At last, we've reached Number One in the Top 5 Two-Timers List . I'm gonna guess you're all thinking the same character I am. Could it really be anyone else?
I think what I love best about the Rani is how much she seems to contradict herself. There is all kinds of dialogue from the Master and the Doctor that makes her sound like she's, basically, a Time Lord version of a Cybermen ("I'm afraid the Rani simply sees us as walking heaps of chemicals" and other quotes of that nature). She's cold and emotionless and sees everything from a logical point-of-view. The Rani, herself, does and says all sorts of things to back this up. Just look how, at the end of Mark of the Rani, she's ready to cut her losses and leave rather than try to exact revenge on the Doctor for all the interfering he's done.
And yet, for all her cold rationale, the Rani shows all sorts of emotions that she shouldn't be. Most interesting is her sense of glee. What a big smile she has when she figures out that threatening the life of another person in the room will keep the Doctor better restrained than threatening him directly ("Touche, Doctor?"). Look how that smile appears again later when she's collecting mines from her TARDIS and she hints to the Master what sort of damage said mines will do ("Let's just say they'll change the Doctor's lifestyle dramatically"). Should someone that cold and calculating experience such perverse pleasure?
It's not just displays uncharacteristic happiness that we see, though. On the other end of the spectrum, she loses her temper quite easily, too. When she tries to get the Luddites to ambush the Master while he's walking through a tunnel and it fails, she gets pretty violent with her scanner equipment. And the endless amounts of verbal abuse that Urak suffers at her hands during her second story is near-incalculable. She really uses that Tetrap as her whipping boy. She's almost like a cruel pet owner.
And yet, on other occasions, she's true to her description. Observe how when poor Urak accidentally attacks her because he mistakes her for Mel. He's probably expecting a huge scolding for his mistake. He tries to explain himself and his mistress just cuts him off with a harsh-yet-cold: "Inquests bore me!" and then walks away. You really never know when the Rani lives up to her reputation and when she'll actually fly off the handle.
I don't consider these inconsistencies to be the result of bad writing. But, rather, an attempt on Pip and Jane Baker's behalf to show us there are layers to the character. That the Rani is more than she seems. She may try to get everyone to believe that she's emotionless and logical. She may have even convinced her rivals of this. But, deep down inside, she's brimming with strong feelings that she can barely hold in check. Give her enough time, and she'll prove to be as maniacal as the Master.
Much can be said for how Kate O'Mara gets all of these contradictions to work. She really seems to understand the mechanics of the character. So much so, that it's difficult to see anyone else in the role. Even though, like the Doctor and the Master, she can be regenerated if the production team needs her to be. Kate just really sinks her teeth into the role and knows when to let the inner psychotic out and when to stay true to how she is perceived by her enemies. It's amazing to watch those mood swings flail about so wildly and yet, at the same time, seem so controlled. We love her for it.
LEAVING HER MARK
In a story that is already featuring the Doctor and the Master, O'Mara really needs to hit the ground running. Both these characters are extremely well-established in the show's mythos and she needs to have just as much presence as the other two Time Lords populating the tale. Just to make it all the more challenging, this is not an introductory story like the Monk's first adventure was. The Rani, the Master and the Doctor all know each other from the Good 'Ole Days. So that means there has to be some real chemistry between all of them. We, as an audience, have to feel the history that they have. On top of that, we just need to find the Rani to be as interesting as her counterparts. If she doesn't shine as brightly as Ainley and Colin, the whole thing is going to fall very flat.
Kate O'Mara was an extremely intelligent casting choice. She had an extensive resume of playing "tough bitches" in other shows so she could slide into a personality like the Rani quite easily. She had also done quite a bit of work with Colin Baker in the past - so that "history" that needed to exist between their characters was fairly easy to create.
But we can't ignore the efforts of Pip and Jane Baker, either. They made a very fascinating villain for us that we can't resist wanting to see again. With things even getting, perhaps, a bit stale between the Ainley Master and the various Doctors he'd fought, the Rani comes in like a breath of fresh air. She shakes things up between these two renegades and gets us to see their petty squabbles from a whole new angle. She thoroughly takes the piss out of both of them - and that's really fun to watch.
Still, as the credits roll for Mark of the Rani, we're dying to see a re-match between the Doctor and the Rani. This time, perhaps, without the Master in the middle of things. Something a bit more one-on-one. We do get this a season or so later. But it's far from what we expected....
NO TIME
The Rani's second story definitely shows us just how much we have fallen in love with her. The plot of Time and the Rani leaves a lot to be desired. I have ranted a few times before about the unfair persecution this story gets - so I'll try to keep it short, here. I don't think it's as bad as fandom likes to lead you to believe (Creature from the Pit is far harder to sit through than this one!) but it has its fair share of problems. Probably one of the biggest ones is its attempt to almost "shoehorn" in all of the Rani's gimmicks. The land mines and disguises in Mark of the Rani were interesting and fit the story. In Time, they seem forced and over-contrived. Shortcomings like this can really mar the overall impact of the character.
And yet, Kate O'Mara steps up to the plate again and gives us another great little turn. Despite all that's working against her in the script, we still adore the Rani because of Kate. She obviously has a deep love for the character, herself. By this point in the game, she had a regular role on Dynasty - one of the most successful American TV shows, ever. She was, more than likely, making some pretty enormous amounts of cash in the States. And yet, she still came back to Britain to do Time and the Rani (wonder if she looked at the script before she got there?!). That love for the character bleeds through into the performance. We get the impression Kate would play the Rani fifty more times if she was asked to. And that love that she has makes us love the character with her
The absolutely best thing about Kate's performance in Time and the Rani is how she even lifts up the story's weaker points. Disguising herself as Mel after messing with the Doctor's memory is pretty ludicrous. But Kate is great fun to watch as she does her best Bonnie Langford impression. It's even funnier when she breaks character now and again to make off-the-cuff remarks in her Rani personae. It almost saves the whole bad idea and makes it enjoyable. This is what gets us to love the character despite the dip in quality with the writing. Kate really does save the day.
ANOTHER APPEARANCE?
Now that all of the major baddies like Daleks, Cybermen and the Master have returned, is there any other character from the Classic Series that we want to see more in the New Series than the Rani? I think not! In fact, we might long for her harder than some of the other Major Baddies that have been brought back.
How many of us were just praying that Missy would be revealed as the Rani during Series Eight? Who she actually turned out to be was still pretty awesome - don't get me wrong. But still, we were hoping...
It is, of course, intensely sad that Kate O'Mara won't be able to reprise the role. It really should have been her one more time and then we could have regenerated her. Kate just did so much for the character and it would have been great to let her have one more turn at it. Who else can handle such lines like: "Leave the girl. It's the man I want." the way she did?!
We'll miss you Kate....
And... there we go! Just getting this entry done as the month of July wraps up. Made it to my deadline by the skin of my teeth!
We shall move away from BOOK OF LISTS topics again for a bit and probably won't see another one til the end of the year. I've got a few ANALYTICAL essays in mind and, perhaps, another CHRONOLOGIES AND TIMELINES will be on its way soon. You guys do seem to love it when I work out tinelines for certain recurring characters and/or species. "Give 'em what they love.", I always say. Well, okay, I don't always say that. But I said it here, at least.
Others who made the list:
Five:
https://robtymec.blogspot.com/2019/06/book-of-lists-top-5-two-timers-number.html
Four:
https://robtymec.blogspot.com/2019/06/book-of-lists-top-5-two-timers-number_25.html
Three:
https://robtymec.blogspot.com/2019/07/book-of-lists-top-5-two-timers-number.html
Two:
https://robtymec.blogspot.com/2019/07/book-of-lists-top-5-two-timers-number_17.html
Wednesday 31 July 2019
Wednesday 17 July 2019
BOOK OF LISTS: TOP 5 TWO-TIMERS - NUMBER TWO
And so we now go into the 80s for our next Two-Timer. Like the 60s, this was a great period for a character to come back a second time. Which may mean our first place holder might also come from this era....
If you're familiar with Doctor Who in its entirety, then this particular character should be somewhere in your Top 5 Two-Timer list (do other people besides me make such a list?!). If he's not, you may not be able to call yourself a fan!
As with many effective Two Timers, it's that marriage between good writing and strong acting that tends to get them to shine so brightly that we can't resist wanting to see them a second time. But, with this character, even more props than normal must be given to the actor's portrayal. He embraced the alien qualities of the personality so deeply that we really don't feel like we're watching someone in a costume. This really does seem like a creature rather than a person.
BROWN ON VAROS
Right from his opening scene, we know there's going to be something special about Sil. We're meant to be given a bit of a sense of verisimilitude as we catch him in the middle of negotiations with the Governor of Varos. But, at the same time, Nabil Shaban knows that this is the first time we're seeing his character in the story so he pitches it with just the right level of gravitas. We're immediately drawn in and we need to lean more about this slug-like creature that talks oddly. It's one of the many magical moments of Vengeance on Varos that gets it to rank in my Top 10 Favorite Doctor Who stories, ever (for the full review, go here: https://robtymec.blogspot.com/2016/01/book-of-lists-top-ten-who-stories-3.html)..
Sil really is a fundamental aspect of what makes me respect the story so much. Yes, Philip Martin writes him brilliantly. But there is so much to be said about Shaban's portrayal. The Devil really is in the Details, here. Because he's playing a different species, he's sure to give him all sorts of mannerisms and inflections that make him seem genuinely inhuman. He flicks his tail or does weird things with his hands or shows great relish for the suffering of others. All of these little unusual traits add up to give us something truly alien. I might even go so far to say that this is the best "non-human" performance in the history of sci-fi TV. Shaban is just that good.
Quintessentially, Sil is meant to be an amalgamation of all that is evil about corporate greed. He's not the first character we've seen like this in the show. The Usurian in The Sunmakers is quite similar and that actor does a great job with the character, too. But Sil is just that little bit more fun and interesting to watch. Again, I think much of it has to do with Shaban being so unabashedly alien in the performance. Not just in the mannerisms, but in the nuances he brings out in the character.
While he is, no doubt, meant to be in an adult stage of his life, Sil behaves like a demented child. Whenever anything gets in the way of what he wants, he pulls a tantrum. When he sees an opportunity for glory and power near the end of the story, he jumps on it and become ridiculously over-excited about the whole thing. He's constantly bullying his way around and treats anyone he dislikes with unfettered contempt. He's absolutely deplorable.
And yet, because Shaban gives him those childlike qualities - we find ourselves liking him ever-so-slightly. Sil might be like some twisted kid - but that means there is a certain naivete to the character. So it's not just all those weird alien qualities that make him so fun to watch, he also engages us just that little bit. That weird set of nuances makes us want to see him again. To learn more about where he came from.
GREEN ON THOROS BETA
Philip Martin is more-than-happy to dish us up Sil again during his contribution to the Trial of a Time Lord season. This time, though, it's not a case of just meeting the Thoros Betan on a planet he's looking to financially conquer. We actually go to Sil's homeworld. Which, in my opinion, was awesome. A great way to handle a second appearance. We're going get some real knowledge of his background, this time.
It seems apparent that some time has passed since the Doctor's first encounter with Sil on Varos. Sil's species appears to go through some pretty noticeable changes in aesthetics as they age. Not only is he a different color, but his head has even changed shape quite a bit. We're not sure if these changes are naturally or artificially induced. It's entirely possible that Sil didn't like the way he looked and had some work done. Rich folk tend to do stuff like that.
Whatever the case, there are some changes in Sil's behavior, too. In his younger days, he was this ruthless negotiator who would go to any lengths to ensure that the corporation he worked for received maximum profit at minimal expense. But, by Mindwarp, he has massively climbed the corporate ladder. We doubt he ever actually goes out to other worlds anymore to work deals - he probably has underlings to do that for him. Nowadays, he just sits on Thoros Beta and counts his money through the warp-fold relay. He seems to be second-in-command of all operations on Thoros Beta.. Answerable only to the great Lord Kiv, himself.
But rather than being drunk with power all the time, Sil has become a sniveling toadie. He kisses up to his boss so much that Kiv actually finds him annoying. Which indicates Sil probably has some legitimate business acumen or he wouldn't be in the position he's in. Kiv does not seem to appreciate "yes men" so Sil must also actually be useful in some way. Sil's personality has changed radically since his first story but Shaban is a pro and gets it all to work. He still manages to imbue the character with some of those child-like traits, again. So that, once more, the character is repugnant but we still like him just that little bit.
And, of course, we're still getting all that other fun stuff that made him such a treat to watch in his first adventure. Tongue gyrations and weird body movements and the like. That's such an important part of Sil's character. Some of the other actors playing Thoros Betans remember to put some of those mannerisms in to their portrayals - but no one nails it as well as Shaban does.
While Mindwarp might not be quite as strong a tale as Vengeance on Varos, it's still a great story for Sil. We actually see that he's gone through some sort of character growth since his first appearance. And we learn a lot more about his background. And it's great fun watching him eat! All around, Sil's return is truly triumphant.
FINAL ANALYSIS:
Sil came so close to being at the top of this list. I adore the character that much. And I would be more-than-happy to see him lose his two-timer status if it meant a return to the show. The New Series production team probably wouldn't even need to improve much on the costume - it looked pretty good, already. And it would just be great to see him wheeling and dealing again. And acting like the dark, malevolent big kid that he is.
I am hearing tell of a production team that is shooting a sort of independent film starring Shaban as Sil. Some sort of spin-off adventure. This is actually quite exciting, in itself. I love the character enough to seek him out in this format. But a return to the actual TV show would still be wonderful, too. That weaselly little Thoros Betan needs to square off with the Doctor once more....
Number One Two-Timer soon to be announced. Who do you think it will be?
Number Five:
https://robtymec.blogspot.com/2019/06/book-of-lists-top-5-two-timers-number.html
Number Four:
https://robtymec.blogspot.com/2019/06/book-of-lists-top-5-two-timers-number_25.html
Number Three:
https://robtymec.blogspot.com/2019/07/book-of-lists-top-5-two-timers-number.html
If you're familiar with Doctor Who in its entirety, then this particular character should be somewhere in your Top 5 Two-Timer list (do other people besides me make such a list?!). If he's not, you may not be able to call yourself a fan!
As with many effective Two Timers, it's that marriage between good writing and strong acting that tends to get them to shine so brightly that we can't resist wanting to see them a second time. But, with this character, even more props than normal must be given to the actor's portrayal. He embraced the alien qualities of the personality so deeply that we really don't feel like we're watching someone in a costume. This really does seem like a creature rather than a person.
BROWN ON VAROS
Right from his opening scene, we know there's going to be something special about Sil. We're meant to be given a bit of a sense of verisimilitude as we catch him in the middle of negotiations with the Governor of Varos. But, at the same time, Nabil Shaban knows that this is the first time we're seeing his character in the story so he pitches it with just the right level of gravitas. We're immediately drawn in and we need to lean more about this slug-like creature that talks oddly. It's one of the many magical moments of Vengeance on Varos that gets it to rank in my Top 10 Favorite Doctor Who stories, ever (for the full review, go here: https://robtymec.blogspot.com/2016/01/book-of-lists-top-ten-who-stories-3.html)..
Sil really is a fundamental aspect of what makes me respect the story so much. Yes, Philip Martin writes him brilliantly. But there is so much to be said about Shaban's portrayal. The Devil really is in the Details, here. Because he's playing a different species, he's sure to give him all sorts of mannerisms and inflections that make him seem genuinely inhuman. He flicks his tail or does weird things with his hands or shows great relish for the suffering of others. All of these little unusual traits add up to give us something truly alien. I might even go so far to say that this is the best "non-human" performance in the history of sci-fi TV. Shaban is just that good.
Quintessentially, Sil is meant to be an amalgamation of all that is evil about corporate greed. He's not the first character we've seen like this in the show. The Usurian in The Sunmakers is quite similar and that actor does a great job with the character, too. But Sil is just that little bit more fun and interesting to watch. Again, I think much of it has to do with Shaban being so unabashedly alien in the performance. Not just in the mannerisms, but in the nuances he brings out in the character.
While he is, no doubt, meant to be in an adult stage of his life, Sil behaves like a demented child. Whenever anything gets in the way of what he wants, he pulls a tantrum. When he sees an opportunity for glory and power near the end of the story, he jumps on it and become ridiculously over-excited about the whole thing. He's constantly bullying his way around and treats anyone he dislikes with unfettered contempt. He's absolutely deplorable.
And yet, because Shaban gives him those childlike qualities - we find ourselves liking him ever-so-slightly. Sil might be like some twisted kid - but that means there is a certain naivete to the character. So it's not just all those weird alien qualities that make him so fun to watch, he also engages us just that little bit. That weird set of nuances makes us want to see him again. To learn more about where he came from.
GREEN ON THOROS BETA
Philip Martin is more-than-happy to dish us up Sil again during his contribution to the Trial of a Time Lord season. This time, though, it's not a case of just meeting the Thoros Betan on a planet he's looking to financially conquer. We actually go to Sil's homeworld. Which, in my opinion, was awesome. A great way to handle a second appearance. We're going get some real knowledge of his background, this time.
It seems apparent that some time has passed since the Doctor's first encounter with Sil on Varos. Sil's species appears to go through some pretty noticeable changes in aesthetics as they age. Not only is he a different color, but his head has even changed shape quite a bit. We're not sure if these changes are naturally or artificially induced. It's entirely possible that Sil didn't like the way he looked and had some work done. Rich folk tend to do stuff like that.
Whatever the case, there are some changes in Sil's behavior, too. In his younger days, he was this ruthless negotiator who would go to any lengths to ensure that the corporation he worked for received maximum profit at minimal expense. But, by Mindwarp, he has massively climbed the corporate ladder. We doubt he ever actually goes out to other worlds anymore to work deals - he probably has underlings to do that for him. Nowadays, he just sits on Thoros Beta and counts his money through the warp-fold relay. He seems to be second-in-command of all operations on Thoros Beta.. Answerable only to the great Lord Kiv, himself.
But rather than being drunk with power all the time, Sil has become a sniveling toadie. He kisses up to his boss so much that Kiv actually finds him annoying. Which indicates Sil probably has some legitimate business acumen or he wouldn't be in the position he's in. Kiv does not seem to appreciate "yes men" so Sil must also actually be useful in some way. Sil's personality has changed radically since his first story but Shaban is a pro and gets it all to work. He still manages to imbue the character with some of those child-like traits, again. So that, once more, the character is repugnant but we still like him just that little bit.
And, of course, we're still getting all that other fun stuff that made him such a treat to watch in his first adventure. Tongue gyrations and weird body movements and the like. That's such an important part of Sil's character. Some of the other actors playing Thoros Betans remember to put some of those mannerisms in to their portrayals - but no one nails it as well as Shaban does.
While Mindwarp might not be quite as strong a tale as Vengeance on Varos, it's still a great story for Sil. We actually see that he's gone through some sort of character growth since his first appearance. And we learn a lot more about his background. And it's great fun watching him eat! All around, Sil's return is truly triumphant.
FINAL ANALYSIS:
Sil came so close to being at the top of this list. I adore the character that much. And I would be more-than-happy to see him lose his two-timer status if it meant a return to the show. The New Series production team probably wouldn't even need to improve much on the costume - it looked pretty good, already. And it would just be great to see him wheeling and dealing again. And acting like the dark, malevolent big kid that he is.
I am hearing tell of a production team that is shooting a sort of independent film starring Shaban as Sil. Some sort of spin-off adventure. This is actually quite exciting, in itself. I love the character enough to seek him out in this format. But a return to the actual TV show would still be wonderful, too. That weaselly little Thoros Betan needs to square off with the Doctor once more....
Number One Two-Timer soon to be announced. Who do you think it will be?
Number Five:
https://robtymec.blogspot.com/2019/06/book-of-lists-top-5-two-timers-number.html
Number Four:
https://robtymec.blogspot.com/2019/06/book-of-lists-top-5-two-timers-number_25.html
Number Three:
https://robtymec.blogspot.com/2019/07/book-of-lists-top-5-two-timers-number.html
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