Colonel Robert Dalton and Colonel Emily Chaudhry investigate strange goings-on in Southend. What is out there on the beach?
1 Comment
Styre
on May 7, 2016 at 9:19 PM
UNIT: SNAKE HEAD
I’m not entirely sure what the UNIT miniseries is going for. The prequel episode, “The Coup,” set up a competition between UNIT and ICIS and introduced the possibility of alien integration into human society, the first story, “Time Heals,” dealt with an end-justifies-the-means story of the consequences of experiments into matter transportation — and now, in Jonathan Clements’ “Snake Head,” we get… an X-Files-like story about a vampire stalking the coast? Tonal inconsistencies in the series aside, this is a very, very good production. After the explosive, epic scale of the first two stories, “Snake Head” is much slower and much calmer: we get to spend time with Dalton and Chaudhry, and enjoy their interactions as they investigate deaths in Southend. While Chaudhry is the UNIT political officer, the press hasn’t been shown in a good light thus far — but here, separated from the media pressures, we’re presented with a dialogue on information distribution and the tools the government can use to mislead the public. It’s all fed through the mouth of Dr. Hendrick (Ian Brooker) but, crucially, it’s believable: the Silurian meeting wasn’t just faked, it was faked (so he says) to mislead the British public into war in the future. Obvious, sure, but accurate — and thus necessary.
This is tied to Dalton’s skepticism, which evokes the X-Files feel: while Dalton looks for the rational explanation, Chaudhry is more than willing to believe that a vârcolac is on the rampage. And, in true X-Files fashion, they’re both right. I don’t want to make this sound like a ripoff — it’s a well-constructed drama with excellent characterization and subtle political writing — it just wears its influences on its sleeve in true Doctor Who fashion. The acting is excellent across the board, from the leads to the supporting cast, and the design is top-notch. Director John Ainsworth recognizes the subdued tone of the script and doesn’t try to produce an action movie out of it. And so, despite the fact that it feels out of place with its predecessors, “Snake Head” is the best offering of the first three. It’s probably worth picking up even if you’re not interested in the rest of the series.
UNIT: SNAKE HEAD
I’m not entirely sure what the UNIT miniseries is going for. The prequel episode, “The Coup,” set up a competition between UNIT and ICIS and introduced the possibility of alien integration into human society, the first story, “Time Heals,” dealt with an end-justifies-the-means story of the consequences of experiments into matter transportation — and now, in Jonathan Clements’ “Snake Head,” we get… an X-Files-like story about a vampire stalking the coast? Tonal inconsistencies in the series aside, this is a very, very good production. After the explosive, epic scale of the first two stories, “Snake Head” is much slower and much calmer: we get to spend time with Dalton and Chaudhry, and enjoy their interactions as they investigate deaths in Southend. While Chaudhry is the UNIT political officer, the press hasn’t been shown in a good light thus far — but here, separated from the media pressures, we’re presented with a dialogue on information distribution and the tools the government can use to mislead the public. It’s all fed through the mouth of Dr. Hendrick (Ian Brooker) but, crucially, it’s believable: the Silurian meeting wasn’t just faked, it was faked (so he says) to mislead the British public into war in the future. Obvious, sure, but accurate — and thus necessary.
This is tied to Dalton’s skepticism, which evokes the X-Files feel: while Dalton looks for the rational explanation, Chaudhry is more than willing to believe that a vârcolac is on the rampage. And, in true X-Files fashion, they’re both right. I don’t want to make this sound like a ripoff — it’s a well-constructed drama with excellent characterization and subtle political writing — it just wears its influences on its sleeve in true Doctor Who fashion. The acting is excellent across the board, from the leads to the supporting cast, and the design is top-notch. Director John Ainsworth recognizes the subdued tone of the script and doesn’t try to produce an action movie out of it. And so, despite the fact that it feels out of place with its predecessors, “Snake Head” is the best offering of the first three. It’s probably worth picking up even if you’re not interested in the rest of the series.
Excellent.
9/10