BOOK OF LISTS: TOP 5 ONE-TIME-ONLY VILLAINS - PART 4

We're getting close to the winner, now. You can see that I have been making some unusual choices. This one, however, is a bit more conventional....




A SUPER OLD SCHOOL VILLAIN

Kevin Stoney's one-time-only villain contributions to Doctor Who in the 60s, to me, are near-legendary. He just had such great presence with both portrayals. He seems to stand out so much more than anyone else that got to play a bad guy during that era. Truthfully, if you're willing to watch his performance contextually, he beats most actors who have played an antagonist on the show. 

Just like Morgaine and Helen A in my last entry, it was difficult to choose which of Stoney's two characters I prefer. Mavic Chen is a delightful little megalomaniac as he tries to beat the Daleks at their own game during The Dalek Masterplan. But, for some reason, I like Tobias Vaughn just that little bit better. I'm not entirely sure why. It could be the simple reason that there exists more footage of the story. Which, in turn, gives me a stronger impression of the portrayal. I hate that it might be as petty as something like that - but it's entirely possible!

I think it might also be that Tobias Vaughn feels that little bit more accessible. Dalek Masterplan is a bit of a space opera. Chen is from the far-flung future - which makes it a bit harder to connect with him. Whereas Vaughn was meant to be more contemporary. Both are complete madmen, of course. Which means, in their own way, both are pretty remote (if you do find them relatable, it may be time for some therapy!). But a power-crazed maniac running a multi-million dollar corporation in the late 60s (possibly early 70s) is someone I can identify with just that little bit better than a sinister politician from the 40th Century. Which might be one more reason for Vaughn to win out over Chen.

Whatever the case, it was a very close race. But, in the end, Vaughn wins. 

I think one of the things I adore most about Stoney's performances are the unusual choices he makes. If I may dare dwell on Chen that little bit longer, I love the weird way Stoney holds writing utensils when he's playing him (apparently, in the 40th Century we still write things by hand - and we do it in a very unusual fashion!). He makes another strange choice with Vaughn. Throughout most of his performance, he closes one eye just a little bit more than the other. It gives him a sort of perpetual sneer that gets him to come across that little bit more arrogant and unlikeable. While on the topic of his eyes, I also love that Stoney remembers what the script said about him in Episode 1 and resists blinking as much as possible. 

It's these little things that Stoney puts into his performance that really make him rise above the rest. He is obviously someone who puts a lot of thought into his craft and it pays off. Vaughn could have been a very run-of-the-mill Pawn of the Cybermen Greedy Bastard, but he gives so much consideration to the crafting of the character that we have a hard time not completely falling in love with his villainy.   

Beyond Stoney's performance, compliments must also go to the writing. Some interesting twists are put on the character that were right in the script. Vaughn's sense of humor is one of the more interesting nuances. Like most sadists, he's in a state of glee as he inflicts pain on people - that's nothing new for a character of his nature. But I'm really intrigued by how he reacts to Zoe ruining his receptionist computer. Most megalomaniacs would be outraged by such a gesture but Tobias is amused. Having a villain who zigs during moments when we expected him to zag is a good move when you've got to stretch him over eight episodes. Things could have gotten boring very quickly with him if the writer hadn't put in these little tricks.

Some complain of Packer, of course. Why would anyone put a person so neurotic and even a bit incompetent in charge of their security? I say Packer makes perfect sense for a personality like Vaughn. He needed a whipping boy. Someone who could still, for the most part, do a decent job but would stumble up just enough for Vaughn to give him regular tongue-lashings. To me, Packer was exactly what Vaughn's distorted ego required.    

There are a few specifics moments that come together beautifully in The Invasion for Vaughn. The first is when he taunts Professor Watkins to shoot him. After administering torture so sadistic that even one of the torturers becomes a victim, he grants the professor his greatest wish. Stoney plays this moment to perfection. His rage is thoroughly convincing as he yells at Watkins to shoot him. The smile on his face as we see that even bullets can't harm his enormous ego is truly chilling. 

But my favorite Vaughn moment happens at the beginning of Episode Eight. Although it is probably done more for the sake of padding things out, Vaughn gets this great speech where the Doctor gradually wins him over. We get a gorgeous look inside his thought process and see the full extent of his selfish pride. While anyone else would strive to survive, Vaughn sees little point in saving a world that will convict him for endangering it. But then, slowly but surely, he decides to join the Doctor. Not to see justice done or to save humanity. But because the Cybermen wrecked his plans and he wants to punish them for it. He makes the vaguest attempt to gain pathos as he laments over his crushed dreams. Stoney is truly masterful as he brings Vaughn close to tears in the delivery of that speech. How can we resist him, really? 

During those sad Wilderness Years, a New Adventures novel was written that shows that Vaughn managed to survive when the Cybermen shot him. I can't blame the fan who wrote it. Tobias Vaughn is a one-time-only villain that was so good, you don't want to think he'll die. Ever. 



Stay tuned for our first-place winner. Who will it be?    


Fifth Place: 
http://robtymec.blogspot.ca/2018/03/book-of-lists-top-5-one-time-only.html

Fourth Place: 
https://robtymec.blogspot.ca/2018/03/book-of-lists-top-5-one-time-only_28.html

Third Place: 
https://robtymec.blogspot.ca/2018/04/book-of-lists-top-5-one-time-only.html