Writer: James Moran
Director: Colin TeagueCast: David Tennant (The Doctor), Catherine Tate (Donna Noble), Peter Capaldi (Caecillius), Tracey Childs (Metella), Phil Davis (Lucius), Karen Gillan (Soothsayer), Phil Cornwell (Stallholder), Sasha Behar (Spurrina), Francesca Fowler (Evelina), Francois Pandolfo (Quintus), Lorraine Burroughs (Thalina), Victoria Wicks (High Priestess) & Gerard Bell (Majordomo)
The Doctor and Donna arrive in Pompeii, on the eve of Mount Vesuvius' eruption, and argue about whether to change the course of history...As is almost customary now, the second episode is an historical adventure; this time focusing on the real-life disaster of Pompeii in 79 A.D, but with fictional links to alien goings-on beneath the surface. Writer James Moran (who penned Torchwood's excellent Sleeper) crafts a far more expansive story here; in size, scope, emotions and impact.
The episode's big theme is something Doctor Who has touched on before: whether or not The Doctor (David Tennant) should change history, if it means saving lives. The Fires Of Pompeii did a much better job of answering that question; as Donna (Catherine Tate) is amazed The Doctor just wants to leave everyone to their doom, as some things are "fixed events" in time. A later speech, revolving around a Time Lord's intrinsic ability to know which events are in "flux" or "fixed", is also a handy explanation of how The Doctor operates – and the burden he's constantly under.
As is typical, an extra-terrestrial explanation is offered for Vesuvius' eruption, in the form of dormant creatures called Pyrovillians; secretive "underworld Gods" local soothsayers are being controlled by. One such "seer" is Lucius (a scowling Phil Davis), while another girl called Evelina (lovely Francesca Fowler) also has the gift, and is destined for recruitment by a fanatical group called the Sibylline sisterhood -- a group of psychics led by a High Priestess (Victoria Wicks), hidden behind a curtain.
There's an invigorating mix of pace, comedy and action throughout this episode, which is indicative of Doctor Who at its most playful, deceptively emotive, best. Some of the gags worked into the script are cheesy ("he's armless enough!" exclaims The Doctor, after ripping someone's stone arm off), while others are acknowledged as naff by its characters ("don't get yourself in a lava!") But it's all good fun, and there are some genuinely amusing japes -- from Donna and The Doctor claiming they're both called Spartacus, to a Fawlty Towers reference when The Doctor apologizes about Donna, explaining "she's from Barcelona..."
In the dramatic stakes, the connection between the psychics and subterranean aliens isn't obvious from the start, and the mystery managed to unpeel logically -- with a mounting sense of urgency and peril. When the knockabout story shifts into full-on action spectacle mode -- with The Doctor and Donna battling creatures underground and the (inevitable) city-wide destruction -- the scale and ambition of the episode becomes second to none...
Yes, visually it's a sumptuous treat for the eyes. The production design is exemplary (they filmed on the awesome sets built for the HBO/BBC series Rome), the special effects are magnificent -- from Balrog-like rock-beasts (in Roman helmets?), to a climactic volcanic eruption that's usually beyond a TV budget. Its superficial in some peoples' eyes, but well-polished visuals always enrich episodes of Doctor Who – making it easier to invest in the world being presented.
Catherine Tate wasn't too bad, although the way Donna suddenly lurches into an aggrieved caricature undermines a few scenes. But generally, Donna's involvement in the storyline was well-handled, and her viewpoint on how to deal with the situation was nicely at odds with The Doctor's. It was particularly great how everything boiled down to a big decision for The Doctor: to save the world, but at the cost of 20,000 lives, all with the throw of a lever. That dilemma reminded me of the classic moment with Tom Baker's Doctor, deliberating about whether or not to commit genocide by wiping out the Daleks, by just connecting two wires...
While there a few gripes with minutiae (especially an unnecessary and silly denouement set 6 months later in Rome, and contemporary "yoof" in Ancient Rome), the general sweep and urgency of the episode was a welcome tonic after last week's simpleminded start. The comedy and dramatics were balanced well, and there were even some nods to season 4's "masterplan" in a scene of combatative prophesizing: "She is returning" The Doctor is told (Rose, surely), and Donna has "something on her back" according to Lucius. Interesting...
The Fires Of Pompeii was a very strong episode, visually one of the best in Doctor Who's history, and yet no slouch when it came to telling a fast-paced, dramatic and funny adventure story. The guest cast were all good (especially Davis as Lucius and Peter Capaldi's patriarch Caecillius), and the pace never let up for one second – delivering humour, thrills and gorgeous visuals, with a potent moral dilemma at its core.
12 April 2008
BBC1, 6.45 pm
