in his borrowed shoes in the TV movie, and any instance of Nine uttering the word “fantastic.”

In other words, there’s a reason an actor’s smile is one of the things Whovians discuss whenever a new Doctor is announced.  That exuberance, that lust for life, is paramount.  From One’s knowing smirk to Eleven’s warm grin, we need a Doctor to deliver on the sense of fun.

The British Ambassador isn’t PC’s only happy role, but he’s the one that best embodies that side of the Doctor.  His buoyant optimism is irrepressible, no matter what happens to him.  He could easily fit in with Ten’s giddiness at the thought of being hunted by a werewolf.

Islingnton, Neverwhere

 

Islinton is an excellent show of two important Doctorish qualities:  age and alien-ness.  I don’t know if anyone can truly rival Matt Smith’s phenomenal portrayal of a 1,000+-year-old alien in a 20-something’s body, but PC’s performance in Neverwhere ably demonstrates his abilities.  When Islington remembers Atlantis, when he talks of how long he’s been on earth, you believe it entirely.  His are old eyes that have seen fathoms, when he looks at other characters, he makes them seem so new and young.

Of course, Islington is an angel rather than an alien.  Still, the fact remains that he’s not human, and PC never lets you forget it.  From the first shot of Islington, it’s clear that he’s otherworldly, and even in a strange, fantastical place like London Below, there’s no one out there like him.

Rory McHoan, The Crow Road

Doctor Who is a family show, and children have played a number of important roles in Moffat’s Who especially.  Eleven’s interactions with them, from Amelia to Kazran to Stormageddon, are important.  And beyond Eleven, Moffat’s episodes during the RTD reign include a gaggle of London street rats in series 1, young Reinette in series 2, and Cal in series 4.  For as long as Moffat is in charge of Who, kids will definitely be a fixture.

PC has worked well with children several times, but he’s at his best here.  Rory’s flashback conversation with young Prentice in the last episode is everything a Doctor-child dynamic should be.  Rory is both a protector and a playmate, and he discusses complicated matters without talking down to Prentice – perfect.


To be completed tomorrow – so much PC, so little time…

Dramarama: Series 7, Episode 7 – “Rosie the Great” (1989)

 

Dramarama was a British children’s series in the 80s.  It was an anthology program, and each episode told its own story with its own cast.  I understand that many episodes had something of a sci-fi bent, but “Rosie the Great” is just an oddball little tale with a fair amount of whimsy.

 

In this story, the inhabitants of Longsea, a small island off the coast of Britain, discover that they’re technically an independent nation.  They, and Parliament, had been operating under the impression that they were subject to British rule.  The news sends the sleepy little community into a flurry, as the head of their village council declares himself president and begins holding diplomatic sessions with ambassadors from various countries.

 

The British Ambassador is our own PC, who seems to be playing a cross between Danny from Local Hero and Robin from Stay Lucky.  Like Danny, The British Ambassador is a potent mix of friendly and awkward, and like Robin, he seems well-meaning but wildly out of his depth.  He’s been sent from the U.K. to ensure that their plans to build an airbase on Longsea can still go ahead, and he’s anxious to succeed in the hopes of earning himself a “rise.”

 

He’s an amusing, weird character in an amusing, weird story.  The British Ambassador is one of three representatives to Longsea, and from the moment of his inauspicious arrival – while the other ambassadors travel by air and are greeted by flag-waving crowds, he shows up unlauded in a fishing boat – he’s definitely the most entertaining of the bunch.

 

Interesting:  the USSR Ambassador is a fur-hatted comrade with a thick-as-borscht accent, and the U.S. Ambassador is a bossy Texan who insists on being received in style.    Meanwhile, the British Ambassador is a cheerful, gawky man who’s a little slow on the uptake.  Is this meant to be a stereotype too?  Is this how the British think of themselves – awkward, harmless, and a bit dim?  Or is the British Ambassador just the only one with any non-archetypal characterization?

 

Accent Watch

 

I can’t quite tell.  I feel like he might be trying for RP, but it could be that I’m just assuming that the British Ambassador would be English; how Anglo-centric of me.  At any rate, there are some major Scottish ‘R’s and vowels.  We’ll give him the benefit of the doubt and just call it Scottish.

 

Recommend?

 

In General – Maybe, if you want something light and a little silly.  If it makes a difference, Longsea seems a little like the British version of Stars Hollow from Gilmore Girls.

 

PC-wise – Possibly, again if you’re in the mood for something fun.  He’s pretty endearing in his clumsy, long-limbed way.

 

Warnings

 

Other than the eye-rolling American and Soviet stereotypes, nothing of note.