What better way to end the year than to bid a fond farewell
to the last of the classic era Doctors, Sylvester McCoy. In my original
rankings I placed McCoy a dismal ninth stating that the creativity of the show
was dying. I have to revise that statement, although I retain McCoy in the
ninth spot. Upon re-watch of the Seventh Doctor serials I see that creativity
was not the problem. There were plenty of clever concepts during this time;
however there was a lack of development and follow through and these ideas were
never done justice, perhaps due to a lack of time and money.
Sylvester McCoy’s Doctor also suffers a similar fate as
Doctors Five and Six. Doctor’s One through Four have a definite presence as the
Doctor that is missing in Five through Seven, and what I come up with is that
the actors— Peter Davison, Colin Baker, and Sylvester McCoy—were not given the freedom to be the Doctor. At
least my impression is that each of these actors had an idea of the Doctor’s
character foisted upon them, whether or not that characterization was clearly
outlined or fully defined. I haven’t given full consideration to this, Gary,
and am merely speculating at the moment; but I wonder if the germ of this
didn’t start with the notion that, because Tom Baker had been the Doctor so
successfully and for so long, Peter Davison’s Doctor had to be consciously and
distinctly different. From that point on, it seems, the powers that be saddled
the actor playing the part with pre-conceived but not necessarily well thought
out notions on how to play the Doctor rather than trusting the actor to simply
take the part and run.
One of the more tangible aspects to this theory is in the
costuming. One through Four each has a distinct wardrobe it is true, however it
feels natural to the Doctor and the actors always seem comfortable in it.
Starting with Five, however, the Doctor’s attire becomes too tailored and
self-aware, epitomized by the question marks. Sylvester McCoy, at least, does
appear at home in his hobo-like clothes, but the sweater vest is highly
questionable.
In his first few outings Sylvester McCoy is more relaxed in
his interpretation of the Doctor. At times this comes across as a little too
much clown and not enough hero, but when he is able to successfully blend the
two elements he is spot on. These first stories might not be the best scripts,
but they are some of my favorite McCoys because of this. Time and the Rani, for
example, is more or less dreadful, and Sylvester McCoy doesn’t settle into the
role straight off, but once he calms down a bit and begins to show the wheels
spinning beneath the comic exterior he becomes the Doctor for me.
Starting with Remembrance of the Daleks, one of the better
scripts of the McCoy years, an image of the Doctor becomes evident as someone
darker, more mysterious, and almost godlike. This could work but it is an
ambitious undertaking and needs full commitment and clarity. Unfortunately, for
me at any rate, it doesn’t work. When the show makes the concerted effort to
depict the Doctor in this way, he comes off as irresponsible, devious, and at
times heartless.
Under this persona the Doctor is more in control of his
adventures; he is not merely a wanderer who happens upon events; he masterminds
events. But it is under this persona that he leaves dangerous artifacts behind
or launches them out into the universe and then forgets about them or doesn’t
decide to collect them until it is almost too late (case in point: Remembrance of
the Daleks and Silver Nemesis). Then he concocts elaborate schemes to
defeat his mortal enemies (resulting in the destruction of the Dalek home
planet Skaro and of the Cyberman fleet), and incidentally jeopardizes other
people, other planets, and other races in the process.
This is the persona that the Time Lords were afraid of and
put on trial, and for good reason. They just acted one generation too early.
And it is under this persona that the Doctor manipulates his
companion. It has been a long time since the Doctor has had a friendly
relationship, and in Ace the Doctor has finally found a true buddy. There is an
ease and affection between the two that is refreshing. But then he secretly
pulls the strings to lead her into situations she would rather avoid. He forces
her to face her fear of clowns in The Greatest Show in the Galaxy; he brings
her to the haunted house of her nightmares in Ghost Light; and he confronts her
with her despised mother in The Curse of Fenric. He does all of this without
forewarning her. These are not the acts of a friend or even a trusted teacher;
these are the acts of a sadistic taskmaster. It is hard to reconcile the
outward rapport they share with these furtive machinations.
There is no payoff for this persona. Perhaps given another
season it would have come to fruition. But there never was another season. Not
for McCoy. Not for this production team. The Doctor needs to be fully trusted.
The audience should not have to wait to discover the meaning behind the mask,
especially for more than one season, and especially if there is some doubt that
there will be another season.
It is a credit to Sylvester McCoy that even given this
dubious guise he retains the core elements of the Doctor. In the Curse of
Fenric Ace accuses the Doctor of holding on to the facts. “You always know,”
she says. “You just can’t be bothered to tell anyone. It’s like it’s some kind
of game, and only you know the rules.” Like Ace, I get angry with the Doctor
and with the show for concealing intentions. But like Ace, I quickly let go the
anger and forgive and forget. The Doctor is still the Doctor, and all we can do
is put our faith in him.
For the most part I enjoy McCoy’s Doctor; and I will always
have a soft spot in my heart for Paradise Towers. However in hindsight, Gary, I
think it was probably for the best that Doctor Who was given a rest when it
was. Who knows where another season of McCoy might have led, but given the
behind the scenes climate at the time, it very well could have put a permanent
closure to the show that might never have been overcome.
I send this out to you, dear Gary, with the closing of the
old year and with a hopeful look towards the new . . .
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