The Wheel in Space Episode 2

The one where we meet a know-it-all librarian called Zoe...

I think the designers and directors of Season 5 had "busy and bustling control room" off to a fine art, and did it very well. Whether it's Britannicus Base, the Eurogas oil refinery, or the Wheel, they all feel authentic, a convincing place of work. This episode opens with an extremely busy workforce who, by the sound of it, love flicking switches on and off repeatedly. It's great to finally get some new characters to get to know after the lethargic introduction of episode 1, and although they're not fleshed out all that much, already we've got Leo Ryan the ladies' man, and Tanya Lernov, the ladies' man's lady.

Their boss Jarvis Bennett is yet another brusque commander type so typical of this season, a man far too convinced of his own opinions and judgements to possibly consider those of his colleagues (echoes of that Season 5 stalwart, the Conceited Authority Figure; see also Klieg, Clent and Robson). He is adamant he wants to blow up the Silver Carrier before it careers headlong into the Wheel, and he and Leo are very keen on seeing the big bang it'll make in space. But it's the ladies on the staff who are more cautious, as first Tanya and then Gemma voice their concern that the Silver Carrier may not be empty. This is a very real concern, because I see absolutely no good reason why Bennett assumes it is empty.

Dr Gemma Corwyn is fab, isn't she? Played with no-nonsense professionalism by Anne Ridler (the future voice of Kate Kestrel in Terrahawks, don't ya know?), the medical officer is both practical and intelligent, determined to convince Bennett that he may be wrong, and that there could well be people aboard the Silver Carrier. She's feisty and forthright, but in a mature, convincing way often absent when these words are used to describe "strong women" in 21st century Doctor Who/ drama. She's a mature woman, with experience and intelligence on her side, not simply a young girl in a tight skirt who knows how and when to say no. In fact, Dr Corwyn wears practical trousers, with not a flash of thigh in sight (which makes a change for prolific Season 5 costume designer Martin Baugh!).

Talking of flashes of flesh, we get the most out of Frazer Hines in this episode, what with his regulation kilt (a "female garment", according to a giggling Zoe!) and shirt open to the waist during Gemma's medical examination. Chalk The Wheel in Space Episode 2 up as another I'd really like to see for "personal" reasons, along with The Smugglers Episode 1 and The Macra Terror Episode 1 (ahem...)!

It's during Jamie's examination that we get the first use of the Doctor being referred to as John Smith, and it's the Scotsman who gives him the name by spotting it on a random piece of medical machinery. It's the latest in a line of "firsts" in Season 5, along with debuts for the Cybermats, Lethbridge-Stewart, and the sonic screwdriver.

We're also introduced to Zoe Heriot, the Wheel's librarian, who comes across as an insufferable busybody, a know-it-all clever clogs who can reel off any random fact, but struggles to make a human connection. Somehow, Wendy Padbury softens the harshness of the dialogue just by being Wendy Padbury, and an innate twinkle filters through. Zoe is unlikeable on the page, but in the hands of this actress, isn't as annoying as she could have been. And already Jamie and Zoe have developed a notion of sibling rivalry when she offends his Scottishness, and he threatens to put her over his knee and "larrap" her (which is an odd choice of word, as it's Irish slang). As Zoe replies: "This is going to be fun!"

What I've failed to mention so far about this episode is that, yet again, not very much actually happens. Because Patrick Troughton is off on his jollies this week, there's no Doctor to move the narrative forward, so all this really consists of is Frazer Hines being introduced to the guest cast and given a tour of the sets. Not until the end does writer David Whitaker remember that he needs to try and get people to tune in next week, which is when we're treated to the rather bizarre, but wonderfully Doctor Who-ey, cliffhanger of a white egg growing in size, cracking open, and revealing what is undoubtedly a Cyberman's fist.

The silver giants are aboard the Silver Carrier! The clues were there all along...

First broadcast: May 4th, 1968

Steve's Scoreboard
The Good: Anne Ridler as Dr Gemma Corwyn is fab.
The Bad: It's lovely to meet all these people and to be shown around where they live, but come on, David Whitaker, get a move on with the story!
Overall score for episode: ★★★★★☆☆☆☆☆

NEXT TIME: Episode 3...

My reviews of this story's other episodes: Episode 1; Episode 3; Episode 4; Episode 5; Episode 6

Find out birth/death dates, career information, and facts and trivia about this story's cast and crew at the Doctor Who Cast & Crew site: http://doctorwhocastandcrew.blogspot.co.uk/2014/02/the-wheel-in-space.html

The Wheel in Space is available on BBC soundtrack CD. Find it on Amazon - https://www.amazon.co.uk/Doctor-Who-Wheel-Wendy-Padbury/dp/0563535075/.