2 episodes: The Rocket Men, The Fall. Running Time: Approx. 67 minutes. Written by: John Dorney. Directed by: Lisa Bowerman. Produced by: David Richardson.
THE PLOT:
Jobis is a gas giant with gorgeous, multi-colored skies that are home to flying manta rays and crystalline insects that resemble tiny diamonds. It is the site of several airborne platforms, most of which are vacation spots - including Platform Five, where the Doctor and his companions have found themselves. The Doctor accepts an invitation to a platform dedicated to scientific research of the planet. Meanwhile, Ian, Barbara, and Vicki stay at the hotel to enjoy a much-needed rest.
Then the planet is invaded by the Rocket Men, jetpack-wearing pirates under the command of the sadistic Ashman (Gus Brown). Ashman declares that the planet belongs to him, and he has set up a jammer to block communications with the authorities. This gives him plenty of time to plunder everything valuable on Jobis, most specifically the crystalline insects.
Though Ashman easily takes control of Platform Five, his rocket men cannot seize the research station. The Doctor was able to erect a force field during the invasion, sealing the pirates out, and even now is working to break through the communications jammer to summon help. Leaving Ashman desperate to gain some leverage over his enemy - leverage like the lives of his companions!
CHARACTERS:
The Doctor: William Russell does his usual fine job of suggesting elements of William Hartnell's performance, and John Dorney's script captures the First Doctor rather well. He's crotchety when Ian calls him on his lack of control of the TARDIS, but becomes ebullient when he gets to shows off his knowledge of Jobis. On arrival at the hotel, he blusters his way into not only getting the group free rooms, but even an upgrade for the "inconvenience" of the hotel losing their reservations! He spends most of the second half offstage, but he remains active in the story, marshalling the resources of the science station to thwart the rocket men's invasion.
Ian: The Rocket Men is a dream story for Ian/Barbara shippers. It opens with the line, "When do you know?" This becomes a refrain throughout the rest of the story, as the danger Barbara is put in forces Ian to confront his feelings for her. Though he acknowledges his emotions to himself by the end, he still seems content to leave them unspoken. It falls to the Doctor to warn him not to stay silent for too long.
Barbara: She defuses a potential argument between Ian and the Doctor after they land, pointing out to Ian that if the Doctor becomes annoyed that he'll likely just whisk them away from a place they'd probably prefer to stay a while. She comes down with a case of Plot Illness that keeps her from joining Ian and Vicki on the tour where they first encounter the pirates. Even in a weakened state, her protective instincts remain sharp. When Vicki is identified as one of the Doctor's companions, she steps forward to shield her, keeping the villains from focusing on the young girl.
Vicki: When Ashman holds a gun to a young woman's head, threatening to kill her on the count of three if no one admits to knowing the Doctor, Vicki steps forward. Ian or Barbara probably would have done the same. But they both hesitate, weighing the risks, the potential consequences, and the opportunities they may lose as a result. Vicki doesn't think about any of that, leaping to her feet by the time Ashman has finished enunciating, "One." She also shows her resourcefulness, as she works with Ian to gain a small advantage over their captors and fills Barbara in when she can do so without being noticed.
THOUGHTS:
The Rocket Men employs a non-linear structure. It opens in the middle, as Ian witnesses Barbara being put in jeopardy. Then it cuts back to the characters' arrival at Platform Five, with the rest of the story hopping back and forth between past and present.
This type of structure runs the risk of being annoying or confusing, particularly in an audio drama, where no visual cues are present. Fortunately, writer John Dorney and director Lisa Bowerman make sure the transitions between strands are clear and artful, guiding the listener through these flashbacks and flashforwards to good effect. Dorney's script makes particular use of repeated phrases and descriptions, with a calm description in the past mirrored by a more active but similar counterpart in the present.
This works to The Rocket Men's advantage in two main ways. First, and most obviously, it allows the story to open on a strong hook. If the structure was purely chronological, some listeners might grow impatient with the leisurely scenes of stage-setting as the time travelers check into the resort and relax with each other. Instead, the attention is grabbed as the characters are immediately in danger. If anything, cutting back to scenes establishing the Platform increases the tension, as listeners are forced to wait to see how specific events are resolved.
This also allows for a rather nifty reveal in Episode Two, as certain actions in the "past" thread begin to directly impact the situation in the "present" one. It's a reveal that could only work on audio, as any visual would spoil it instantly. When it comes, it's an effective moment that causes the listener to recontextualize a lot of the story up to this point.
Less successful is the script's attempt to extend the structure to the end. After the past and present threads converge, the story flashes forward for bits of epilogue that are then intercut with the climax. This mainly just distracts from the action at the end, disrupting the pacing for no good reason. In my opinion, it would have been better had the climax played out uninterrupted, with the tag providing additional context after the fact.
I'm a little surprised that this story ended up having multiple sequels. It's a good story, don't get me wrong - But the rocket men themselves represent the least interesting element. The structure keeps the pace moving, and the emotional thread of Ian realizing the depth of his feelings for Barbara gives some resonance. But the title baddies are merely space pirates with jet packs, while Ashman is just your bog-standard "sadistic baddie."
Even if I wasn't awed by the villains, though, the story remains entertaining. The character material and structure are more interesting than the actual conflict, but The Rocket Men kept me engaged throughout. Mix in a typically excellent performance by William Russell and good supporting work by Gus Brown (Ashman), and this makes for a fine 67 minutes' entertainment.
Overall Rating: 7/10.
Previous Television Story: The Web Planet
Next Television Story: The Crusade
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