Innocence

I had serious doubts about this series before listening to it. I mean, if there's one character who absolutely doesn't need a backstory, it's Davros. One of the remarkable things about "Genesis of the Daleks" is how little it tells us about Davros. Like the Daleks themselves, Davros is tremendously compelling even when we don't know anything about him. Trying to give him a backstory is risky. Look at that how the new series screwed it up, for example.

There were a million ways to get this wrong, but this story manages to get it very right indeed. My only complaint (and it's a small one, so best to get it out of the way) is the totally unnecessary framing device. It's totally dispensable. The story doesn't need it, and its only function seems to be to justify (just barely) the fact that "Starring Terry Molloy" is emblazoned on the cover. Oh, it also cements the comparison to "I, Claudius", which had a similar (but much more interesting) framing device.

What I love about the story is that it takes the time to establish a world around Davros, who doesn't take much of an active role in events until the very end. Calcula is the most dynamic character. She's a sort of mix between Livilla from "I, Claudius" and Lady MacBeth, and she's definitely the driving force of this episode, even when she doesn't always appear to be. Davros is largely disinterested in everything happening around him, but obsessively focused on his own desire to learn. (Rory Jennings gives a creepy yet understated performance in the role.)

"Innocence" is a wonderful start to a wonderful mini-series.

A brilliant character study with great characters that each add something to the narrative, and our understanding of Davros. Rory Jennings is suitably cold and callous as the young Davros and is an inspired piece of casting.

Both his family and societal background are toxic and consumed with conflict. Davros comes from a military background but wants to be a scientist against his family's wishes. His mother 'Lady Calcula' is equally cold and devious, a real black widow; the guiding hand in his upbringing. His father an honour bound soldier, and his sister 'Yarvell' an intellectual military officer and eventual pacifist who is resentful of the attention Davros gets from their mother.

At 16 Davros is consumed with a hunger for knowledge and notes the lifeforms at the bottom of the lake with a hard outer shell protecting their insides and notes how their race may have evolved from similar creatures. Echoing how Davros would be instrumental in bring that evolution full circle. This is full of intrigue and betrayal as back stabbing is rife in this morally grey world. 'Innocence' is both Chilling and absolutely gripping.

(Cross-posted from my blog at finishbig.tumblr.com)

A few weeks ago Big Finish had a sale on stories featuring Davros, and I decided the time was ripe for me to finally buy the I, Davros downloads. It turned out the ?discount? wasn?t even a discount at all: the US download price was $5 an episode or all four for $15, which is actually the regular price, but a steal regardless.

Anyhow, I just got around to listening to part one. And man, is it great. I?d heard good things but this just flat-out exceeded expectations.

I, Davros elaborates on the events leading up to Davros? creation of the Daleks in Genesis of the Daleks. At this point, the war between the Kaleds and the Thals has been raging for centuries but hasn?t yet gone nuclear.

In its first episode at least, there?s a lot of stage-setting. We?re introduced to the teenage Davros and his family, including his mother, a scheming politician, his father, a proud soldier, and his sister, a military trainee. There are a whole lot of characters to keep track of, and it?s somewhat bewildering at first to do so, making the story a tad difficult to follow at points. I?m so used to hearing Doctor Who stories, where the Doctor anchors everything that goes on, while in this release there?s really no central figure, not even Davros himself.

One of the most rewarding parts of the play is the thematic density. It?s interesting to see how the perpetual wartime setting has not only affected people?s lives, but in fact defined them?in fact, the extent to which war defines the Kaleds and gives them meaning is one of the central concerns of the play. The characters have a pretty varied set of opinions on this, and it leads to some interesting discussions (and actions) which take on additional meaning in the context of what we know will happen eventually.

Genesis of the Daleks is a true classic of Doctor Who, and I was kind of skeptical on how much it really needed a prequel (particularly when it was itself a prequel of sorts). So far, I, Davros is doing a great job of expanding on the ideas and characters in that story, and I can?t wait to hear the next part.

I?ll offer a final assessment when I?m done, but so far it looks like I, Davros is definitely one to recommend. I?d note however that it might be a bit tough to follow if you?re not familiar with the backstory of Genesis of the Daleks?something Classic Who fans probably know back to front, but fans of the more recent Doctor Who might not.

This is the beginning of an absolutely brilliant piece of work by Big Finish. A superb series that flows into Genesis deliciously, populated by amazing characters and dripping with tone. Innocence is my second favourite of the episodes (after Purity), which surprised me, given its lack of Molloy save for the framing device. I think I love it so much because it's got so much detail going on. It's less plot driven than the other three, because it has to set up a lot of the background context for the stories to build on and transform, so we get something more akin to '22 Short Films About Skaro'. Loads of intersecting tales that shed light on the setting and on each character.

Notably, Rory Jennings as the young Davros is quite flat, and on first listen I was a bit put off by it. Repeat listens have actually changed my mind - It may or may not be intentional (and I actually suspect it is) - but young Davros' flattened affect seems suitable for the psychologically disturbed child he is.

Great stuff. 9/10 from me.