by Andrew Orton

Obverse Books, out now

 

Obverse Books’ ongoing series of monographs focusing on a Doctor Who serial or story hits 1976’s Season 14’s four-parter The Deadly Assassin.

Robert Holmes’ political thriller which takes the Doctor back to Gallifrey is memorable for many reasons, but all credit to author Andrew Orton who manages to find something original to say. If you’re looking for a negative spin, you’ve come to the wrong place. This is a celebration of all things great about the serial that bridged Sarah’s departure and Leela’s arrival.

The Hinchliffe era of the show is rightly described as Gothic drama, and we spend time here understanding the movement. The tropes are examined, from the clash of magic and science to Gallifrey’s use as an ancestral abode.

Chapters follow on the influences that shaped the serial, from post-war paranoia to film noir, and the patsy being set up by sinister forces. Let’s not forget that Holmes directly references the CIA, though this is the Celestial Intervention Agency! The shadow of World War II fell heavy across contemporary British drama of the mid-70s, and Orton shares the related elements brought to the show by writers who had lived through the conflict.

Inevitably the cliffhanger of the attempted drowning of the Doctor is discussed, as well as Mary Whitehouse’s high profile condemnation of it. There’s an interesting aside on how the Time Lords are portrayed – are they more clergy than parliamentary, or academic leaders at a university? Further chapters look at the concepts of truth and what we actually see, and a well-researched section on Robert Holmes’ use of the English language, particularly idiolects.

Verdict: Hurrah to Obverse Books for commissioning a book that glides from the science behind the Eye of Harmony to a trainspotter’s guide to the engines found in the Matrix. This is a deep dive for the fans, and there’s always something new to discuss. 8/10

Nick Joy

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