Doctor Who:
The New Adventures of Bernice Summerfield volume 4
Ruler of the
Universe: Truant
written by
Guy Adams
(Okay,
there's no way around it, this one is ALL SPOILERS ALL THE TIME. The
only way to address anything that's interesting about this story is
to talk about the high concept revelation at the centre of it and the
conclusion so be thee warned...)
I think this
story pretty much had to be a comedy because if it were played
totally straight it would just be horrible. That said, its an idea
that I've always wanted to see some sort of take on and maybe some day
someone will have a chance to do it seriously but it sure as hell
isn't going to be as a one hour audio story in the middle of a quite
comedic box set.
You see, the
big revelation of the story is that the planet the Doctor thinks is
being invaded was actually invaded decades ago by shapeshifters who
long ago replaced the native population and their descendants are now
living perfectly normal, peaceful lives with office jobs, families
and the like.
This is the
story about the aftermath of an almost one hundred percent successful
genocide.
Its also a
comedy. The whole format of the story is the Doctor skipping through
the collapsing universe looking for an enemy to fight, an invasion to
stop, a war to prevent, something fun to do instead of endless
meetings and politics. He storms in on potential confrontations only
to be disappointed by the fact that now everyone knows who he is no
one wants to take the chance of trying to fight him. When he finally
does find someone who wants to lock him up he even heckles them,
wondering “Whatever happened to death threats as art?” and
insisting they don't deserve his A game.
Could this
subject be handled seriously? Absolutely, just not here where the
writers are pressed for time and don't really have the chance to go
into all the messy details of the situation.
The ending
is at least satisfying with the Doctor failing to bring the situation
to any real resolution and Benny offering what little redemption she
can to the current inhabitants of the world. It would perhaps have
worked a little better if the invasion were further in the past,
instead the planet's governor says these are the crimes of their
“parents and grandparents” so, logically, people who are still
alive to punish.
I don't mean
to sound down on this one, its a lot of fun. The comedy works right
up to and including the darker ending and the theme of the Doctor
trying to evade his responsibilities to do something meeaningful
works. Benny is, as ever, a delight as she first chases the Doctor
across the universe and then ends up dragged into his little joyride.
I just can't
help but wonder at what the straight version of this story would be
and hope we get to find out some day.
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