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Series 2 Episode 7: “The Idiot’s Lantern”Broadcast on BBC1, Saturday May 27th, 2006
Series 1 Boxset:
Series 2 Part 3:
Series 2 Boxset:
Director:
- Euros Lyn
Screenplay:
- Mark Gatiss
Cast:
- 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 hatchesa plot to absorb humans via television screens during Queen Elizabeth II’sCoronation.
Last year writer Mark Gatiss penned one of the best new Who episodes, TheUnquiet Dead, so my hopes were very high for his sophomore effort. Sadly, myexpectations were too high and The Idiot’s Lantern never quite worked forme. There is enough to enjoy along the way, but the emotional beats of thestory are all over the place.
The threat comes from an alien menace known as “The Wire”, who wants toabsorb humans through televisions – at a time in history when 20 millionBritons will be watching Queen Elizabeth II’s Coronation. It’s a fun set-upthat makes the humble TV into a villain, but the execution is justunderwhelming.
Ron Cook plays Mr Magpie, an electrical goods salesman being controlled byThe 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 MaureenLipman as “The Wire” (right), taking the form of a 1950’s housewife on ablack-and-white TV screen. Lipman is excellent, and the make-up to make herlook decades younger is brilliant. She’s easily the best thing in theepisode, although Gatiss’ writing ensures the Rose/Doctor dynamic is back onhumorous form.
David Tennant really seems to relish this episode – maybe it’s his ’50shairstyle or blue moped that sent him into high gear, but he’s full ofinfectious fun. The episode also marks the first time I’ve noticed BilliePiper (right) actually work alongside The Doctor in tandem; less the wide-eyedinnocent dragged along for the ride, and more the partner enjoying theexperience and participating in things more actively. A scene with TheDoctor and Rose fooling their way into a household run by the tyrannical MrConnelly is the best example of this interesting new facet.
The Idiot’s Lantern does improve as it chugs along, but it’s hamstrung byspending too much time on the dysfunctional Connelly family and less time onits core story. At times Jamie Foreman‘s clichéd shouty London dad threatensto scupper the whole show. Thankfully the family melodrama takes a backseatafter awhile, once one of the creepiest Who images is revealed — in theform of victims with no facial features, just a fleshy covering.
Mark Gatiss has a smattering of good ideas and character moments in TheIdiot’s Lantern, but it’s not really enough to elevate the episode aboveaverage. The pacing is wrong, the threat ill-explained and the supportingcharacters two-dimensional and distracting to the central story. There areenough 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.
Reviewer of movies, videogames and music since 1994. Aortic valve operation survivor from the same year. Running DVDfever.co.uk since 2000. Nobel Peace Prize winner 2021.