Conflicts of Interest was a strange boxset, a very serious tone was present throughout but none more serious than this first story: Friendly Fire. Tackling the subject of racism and prejudice with zero hand-holding should be applauded and in that sense it is a really well written story but I have to admit I don’t normally watch/listen/read Doctor Who stories to feel downbeat afterwards, so I can’t say I liked the story, even if it was undeniably a good story. Confused? Well, let’s take a deeper look…
As many adventures start The Doctor (Peter Davison) has to land the TARDIS in an emergency, though in this case it’s because he agreed to an upgrade without landing first as it requested, which made me laugh, and he, Tegan (Janet Fielding) and Nyssa (Sarah Sutton) end up on a space station. While Tegan wants to do the tourism thing on the station itself The Doctor realises they’re near an old friend of his called Velar and so convinces them to take a shuttle down to see him. When they arrive they’re greeted by an extremely nervous Brennan (Greig Johnson) who is confused at the idea of visitors and even more confused when they wish to meet Velar. The Doctor and Nyssa head off to Velar’s house in a two-seater buggy and when they get there they find the place emptied, lending credence to the idea that he moved out… only The Doctor recognises some prayer stones sacred to Velar’s race left on the windowsill, something he wouldn’t leave without but an outside wouldn’t think anything of.
On that note The Doctor walks out of the house and into a line of gun-wielding local law including Marshal Reno (Alice Krige) and her second-in-command Jagger (Tom Alexander). They also try and convince The Doctor that Velar just moved out but after some probing our titular Time Lord finds out that Reno’s grandfather was killed in a war between humanity and Velar’s race and she clearly holds resentment towards them inherited from her family. Meanwhile Tegan meets local Doctor Spencer (Imogen Church) who is terrified of being seen talking to her. It’s all very uncomfortable for our lead trio as we go past the half-way mark.
Like I said the story is really unpleasantly realistic and due to that there’s no happy ending with The Doctor, Tegan and Nyssa having a bit of a laugh, so be prepared going in…
The Continuity:
A good cover nicely split in half for each story… Still would’ve preferred individual covers but you know, I’ve long since accepted that no longer being a thing…
No real continuity to speak of. Velar is an “old friend” but he only appeared in a short story that was a free download with this very boxset, so… Yeah.
Overall Thoughts:
Friendly Fire is a really well written story with sadly very believable villains in the shape of unpleasant human racist murderers… so in other words, I wouldn’t go into this story if you’re looking for a “fun romp”, as the old phrase goes. I’m happy to give it a four, but unlike what the logo says I doubt I’ll be listening to this again…
As The Doctor, Nyssa and Tegan go to leave they realise their shuttle has been rigged to blow but manage to escape the blast in time. They use this time where everyone thinks they’re cooked to speak with Spencer, who confirms that Reno riled up the townsfolk, convinced them Velar was hoarding all the good mining for himself and then led a mob to kill him and dump his body in a cave, then blow up the entrance, all due to irrational hatred she has towards Velar’s race. After an explosive buggy chase The Doctor destroys the other mine entrance and tells Reno that her ability to deny an investigation has gone up in smoke now a shuttle and two mines have been destroyed under her watch. Reno attempts to shoot The Doctor out of petty revenge but she herself is shot by Spencer, who is flanked by the rest of the small town’s populace, finally making a stand (though too late for poor old Velar…)
In the end The Doctor, Tegan and Nyssa leave as the police arrive, The Doctor sad that is peaceful and kind-hearted friend was killed in such a way, and Tegan saying how this time the alien was the good guy and the humans the monsters, when it’s usually the other way round. Nobody feels like visiting the space station’s tourist places any more either…
Hogan Reviews 