The E-Space Trilogy: State of Decay
Previous: The E-Space Trilogy Part 1: Full Circle
Part 2: State of Decay
And we begin our continuing tale on Model Hill in Slightly Phallic Strangely-Space-Ship-Shaped Castle.
"How did you know?"
"Oh, knowing's easy. Everyone does that ad nauseum. I just sort of hope."
It's really weird seeing Four and Romana II together now after hearing how Tom and Lalla were at odds during the filming of Full Circle.
One can only assume that this is about the time when their marriage was falling apart. That'd explain why she left the show.
FOUR WHY IS YOUR SCARF OFF
There we go. Also, I find any circumstance involving the Doctor baby-talking to K-9 to be the adorable-most.
Hello again, Adric! And what might you be up to this fine day? Stowing away for a TARDIS ride?
Interesting how the first local they meet makes the signs of Hear No Evil, See No Evil, Speak No Evil before running off.
"Halt! Your presence here is unauthorized. Explain."
"You remember me, K-9! Adric?"
"Immature humanoid. Non-hostile."
"That's better."
Those are probably the most digital-sounding bats I've ever heard.
Guys. The king's beard. Well, I can only assume he's a king but HIS BEARD. NO ONE HAS A BEARD THAT CURLY.
"What is the Wasting?"
"The Wasting?"
"Yes."
"The Wasting is......the Wasting."
"Ah."
Oh come on, Adric. These people are giving you food, a coat, and a place to stay the night. You could at least say "thank you."
On the other hand, it actually makes a weird sort of sense when you consider the conditions he was raised in.
I'm actually surprised at how passable the photo resolution on those computers is, considering this was the early '80s.
Wait a sec...is it just me or does the Doctor have BLACK blood? Maybe it's just the lighting. But still...
*turns on InfoText* Huh. I was close. It's blue, at Tom Baker's request, which was apparently disapproved of by John Nathan-Turner.
"Greetings! How do you do? I'm the Doctor."
"I'm Romana."
"We know who you are."
"Really?"
"We know everything here."
Ah yes, the obligatory character-gets-a-small-cut-to-reveal-the-vampiric-nature-of-some-creepy-person bit.
So this is the second story in a row to feature the descendants of the remnants of a crashed starship eking out a living. E-Space trend?
Maybe I take back my earlier comment. Adric appears to be showing his gratitude by speaking out against this society's injustice.
"Look, you've been very kind and I'm grateful." Although the way he said that, it sounded like he said "ungrateful."
I wish I could remember which page on TV Tropes noted the subtext between Aukon towards Adric. I see what they mean...
King Doctor IV and Queen Romana II!
So apparently the castle looks like a spaceship for a reason: it's a spaceship.
"Inspection hatch..."
"Doctor..."
"No, shshshsh...inspection hatch..."
"Doctor..."
"Hmm?......ROMANA! I'VE FOUND THE INSPECTION HATCH!"
Wow, Adric. I must admit, I don't think I've EVER seen anyone your age act so stoic while having a knife waved in their face.
Okay, he must be under mind control or something because he is having NO reaction whatsoever to ANYTHING happening in this scene.
That sounds more like a giant heartbeat than a engine thrumming...
Obviously painted brick walls are obviously painted.
So I wonder if that heartbeat sound belongs to the Great One that everyone keeps talking about. Calling it now.
Called it.
And here we have it: Classic Doctor vs. vampires. Fear not, there shall be no Twilight references forthcoming.
For the record, I've never read the books or seen the movies but I do own a copy just to see what everybody's heads are exploding over.
Wow. Aukon now officially has the campiest dialogue of ever. Seriously.
"Those officers aren't the descendants of the originals, they ARE the originals." Somehow I figured as much...
So NOW they finally learn that Adric's there too.
Looks like I was right about the mind control too. And Aukon might even have eyes to out-ham Tom Baker.
Also, badass!Romana gets to throw stalagmites at vampires. Win.
"Before Rose Tyler came into his life many years later, this is as close as the Doctor ever got to a love scene." What about City of Death?
"Appropriately the romance between Tom Baker and Lalla Ward was at it's height by the time this story was completed." So I was wrong before.
"Pst...you are wonderful."
"Me?"
*nod*
"Wonderful?"
*nod*
"I suppose I am."
All together now: AAAAWWWWWWWWWWWW...
Wow. I was REALLY wrong before. They weren't on the outs, they weren't even married yet. They got engaged right before this story aired.
Yikes. Something about the mention of Adric's name seemed to almost send Four into a rages'plosion for no apparent reason.
Romana finding a comatose Adric almost reminds me of a reverse Sleeping Beauty for some odd reason. Maybe it's the clothes.
Also, Four doing a dramatic reading of an old Gallifreyan vampire legend from ticker tape is strangely awesome.
It won't surprise me if that was the first time in human history that the terms "vampire" and "ticker tape" were used in the same sentence.
So according to Gallifreyan legend, the Time Lords made ships for the purpose of sticking giant stakes into giant space vampires. THIS SHOW.
So the Lady's like "I MUST FEED" and Adric's like "bitch I have a knife" and the Lord's like "FUCK YOU I'M A VAMPIRE" 'n stuff.
Oh Doctor, you and your Shakespeare references...
I expect the Adric-haters out there look back on this scene and cheer for Romana with vigorous aplomb. And I have to admit, I kinda am too.
Oh wait, Adric did have a habit of siding with the enemy whether intentionally or no, from time to time, didn't he? *sigh*
Four, you must be the fastest map artist EVER.
So let me get this straight...K-9: Space Vampire Slayer? YES PLEASE.
"Listen, I've got a plan. Can you hear me?" Adric, the speed and frequency with which you damn/redeem yourself in this story is STAGGERING.
Also, nice dress Romana.
Well, so much for that plan of yours, Adric...
Excuse me, lawling forever at the image of K-9 on a throne. How'd he even get up there, anyway?
Im in ur towur, nomming ur tiem loards.
Now that was clever: using part of the old spaceship to stake its giant space vampire inhabitant.
"So that's what happens to vampires when they die?"
"Glad you didn't join them?"
"Yes, I'm sorry about that, it was just a bluff."
Guys, I love the One Big Happy Family Hug that Four is giving Romana and Adric. I think I want to draw this now.
"And YOU, young lad, are going straight home!" Okay, scratch that Happy Family thing...
Which of course begs the question, what does Adric do in Warrior's Gate that convinces the Doctor to let him stay?
Or, what magically happens between now and then to let him stay? I've seen Leela's forced entry into the TARDIS and that was handwaved fast.
Next: The E-Space Trilogy Part 3: Warriors' Gate