"No one will ever believe me." "That's what makes a good legend."
IN THIS ONE... Sea Devils try to reclaim the Earth from 19th-Century China.
REVIEW: I've heard so many criticisms about this episode, many of them unfair, that I feel obliged to defend what is essentially a middling episode. And that's irritating. Here are the main ones: To those who question Yaz and Dan's swordsmanship, I will point out that they spent 4 years at the turn of the 20th Century being Indiana Jones. To those who ask how these Sea Devils can have misty transmat, gravitic ships and toxic laser blades, I propose that Sea Devils from the North Sea were not as advanced as (or differently advanced from) the Pacific's. Conversely, to those who would rather have had a Homo Reptilican redesign and think these are pretty goofy, I have nothing to say really. I would have been quite cross if they'd turned Who monsters into Trek monsters. The episode does push the effects budget to its limits, resulting in a pretty obvious green screen spectacular, but as with the monster out of the third Detective Dee film, it's gives the story the feel of a fairy tale or "legend", and that's fine. Since when are we watching Doctor Who for the effects? Y'all are spoiled.
Some problems can't be waved away as easily, however. On a production level, the Chinese setting makes them want to do a kung fu movie, but the show just doesn't have the technical ability, budget to carry it off, not ability to show blood. So instead we get heavily edited fight scenes in the American style, or worse, shots and shots of Sea Devils slashing towards camera. It's not good.
The other problem area is the use of Zheng Yi Sao AKA Madame Ching as a heroic figure. Crystal Yu carries every scene she's in, no problem, and the Chibnall era continues to find diverse historical figures who are worth our attention. But a pirate queen responsible for much death and pillage as a hero or anti-hero never called out for her actions? It only really works because they've mangled history horribly. Her noble motivation to get a treasure so she can ransom her family and crew from the Black Flag Fleet never happened. In fact, her Red Flag Fleet, numbering some 400 ships when she took leadership the year in which this episode is set, was allied to the Black Flag Fleet, and its leader had been mentored by her husband. We're supposed to believe the Black Flag Fleet is holding 400 crews captive? It's also nonsense that she could sail a ship by herself. Take it from someone who's done research on this for a pirate role-playing game. Even if we take it as given that she's some kind of rebel, a Robin Hood of the China Seas or something, we still have to accept that naive Yink Ki would gladly join her crew after the part she played in his father's death. I guess she didn't land the killing blow.
Regardless, Legend of the Sea Devils is still a high-energy adventure in an unusual setting, with a bit of time travel in the middle (tracking the treasure through time) and a lot of good lines. It seems reckless for the Doctor to leave 1807 without Dan, almost as a reprisal for his "wandering off", especially given how she didn't land the TARDIS in the right century JUST EARLIER IN THIS EPISODE. Still, it allows Dan to have some time to himself, dressed in a crazy pirate outfit because he was pranked by Yaz. The Doctor once more gets to make fun of a villain's name, and I like the exchange where she calls it a Sea Devil and he ripostes with "Land parasite". Like "Ice Warrior" and "Silurian", it's not what this race calls itself, so comes across as a racial slur. Well spotted. And of course, the episode addresses the whole Doctor/Yaz thing.
The conversation goes like this: "If I were able to have a relationship with anyone, it would be you. But I can't." She later explains that she can't affix herself to anyone because it'll eventually hurt. Immortality comes at a cost. Not sure it rings true given that the loss of many major companions in the new era HAS hurt (Rose, Amy, Clara, Bill). Yaz appeals to the Doctor's courage, but it doesn't seem to make a ripple. The Doctor's wish it that all this would go on forever, as is, which is a little cruel to Yaz who must then suffer in silence, but is also a nice line to end on, given there's only one episode left. As with the Timeless Child stuff, there just isn't time to properly explore this thread, so Chibnall gets it out of the way in rather limp, non-committal fashion.
REWATCHABILITY: Medium - At 47 minutes, this is just a standard episode, despite having an obviously larger budget than most. The other "Easter Special" (Planet of the Dead) wasn't any more special than that. That's fine out of context. Considering we're almost at the finish line, it ought to have been more than that, but what can you do? These last two stories are really just padding because the BBC wanted to delay the return of the Master and the 13th Doctor's final story.
Comments
As for the use of Zheng Yi Sao, it was a convenient oversight to not address her reputation. Although from my limited understanding (You're Dead To Me podcast) it seemed to be a matter of which particular repressive regime (state or criminal enterprise) you chose adhered to. As far as the process of elevating alternative figures from history, it's seemingly not as problematic as Noor Inayat Khan elevation (see We Have Ways Of Making You Tal #369 The Women of SOE podcast) historian Dr Kate Vigurs is quite scathing about her actions and unsuitability for clandestine operations. It's a worthwhile activity to address the bias contained within established history, but you need to apply the same basic rigour.
As for Yaz and the Doctor, you know my thoughts upon this particular topic. Upon reflection, they had plenty of time to explore Vinder and Bel's emotional love story across a seemingly dying universe, their commitment to each other never waivered for a second. Admittedly. It was a necessary addendum to the storytelling process to help ground the raft of high concept ideas flying about, but clearly there's not an issue telling 'heteronormative' stories within Nu-Hu.
The reality is, it could have been a 'quite revolution', instead. Hanging upside down before Karvanista at the start of the series, asides could have duly exchanged to establish the newly minted intimate status between the pair occurring in the interim, a couple of telling asides when they finally encounter Dan to make him aware of the dynamic, and to show his gallant acceptance of the status quo, plus, the odd occasional embrace when either party is rescued from near certain death. Not all relationships are demonstrative, even if drama usually voraciously demands it.
The saddest thing about the resolution is that it diminishes Yaz's agency, she sits there impassively silently accepting it all.