Doctor Who Series 1 Episode 4: Aliens of London

Director:

Keith Boak

(Holby City, The Royal, The Knock)

Screenplay:

(Bob & Rose, Casanova, Children’s Ward, Cluedo, Doctor Who, The Grand, The House of Windsor, Linda Green, Mine All Mine, Queer as Folk, Revelations, The Second Coming, Springhill, Touching Evil)

Cast:

Russell T. Davies returns to write his third episode of the four now aired,and confirms his own particular vision for his new Doctor Who series is…knowingly cheesy.

I hated the first Davies-penned episode of the series, “Rose”, so quitealarmingly “Aliens Of London” begins with a recap of those events (bestforgotten, if you ask me) before starting a new story where The Doctorreturns Rose to her own time just 12 hours after she left – well, actually12 months, which means she has some explaining to do!

However, a fortunate diversion – in the form of a massive UFO slicing BigBen in half, before crash-landing into the Thames – means Rose is soon tornbetween joining The Doctor’s new adventure and healing rifts with her motherJackie and ex-boyfriend Mickey.

“Aliens Of London” is entertaining, but in a pretty naff way that harkensback to the old-age of Doctor Who. Chances are, fans who embrace past-Whosilliness and children under-10, will lap up Davies’ style. Personally, Imuch preferred last week’s Mark Gatiss story set in the Victorian era, witha firm-footing in pulp realism.

That said, “Aliens Of London” is saved by some agreeable moments – thesublime crash-landing of the spaceship is by far the series best use ofspecial-effects (despite lacking a sense of speed). Davies can also becounted upon for some humorous dialogue – however often it elicits groansinstead of laughter!

Thankfully, the trappings of Rose’s family are actually quite an asset thistime around. For the first time the series actually addresses thecompanion’s own life – and the problems her situation time-travelling withThe Doctor actually presents. This new slant wasn’t implemented very wellback in episode 1, but here it’s actually quite refreshing and well played.

As usual, Billie Piper proves herself the greatest asset of the new series -being both recognisably teenaged in the face of everything her “new life”with The Doctor presents her with. Christopher Eccleston continues to dotoo much gurning, for my liking, before turning overly-stern in the face ofdanger… but what else can you do when the episode leaps from family comedydrama to chasing an “alien pig” down a corridor!

Yes, you read that right – this episode actually features a pig dressed in aspacesuit. Thankfully, this actually turns out to be a nudge at theludicrousness of past Doctor Who creatures (and explained away quite well)but it’s indicative of the style Davies hopes to capture with his new takeon the show. Well, at least with the episode he’s written, anyway…

The direction is fairly pedestrian from Keith Boak – whose past credits tendto involve lots of identikit British drama, so it’s often quite restrictiveand formulaic. Boak also seems very keen on using that terrible incidentalmusic that crippled episode 1, so bring some ear-plugs whenever anythingdramatic begs to happen. I would love to see some fresh British talent givena chance on the show – instead of directors so obviously used to filmingcops and nurses…

Overall, “Aliens Of London” was a diverting episode with good moments andbad moments. Unfortunately, the bad tends to stick in your mind -particularly aliens using “human skin suits” to pose as members ofParliament and Army officials.. who can be identified by the fact they farta lot. Yes, this probably aroused laughter for the under-10’s, but it justdoesn’t sit well with me.

Next Week: the adventure continues, in part 2 of this story, “World WarThree”, with the alien Slitheen continuing their diabolic plot againstmankind…

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