DOCTOR WHO: THE EYE OF THE SCORPION

The Doctor and Peri unravel the riddle of the Sphinx

By Arnold T. Blumberg     October 15, 2001

Erimem is a charming Egyptian girl - bright, inquisitive, honorable. But she's also due to be installed as Pharaoh in a very short time, and that weighs heavily on her and her people. Can a young girl assume the role of the living god? And what will happen when those who are opposed to her rule lash out at her? Ah, but there are far worse things afoot in Egypt than the threat of treason, such as a mysterious new presence an alien force that will seize upon this time of turmoil and tension to strike and conquer...Where's the Doctor when you need him?

Right here! Peter Davison makes a triumphant return to the Big Finish DOCTOR WHO audio line in the very stylish and atmospheric THE EYE OF THE SCORPION. This is a textured Egyptian romp that recalls the spectacle of old Cecil B. DeMille epics, capturing the flavor of those costume sagas with surprising effectiveness given the limitations of the medium. Nicola Bryant returns as Peri, making this her second go-round with the Fifth Doctor, a pairing that works very well indeed, even though it got short shrift on the TV series itself (and was lost amid the abysmal misstep that was Big Finish's RED DAWN).

This also points to another charming and welcome development in the Fifth Doctor's character or rather, in the authors who have written for him in recent novels and audio dramas. Despite the now traditional concept of the Doctor as asexual "friend" to his traveling companions, the Fifth Doctor - given his youthful appearance and exuberance - seemed the most likely incarnation to harbor the potential for relationships beyond the platonic (at least, until Paul McGann's dashing Eighth Doctor arrived on the scene). As such, fans will remember that Davison was often instructed by production not to touch his young female companions on the show for fear that audiences would get the wrong idea. As a result, his Doctor exhibited a very boyish awkwardness around women, and in recent stories that has become a very prominent part of his personality.

This Doctor seems to be more aware of his attractiveness to humans and goes out of his way to avoid such entanglements. LOUP GAROUX took the idea as far as it's gone lately by pairing the Doctor with a werewolf matriarch who saw him as husband material, while allusions made by others often suggest that they believe the Doctor and Peri to be more than just friends. They're not, of course, but the Doctor's discomfort in handling such inquiries (and Peri's fascination with the topless dancers early in EYE) speaks volumes about his repressed feelings on matters of love and sex. Davison plays these scenes to the hilt, employing the standard "out of breath" Fifth Doctor mannerisms to great effect.

The guest stars throw themselves into their roles with relish. Caroline Morris makes Erimem a very likable "surrogate companion," tinging her performance with a tragic aspect and making one wish for her return. Luckily, that's just what Big Finish has in mind; just as this review was completed, it was announced that Erimem will indeed join the TARDIS crew in another adventure. While Harry Myers as Yanis comes across as something of a one-note villain, Stephen Perring's Horemshep oozes malevolence by underplaying his part and speaking every line in a quiet, even voice that chills the blood.

The setting sounds as grand as it would and should look, and the beautiful score adds to the lushness of the story. Definitely a high point for the series and for the Fifth Doctor as well, THE EYE OF THE SCORPION is a real treat. The ending also delivers on that bit of fan wish fulfillment that must reside in the heart of every writer who gets the chance to tell a DOCTOR WHO tale, and there's even a lame but somehow amusing gag at the end. The Sphinx is near Memphis, after all...

DOCTOR WHO: THE EYE OF THE SCORPION

Grade: A

Format: Audio Drama, 2 CDs, approx. 110 minutes

Cast: Peter Davison (The Doctor), Nicola Bryant (Peri Brown), Caroline Morris (Erimem), Stephen Perring (Horemshep), Harry Myers (Yanis), Jack Galagher (Fayum), Jonathan Owen (Antranak), Daniel Brennan (Kishik)

Writer: Ian McLaughlin

Director: Gary Russell

Publisher: Big Finish Productions

Price: $24.99