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