I figure it's time for something a little lighter. I have been doing some heavy analysis of Series Twelve (and even some defense of it in my last entry!). I've also written some ponderous POINTS OF DEBATE essays lately that have picked apart some fairly serious issues. Even when I tried to get a bit silly in a COMPLETE AND UTTER SILLINESS post, I really didn't get into anything all that funny. Instead, it was the pursuing of an idea that was so abstract that I decided it was silly and should, thus, be put under that label.
It has been a while since I've written a BOOK OF LISTS entry. They tend to be quite fun. So, let's have a good time for a bit.
THE CLIFFHANGER - A PILLAR OF THE SHOW
Of all the things that have remained consistent throughout the history of the television program, the trick of leaving off an episode on a tense note is definitely noteworthy. Yes, New Who doesn't quite use the device as frequently. But it's still there. I still remember the joy I felt at the end of Attack of the Farters (er - sorry! I meant: Aliens of London) when we got our very first cliffhanger of the New Series. Something felt right about that moment. Like I was definitely getting "real Doctor Who".
While I don't have a precise number (and am too lazy to google it), I'm certain there have been hundreds of cliffhangers in Doctor Who .We're probably not quite at a thousand, yet. But I wouldn't be surprised if we're getting up there. This proliferation of suspenseful episode endings does mean that writers have, sometimes, tried to get creative. They've recognized that just having someone pointing a gun at the Doctor's head and saying things like: "On this ship, we execute murderers!" does eventually get a bit old. So they try to come up with new and different ways to conclude the parts of their stories.
Essentially, these authors created what I like to call: "A Cliffhanger That Isn't Particularly Cliffhangerish". Instead of going the traditional route of placing a main character in some sort of deathly peril, they will introduce a large twist in the plot right as the last few seconds of an episode plays out. Or they create a huge revelation of some sort. Or something like that. Basically, anything but a cliffhanger that gets us to ask: "However are they going to get out of this fatal situation?"!
JUST LISTING - NOT RANKING
When I first began to compile this list, I thought about trying to rank these special cliffhangers. Often, when I do a BOOK OF LISTS, I try to start with the weakest example of what I'm listing and go to the strongest. Quite honestly, though, it's just too hard to do that, this time. A lot of these non-cliffhangerish cliffhangers are just too damned amazing. It's near-impossible to say one is better than the other.
Instead, I will simply list them in the order they appeared. You will notice, quite quickly, there are more examples from the Classic Series. This is happening for several reasons. There's twice as many seasons of Classic Who than there is of New. So there will be far more cliffhangers to choose from. Also, Old Who stories were made up of shorter episodes. So, again, more potential for wicked endings to parts. Finally, of course, there's the fact that a New Who story is often completed in just one episode. Multi-part tales only happen a few times a season because of this. So there just aren't as many cliffhangers to choose from as there are in the Original Series.
Okay then, basic ground rules and explanations have been laid. Let's get right to it:
Awesome Cliffhanger #1: Part Two of The Ark
To the best of my reckoning, this would actually be the first time we witness a cliffhanger in Doctor Who that isn't quite a cliffhanger. It's also the first time we see the TARDIS jump forward in time but not space in order to continue a story. It's also the first time a live elephant was used on the set. That last point isn't particularly relevant, of course. But it's still pretty cool. There's also a funny story about how the director of the story had to keep the elephant in his garage the night before the shoot!
Anyhow, let's stick to the relevant stuff. The first two parts of The Ark strike me as a fairly intelligent piece of 60s sci-fi. The latter episodes would display the more traditional trappings of a "overthrowing a tyranical race" plot, but a good degree of pondering and contemplation take place during Episodes One and Two (I particularly like the moment where the Doctor wonders how many other points in time and space he may have infected!). With so much abstraction going on, that ending to Part Two compliments the plot beautifully.
As the TARDIS materialises several centuries after her initial landing, the Doctor, Steven and Dodo are able to situate themselves in time as they bear witness to the completed statue in the hangar bay. In that moment, our imaginations are genuinely sent reeling. The statue was meant to have the head of a human, of course. But, instead, it's a Monoid. We are immediately left wondering about what string of events caused this to happen. We're certain it can't be anything good.
This a very thought-provoking way to complete the part. We, immediately, appreciate that. On top of that, though, the actual statue is a very strong image. Even if it is just a model!
Awesome Cliffhanger #2: Part One of The Deadly Assassin
A truly shocking cliffhanger. By this point in the show, the Doctor has been firmly established as a pacifist who would never intentionally end someone else's life. Yes, there is still some blood on his hands. Sometimes, in order to protect others, he was required to bring about the death of an antagonist or two. The resolution of The Dominators is one of the best examples of this. The only way he could save an entire planet from destruction was to plant a bomb on the spaceship of the ruthless alien race that was seeking to obliterate it. Ultimately, he killed two people. But he was left with no choice. Far greater devastation would have happened if he hadn't compromised his principles.
But none of those circumstances are in place as Part One of Deadly Assassin wraps up. As far as we can see, the retiring Lord President of the Time Lords is not up to any sort of foul play that will result in some terrible catastrophe. His intentions, on any level, are entirely innocent. And yet, the Doctor still seems to be pointing a staser rifle at him from a balcony and pulling the trigger. To all intents and purposes, we have just watched the Doctor murder someone in cold blood.
Place the Doctor in a thousand different seemingly inescapable perils and it will still not floor me half as much as that cliffhanger did. A violation of the Doctor's core ethics on that level was so brutal that I could barely believe what I was seeing. The fact that the Doctor has a vision of himself doing this earlier in the adventure causes this cliffhanger to be all-the-more cool.
Awesome Cliffhanger #3: Part One of Face of Evil
Another awesome cliffhanger that involves a giant carving shot as a model!
Like The Ark, it's all about being a visual with a tonne of ominous implication behind it. There's not quite the same shock value that the Monoid statue had, of course. That whole moment seems to come from out of nowhere. Whereas there is a definite build up to the end of Part One in Face of Evil. Which is part of what makes it just as great even without the element of surprise.
An unseen story has taken place before Part One that we are now seeing the results of. The Doctor made some sort of impact on this primitive tribe during a previous visit that he can't recall. He has yet to discover the full extent of what he's done.
And that's what gives this statue cliffhanger its "wallop". If the people he has affected are willing to carve this giant image of him on the side of a mountain, then the damage he has caused must be huge. We, as an audience, cannot wait to discover what the Doctor did and how he will unravel the mess.
It's a great way of using the same device as The Ark, but presenting it in a new manner.
Awesome Cliffhanger #4: Part Four of The Invasion of Time
Monster Reveal Cliffhangers oftentimes fail to pack a punch. Much of this is due to the fact that we have stories like Planet, Death or Destiny of the Daleks - where the conclusion to Part One reveals that the Daleks are behind the whole evil scheme. But, of course, we already know this. It's right in the damned title!
The Sontarans have fallen prey to this problem, too. It happened, once, at the end of the first part of The Sontaran Experiment. After having its identity hidden for an entire twenty minutes or so, a Sontaran finally emerges from one of those cool round spaceships at the climax of the episode. Once more, we're far from stunned when this happened. Their cover was blown within the first few seconds of the opening titles.
However, this does not appear to be the case with Part Four of The Invasion of Time. I think, even when it was transmitted for the first time on BBC, the Sontarans were kept a secret. Forget that I was a young Canadian boy with little access to British media at the time who was just watching it as a re-run on a PBS station. I still vividly remember that moment where Leela, Andred and all those Shobogans started staring over the Doctor's shoulder during his victory speech. My mind was blown as he trails off and then turns to see what the problem is.
One of the nicer things about this particular moment was that the story really did feel complete by the end of the four parts. It was exciting to see the Doctor back on Gallifrey pretending to be a baddie, playing hopscotch and explaining to an imaginary Borusa that he's speaking Latin. The Vardans may not have been the most visually-impressive of aliens, but they were still quite interesting. The Doctor's method of dispatch for them was also quite satisfactory. All in all, I thought it was a fairly enjoyable little four-parter.
Since the adventure felt like it was definitely done, the shock of the Sontarans' arrival becomes compounded. Like any great cliffhanger, it does seem to come from out of nowhere. Had the initial clash with the Vardans not been quite as well-told - this might have signposted that something more was on its way. But I got no hint of the extra two-part adventure that was hiding around the corner. I was so glad that I was watching the whole thing on a TV station that showed an episode every weekday. Having to wait another week to see what was going to happen next would have killed me!
If you want to get technical, this might not truly be a "non-cliffhangerish cliffhanger". Commander Stor does seem to be raising his weapon towards the Doctor just before we get the closing credit sting.Which implies the slightest sense of personal peril. But I'd rather still place this moment in the category that I have. The conclusion of Episode Four of The Invasion of Time represents one of the biggest plot twists I've ever seen in the history of the show. My first viewing of it still sits very strong with me. I had seen the Sontarans before and knew that they were bad-asses. Which meant I also knew some serious Hell was about to break loose in Part Five. So their surprise appearance had me legitimately vocalizing a whole series of expletives for several minutes after the episode was over. This one really blew me away.
The actual plot of The Invasion of Time does have its problems. But this cliffhanger is truly a masterpiece.
Awesome Cliffhanger #5: Part One of Earthshock
Another great Monster Reveal Cliffhanger that was smart enough not to put the name of the Returning Alien in the title!
What makes this particular moment even more interesting is the behind-the-scenes stories surrounding it. It had been nearly a decade since the last time the Cybermen had appeared in the show. That, in itself, was a crying shame since they have proved to be nearly as popular as the Daleks. The production team totally understood just how much "wow factor" a surprise appearance at the end of Part One would pack and went to extravagant lengths to ensure secrecy. At the time, people who took public tours of the BBC were allowed to walk through special galleries that enabled them to look down at the various studios but not interfere with any of the shooting going on. The galleries in which Earthshock was being filmed were intentionally locked off so that no one would get a sneak peak and leak to the public that the Cybermen were back.
Now, here's what makes this cliffhanger all-the-more awesome: Because the Cybermen were so popular and had been away for so long, publicising their return would have made so much more sense. From a marketing standpoint, at least. But, instead, JNT and the gang chose the more artistic route of keeping the whole thing a surprise til those fateful final seconds of Part One.
However, there is an even deeper level to the awesomeness of this cliffhanger. Something that's a bit more personal. I was still very new to the show when I saw it. Not only was I unaware that the Cybermen would be in Earthshock, I didn't even know what they were. I had never heard of them. Yet, that shot of the Cyberleader proclaiming: "Destroy them! Destroy them at once!" was so powerful that I knew these odd-looking robot-like beings had to be incredibly significant. No doubt, I would better understand their importance as the second episode rolled around. But I was sure, already, that this whole moment represented something very dangerous for the Doctor.
I couldn't be more right. But I think it had little to do with my instincts as a viewer and everything to do with the effectiveness of this cliffhanger.
Awesome Cliffhanger #6: Part One of Enlightenment
While I have said I wouldn't try to rank these cliffhangers, I will still admit this was probably my favorite.
There is a beauty to many of Peter Davison's stories that borders on the poetic. Nothing represents this concept better than the final moment of Part One of Enlightenment. Like the statues in The Ark and Face of Evil, it's not the most convincing of model shots. But there is just something so imaginative about sailboats in space that it still takes our breath away when we see it.
Of course, the build up to this visual is part of what makes it so spectacular. So much is done all the way through the first episode to make us believe we are really on an Edwardian sailing vessel. Spending several scenes in the living quarters of the crew is probably one of the more potent devices that achieves this. The crew, themselves, believe they're at sea. So it really helps to re-enforce the illusion. But there are more subtle tricks that work just as well. The sudden shifts of the shooting camera that give Tegan mal-de-mer is one of the better ones.
But then we get that rapid succession of clues that there might be more going on than we thought: The scream of a crewmember as he gets aloft. "Wet suits" in a side-gallery. Technology hidden within a cabinet on the Bridge. The hints are delivered at just the perfect pace so that we still don't have time to guess what the reveal will be. But they build up this fantastic level of intrigue as we get there. It's a sheer work of art that I still fall in love with every time I watch the story.
Not only the best non-cliffhangerish cliffhanger of them all. But, quite possibly, the best cliffhanger ever.
Awesome Cliffhanger #7: Part Twelve of Trial of a Time Lord
(and/or Part Four of Terror of the Vervoids)
Even from a structural standpoint, this particular cliffhanger represents a huge unexpected turn-of-events.
It had been established that Trial of a Time Lord would be comprised of three stories that ran for four episodes and then a single two-parter to end it all. So, Parts Four, Eight and Twelve were meant to be the conclusion of an adventure that had been playing on the Matrix screen. They were not supposed to end on a note of suspense that would then be a huge lead-in to the next tale.
Mindwarp's conclusion bent that rule a bit, already. While I wouldn't quite label the Doctor's discovery that Peri is dead as a true cliffhanger - it comes pretty close. There's certainly a tonne of shock value there that packs the same sort of punch that a cliffhanger has.
The final part of Terror of the Vervoids, however, definitely crosses into the realm of full-blown cliffhanger. The Doctor does such a great job of defending himself throughout those four episodes.- even with various Matrix falsifications being thrown at him. There's a palpable sense of triumph as he stops the Matrix at the moment where Commodore Travers asks for his help. He underlines the significance of that discourse with a delightful smugness that Sixie excels at. We really do feel like he's going to be found not guilty of any offense. But then, as he closes his case, the Valeyard pulls the carpet out from under him and finds a whole new charge to lay against him.
Which is the crux of this cliffhanger's potency. It snatches victory from the Doctor's grasp and puts him into a whole new dilemma before we barely have a chance to catch our breath. Essentially, it's a fantastically-executed plot twist.
Yes, it's highly unusual protocol for a charge against the defendant to be changed in mid-trial. But the whole moment is so poignant and genuinely surprising that we're willing to overlook it.
Awesome Cliffhanger #8: Part Three of The Curse of Fenric
While I have said that Enlightenment 's conclusion of Part One is my favorite cliffhanger, this one gets honorable mention for being the coolest one of them all.
It's odd, really. There isn't a huge element of surprise that accompanies this particular reveal. We can, sort of, see it coming. We know that Fenric is assembling his "wolves" and that Judson is from the appropriate bloodline to be suitable for possession. When bolts of energy rush into him from the flask and send him flying, we're pretty sure Fenric has taken hold of him. There is a quick attempt at misdirection with Millington acting strangely but we see through it fairly quickly and realize that he hasn't been taken over. He's just gone a bit nuts. Judson rises behind the Doctor and opens his eyes. They're glowing. As an audience we're like: "Here it is! Totally saw it coming!"
But then Dinsdale Landen delivers that line:
"We play the contest, again, Time Lord."
There is an indescribable mega-coolness to that moment that catapults it from something fairly predictable into something magical. I wish I could put my finger on what exactly makes it so great. But I can't quite describe it. And I don't really care. This is just an awesome cliffhanger and it doesn't matter that I can't break it down and determine what exactly makes it so great.
It probably helps that the entire story is an absolute Classic. But I think most fans will say that the absolute best scene in the whole story is this moment. It grabs you by the lapels and screams in your face: "I dare you to miss Part Four!"
I was so happy my first viewing of Curse of Fenric was on a videotape. Never have I hit fast-forward so hard to get to that next episode!
Awesome Cliffhanger #9: Bad Wolf
For our last few cliffhangers, we'll delve into some New Who stuff.
Bad Wolf could have very easily ended on a slightly different note than it did and would still have been an enjoyable cliffhanger. It would have been quite satisfactory for the Daleks to appear to the Doctor on video and threaten to kill Rose right in front of him if he did anything to interfere with their plans. Our last shot could have been one of those traditional zoom-ins on the Doctor's face as he looks on in horror. A bit cheesy, yes. But it's still something fans and casual viewers, alike, would have been happy with.
But it's almost like RTD recognized the fact that the show did non-cliffhangerish cliffhangers in the Old Series and needed to bring that convention back as quickly as possible. So what could have been a simple episode ending with Rose in danger becomes something so much more amazing with just the slightest change of emphasis.
The real "kick" to this cliffhanger, of course, begins as the Doctor simply states: "No". Eccleston delivers that single two-letter word magnificently. It's as cool as Judson playing the contest again in the last cliffhanger I cited. Props must also be given, however, to the actors surrounding the lead as he speaks. They give him a look that is mirroring our own reaction. The safety of the Doctor's companions has always been his Archille's Tendon. His enemies have used that against him countless times. But, suddenly, the Doctor doesn't seem to care that his friend is being threatened. Like those supporting actors around him, we're a bit bewildered by his response.
As the Doctor explains the meaning of his negative, we see that he has turned his weakness into his greatest strength. Instead of controlling him by threatening the people he cares for, it has now galvanised him to fight his opponent that bit harder to ensure he saves his friend from harm. The dedication we hear in Nine's voice as he vows to rescue Rose and wipe out every stinking Dalek is downright exhilarating.
It just might be the most unique cliffhanger ever. It still accomplishes its task: we are dying to tune into the next episode. But not because we're worried about a main character and want to see how they will escape their seemingly horrible fate. This time, we are looking forward to next week's installment because we can't wait to see the Doctor kick some serious ass.
Awesome Cliffhanger #10: World Enough and Time
Another great cliffhanger that owes a lot of its success to the fact that it messes a bit with conventions.
Had the ending of this episode played out in a more traditional fashion, we would have gotten something a bit hopeful. A more old-fashioned cliffhanger would have had Bill strapped down on that operating table with some fearsome medical instrument descending toward her as the Doctor, Missy and Nardole were racing down the elevator to save her. Will they reach her in time?!
But that's not the way Moffat chose to do things. Instead, the horror of that final scene lies in the fact that the Doctor is too late this time. From what we've seen on the show, once the Cyber Conversion Process has started - it can't be reversed. Just look at poor Lytton in Attack of the Cybermen. There's still quite a bit of him that's organic and, nonetheless, he's begging the Doctor to kill him. He knows there's no hope left for him.
But Bill is far beyond Lytton's stage. While she still seems to retain her identity, her body is completely converted. To all intents and purposes, she's a Cyberman, now. There's no hope in changing her back. For once, the Doctor did not arrive in the nick of time. Her repetition of: "I waited for you" ensures that he understands the full of extent of his failure.
Seeing his arch-rival in two different incarnations certainly adds one more layer to the potency of this cliffhanger and does imply the slightest sense of peril. We're quite certain some nasty things are about to get done to the Doctor as we re-join the adventure in the next episode. But that's not the core impact of this moment. The real terror that's going on here is that the Doctor has failed his friend when she needed him most.
....And there we have it: The ten best cliffhangers that aren't really cliffhangers. I must admit, it felt good to do something that was a bit lighter in tone. There's a lot of controversy going on in the program right now and I have enjoyed addressing it. But, sometimes, you also need to do something that's a bit more celebratory of the things you love about the show.
Many of my BOOK OF LISTS require several entries to complete their countdown. But I do, occasionally, do lists like this that can be accomplished in just one essay.
If you enjoyed this format, here are a few other posts like that:
Ten Most Pivotal Moments in the Doctor's Life(ves):
https://robtymec.blogspot.com/2015/05/book-of-lists-10-most-pivotal-moments.html
Five "Not as Bad as They Say They Are" Stories
https://robtymec.blogspot.com/2015/07/book-of-lists-5-not-as-bad-as-everyone.html
Ranking the Regenerations (it's an older entry and doesn't include Twelve to Thirteen)
https://robtymec.blogspot.com/2015/03/the-book-of-lists-ranking-regenarations.html
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