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Doctor Who: Black Orchid (1982) Atypical for several reasons, this may be the last Doctor Who serial from the original series that I really like. It broke format by being a two-parter and a non-supernatural historical story, albeit one with a 'monster' in a botanist (Gareth Milne) tortured to deformity and turned homicidal maniac by a South American tribe who resented his theft of their sacred orchid. It might owe something to The Oblong Box, but this deformed, pathetic killer is more impressive-looking. Set in 1925, it's also notable as a rare instance of the Doctor and his companions visiting somewhere and primarily having a good time - until the hostess is willing to frame her guest for murder, that is. On arrival, the Doctor (Peter Davison) is taken for a cricketer (that outfit finally justified) and plays a blinder at a local match, then the travelers are invited to a country house for a costume ball, Nyssa (Sarah Sutton) meets her lookalike, Tegan (Janet Fielding) does the charleston and Adric (Matthew Waterhouse) stuffs himself at the buffet ('I didn't have breakfast'). Given that so much Who is about running, screaming
and enduring horrible agonies, it's nice to see the travelers welcomed
and accepted: Fielding and Sutton also get a chance to ditch their early
'80s outfits (not exactly flattering) and wear period frocks which reveal
how attractive and appealing the actresses can be, and the dancing scenes
are surprisingly sweet. Even Adric is funny. When the plot kicks in,
with the Doctor lost in secret passages and set up to take the blame
for the killings of some disposable servants (including an Indian with
a big plate-bone in his lip), it is less pleasant, with a pointless
use of the TARDIS for a brief hop, but the guest cast (Michael Cochrane,
Barbara Murray, Moray Watson) are witty, likable presences, the pastel-pretty
clothes and sets (and location) are appealing and the two-episode length
tightens things up no end. First published in this form here. Visit Kim's Official Website at www.johnnyalucard.com
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