4.2: The Ark in Space

In which we fear the evil bubblewrap.

Broadcast: January-February 1975

Watched: May 2020

The Ark in Space, Part One

This is one of those classics where I loved the novelisation as a kid but could never quite see what everyone else saw on screen. Which is why it’s nice that I found that I unreservedly loved that. Tense and creepy with nice jokes and characters I want to watch.

It’s also, obviously, massively influential. I can’t immediately remember an earlier story that starts with wandering round an empty sci fi setting pressing buttons with hilarious consequences – am I missing one? – but that happens loads later on. The Girl Who Waited and Oxygen to name but two.

Also, Harry is very clearly the template for Jack/Mickey/Rory/Nardole, very clearly a secondary companion, but bumbling and lovable and incredibly watchable. Interesting that both here and in Robot it’s he, not Sarah, who is paired with the new Doctor – showcasing the new stars I guess?

Is the exploratory episode 1, where nothing really happens, a way of turning a three act structure into a four episode story? Basically you bung a prologue on the beginning that’s all set up, which you can get away with doing in something like Who or Trek because it’s a new setting every week.

Lovely bit of model work – the beacon is obviously fake, but it’s quite nicely done. 

Are there actually people lying very still under those plastic things? Could swear I saw someone move at around 22 mins in.

The Ark in Space, Part Two

Marter’s “Well she’s among the chosen now, isn’t she?” is one of the funniest line deliveries in ages.

Was just thinking how strange it was that Gary Russell actually came up with quite a good concept for a Wirrn-sequel [the eighth Doctor book Placebo Effect]... then realised it wasn’t the concept at all, I’d just attached the name to the plot of Partners in Crime. No wonder it seemed a good concept, RTD came up with it.

The language the humans use about “regressives” and so on has me rooting for the wirrn. Also, this is the second story in a row about the thin line between eugenics and fascism. That’s a theme this season, isn’t it? Wonder why.

Noah is a bloody awful actor, and descends into obvious madness within about 90 seconds of infection. Which isn’t great. The way he goes round with his hand ostentatiously in his pocket is hilarious though.

Yeah, the bubble wrap hand really isn’t good enough. I’ll normally forgive terrible special effects in old Doctor Who, because it’s old Doctor Who – the chewit monsters in Invasion of the Dinosaurs are fine; we know what they’re meant to be – but here it’s not actually clear what we’re even meant to be looking at. Just rubbish.

The Ark in Space, Part Three

The PA announcements are a brilliant way of conveying information, creepilyy. Also, one of them is Orac. Cool. [Peter Tuddenham would later voice a sulky computer in Blake’s 7.]

Harry is a massive sexist. Pity, I rather liked him til just then.

Noah is the worst actor we’ve seen in a major role in ages. Which is depressing. I quite like the guy who keeps wishing that they hadn’t bothered with the ark and had just burned to death on Earth, that’d be better wouldn’t it.

The effects are a real problem here, in a way they’re generally not for me with old Who. I wonder why? But for once I’m just not able to see past the fact it’s obviously bubble wrap painted green. 

Anyway, it’s rather letting the side down, after I really enjoyed part one.

The Ark in Space, Part Four

Very influential episode this. The bit in the space shuttle where they gas the wirrn as they try to get in clearly influenced Waters of Mars; the miserable one twatting the Doctor so he can sacrifice himself is Forest of the Dead. Oh, and the Doctor mocking Sarah Jane because he realises it’ll get a better response from her than coaxing her gently is The Curse of Fenric.

Robert Holmes really doesn’t know that Andromeda is a whole galaxy away does he, he just likes the word. Fair enough.

There’s something interesting about the way the humans destroyed the wirrn’s breeding grounds and that they used to feed on cows (ooh! Like the Vasta Nerada; Library again). Also that their plan isn’t just to eat humans but to absorb the knowledge of humanity. But all that feels under-explored.

Vira picking up the phone and saying, “Nerva station” as if it might be Marjorie down the road is oddly hilarious.

Anyway. Hugely influential, some nice images and some good ideas, but felt slightly undercooked for Holmes? Maybe it’s just me.