Enlightenment

“When you know that all is light, you are enlightened.”

~My teabag this morning

There’s been a sneaky little suspicion lurking in my mind for some time, faithful viewer. It’s been bugging me ever since we got into 1980s Doctor Who, and with each passing episode, I’m starting to believe it might be true. Under the leadership of our new producer, John Nathan-Turner, it seems that our show is showing off less and less innovation than ever before. The special effects aren’t getting any better (when we know for a fact that technology was improving by the year), and the scripts have stopped pushing any envelopes at all. What I think is happening is that Doctor Who in the 80s was treated like a throwback show. It had become famous for cheesy effects and cheesier dialogue, and any magic that might have started happening despite limitations was thrown by the wayside. It’s a low come-down for any show, faithful viewer, especially this one. And it’s been a trend I’ve noticed for quite some time now. Bearing that in mind, I did not have high expectations for this serial at all.

Photo credit, them0vieblog.com

Boy, was I wrong.

As this story starts, the Black Guardian is still breathing down Turlough’s neck to kill the Doctor and fulfill the terms of his contract. Whose neck the Black Guardian’s raven is breathing down is anyone’s guess. As Turlough tries to marshal his murderous impulses, the Doctor lands the TARDIS on what appears to be an Edwardian racing yacht in the midst of a regatta. It quickly becomes apparent, however, that the reality is way cooler. Faithful viewer, check this out: The Doctor has landed on a simulation of an Edwardian racing yacht…IN SPACE.

Photo credit, them0vieblog.com

Not only in space, but outside of time itself. Crewed by a mix of shanghaied humans and timeless beings called Eternals, the scene we’re presented with is almost dizzyingly awesome. Fiona Cumming as director and Barbara Clegg as writer, faithful viewer. What a team! The box is small, the vibe is large.

Photo credit, en.wikipedia.org

All is not well at sea, however. Captain Wrack, one of the Eternals, is trying some foul play in order to win the race. (Wrack, by the way, is played by Lynda Baron–you’ll remember her from “The Gunfighters” back in ’66). Meanwhile, Turlough’s dangerously close to going off the deep end. The White Guardian has been showing his benevolent face in the space outside time, and it seems like tensions between the two Guardians of Time are about to come to a birdhead.

Photo credit, tardis.wikia.com

I can say without any reservations at all that this is the best serial we’ve had for a very long time. I don’t think I’ve been thrilled so deeply by classic Who since “Kinda,” actually. With the sheer imagination, breathtaking effects, and high-stakes conflict on display here, this is one story that makes me proud to be a Whovian. No wonder this thing’s been alive for fifty years–Doctor Who rocks!

Photo credit, tardistavern.libsyn.com

Even the subplots were properly covered. Tegan spent most of this serial being romanced by an Eternal called Marriner. I don’t think Tegan’s been courted by a native before (the Mara definitely does not count), so I guess she’s been properly initiated as a Companion at last. As for Marriner…he was an odd one for sure. He definitely showed off some Edward Cullen levels of creepiness, but at the same time, there was an intriguing sweetness…wait, what am I saying? Do I fancy an Eternal?

Photo credit, talesfromthekryptonian.blogspot.com

…Yikes.

Moving on! The real excitement in this serial happened at the end, when the two Guardians finally went toe-to-toe for the fate of the Universe. I’m not sure who made the decision that they should both have birds on their heads, but I don’t suppose that’s important right now. What’s important is that, at long last, Turlough severed ties with the Black Guardian and won Enlightenment. Enlightenment, by the way, was the prize the White Guardian was offering to whoever won the regatta. Though the Eternals believed that Enlightenment was a priceless diamond, the White Guardian explained that Enlightenment was, in reality, the choice to do right.

Photo credit, http://www.bbc.co.uk

And with that, faithful viewer, I leave you. Until next time, be awesome as you always are. Allons-y!

Stay tuned ’til next time, faithful viewer, when we travel back to the Crusades and see what trouble John I has got himself into this time…