To be fair, it's not like it's an unreasonable idea for a serial, and as it's the first time Doctor Who has done this type of story we can forgive them a bit of indulgence. And unlike, say, every episode of Star Trek: Deep Space Nine involving Trek's "Mirror Universe", this isn't simply a chance for the regulars to indulge themselves by playing "bad" versions of themselves. The parallel universe part of Inferno feels much more dangerous, because everyone's playing it so straight.
Starting by having an extended chase sequence where troops are all shooting at the Doctor as he zooms around the complex on Bessie is a good move; it immediately brings home the danger of this place. There are lots of troops (well, it seems like there are, at least) and some great location shots of the Doctor high up on the gasometers. (Oh, and incidentally, I was wrong last time; the world record fall happens in episode 3, not episode 1. It's still Roy Scammell, though -- twice, in fact, as both the private who falls and the one who shoots him down.) And then we get to see the people in this world: the Brigadier is now Brigade Leader Lethbridge-Stewart, with an eyepatch and no moustache; Liz is now Section Leader Elizabeth Shaw, with black hair; and Sergeant Benton is Platoon Under-Leader Benton -- he still looks the same but is decidedly nastier as a person ("Are you coming with me quietly, or do I shoot you here and now?" Benton asks the Doctor at the end of episode 3, and it's quite clear which outcome Benton is hoping for). Meanwhile, Professor Stahlman has become Director Stahlmann -- he's lost the facial hair but is still the same basic person. The other main difference is that in this parallel world the drilling has been proceeding a bit quicker, so instead of being something like 40 hours away from penetrating the Earth's crust, this world is only a little over 3 hours away.
The Doctor is interrogated by the Republican Security Forces. (Inferno Episode 4) ©BBC |