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Doctor Who: The Lost Stories - 2.1B
The Fragile Yellow Arc of Fragrance Written by Moris Farhi
Adapted by Nigel Robinson
Directed by John Ainsworth
Published: November 2010 |
What's It All About
The Fragile Yellow Arc of Fragrance is an interesting addition to Doctor Who history. Produced during the series' infancy in 1964 by Moris Farhi, it was never intended to be broadcast, but to serve as a pitch to show to script editor David Whitaker.
Whitaker obviously saw enough potential in Farhi to commission him to write a six-part historical story, which he later developed as Farewell, Great Macedon. Unfortunately, that story never made it to our television screens either and joined such other famous lost stories as The Masters of Luxor, The Giants and The Hidden Planet.
Nearly fifty years later, Big Finish Productions decided to bring many of these lost stories back from the dead and finally bring them back in some form. Working with Farhi, Nigel Robinson set about adapting both Farewell, Great Macedon and The Fragile Yellow Arc of Fragrance. After forty-six years and, despite never being intended for release, we finally get to visit the planet Fragrance.
Indeed, the Doctor is so relaxed he even agrees to let a couple of the locals have a good ole mooch around the TARDIS, much to Ian's amazement. This proved to be the most entertaining and informative part of the story as we learn more detail about how the TARDIS operates than we have in the 50+ years of televised stories.
Of course, the main focus of the story is on Barbara and her relationship with a local young man named Rhythm. Throughout their stay on the planet Fragrance, Barbara and Rhythm have spent a lot of time together and now he has fallen in love with her. This isn't a typical holiday romance that he'll get over in time, it is a biological imperative that she reciprocates. The people of Fragrance have two phases of life, the thin purple arc and the fragile yellow arc. The fragile yellow arc is only attained when a young person falls in love with another and it is reciprocated. If not, the person is biologically tuned to sail out into the ocean and sacrifice their life.
Naturally, Barbara, although not in love with Rhythm, is compelled to remain behind so that he can live, and almost decides to do so. However, the decision to do so is taken out of her hands as the Doctor sets the TARDIS off and they watch on the scanner as Rhythm sails out to sea.
The Fragile Yellow Arc of Fragrance is a very interesting and heartbreaking piece by Moris Farhi, and it is obvious to see how this story appealed to David Whitaker so much that he commissioned him to write the upcoming Farewell, Great Macedon. On its own, though, the story just wouldn't have fit into the era of Doctor Who that was being broadcast in 1964.
Whitaker obviously saw enough potential in Farhi to commission him to write a six-part historical story, which he later developed as Farewell, Great Macedon. Unfortunately, that story never made it to our television screens either and joined such other famous lost stories as The Masters of Luxor, The Giants and The Hidden Planet.
Nearly fifty years later, Big Finish Productions decided to bring many of these lost stories back from the dead and finally bring them back in some form. Working with Farhi, Nigel Robinson set about adapting both Farewell, Great Macedon and The Fragile Yellow Arc of Fragrance. After forty-six years and, despite never being intended for release, we finally get to visit the planet Fragrance.
The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly
For this era of Doctor Who it is very unusual for an adventure to open when the Doctor and his companions have already been in one location for a few weeks, had a nice relaxing holiday while the locals have fashioned a replacement part for the TARDIS, and are now preparing to leave. It is certainly a welcome change of pace, seeing how the TARDIS crew are when they're relaxing, rather than running down endless corridors, shoving Daleks or tackling Voord.Indeed, the Doctor is so relaxed he even agrees to let a couple of the locals have a good ole mooch around the TARDIS, much to Ian's amazement. This proved to be the most entertaining and informative part of the story as we learn more detail about how the TARDIS operates than we have in the 50+ years of televised stories.
Of course, the main focus of the story is on Barbara and her relationship with a local young man named Rhythm. Throughout their stay on the planet Fragrance, Barbara and Rhythm have spent a lot of time together and now he has fallen in love with her. This isn't a typical holiday romance that he'll get over in time, it is a biological imperative that she reciprocates. The people of Fragrance have two phases of life, the thin purple arc and the fragile yellow arc. The fragile yellow arc is only attained when a young person falls in love with another and it is reciprocated. If not, the person is biologically tuned to sail out into the ocean and sacrifice their life.
Naturally, Barbara, although not in love with Rhythm, is compelled to remain behind so that he can live, and almost decides to do so. However, the decision to do so is taken out of her hands as the Doctor sets the TARDIS off and they watch on the scanner as Rhythm sails out to sea.
The Fragile Yellow Arc of Fragrance is a very interesting and heartbreaking piece by Moris Farhi, and it is obvious to see how this story appealed to David Whitaker so much that he commissioned him to write the upcoming Farewell, Great Macedon. On its own, though, the story just wouldn't have fit into the era of Doctor Who that was being broadcast in 1964.
7/10
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