The Lazarus Experiment
"I'm old enough to know that a longer life isn't always a better one. In the end, you just get tired. Tired of the struggle. Tired of losing everyone that matters to you. Tired of watching everything turn to dust. If you live long enough... the only certainty left is that you'll end up alone." - The Doctor
So we have yet another episode set on present-day Earth and, sadly, also one of my least favorite episodes this season (which means I have little to say about it). I'm not saying that it's completely worthless. To the contrary, there are many things to like about it. It's just that I don't believe they gel together to produce an episode on the high standards that we have been used to in the past three seasons of this revival.
To briefly sum up the story: The Doctor returns Martha to present-day Earth to a few hours after she first left with him. Just as he is about to leave her there, he hears a report on the news about some experiment and he decides to investigate. As it turns out, Doctor Lazarus is attempting to reverse the aging process and demonstrates it on himself at an "unveiling" reception. The process goes awry and he mutates into an offshoot of a human that happens to look like a giant scorpion - a scorpion that sucks the life out of people. After a series of hide-and-seek encounters, the Doctor, with the help of Martha and her sister, kills the creature. Afterwards the Doctor agrees to take Martha with him on future adventures.
To begin, let me first get what I disliked out of the way:
I wasn't too happy with the main plot itself about Lazarus and his age-reversing machine. Multiple episodes of this revival series have dealt with genetic manipulation in one form or another and here we are, another episode centered around that very subject. What were the last two weeks' episodes about? Genetic manipulation. Ugh, it's time to put this tired plot to rest for the remainder of the season.
Lazarus himself wasn't a very compelling character. He did have lofty goals in wanting to reverse aging; however, greed always comes in play. To loosely paraphrase the Doctor and a running theme within the revival series (like the genetic manipulation - heh): "It's always about money."
I also wasn't too fond of Martha's family in this episode. Martha's brother, Leo, really didn't do much except get in the way by getting hurt. Martha's mom was just plain annoying (although this might have just been intentional). Martha's sister, Tish, was very willing to shack up with the rejuvenated Dr. Lazarus even though she was disgusted earlier when he touched her, and even though it would appear that he is in a relationship with Lady Thaw. Wait a second... Lazarus... Thaw... I get it now!
Things that I was pleased with:
" For the most part, the visual effects and cinematography were topnotch. If you watch the episode again, pay attention to the scene after the Doctor lures Lazarus away from the partygoers. As the creature runs down the hallway, its reflection is seen on all the surrounding walls.
" The revelation that there are forces at work that are aware of the Doctor and Martha's relationship. In fact, it seems like the entire episode was just meant to set up future episodes and storylines. One can only wonder why these forces are trying to warn Martha's mom about the Doctor. I also like the reference to the "death and destruction follows him" line that has haunted the Doctor since the pilot of the revival.
It would seem that the Doctor is finally over Rose by the end of the episode when he decides to make it official and bring Martha along for more adventures. But is he really over her (see the quote at the beginning of the page)? By inviting Martha along at the end, I believe the Doctor is trying to come to terms with loss, his almost timeliness and his loneliness.
The Doctor: "You think history's only made with equations? Facing death is part of being human."
Human companions help the Doctor to realize his own mortality. After all, he is the last of his race.
It was great seeing Martha using her skills to diagnose her brother's concussion. Frankly, there should have been more of that this season.
Some great, little humorous scenes also made it in this episode like when the Doctor first meets Martha's mother:
The Doctor: "We haven't had much time to chat. We've been busy."
Martha's mom: "Busy? Doing what exactly?"
The Doctor: "Oh, you know... some stuff."
The Doctor must have been so glad Lazarus gave a speech at that moment. Of course, his selflessness in trying to save all the party guests doesn't stop Martha's mom from slapping him later. Now we know why the Doctor hates "domestic" situations.
The episode ends on an ominous answering machine message from Martha's mother: "I know who this Doctor really is. I know he's dangerous! You're going to get yourself killed... this information comes from Harold Saxon himself. You are not safe." Mr. Saxon's name has been popping up all over the place this season (exactly like "Bad Wolf" from previous seasons). Saxon also funded Lazarus's experiments. Hmmmm...
Stay tuned.
