The Shapwick Monster

The Shapwick Monster

'The Awakening' kicks off a pretty strong run of stories in Season 21 that sees Peter Davison really settling into the role of the Doctor. You do wonder how things might have been different if he'd stayed on for Season 22, but tampering with history (even in your imagination) is never a good idea.

If ever there was a 'Doctor Who' story that is calling out for a guest appearance by Sapphire and Steel, it has to be this one. Despite a few twinkly stars clearly generated by a BBC Micro (see also Sharaz Jek's multi-coloured map in 'The Caves Of Androzani') the sequences with the ghostly figures manifesting in the present day are effective and hopefully spooked a few kids.

We've just done our video on Peter's final stories (which can be viewed here) and I was keen to point out the difference between being frightening and being violent. 'Sapphire & Steel' managed to frighten its audience with unrelenting atmosphere and 'The Awakening' treads a path that 80s 'Doctor Who' should have explored more often.

The leering face of the Malus, belching smoke in the old church wall, is the subject for the cover of the Target book and this central image must have caused a few nightmares.

Episode 17 of 'Round The Archives' saw Lisa talking about the Davison two-parters and we did mention the old tale of the so-called 'Shapwick Monster' which turned out to be an abandoned crab or lobster (according to which source you look at) but it's only today that I've found out it was also a limited-edition beer from the Hall & Woodhouse Badger range of ales. I'm sure that Will Chandler would have approved.

Peter Davison's Doctor looks perfectly at home in a traditional English village, even if the onscreen depiction of Little Hodcombe has been cobbled together from several locations miles apart.

It's a shame that I didn't know about the filming at the time as I would have made every effort to turn up and meet the Doctor. Being a Dorset boy means that this story will always mean quite a lot to me and I look forward to the next time the TARDIS lands near our neck of the woods...

Maybe a George III / Weymouth story, Chris?

(By Andrew Trowbridge)