Rewatching Doctor Who: The Crimson Horror
Oct. 21st, 2024 11:54 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
vivdunstanContinuing my Matt Smith rewatch, and going to discuss
This script from Mark Gatiss is anything but subtle. It starts from the word go, painting a "grim oop north" picture of mills and workers, complete with very strong Yorkshire accents. But I absolutely love it. And think it's a highlight of the late Matt Smith era.
The pace of the script is unrelenting. Visual tricks like shaky sepia-toned flashbacks are used. And it totally captures the breathless sense of Victorian Penny Dreadful publications.
Diana Rigg has a fantastic time, and well uses her Yorkshire roots. But the guest acting award has to go to her daughter, Rachael Stirling, who delivers a devastating and heartfelt performance.
The lack for much of the episode of Clara is notable, but not frankly unwelcome. Some of the previous scripts have depicted a too-knowing Clara, constantly quipping, and frankly unrealistic. Here we only see Clara briefly, but she's so much more effective. Note this is intended as no critique of Jenna Coleman. It's the recent prior script writing of Clara that I have issue with.
Of course as substitute companions, and initially even leads, we get the Paternoster Gang. Again at times reaching almost pantomime levels of performance. But charming, and amusing throughout. Jenny is a particularly effective undercover agent exploring the factory. And she's the one who ultimately rescues the doctor.
I did wonder if Mark Gatiss was influenced by a late era Babylon 5 monster in his portrayal of "Mr Sweet". Suitably horrific anyway. And gloriously dispatched at the end.
Anyway yes, I like this a lot, in a run of episodes that aren't the strongest for me.
And the next one will be a prime example of that ...
This script from Mark Gatiss is anything but subtle. It starts from the word go, painting a "grim oop north" picture of mills and workers, complete with very strong Yorkshire accents. But I absolutely love it. And think it's a highlight of the late Matt Smith era.
The pace of the script is unrelenting. Visual tricks like shaky sepia-toned flashbacks are used. And it totally captures the breathless sense of Victorian Penny Dreadful publications.
Diana Rigg has a fantastic time, and well uses her Yorkshire roots. But the guest acting award has to go to her daughter, Rachael Stirling, who delivers a devastating and heartfelt performance.
The lack for much of the episode of Clara is notable, but not frankly unwelcome. Some of the previous scripts have depicted a too-knowing Clara, constantly quipping, and frankly unrealistic. Here we only see Clara briefly, but she's so much more effective. Note this is intended as no critique of Jenna Coleman. It's the recent prior script writing of Clara that I have issue with.
Of course as substitute companions, and initially even leads, we get the Paternoster Gang. Again at times reaching almost pantomime levels of performance. But charming, and amusing throughout. Jenny is a particularly effective undercover agent exploring the factory. And she's the one who ultimately rescues the doctor.
I did wonder if Mark Gatiss was influenced by a late era Babylon 5 monster in his portrayal of "Mr Sweet". Suitably horrific anyway. And gloriously dispatched at the end.
Anyway yes, I like this a lot, in a run of episodes that aren't the strongest for me.
And the next one will be a prime example of that ...