Remembrance of the Daleks  (Story #152, 1988)
Viewed 07 Dec 2011

Doctor/Companion:   Seven, Dorothy “Ace” McShane
Stars:  Sylvester McCoy, Sophie Aldred
Preceding Story:  Dragonfire (Seven, Mel, Ace)
Succeeding Story:  The Happiness Patrol (Seven, Ace)
Notable Aspects:

• Returns to the scene of The Unearthly Child
• Dispels the myth that Daleks can’t handle stairs

Seven often gets a bad rap. I’ve never understood that, but perhaps it’s because this is the first of his stories I ever saw. Not only does it have some interesting plot points (a few that never quite get explained), but it also includes a bit of fan service in the sense of bringing everything back to 76 Totter’s Lane, where it all started (this was, after all, the beginning of the 25th series; there needed to be some nod to The History). Further, this regeneration comes across as genuinely fond of his young Companion, which is a nice change of pace after Six and Peri (though the Ladies didn’t react as poorly to Six as I initially did).

All three Ladies were sitting down with Seven for the first time – a situation I don’t believe we’ve had since The Movie (our first ever WhoFest viewing). You may recall from their introductions that though jA and jO came to Who as I did, through the post-Hiatus stories, jE grew up with it. However, she had such a negative reaction to Six that she stopped watching. That makes this story, and Seven in general, a more even field than ever before.

On the other hand, the extreme Eighties-ness created a divide that we don’t often feel so acutely. The rest of us were ready either to sink into decrepitude or throw something at her when jA asked when this story aired and then casually mentioned that it was a mere year after she’d been born. And although I noticed it (having “come of age” in the ’80s myself), I hadn’t been particularly fazed by the incidental music that jA declared “so bad!” – while jE and jO hadn’t even consciously registered it.

Aside from other general commentary on signs of the era in which Remembrance was filmed and broadcast, it was pretty much business as usual. Everyone had something to say about the question mark umbrella and vest, Seven’s lovely rolled R’s (when I explained that McCoy’s a Scot, there was a great deal of mock surprise), and the favorable aesthetics of Sgt. Mike Smith. Later, having become accustomed to it myself, I had to laugh when the pronunciation of “Omega” came up. Since Americans pronounce it “oh-MAY-guh,” the British pronunciation (“OH-meh-gah”) sounds odd to our ears – enough so that it prompted an, “Oh, me ga!” from jO in her best valley girl voice.

As for Ace, there weren’t a lot of overt comments directly about her (except by me – she’s one of my faves!). I was, however, pleasantly surprised when it was noted that she’s “faintly reminiscent of Rose.” (My Ladies are just as clever as people who write about this stuff for a living!) In fact, it’s possible that’s the reason I took to Ace so readily myself, having been so heavily emotionally invested in Rose during the natal phase of my fandom. Seriously, though – how can you not love a strong female character who will take on a Dalek single-handed (with nothing but a jumped-up baseball bat) and purposely take point when exploring a spooky cellar – in order to protect the Doctor?

Speaking of the Daleks, those different factions provided a few moments of confusion (“I’m so not following this…” “It’s OK; you’re not supposed to, yet.”), while the Emperor became the butt of numerous jokes. When the Special Weapons Dalek made its appearance, though, there were ooh‘s and ahh‘s aplenty.

“Why can’t they all be Special Weapons Daleks?” someone wondered.
“They must have to give something up,” came the confident reply. Then it fired.
“He’s much more effective!”
“Doesn’t look as cool, though.”
“That’s what he has to give up!”

So goes the banter during a typical WhoFest. Regardless of the quality of the story (though I do try to show the better ones), we have a great time. Overall opinions vary (for example, jO has really never been able to get beyond Ten; he’s the benchmark by which she measures all other Doctors), but I do believe that now the Ladies have at least been introduced to all the Doctors, there’s a general sense of back history that was missing before. My next goal is to help them appreciate all the Doctors for what each one brings to the role.

General reactions:

• jA – seems less crotchety than some previous incarnations, and appropriately “Doctor-y”; the vest and umbrella are “a bit much”
• jE – fits the pattern of the older Doctors very well; much preferable to Six [the incarnation who made her quit watching]; “more my style”
• jO – not predisposed to like him (he’s not Ten!); personality’s fine, but a bit too goofy
• mrfranklin – I’ve always liked Seven, especially his rapport with Ace; I like the return to something a bit mysterious, and his genuine protective affection for Ace

Though Seven isn’t a “modern” Doctor of the easy-on-the-eyes variety, he passes muster with the Ladies as having the right Doctor-like qualities. Remembrance itself was declared “very different,” “enjoyable,” and a “good story.” Sounds like Seven and Ace are off to a good start here.

Verdict:  Thumbs up

Looking ahead:  Revisiting other Doctors