What is Dark Eyes? Read an introduction here.
The first Dark Eyes box set uses a really unique and interesting format to tell its story that I hope Big Finish will return to more in the future. Though the set is divided into 4 different episodes, each with their own titles, it’s really all one massive adventure that flows across the discs very naturally and elegantly. The Doctor doesn’t necessarily have to wrap everything up at the end of each instalment and fly away in the TARDIS – and likewise, one hour-long episode can feature a multitude of locations and incidents. This is an idea I really like because it lends some unpredictability to the story, and I think it was really brave of writer and director Nicholas Briggs to take charge of his own 4-hour epic.
In this opening instalment, the Doctor begins as a desperate man racing towards the end of the universe. When he asks for hope, the Time Lords send him into the First World War with a mission to find someone who is vital to the universe’s survival. But there’s also a great deal that the Time Lords’ aren’t telling him…
This saga’s ongoing theme is made fairly explicit from the very first scene – Dark Eyes is about hope. This first episode explores how people go on when the situation seems hopeless. For the Doctor, that means moving on from an unspecified (at least in this box set) trauma in his immediate past, and for those he meets it means continuing to fight a war in seemingly hopeless conditions.
As well as introducing the Doctor’s new mission, we also get to meet his new companion, an Irish nurse named Molly O’Sullivan. The characterisation here is very bold as Molly does not initially come off as particularly likeable, and at times can behave quite unpleasantly, especially to the Doctor. But as the story goes on, and we are read some of her letters to home, we begin to understand why she behaves in this way, and she is still able to show intelligence and bravery when the situation demands it. Her frank matter-of-factness can also be very funny, especially when she refuses to be taken in by any of the Doctor’s trademark flim-flam.
After an initial plot rush to establish the Doctor’s mission and current state of mind, the story progresses quite leisurely, but this works well to introduce Molly and the Great War setting. While there are dangers that need to be overcome, these aren’t particularly sci-fi in nature and the solutions are pleasingly practical. The story may move slowly, but it does move in a very specific direction as the Doctor uncovers a secret within the midst of the British troops and nurses.
This episode does end on one heck of a cliffhanger – but unfortunately this very enjoyable sting in the tale is marred by a poor marketing decision. I’m trying to keep spoilers to a minimum in these reviews but unfortunately in this case, Big Finish have given away this episode’s major twist all over the bloody packaging! Not only are the classic Doctor Who villains, the Daleks, posing on front of the main box set, but they’re even on this individual CD case, so it won’t take a genius to determine the source of the strange goings-on.
Hmm, who could it be…?
This is a real shame because the story itself does a very good job of concealing the true threat that the Doctor is facing, giving subtle hints that aren’t too much of a giveaway – but unfortunately that’s all wasted effort. Presumably the Daleks were shown on the cover to boost sales of the set, but I can’t approve of such decisions when they undercut the drama.
In summary, this is a great introduction to the ongoing Dark Eyes adventure that focuses on character and setting to a greater extent then sci-fi plot mechanics. Of course, its far easier to start a story well than to finish it, so we’ll have to see if this high quality continues. It’s just disappointing that the final twist that could have made this a truly exceptional episode is blunted for the sake of improved sales.
Next Time: The Doctor and Molly become Fugitives.
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