Contributor: John Keegan
Written by David Fisher
Directed by Darrol Blake
Coming off the disappointing previous serial, I wasn’t sure what to expect out of “The Stones of Blood”. It was readily apparent that there was going to be some connection to Celtic mythology, and that’s always a point of interest. It also reminded me vaguely of the mini-series “Children of the Stones”. (Points to anyone who actually remembers watching that!)
This story is perhaps most notable for being largely driven by women, despite the prominence of the Doctor. Romana gets to play in the pseudo-Gothic horror style, which is a nice callback to the previous era, and much of the assistance comes from Professor Rumford, an older lady with a distinctive personality. Even the villain is a woman, which was a bit rare for those days. Granted, there’s all that commentary on Romana’s choice of footwear, but nothing’s perfect.
The idea of sentient rocks that suck out your blood and move of their own accord sounds a bit silly on paper, but it works within the context of the story itself. Besides, once one has actually stood in standing stones, there’s no denying that there is an eerie discomfort that lingers in the mind. It’s something a bit more potent to those of the Isles than, perhaps, most Americans, so it’s not a shock that this mystique is used to full advantage.
Things fall apart a bit once the story leaves Earth, however. The Megara don’t look particularly impressive, but from a conceptual point of view, they are a solid bit of science fiction. And at least the Doctor’s trial pertains to the overall hunt for the third piece of the Key of Time. But it all feels very disconnected from where the story began, and as a result, the story (being only four episodes long) seems unfocused.
There’s also the problematic nature of the villainess. What, precisely, is Cessair’s reason for being on Earth and posing as a goddess? She has a ship, it’s ready for launch, so she can leave whenever she wants. The story never explains her presence on Earth, or for that matter, why the Doctor’s arrival was “foretold”. It’s a bit irritating.
It should be noted that this is not only the 100th serial of the classic series, but it also fell roughly on the fifteenth anniversary. It’s remarkable to consider that, as of this writing, “Doctor Who” is preparing for its 50th anniversary. I wonder if anyone back then would have imagined such a thing?
Writing: 1/2
Acting: 2/2
Direction: 2/2
Style: 1/4
Final Score: 6/10
