With the Doctor clashing with Tara, Captain Jack and Rose discover a hidden truth from Jack’s past.
The conclusion to part two of Slayer’s Song is quintessentially the right amount of visual spectacle and character fragility as the Doctor’s submissive and rash behaviour towards Tara is reminiscent to how he first treated Mickey, (or Ricky as he liked to call him) back in series one of the TV series.
At first, it was hard to understand the justifications the Doctor imposed for him to act so harshly, but requires you to rewind and remember where the Ninth Doctor is in his timeline, fresh out of the Time War.
With the Doctor and Tara saving Yiara from her own people, the Sereia, Jack and Rose stumble upon information which reveals an act in Jack’s past that he would rather forget. However, as Rose pursues the truth, the computer reveals a scientist he thought he’d killed, is, in fact, alive.
Writer Cavan Scott generously layers Jack’s past with all-around confident dialogue, demonstrating a deep understanding of Jack’s complicated past. His characterisation of the Ninth Doctor absolutely pinpoints his vocal mannerisms.
The Doctor’s psychological process is examined greatly as he sprints from determined warrior to spirited saviour, the consequences of his role in the (false) demise of the Time Lords is evidently present, setting a tense atmosphere that is both absorbing as it is tragic.
Mermaid like Yiara is an interesting antagonist turned victim as she is caught as a slave/hostage to her own people. Artist Adriana Melo and Colourist Marco Lesko have used their creative talents to produce an array of large-scale artwork that is vividly colourful and intimately gruesome; the close-up panels of the Sereia’s black eyes and needle teeth mouths catches the horror visualisation fantastically well.
The cliff-hanger was indeed a wonderfully arresting shock and one that will not only have your jaw drop but will have you question the morality of the Doctor once more.
The second instalment to Slayer’s Song aptly wraps up the conflict between Yiara and her people, further exploring the Ninth Doctor’s psychological state, and at the same time, highlighting the visual diversity of the Brazilian Jungle.
Blogtor Rating 8/10
Credits
COVER C: Marc Ellerby
