March 21, 2011

To The Death (2011)

2011 TOMS TARDIS AWARD WINNER
  • Best Eighth Doctor Adventure
So it all comes to an end. After five years, Lucie Miller’s time has come to an end. After the brilliant first part, I was wondering whether I would enjoy this one as much and I have to say that it definitely was. It’s a rare case in 21st Century Doctor Who were the concluding part is better than the set up. Like the previous episode, it’s a while before we get to hear from the Doctor but it’s well worth the wait. At the end of Lucie Miller the ship that the Doctor was on had been blown up and the beginning of this it seems that he had died (though of course we all know he doesn’t).

The three deaths are absolutely shocking. Tamsin’s was the first jaw dropping moment. I genuinely didn’t see it coming and the reaction from the Monk was also quite surprising. It was good that Tamsin has seen sense and realised that the Monk was bad and was responsible for loads of deaths. Nicky Wardley’s time might have been short but I think that it was just the right amount of time because the character never really seemed to suit the eighth Doctor but that said the latter half of her time in this series was her best. Alex’s death was also quite a shock because I think that there a little bit more mileage in the character because he was starting to get really good and I think that Jake McGann was really good over these two stories. The death of Lucie Miller was quite obvious because of all the build up that doenst mean it was any less impressive. She went out quite literally in a blaze of glory. It wasn’t a wimpy exit, it was the exit she deserved. Over the course of these four series, the character has really come on leaps and bounds and I think that she is one of the best companions that Big Finish have created.

Paul McGann puts in one of his best performances since probably The Chimes of Midnight. The Doctor has lost three people close to him and its bad enough when he loses someone who walks away from him but to lose three people is much more than he’s ever had to deal with and McGann does a wonderful job of showing an Doctor that is trying to deal with the grief. I was particularly impressed with the moment where he shouts at the Monk there is a moment where he contemplates going back in time. I was also really impressed with Graeme Garden’s performance. It was like it usually is and that great because it borders on comedy but then it really stepped up a gear after Tamsin’s death. Hopefully this wont be the last time that we hear from Garden because the role of the Monk is well portrayed by him. I was also really impressed with Carole Ann Ford in this, she was absolutely fantastic moments after Alex had been killed but for the rest of the story she was strong throughout. It’s a shame that she was never able to be like this on TV. Like with the Monk I hope that we get another Susan story in the main range very soon.

Apart from the main performances the plot itself was really good. It was great how it tied in with Patient Zero and the Time Controller Dalek. The idea that this particular Dalek travelled back and had found the virus. It did seem like the Doctor was really going to go through with his plan to go back or forward to change the events and prevent the plague from taking hold. I actually found the plot to be sort of in the background because it was the emotional drama that I found to be the most interesting.

To the Death is one of the best stories of the year, it was a well crafted piece of drama with some wonderful performances and if this isn’t in my top three of the year then I will be truly surprised. Nicholas Briggs has written and directed a superb story that manages to live up to my expectations. Thankyou Lucie Miller, you were a superb companion.

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