#melkur

The Borderlands - Melkur

Moon Mist Music

Yes.

Well, that is to say, the first time I read the Silmarillion, I was like "omg omg omg omg omg" at the connection. So I really want them to be.

If it were the other way around, it would be a sure thing. Tolkien doesn't do things on accident. But I don't actually know anything about the writer and whether he's that much of a nerd, you know?

But here's the thing. It's too beautiful not to be true. You know? Melkor is Lucifer - Tolkien didn't even bother to rub the serial numbers off of that one very hard. And Melkur is the Master at his most satanic - he's the whispering tempter, the almost literal Snake in the Garden. It's not subtle...

Doctor: I swear I've met him before.

Melkur: Soon I will control all of time.

Doctor: He's so familiar...

Melkur: I am your nemesis mwahahahaha

Cuz it sounds like Melkor "Melkur" is the Trakenite word for a fly caught in honey. They apply it to those evil beings who visit their world and get completely overwhelmed by the unbearable niceness. That is to say, the people of Traken are just so darned nice that evil sort of shrivels up and dies - or at least is completely immobilized. By all the niceness. That or the god-like power of the Keeper. And because the people of Traken are so very unbelievably nice, they treat it as their duty to care for these poor benighted scions of pure evil until such time as they eventually decay and fall apart. 

One particular Melkur - the one this post is about - proves unusually resilient, not doing much more than gathering moss, despite year and years of being given flowers by beautiful women. And that's the first really cool thing about Melkur. The villain of the piece spends the first half of the episode as an immobile stone statue that does literally nothing but stand there. I love the slow, patient villain. There's something like fifteen years of backstory and relationship build-up between Melkur and Kassia (the super nice Trakenite assigned to give it flowers). That long term of a progression isn't seen again until Dr. Simeon in "the Snowmen." But it's really cool. Because how much of a threat can an inanimate statue really be? Well...

Melkur is basically Satan. He's a tempter - a whisperer and a poisoner of the mind. He's subtle. (A subtle villain? What?) It's really insidious because all he does is stand there. But that's what Kassia needs - someone to talk to, someone who will listen and never judge. He's a girl's best friend, a confessor, and so when he finally asks something in return she's only too happy to give it. Especially since it's framed as him helping with her problem. The little redhead girl, alone in the garden, whose imaginary friend suddenly comes to life - sound familiar? He's always been there, and knows all her secrets, her fears and insecurities, how her mind works. Kassia never sold her soul, per se, but she spent years pouring it out for something she thought was safe - and turns out to be quite the opposite.

Because this particular Melkur is something so evil and twisted that it manages to (after 15-odd years of working at it, and as the power of the Keeper fades) overcome the cloying atmosphere of Traken and get itself moving again. And doing things like appearing sinisterly in doorways and shooting laser beams out of it's eyes (yeah...that escalated quickly). Okay, so, it's silly, but I really love the laser eyes thing. And it makes a ton of sense after the Reveal. Because Melkur is more than he appears. Part statue, part killer robot, part creature - and part something else entirely. Seductive, hypnotic, and deadly. Because even once he gets moving, he doesn't just go on a murderous rampage around Planet of the Really Nice People. No. Melkur has a plan - a plan that requires Kassia. As ever, his chief power is in his voice. (Wait, that's Saruman. Whatever). And with years of ammunition and patience at his disposal, and fueled by her own legitimate desperation (and just a wee bit of mind control) he can get Kassia to do whatever he wants. And it's this backgrounded threat that is really effective. The shadowy figure working through agents, but also the deeply personal and psychological/emotional danger he represents.

I also really like his design. The asymmetric visor makes him look like he's in a permanent sassy head-tilt. And the expression on his stone face is utterly unreadable. Stern or cruel? Concerned or condescending? What goes on behind those glowing red eyes, forever cold and silenced?  I just can't get over the subtlety of Melkur, a decently rare (but always desirable) trait in Doctor Who. Everything revolves around him, but he is (very nearly) the immobile point at the center. He's just a really extraordinarily cool villain.

But seriously, he totally sounds just like Melkor, who is the Satan figure from the Silmarillion, which is just too perfect for words. When I first read it I was like "wait, this guy's name is Melkor? Like in "the Keeper of Traken" ? That's AWESOME!"

The Keeper of Traken

'Ten People Who Revealed Their Underwear in Doctor Who:

1: Nyssa. Heeding fans' complaints about her always wearing trousers, she considerately flashed those gams. (Interestingly enough that's how she started out: in 'The Keeper of Traken' part three the Doctor helpfully lifted up her skirt when that gust of wind failed to do the job. It's true, really; go and have a look.)' - Doctor Who: The Completely Useless Encyclopedia

It always brings back memories of the time, whenever I watch Doctor Who from the end of the fourth Doctor's time and the fifth Doctor's. Somehow it was a period which I miss, in some ways, and yet in others I loathed the time. But for whatever reason, I have a fond nostalgia for it that is strong whenever I watch those episodes.

Part of it is probably to do with the fact that I was very much into Doctor Who for many years in my youth and had only the tapes that my family had recorded off television amid our many and frequent times moving house. As such, I had many of the fourth Doctor's to watch, since they were often repeated all around, but only a very few of the third and fifth Doctor's, and most of the sixth. For this reason, I had to do a good amount of searching and trading (this was before the internet made things much easier, so connections were usually only at conventions or fan gatherings) even to see a small amount of the stories of this period after I had seen them years before, when they originally showed.

'The Keeper of Traken' is really one of the best. I suppose you might have guessed that I like it, since I chose to take the name for my blog! And as you also may have surmised, Nyssa is one of my very favourite companions, and this is her introduction story.

The character of Nyssa, from what I heard here and there, was meant to be a supporting character for one story and one story only. However, she returned in the very next serial for perhaps the most noted changing of the guard in the whole series. It is said that Tom Baker insisted on making her a regular as one of his last gestures in the role. Others have said that she was brought on as a regular due to John Nathan-Turner's idea that the new Doctor needed a transition attended by at least some familiar characters. It might well have been a compromise, although I understand there was no love lost between Tom Baker and John Nathan-Turner. Or between anyone and John Nathan-Turner, as I recall.

Anyway, Nyssa really impresses in this story. She's kind-hearted and pretty, elegant and feminine, but she's also extremely intelligent, capable, and motivated. She takes the initiative many times in this serial alone to do what she knows is right, which is another bonus: she has a strong sense of right and wrong. To be honest, she's exactly what the TARDIS crew needed after the departure of Romana, though she never quite reached the point of the Time Lady.

Incidentally, another rumour about the time was that they attempted to get Lalla Ward back to reprise her role as Romana, to help the transition between the fourth and fifth Doctors, but it didn't work out for whatever reason. A pity, as I think it might have improved things in some areas.

Anyway, 'The Keeper of Traken' is the penultimate fourth Doctor story, setting the stage for what is to come. However, it stands very well on its own and is extremely strong and fast-paced. The first episode prepares the premise and, although the Doctor and Adric spend at least half of it in the TARDIS, it's not unreasonable since they're coping with the departure of Romana, their return to N-Space, and the solicitation of the Keeper of Traken for them to brave unimaginable danger to help him.

From the start, it's clear that things are not quite right on the idyllic-seeming world of Traken. Even the supposedly enlightened consulate are filled with distrust and paranoia, and thus the theme of the season -- entropy -- is brought to the setting of Traken too. Everything goes conveniently wrong for the Doctor and Adric once they've arrived, and if not for the intervention of the kindly Consul Tremas, things would have become truly dire indeed.

The story moves quickly from there, with the Doctor and Adric both working individually and together. Thankfully, this is a well-written tale that takes advantage of Adric's strengths and pairs him with Nyssa, who is also a scientific genius, and the two of them act independently as much as they do in tandem with the Doctor and Tremas. Unlike many of the fifth Doctor's adventures, which tend to waste Adric's presence, 'The Keeper of Traken' celebrates it.

The kindly Tremas is so likable, it really speaks well of Anthony Ainley's acting talents that he goes from such a gentle and loving, sensitive character to one of the most absolutely evil geniuses in the universe. And speaking of which, the surprise inclusion of the Master in this tale also had a strong impact at the time, and the Master is utterly and consummately maleficent. He has dispensed with the dark charm of his days as the third Doctor's best enemy, and instead is more a scheming, plotting wraith as in 'The Deadly Assassin'. Though the Master was always quite sinister, his malevolence in 'The Keeper of Traken' has no redeeming quality, no hope to him; he is purely evil and cruel.

The Traken civilisation is fascinating, in that it is so technologically advanced that in some ways it seems to outdo the Time Lords' own civilisation. It's a potent reminder that the Time Lords are not the pinnacle of the universe, as much as they might sometimes present themselves as such. It's a pity that nothing else was ever done with Traken, as I feel an exploration of the society might have been compelling.

The twists and surprises are significant in 'The Keeper of Traken', even after the first viewing. It's a poignant, hard-hitting drama that keeps the action brisk and the story lively. Just when something seems to be unfolding in a certain way, things change and something completely different happens. It's unpredictable, but in a way that it's crafted to be, not by accident. It's a tremendously well-composed tale.

What I Especially Liked

The Traken architecture and decor is stunning. A heavy art nouveau influence makes it a feast for the eyes. Just look at the Source! The fashions, as well, are marvellous. And although the hairstyles are not really to my liking for the most part, they are varied and beautiful in their own way, and they have a consistency of fashion that makes it seem a very realistic and engaging culture and society.

I also liked that the Master's involvement was kept secret until the very last episode. Even the Doctor was surprised that he was behind it. This is one of the most poignant inclusions of the Master, in my opinion. Like the exciting sudden turn in 'Frontier in Space', the last-hour revelation of the Master was very powerful.

The way it was done really was stunning. The little clues started to come together. And then, at the end of episode three, it became very clear: the Melkur vanished with the familiar sound of a TARDIS dematerialising. Even though it took the Doctor a little longer to face the true foe, by then we had a sinking feeling that we knew exactly who it was.

Tremas was portrayed beautifully and written as a believable and likable character. He was not extreme in any direction, but well-rounded and accessible. He worked so well as the only really sensible, reasonable consul of the group, and the excellent performance made it all work. Accordingly, Kassia was also well-done and conveyed a tragic figure. Notably she clearly wasn't Nyssa's mother, but it was very organically handled; no-one spoke of their relationship outside the introduction because it didn't really have any bearing on the events.

Nyssa, of course, is an excellent supporting character and would have been such a tragic missed opportunity if they had not invited her to become a companion. Even though she did not depart with the Doctor in the last episode, she would return in the next serial. Her character was so very likable without being overbearing or too much. She was lovable and endearing without sacrificing being capable, although she was not so capable that she never had to be defended or rescued.

I like the Doctor's avuncular nature, and it shows very strongly in 'The Keeper of Traken'. He worries about Adric and Nyssa and tries to get them to safety. On more than one occasion, he helps them to avoid danger. He knows it's a dire situation, and it's made clear that he has his own suspicions about the whole affair before it's revealed.

I liked very much the threat that was intimated by the Keeper's power, if it should fall into the wrong hands. It gave a great scale to the conflict and also made me want to know much more about the Traken civilisation.

The commentary of the serial was also very fondly embraced: that corrupt leadership can seriously damage a society. The consuls other than Tremas were all in some way lacking resolve, paranoid, suspicious, impotent, desperate, or otherwise useless. It painted a poignant picture of the fatal flaw in even an ideal system that has worked for some time and, of course, incorporated the theme of entropy.

What I Didn't Particularly Like

I really didn't care much for the epilogue. Yes, I understand there was a need to re-establish the Master as a formidable foe for the Doctor. However, I feel it would have been better had he simply turned up in the subsequent serial without having that linking cliffhanger; it didn't really add much of anything.

I also should probably mention that, while I did like the writing very much, there was a bit too much of the round-and-round in it. Still, it made the most out of actually a very few sets and stretched them quite far, in a way that was involving and absorbing.

The Master's makeup is not so scary as it was in 'The Deadly Assassin', and I have to say it probably would have been more chilling if it were. However, it's possible that his appearance was altered due to him attempting to use some sort of rejuvenation device. Still, for whatever reason, I think the earlier makeup was more striking.

Scariest Moment

Whenever Kassia used her eye beams. Good lord that was freaky.

Most Charming Moment

When Nyssa, full of purpose and resolve, has the people cleared out of the way so that Adric can return to the grove and the TARDIS. It's extra amusing because Tremas himself didn't do it even though he had the chance just earlier.

And of course Nyssa's rescue of the Doctor. This was the moment when it was most clear that she would be an excellent choice to accompany the Doctor on his travels. She was able to take care of herself.

Bits That Took Me Back

All of it! It's not particularly dated, but it does take me back to a certain time because of its lead-in to 'Logopolis' and that time from my youth that nostalgia wells up for when I watch the early 80s serials. So much comes flooding back, whether I want it to or not! 'The Keeper of Traken', however, was a serial that my family had missed taping, I seem to recall, and I only got to review it years later when it was finally released on video.

And I remember the epilogue creeping me out when I was younger; it is extremely creepy.

In Closing

This is one of the best serials, if rather seriously dark. It has its moments, though unfortunately the Doctor isn't as jovial as he had been up to now. The E-Space adventures took their toll on his persistent cheer and, even though there were a few little quips, the Doctor is more gravely serious in 'The Keeper of Traken' than he has been in a long time. It's possibly due to the scale of things, which as I mentioned may outdo the Time Lords.

The costumes are fantastic, the sets are magnificent, and the story is a mystery slowly unfolding...and hitting hard once it does. It doesn't stop moving once it starts, and soon it's all over and the viewer is left in awe. It's a superb build-up to what would come just after it, and it is a poignant cap to the other adventures of the fourth Doctor.