Season 2. 01 Jul 06. BBC 1, 7:00 pm
WRITER: Russell T. Davies DIRECTOR: Graeme Harper
CAST: David Tennant (The Doctor), Billie Piper (Rose Tyler), Camille Codouri (Jackie Tyler), Noel Clarke (Mickey Smith), Tracy-Anne Oberman (Yvonne Hartman), Raji James (Dr Rajesh Singh), Freema Agyeman (Adeola), Hadley Fraser (Gareth) & Oliver Mellor (Matt)
The Doctor and Rose return to present day London to find that the whole planet is being visisted by ghosts and a strange sphere in the Torchwood Institute could hold the answer...And so it begins; the final story of the inconsistent second series. Russell T. Davies, a writer capable of atrocity (Love & Monsters), middling pap (New Earth), and occasional highlights (Tooth And Claw) returns to oversee the climactic two-part episode, starting here with Army Of Ghosts...
In similar fashion to last year's BAD WOLF, a plot-point woven throughout the entire series and explained in the finale, Army Of Ghosts explains the omnipresence of 'Torchwood' this year. It turns out it's a covert agency based in Canary Wharf, headed by Yvonne Hartman (the ballsy Tracy-Anne Oberman), that studies alien artefacts and technology. Of course, this revelation has been obvious to anybody with a brain cell for most of the series, and also forms the premise to upcoming Who spin-off show Torchwood. Still, there are better kept surprises to redress the balance...
Events begin with a sense of grandeur mostly absent from Who this year, as Rose narrates a prologue about her adventures with The Doctor and her impending death. It's a beautifully made sequence of flashbacks and wistful poses from Billie Piper, capped with a great shot of the TARDIS on an alien world with flying creatures in the distance (a shame the budget will never stretch to full episodes in such places...)
The meat of the story takes place in, you guessed it, present day London. It transpires that, in The Doctor and Roses' absence, the ghosts of dead loved ones have been appearing across the world at regular intervals. Quite why Jackie Tyler takes this all in her stride so readily, and indeed the world accepts this without fuss, is perhaps just one of those contrivances of family sci-fi. Personally, if a silent blurry grey figure appeared anywhere near me, it would take a great deal to convince me this was a dead relative, but hey... suspension of disbelief, and all that...
The Doctor suspects the ghosts are bleeding through from an alternate reality and whisks Rose (and Jackie, accidentally) to the headquarters of Torchwood –- who seem to be responsible for these "ghost shifts", and need The Doctor's help in explaining a strange weightless sphere they have discovered...
Russell T. Davies acquits himself very well with this story, helping to erase the bad memory of Love & Monsters (well, slightly). To be honest, it would be unthinkable that anyone could deflate a story that plays with such broad strokes (ghosts, a secret agency, an alternate universe, a bizarre spherical spaceship, the return of the Cybermen...) Yes, the metal menaces return in this episode, to better effect than their underwhelming debut in Rise Of The Cybermen mid-series, thankfully.
Still, credit where it's due; Davies injects more energy and charisma into The Doctor than most writers, and mostly keeps the lid on his penchant for misplaced gags (well, despite a "ghost weather" report and a scene from TV's EastEnders with Barbara Windsor berating Dirty Den's ghost...)
David Tennant proves once and for all that he is an actor at the mercy of writing. Some actors can elevate bad material with sheer will and charisma (last year, Christopher Ecclestone did this quite regularly), but Tennant needs a written foundation. Davies gives The Doctor quite a few sequences where he's genuinely funny ("They might shoot to kill... but I have the moral high ground!"), exciting to watch (the ghost-busting triangle), suitably geeky (3D specs!), and memorably intelligent (the fabulous glass pane explanation). Tennant ensures he's a whirlwind of activity and grabs the material by the scruff of the neck. Great stuff.
Billie Piper returns to form, playing an active part in the adventure without holding The Doctor's coat-tails all the time, and reminds us why she's been so popular as a companion. Still, the fact this looks to be the last adventure for Rose, is still the right decision. The character doesn't seem to have any more hidden depths. It's just a shame her departure will mean the end for mother Jackie (Camille Codouri).
The supporting cast are fine, but only Tracy-Anne Oberman is worthy of mention as Torchwood boss Yvonne Hartman. I enjoyed the character's ambiguity immensely; dictatorial and superior, yet in awe of The Doctor and unsure of herself.
Special effects are very good, although I wasn't convinced by the murky grey ghosts. The spherical orb was neat, as was the alien world CGI with the TARDIS, but the standout moments were the global scenes of Cybermen at famous landmarks. The music was overblown at times, but ultimately it was quite refreshing to hear some different themes mixed into the show.
Army Of Ghosts is sprinkled with great moments and humour, and for once the balance is correct. The pure sci-fi aspect to Who even returns with the suitably creepy spherical Void Ship! Yes, there are still some clichés and misplaced gags that don't work (armed guards applauding The Doctor?) but they're few and far between. Ultimately, Army Of Ghosts succeeds because of its enjoyable premise, engaging mystery, and the fact the writing and performance all service the story perfectly.
And yes, even I can't believe I haven't mentioned the stunning climax to the episode that becomes a defining moment for the series and ensures next week's finale is must-watch TV.
Fantastic.
NEXT WEEK: Is it the end of the adventure for Rose when full-scale war breaks out across Earth...?
