Day 585: Castrovalva, Episode Four

Dear diary,

Ah yes, that’s right. This episode contains the bit of Castrovalva that I’ve always thought of as being simultaneously very clever and very confusing. The Doctor manages to work out that everything here is a fictional creation because he’s identified the books as being five hundred years old, and yet they chronicle the history of Castrovalva from centuries ago... right up to the present day. The first time I saw this story, I loved that idea. I thought it was such a clever way of figuring it all out. But ever since, I’ve been confused by it. In yesterday’s episode, we saw a tapestry which records events as they happen. We’re told that only big events - like the arrival of the TARDIS - are enough to make it in to the image, but still... could it not be possible that 500 years ago they started to chronicle the history, and those ancient books are still being automatically updated as things happen? The pages would still be five hundred years old, but the information on them would be right up to date. That’s always been the sticking point for me - it’s a giveaway, yes, but I’m not sure hat there couldn’t be another explanation for it.

I’m impressed, though, that the Doctor works out that things are wrong even as he’s not sure of himself. It’s not really until the end of this episode that he’s managed to settle in to his new persona (and it’s splendid), so even in his varying states of uncertainty about everything, he’s still able to sense when things simply aren’t right. I like that, it seems fitting somehow. It’s great to see him flanked by his three young companions at the end of the story, too. There’s a range of images taken on location of the four lead actors, and this is a great counterpoint to those. The TARDIS hasn’t looked this fresh in years, and I’m really excited about it.

I suppose that I need to mention the Master, too, while I’m discussing this story. I really like his reveal in the narrative, as the Portrieve stands up straight, having been hunched over for every prior appearance, and revealing his true identity. It’s great make up, and I’m not sure that I’d have guessed it was the Master if I’d already known. It feels like a very petty reason for him to appear, though, in that he’s simply looking to destroy the Doctor once and for all. It feels a bit like a step down from the last story - there, he was wiping out half the universe while planning to subjugate the other half, while here he’s just trying to get one over on some bloke. It feels like he’s been around for ages now, so I’m keen to get back to some stories in which he isn’t the villain at the end of it all!