Who Rewatches the Rewatcher

After much delay, amazon.ca finally delivered Running Through Corridors by Toby Hadoke and Rob Shearman. It would be no exaggeration to say that I tore right through it, figuratively speaking. It's the most addictively pedantic thing I've ever read. Rob and Toby's recollections and associations of how particular episodes/stories/moments affected them really hits home for me. As much as the creative merits of the program are important, Doctor Who is so much about memory for me; in an almost impressionistic manner. Doing this re-watch has really reinforced that for me. No two fans will hold a particular story in quite the same esteem, and eschewing popular opinion, stories like Colony in Space and The Power of Kroll will always be remembered fondly while other more lauded stories like Snakedance and the Curse of Fenric not so much.

As I began my viewing of season 17, the story I was most looking forward to was not City of Death (which I've seen innumerable times) but The Creature From the Pit -- a story which is not fondly remembered by many. But that's the lovely, irrational joy of Doctor Who. Granted much of my anticipation is due to not having seen the story in over 15 years.

But I have fond memories of Myra Francis, Eileen Way and Geoffrey Bayldon. As well as some funny dialogue and decent film work at Ealing. Watching it was like having dinner with an old friend: it's lovely to see them again, you have some amusing banter, and you're completely aware of their flaws but dismiss them because of fondness for the past.

Erato is still painfully realized, but not because it's a big blog with a phallus, but rather because close up it looks like a couple of people wrestling in a tent. Myra Francis is still gloriously camp and haughty, and Christopher Barry direction makes the whole story much more interesting than it ought to be.

Re-watching has so much to do with what mood you're in--timing is everything. I would say there are basically 3 types of re-viewing I do:

For the Love of It
Doctor Who falls firmly under this category. My normal method it to cherry pick particular stories. I'll get a hankering for some early Davison, or a hard week will have me curling up on the couch with some wine, cheese and Pertwee. Sometimes I just need a fix of bolshie Donna Noble. Other contenders in this category include: Lost, Buffy, The Avengers and The Prisoner.

Re-evaluation
Every once in a while I'll return to a show that I gave up on. Perhaps because buzz suddenly got good, or I read an intriguing review or I just plain had a change of heart. Firefly worked like that: I watched the first episode when it aired on Fox and never really grooved to it (despite the utter shock of seeing a character get kicked into a spaceship engine). A couple of years later I was invited to a viewing party and thoroughly enjoyed it. Future candidates might include: Dexter, True Blood or God forbid Quantum Leap.

Completion of a Series
A variant on the former category, these are shows/movies that I meant to continue watching but didn't. For some reason I never watched The West Wing during its original run despite rave reviews from everyone. Several years ago I was lent the first 3 seasons of the show and became completely addicted. Unfortunately, due to circumstances, I wasn't able to continue watching it. Fast forward to March of the year and thanks to Best Buy offering each season up at $15 a pop, I decided it was time to go back. I whizzed through to season 6 (after the painful experience of season 5) and despite the absence of Aaron Sorkin I'm finding the show really engaging. Other contenders: The Mary Tyler Moore Show (over the past two years I've watched the first two seasons, because I found them for a steal, but I can't justify the regular prices) and Oz (I'll probably have to go right back to the beginning--I saw the first 3 seasons-- and I just haven't been in the right space yet).

Ritual
It's Good Friday today, and I'm also rewatching Elizabeth as I've done every year on this day. I have a fascination for Elizabeth I and let me just state for the record that I am perfectly aware of how historically inaccurate Shekhur Kapur's 1998 film is. If you want a more unerring re-telling, go and rent/buy/download the excellent 1971 BBC miniseries Elizabeth R with Glenda Jackson (note to self: saw it at HMV the other day; it's now available at an affordable $24.99). Elizabeth is lurid and violent, but also epic and transformational. If you're not a Christian, this movie takes you on the same journey (a young woman is thrust into a role she's unprepared for, there is much bloodshed and it all ends in a kind of resurrection. Other rituals: It's a Wonderful Life, Scrooge, A Midwinter's Tale, Peter's Friends, Lord of the Rings (the Christmas season); The House That Dripped Blood, An American Werewolf in London (Halloween); Groundhog's Day.

Original viewing date: November 3, 1984

Wine: The same French table wine: "Ventoux" from last week. Seemed appropriate since City of Death is the jewel of season 17 and its glow shines far.

Music: "Time After Time" by Cyndi Lauper.