Warriors' Gate

It's like talking with a Cheshire Cat.

Now the conclusion of the E-space trilogy and the departure of Romana and K-9. I've heard mixed things about this one and I think it is generally regarded as the weakest of the trilogy. All I really know about it is that involves time-sensitive lion-men so I'm coming into this one as a fairly blank slate.

Plot Summary

An Earth ship is attempting to go into warp drive. It is carrying a group of sedated humanoid lions called Tharls aboard and using one of the Tharls, named Biroc, as it's unwilling navigator. The ship is damaged an stuck in a neutral space between E- and N-space. Biroc appears to pass out and the captain, Rorvik, orders him taken below. Biroc comes to and shakes off his custodians, running out into a white void.

On the TARDIS, the Doctor and Romana debate about how to get back to N-space while Adric listens quietly. The Doctor suggests just pushing random buttons to see if anything will happen, though Romana restrains him. Adric however, does push a random button and the TARDIS flies off. Their flight is intercepted by Biroc, who appears out of phase. His appearance also opens the TARDIS to time winds which damage K-9.

Biroc guides the TARDIS to the null space and then leaves, although giving a warning about the people they will soon meet. Seeing K-9 damaged, the Doctor has Romana start to repair him while the Doctor leaves the TARDIS to follow Biroc. The Doctor and Romana also note that they are in a bridge of space between E- and N-space.

The TARDIS shows up on the scanner of the human ship. Already thinking of leaving to find Biroc rather than attempting to wake another Tharl and potentially killing others (and cutting into their profits), Rorvik and two others leave the ship to investigate the TARDIS. They find it and attempt to gain entrance.

The Doctor follows Biroc through the void to a small castle gate. Inside is an old hall, covered in dust and cobwebs. Biroc finds a mirror and passes through it. The Doctor enters and starts looking around. As he does so, one of the suits of armor comes to life and lifts its sword to attack him. The Doctor dodges it but the armor continues to pursue him, soon joined by a second.

To determine if Rorvik and his crew are friendly or not, Romana leaves the TARDIS but gives Adric warning to wait for her signal. She converses with Rorvik, who becomes suspicious that she might be a time sensitive person and invites her back to his ship to examine the damage. Romana sends gives a signal for Adric to be cautious and wait in the TARDIS and then goes off with them.

Adric however, does not obey and instead waits a few minutes and then decides to head off looking for her and the Doctor with K-9. K-9 is still damaged and they soon get lost in the void. Adric gets an idea to help K-9, removing one of his ears to help him triangulate better. It helps K-9 but Adric becomes lost himself.

The Doctor manages to corner himself in such a way that the two robotic suits of armor damage themselves. He opens up their circuits and begins to interrogate them. They are Gundan warrior robots, designed to guard the gate. They lose power before they can elaborate leaving the Doctor frustrated. However, K-9 arrives at the gate and the Doctor decides to hook him up to give a temporary power boost to the robots.

On Rorvik's ship, he grabs Romana and hooks her up to the navigation unit. She is unable to provide complete navigation but she does give enough for the castle gate to show up on the scanner as a physical location. Rorvik decides to head out to investigate with most of the crew. He orders two crew members to bring out one of the Tharls to be woken up on his return.

Rorvik and his men arrive at the gate just as the Doctor is getting information about there being three gates and they all being one. They threaten him to reveal more but are distracted by one of the robots suddenly getting up and passing through the gate. The Doctor grabs K-9 and dodges through the fortress. At risk of being cornered again, he leaves K-9 and passes through the gate, leaving Rorvik and his crew alone with K-9.

The two remaining crewmen on Rorvik's ship pull out one of the Tharls but against orders, try to revive him. They end up electrocuting him instead and leave the body for someone else. However, the Tharl is not dead. He gets up and makes his way to the bridge where he finds Romana bound to the navigation chair. He loosens the straps but has to hide before undoing them completely as the two crewmen left behind enter.

The two men debate what to do with her and are startled by her opening her eyes and asking questions. They leave her on the bridge as Rorvik calls them over the radio to ready a piece of heavy equipment called the M-Z for transport. Romana then slips out of her loosened bonds and hides under a tarp in the equipment bay.

Rorvik and his men fire at the mirror gate but their weapons bounce back at them. Rorvik sends three men back to the ship while he radios to prep the M-Z. K-9 follows, attempting to get new masters but he is unceremoniously tossed out of the ship when he attempts to enter.

While the door is open, Adric slips in and hides under the same tarp as Romana. The tarp covers the M-Z, which is rolled out of the ship. However, it is left while the engineer, Lane, looks over the damaged warp drive. Romana and Adric slip out and look at the ship, discovering it is made of dwarf-star alloy. K-9 rolls up shrieking about the mass contraction of the null space. His warning alerts the crew and Romana is recaptured though Adric and K-9 run escape.

Romana is taken back inside the ship while the rest of the crew push the M-Z to the gate. Inside the ship, the loose Tharl, named Lazlo, emerges and knocks out Romana's guard. He takes her and they vanish to the gate and pass through it. They emerge in the upper balcony, watching Rorvik and his men.

After passing through the gate, the Doctor meets Biroc who appears to be waiting for him. Biroc informs him that although K-9 will be repaired, only organic matter may pass through the gate. The Doctor follows Biroc through a series of gardens until the both reemerge in the fortress at an earlier time. The Tharls are feasting about the table while being served by human slaves.

The Doctor realizes that the Tharls were the slave masters who ruled a great empire and built the Gundans. He also notes they show as little compassion for their slaves as did the human crew who has now enslaved the Tharls. The dinner is interrupted by a squad of Gundans who break in and attack the party. Romana, sensing danger, runs down to the Doctor. The Doctor is then instantly transported back to the present where Rorvik and his men surround the Doctor and Romana at the table.

Rorvik demands to know the secret of the mirror, believing it to be the way out, and refuses to believe that it can only be accessed by the Tharls or other time sensitives. K-9 Enters and warns the Doctor of the null space collapsing on itself. The Doctor is confused but Romana tells him that Rorvik's ship is made of dwarf star alloy, making it a matter sink in the void.

K-9 attempts to pass through the mirror but loses power. The Doctor runs toward him and Rorvik, frustrated at the lack of answers, prepares to shoot him. Through the mirror, the Doctor sees Biroc, admitting that the Tharls were wrong in their enslavement of others. He now plans to change the future.

Before Rorvik can fire, Adric appears from behind the M-Z device, threatening to fire it. The Doctor runs up and mans the controls, ordering Romana and Adric out while carrying K-9. He follows shortly after and all four reenter the TARDIS. Rorvik starts to pursue but decides not to bother. He fires the M-X at the mirror but the blast rebounds, destroying the device. Rorvik, becoming unhinged, leads his men back to the ship.

Once on the ship, Rorvik turns the ship so that it's engines point toward the fortress. He intends to create a back blow from the engines and try to shatter the mirror that way. The Doctor sees this on the scanner and heads out to stop him, fearing the rebound will destroy everything in the void. Romana comes with him to help.

Rorvik observes the Doctor and Romana entering the outer hull of the ship and goes after them. He also orders his men to wake the remaining Tharls. As Rorvik exits the ship, Biroc and Lazlo are hiding near it. Biroc follows while Lazlo enters the ship. Rorvik catches up to the Doctor and stops him from creating a power drain on the engine. Romana starts the process but Rorvik knocks her aside and stops the drain. Biroc appears beside them and tells the two Time Lords that they should do nothing. He takes their hands and the trio disappears as Rorvik gloats.

Inside the ship, the two low levels who tried to reanimate Lazlo, Sagan and Aldo, beg off and Royce tries to reanimate the Tharls. He electrocutes three of them and is preparing a fourth when Lazlo comes up behind him. Royce attacks him but Lazlo overpowers him, electrocuting him with a severed cable. Lazlo then begins to wake the other Tharls.

Biroc, Romana and the Doctor appear outside the TARDIS. The Doctor enters but Romana refuses, electing to stay in E-space with the Tharls rather than return to Gallifrey. The Doctor gives her K-9, telling her to fix him. The Doctor dematerializes in the TARDIS while Biroc, Romana and K-9 enter the fortress and pass through the mirror.

The human ship discharges it's engines but the blast rebounds off the mirror. Much of the fortress is destroyed along with the human ship. However, out of the wrecked hull, the reanimated Tharls emerge and pass through the mirror. The TARDIS briefly materializes in the Tharl's garden before disappearing again and returning to N-space. Romana and K-9 watch and the walk way with Biroc, promising to help him pass through time and free his remaining enslaved people.

Analysis

I think it is safe to say that Warriors' Gate is weird. In many ways, it reminds me of The Curse of Fenric in that there is more story here but that there wasn't enough time to put it down. Unlike Fenric though, I doubt any of that extra material was ever filmed.

First I must praise both the direction and conception of the story. The direction was very well done and you felt instantly in good hands with the opening tracking shot leading from the sleeping Tharls to the bridge. There were a lot of good camera shots and interesting points of view throughout the story. The conception was also quite good as the whiteness of the void gave it a surrealistic feel. Yet at the same time, there was a feeling of being grounded in reality with the realism of the crew and even the Tharl's abandoned fortress. The gardens were also bathed in surrealism, keeping the watcher heavily off-balance as to what was really going on. So from a visual point of view, this story is excellent.

I also enjoyed the acting for the most part as well. The Doctor had a bit of a minimal role in this one and was off on his own quite a lot. In many ways, this was Romana's story and she did very well. Her confidence was well on display and she held her own very well against the human crew, who also acted fairly well although with a caveat or two.

Adric was also pretty good, being used lightly and mostly for comic relief. Contrasting earlier Adric stories with later ones, the key for him is in limiting his screen time. He should always be a junior companion, with a stronger character taking the main companion role. The problems arose when he was elevated to senior companion in the Fifth Doctor era and tried to hold his own against Tegan and Nyssa. It was in this overexposure that his character flaws, as well as the limits of Matthew Waterhouse's acting, rose to the surface and made him unlikeable.

Rorvik dominates among the crew and he does fairly well, especially as his mania to escape grows. He does lose it in his final gloat scene. That was over-the-top and poorly acted in contrast to his excellent earlier performance. It leaves an unfortunate bad aftertaste.

The rest of the crew is also pretty good, although fairly unremarkable. I got the feeling that there might have been a bit more backstory with Sagan and Aldo as these two were clearly designed to be a comic relief team in the Robert Holmes double act vein. However, they don't do much other than look disinterested in Rorvik's orders and bow out whenever it comes to doing anything that might inflict actual harm on anyone. Their repugnance as electrocuting Lazlo is shown and you can see that humanitarian side when they beg off attempting another revival. But without time or development, they just sort of are there and you don't feel that bad for them after they are blown up with the rest of the ship.

So you have good acting and good visuals. The problems with this story arise in the storytelling. I can handle weird just fine, Kinda being a prime example of an excellent but off-the-wall story. Warriors' Gate however suffers from a lack of focus. Surreal and odd is fine, if it is held in a tight focus or gives something that allows the audience to grab on to at the end to try and make a measure of sense of it. The Mind Robber would probably be a good example of surrealism explained.

However, in this story, the focus shifts all over the place. There are sidebars with minor characters and the main thrust of the Tharl's story is split between the more standard adventures with Romana and the highly surrealistic adventures with the Doctor. I think the ultimate problem is time. There is more to the story and that was cut out of it. I'd be curious if the cuts were made from the original run or if additional cuts had to be made because of the Romana leaving inclusion. Either way, the fall of the Tharls, their enslavement and the source of their power are never really resolved. Nor is it ever really addressed as to how the return of the Tharls to their gardens allows the TARDIS to pass through the gate and back into N-space. It just leaves you hanging and that leaves a bit of a bad aftertaste with the story.

I also wish Romana had been given a bit more time in her leaving. It was hinted at with her reluctance to return to Gallifrey at the end of Meglos and it returned here in Episode One where she expresses disdain at the idea. So her leaving is not out of the blue. However, it is so rushed that it just feels almost backhanded. I know that they were up against the clock but I would have liked a moment between the two Time Lords in the Tharl gardens. It would have also could have provided a better explanation as to how the Doctor and Adric got to N-space through some action of Biroc's or the like. Of course, the episode was running long so that was essentially impossible, but I think it would have made for a more palatable end.

Overall, I'm torn. The story looked good and was well acted. But the pacing got too fast at the end and the story had too many holes and loose threads. It is enjoyable enough and I would not call it bad, but there is not enough to compel me to actively seek this one out to watch again. But for the visuals and portrayals, I'll easily sit through it and find enjoyment in that.

Overall personal score: 3 out of 5

The Smugglers

Polly, put the kettle on.

The Smugglers is the first full adventure with Ben and Polly and the last full adventure of the First Doctor. It also happens to be the last full recon for me. The two remaining recon stories I haven't seen (Galaxy 4 and The Underwater Menace) both have at least one episode that exists. I have not reviewed The Evil of the Daleks but I have seen that one and Episode Two exists there. So this one is something of a milestone for me.

Plot Summary

The Doctor discovers Ben and Polly aboard the TARDIS after he has taken off. They land outside a set of caves just off the coast. Ben refuses to believe what has happened and wanders off. Polly believes they have landed in Cornwall, though the Doctor chastises them that they don't know when. The Doctor follows them as they walk away to ensure they don't get into any trouble.

They walk to a nearby church where they meet the church warden, Joseph Longfoot who invites them in for a meal. The Doctor figures they are in the 17th century. The Doctor notices Longfoot suffering with a dislocated finger and pops it back into place for him. Grateful, Longfoot gives a warning while about at the inn that the spirit of Avery is about and gives them a code.

Confused, the Doctor and his party make for the inn. The proprietor, Jacob Kewper, tries to turn them away but relents when he learns they know Longfoot. They head inside and dry themselves off by the fire, Polly getting annoyed at being mistaken for a boy.

Back at the church, Longfoot is confronted by a former crewman, Cherub, now serving under pirate Captain Pike. They are looking for Captain Avery's treasure. Cherub forces Longfoot to tell him about the three travelers gone to the inn. Longfoot tries to run away but Cherub stabs him in the back.

Kewper's son arrives back at the house, having been sent by his father to see Longfoot. He tells his father that he was found dead. Kewper sends his son out for the Squire.

Cherub arrives at the inn, posing as a guest. He confronts the Doctor and tries to get him to tell him what Longfoot told him. The sailor knocks Ben out and knocks Polly down before dragging the Doctor away. Polly pleads for help and Kewper finds her. He tells her that the squire has been sent for.

The Squire arrives and examines Ben and finds him fine. He then interrogates Polly about where they come from. Ben comes to but also refuses to tell where they are from. The Squire arrests them both for the murder of Longfoot.

The Doctor is taken aboard ship and shown to Captain Pike. Pike tells the Doctor that Longfoot was once a crewman with him and Cherub under the pirate captain Avery. They are now looking for Avery's treasure and threaten the Doctor to tell them what Longfoot told the Doctor just before they left.

Ben and Polly are placed in prison to await trial. They are overheard by Kewper's servant Tom who tells them he has the keys and is keeping them under guard. Polly gets and idea regarding 17th century superstitions and develops a plan to escape.

The Doctor flatters the captain and he invites the Doctor to sit and talk as gentlemen. The Doctor drinks wine and asks for a share of the treasure for his information. Pike considers it but before they can continue, Pike's slave Jamaica interrupts and speaks of someone sailing towards the nearby caves. Pike orders the Doctor taken below to wait while they deal with the visitor.

Ben signals Tom while Polly moans about. He claims that Polly has been taken over by the soul of their warlock master. Ben tricks Tom into believing that the Doctor's soul will take over and possess them unless they are freed. Tom gives in and lets them out. Ben also gives him a straw doll as a token against the Doctor's evil.

Ben and Polly return to the church and search about for evidence of the Doctor's abductor. They search around but find nothing. They prepare to leave when a secret door opens and a cloaked figure emerges. They knock him out and Polly heads off to tell the Squire, believing him to be the murderer while Ben ties him up.

The cloaked stranger tells Ben that he is Josiah Blake, a treasury officer of the King. He has been investigating a group of smugglers operating in the area and that the passageway he found leads into a set of caves and down to the beach. Ben gets excited and heads into the passageway to investigate.

Pike and Cherub meet with the Squire, posing as goods smugglers to the Squire and Kewper are involved. The Squire discusses the drop at the church, unaware of Pike's real identity. Their discussions are interrupted by Polly. She fingers Cherub as the man who abducted the Doctor. The Squire doesn't believe her. Pike suggests that they play along with Polly to capture the revenue officer who might thwart the smuggling ring. They tie and gag Polly.

Back on the ship, the Doctor finds Kewper has also been taken by the pirates and Kewper tells the Doctor that Pike is the most dangerous pirate around. Kewper and the Doctor plan an escape to help save the village from Pike's potential rampage in search of Avery's treasure.

Ben returns to the church, having found the passage to the TARDIS. He and Blake are then confronted by the Squire, Pike, Cherub and the bound Polly. The Squire recognizes Blake and has him released. Despite being on the king's business, Blake agrees to take Ben and Polly back to jail for murder and suspicion of smuggling.

The Doctor pretends to be able to divine a person's fortune from cards. His draws for Kewper attract the interest of the slave Jamaica. When he comes near to have the Doctor tell his fortune, Kewper knocks him out. They tie him up and leave the ship in the longboat intending to inform the Squire of what is going on.

The Squire and Pike arrange a meeting for the exchange of goods. The Squire has his goods hidden in a grave while Pike will leave his on the beach. The Squire decides that they should discuss payment over dinner and he and Pike leave together. Cherub watches from a distance.

Blake takes Ben and Polly back to the inn and releases them. He tells them that the Squire has been rumored to be the head of the smuggling ring. Blake needs armed men to spring a trap at the exchange point tomorrow but he is interested in hearing more about the Doctor. The Doctor enters at that moment and tells of his escape. Blake takes his information as conformation of Kewper's involvement with the smuggling ring. Kewper hears this as he enters and curses the Doctor for entrapping him. He then flees before Blake can arrest him.

Pike returns to the ship where Jamaica tells him of the Doctor and Kewper's escape. Jamaica tells Pike that they are heading to tell the Squire and Pike now suspects that the Squire might try to set a trap for him. Pike decides to strike during the day and plunder the goods before the trap is set while he and Cherub search for Avery's gold. He then kills Jamaica for his failure.

The Doctor tells Blake of Pike's plan and insists that Blake leave at once for reinforcements. Ben tells the Doctor of the secret passage that leads to the TARDIS. The Doctor refuses to go as he feels a moral responsibility to save the village. He decides to find Avery's treasure and use it to stall Pike until the reinforcements arrive. Cherub emerges from the shadows as they leave and demands to know of the stable boy where they went.

Kewper arrives at the Squire's and tells him of Pike's planned savagery. Kewper also tells the Squire that Pike is looking for Avery's gold. Kewper suggests finding the treasure first and then setting a trap for Pike along the church passageway. They also ride off for the church.

Ben, Polly and the Doctor arrive at the church. Ben and Polly look around in the graveyard while the Doctor tries to work out the clues Longfoot told him. He realizes that the clues Longfoot told him refer to names in the crypt. They head to the crypt where Ben shows the Doctor where the secret passage is. They then find two of the clue names.

The Squire and Kewper arrive at the church and pull a gun on the Doctor. Kewper threatens to kill Ben and Polly if the Doctor doesn't help them but the Squire objects. While they argue, Cherub enters and kills Kewper with a throwing knife. He shoots the Squire in the shoulder. He then threatens to kill the Doctor's companions if he doesn't tell the secrets.

The Doctor tries to play for time. He tells Cherub the names given, but does not disclose the locations in the crypt. Cherub recognizes the names as old crewmen but suspects the Doctor is stalling. He threatens Polly if more is not disclosed.

Meanwhile, Pike and his men land on the beach. Pike sends a man to look for Cherub while he and the rest of his men enter the churchyard. They open the crypt indicated by the Squire as the drop point. He orders his men to unload the goods on to the beach while Pike heads toward the church.

Pike enters the crypt and finds Cherub holding Polly. Pike accuses Cherub of deserting and trying to find the treasure himself. Cherub protests but draws on Pike when his back is turned. They cross swords with Pike slowly gaining the upper hand. The Doctor orders Ben to take Polly back to the TARDIS down the secret passage. Pike stabs Cherub, killing him.

Pike turns on the Doctor, demanding the secret from him. The Doctor agrees but demands to change the terms of their agreement. He agrees to tell the secret and will take no gold if he keeps his men out of the village. Pike agrees, though neither side trusts the other.

Two of the pirates return to the beach, carrying the smuggled goods. On the beach, they discover the TARDIS outside the cave. In the caves, Polly stops to rest while she sends Ben back to help the Doctor. Also, Blake arrives on the edge of the village with a squad of militia.

The Doctor tells Pike the riddle of the four names and points out the locations of the four names in the crypt. He also points out they intersect at a flagstone in the middle of the crypt, which is loose. Pike lifts the stone and discovers a small treasure. But they hear ruckus going on upstairs. Blake's militia pours in, killing and arresting the pirates.

Polly comes on the TARDIS and is grabbed by the two pirates. Ben however, hears her scream up the passageway and runs back. He knocks out one and fights with the second. Their struggle is heard by Blake and the two men are taken by the militia. Ben sends Polly back to the TARDIS while he and Blake head back up the passage.

Blake emerges from the passageway and attacks Pike from the rear before he can go back up with his men. Ben and the Doctor drag the Squire up out of the crypt but Pike breaks off his fight with Blake to pursue him. Blake grabs his gun and shoots Pike in the back. The Squire and Blake help each other to their feet and find the Doctor and Ben have fled down the passageway.

The Doctor and Ben return to the TARDIS and find Polly waiting for them. They enter and tell Polly what happened as they take off. Ben hopes to land back in 1966 but instead find that they have landed in the coldest place in the world.

Analysis

The Smugglers is an excellent story and I would definitely put it fairly high on the list of stories to be returned if possible. I could see some people not caring for it too much, but I really enjoyed it. The story struck me as a variation of Treasure Island, only set in Cornwall rather than on an island. But I also got a dash of The Scarecrow of Romney Marsh, although I might be the only one who thinks like that.

The Doctor was quite good in this one and while he did have to rely on the arms of others, notably Blake, there was a good deal in this story where he had to outthink his enemy. I would also note that while the Squire was a bit of a dim, Pike was not and that made him a more formidable villain and the Doctor's triumph over him that much better. I also enjoyed the Doctor's quiet patience and rationalism in contrast to Ben's hot headedness.

Ben and Polly were decent, though not without their flaws. Ben get a bit loud and he does complain a lot about just going back to the TARDIS. I've also noticed that this is an unfortunate recurring feature with him, though his ability in a fight is quite good. Still, it seems a bit of a downgrade from the somewhat more introspective Steven.

Polly wasn't bad, although a bit useless in this story. She served more as the damsel in distress with her only real moment of interest being her posing as possessed in her and Ben's escape in Episode Two. It also strains credibility that Polly is mistaken for a boy the entire run of the story. Right in the beginning I could see perhaps, but someone should have clued in to her femininity towards the end. Granted, when dealing with a story about pirates, it's best not to include a woman since that leads itself to obvious conclusions. Pike is something of a gentleman pirate, but I doubt he would be that restrained.

Pike, as noted above, was quite a good villain. I think in attitude he was modeled after Long John Silver, but there was also an air of Captain Hook about him with the hook hand and the Charles II dress coat. He also had a pirate dichotomy of being gentlemanly and almost elegant with the Doctor and the Squire and also savage and ruthless with his dispatch of his own men for their failures. He made an excellent foe for the Doctor.

Lesser villains in the form of the Squire and Cherub were decent although more stereotypical. That the Squire was corrupt and in on the smuggling business was not surprising. He did come somewhat good in the end, refusing to go along with Kewper in his threatening of the Doctor. Cherub was also good as the true pirate savage. He was played full to the hilt of savagery and yet not without intelligence. He would never have been the gentleman pirate that Pike was, but you could understand why he was mate and how he could have made a strong and savage captain in his own right had the opportunity arisen.

Because of the savagery of the story, the Australian censors took a bit more out, especially Kewper and Cherub's deaths so that was a nice glimpse into the story. It helped because there were other parts of the recon I was watching that were very poorly done so I had almost no idea what was going on. But in the quality parts of the recon (both the slightly moving bits and the better pictures) it was clear that this looked like a well done story. Trust the BBC for period drama to look well and this did not disappoint from what I could tell.

I enjoyed the pacing of this story. About the only parts I didn't care for were the bits with Ben and Polly toiling away either in their makeshift jail or fussing about in the crypt. The scenes with the Doctor and Kewper on the ship or Pike and the Squire were far more interesting and I was openly hoping to go back to those scenes whenever Ben and Polly popped back up. But aside from that, the story moved well and you never felt like characters were loitering in one place too long to kill time (again, except for the jail scene).

I would also say this was a pretty good cap for the First Doctor, since he was so absent and nearly irrelevant in The Tenth Planet. This story is also a good yardstick for his growth as a character as it is the Doctor who stays and fights and changes things rather than his companions who drag him back and get involved in the action in spite of him. In fact, lining up The Smugglers next to An Unearthly Child, you'd be hard pressed to recognize the Doctor as the same character. I'd still probably take Ian and Barbara to Ben and Polly as companions, but the Doctor is so much stronger a character here.

Overall, I'd say this was a good one. I would like to see a better recon than the one I watched or even better, some of the episodes discovered, but the story still stands well on it's own. You have to be in a special mood to watch recons but if you knew someone who liked pirates, this would be a good one to delve in to.

Overall personal score: 4 out of 5

State of Decay

There's nothing worse than a peasant with indigestion.

State of Decay is the second part of the E-space trilogy and also a holdover story. Terrance Dicks originally wrote this story back for the Philip Hinchcliff era but it got put on the shelf because it would have gone on around the same time as a BBC production of Count Dracula and that would have been too much vampire at one time. The one thing I don't know is if Terrance Dicks was brought back to rework the script or if Christopher Bidmead just took the script as submitted and reworked it with his own twists. Bidmead certainly would have added all the references to E-space so he may have just done the whole thing himself.

Plot Summary

The Doctor and Romana land on an Earth-like planet, hoping to find help in getting out of E-space and back into N-space. The planet they land on has only one village surrounding a large tower in which are "the Three Who Rule": the king, Zargo, the queen, Camilla and the councilor Aukon. The Doctor and Romana explore the town which appears to be medieval in style. However after they leave, the headman of the village, Ivo, alerts others using a radio communicator.

K-9 is left on the TARDIS to do some calculations and discovers that Adric has stowed away. While he cautions him, Adric convinces K-9 to let him out of the TARDIS to explore on his own. He also comes to the village and is taken in by Ivo and his wife, Marta, as their son was recently taken by the Three Who Rule to serve in the tower.

The Doctor and Romana walk out of town, hoping to find other settlements but are taken by a group of rebels, who oppose the Three. They are taken to their lair where they have been trying to figure out how to work some antiquated technology they found. The Doctor and Romana look it over and manage to get it working. The computer is a primitive one and came from a cargo ship that left Earth but was pulled into E-space through a CVE. The computer lists three crew members and pulls up their pictures. One of the rebels was once a guard of the tower and recognizes their faces as the Three.

Concerned, the Doctor and Romana leave the rebels and head back towards the village. They are unaware that one of the guards in town reported their presence to the Three. Aukon dispatches a cloud of bats to find the Doctor and Romana. The cloud discovers the two walking towards the village and one bites the Doctor. The cloud engulfs them as they hunker down but lifts and flies back to the tower. As they do, a squad of guards finds the Doctor and Romana and takes them to the tower.

In the tower, the Doctor and Romana are greeted by the king and queen. They are welcoming but become increasingly nervous by the Doctor and Romana's intelligence and their knowledge of the old spacecraft. The Queen becomes somewhat entranced when Romana cuts her finger on a broken glass, but manages to break her gaze.

Outside the tower Aukon enters the meeting house, having detected a third alien intelligence when scanning for the Doctor and Romana. He orders the patrons to line up, including Adric. He quickly zeros on Adric, who also gives himself away with a questioning and slightly defiant attitude. Aukon takes the boy back to the tower.

The king and queen are summoned by Aukon, leaving the Doctor and Romana alone in the throne room. Aukon has hypnotized Adric and informs the others that the time of the great awakening is at hand. The king and queen are pleased but still hesitant about the Doctor and Romana.

The Doctor theorizes that the tower is actually the old space ship and he searches around and finds an access passage below the thrones. They enter it and find old control mechanisms. Descending further, they find hibernation chambers with the other crew but all have been drained of fluid. The tanks, normally full of fuel, are instead filled with blood.

The Doctor and Romana enter the base of the tower to find a large cave with Aukon waiting for them, having been alerted by the king and queen of the Doctor and Romana's escape. He tells them of a great awakening and how they will be part of the Great One's plans. Aukon attempts to hypnotize the Doctor but he resists and closes his eyes. Though he resists, the king and queen return and the two are taken captive. They are also informed of Adric being taken, though they were unaware that Adric had snuck aboard the TARDIS.

Back at the rebel lair, one of the rebels, Tarak, decides to go and help the Doctor, having been a tower guard. He goes alone as no one will aid him. He sneaks in and knocks out one of the guards, stealing his uniform. He watches as Romana and the Doctor are led into a chamber to await being offered to the Great One while the Three sleep.

In the cell, the Doctor recalls a Gallifreian legend of a great war between the Time Lords and a race of great vampires. The Time Lords prevailed but one escaped and remains in hiding. The story triggers Romana's memory that she ran across an old order of Rassilon's in the archives to install a book of records in all Type 40 TARDISes. As they talk, Tarak breaks in, knocking out the guards and freeing them. They prepare to head back to the TARDIS but Romana remembers Adric. Tarak suggests the boy might be held in the keep. They decide that Tarak and Romana will rescue Adric while the Doctor heads back to the TARDIS to find Rassilon's record book.

Ivo meets the remaining rebels in their lair. He informs them that the Three are planning a great ceremony and this is the time that he will lead the village against them. He urges the rebels to aid them, but Kalmar defers, still believing that the time is not right. Ivo tells him that he will attack anyway.

In the TARDIS, the Doctor and K-9 search the TARDIS mainframe but find nothing. The Doctor then remembers there are old data tapes and discovers the records among them. The records validate the story he heard and that one vampire did escape the Time Lords. He also learns that the only way to kill the vampire is to totally destroy it's heart, which the Time Lords did by crafting ships that fired steel bolts into their hearts.

Romana and Tarak head down to the keep where Zargo and Camilla are sleeping. They find Adric but in trying to wake him, they wake the other two. They attack Romana and Tarak. Tarak tries to fight them off but Zargo kills him in the fight. Camilla, angry at the loss of live blood, turns and attacks Romana and Adric. Romana tries to run but Zargo grabs her. Aukon however stops them, insisting that Adric will become one of them and Romana is to be sacrificed to the Great One. The two are taken to the throne room and bound.

The Doctor decides that he needs help and rematerializes the TARDIS in the rebel's lair. Using the scanner that he and Kalmar fixes, the Doctor shows them the Great Vampire sleeping beneath the tower. Ivo is summoned and the Doctor makes a plan where the people will storm the tower with K-9. They will take out the guards while the Three are busy with the ceremony. That will give the Doctor time to put his own plan into action.

In the tower, Romana appeals to Adric to help her. He defers, stating that as they have lost, he doesn't see what good it does to be on the losing side. He appeals to Aukon that as he will be joining them, he shouldn't be bound. Aukon agrees and allows him out of his bonds. The Three then take Romana and Adric down to the crypt.

As the ceremony begins, the townspeople storm the tower with K-9 stunning guards as well. They take the throne room and the Doctor heads into the service areas again, ordering the townsfolk to take care of the remaining guards and then evacuating the tower when K-9 gives the signal. The Doctor finds three different control rooms but two of the three are completely out of power. The third however does have a little battery power left and the Doctor initiates a launch. K-9 orders evacuation while the Doctor heads down to the crypt.

The ceremony is interrupted by the launch of the spaceship. Adric tries to attack the Three and free Romana, but he is slapped aside. The Great Vampire begins to emerge from it's tomb as the ship takes off. The ship climbs into the atmosphere and then U-turns back to it's launching point. The spire of the ship buries itself into the tomb of the Great Vampire, piercing it's heart and killing it.

The Doctor enters to rescue Romana and Adric and the Three try to attack him. However, without the Great Vampire, they lose their power and decay into dust. The villagers enter prepared to fight but find the battle over. They thank the Doctor and Kalmar asks the Doctor for help with the technology. He conducts some minor repairs but tells them to work it out on their own, which would allow them to flourish as their own technological civilization. He, Romana, Adric and K-9 then leave in the TARDIS.

Analysis

I really enjoyed this one. You can trust Terrance Dicks to craft a good, straight-forward story and the return to gothic horror is a nice interlude from the heavy hand of science that Christopher Bidmead can sometimes use. Yet, science is still used and the vampires explained away without invoking the normal religious tropes that would have gone against the show's format.

Both the Doctor and Romana are quite good in this. The Doctor is serious and does not take the threat lightly but he also cracks quips here and there, putting the vampires off their game slightly with his seeming whimsy. Romana is very active in this one and there is a seriousness to her as well that is occasionally absent in some of the lighter fare. Given when this was originally planned to run, I would assume that Terrance Dicks originally wrote the companion as Leela and I think a degree of that direct action was retained in Romana's character, which suits her.

Adric was pretty good in this as well, but I think that is also because he was largely absent from the story. Again, going back to when this was originally written, Adric probably took the role that was originally written for Ivo's son. There are a few references to him after the opening scene where he was taken but he seems mostly to have been dropped other than as a motivator for Ivo to finally rebel. But if he was supposed to be in the position that Adric was, the scenes that remained make a lot more sense. Still, the limited use of Adric allows him to focus better which improves his acting. It also helps that as the Doctor and Romana are still getting to know him, his apparent betrayal of them is much more believable, even if his efforts to help were effectively useless in the end.

The Three were pretty good, although they could get a touch over the top at times, especially Aukon. He had a quite creepy vibe to him but his near-religious frenzy regarding the Great Vampire was a bit much at times. I think Camilla got into the vampire spirit best as I got a lot of classic vampire movie vibe from her performances, especially when she was giving into the blood frenzy. I think that if the music had been a bit different, this would have been really scary for kids and it still might have for all I know.

I was also amused that the Three have positions that are actually inverse of their own standing. They were styled as Zargo the king, Camilla the queen and Aukon the chamberlain. However, it is Aukon that is in communion with the Great Vampire and seems to have the most actual power. Camilla likewise is clearly stronger and more given over to her vampiric powers than either of them. Zargo is more like a weak king who is led by the nose by the other two, though he too does display a measure of ferocity when given over to the vampiric lusts.

The Great Vampire is an interesting idea, though not great in execution. There is a model shot of him on the scanner that looks pretty bad and then you only see his hand emerging from the ground before the spire of the ship pierces him. That was probably a good thing as I doubt they could have made him look that good and they probably wanted to avoid a situation like The Dæmons where the antagonist just looked bad. Still, it did make for a bit of an anticlimax in how easily he was dispatched, which in turn destroyed the Three so easily.

The sets and costumes looked quite good. It is very difficult to fault the BBC on anything that looks period and this one is no exception. About the only bad moment was the climax as the model of the spaceship flying to its apex did look very much like a model and superimposing of the Great Vampire in the crypt through green screen also looked rather fake. But those are small nits to pick in an otherwise well done story. As good as it looked, I wish the whole thing could have been done on film instead of just the outside scenes as that would have added a whole new level to the gothic horror element.

One thing I will appreciate is how much Christopher Bidmead restrained his hand in reworking this story. Obviously he had to add the stuff about E-space and the scenes with Adric, presumably dropping other scenes as well to make room. But in all of this, he did not give over to his natural desires to impose science everywhere. He did toss the beginnings of a small argument about the nature of science between Kalmar and one of the other rebels just as the Doctor arrives in the TARDIS early in Episode Four, but aside from that, he left the gothic horror as it was. Granted, he was probably mollified enough by the use of technology but given the potential mystical origins for the Vampire race and their war with the Time Lords, I'm still impressed that he didn't muck with that. I think with too much change, the essence of this story would have been lost and I appreciate leaving it with the air of unknown and mystery.

I can always tell when I genuinely enjoyed a story as I usually have trouble doing a full write up of it. It's always much easier to write about things that don't work and how they could have been fixed rather than just stating that a story works well for these reasons. This was not a perfect story as I did have some small problems with it, but the overall structure, the acting and the production made it a highly enjoyable story. I could easily watch this one again without complaint.

Overall personal score: 4.5 out of 5

Doctor Who and the Silurians

But that's murder. They were a race of intelligent, alien beings. A whole race of them and he's just wiped them out.

Seven-part stories make me nervous. I've also been avoiding this one for two reasons: it's the last Liz Shaw story that I've not seen and I enjoy her a great deal, and the Silurians always seem to have the same story told about them. I remember watching The Hungry Earth and In Cold Blood and just not being that drawn by the story. Perhaps it was the secondary characters but I've become nervous that I would end up not liking a story regarded as a classic of the Third Doctor era just because I didn't care for a future version of the story.

Plot Summary

UNIT is called in to investigate an atomic research lab built in a series of natural caves following three months of unexplained accidents and injuries. The Doctor and Liz arrive in Bessie and are given a brief from the station manager, Dr. Lawrence. The Doctor is given a tour by the assistant manager, Dr. Quinn, and while on that, he discovers that the activity log of the cyclotron has had several pages torn out of it.

The Doctor is informed that the man responsible for the log is suffering from psychosis after he and a fellow worker were attacked in an undeveloped part of the caves. The other worker was killed, having cracked his skull in a fall, but also showing claw marks on his hands. The Doctor goes to see the mad worker only to find him possessed by fear, his only activity: making crude drawings on the wall of reptilian people.

During another test, the cyclotron malfunctions and the Doctor is forced to step in an help in the shut down when another worker becomes hysterical. Liz remarks to the Doctor that she felt a kind of terror when she was in the control room as well. The Doctor decides that he needs to investigate the caves as the control room is the deepest point within the caves.

He enters the caves and discovers a dinosaur after squeezing through a crevice. The dinosaur attacks him but is called off by a musical call. He returns to the lab just as the Brigadier is preparing a team to go look for him. They return to the cave and Major Baker, head of the lab security, rushes ahead and fires at a figure down the cave. The dinosaur returns and attacks Baker but is called off once again. Baker is wounded but alive. The Brigadier and his men chase after the figure while the Doctor takes Baker and some blood samples of the figure he shot back to the lab.

In the lab, the Doctor and Liz notice the blood is similar to reptilian blood. The Brigadier returns having lost the figure in the dark on the moors. He will continue the search in the morning. The figure meanwhile, finds a barn of a local farmer and buries itself in some hay bales to rest.

Dr. Lawrence goes looking for Dr. Quinn but is told by his assistant Miss Dawson that he has gone to his cottage to rest. However, Quinn is instead crawling into the cave where he is transfixed by a red beam. He is taken to a communications room where he pleads with the cave creature over the radio to not keep drawing power. The creatures refuse as they still need the power, having given Quinn the technology in the first place. Quinn is given the recall device of the figure on the surface and ordered to find him and bring him back in exchange for their going quiet for a time.

The next morning, the figure is discovered by the farmer. He claws at him and the farmer is so shocked, he dies of a heart attack. He is also spotted by the farmer's wife. The Brigadier is notified of the incident by the police and comes to investigate. Liz stays at the barn to take samples while the Doctor and the Brigadier head to the hospital to see the farmer's wife.

The farmer's wife is near hysterical with fear, much like the worker. The Doctor manages to get through to her by drawing a quick sketch and asking her to identify it. She agrees that it is the creature and she says it's still in the barn. The two men race back as the creature emerges from the hay once more and attacks Liz. It knocks her out, bolts the door to the barn and then runs out a side door.

The Brigadier breaks the door down and they find Liz, stunned and scratched but otherwise unharmed. As UNIT conducts a search for the creature, Dr. Quinn arrives, having stopped briefly to tell Miss Dawson about the device given to him. He takes the Brigadier's information and begins driving around the moors signaling the creature.

Quinn successfully picks up the creature in his car but his use of the signaling device is noticed by UNIT. The Doctor and the Brigadier head after him and find tracks suggesting that the creature was taken away. The Doctor goes and visits Quinn's house. Although he doesn't see the creature, he notices the heat turned up and Quinn behaving oddly. He leaves and Quinn is contacted by Miss Dawson again. He informs her that he plans on keeping the creature prisoner until it tells him all about their technology.

The Doctor returns to the lab and he and Liz break into Dr. Quinn's files. They find a globe with Pangaea and Miss Dawson stumbles into the lab as they do. The Doctor confronts her and she admits that Quinn was in contact with the creatures but she clams up when the Brigadier enters. Concerned over Quinn's safety, the Doctor returns to Quinn's cottage only to find him dead. He uses the signaler in Quinn's hand and the creature emerges. The Doctor, tries to talk to the creature, which he calls a Silurian. Although it understands him, it doesn't answer and runs off when startled by an outside noise.

The Doctor returns to the lab, although he only tells Liz that Quinn is dead. Major Baker asserts that he wants to head back to the caves with an armed force but the Brigadier overrules him and confines him to a hospital room. The Brigadier plans to attack himself but needs more men to search the caves. Major Baker breaks out of his hospital room and heads to the caves himself, but he is captured by the Silurians.

Hearing of Major Baker's escape, the Doctor and Liz head to the caves to find him. They use a map that the Doctor had taken from Quinn's cottage that he had marked. They find evidence of Baker's fight and follow a Silurian into a hidden base. In the base, they find Baker in a cage where he tells them of being interrogated by the Silurians. The Doctor advises him to make it a two-way exchange and learn as much as he can about the creatures while he and Liz return to the lab.

While they are gone, Sir John Masters, senior under-secretary to the minister, arrives at Dr. Lawrence's request. Masters is anxious that the project continue but he denies the Brigadier's request for more men. The Doctor and Liz arrive in the middle of the meeting and try to convince the others to negotiate with the creatures. Unfortunately, Miss Dawson arrives and tells them that Dr. Quinn is dead. The Brigadier makes up his mind to attack at dawn.

The Doctor sneaks off to warn the Silurians but the capture him and place him in the cage with Major Baker. Alerted by the Doctor's warning, the Silurians spring a trap for the Brigadier and his men, sealing them in a chamber in the cave. One of the Silurians then comes up and tries to kill the Doctor, but the colony leader restrains him. He learns of what the younger Silurian has done and does not approve but does not change it.

Major Baker attacks the Doctor but he is restrained by the Silurians. The Doctor pleads to be let out to talk to them and the leader does, taking him to the control room. He and the Doctor talk and the Doctor learns that the Silurians went into hibernation when they feared Earth would suffer a major catastrophe from an incoming planetoid. However, the object was captured and became the moon. Their equipment malfunctioned and they stayed in stasis until the cyclotron was built, supplying them with power.

The Doctor negotiates with the leader to let the Brigadier and his men go in exchange for allowing the Silurians to negotiate with the humans to set up cities in hot areas where the humans are not settled. He agrees and the Brigadier and his men are released before the suffocate. They return to the lab to find that Liz has been forced to reveal that the Doctor went ahead of the Brigadier to warn the Silurians. Miss Dawson is outraged and demands the Brigadier attack at once while Dr. Lawrence slips further into delusion, refusing to believe the Silurians exist. Masters defers to the Brigadier and the Brigadier refuses to go against the Doctor and elects to wait.

When the upstart Silurian learns of what the elder has done, he and another infect Major Baker with a disease they used to kill apes that would steal from their stores millions of years ago. He is released into the caves and escapes. The elder learns of this and is outraged. He gives the Doctor a sample of the infecting agent and sends him to the surface to devise a cure. After the Doctor leaves, the upstart Silurian is confronted and he kills the elder, taking over leadership of the colony.

Major Baker returns to the base with the Doctor right behind him. The Doctor orders no one to touch him but Baker tries to attack him. He collapses and is taken to the sick bay. Against the Doctor's orders, the lab doctor has Baker shipped to a local hospital. The Doctor and the Brigadier head to the hospital to establish quarantine. They arrive just as Baker runs out of the hospital and dies. The Brigadier establishes a quarantine while the Doctor heads back to the lab.

Masters gathers his things and leaves before the Doctor returns, telling Dr. Lawrence that he is going to recommend that the lab be shut down. Once the Doctor is back, he orders quarantine and has all personnel inoculated with a broad range of antibiotics. He and Liz begin work but are unable to find Masters or Dr. Lawrence. The Brigadier returns to coordinate efforts and Dr. Lawrence returns, lashing angrily out at Liz. He storms out but she learns that Masters left and showed early signs of infection. The brigadier orders the police to intercept Masters in London.
In London, Masters leaves the train, encountering a number of people before getting into a cab just before the police arrive. He takes the cab to the ministry of science but stumbles around as the disease takes hold. Back at the station, people become infected from the ticket taker and the police declare quarantine as people begin to collapse.

The Doctor and Liz continue to work testing various drug combinations on infected blood samples. Dr. Lawrence reemerges in full outbreak, having refused to take the antibiotic cocktail that is keeping everyone else relatively healthy. He attacks the Brigadier who pushes him back. Dr. Lawrence then collapses, dead.

The Silurians observe that the humans are showing greater resistance to the plague than anticipated. The new leader decides to capture the Doctor to prevent him from creating a cure. They overrun one UNIT checkpoint, killing two soldiers, although a third escapes. The leader and his lieutenant then head to the part of the cave abutting a wall of the lab and burn a hole, allowing them access.

The Doctor discovers a cure and synthesizes a small batch to test on one of the infected men. It works and he heads back to his work space to write the formula to be sent to the medical team ready to dispense drugs. As he writes the formula, the two Silurians who breached the lab attack him from behind and capture him. As they drag him out, they also kill a UNIT soldier on patrol.

Liz heads down to the lab and finds the Doctor missing. She grabs the Doctor's notes and tells the Brigadier. Another soldier find the dead soldier and informs the Brigadier. He puts the two together and figures a raid took place. He orders all of his men to push back on the Silurians attacking his men at the cave entrances to try and rescue the Doctor. Liz goes over the Doctor's notes and finishes the formula. She telephones the outside labs and gives them the information, allowing them to mass produce the cure.

In the Silurian base, the Doctor informs his captors of his cure and they decide to attack en mass. However, the lab is in the process of being shut down and there is insufficient power from the reactor. The Silurians grab the Doctor and decide to reinvade the base with the men they have and reactivate the reactor.

The Silurians reemerge just outside the Doctor's office and see Liz and the Brigadier, having just discovered that the elevators have been deactivated. They take the two hostage and the three enter the control room. They attack the technicians but the Doctor orders them to stop, saying that he won't help them if they kill anyone. The Silurians then set up a microwave emitter which will disrupt the Van Allen belt, heating the Earth and making it uninhabitable for mammals.

The Doctor begins to activate the reactor but he gives Liz a signal and they dump all the uranium rods in at once. The action causes an overload in the controls and begins to overheat the reactor. The Doctor informs the Silurians that the reactor will blow, bathing the area in radiation for fifty years. The Silurians retreat to the caves and prepare to go into hibernation for fifty years, leaving the humans to die in the explosion. However, the Doctor is able to stop the meltdown, neutralizing the reactor.

The Doctor returns to the caves where all the Silurians have gone back into hibernation except for the leader, who stayed out to man the hibernation controls. He attacks the Doctor but the Brigadier shoots him from behind, having followed the Doctor. The Doctor returns to the base and after bringing the lab back to a minimal operating standard, he informs the Brigadier that he intends to awaken the Silurians one by one and negotiate peaceful terms with them.

The Brigadier, alarmed by this news, informs the ministry and they order him to seal the caves. He orders his men to place explosives around all the entrances to the caves. As the Doctor and Liz drive near the entrances, the explosives are detonated, sealing the entrance and causing many of the Silurian's caves to collapse. The Doctor is horrified and angrily drives back to UNIT HQ.

Analysis

This was enjoyable story, although a bit slow at the start. Usually when dealing with long stories, the padding falls more around Episodes Five or Six, but in this case, the padding is more in Episodes Two and Three with the search for the wounded Silurian. The rest was actually a fairly tight battle story between the two sides. In many ways, it wasn't quite so much padding as it was two different storylines that had an odd meet in the middle.

All the major characters were quite good in this one. The Doctor was his usual egotistical but enjoyable self. Liz was also quite good and her role expanded through the story. She was left to do "women's work" in the first couple of episodes but she expanded with her scientific knowledge, helping out the Doctor and even piecing together the final cure formula from the Doctor's notes after he was captured. I don't think any other companion could have done that.

This is also the first story where you can see the volume of respect that the Doctor has for Liz. He is a bit condescending towards her at a couple of points but mostly when about to go into action. He openly relies on her when it comes to a scientific view and has a strong respect for her mind. He even gives way in arguments, especially when he protests about his alien physiology and the need for the anti-biotic cocktail. Given the way the Third Doctor (and most Doctor's really) treats his other companions, it shows just how good Liz is in the respect that she earns from the Doctor. The Third Doctor is known for having a more father/daughter relationship with both Jo and Sarah. Liz is much more in the vein of a friend.

The Brigadier is well done in this story as well. He is orderly and smart. He has his eye toward action but does restrain himself at times, though mostly due to a desire for more resources. There is a strong respect for the Doctor from the Brigadier and even a deference to him at a couple points, which is somewhat unusual.

The secondary human characters were all pretty good as well. I couldn't help myself when I saw Dr. Lawrence as I instantly recognized him as the same actor who played Nyder in Genesis of the Daleks. What struck me most though was how quickly some of the other were gotten rid of. Dr. Quinn is dead by the end of Episode Three while Miss Dawson is removed from the picture in Episode Five, with only sporadic appearances. Masters is a quick entry and exit, serving mostly as the agent for turning a localized epidemic into a true pandemic. I was reminded of the game Pandemic as he got to London, envisioning how bad it would get because of one man.

Of all of it, I think I liked the pandemic portion of it. More than monsters, this was something really unnerving and well done. It was clearly shot with a number of background people being unaware of what is going on. It added an excellent sense of realism, along with the shooting on film. When you see random people in the street going down and police cars screaming around, it starts to take on an almost documentary type feel which is highly enjoyable.

The Silurians themselves were a bit disappointing. Obviously we've all been spoiled with the advances in the new series regarding the Silurians but you try to put that aside. The main problem is the build up. We are given only shadow glances at first and then we get the Halloween style first person perspective until the end of Episode Three. Even if you're a little disappointed there, it was still recoverable, except for the acting of the men in the suits.

The Silurians had their voices dubbed over so the men in the suits didn't have any real lines. As such, they tended to overact when talking. The tall one who takes over as leader is particularly bad as he constantly bobs his head in a rapid motion that makes it look like he's going to be sick. It effectively means that there is no subtlety in the performance. Even the voice acting is a bit overplayed as it was all done by one actor, who was clearly focused on making sure each Silurian sounded different rather than worrying much over putting much texture in his tone.

I was also disappointed that the third eye in their foreheads was such a catch-all for anything they did. It was a receiver for mechanics, it was a weapon of varying power to attack others, and it was an actual eye to see through. I would have liked if the eye was just a single use and they had to rely on constructed technology, like their signal devices shown in Episodes Two and Three, for most of their other functions. It didn't help that the noise emitted by the third eye was also quite annoying.

Also in the annoying scale was the music. There was very little tonality to the music and a lot of sharp instrumental break-ins that were highly jarring. Incidental music is best when it is in the background, providing mood without the listener being strongly aware of it. In this, the music called a lot of attention to itself and most of it was not the good kind.

As this is a Malcolm Hulke story, you would expect a story that shows both sides being in the wrong. In this case, you don't really get that. The impression given is that the Silurians began to wake up with the installation of the lab and that they made a deal with Dr. Quinn that would benefit both. Quinn does try to take advantage of that deal and pays a price for it. Likewise, some of the people (Miss Dawson for example) are shown to be somewhat bloodthirsty but usually with some justification. Only Major Baker is shown to be a complete fool in the shoot first, ask questions later vein.

So, for a Malcolm Hulke story, this one is rather one-sided as making the Silurian's the bad guys. They are shown as being reasonable with the original leader but he is killed and the more aggressive one takes over. At that instant, his personality is imprinted and the Silurians attack with gusto. I think we are supposed to sympathize with the Doctor at the end when the caves are destroyed that the Brig committed murder, but it is hard to feel much sympathy for the Silurians at this point. If there had been a faction in favor of negotiation and co-existence that was beaten into submission by the new leadership, that would be one thing. But the old leader is the only one who ever expresses any real desire for coexistence. I would also point out that even he does it more out of fear of what a war would humanity would do to his people. Perhaps it is murder, but I side with the Brigadier in what he was ordered to do.

Overall, I'd say this was a really good story. It has a few shortcomings that would keep it from being a great story but as the first full and proper Third Doctor story, it does well in how he is going to act and his relations with UNIT and Liz. As before, it's an episode or two too long but once you get into Episode Four, it really zips along and draws you in well. It would be a marathon, but I could sit through this one fairly easily, though I'd need a bathroom break in the middle.

Overall personal score: 4 out of 5

Enlightenment

You are a Time Lord. A lord of time. Can one be a lord of such a small domain?

Enlightenment completes the Black Guardian trilogy and is generally held as the best of three by most fans. I was exposed to little snippets of this one before I sat down to watch it wholesale, mostly from the end, but they didn't leave much of impression other than it was a nice looking set and some interesting camera work. Unfortunately, after I started to watch it, I discovered that my available copy was missing Episode Four and I was forced to leave this one unfinished. I finally have been able to get a full copy and get through it for a proper assessment.

Plot Summary

Running on low power, the Doctor is trying to fix the TARDIS when he receives a message from the White Guardian. He is instructed to proceed to a set of coordinates given. The Doctor follows them and lands. He and Turlough step out into the cargo hold of an Edwardian sailing vessel. Tegan remains in the TARDIS should the White Guardian try to contact them again.

The Doctor and Turlough enter the crew quarters where the crew has been waiting for a couple of days. None of them can remember coming aboard, but they know the vessel is to be part of a race. They mistake the Doctor for the ship's cook and give him a hearty welcome while they wait.

Tegan receives a garbled message from the White Guardian about a race and it being winner-take-all. She also sees a projection of the First Mate of the vessel, Mr. Mariner on the TARDIS screen. She leaves the TARDIS to find the Doctor and to see who the observer was but is discovered by Mariner and taken up to the Captain's quarters. After doing so, Mariner goes to the crew quarters and escorts the Doctor to the Captain's quarters as well. Turlough is left behind with the men.

Tegan passes on the message from the White Guardian although neither of them seem to understand it. Captain Striker enters and bids them welcome, already seemingly aware of who they both are. They sit down to dinner but the meal is interrupted by buffeting suggesting that the race is about to start. Mariner escorts Tegan to the wheelhouse while the Doctor lags behind.

The crew is summoned topside with a bonus grog ration before the start of the race. Turlough lingers behind and the Doctor discovers him. Together they head to the wheelhouse to find Tegan. Tegan is already uneasy as they passed a set of modern wetsuits outside the wheelhouse and that the race is preparing to start with it being pitch black outside. As the Doctor and Turlough enter, Mariner activates a viewscreen via a computer terminal and they learn that although it appears they are on an Edwardian sailing vessel, they are actually on a spaceship.

As the race begins, Tegan gets sea sick and Mariner takes her below to a cabin built from images in her mind. He gives her a glass of rum and she falls asleep. Turlough comes down to check on her a little later. He wakes her and she is both feeling better and more at ease with the surroundings. Turlough suspects that the drink helps with compliance as one member of the crew is a teetotaler and is the only one who seems to react to their surroundings like a normal person.

As the ships approach Venus, the first marker, Striker dives the ship in towards the atmosphere and gets a gravity boost to surge ahead of the others. Two other ships follow: a Greek trireme and a pirate frigate. The trireme explodes during the maneuver. Striker and Mariner dismiss it as a failed maneuver but both the Doctor and Turlough suspect sabotage as the ship exploded in an unexpected way. Upset at Striker and Mariner's indifference to the death of the people aboard, Tegan leaves the wheelhouse and heads back to her cabin.

Turlough also leaves but heads down towards the crew quarters where he runs into the tee-totaling sailor. He has stolen the key to the rum cabinet to clear the crew's head and gives it to Turlough to hide. He heads aloft while Turlough contacts the Black Guardian on what to do. The Black Guardian demands to know why he hasn't killed the Doctor. Turlough demurs saying that he can't kill him. The Black Guardian becomes angry and declares their deal void and that Turlough will never leave the ship alive. He strikes Turlough down in a bout of pain.

In the wheelhouse, the Doctor learns that the officers are creatures known as Eternals who use mortal beings (ephemerals) to entertain themselves. The prize for winning the race is "enlightenment" and the ability to realize your greatest desire. The Doctor leaves the wheelhouse but not before discovering weaknesses in the Eternal's ability to read minds. He collects Tegan and discovers Turlough passed out, although Turlough blows it off as a slip down the stairs. They attempt to head back to the TARDIS but the excitement in their minds alerted Striker and Mariner of the TARDIS's existence and they cause it to disappear.

Attempting to alleviate Tegan's depression at being trapped, Mariner, who is entranced with Tegan, takes her on deck to appreciate the beauty of space. The Doctor and Turlough also head aloft to look around. The Black Guardian's words echo in Turlough's mind and unable to deal with the situation any longer, Turlough throws himself overboard. The crew of Striker's ship attempt to throw him a life preserver but he drifts out of reach. He is instead swept up and rescued by the pirate frigate, commanded by Captain Wrack.

Wrack toys with the idea of torturing Turlough as ephemeral pain is a source of amusement to her, but Turlough intrigues her with his deviousness that she frees him. She sends an invitation to Striker's ship to come aboard for a party. Striker initially declines but the Doctor requests to go so he permits him and Tegan to go with Mariner serving as his representative.

Before they leave, the ships are caught in a meteor storm. One ship takes advantage of the situation and surges past Wrack's frigate. She heads below, dragging Turlough along, and enters a secured chamber. Shortly after, the passing ship explodes. Striker and Mariner assume that it was destroyed by the meteors but the Doctor again suspects sabotage.

After the storm passes, the Doctor, Tegan and Mariner board the frigate to a lavish reception. Turlough sneaks away to try and discover the secret of Wrack's power in the sealed room. He finds it mostly empty except for a focus window protected by a vacuum shield. A member of the crew discovers the room left unsecured. He seals the door and deactivates the vacuum shield. Turlough begins to suffocate. He appeals to the Black Guardian but the Black Guardian dismisses him and leaves him to his fate.

The Doctor, looking for Turlough, asks Mariner to search his mind. Mariner notes that it's at the lowest point of the ship and somewhat shielded. The Doctor heads below and hears Turlough screaming for help. He reactivates the shield and opens the door. In there he finds an energy weapon that Turlough missed in his panic. The two realize that Wrack has been either giving or planting focusing crystals to the other ships, disguised as rubies. When she powers the energy weapon, the gem becomes the focus and the energy concentration destroys the vessel. The Doctor and Turlough head back but are caught by Wrack's second-in-command, Mansell.

Wrack takes Tegan to the wheelhouse where she freezes Tegan in a moment in time. She then places a focusing crystal, disguised as a ruby, in the tiara that Tegan is wearing. She unfreezes her and dismisses her to the care of Mariner, who had been concerned for her. He professes desire but when Tegan questions if he is in love, he is confused and only desires existence.

The Doctor and Turlough are brought before Wrack where Turlough accuses the Doctor of being a spy and he was trying to capture him. The Doctor, Tegan and Mariner are dismissed but Turlough is allowed to stay on board. Turlough pretends to be on her side, desiring to win the race for himself.

Wrack demonstrates the pirate plank on two eternals who were arrested when they came aboard for the reception and they disappear as they fall overboard. Wrack prepares to demonstrate it on Turlough as she is aware of his greed for the prize. Turlough tells Wrack that he too serves the Black Guardian, having heard his voice when Wrack entered the sealed room. Impressed, she spares him and brings him below after ordering Mansell to pull even with Striker's ship.

As Wrack's ship pulls even, the Doctor realizes that Wrack is planning to destroy them. When describing the focusing crystal, Tegan recalls seeing it on her tiara when she took it off. They race to Tegan's room as Wrack is absorbed in a column of darkness, allowing her to focus power on that crystal. The Doctor finds it and smashes it, forcing Wrack to split her focus on the fragments. The Doctor then scoops up the fragments and tosses them overboard, just as they explode.

Wrack's anger at Striker's survival is diminished by news that the winds have stopped and Striker is becalmed. With the extra sail of her ship, Wrack pulls ahead and prepares to dock at the city of the enlighteners. Striker is powerless to stop her but the Doctor appeals to him to give him back the TARDIS as he can stop her. Striker agrees and reveals that it was hidden in the Doctor's mind. The Doctor visualizes it and it reappears on the bridge. He tries to take Tegan but Mariner refuses to let her go.

The Doctor materializes outside the chamber and enters. He appeals to Wrack to stop, not knowing what she is tapping in to. She laughs him off and orders Mansell to throw him out the aperture. On Striker's ship, he, Mariner and Tegan observe two bodies emerging from Wrack's ship and disappearing into space. Wrack's ship does not stop and docks at the city, winning the race. Striker, Mariner and Tegan board the longboat to pay homage to the winner.

Wrack's human crew disappear to their own time and place as the Black and White Guardians appear in the wheelhouse. The Black Guardian calls for the captain and the Doctor and Turlough appear, having thrown Wrack and Mansell overboard and taken command of the ship. The Black Guardian angrily rebuffs the Doctor, informing him that he has only won a battle and that he will come again. The White Guardian offers enlightenment but the Doctor politely declines.

Striker, Mariner and Tegan arrive and Tegan is surprised to see them. The White Guardian dismisses the Eternals, though Mariner begs Tegan for help. She admits that she cannot help him and the two disappear. The White Guardian then offers the prize to Turlough and reveals a giant, glowing diamond. The Black Guardian reminds Turlough that they still have a contract which gives anything Turlough has to him. The Black Guardian offers to let him have the diamond in exchange for the Doctor, forcing Turlough to choose between great wealth and the Doctor.

Turlough stares at the diamond before throwing it to the Black Guardian. The Black Guardian shrieks and disappears in a blaze of fire. The White Guardian informs Turlough that their contract is now annulled and they are free to go as he disappears. The Doctor informs them that enlightenment was never about the diamond but the choice. They then leave with Turlough requesting that they aim for his home planet.

Analysis

Having finally have seen the full story, I can say that while it is good, I don't believe it lives up to the hype that many fans have given it. It is well acted, the sets are interesting and the story is somewhat compelling, yet it is also slow and the eternal's lack of emotion can bring a total dearth of feeling through the whole thing that is slightly off-putting. I also felt like there were a couple of strings that were left hanging so that the story was left with a few missing pieces.

I enjoyed the Doctor in this story, although he was quite reserved. My principle hang-up was in the very beginning where the Doctor has seemed to become fully aware of Turlough and his mix-up with the Black Guardian but has gone from being wary and trying to pull him over to being more hostile to him. In either case, it's a passive-aggressive streak that I don't particularly care for in the Doctor. He knows and should confront Turlough.

I was also a little disappointed that there wasn't as much direct conflict with the Eternals as there was potential to be. Granted, Striker and Mariner weren't hostile to them, but I thought more action would be necessary when they took the TARDIS. There was a hostile in the form of Wrack, but the critical moment was deprived, whether for time or the thrill of the deception, and we never actually see the Doctor gain the upper hand over her.

The companions were alright, although Turlough has more to do and was thus more interesting. Tegan was a bit too passive for my taste. Mariner held on to her and that kept her from being anything more than a liability in the form of getting the focusing crystal on to Striker's ship. She wasn't whiney, which was nice, but she also wasn't particularly engaging either.

Turlough was pretty interesting as he was fighting with sides. I did not like how he kept appealing to the Black Guardian in his moment of trial, despite the fact that the Black Guardian had tried to kill him once and driven him to try and take his own life shortly after. It's a bit inconsistent. Even in his cowardice, I would have liked more general pounding on the door and calling for help, going so far as to appeal to the Doctor and Mariner (and maybe even Wrack and Tegan) before trying the crystal. I also would have liked to have seen him properly turn on Wrack in the final fight. I understand the drama of questioning who was killed, but it would have been nice to actually see Turlough make an active move for once.

All of the Eternals have their ups and downs. Striker is probably the one I like best, even though he is the most emotionless. It really isn't that different from a "stiff upper lip" sort and it makes him strangely interesting.

Mariner has the creepy, almost rape-y thing down. I would have liked a bit more build up as to why Tegan strikes him more than say the far more emotionally turmoiled Turlough. I can't even begin to imagine what he would do with someone like Victoria. Probably his best scene is at the beginning of Episode Four where he spouts dialogue that could have come directly from a bad romance movie but in an impassive yet obsessive way. It goes so far as to make Tegan question him about love, a concept he is unfamiliar with. Again it comes back to his desire for the intensity of emotional existence and Tegan's passion and roil of emotion is what draws him. It's an interesting character study.

Wrack is profoundly over the top, occasionally too much so. She makes for a nice contrast with the emotionless Striker and Mariner and an over-the-top pirate queen would make sense. If Striker and Mariner are trying to understand emotions, she is bathing it them full stop. I didn't like the end to Episode Three though when she stares down the camera and laughs. That was too Snidley Whiplash for my taste and a step too far, even for that character. I also have to mention my disappointment in her getting an off-screen dispatch. I would have liked to see her spit some venom at the Doctor before pushing her overboard.

The sets are very nice as well as the direction. You can tell that the ships are models, but that is pretty much a given with what they are trying to do on the budget they have. I also enjoyed the lighting as well as the switchover to film when they go topside. The lighting is so low that the grain of the film really stands out, especially at the end of Episode Two, and it gives it a rather eerie quality, enough to distract you from the thin veil of lights attempting to look like stars in the background. Similar things can be said about the costumes so there is very little to complain about from a production standpoint with this story.

I keep coming back to my central question as to why I didn't care for this story as much as I expected to. I think pacing was some of it. Ultimately, I knew where the story was going with Turlough having to prove himself loyal to the Doctor. But rather than focus on the race or step to unentangle themselves from the Eternals, we focus on scenes with the crew, which are dropped halfway through Episode Two. We get Mariner pining after Tegan who seems bored by the whole thing and yet it still is never quite clear what Mariner is truly pining after. Then after the slow development of the first three episodes, we get the hasty conclusion in Episode Four that doesn't even give Wrack a good send off.

I also couldn't help but be a bit disappointed in the subplot with the jewels of destruction. Wrack's ship is clearly faster and she could win the race without destroying Striker's ship. The first two ships did actually pass her at various points so I understood her blowing them up, or at least luring them in to blowing them up. But Striker is someone she wants to blow up just for the fun of it as she has enough sail to overtake him and pass him. It reminded me of the old cartoon Wacky Races where the bad guy, Dick Dastardly, actually had the fastest car and if he just raced instead of hatching plans to destroy the other racers, he would have actually won. When you can be openly compared to a cheap Hanna-Barbara cartoon, that's not exactly the finest comparison.

I will say one thing about the story. Even if I was a bit bored here and there, it's overall telling was somewhat compelling. Having been foiled the first time I tried to watch it, the second time, I knew what was going to happen in the first three episodes yet still found them entertaining. I also found myself drawn in a little more by the story. I don't think this story is at the level of Kinda where repeated viewings will cause you to find more and more to enjoy, but I think the slow pace and sometimes odd detours hide other aspects which can draw you in on a second viewing.

All in all, I'd say this is good but not great. I think I would still agree that it is the best of the Black Guardian trilogy but more for it's overall balance. Mawdryn Undead was elevated by the Brigadier and only suffered in my eyes because of some laziness in the storytelling. Enlightenment is better balanced with good acting and a decent story all around, but the pacing and other small flaws bring it down from where it could have been. Perhaps the fault is entirely mine with hearing about how good this story is and building it up in my mind to something it wasn't. But it's still worth watching and it will draw you in, even if you find yourself distracted by other things from time to time.

Overall personal score: 3.5 out of 5

The King's Demons

Sir Ranulf: He is said to be the best swordsman in France.
Doctor: But, fortunately we are in England.

The King's Demons is the second of the genuine two-part stories (although the last on for me as any other stories that are listed as two-episodes are extended in length). It also introduces the companion robot Kamelion who ends up never being used again until his dismissal story: Planet of Fire. This apparently was due to problems with the robot puppet and the subsequent death of it's programmer, leaving it as a blip in Doctor Who continuity.

Plot Summary

In March 1215, King John is staying at the estate of Sir Ranulf but is unhappy with his supplications. He insults the house and Sir Ranulf's son, Hugh, takes the challenge. In the morning, Hugh jousts with the King's champion, Sir Gilles. Their match is interrupted by the arrival of the TARDIS. When the Doctor and his companions emerge, the crowd reacts in terror but King John welcomes them as his demons. Uneasy, they sit with the king and watch Sir Gilles unhorse Hugh, though the Doctor intervenes to ensure that Hugh is not killed.

Later, the Doctor and Tegan converse about the unease of the situation. Turlough, exploring another part of the castle, is taken by Hugh to the dungeons, convinced that he has an evil purpose. At the same time, Sir Gilles arrives in the chamber of Sir Ranulf and his wife, Isabella, and takes her hostage. Sir Ranulf confronts the Doctor, demanding to know what evil is going on. The Doctor suspects that the king may be an imposter and asks Sir Ranulf's leave to investigate the matter.

In the dungeons, Hugh is about to put Turlough into the iron maiden when Sir Gilles arrives. Hugh protests at the treatment of his mother and Sir Gilles has him arrested as well. All three are locked in a cell together. Hugh implores Turlough to call upon the powers of hell to help them but Turlough scoffs, suggesting that Hugh's efforts in that vein would be more effective.

Outside the castle, Sir Ranulf's cousin, Sir Geoffrey, arrives having just returned from London where he was with King John taking the crusader's oath. He is met by Sir Gilles who informs him of the King's presence. When Sir Geoffrey protests that that is impossible, Sir Gilles has him arrested.

At the evening feast, Sir Gilles brings out Sir Geoffrey and plans to place him in the iron maiden for his crimes. Sir Geoffrey protests, insisting that he saw the king in London only hours before. The Doctor protests the maiden, suggesting that Sir Geoffrey should be boiled in oil instead. John agrees but the Doctor rises, stating that he was not serious and insults Sir Gilles. Sir Gilles challenges him to a duel and the Doctor accepts. They fight in the hall but when the Doctor disarms him, Sir Gilles removes his disguise, revealing himself to be the Master.

The Doctor takes the Master's tissue compression eliminator, disarming him. When the Doctor refuses to kill the Master, John orders the Master into the iron maiden. But the maiden is the Master's TARDIS and it disappears. The Doctor is installed as the king's new champion and he offers to take Sir Geoffrey to the dungeons. The king agrees and then retires to rest.

The Master rematerializes his TARDIS in the dungeons and frees Lady Isabelle and Hugh, informing them that the Doctor is evil and must be stopped. He leaves Turlough and then takes the other two to the main hall. In the main hall, the Master convinces Sir Ranulf that the Doctor is evil and will try to kill Sir Geoffrey and harm the king. Hugh is dispatched to arrest the Doctor.

The Doctor arrives in the dungeon shortly afterwards and frees Turlough and Sir Geoffrey, confirming to him that the King John at the castle is an imposter. The Doctor installs the tissue compression eliminator on the Master's TARDIS. The group then heads outside with the Doctor planning to use the TARDIS to take Sir Geoffrey to London to inform the king but find the TARDIS taken in to the castle. Turlough readies Sir Geoffrey's horse for him to ride to London while the Doctor and Tegan reenter the castle to confront the imposter king.

The Doctor and Tegan are arrested and brought to the hall but the Master is absent. He is with a guard, who shoots Sir Geoffrey with a crossbow as he rides away. He also has Turlough arrested. In the hall, Tegan manages to get in the TARDIS and disappears. The Doctor uses the confusion to run off and enter the king's room where he find a robot named Kamelion playing the lute and singing in King John's voice.

The Master arrives in the castle with Turlough and Sir Geoffrey's dying body. The Master leaves to find the Doctor while Turlough is held in the hall. Sir Geoffrey utters words as he dies about the Doctor and the king but Sir Ranulf mistakes them for the Doctor threatening the king and heads towards the king's chambers.

The Master enters the king's chambers and introduces the Doctor to Kamelion who helped him escape his last mishap and is controlled through his will. The Doctor changes Kamelion's form as well and the two Time Lords begin to psychically duel over Kamelion. As they do so, Sir Ranulf and his guards enter with Turlough to see what appears to be King John in a glowing aura. The Doctor begins to overpower the Master and he loses control as Tegan arrives in the TARDIS.

Kamelion assumes the form of Tegan and Sir Ranulf is too stunned to stop him as the Doctor grabs Kamelion and Turlough and hurries them into the TARDIS. The TARDIS disappears and the Master heads to the dungeons to pursue them, leaving a confused Sir Ranulf. However, the addition of the tissue compression eliminator throws off the Master's guidance system and he cannot pursue the Doctor.

On the TARDIS, the Doctor to let Kamelion stay with them and he accepts, although Tegan is suspicious. The Doctor then says that he will take Tegan home over her petulance. She objects, stating that she wants to stay and head with the Doctor to the Eye of Orion as he mentioned. The Doctor agrees, admitting that he never entered the coordinates for Tegan's time anyway.

Analysis

Unlike the other two-parters, I think The King's Demons would best be classified as "a thing that happened." There is almost no real plot and even less action. It's not unenjoyable, but it's a bit boring as there aren't even any real personalities to sink your teeth in to.

The Doctor and his companions are fine, but they show up a bit late and are fairly passive though the first episode outside of a mild quip or a complaint of being cold by Tegan. The intrigues of the Master mostly go unchecked until the end of Episode One and then once the unmasking has been done, things move quickly but with almost no real plan. Outside of a battle of wills with the Master, there is very little that the Doctor actually does of consequence.

The Master is actually slightly more interesting than the Doctor in this story, but even there, it's not really the Master but watching the quality of Anthony Ainley's acting as Sir Giles. I've always felt that because the Ainley Master is so mustache twirl-y and over-the-top, he is regarded as somewhat of a lesser actor. However, when you watch his performance here as Sir Giles or in Castrovalva as the Portreeve, you get a much better sense of his abilities. I rather wonder if half the reason the Master is shown in disguises so often is just to give Ainley some change of pace work. As Sir Giles, he has a restraint that is often lacking as the Master and it's fun to see where the Master pokes out a bit, such as when he arrests Sir Geoffrey approaching the castle.

The other draw of the Master is that in stories such as this one, he seems to be the only one having any fun. Of course you expect the denizens of the castle to be a bit dour, it was the times. But the fact that in this and other adventures, there is no real sense of fun in the adventure by either the Doctor or his companions. I think that is what truly creates the rift between the Fourth and Fifth Doctor eras and why only a smattering of Fifth Doctor adventures really stand out as excellent.

I didn't have any problem with Kamelion in either concept or execution. It looks like a silvery mannequin controlled by wires or tubes but I would expect that from the early 80's. The idea of a robot that can cloak itself in any form is an interesting concept and it says a bit about the motivations of the Master that his first act after escaping is to go for such a minor annoyance as trying to stop Magna Carta. I do think that the producers missed the boat with Kamelion when they abandoned him due to the problems they had. Kamelion could easily have been played by various guest actors as needed, without any use of the robot puppet at all. I don't know that it would have improved any of the subsequent stories, but it would have made him a viable character.

Going back to the Master and his plan, I was reminded of some of the off-hand comments Missy makes to Clara in their initial meeting in The Magician's Apprentice as well as comments made by Doctor Who fans in that this is more of the Master flirting with the Doctor. The plan to stop Magna Carta is something well beneath the Master (the Doctor even mentions that) and would have been much more suited to the Meddling Monk, who would have thought of it as a laugh. I don't buy this as a real plan for conquest by the Master but more of a calling card to let the Doctor know that he has escaped their previous encounter and will be toying with him more in the future. Even at the end, the Master seems completely unphased by the loss of Kamelion and the foiling of his plan. He genuinely doesn't care because the calling card to the Doctor was the real plan and he succeeded there.

The look of the story is pretty well done. You can always count on the BBC to get period costuming and sets to look good. Of course, the iron maiden was a complete anachronism as it never really existed and didn't even appear in stories about the era until the 19th century. However, that can easily be handwaved away by King John bring it to the castle (he would have had to since it was the Master's TARDIS) and Sir Ranulf just assuming it was a device John came up with or one of his knights discovered on a crusade. With the uncovering of the false John the use of what would have looked to him as magic, he would have not bothered to mention the torture device as he could have dismissed it as a trick of hell. It's anachronistic nature should have only served as an additional notice to the Doctor that something was up and if you restructure the story as the Master toying with the Doctor, it makes a lot more sense.

Despite all the fun of hand waving and reading alternate contexts into the story, you still have to judge it for what it was and the truth is that I found it dull. Little action, little character development and just a bit of Time Lord flirting. You can tell that the story was devised almost exclusively to introduce Kamelion but that takes a minute, leaving you bored for the other 47 minutes. It's even worse if you know about Kamelion already since there is no real surprise at who the imposter is. With that knowledge and with the story checked off in the watch box, I can't say that there's any reason to go back and revisit this one. Again, it's not bad, it's just not particularly engaging unless you enjoy the flirting between the Doctor and the Master.

Overall personal score: 1.5 out of 5