The Sandman

The Galyari are a race of reptilian bipeds on a constant journey across the stars to find a new home. Once warlike conquerers they have been reduced to nomads, their home a cluster of starships known as the Clutch. This fall in stature is the work of one being: an entity called the Sandman, who stalks the Galyari and kills their young, tearing away their skins and adding them to his own patchwork cloak. When the Doctor and Evelyn arrive in the midst of the Clutch, Evelyn comes to a shocking realization: the Doctor is the Sandman, and he's not sorry.

The Doctor as the monster. This is something that has been referenced before amongst other aliens he has defeated - most notably the Daleks - but here in The Sandman we get the other side of the story. The Galyari believe he is immortal, having encountered him repeatedly over the years and he has not changed (hinting that while the Doctor was travelling alone between companions he was keeping an eye on this species). Such is their fear of him they cannot even look at him. All of this comes as a shock to Evelyn, especially the sudden change of personality that overcomes the Doctor when he arrives with the Galyari; he is more like his post-regeneration self with Peri - condescending, rude, threatening, and very very loud. It isn't the same venom he evokes for Daleks or Cybermen or even, in certain circumstances, the Time Lords; it's not so much disgust as it is an act to terrify and keep them in check.

We all know the Doctor isn't that kind of monster. Wiping out Dalek fleets is one thing, but systematically murdering the Galyari children we all know is not his cup of tea; in fact when he learns that there have been recent killings he falters a bit before resuming his facade. Something else is at work within the Clutch, capitalizing on the Doctor's reputation and striking fear into the Galyari like no-one else can.

Recognize any of the voices in this one? Anneke Wills, Polly from the Hartnell and Troughton years, makes a return as one of the Galyari, her voice altered by the hi tech of Big Finish to be hostile and furious, a big difference from the skilled and gentle receptionist that we know her to play.

I liked it a lot. It's not all nasty and grit; there's this bit with the Doctor playing with the Galyari command chair that smacks of Dr Evil of the Austin Powers films, even if the sight of their Sandman at leisure is just as frightening to the Galyari as him killing their young. But in the end, there's some healing between the Doctor and the Galyari; he is a good guy after all, once they have seen the error of their ways.

NEXT EPISODE : REAL TIME