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DOCTOR WHO SERIES ONE
SERIES ONE HOME - ABOUT THE SHOW
EPISODE GUIDE
DOCTOR WHO CONFIDENTIAL
PROMOTIONAL TV TRAILERS
CAST BIOGRAPHIES
MARCH-JUNE 2005
(aka DOCTOR WHO SEASON 27)
EPISODE GUIDE
SERIES 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 2009/10 SPECIALS
SERIES 5 | 6 | 7 | 2013 SPECIALS
BOOM TOWN by Russell T Davies
11 - BOOM TOWN (Episode photos below)
 
"...Public execution is a slow death.
They prepare a thin layer of acetic acid, lower me into
the cauldron and boil me. I become soup and still alive..."

PLOTLINE

It's Cardiff, Wales.

But all is not as it should be, especially when the Doctor meets an 'old friend' who he thought was dead.

EPISODE ELEVEN REVIEW

I failed.

Spectacularly so.

Twisting arms and even financial bribery has failed in persuading any of the regular contributors to eyeofhorus.org.uk to write a review for episode 11, BOOM TOWN . Nobody wanted to touch it, with or without a 'bargepole'.

It wasn't that bad, was it?

So, as one contributor said, "It is up to you, our esteemed leader".

And it's not as bad as reviewers think. TIME-FLIGHT it is not, and neither is it EARTHSHOCK. Somewhere in between. A sort of THE VISITATION. There are admirable, genuinely chilling moments neighbouring lighter scenes that, together, consolidate forming a challenging and character piece deserving of respect.

In effect BOOM TOWN is the penultimate episode of series 1 (season 27. Sorry; traditionalist), re-establishing the Time travellers morality and expectations, and, of course, edging the viewers toward the exposition of 'Bad Wolf' (see BAD WOLF) signposts cast throughout.

On a basic level, the story is an amalgamation of two 'two-handers', with only Captain Jack Harkness in the melting point as a quick gag and light relief (steady, homosexual readers). The verbal sparring between the Doctor & 'Margaret Blaine' and Rose Tyler & Mickey Smith expose the fragility of the relationships made from once having been enemies or lovers. Character studies that on the surface that could be dismissed for being 'padding' by writer, Russell T Davies (or a low-budget episode before the 'big ones' - which it is) whilst the plotline whirls around turbulently.

Rose instructs Mickey to deliver her Passport and dutifully he obeys, only to find out that the request was made under false pretences; she just wanted to see him. For all the adventure and new stimuli, Rose misses the familiar and emotional substance (her attraction to Adam, the encounter with her 'dead' Dad, and, later, smitten with Captain Harkness). But is short lived, as quickly as she welcomes her boyfriend she refocuses upon her time and space trips - to Mickey's chagrin. Their relationship has changed irrevocably; will Mickey spare himself from further hurt, and forget about her?

In the second two-hander, morality is dissected. Can a benevolent man be equally malevolent?

Having transmatted out of the Downing Street explosion six months earlier, the surviving Slitheen, Blon Fell Fotch Pasameer-Day, has set a plan in motion leave our benighted planet. Now Mayor of Cardiff, she has approved the creation of a nuclear power station in the heart of the city. An installation that will inevitably fail, implode, forming an energy wave (through a rift) upon which the Slitheen female will ride (with the aid of an 'extrapolator'), like a surfboard through surf, into the solar system. And if that fails, the fact the 'extrapolator' is alien technology it might just - on a wing and pray - attract an inquisitive space traveller that she could hitch a lift with. All the potentials considered - but not the Doctor.

Arresting the errant Slitheen, the Doctor must consider two equally opposing options. The first is to grant 'Margaret' her freedom, accepting that she has changed and no longer a wilful killer (has she/it shred its skin and embrace redemption?). The second is to return a seemingly contrite 'Margaret' to Raxacoricofallapatrius, where in the absence of the family Slitheen the death penalty has been passed.

The mind games begin.

Can 'Margaret' psychologically out wit the Time Lord, pleading not for her life but to deviate his previously unflinching morality? In episode six, DALEK, we have seen the Doctor 'blinking first' as he wills himself to pull the trigger (and more famously in GENESIS OF THE DALEKS he forces himself to evaluate the better of two evils - permit the Dalek creation to take its course or let the universe life & unite against the Dalek).

In a key scene, the two opponents take what could be the 'final supper'. A blatantly chilling conversation, that not only makes the viewer feel pity for the condemned alien but pity for the 'last of the Time Lords'. Would the Doctor succumb to compassion? The scene is notable for its lighter moments (a distillation of deft scripting, stage direction and cinematography editing), in which 'Margaret' attempts to outwit her 'executioner' with a poison draft, an equally poisoned fingernail projectile and a doubly poisoned exhalation. All of which the ninth Doctor administers in second Doctor fashion. Christopher Eccleston has, unwittingly (according to the actor he has not 'studied' previous portrayals of the character) tapped into the essence of the Time Lord with subtly and charm, with a 'god-like' edge.

The resolution to the indecision will always be a contentious one - the heart of the TARDIS being living and behest with power beyond even the Doctor's comprehension. However, it is a pivotal act to be further addressed in the final episode.

Personally, BOOM TOWN is a crucial exercise for the series and Russell T Davies. The set-up and scripting is professionally executed, and, undoubtedly, plays to the writer's strengths. Davies may not be a clever science fiction writer but he writes pitch-perfect for 'character' (but he must remove the 'camp' and 'sexual' undercurrents.) and I would like to see him writing a true two-hander for the Doctor and his companion, set solely within their critically malfunctioning TARDIS (the 'base under siege' scenario). Now that would be a challenge. 42 minutes of prime-time drama with only two characters.

BOOM TOWN may not be big and sexy like THE END OF THE WORLD but its value, in further examining the key characters of the series (and within the DOCTOR WHO 40+ year legacy), should not be dismissed.

Long-time fans may not approve of Davies' writing style, the comic (and I cannot see the justification) tone of the Slitheen and the "we're-tired-of-filming-in-a-quarry-so-we'll-always-use-Cardiff" aspects, BOOM TOWN is absorbing, rational and delivered in a workman-like fashion. We should not expect more from every episode. Remember, a breath has to be taken every so often.

Watch it again in isolation and I think you may appreciate it more than you think you did initially.

Things to look out for...

DOCTOR WHO FOLKLORE The TARDIS lands back in Cardiff, astride the rift residue that remains from their 1867 adventure (see THE UNQUIET DEAD). The Time/Space ship uses the rift's energy to 'refuel'.

DOCTOR WHO FOLKLORE Rose talks about the places that she and Doctor has traveled to. Platform One (from THE END OF THE WORLD) Justica Major; the Glass Deserts of San Kaloon.

DOCTOR WHO FOLKLORE The Doctor reiterates why the TARDIS looks like a Earth Police Public Call Box, stating that the Chameleon Circuit got stuck when he visited earth in the 1960s.

CONTINUTY ERRORS

 
BOOM TOWN - The new Mayor of Cardiff launches her Power Station plans
BOOM TOWN - A monster in the loo. Boo.

BOOM TOWN - The Doctor and Margaret Blaine have a tete-a-tete. Sort of.
BOOM TOWN - Rose Tyler is smitten but with whom?
BOOM TOWN - The lone Slitheen gets to grips with Rose Tyler.
BOOM TOWN - Go to work on an egg.
BOOM TOWN - The TARDIS departs from Cardiff waterfront.

Review - Matthew Walter
EOH RATING

Rating 4/5


CAST
DOCTOR WHO
Christopher Eccleston
ROSE TYLER
Billie Piper
IDIS HOPPER
Aled Pedick
MR CLEAVER
Will Thomas
CATHY SALT
Mali Harries
MARGARET
  Annette Badland
CAPTAIN JACK
  John Barrowman
MICKEY
  Noel Clarke
SLITHEEEN
  Alan Ruscoe
PRODUCTION CREW
1st ASSISTANT DIRECTOR
Howard Arundel
2nd ASSISTANT DIRECTOR
Steffan Morris
3rd ASSISTANT DIRECTOR
Dan Mumford
LOCATION MANAGER
Gareth Lloyd
PROD.
CO-ORDINATOR
Hess van Niekerk
PROD. ACCOUNTANTS
Debi Griffiths
Kath Blackman
CONTINUITY
Dorothy Friend
SCRIPT EDITOR
Elwen Rowlands
CAMERA OPERATOR
Martin Stephens
FOCUS PULLERS
Mark Isaac
GRIP
John Robinson
SOUND RECORDIST
Ian Richardson
BOOM OPERATOR
  Damian Richardson
GAFFER
  Mark Hutchings
BEST BOY
  Peter Chester
STUNT
CO-ORDINATOR
  Lee Sheward
STUNT
PERFORMERS
  Kim McGarrity
George Cottle
Tina Maskell
PROD. BUYER
  Joelle Rumbelow
SET DECORATOR
  Catherine Samuel
SUPERVISING ART DIRECTOR
  Stephen Nicholas
STAND-BY ART DIRECTOR
  David Morrison
GRAPHIC ARTIST
  Jenny Bowers
PROPERTY MASTER
  Adrian Anscombe
CONSTRUCTION MANAGER
  Andrew Smith
ASSISTANT COSTUME DESIGNER
  Yolanda Pearl-Smith
MAKE-UP SUPERVISOR
  Linda Davie
MAKE-UP ARTIST
  Claire Pritchard
Steve Williams
CASTING ASSOCIATE
  Kirtsy Robertson
ASSISTANT EDITOR
  Ceres Doyle
POST PRODUCTION SUPERVISOR
  Marie Brown
ON LINE EDITOR
  Matthew Clarke
COLOURIST
  Paul Harrison
2D VFX ARTISTS
  Simon C Holden
Astrid Busser-Casas
Jennifer Herbert
3D VFX ARTISTS
 

Joel Merie
Matthew McKinney
Jean-Claude Dagnara

DIGITAL MATT PAINTER
  Matthew Clarke
DUBBING MIXER
  Tim Rickettts
DIALOGUE EDITOR
  Paul McFadden
SOUND FX EDITOR
  Paul Jefferies
BRAND MANAGER
  ian Grutchfield
FINANCE MANAGER
  Richard Pugsley
CONCEPT ARTISTS
  Bryan Hitch
CASTING DIRECTOR
  Andy Pryor CDG
PRODUCTION MANAGER
  Tracie Simpson
PRODUCTION ACCOUNTANT
  Endaf Emyr Williams
COSTUME DESIGNER
  Lucinda Wright
MAKE-UP DESIGNER
  Davy Jones
VISUAL EFFECTS
  THE MILL
VISUAL FX PRODUCER
  Will Cohen
VISUAL FX SUPERVISOR
  Dave Houghton
SPECIAL EFFECTS
  ANY EFFECTS
PROSTHETICS
  Millennium Effects
PRODUCTION DESIGNER
  Edward Thomas
EDITOR
  Mike Jones
DIRECTOR OF PHOTOGRAPHY
  Ernie Vincze BSC
ASSOCIATE PRODUCER
  Helen Vallis
SPECIAL MAKE-UP
  Neill Gorton
MODELS AND MINATURES
  Mike Tucker
INCIDENTAL MUSIC
  Murray Gold
PRODUCER
  Phil Collinson
EXECUTIVE PRODUCERS
  Mal Young
Julie Gardner
Russell T Davies
DIRECTOR
  Joe Ahearne
  Produced by
BBC WALES
WRITER
  Russell T Davies
     
INFORMATION
BROADCAST DATE
5 June 2005
(BBC1 19:00-19:45)
 
REPEATED DATE
  6 June 2005
(BBC3 19:00-19:45)
     
FIRST RUN UK RATINGS (millions)
Unofficial: 7.1 million
Unofficial Peak: 7.4
Official BARB RATING PENDING
Top 100 rating PENDING
DVD RELEASE
12 September 2005 (as part of Volume 4 boxset)

 

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