The Fires of Vulcan is the first story to feature Melanie ‘Mel’ Bush since Dragonfire in 1987. The companion isnt held in high regard by a large majority of Doctor Who fans and at times I understand why. The level of resentment that was aimed at her was almost unfair. So it was quite a surprise to hear that she came back to reprise her role. What also was something of note is that this is a historical story and despite my misgivings about historical stories ever since The Marian Conspiracy I have found a new love for stories set in the past.
There is a mystery as soon as the theme music stops. The TARDIS has been found buried in the ruins of Pompeii by UNIT. The Doctor and Mel land in Pompeii just one day before the eruption of Mount Vesuvius (and probably just avoiding the tenth Doctor and Donna). But he knows (thanks to his fifth incarnation) what will happen and because these events are set it means he cant go back and change his own timeline.
Sylvester McCoy gives a more solum performance in this story as he knows he is trapped in Pompeii. This is by far his best story to date and its largely due to his performance. Bonnie Langford is brilliant as Mel. I found her more engaging and likeable in this four part story than I ever did when she was on TV. This is effectively the rebirth of Mel. Together they are on fine form and it just about erases memories of series 24 which was woeful. All the other actors in this are very good and help create the impression of their surroundings. In particular Gemma Bissix (formerly of Hollyoaks and Eastenders) was very good as Aglae. I felt she was one of the few characters that could have been a companion had things being different.
I thought that the story itself was a nice story. Its not the crash bang wallop type of story that you would expect from this Doctor but its still an entertaining adventure which I thoroughly felt was surprising. A historical story with Mel that I liked. This was the first story to be written by Steve Lyons and hopefully it wont be the last. It was informative and it moved at a good steady pace. Its stories like this that show what the Seventh Doctor could have achieved had he being given the right stories.
There is a mystery as soon as the theme music stops. The TARDIS has been found buried in the ruins of Pompeii by UNIT. The Doctor and Mel land in Pompeii just one day before the eruption of Mount Vesuvius (and probably just avoiding the tenth Doctor and Donna). But he knows (thanks to his fifth incarnation) what will happen and because these events are set it means he cant go back and change his own timeline.
Sylvester McCoy gives a more solum performance in this story as he knows he is trapped in Pompeii. This is by far his best story to date and its largely due to his performance. Bonnie Langford is brilliant as Mel. I found her more engaging and likeable in this four part story than I ever did when she was on TV. This is effectively the rebirth of Mel. Together they are on fine form and it just about erases memories of series 24 which was woeful. All the other actors in this are very good and help create the impression of their surroundings. In particular Gemma Bissix (formerly of Hollyoaks and Eastenders) was very good as Aglae. I felt she was one of the few characters that could have been a companion had things being different.
I thought that the story itself was a nice story. Its not the crash bang wallop type of story that you would expect from this Doctor but its still an entertaining adventure which I thoroughly felt was surprising. A historical story with Mel that I liked. This was the first story to be written by Steve Lyons and hopefully it wont be the last. It was informative and it moved at a good steady pace. Its stories like this that show what the Seventh Doctor could have achieved had he being given the right stories.
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