By William Shaw

Obverse Books, out now

Obverse Books’ ongoing series of monographs focusing on a Doctor Who serial or story hits 2013’s Series 7 episode The Rings of Akhaten.

As Forrest Gump once remarked: “Black Archives books are like a box of chocolates. You never know what you’re gonna get.” Or something like that… And never has that been truer than the last two releases in this range, which both approach their subjects from totally different directions. The Underwater Menace focused very much on the production of the episode and its journey to DVD, whereas this volume is more interested in the subtext, allusions and meanings (hidden or otherwise) that we’d probably never previously considered. I say vive la difference, though inevitably, depending on how you like your Black Archives to be written, it may not tick your boxes.

Author William Shaw argues that the episode deserves reassessment, its ideas being among the most radical and exciting in the show’s history. He confesses that his initial opinion on first viewing was the same one that was shared by many others – that it was a dud. Subsequent analysis and rewatching has led him to love it – he loves it so we don’t have to – and that’s what’s great about the church of Doctor Who; everyone has a favourite that’s typically frowned upon by others, and isn’t that a great thing.

Having read this tome, I watched the episode again, self-isolation being the perfect opportunity for such a revisit. Honestly, I feel no differently towards it, which is not say that Shaw doesn’t argue his points well, I just have no love for it. I particularly enjoyed his interview with director Farren Blackburn and his Director’s Statement for the show. This insight really highlights the difference between what’s planned on paper and what makes it to the screen.

Verdict: There’s no doubting William Shaw’s enthusiasm for this generally derided episode, and he sets out his stall with his support of the episode’s politics and religious angle as ‘a trenchant engagement with New Atheism.’ If you’re up for the discussion, it’s a different voice to what you’d normally expect. 7/10

Nick Joy

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