Review of Battlefield (#152)
DVD Release Date: 29 Jul 20
Original Air Date: 06 – 27 Sep 1989
Doctors/Companions: Seven, Dorothy “Ace” McShane
Stars: Sylvester McCoy, Sophie Aldred
Preceding Story: The Greatest Show in the Galaxy (Seven, Ace)
Succeeding Story: Ghost Light (Seven, Ace)
Happy Doctor Who Day! Our show turns 59 today, and though we have to wait another year for any more new episodes—ugh—I’ve got a review for you today. Much like the rest of the Everything Else series, this story is one that I don’t think gets talked about enough.
It’s not like there isn’t a lot of action, or interesting characters and lore to be had in Battlefield. (And how can you not love seeing Jean Marsh back for a third guest role?) I have to admit, though, the thing I remembered most about this adventure before re-watching was the watertank accident in which Sophie Aldred narrowly escaped a potentially fatal situation (the DVD release even has a short extra about it).
However, the main conceit of the adventure may be the part that makes it most memorable overall: at some point in their personal history—though not before now—the Doctor was Merlin, and now Morgaine is back to take her revenge on him. The ensuing mashup of plate-armored knights with both swords and energy weapons pitted against UNIT soldiers, including both the now-retired Brigadier Lethbridge-Steward and the new Brigadier Bambera, makes for bonkers conflicts that couldn’t readily appear anywhere but Doctor Who.
Elements of Arthurian legend obviously abound, but there are plenty of other Doctor Who tropes in play, too. There is, of course, the mere inclusion of the Brigadier, and all of the Doctor’s disdain for the tendency of a “military mind” to shoot first and ask questions later. Given that there is a new brigadier in charge of UNIT this time around—a woman of color, no less—the Doctor casts aspersions at more than just our beloved Alastair Gordon.
Then there’s the latest in the string of charming young people Ace picks up. Shou Yuing (a character name that hurt my ears, and is probably supposed to have been “Xiao Yun” instead) has been helping with the archaeological dig, and shares Ace’s love of explosives. Mostly, though, she’s there for a moment where she and Ace can temporarily turn on each other to demonstrate Morgaine’s power over them.
And of course, I mustn’t simply gloss over the wonderful Brigadier Winifred Bambera. Much like her predecessor, she is a no-nonsense, use-your-weapons-if-you-can kind of leader for UNIT. As a bonus, she gets to have a feminine/romantic side, as she and Ancelyn, one of King Arthur’s one-time knights, hit it off, flirting calmly and asking after each other’s marital status.
The story itself is fairly engaging, relying heavily on the viewer’s knowledge of Arthurian legend, yet adding in enough new elements that even someone unfamiliar with the once-and-future king could get something out of the narrative. There are plenty of little details sure to delight an astute viewer.
One such moment that stood out to me this time around was when the Doctor pulled out one of the Master’s tricks. A few of the locals, protesting the UNIT order to evacuate the area, insist they won’t go anywhere. Then the Doctor stares at them until they decide they’d been planning to leave all along. He never utters the words, “You will obey me”—he doesn’t say anything at all—but the undercurrent is strong. I don’t think many of the Doctor’s other incarnations could’ve pulled that off quite so well.
I guess it makes sense that I enjoy Battlefield, given how fond I am of the Seventh Doctor and Ace in the first place. But the addition of both the Arthurian angle and some of the old UNIT “glory” really make this one pop for me. Maybe this time more of that delight will stick with me, and I’ll remember it more readily the next time I’m looking for a Classic episode to watch for fun.