Doctor Who: Wheel In Space [Audiobook] (Library Binding)

Nevertheless,I rather like this one, and I feel the need to stick up for it. I suppose because I was expecting something far worse that I was pleasantly surprised by many aspects that do actually work.

First surprise was the sympathetic supporting cast. Gemma Corwyn, Leo Ryan, Tanya Lernov and others are by and large likeable and well-acted individuals who unlike say, the rather forgettable crew of THE MOONBASE (another Troughton tale of a space-base threatened by Cybermen)allow one to care about the fates of people other than the Doctor and his companions. Gemma Corwyn's death is genuinely affecting, especially as she is seen to be sharply intelligent as well as the person who seems to be most concerned about other people's well-being on the Wheel. One even has to feel pity for poor old Jarvis Bennett, the Wheel's controller. Unlike many other inflexible, disbelieving authority figures in charge of bases in DR WHO, Jarvis' problem is not that he's a grumpy old curmudgeon, or that he's possessed by extra-terrestrial mind control, but that he seems to have psychological problems. Now this may not be entirely credible for a man responsible for running a space station, but it does at least give us a character who's dramatically interesting.

Second surprise is how atmospheric the story appears as a soundtrack only. This is undoubtedly helped by the sound effects and background noises which double as the serial's music score. There is a real sense of the eerie mysteriousness of outer space. It is this creepy feeling which allowed this listener at least, to suspend disbelief about some of the less credible plot points: e.g. if the Cybermen can ionise stars, why do they need to take over the Wheel in order to invade Earth? Why do they need to go about their takeover in such an apparently over-complicated manner when they are clearly so technologically superior to humans in every way?

Third surprise: episode one which spends almost it's entire time concentrating on the Doctor and Jamie wandering round the deserted SILVER CARRIER rocket, is far less dull than I've heard it made out to be. In many ways it's a lovely little reminder of the soap opera style of the early William Hartnell stories. Here we have a welcome change of emphasis; a glimpse of Jamie's evident sadness at leaving Victoria is given to us. This focus on character, rather than on macabre menaces to humanity is refreshing because it's so unusual for the Troughton period. Also, it's a nice way for the audience to take a rest from weeks and weeks of bases under siege. Of course, in episode 2 we're straight back to business as usual...

Now I suppose that if you're not in the mood for this then yes, I've little doubt that some will find WHEEL IN SPACE a bit of a drag. Even I, with my charitable attitude, agree that the story would have been all the better for shedding at least one of it's 6 episodes. We don't get so much as a sniff of the Cybermen until right at the end of episode 2, and even then it takes them another episode and a half for them to sneak aboard the Wheel.

Again, the story's ending has the reputation of being disappointing. Rightly so, in my view. Someone closes an airlock door and the Cyberman spaceship is blown up by a laser gun...how absolutely thrilling. The real climax comes about halfway through the final episode where Troughton confronts 2 Cybs and frazzles one of them with a clever Cyb-frazzling device. Not exactly Chekhov I know, but we could have done with a bit more Troughton vs Cybermen action.

Nevertheless, despite its flaws, I rather like WHEEL..., not least because it introduces Wendy Padbury's uppity Zoe, a companion who I find it far easier to like than her predecessor; the rather hysterical Victoria. Padbury is an excellent narrator and I hope she'll be re-used for the soundtrack of THE INVASION, when the Beeb releases that.

The story sees the return of the Cybermen - who by this point had returned four times within two years, beating the record previously held by the Daleks several years before. Unlike preceeding tales such as THE TOMB OF THE CYBERMEN and THE MOONBASE, this story seems slow and sluggish in comparison and being the first time a Cyberman tale was written by someone other than their original creators of Davies and Pedelar, perhaps this explains the reason...

That said, Whitakers' story is not as bad as some might think. The first episode, true, is devoid of action but comes across well on audio (probably moreso than on the original television broadcast in 1968!) whilst the radiophonic workshop must be comended for capturing the clastrophobic atmosphere of space, which again is evident on the audio recording.

Cast and crew are clearly defined, as the other reviewer commented, they are much better than that of THE MOONBASE and what improves on this is that each character has a SEPARATE IDENTITY and personality, they are not just a faceless bunch led by a leader. For example, Leo Ryan is very much the American action-hero, Bill Duggan the thoughtful 'space botanist,' Zoe the calculating and logical astrophyicist who eventually 'learns' to be emotive (a direct parallel with the Cybermen) and Gemma the reasonable and humane scientist. The multi-national feel is also better represented here, it complements the personalities of the crewmembers and helps to add to the dimensons of their characters.

Troughton appears to be enjoying himself here, showing multiple aspects to his character. Witness at the beginning, his sadness at leaving a friend behind, his concern for the crew during the Cyberman attack and his horror at realising he may have sent his friends to their death. Hines is also represented, the idea of one companion works best (and after the sixties this would remain a constant throughout the seventies) and is a support for the Doctor.

However, the Cybermen do fail slightly. It is logical to question how TWO Cybermen can pose a major threat to the Wheel, surely weapons (or lots of quick-setting plastic) could finish them off. Again, they appear more as robots, superior to the crew of the Wheel but relucatant to use their knowledge, instead of using strength to smash their way through, they merely pussyfoot around until they and their intentions are known to all. Although their listener knows their plans ahead of the Doctor, they do not really make sense - if they can ionise a star, why not simply overwhelm the Wheel. Similarly, the Cyber-spaceship and the walking Cybermen do not really pose a threat - the ship is destroyed too quickly and the walking force could have been admitted much earlier (even Padbury's narration can't hide that one!!) Similarly, the voices of the two Cybermen are difficult to distinguish and lack the quality of the Cyberplanner (which has the voice of previous Cybermen!!)

Padbury's narration is probably the saviour of the whole thing, it is effective and describes accurately without obscuring the dialogue, the events. Her narration is enthusiastic and like Hines, she shows a fondness for the show and an enthusiasm which is captured by her narration - I'd rather have those two than the monotone Anneke Wilkes!!

Should you buy this CD? It is an example of later sixties Who, when the series had settled after the transition from Hartnell to Troughton. Although not the best example (try The YETI ATTACK BOXSET,) of the period it isn't bad on audio and is better than expectations. As usual the sound quality is excellent and as it is currently in the sale (31st July 04) why not treat yourself and add this one to your collection, as the events depicted are continued in THE INVASION (released in November with THE TENTH PLANET - an essential purchase for all fans!)