Saturday, May 28, 2011

[New post] Doctor Who Big Finish- Loups-Garoux

Doctor Who Big Finish- Loups-Garoux

Loups-Garoux

"Money, like tomato sauce, covers a multitude of sins."

Story 20
By Marc Platt
Released May 2001
In Rio De Janeiro, the Doctor and Turlough are enjoying the sights, sounds and tastes of carnival. It's a fun introduction that showcases the Fifth Doctor's social awkwardness as a scantily clad dancer chats him up and Turlough urges him on. In these Big Finish adventures, Davison has developed a very charismatic and somewhat professorial take on the Doctor that hints at Patrick Troughton's scatter-brained mastermind while adding some elements of the modern English gentleman.

The pairing of the Doctor with Turlough on screen, while under-developed, was one of the high points of the Davison era for me. The Doctor-companion routine had become quite staid in 1983 and introducing a character who sought to kill the Doctor only to have him change his mind and flit about time and space instead is either incredibly poor or very invigorating. I like to think that the Doctor could see something of the rebel in Turlough and respected it as a kind of mirror to his own personality. Whereas the Doctor hides his darker nature with a veneer of morality and good manners, Turlough flaunts it openly as a brash youth who is just too good for school. This quality in Turlough's character is not only entertained in Loups Garoux, it is picked up as part of the story. It is said that Turlough has 'something of the wolf in him,' and while that may be true, that scares him. While he puts on a cool and snide facade, deep down Turlough is saddened that anyone who gets close to him seems to suffer. It's moments like this that I dearly wish had made it on screen.


Using the werewolf myth and adding it to a cyberpunk setting, the Doctor finds himself wrapped up in the wild exodus of the austere Ileana de Santos, fearing the pursuit of 'the Gray One' whose breath she can feel on her neck as he draws closer. Ileana is portrayed as a sophisticated and proud woman, but also as a sad outcast running from her fate, trying to hold onto what is hers. The Doctor is deeply moved by her plight and identifies with her as well, which unfortunately Ileana thinks of as a romantic advance. The Doctor of course is merely doing the right thing as any gentleman would, and finds himself in the middle of an ancient struggle when the Gray One comes calling.

The narrative of Loups-Garoux switches out occasionally to the character of Rosa, a hot-blooded young woman on a bold mission. She's a marvelous addition to the script and feels like a missed opportunity as a companion. But perhaps less is more in this case. I'm also tickled by the scene in which she encourages Turlough to bunk with her for the night, coyly calling him 'yerpie boy' as she beckons.

The story has a wealth of rich characters, exciting sequences and also new situations for the Doctor and Turlough to more fully flesh out their parts (a job started in Phantasnagorica), but it also has one of my favorite staples of the Troughton era, food acting. I'm not sure what it is, but whenever there was a scene in which the Second Doctor and Jamie ate, I grew more fond of them. Whether it was a plate of sandwiches, machine-made food on a space rocket or a hasty cup of coffee, it made them seem more real. The sequence where Turlough questionably tries to eat his questionable burger smothered in tomato sauce is very touching to me for that reason. It makes the experience more real somehow and also provides fuel for the Doctor's quip later on.

Loups Garoux is like one of those lost New Adventures novels that Virgin published back in the day. Author Marc Platt is economical with his use of the cyberpunk elements, restricting them to changes in geography and technology that is easily acceptable, such as the ident process that easily tags both Turlough and the Doctor as outsiders or the monetary system. It's all so stylishly done that the setting comes off as exotic and smart.

Marc Platt is one of the best writers of Classic Doctor Who in the 1980's. His 1989 story Ghost Light was of course adapted from an earlier story about the Doctor returning home to Gallifrey (later expanded into the novel Lungbarrow). Both are overly ambitious grand tales that can lose focus from characters to far out ideas, but that is not the case with Loups Garoux where the script is a marvelous blend of inspired concepts and sparkling characters (along with some fine dialog). I am usually able to appreciate the Big Finish audio adventures for what they are, but in this instance I so want to see the story as a televised serial. Perhaps Platt can be invited to write for the BBC Wales series sometime so he can show them how it's done. In the meantime I'm happy for his output here.

Doctor Who - Loups Garoux can be purchased at local retailers such as Mike's Comics and online from Big Finish.

Read other Big Finish reviews at the Daily P.O.P. here.

Add a comment to this post


Trouble clicking? Copy and paste this URL into your browser: http://subscribe.wordpress.com

Latest articles from Retro To Go

Latest articles from Retro To Go


eBay watch: 1950s midcentury-style split level coffee table

Posted: 27 May 2011 07:57 AM PDT

Table

A very stylish piece on eBay, this 1950s midcentury-style split level coffee table.

A lovely, midcentury-style design, it has those angled legs, two levels and a lovely grain on the wood, judging by those pictures. The second level is apparently more of a matt finish, not that the image shows it that well.

Condition is described as 'excellent', a couple of superficial scratches on the top latter and some on feet, but nothing seemingly to worry about. £9 is the current bid price.

Find out more at the eBay website

Derek Stanley Bottomley-designed 1960s modernist house in Sherburn in Elmet, North Yorkshire

Posted: 27 May 2011 07:13 AM PDT

Sher1

It's always great to find some interesting 1960s architecture. But it's even better when the interior of the house is largely unchanged from that decade too. That's what you get with this Derek Stanley Bottomley-designed modernist house in Sherburn in Elmet, North Yorkshire.

The northern architect designed this five-bedroomed house for his own occupation, with the house still owned by the family now. It's also packed with all his period design tricks too, some incredibly reminiscent of the era. The agent says it needs 'some refurbishment and modernisation'. We're not so sure. We like it just the way it is.

Sher2

The house is set back from the road and set on a one-acre plot, with a design that offers views of the garden from all the rooms. Interestingly, one feature is incredibly clever - four of the first floor bedrooms can be adjusted in size to suit the homeowners individual needs. Some great wood panel wall and period lighting too, not to mention a spiral staircase, exposed brick walls and underfloor heating. The bookcases look like a bookworm's dream too.

In terms of specifics, there is a 30ft reception room, a 'snug', kitchen, those five bedrooms, a family bathroom, a double garage and space for additional parking.

Sher3

More images on the website and if you want it, the price is £360,000. Which sounds fairly reasonable for a home of this quality.

Find out more at the Rightmove website

Via WowHaus

Sher4

Folk Polka Napkins

Posted: 27 May 2011 07:06 AM PDT

Nap
Get into the picnic mood with these folk polka napkins.

They're the perfect addition to a summer picnic, even if the weather isn't so hot, and sit perfectly well with a cucumber sandwich or ten. The duck egg blue design goes well with almost anything and the simple 1950s-style design could bring out the housewife in anyone.

For a pack of 20 it's £2 online from John Lewis.

Juicy cherry drop earrings

Posted: 27 May 2011 06:59 AM PDT

61A01YRED_thumb
Juicy and cute are two words that go hand in hand with these juicy cherry drop earrings.

They're fun and playful and are a nod towards the fruit-themed clothes of your childhood but also reflect one of this summer's biggest fashion trends. Creating a subtle quirkyness, they have a hint of 1980s rebellion in a very not-so innocent way. Watch our for strange staring around your ear area.

Available on the website and online for £8.50.

People Will Always Need Plates “Looking Up In London” Range

Posted: 27 May 2011 06:14 AM PDT

{32156E58-7458-4793-98F1-5D1D244DCA40} 
A new range from People Will Always Need Plates is always welcomed and their new "Looking Up in London" collection is in their quintessential style.

Printed on ceramic mugs, the illustrations are of well-known architectural landmarks, but from the perspective of someone at street level looking up. Choose from the Post Office Tower, Battersea Power Station, 1 Canada Square or Centrepoint.

The mugs cost £10 each from the People Will Always Need Plates website.

Milano Teapot

Posted: 27 May 2011 05:50 AM PDT

Milanoteapot 
 
This unusual teapot is not a rare vintage find, but the Milano Teapot from Dwell.

It has a distinctive shape, which gives it an Art Deco feel. It is described as being ceramic, but has a chrome finish. It costs just £19.95, but to me, it looks as if it costs a lot more. There are also Milano espresso cups and saucers with a similar curvy shape, priced £9.95 each.

Buy online from Dwell.

Olives tea towel by Marianne Nilsson

Posted: 27 May 2011 05:07 AM PDT

Olive tea towel

Perfect for slinging over your arm as you're serving up a few martinis - or useful in clearing up the aftermath of a few too many, this Olives tea towel by Marianne Nilsson is another fifties design plucked from the archives. 

It's a great graphic number, covered in circular motifs and juicy olives on sticks. Shown here in the blue version, it's also available in a red colour scheme. 

The tea towel costs £8.95.

Buy it from New House Textiles 

AR001 chair from Assembly Room

Posted: 27 May 2011 05:02 AM PDT

AR001_08
Another contemporary design that looks to the past, this AR001 chair from Assembly Room looks to the utilitarian designs of the 1950s.

The straight lines of the seat contrast with the splayed wooden feet of the chair, creating a striking, retro, and, most importantly, an inviting bit of seating. The chair is upholstered in pure new wool, available in a wide range of colours. 

Assembly Room is the work of Peter Wall and Cathy Spooner who have produced a small and perfectly formed range of furniture: you may want to check out AR006 too - that's the table pictured alongside the chair. 

Prices for the chair start at £995. 

Find out more online

Don't Be So Quick to Overlook the Maserati Grecale Folgore

If the GranTurismo Folgore is a guide, this Grecale Folgore could be surprisingly competitive. The EV GT was one of the year's best surp...