Things I've Learnt from Watching My Favourite Doctor Who Stories : Part 56 - The Haunting of Villa Diodati

56. The Haunting of Villa Diodati

Mad, Bad and Dangerous to Know 

Maxine Alderton's first script for the series (and it's not the last time we'll see her name in this list, oops what a giveaway!) is a celebrity historical that's dripping with atmosphere and scares, but it's also laugh out loud funny. Well, the first half is at least. 

The Doctor and fam certainly know how to make an entrance as they gatecrash the Villa Diodati where Byron, Mary Shelley, her stepsister Claire and Dr Polidori are staying. 

It's exceptionally well-plotted and sticks two fingers up to the lazy idea that the Jodie Whittaker era suffered from bad writing. Alderton's script is rich in dialogue and character, hardly surprising though when three of the characters are famous writers and poets. 

The dance scene is a particular delight, delivering exposition about the guest characters in an efficient and amusing way. The characters are well defined and performed by a young cast who look like the young romantics they're playing. 

Lili Miller as Mary Shelley is wide-eyed and earnest but determined while Byron is written and performed by Jacob Collins-Levy initially as a 19th century Leslie Philips; all smarm and strutting like a peacock until he realises that this Mrs Doctor is no pushover. Byron looks at the Doctor lasciviously but she's having none of it and Jodie's performance is a delight; verbally sparring with both Byron and cheekily referencing his daughter Ada Lovelace who she met in Spyfall. 

Also a shout out to Stefan Bednarczyk who makes the most of his part as the valet, Fletcher with a wonderful line in withering looks. 

The sequence of Graham trying to find a loo introduces a plotline that brought back memories of the Avengers episode "The House that Jack Built" with characters appearing in rooms they've just left. The reason why it happens here is rather more convoluted as being part of a security system designed to hide something. 

As we enter the second half, the laughs make way for genuine chills as a Lone Cybermen turn up and Graham, Yaz and Ryan remind the Doctor of Jack's warning (Judgement of the Judoon) 

As a villain, Ashad is chilling, brutally dispatching Fletcher and Elise the Nanny. But it's his holding up of Mary's baby son, William that is really unnerving, especially for any parents watching. As a Cyberman, Ashad reinstates some credibility to the silver giants, something that Chris Chibnall did for the Daleks and Sontarans as well. Patrick Ashby is excellent, snarling his dialogue with venom, especially the line about slitting his children's throats. He provides Jodie's Doctor with a worthy adversary and she should silence her critics who say she never gets to stand up to the bad guys effectively. 

I've mixed feelings about the rest of the fam. Bradley Walsh is obviously excellent as Graham, balancing the comedy and drama while Mandip Gill always gives a quietly confident performance as Yaz, but I'm not Ryan's biggest fan. Nothing to do with Tosin Cole who does his best, but here he's a bit of a Zeppo, showing that three companions is too much, just as it was in Season 1, 2, 4 and 19! 

Mary Shelley describes Ashad as a "Modern Prometheus", which is an alternate title for her Frankenstein. Of course, it's not the first time that Doctor Who playfully hints about how the Time Lord is present at major historical events (The Great Fire of London for example!) and while it's obvious from the start, it is at least stylishly done.

 

The cinematography in the Jodie Whittaker era is a step up from before and here we have warm orange glows as the Doctor's group mixes with the party. Then the lights go out along with the jokes replaced by gloomy moonlit shadows and tea time horror. That mix of comedy and horror is something that is part and parcel of Doctor Who and this episode is an example of it at its best. 

Next time : A saxophone quartet and sci-fi don't exactly mix...