The Ark

MANYAK: Steven, prove to us your good faith. Would your friend, the Doctor, have any knowledge how to deal with this fever?
STEVEN: Yes, he probably would if you'd let him out of that cell so that he had a chance to experiment.
ZENTOS: Yes, of course he would. He would love that and by such means spread the fever even further and faster.

(Utter utter moron)

MANYAK: If they were in fact agents of the Refusians, they could have a achieved their objective in a much simpler way. One in which they would not have exposed themselves to this danger.

WOMAN: That's no argument!

(Um, yes it is. A much better argument than any of the prosecutors ever come near!)

ZENTOS: Thank you, Doctor. So you were right after all!

(What a shameless git)

MONOID 2: Don't worry. It may not take as long as you think.
DODO: What do you mean? Are you up to something?
MONOID 2: Er, no.

• Steven’s attitude towards Dodo not knowing the TARDIS is a space and time machine is a bit cheeky considering what he was like in the Time Meddler. And though I like Dodo (yes, I do. At least she has fun and makes the most of her adventures), it’s interesting that when presented with a statue that the Guardians talk about with such pride she tries to scratch it. That’s very bad form, Dodo! 
• I don’t know where to begin with “Commander”. Well, firstly that he doesn’t have a name. Why doesn’t he have a bloody name? It’s the opposite of the Space Museum, where Lobos had a name and nobody else did. Secondly, Eric Elliott is terrible. Really terrible. He’s supposed to be the nice one, but the way he says the Doctor and co. should be “not arrested, but invited” is delivered as if he thinks he’s playing someone truly evil. I think he must be the worst actor since Lorne Cassette Tape in the Sensorites. 
• The thing about “Earth years” is odd, too. Before the Doctor even shows up there’s a trial where “Commander” says that the person guilty of the thing that’s never really specified will be miniaturised and then reconstituted in “apsproximately (sic) 700 years”. So why, later, when Steven asks him, does he say that they’ll reach Refusis in “700 years in your way of telling time”? Is he just being a snob about it? 
  
• Zentos is so bloody annoying. He’s a moron. If they’re 700 years from Refusis, how can the Doctor be from there anyway? And putting Steven in a cage to yell abuse at him and decide he’s guilty before the trial even begins is fascinating. Doesn’t say much for humans of the future. Though I do admire Zentos for the guts he has to condemn someone to death and ignore all the fairly obvious evidence in their favour and then when it turns out they were innocent simply say, “so you were right after all, Doctor!” with a friendly smile at the end. “HAHAHA I condemned you in the most absurd kangaroo court that’s ever been seen, but since I was overruled by somebody who actually has two brain cells, no harm done, eh? We’re still best mates, eh? Apology? Grovelling? Never heard of those words, I’m afraid”. It’s ridiculous. 
• The Security Kitchen. The story gets so many brownie points for having a security kitchen. 
• It’s nice of the Monoids to sort the situation out for everyone. They tell the Doctor where the bomb is hidden and then proceed to kill each other. But then, they’re not a smart race. Giving away their plans, breaking vases for no apparent reason, having security kitchens… 
• I like how Erickson and Scott feel the need to remind us that there’s a bomb in such a patronising manner (“remember the bomb, three? Remember it? That bomb we’ve been talking about lots and lots? Remember? The bomb?”) in an episode that’s called “the Bomb”!

Verdict

I want to like the Ark. It’s doing something a little bit different. The idea of finding out the consequences of the Doctor’s involvement is a good one. It’s just a shame it has to be this. There’s just so much that doesn’t work, or is simply plain stupid. Worst of all, large patches are really fairly dull. Some stories improve with repeat viewings, but I find I like the Ark less and less every time. It also ends with something of an anti-climax. A fairly ominous one, too, as the Doctor instructs the humans and Monoids to make peace. Maybe the new series should visit Refusis 700 years on again and find out what the crazy kids have got up to now.