"Full Circle" EDWE 3

Written by Andrew Smith
Starring Tom Baker, Matthew Waterhouse and Lalla Ward

If we compare Season 17 (or one of the 'silly' seasons) to the likes of Season 18, we can see huge differences. The most notable being a new producer. John Nathan-Turner had taken over as Producer, and things would never quite be the same again. Season 17 saw the likes of City of Death, with Tom Baker and Lalla Ward at their very best. Only one word can describe Season 18. Or at least one sentence can. "Can someone pass me the ear muffs and the tissues?"

Now I'll get onto Full Circle shortly, but first of all - this. Season 18 of Doctor Who had a  new costume for Tom Baker (a mistake in my opinion, though frankly his costume had changed so much it didn't really matter). A new title sequence was the right thing to do, and the use of more music was also a good choice. But Season 18 featured the introduction of Adric and the departure of much loved companion Romana II, played by Lalla Ward. Tom and Lalla were married at this point, I belive. Or at the very least engaged - and I've read stories of them shouting across the studio, and Lalla crying to new addition Matthew Waterhouse (Adric) about how bad Tom was being. Matthew has said in his autobiography that the day of filming depended on Tom's mood. Now Tom was known for this, but I feel it does impact the stories. The actors don't give it there all, well, Tom and Lalla don't, and the feeling of hostility is starting to become evident.

Full Circle was Part One of the E-Space Trilogy. A trilogy packed with scientific stuff no one gave a damn about. Yes it's real science, but we don't need everlasting speeches on it! Doctor Who is a science-fiction show - but not just a GCSE/A Level show. Full Circle was written by a fan and I have a great appreciation for that story. I love the fact a fan has written it, which boosts up the story on my Best Ever Doctor Who Stories chart.

It wasn't the best story in the world however. Full Circle had the stupid costumes, the lacking sets (though some were ok) and the use of science, way too much. But then it was also a brilliant story. Full Circle is written by a fan, so we see links to past Doctor Who's, a tick from me. It also features fantastic acting from Adric, if a little childish, as it always was. But we really see Adric being Adric here. He was meant to be an Artful Dodger, but he was not. He was a mathematician, a geek basically, but we get to learn about him in this story, and learn more before we enter the 'crowded' TARDIS of the 5th Doctor. Though it has to be said we see Adric a lot in the 'crowded' TARDIS set up.

The episode doesn't have much of a story, but I was impressed with the clever ending. We do get to learn a lot about all of the characters in this, and it's great seeing the group of kids, the group of rebels, something that wasn't shown a lot in those days of Doctor Who. Doctor Who was an adults programme with silly-ness for kids. But then we had more to appeal to children, without it being silly.

I may be waffling on about this. But in the sum of it - the feelings are strained and this can be evident, but the story is good and clever. The name Full Circle has a meaning and isn't just given because it sounds good. The resoultions isn't the best, but the clever secrets people have been hiding, and the scene where Adric's brother dies make the episode powerful, clever and Doctor Who.

Alien planet. Alien people. Stranded Spaceship and high up council people who know things that could change everything. This is Doctor Who. Though it doesnt have the spacey feel to it, the relationships of the people are evident, while still be secondary to the simple but clever plot. Something RTD could never do.

Full Circle is my favourite of E-Space because it isn't boring, it keeps me gripped and the action starts straight away.

NEXT TIME
Another Modern Episode....

James