Things I've Learnt from Watching My Favourite Doctor Who Stories: Part 24 - Enlightenment

24: Enlightenment

I'll have the choice, not the diamond!

Enlightenment is a bewildering and beautiful story, the first to be written and directed by women: Barbara Clegg writing what was, criminally, her only Doctor Who story, and directed by Fiona Cumming, who was responsible for Snakedance earlier in the season. And like that story, it's well directed; not action packed, but thoughtful and original. 

It was unlike any other Doctor Who story I'd seen. Coming after Terminus and it's depressing storyline of ill people being exploited by an unscrupulous company, this was compelling stuff. Initially a historical story, we're introduced to the crew, who were a bit untrustworthy, a bit creepy, especially Mr Mariner, who seemed to have a thing for Tegan. The memorable cliffhanger to part one is exceptionally clever as is the idea of a race of immortals who have races in space to relieve the boredom of their immortality. 

Keith Barron playing Striker is exceptionally good. Later famous in our house as the cheating husband from Duty Free, here his performance is very still and controlled, so controlled you wonder if they're androids at first. Christopher Brown as Marriner also deserves praise for his unsettling performance and his scenes opposite Janet Fielding are very good. The scene where Tegan asks him if he's in love with her and he says, "What is love? I want existence!" you guess it's not going to end well. When he's sent off by the White Guardian, and he pleads to Tegan for help, the audience almost feels sorry for him. 

Janet's performance is very interesting in that Tegan seems a bit quieter than normal and it's nice to see her out of that boob tube and wearing the ballgown. We see a softer, less argumentative side to our Mouth on Legs Aussie. (Perhaps she's missing Nyssa?) And then there's Wrack's comment about the image of the Doctor in her mind being quite intriguing...

Turlough meanwhile is having a bit of a mare and Mark Strickson has something to do rather than get locked up. Turlough is still terrorised by the Black Guardian (Valentine Dyall's performance is nothing to crow about) and then falls foul of Captain Wrack. In contrast to Keith Barron, Lynda Baron's performance is gloriously extravagant as the eternal lady pirate who's determined to win just as much as Striker but not necessarily play by the rules. They're two sides of the same coin. 

As the conclusion to the Black Guardian trilogy, it's more satisfying than the end of the Armageddon Factor. I like that the Guardians seem to be enigmatic; a mystical force for good and evil but nobody is quite sure where they're from. Continuity nuts can sleep easy as both actors are the same as before. The bird hats are a bit daft to be honest, but Cyril Luckham still manages to convey gravitas and wisdom despite having one of Fingerbobs on his head. 

Peter Davison is great in this and gets to play a nice bit of moral outrage against Striker. He's more deferential towards Wrack and the eye roll he gives Tegan when he sees she's not in the TARDIS is delightful, as is his staying to finish his dessert before doing the going the other way gag on the corridor. But it's how he interacts with Turlough that's most interesting. He has Turlough accompany him in the first episode, almost as if he wants to keep an eye on him. Davison's performances are always subtle, (apart from cliffhanger endings - see Castrovalva Part Three!) and I think it's clear the Doctor knows Turlough is a wrong 'un. 

But it's the final scene where Davison impresses me most. I love the way he casually leans against the doorframe when he announces that Wrack didn't win, as if it was no trouble at all! When the White Guardian offers enlightenment to the Doctor, he moves to stand next the Black Guardian and for a split second, you wonder if the Doctor's gone to the dark side. He confidently puts both Guardians in their place, and when Turlough is being tempted by the Black Guardian, Davison is absolutely still, with a slight smile on his face, as if he knows Turlough will make the right choice. In those few minutes, he shows us just what a great Doctor he is. 

Next: Yes, she is your mummy!