Utopia

Of all the spoilers the production team have tried to keep from us in the past (Catherine Tate, Billie's departure, the Macra), none are less understandable than this weeks "shock" - that "Utopia" was the first episode of a three parter, rather than a standalone episode. Firstly, it's a bit mystifying in that it hardly "spoils" the fact that the episode would end with a cliffhanger, as some single episode or non-continuing stories previously have ended on such a note (I only twigged when the trailer appeared after the credits!). Secondly, it rather devalues an episode which, until the closing moments or possibly beyond, the viewer judges on its own merits. Thus, it appears to be full of unresolved loose ends (did they ever find Utopia? How did the humans get to the planet? Where did the 'wolf' people come from?) before evolving into what seems to be its very reason for being - a fabulously exciting sequence unveiling of the Master.

This reveal, which by its very nature rather lessened the impact of the episode for the poor unfortunates that knew it was coming, did its job in seducing most viewers who seemed to be of the opinion that it made the entire episode worthwhile; in many ways it did. It was thrillingly (and logically) executed, with a brilliant if brief performance from Derek Jacobi as the Master. It leaves anticipation sky high for next weeks episode, making clear that "Utopia" was very much "one of three" and should have been billed as such from the start. It made a cracking first episode, a lesser complete story of course.

Most of this anticipation rests on the shoulders of John Simm, somewhat curiously introduced here via a regeneration. My initial thoughts were that Jacobi was one huge lost opportunity; he's probably one of the best actors to have appeared in the show since its return, and seemed to radiate pure evil when possessed. That he was instantly regenerated into the rather over-the-top and Tennant-like Simm made me want to cry. But, you know, I've changed my mind. I can see Simm standing back to back with Tennant (as Ainley and Davison once did), but the elderly Jacobi would have been a less appropriate nemesis. Simm will be genuinely frightening, a maniac. Villains of the twenty first century are sinister young men (draw your own parallels with certain notorious criminals of our age) rather than dirty old ones, and although I'm dubious at the prospect of the comedic element, it's bound to be a hit with the kids. I have a sneaking feeling that Simm will be a winner, and will hopefully wind up the Tenth Doctor for many more episodes to come.

The rest of the episode was standard RTD fare, enlivened by the welcome return of John Barrowman and including an alien in Chanto that sits somewhere between Chip and Jabe of the Cheem; cute, sympathetic, a little kooky and with weird patterned skin. Only her somewhat bizarre crush on eighty year old Derek Jacobi, shoehorned in to enable Martha to gabble once again about her Doctor-fetish, seemed off-kilter. It all reminded me of "Blakes 7" in a way, and not all in a bad sense. The notion of a Professor working in a secret base beneath a gravel pit planet full of savages was textbook "Blake", just watch episodes like "Orbit" or "Aftermath" to see what I mean. Less impressive was the alien planet. I don't mind it myself, but it does make me grit my teeth at the contrary old production team who, having told us that alien planets were far too expensive and difficult, have now knocked out two in the same quarry with little effort expended. In this respect, Professor Yana and the Master proved to be a welcome curveball from an episode which could easily have turned into "terror of the extras running around in a clay pit".

A curio indeed, "Utopia" isn't even sure what it is; a story or an episode, a lesson on survival of the human race or a vehicle to bring back the Master. It was good fun, whatever it was, but I think its potential lies in it being the prelude to what could be one of the finest New Series stories yet. So finally, the verdict is - let's see what happens next week. That's what we usually say with multi-parters isn't it?