I had very little recollection of this one, other than it had a jungle setting. It was like watching a brand new Fifth Doctor story.
Sarah -
It's been a while since I've seen it, as well.
Harry -
And the experience was... peculiar. Once again, we leap right into the story. The TARDIS has already landed on a verdant, tropical planet. After awkwardly bundling Nyssa inside to recover from her recent fainting spells, the others set out to explore. Did you happen to listen to the commentary for this story, Sarah? I'm wondering if Sarah Sutton was off on vacation and unavailable for filming, as things were back in the 60s. Remember when William Hartnell would be written out of entire episodes because he'd gone on holiday?
Anyway, more likely, was she ill? Later on, Janet Fielding will vanish for an entire episode. What was up with these absences?
Sarah -
I listened to the commentary, but there was no mention of why Sarah Sutton wasn't there. I've always thought that the bundling off of companions was for the benefit of the writers. It gives them fewer regulars to contend with while they get to focus on developing their own characters. This happens over and over in the Davison Era, to varying levels of success.
Harry -
To this point, the formula for Doctor Who had been mainly "two-lead-characters-with-an-occasional-tin-dog" for over a decade, so to be confronted with a bustling troupe of new characters to write for may have put some writers off. I would think it would have presented a great new challenge to a writer, rather than the same old same old.
Sarah -
While I stand by my theory, according to tardis.wikia.com, the scripts had been completed before Nyssa was brought back as a companion and fitting her character in would have meant an entire rewrite.
Harry -
Well, the story itself gets off to a weak start regardless. I rolled my eyes when the three members of the expedition were introduced. The stereotypical gruff commander, the stereotypical security maniac, and the stereotypical sensitive scientist, all very unoriginal and borderline uninteresting. These three, Sanders, Hindle and Todd respectively, are conducting a survey of the planet S14 (Deva Loka to the natives) to determine its suitability for colonization. British imperialism played out in a sci-fi setting, the ultimate stereotype. Oh, and the faux-Polynesian natives, that was a nice touch. Five minutes in and I was dreading having to watch this story, but "Kinda" ended up pleasantly surprising.
Sarah -
"Kinda" is one of those stories that often ends up being slagged off by fans, but it's really much stronger than its reputation. Much of that credit goes to the wonderful guest actors. Nerys Hughes (Todd), Richard Todd (Sanders), and Simon Rouse (Hindle) all turn in brilliant performances, more than making up for the gaps in the storytelling and poorly realized effects.
Harry -
Exactly! The amazing performances by these guest actors were highly watchable.
Sarah -
Todd almost becomes a pseudo-companion in this story. The Doctor spends more time with her than he does with Tegan and Adric and their chemistry is wonderful. Todd made me think of Ann Travers in "Web of Fear", whose character, of course, eventually led to the creation of Liz Shaw. They work so well together that I can't help wondering what the Fifth Doctor Era would have been like if he had been partnered with a more mature companion, rather than younger characters.
Harry -
That's a fantastic observation. Did you notice at the end of the story how the Doctor seemed almost reluctant to part with her? That was a sweet moment. I was waiting for him to ask, in a squeaky voice, if she'd like to come along in the TARDIS.
Sarah -
Honestly, I thought he looked disappointed when she only offered her hand for a farewell shake. Perhaps the Doctor had higher hopes!
Harry -
There's a fan fiction for that.
As for Sanders and Hindle, they underwent incredible transformations as the story went on. Sanders was a classic old school hard man reduced to a wide eyed pussycat when ensnared by the mysterious powers of the Kinda. Richard Todd was brilliant acting as a simpleton. Hindle's breakdown was one of the highlights of the whole adventure. I'm pressed to remember another character who went so utterly doolally like that.
Sarah -
They were both amazing performances. Hindle's breakdown was absolutely brilliant and completely terrifying because there was no way to tell what he might do next. You can't mend people, Harry!
Harry -
Another riveting performance was the one delivered by Mary Morris as the Kinda elder, Panna. I don't know if it was lucky or inspired casting to ask someone with eyes as wide as saucers to play a blind woman, but I couldn't take my eyes off her (pardon the pun).
Sarah -
She was spectacular. What a face!
Harry -
In keeping with the formulaic depictions of exploited or suppressed native cultures in Doctor Who, the rest of the Kinda were less memorable. In fact, most of them were literally rendered mute.
Sarah -
"Kinda" provided a few nice moments for Adric. The scene where he teaches the Doctor a magic trick was charming and they both had the opportunity to test their skills later in the story. Adric, once again, allies himself with the opposition, but this time it's clear that he's planning to subvert Hindle's authority and break the Doctor and Todd out of the cell.
There's another nice moment near the beginning where the Doctor chastises Adric for playing with the chimes, and then plays with them himself when no one is looking. It made me think of Adric as a younger version of the Doctor -- brilliant, but awkward, not really fitting in anywhere.
Harry -
Gosh, we haven't even talked about Tegan's Adventures Through the Looking Glass yet. What did you think?
Sarah -
That was some wild stuff! Her encounter with Dukkha, as he tried to bend her to the Mara's will, was really creepy, as was the two Tegans arguing over which one was real. And then there were ten Tegans -- as if the universe could handle that!
Harry -
Every once in a while, Doctor Who takes us into an alternate reality and it's always mind-bending fun. Tegan meeting herself in the dream world took this story to one of those places. She was genuinely distressed by the encounter, as well as the encounters with Dukkha, Annica and Anatta - three names plucked right out of Buddhist teachings.
Every once in a while, Doctor Who also delves into Buddhism (most prominently in "Planet of the Spiders"). Here, we see Buddhism's characteristics of existence manifested in the dream characters that Tegan meets. The Kinda profess belief in the Great Wheel (a Buddhist concept), which turns as civilizations rise and fall, and they also show the capacity for reincarnation as the deceased Panna's life experiences transfer into the body of Karuna. I liked how much thought went into creating the Kinda civilization, making them more than just shirtless story fodder.
Sarah -
Creating a Buddhist parable was writer Christopher Bailey's intention. The results are mixed, but it's always interesting.
Harry -
Insert the malevolent threat of the Mara into the story, and now it's a real corker. Through Tegan, the Mara escapes from the dream world and possesses the body of Kinda Aris. He rallies his people to launch an assault on the expedition's dome, in order to drive them off the planet. Hindle meanwhile is on the verge of detonating an explosive combination of acid and fire for a 50-mile radius around the dome, which would annihilate everyone. With Nyssa, Tegan and Adric all unable to help, it comes down to the Doctor and Todd to first neutralize Hindle, then formulate a plan to capture and purge the Mara from Aris, then from this reality.
Sarah -
Fortunately the Doctor and his surrogate companion Todd are a dynamic duo, who are more than up to the challenge...
Harry -
Which brings us to something we haven't really seen for several seasons in Doctor Who - silly prop monsters. Oh that giant snake, oh my.
Sarah -
...The challenge of defeating one of the lamest monsters in the history of Doctor Who! The snake really is unfortunate. It has almost singlehandedly undermined "Kinda"'s reputation.
Harry -
I genuinely harkened back to the days of Colour Separation Overlay from the Pertwee era. Some close ups of a live snake transposed over its area of confinement might have looked better than the inflatable rubber thing that was hoisted over everyone's heads. What can you do.
Sarah -
At this point, not so much.
Harry -
But let's not let one weak note ruin this one for us. After all, the Doctor got a round of applause after driving the Mara back to the dark places of the inside or wherever. Who wouldn't like to receive a round of applause for a job well done?
Sarah -
Huzzah! Was that the strangest moment in the story, or what?
Harry -
I went into "Kinda" without remembering much of it. It got off to an uninspired start, but was saved by fantastic performances by the entire cast. It's the acting I'll remember from this one, more than the story or the special effects.
Sarah -
Which reminds us that there's always something to appreciate in Doctor Who!
Harry -
The Davison era seems to have hit its stride. Shall we see where our friends land next?
Best Line: The Doctor: "There's always something to look at if you open your eyes."
Favourite Moment: Hindle snaps and declares "I have the power of life and death over ALL of you!"
Lasting Image: Dukkha menaces Tegan in the dream world.
8/10
Sarah -
Best Line: "YOU CAN'T MEND PEOPLE, CAN YOU? YOU CAN'T MEND PEOPLE!"
Favorite Moment: Panna repeatedly dismissing the Doctor.
Lasting Image: You've taken my first lasting image, so I'll go with my second -- Sanders cutting paper dolls.
7/10
Our marathon continues with Story #119: The Visitation...
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