2 episodes. Approx. 143 minutes. Written by: Matthew Sweet. Directed by: Gary Russell. Produced by: Gary Russell.
THE PLOT
The year is 1913. The brink of a world war - but no one knows that yet. It is still a time of leisure in Europe, as vacationers from various countries enjoy a pleasant seaside resort in Belgium. The Doctor and Peri are there for the same reason - a relaxing vacation, one that will allow the Doctor to finally catch up on his Proust.
Until Inspector Chardalot (Michael Keating) almost drowns in the water. The Doctor rescues him, pulling him to safety... and embroiling himself and Peri in mystery. It's clear very quickly that Chardalot is not all he seems. The inspector is hunting somebody. Perhaps the mysterious occupant of Suite 139? The energetic Miss Bultitude (Maureen O'Brien) is certainly stalking that suite, eager to meet its occupant: A distinguished gentleman of the stage, one with a rather porcine character.
His name is Toby. Toby the Sapient Pig (Paul Brooke). For his part, Toby is hiding, on the run from a man he is convinced wants him dead. A man he refers to as... "the Doctor!"
CHARACTERS
The Doctor: Colin Baker is wonderful here, his relaxed performance a prime example of why he so quickly became so very acclaimed as an audio Doctor. The script emphasizes the Doctor's compassionate side, from his patient and gentle interactions with Toby in Part One to the almost regretful way that he reveals the truth to the guest cast at the end of Part Two. Though I do think that much of what happened to Colin's television era was the fault of external forces, I also think that he would likely be better remembered had his television scripts focused more on this side of his Doctor.
Peri: Going from Timelash straight to this might give you whiplash! The Peri of this story is no damsel in distress, existing only to be menaced and leered at by the villains until the Doctor can rescue her. She is very much a partner to the Doctor, actively investigating the deceptions of Inspector Chardalot while maintaining a wary skepticism of all the guest characters. One imagines that this was more the characterization Nicola Bryant would have liked to have had in the mid-1980's, as opposed to being dragged around hallways wearing bondage collars.
The Pig: Paul Brooke is also very good, maintaining Toby's gentlemanly status at all times, even when standing over the unconscious bodies of the Doctor and Peri wondering if he should "eat the evidence." Brooke's proper English tones are perfect as Toby reminisces about his life on the stage while ordering incredible quantities of gourmet food. I also enjoyed his moments of moodiness, such as when he descends into a fit of pique after Miss Bultitude confesses to having bought a taxidermist's knockoff of him (offended as much at the low price of the knockoff as the taxidermy itself).
THOUGHTS
The Year of the Pig is a story that could be safely described as "not for all tastes." It wasn't even entirely suited to my tastes, on first listen in 2006. Though I initially enjoyed the quirkiness and the atmosphere, on that first listen my interest drifted as it went along. In the end, I felt it was too long, too slow, too silly.
Revisiting it six years later, I find my initial dismissal of it insupportable. This is no interesting effort that didn't quite come off. On the contrary, I think outgoing producer Gary Russell's valedictory serial is one of the jewels of his long era, full of wit and atmosphere and an oddball charm that makes it something to be savored.
Year of the Pig is a long story. It is not an exciting one. Incident is minimal, with the characters put in immediate danger exactly three times during the entire 140+ minutes of it. The vast bulk of the serial consists of people sitting in rooms, talking. Mostly talking around subjects, often talking about things half-remembered or remembered falsely. That is, when the characters aren't simply flat-out lying.
The unreliability of the characters is one of the story's cleverest conceits. Early in the story, Toby described memories of his childhood and his parents. At first, he seems to be describing particularly vivid memories. But when pressed for more details, he simply repeats the exact phrases he's said, only more emphatically - a clear signal that his memories are not real memories at all. When another character does something similar later in the story, it's a major clue to the audience as to the real situation behind the characters' beliefs about their situation.
Matthew Sweet's script makes wonderful use of language. There are many points in this story in which mental pictures are conjured - not of the direct characters and actions (which are, again, usually people sitting in rooms), but of the things they are discussing and describing. The dialogue is vivid, detailed, and wonderfully descriptive. A simple conversation will occasionally turn to a startlingly effective moment, whether it be Toby's chillingly accurate description of the hells of the Great War still on Europe's horizon or a detailed description of an illustration that ties together so many of the story's threads at the end.
Overall, on this listen I found Year of the Pig to be a lovely piece. It may appear light and fluffy at a glance, but there are layers of flavor beneath the surface. It's a meal that I think it best not to bolt in one go (probably my mistake on first listen). This is a dish best savored. Allow yourself pauses to absorb the atmosphere and reflect on the various tastes and textures. By spacing out the story over four sessions this time, I was able to appreciate each course as it came - and in the end, I found it an absolute delight.
While anything but a fast-paced adventure, and very far from a traditional Doctor Who romp, Year of the Pig is a story that audio Who is the richer for possessing. Far from the disappointment I first dismissed it as, I now think it's a fine curtain for the Gary Russell era of Big Finish Productions.
Rating: 9/10.
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