Things I've Learnt from Watching My Favourite Doctor Who Stories Part 29 - The Curse of Fenric

29: The Curse of Fenric

Don't ignore signs warning about dangerous undercurrents

It's a popular opinion that Season 26, despite being the last of the classic series, is one of the best. Strongest of the season is probably the Curse of Fenric (other views may vary!) and it's the sort of Doctor Who that fans lap up. It's serious, it's scary, it has vampires and has lots of soldiers with guns. It has a seriously impressive guest cast. It harks back to the golden ages of Jon Pertwee and Tom Baker so it keeps the fans happy. I was 16 when it aired and this was what I wanted Doctor Who to be like. (no Kandyman, thank you very much!) 

And yet, outwardly it might but dig deeper and there's something fresh and new. Andrew Cartmel was a script editor wanting to stretch the series and move into different directions. The serial deals with the themes of war, faith and sexuality in way the series had always shied away from. The Maidens Point reference, when Phyllis says "That leaves Jean out!" is quite stark, as is Ace mistakenly thinking Kathleen's baby was born out of wedlock and the admonishment she gets for it. These perhaps were reflecting finally that Doctor Who was growing up, especially given its 7.35pm slot. 

Cartmel was instrumental in setting up script meetings with the regulars, working on their characters. Sylvester McCoy wanted his iteration of the Doctor to be darker, more manipulative and cunning. Sylvester's Doctor has always struck me as a Shakespearian fool. (It was no surprise to me that he'd be wonderful as the Fool in King Lear!) Underneath all that clowning and dropping boxes on his foot, is a melancholy and seriousness. That's nothing new to this season though, it starts as far back as Delta and the Bannermen, as he sits with Billy's guitar, wistfully musing that love is not known for its rationality.

Sophie Aldred was also keen to develop the angst-ridden Ace into a young woman. Here she meets and makes friends with two evacuees, as well as reassures Rev. Wainwright and gets a very platonic romance with a Russian captain. Her seduction with the soldier to rescue Sorin is derided by some fans as being clumsily written and played but both Ace and the soldier are young and sexually awkward. Ace grows up here and her relationship with the Doctor goes through the wringer, especially during the finale. She stands up to him accusing him of not telling her what's really going on. Its not just Saward-style conflict between the Doctor and a stroppy companion, it's genuine character development. 

Structurally, Fenric is loaded with characters and incident, perhaps too overloaded? The special edition gives things a little more room to breathe. The televised part one in particular seems to have the Doctor and Ace moving from different locations, seemingly just to different characters. Once they arrive at the church crypt for example, the Doctor decides to "let Dr Judson get on with his puzzles!" But is it aimless wandering? Or is it the Doctor making sure all his pieces are in place for his final showdown with Fenric? 

It feels very much an anti-war piece, and it's interesting that writer Ian Briggs paints the British as the bad guys; Millington thinks like a Nazi because he wants to defeat them but he's also one step ahead against the Russians. It's also an interesting treatise on faith and religion, something I wasn't into when I was 16. Doctor Who isn't particularly positive when it deals with religion, and you could argue Wainwright's lack of faith is no exception. But it is a realistic viewpoint, that the war caused many to lose or at least question their faith. 

I'd like to praise Nicholas Parsons, for a just a minute. It's a revelatory performance and he sounds justifiably proud of being in the story, on the charming commentary he does with Sylvester and Sophie. He looks and sounds the part of a country vicar and the scene where he's reading 1 Corinthians chapter 13 is very moving. 

In fact the whole cast are excellent, Dinsdale Landen makes Dr Judson both sympathetic agd repellent, until he's taken over by Fenric and then he's effectively creepy. Just look at the grim after the Haemavores kill Nurse Crane.

So Fenric is added to my list as a mature and satisfying story to watch. Dangerous undercurrents indeed, and a rich well-written and acted story as well proof that the series end was not tired and bitter, but strong and well crafted. 

Next Time: Never underestimate a girl who serves chips!