The Watcher Cat

The Watcher Cat

Thursday, May 15, 2014

"Five Rounds Rapid"

I'm proofreading, and so the blog must take a backseat.

But it occurred to me that in fiction, our ends often mirror our beginnings. So too with episodic television, as demonstrated in Doctor Who, courtesy of the Brigadier:



The tactic doesn't work, although the scene is wonderful, thanks to the sheer sublime perfection of Nicholas Courtney's laconic air. (It's even a trope namer). But in his last appearance in Doctor Who, he gets a replay:



Unflappable as ever, (I love that "Probably. I just do the best I can"), but a little more jaded, a little more relaxed. Still willing to consider himself expendable as compared to his friends.

Narratively speaking, too, a nicely handled call back to the Brig's early days--and this time, crowned with success. A satisfying echo, but with the Brig warmer, more humane, then he let himself be seen in prior appearances,

As for the Destroyer--come now, the effect is better than that for Bok, surely?

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