9.12: Bad Wolf

In which Russell breaks with a long Doctor Who tradition, by not blowing the part one “It’s the Daleks!” cliffhanger through the title of the episode.

Aware that this has been a problem this entire season but... I think more than any other episode, except possibly Rose, this one has already been analysed to death. Nonetheless, I’ve been doing this since An Unearthly Child, and I’m not going to stop now, so:

Broadcast: June 2005

Watched: July 2021

“Oh my god, now we’re in trouble.”

Still my favourite episode of the season. Love the sheer insanity of the pitch “the Doctor wakes up in the Big Brother house – a massive Dalek army is behind it”). Love the sense of the picture pulling out, so what seems at first to be a silly, jokey episode turns out to be the biggest alien fleet the show has ever seen. Love the Holmesian “Filipino army closing in on Helsinki” worldbuilding stuff, in the questions asked by the Anne-droid.

Most of all, I love the fact that it’s the real Anne Robinson, the real Trinny & Susannah, the real Davina – they were all game, before the show was a hit, even the one who works for a different channel. Especially since the show was not just sending them up but making their future versions murderers. That said, the satire is not exactly razor sharp is it? “Oooh, reality TV is basically a bit like Roman gladiators.”

But I don’t care because there are so many great moments. The Doctor’s smug look as he waits to be disintegrated, knowing that it won’t happen. “Come with me.” “Bear with me! I love that one.” Rose running towards the Doctor and being disintegrated; his silent horror as, faded out, you can hear Jack absolutely losing it. “Let’s do it.” “Don’t be so thick, like I was ever gonna shoot.” 

Then every single second from the point the solar flares happen is just *perfect*. The way the sinister controller (huh, never noticed before that it’s meant as a development of the Long Game tech) calls the Doctor and then dies with a peaceful smile on her face. (Oh, that’s a point: we see lots of people knowingly going to their deaths this episode, and what must be a deliberate variety in their manner as they do.) The hints that it’s the Daleks – the sound effects, the reflection, the Dalek’s eye view, the extermination effect – so that if you’re a fan you know but if you’re not it’s still a surprise. The way the Doctor visibly psyches himself up before speaking to the Daleks. The way everyone else looks at him on, “NO!” 

It is still, I think, the best cliffhanger the show has ever done, and I sort of want to watch it again.

Some minor bitching: the fact the Doctor caused this hell by blowing up the media and then running away is weirdly under-discussed, it’s said and then not followed up. It might be seen as very slightly problematic that Jack and the Doctor both free themselves, but Rose needs their help. But other than that it’s perfect isn’t it? 

Other things: 

• Lynda with a Y is brilliant, and very clearly set up as “new companion, oops she’s dead”. Interesting how many sort of alternative companions this season gives us – more of RTD’s “doing everything he’s ever wanted to in 13 episodes in case he doesn’t get more” thing? (This seems even funnier now, in 2022, than it did when I wrote that.)

• Barrowmen smugly naked (“Ladies, your ratings just went up”) and having plastic surgery both read differently today than they did, I fear. The gun up the bum joke remains eww.

• “...the Lunar penal colony” FRONTIER IN SPACE!

• Crosbie and Strood, the other housemates, are both named after towns in England. Weird.

• I love the male TV producer. I have nothing to say, it’s just a charming performance.

• Talking of which: Jenna Russell has a very small role for someone who is a low-key name? (Just theatre really this century, though.)

• The futuristic idea of “10,000 channels” now sounds weirdly retro since we all stream.

• I remember a lot of bitching about Eccleston’s Doctor being weirdly passive, and this turning out to be the point... but until this one I had totally forgotten. I wonder why.

• Is the MA Time of Your Life an influence or did I just read too many Virgin books as a kid.

Last though: I seem to recall this was the last episode title released, coming ages after the others. I wonder if this was to hide something, or if they just didn’t know what to call it?