The Angel of Scutari

 

The Angel of Scutari by Paul Sutton

I've long voiced my exceeding irritation at the Hex arc's repetitive war stories, and this is probably because I generally don't like war stories. War is hell, and something to be avoided and it's very bad, so naturally you're going to have stories that rake you through the mud with the soldiers and what not, that's the obvious route to take, and you know, that's really a very sore thing for me. I can't help but dislike them because so many of them feel like each other too. It's worse if it's the opposite and the story embraces and glorifies war, so you can't go in the opposite, and goddamn, I really don't like war stories, and I think that's been a big damper on the Hex arc for me in general, every story either being a war or Orwell's 1984 or a haunted house where a bunny cuts out your eyes. 

However, while I am a big fan of fun in my Doctor Who, I can usually accept something that's damn well written and enjoy it and yeah, The Angel of Scutari, while I feel it would be WAY better with a group of companions that doesn't go through a war every week, is pretty fucking gorgeous, so I'm not gonna go on and complain really. And yeah, The Angel of Scutari does have some good writing. It opens with an excerpt from the fricking Charge of the Light Brigade.

The Angel of Scutari isn't really a Doctor-lite, as he's there more than usual in a Doctor-lite, but it sort of borders on it, most of the plot just straight up being entirely Hex. This is good, because really, Seven had been taxing me with the endless Machiavelli nonsense, and Ace, while better in this story than most, can easily not be characterized well. The Hex focus is coupled with the moral dilemma about time travel, and you may think you've heard this one before - The Aztecs, Fires of Pompeii, all of them, but what Angel of Scutari has is that it directly contrasts that with the Hippocratic Oath and has Hex just straight up trying to help people. That's his only real goal in the story, and yes, he comes out of it rather badly beaten, but I think there's something really delightful about it, that in a way, he did make a difference. Hex's relationship with Florence Nightingale, someone he really looks up to, is certainly a highlight. The whole Hex portion of the plot, while dirty and messed up and sad, is exceptionally moving and filled with heart, which I do think is what matters. 

Florence is really well characterized and very real, especially wonderful because there is often a tinge of celebrity historical-izing when it comes to Doctor Who guest stars. Florence is treated as a good person, because she was, but she isn't sugar coated - she uses outdated medical beliefs that set Hex off on edge when they first meet. Couple this with some very earnest dialogue and she does feel effortlessly real in a way that I can't help but adore. Her flaws inform her character - she's delightfully well done, and an excellent example of a good person that makes you go "wow that's a good person" without the Doctor saying "wow what a good person" every two seconds. 

Ace is done better than she usually is here. I think this has to do with the fact that she's treated as "experienced time traveller" who the story openly questions whether or not she should really be acting like this, rather than quippy kid with explosives and catchphrases. This angle of development for Ace really should have gone somewhere. It's annoying that she feels more mature in this tale than she does in Dark Universe when she is actually nearing 60. 

The story can lose you at times because it's told out of order in an incredibly strange way. While at times, I'm a fan of choices like this for dramatic or fun sort of stuff, it's more done in The Angel of Scutari to keep the plot moving - a practical reason rather than for a storytelling purpose. As such, it can lose you if you aren't willing to pay a lot of attention, as it is surprisingly intricate. The story felt a little overlong to me, but it probably wasn't, in my opinion, I did actually do the rare thing and listen to this story in one sitting, which generally does make it always feel weaker than it does if you listen to the parts in two or more sittings. I think that might have been just me. All in all, I do feel rather kind towards The Angel of Scutari, which is surprising, and lovely, because you know, I really do not like the Hex arc direction at all. If you just let the Seventh Doctor show some kindness next maybe I can get properly invested again for Death in the Family and I'll maybe like it half as much as everyone else does. 8/10