From Newsgroup: rec.arts.drwho.moderated
From Address: jphalt{at}aol.com
Subject: The Vampires of Venice: my review

THE VAMPIRES OF VENICE

1 episode. Approx. 47 minutes. Written by: Toby Whithouse. Directed
by: Jonny Campbell. Produced by: Tracie Simpson, Patrick Schweitzer.


THE PLOT

Disturbed by Amy's advances, the Doctor decides it's time to find
Rory, her fiancee, and send them off on a proper date - a romantic
getaway. And what better place for Romance than Venice, 1580?

There is something dark lurking in the city, though. A prestigious
girls' school, run by the aristocratic Rosanna Calvieri (Helen
McCrory), is not what it appears to be. Girls go into the school, and
are transformed into something inhuman. When the Doctor investigates,
he discovers what appears to be vampires. But he suspects that the
real truth behind the school is even worse...


CHARACTERS

The Doctor: He does feel for Rosanna, when he learns exactly why she
has hatched her plans, and there's something almost friendly, and more
than a little sensual, about their confrontation scene at the 30
minute mark. But he still determines to stop her, for the simple
reason that one's right to survive and expand ends when it tramples on
someone else's right to life. She also shows herself to be lacking in
any compassion for her victims. After executing a girl who helped the
Doctor, she cannot even remember her name - something which sets off
this Doctor's cold anger, though it doesn't stop him from trying to
save Rosanna herself.

Amy: Her reaction to vampires in Venice is pretty much the same as
Rose's reaction to a werewolf in Victorian-era Scotland: "Cool!"
Somehow - maybe because I just like Karen Gillan's performance better
than I liked Billie Piper's, just as likely because there are no
obnoxious running gags along the lines of "We are not amused" - it
comes across as charming rather than annoying. Amy is very willing to
put herself in danger to help the Doctor. Perhaps too willing, which
certainly seems to be Rory's reaction. Her loyalty to the Doctor
doesn't seem to conflict with her fondness for Rory, though, and she
is very happy at the prospect of continuing her travels with both of
"her boys" in tow.

Rory: Though he's clearly the submissive one in the relationship with
Amy, he does have a spine. He sees the Doctor's flaws quite clearly,
and isn't at all shy about calling him on them. The scene in which he
lays out exactly how dangerous the Doctor makes people to themselves
is the perfect counterpoint to "the Doctor makes people better"
statement of the Eccleston season. Sure, he makes them do things
they'd never otherwise do - but as Rory observes in this story, that
comes at the price of putting them in danger they'd otherwise never be
in, danger they sometimes don't survive. The good first impression
Arthur Darville made in The Eleventh Hour is delivered on here. He's
able to be quite funny, such as in the amusingly inept swordfight with
Francesco, while still maintaining his dignity. He does very much fill
the same role as Mickey - but thankfully, without the cartoonish
moments that marred Mickey's early appearances.


THOUGHTS

Another entertaining episode, one which expands the ominous nature of
the crack in the universe while at the same time telling a fun, fast-
paced adventure story. Adding Rory to the mix had the potential to
interfere with the Doctor/Amy dynamic. But what it does instead is to
create a whole new dynamic, one that's even more interesting to watch
given that Rory refuses to be intimidated by the Doctor's brashness
and insists on standing his own ground.

The episode is very atmospheric, with some excellent production
design. The period architecture and the low lighting of several sets
really heightens the tension - and, oddly, the humor. This season has
been more atmospheric than past seasons, with each episode seeming to
do better at maintaining a consistent tone than has been the case in
previous years. Even the Dalek story, horrible though it was, did
maintain a consistent comic book tone. I don't know whether to credit
that to Steven Moffat or to the new producers, but that ability to
make even the more frenetic episodes feel like unified pieces is
something that's distinguished Series Five thus far, and I hope it
continues.


Rating: 7/10.

--- Synchronet 3.15a-Linux NewsLink 1.92-mlp
--- SBBSecho 2.12-Linux