"I Was Once Comely..."

Sharez Jek is knocking out Cylons!

Ah, Sharez Jek. What a guy. Part Phantom of the Opera, part walking thesaurus. I mean, who uses words like "jackanapes", "comely" (I had to look that one up) and "perfidious" this side of Shakespeare? However, one thing is certain: he may wear false eyelashes but he is definitely 100% heterosexual. Even the Doctor (who is usually oblivious to such things) realises that the bloke dressed in the skin-tight leather and gimp mask is making a move on his companion. Jek even admits that he hasn't had a wank in years - talk about comely!

What is particularly exciting about this episode is just how fantastically awful everybody is. And I'm not talking about the acting (Maurice Roeves fluffs a line and it just makes the scene feel more gritty). Robert Holmes should have called this story The Caves of the Bastards. I mean, just look at these people: sadistic mercenaries, deranged scientists, amoral businessmen, corrupt presidents, and generals who'd rather kill their own men than have the piss taken out of them back at the barracks. It's little wonder that the Doctor can't wait to get the hell out of there. Even Salateen (the real one) has a bloody good laugh when he learns that the Doctor and Peri are about to die - and he's the closet thing we're gonna get to a good guy! I'm willing to bet good money on Professor Jackich being a paedophile.

And finally, there isn't a shit monster in this episode. I don't care what the others say, it simply isn't there. Honest.

Comments

[Paul Hayes]

Am I the only one who's ever wondered whether Professor Jackich is supposed to have been Jek, pre-accident?

[Sean]

Hmm, never thought of that. Very interesting point.

It would also explain how Jek manages to store all that Spectrox without ever risking himself (or is that, perhaps, more to do with his using the androids to refine it?)

Jek/Jakijj? We may just have a whole new way of looking at 'Androzani'...