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The Doctor: David Tennant
Rose Tyler: Billie Piper
Mr Magpie: Ron Cook
The Wire: Maureen Lipman
Eddie Connelly: Jamie Foreman
Rita Connelly: Debra Gillet
Tommy Connelly: Rory Jennings
Grandma Connelly: Margaret John
Det Insp Bishop: Sam Cox
Synopsis:
The Doctor and Rose arrive in London, 1953, just as an alien entity hatches
a plot to absorb humans via television screens during Queen Elizabeth II's
Coronation.
Last year writer Mark Gatiss penned one of the best new Who episodes, The
Unquiet Dead, so my hopes were very high for his sophomore effort. Sadly, my
expectations were too high and The Idiot's Lantern never quite worked for
me. There is enough to enjoy along the way, but the emotional beats of the
story are all over the place.
The threat comes from an alien menace known as "The Wire", who wants to
absorb humans through televisions - at a time in history when 20 million
Britons will be watching Queen Elizabeth II's Coronation. It's a fun set-up
that makes the humble TV into a villain, but the execution is just
underwhelming.
Ron Cook plays Mr Magpie, an electrical goods salesman being controlled by
The Wire and selling TV's at cutdown prices to ensure maximum viewership.
Cook is a great actor and does well with the material, as does Maureen
Lipman as "The Wire" (right), taking the form of a 1950's housewife on a
black-and-white TV screen. Lipman is excellent, and the make-up to make her
look decades younger is brilliant. She's easily the best thing in the
episode, although Gatiss' writing ensures the Rose/Doctor dynamic is back on
humorous form.
David Tennant really seems to relish this episode - maybe it's his '50s
hairstyle or blue moped that sent him into high gear, but he's full of
infectious fun. The episode also marks the first time I've noticed Billie
Piper (right) actually work alongside The Doctor in tandem; less the wide-eyed
innocent dragged along for the ride, and more the partner enjoying the
experience and participating in things more actively. A scene with The
Doctor and Rose fooling their way into a household run by the tyrannical Mr
Connelly is the best example of this interesting new facet.
The Idiot's Lantern does improve as it chugs along, but it's hamstrung by
spending too much time on the dysfunctional Connelly family and less time on
its core story. At times Jamie Foreman's clichéd shouty London dad threatens
to scupper the whole show. Thankfully the family melodrama takes a backseat
after awhile, once one of the creepiest Who images is revealed -- in the
form of victims with no facial features, just a fleshy covering.
Mark Gatiss has a smattering of good ideas and character moments in The
Idiot's Lantern, but it's not really enough to elevate the episode above
average. The pacing is wrong, the threat ill-explained and the supporting
characters two-dimensional and distracting to the central story. There are
enough choice moments to make this worthwhile and sporadically entertaining,
but there's denying this is Doctor Who treading water mid-series.
NEXT WEEK: The Doctor and Rose investigate a strange planet orbiting a Black Hole.
This website uses cookies to improve your experience. We'll assume you're ok with this, but you can opt-out if you wish.Accept
Privacy Overview
This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience.
Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. These cookies do not store any personal information.
Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website.
Series 1 Boxset:
Synopsis:
The Doctor and Rose arrive in London, 1953, just as an alien entity hatches
a plot to absorb humans via television screens during Queen Elizabeth II's
Coronation.
David Tennant really seems to relish this episode - maybe it's his '50s
hairstyle or blue moped that sent him into high gear, but he's full of
infectious fun. The episode also marks the first time I've noticed Billie
Piper (right) actually work alongside The Doctor in tandem; less the wide-eyed
innocent dragged along for the ride, and more the partner enjoying the
experience and participating in things more actively. A scene with The
Doctor and Rose fooling their way into a household run by the tyrannical Mr
Connelly is the best example of this interesting new facet.
