Survival [TV/1989.11.22 ~ 12.6]

★★★★☆

  Here we are, the final serial of the classic series. I'm sure, whoever you are that's reading this, that if you've ever heard of Survival, you've most likely heard to death of how it unknowingly became the perfect final bookmark to a long-running series. Certainly, there are a whole bucketload of motifs about decay, death, slow-acting entropy, and the cruelty and wilderness within ourselves that rear their ugly heads in times of -- well, in times of survival. It's in the title, quite literally; the Doctor and Ace strive to survive in the planet of the Cheetah People, and Dr. Who as a programme is barely holding onto a spot in the BBC. Like the barren wasteland of the planet, the decrepit and run-down streets and alleyways of Perivale, Who was on its last legs -- and I'm glad to say my opinion over the years haven't changed trajectories. Survival is, against all odds, one strong serial to go out on.

  The biggest thing going for it is its absolute vigor. This is a truly grim adventure with hungry Cheetah People eating people alive after kidnapping them from their unsuspecting lives, the Master (played to the absolute hilt by Anthony Ainley, for the last time on the show proper) as a much more feral beast who's barely holding in his base desires -- and instinct for survival, of course, and a much grittier, meaner group of guest characters that are far from the silly and hardwired into the fatalistic, downright murderous (Midge being the obvious candidate here). It's astounding work from Rona Munro, then, that maintains all the heavy themes and dark, oppressive and apocalyptic atmosphere while being quite a breezy and engaging three-parter, easy to digest and much easier to love. Dominic Glynn's score, for one, is a work of genius that has very distinct leitmotifs and instrumental stings for each significant location (for example, how the electric guitars kick in only during the Cheetah People planet). His music here is so much a knock on the door from the 1990s; the Keff McCulloch synth extravaganzas are to make way for the music of tomorrow, and this score is what makes Survival stand out from the rest of the classic series... it feels like something from the 90s, and it makes sense as it was released a year earlier. Sylvester McCoy and Sophie Aldred each put in great performances, with the former really selling his final fight with the Master and showing that even the Doctor isn't exempt from succumbing to the survival instinct/savagery of the planet, and the latter delivering perhaps her greatest performance in her time on the TV show. Survival is a crucial stepping stone for Ace, where her balance of instinct and sense of home are put to the test and she develops a special relationship with a cheetah named Karra (so sad the lesbian subtext was all but cut out entirely). Season 26 is when you start to believe that the Seventh Doctor and Ace are an all-timer duo, and Survival only reinforces that notion tenfold. A fitting quality for the end of the classic series, really.

  Survival works as a summary and sendoff of the classic era (the monsters, effects, alien planets, renegade Time Lords, companions, character moments), as well as a miraculous glimpse of the future (Series 1 of the new series borrows so many elements from Season 26, and the theme of going back home and seeing how your home's outgrown you is a big part of Rose Tyler's journey as well). It's a fascinating deep dive into the urge within us to survive, to succumb to the strong, and through Ace and the Doctor's journey, it reminds us that it's always worth fighting for what's right and for staying true to who you choose to be. It's very important that the Doctor is also seen to struggle with this force of nature; this isn' a monster to defeat, this sense of fear and desperation is within him as well, and it's up to him to show the kiddies watching the show (however many there were left at the time of broadcast, anyway) that anyone can overcome and become whatever they want. Very interesting that the Master, usually such a cunning enemy, is seen as this desperate man fighting to keep his sanity alive. No one is truly "evil" in Survival, but most are just hungry. Whichever way you look at it, the classic series really couldn't have ended on a more poignant note. I really love Survival.