Human Conflict

The Churchill Years #2.2

Released: 15 February 2018

Listened: 9/6/22

This story takes place on a rather broader canvas than the previous. It’s 1941, the war is in full swing, and Churchill is Prime Minister, and looking for any edge he can get in this fight. When he hears of a weapon that can destroy mountains, he sends his best agent, Lt. Fleming – yes, that Ian Fleming – to investigate. They end up with an alien arms dealer who’s fairly willing to sell to either the Allies, the Nazis, or maybe even both. There’s a clandestine meeting in Dundee, where Churchill was once a member of Parliament, but he has only bad memories of it. Writer Iain McLaughlin uses the setting well, getting in a car chase worthy of a spy movie. The Doctor doesn’t actually seem to do a whole lot, just flitting around the edges, until he tries to get rid of the arms dealer, because once again, he’s going to deny either side weapons that are too advanced for this time period. Ian McNeice actually attempts the Ninth Doctor’s northern accent, just a little bit, but more than he did in the last story. This version of Churchill is determined to “do what it takes, no matter the cost” to win his war, even if that means compromising his morals, and the Doctor, especially this Doctor, doesn’t want to see anyone else do that. Unfortunately, he also knows that there’s no way to spare Winston or England the rest of this war.