Sorry, I usually have Sundays off and make this post in the morning. Worked today and didn’t even think about it.
Mon 5.21 Serial 70 – The Time Warrior
Tue 5.22 Serial 71 – Invasion of the Dinosaurs 1/2
Thu 5.24 Serial 71 – Invasion of the Dinosaurs 2/2
Fri 5.25 Serial 72 – Death to the Daleks
Mon 5.28 Serial 73 – The Monster of Peladon 1/2
Tue 5.29 Serial 73 – The Monster of Peladon 2/2
Thu 5.31 Serial 74 – Planet of the Spiders 1/2
Fri 6.01 Serial 74 – Planet of the Spiders 2/2
Maggot spoilers!!!
Episode 4:
Perhaps I missed it last night, but the maggot that is stalking Jo breaks out of the egg that she and The Doctor brought back (I had wondered where it came from.) It inches through the house into the room where Jo is seated on the floor reading.
Hinks is outside a window, and opens it, slipping in to the room behind Jo. He doesn’t see the maggot until it is too late and it leaps up and bites him on the arm. It inches away as Hinks falls and screams, rousing the others, who come running.
The Doctor collects a sample of the green slime to analyse.
UNIT has arrived at the pit, Benton and soldiers running about, unloading all sorts of explosives.
The Doctor and Professor Jones work on the sample; when exposing it to human mucous membrane cells, the green ichor attacks and transforms the human cells into cells like itself.
When The Doctor finds out the Brig plans to blow up and seal the mine, he asks for time, and the Brig gives him thirty-two and a half minutes. The Doctor goes to speak to Stevens, asking him to rescind the order to seal the mine.
Stevens refuses and brings in a man from the Ministry department – Mister Yates – yes, Captain Yates!
As The Doctor argues with Yates, who pleads the old “orders” bit, the Brig has the mine blown. Upon hearing the explosion, The Doctor tells Yates that this could be the worst day mankind has ever seen.
After The Doctor is dismissed and Yates is taken off to the executive suite, the computer taunts Stevens, saying it is not safe to allow outsiders to do their work. The computer says that D-Day is approaching.
The Brig explains that he had Yates assigned as the Ministry representative, to have an inside man. The Brig is no more fond of Stevens than The Doctor is.
A cleaning lady lets herself into the chamber Fell and Elgin were arguing in, where The Doctor and Jo escaped the pipe, and sees maggots in the pipe chamber. She finds Elgin and cues him in.
Benton patrols the various UNIT guards on duty, checking in on one. A maggot burrows out of the ground at the man’s feet and hisses at the soldier.
Elgin argues with Stevens, who still refuses to believe in the existence of the maggots (or at least pretends so.) Then, mid breath, Stevens seems to change to “oh, I’m not disputing it, just not concerned” (not an exact quote.) When Elgin tries to leave, saying he’s going to find someone who will do something, Stevens locks the door from the desk and tells Elgin to come sit down near the computer.
Elgin refuses and Stevens presses a button; there’s a high-pitched shrill whine and Elgin holds his hands to his head in pain. Stevens tells him to sit down and Elgin listens, obediently. Stevens gets the funky headset out.
Maggots are all over the hillside. UNIT soldiers fire on them but seem to be really bad shots. The Brig fires his pistol, but the bullets bounce off. One of the UNIT boys uses an automatic rifle, also to no avail. Even insecticides don’t work.
The Doctor says that the only solution is a “biological counterstrike”. He says Jones is working on something. The Doctor says they need to get a sample of the waste from GC.
The Brig rings Mister Yates, who can’t speak plainly as he has a GC guard with him at most times. He manages to inform the Brig that he cannot help them get a sample directly, but might be able to assist The Doctor, should he find a way in.
The Doctor disguises himself as a dairy/milk delivery man, pretending to be the dad of the regular guy.
Jo is having fun assisting Professor Jones until she spills some samples and he gets rather brusque with her.
The Doctor gets inside the GC complex but an alarm is sounded and it is announced over the PA that he’s been found out. Oh very efficient, that.
Yates gives his escort the slip when he sees The Doctor, dressed as a washing lady. Yes, you read that right.
Jo goes wandering, hoping to find a maggot for Professor Jones. Benton, driving in a truck, stops and warns her off, but she doesn’t listen.
Yates lets The Doctor know where the formula is being kept, but before they can talk much longer, Stevens and Yates’ escort guard arrive. Nobody realises The Doctor isn’t the regular cleaning lady. This is high comedic entertainment here, folks.
Professor Jones realises that the dried mushroom extract that accidentally got spilled on the slime is the cure. Of course. THEN he realises that Jo is gone. Of course. He reads the note she left him and realises she’s off maggot-hunting and he dashes off.
The Doctor, back in his usual garb, accesses the private lift, using his sonic screwdriver.
The Brig tells Benton that the RAF is flying in with a HE grenade strike in seven minutes.
The Doctor finds a massive computer room, filled with various computer consoles and banks. The computer voice speaks to him and reveals that it is the boss and is “the computer”. The Doctor looks around, rather alarmed… and the credits roll.
Okay, I guess forty years ago that might have been a shock, but I took it from the get go that it was a computer running things.
Episode 5:
Jones shows up where the UNIT troops wait for the RAF strike. He sees Jo moving into the strike zone and follows, unaware of the impending strike.
The Doctor and the BOSS (acronym to be explained when it happens in story) banter, trading barbs and the such. BOSS is aware of The Doctor, having accessed his files at UNIT. When The Doctor asks BOSS what he is, he says he is the first Biomorphic Organisational Systems Supervisor. (Told you we’d explain it.)
BOSS says that the secret to the human creative spark is inefficient and he programmed Stevens to program it to be inefficient and thus have the human spark. BOSS is programmed to make profit for GC and nothing will stand in its way.
Jones find Jo and hustles her away from some maggots that cornered her. They try to get out of the strike zone, but the RAF helicopter is given the all-clear to start dropping the HE grenades and they must take shelter in a mine shaft.
When BOSS says it is infallible, The Doctor gives it a riddle. The riddle seems to get the best of BOSS and when The Doctor makes his pithy departure, the private lift has Stevens and two guards in it, awaiting him.
During the bombing run, Jones is knocked unconscious.
Not all the maggots were destroyed by the grenade run.
The Doctor is sitting, wearing the funky headset. He seems to resist the programming, running sums in his head to fight off the brainwashing.
Jo tries to wake Professor Jones, to no avail.
BOSS has a temper and The Doctor is playing the computer like a cheap violin. When BOSS gets too pissed, it orders for The Doctor to be killed, but The Doctor suggests that killing him will be getting rid of a powerful bargaining chip.
Jo tries to repair her radio that was damaged during the bombing. Outside, maggots are getting closer to their hiding place.
The Doctor is placed in a room for holding, and shortly thereafter, Yates frees him. They try to sneak out, but are spotted on camera and an alarm is sounded. Again, over the general PA everything is announced. The Doctor escapes, but Yates is taken prisoner.
Jo finally gets her radio to work and contacts Benton as The Doctor drives up in Bessie. They drive to the strike zone and look for Jo, finding the cave she and Jones are sequestered in. They rescue Jones and Jo and bring them back to the commune.
Jones only partially wakes, mumbling, “Serendipity,” before passing out again. They see a glowing green spot on his neck!
The Doctor ponders what Jones meant by serendipity, ironically standing before the microscope which still has the slide Jones was looking out when he realised that his mushrooms would be the cure. Mike Yates suddenly appears from behind a desk (he was laying on the floor, apparently, which makes absolutely no sense.)
Yates tells The Doctor they let him go, but it’s obvious he’s been “processed”, especially after he pulls a gun on The Doctor. The Doctor tries to talk him out of it, even after the Brig walks in and starts barking orders.
The Doctor pulls out the blue crystal he took from Metebelis 3, and the stone and The Doctor’s voice begin overwhelming Yates’ programming.
Stevens talks to Mr. James, another GC associate who has been processed by the BOSS.
When Yates awakes, The Doctor tells him he needs to go back into GC, as he has something he needs him to do.
Stevens and BOSS go over “slave unit” numbers in major cities across the world. Seems they have a great number of slave units prepared. Yates arrives, informing them that The Doctor is dead.
Jones is suffering; Jo is very worried about him and The Doctor realises that he means a lot to her.
Yates tries to dissuade Stevens from having Jo killed, but Stevens seems to find Yates’ arguing suspect and has Mr James brought in to keep watch on Yates. Stevens leaves, and Yates uses the Metebelis crystal to free James. As he questions James on what is happening, James begins to talk about a takeover at four pm, but Stevens arrives with two guards and uses the computer to stun/drop/kill James… and the credits roll.
Episode 6:
The Doctor works in Jones’ lab, trying to find a cure, still pondering what Jones meant by serendipity.
Benton brings in a maggot’s shell; it seems they’re beginning to change. The Doctor says the cure has to take a second place to stopping the creatures.
The maggot that killed Hinks shows up in the kitchen, but after it eats some of the fungus that they use for food, it dies. They quickly realise the fungus could be what they need.
BOSS is humming and singing while Stevens works on figures. BOSS inquires how Yates broke James’ programming. Stevens advocates for elimination, but BOSS says he will be used to test a new processing treatment instead.
Benton and The Doctor take Bessie out for a spin, throwing bits of the fungus out to the maggots, who greedily eat it and then begin dying off.
“It’s working, I say it’s working. They’re dying like… well, like maggots!” – The Brigadier.
A giant fly watches Bessie drive by.
Professor Jones is very, very ill and Nancy and Jo all but sit by helplessly. Nancy is all zen, “The Doctor will help,” and Jo is all frantic, “even he doesn’t know what to do.”
Yates escapes Stevens and the guards as they take him for the new processing.
The giant fly… well, it looks more like a dragonfly… follows Bessie. There’s some really awesome (and by awesome I mean not) super-imposed images. The dragonfly thing squirts some of the green ichor at The Doctor, but fortunately Bessie’s windshield is in the way. The Doctor throws his cloak over the creature and it crashes to the ground.
Yates escapes Global Chemicals, dropping from the rooftop.
Jo tells The Doctor about her accident in the lab, spilling the dried fungal powder, and The Doctor realises that must be the cure. (Yay, about time.)
A maggot clean up is in process, when Yates arrives to tell the Brig about BOSS. We next see him at the “nut hutch” (Jones’ commune), telling The Doctor that something, but he’s not sure what, is going to happen at 4pm.
BOSS chastises Stevens in a most irrational fashion. Stevens reports that all slave units are ready to be activated. BOSS orders him to link him with all seven computers so the countdown to phase one can begin.
The Brig and The Doctor try to get in the gate at GC, but the guard won’t let them.
BOSS is acting very silly, talking about using the symphony orchestra to play during his triumph. (I guess this is supposed to be the funny part of the show.)
Stevens tries to get BOSS to stop acting childish; Stevens says that until all the links are established they are at their most vulnerable. Landline links are established, but radio links have not been made yet. This is really rather silly and not in remotely a good way.
Phase two begins, and Stevens puts on the funky headset, apparently to connect to BOSS.
A poultice of the fungus is applied to Jones’ neck and he comes to, recognising Nancy and Jo and starts kissing Jo’s hand. It’s really touching. Kinda.
The Brig and his boys wait at the gate; they have only six minutes left in the timeframe The Doctor gave them to wait before charging in to destroy the computer.
The Doctor finds Stevens in BOSS’ chamber. Stevens and BOSS seem one; Stevens’ mouth moves as BOSS speaks. The Doctor appeals to Stevens’ humanity, then pulls out the Metebelis sapphire, using it to deprogram him. Stevens breaks free and tells The Doctor to get out, quickly. He tells The Doctor that the whole place is going to go up in two minutes.
BOSS pleads for Stevens to stop what he’s doing as The Doctor rushes off to get out and make sure the others do, too.
Outside the gate, The Doctor grabs the guard and everyone takes cover just in time as the main building explodes.
Afterwards, Jones seems to be quite well. Jo tells The Doctor that she’s going to the Amazon with Professor Jones. In the course of explaining it, Jones mentions getting married, much to Jo’s surprise and delight.
The Doctor says he’ll come back and see them some time. He gives her the Metebelis sapphire as a “wedding present”. Everyone celebrates with drinks and gives speeches as The Doctor slips out alone. He drives off across the countryside… and the final credits roll.
A companion leaving is always bittersweet – happy for Jo to have found something greater, sad for The Doctor.
This serial really wasn’t one of the best – too much silliness in my opinion. The writing started well but once BOSS became the main focus it just devolved into too much of the silly. Also, what’s the point of having scientific characters if the day is saved by serendipity?
Ah, well.
We open with a closed… not sure, factory or some sort of establishment (a coal mine, perhaps?). Underneath, in a tunnel, a man in coveralls and with a helmet with a headlamp moves hurried, almost panicking.
A vehicle arrives at another plant, Global Chemicals Research Centre, where a group of men stand outside the gate. A man, obviously someone in charge or with some clout, gets out and says he’ll address the assembly. He tells them he has a piece of paper that will bring “wealth, in our time”, but the group of men scoff.
Underneath, the worker runs along, coming to a lift. He activates it and jumps in and it rises to the top. On his hand is a growth or burn that glows green.
The man addressing the throng of men talks of the coal mine being shut down and the future is in oil. He has it in writing that the government is going to support the initiative, as well as promising money for future expansion. The group of men seem pleased at this, except for one man, a Professor Jones, a “troublemaker”.
As the conversation gets heated, an alarm sounds from the coal pit. The men rush off. We see the worker, triggering the alarm; more than half his face is green.
In his lab at UNIT HQ, The Doctor is tinkering with the space-time coordinate programmer, saying that it’s in need of some repair. (Hey, they’re actually addressing the fact that the previous Doctors had no control over the TARDIS, how very cool.) He and Jo talk about Metebelis 3, which they never got to, and he promises they’re going there next.
Jo reads an article about Global Chemicals getting the approval for the go ahead, which upsets her greatly. She says she has to go to Wales because of the story she read.
Professor Jones and the men cover the worker’s body; he’s dead, and even the professor is baffled at the cause and some of the symptoms.
The Brigadier argues with The Doctor, trying to get him to go investigate. “But, Doctor, it’s right up your alley. This fellow is bright green… and dead!” The Doctor protests that they’re not policemen.
Jo and the Brigadier agree on going to South Wales; The Doctor tries to talk her into going with him, promising her anywhere, anywhen. She remains steadfast and he says he understands and for her to tell the Brig that he’ll follow down, later. She pauses, seeming to understand some greater meaning behind it. When she departs, The Doctor says out loud, “So, the fledgling flies the coop.” He enters the TARDIS and it disappears.
The Brig drops Jo off at Professor Jones’ community. The Brig doesn’t quite approve, but seems to respect Jo’s determination and dedication to her cause – she even threatened to resign from UNIT if need be.
The TARDIS materialises on a blue lit planet, presumably Metebelis 3. He exits and looks around at the blue/purple sky, but then suddenly a furry tentacle reaches out and grabs him.
Jo meets Professor Jones, but she doesn’t recognise him and makes a bit of an ass of herself.
The Doctor, his clothing torn and somewhat in disarray, runs for safety.
Professor Jones plays a light-hearted prank on Jo and they stop being mad at each other.
The Doctor clings to a cliff wall, blasted by snow.
Professor Jones is working on high protein mushrooms. Jo finally realises who he is.
The Brig meets with the big wigs at Global Chemicals. The one guy, who addressed the crowd, steps on the Brig’s toes, but he puts him in his place. He asks for a line to ring The Doctor, but we see The Doctor is still on Metebelis 3, avoiding the giant claws of some enormous bird.
Jones protests Global Chemicals’ new procedure; though it can get 25% more oil and fuel from crude oil, he says it’s still using oil and still creating pollution. He tells Jo that wind and tidal energy is the way to go (and here I am, almost forty years later, almost to the day of original air date, watching this… and the same arguments are still being made, though to little avail.)
The GC big wigs tell the Brig that their new process, the Stevens process, generates very little waste; Jones tells Jo that it cannot be true. He postulates that it might even have to do with Hughes’ death and Jo says they should investigate the mine.
In the local pub, one of the men says that he is going down the mine to investigate what happened to Hughes.
The Brig tells the big wigs that the mine cannot be shut down; as soon as The Doctor arrives, he intends on going down to investigate.
The Doctor runs some more; it is Doctor Who, after all. He makes it back to the TARDIS, as a bunch of spear-like projectiles are thrown at it. He materialises in the lab, and answers the phone.
We next see him zipping down the road in Bessie.
At the mine, the man from the pub is lowered down the shaft via lift.
Stevens, the head bigwig at GC, is very displeased that the Brig is insistent on investigating the mine. When the Brig sees The Doctor arrive in Bessie, he goes off to meet him, and Stevens calls for his lackey, Hinks. When Hinks arrives, Stevens seems confused at first, perhaps conflicted. He recovers himself and tells Hinks that “Nobody shall go down the mine. Nobody.” Hinks goes off to do what must be done.
Stevens pulls out an ornate headseat and puts it on, attaching it to a computer and seems to enter a trance.
Jo arrives at the mine. She encounters the two men who sent their buddy down the shaft. As they argue with Jo, their buddy down the shaft rings them on the phone; we see him with a glowing spot on his hand. One of the guys goes down, taking Jo with him.
The Doctor and the Brig arrive at the mine in Bessie, but Hinks is there, watching them. When The Doctor and the Brig enter the lift room, they order the man to stop the lift, but he says he can’t, it’s out of control… and the credits roll.
A story I know next to nothing about. So far, interesting and a little mystery – are we dealing with Earth baddies – a corrupt corporation, or something more?
Episode 2:
Jo and Bert are thrown about as the lift plummets at rapid speed. The Doctor and Brig use a bar to grind the lift to a stop, but they reach the bottom. They recover and Bert says it felt like brake failure. He opens the door and drops a tool to gauge how far it is. Guessing twenty feet, he scales down a rope, afraid that the cable could snap.
The man at the top says they’ll have to go to Global Chemicals for a wire cutter.
Jo and Bert find Dai, the man who went down first. Bert sees his hand glowing green, just like Hughes’ had been.
The Brig’s call to GC is cut off as they’re in mid-conversation, asking for the cutting equipment. We see Stevens is behind the loss of signal. The Brig contacts Jones, but he says he doesn’t have the equipment.
Stevens tells Fell, one of his top men to prevaricate, but he refuses, saying they must help the two in the mine. When he tries to leave, Hinks stops him and then the computer speaks, telling Stevens to “process him”. When Stevens questions it, the computer tells him it is necessary and to do as he says.
The Brig arrives back at GC, and Fell, now seeming quite unlike he did before, insists that GC doesn’t have the equipment. As Stevens and the Brig leave, arguing, Elgin, another of Stevens’ right hand men, tries to talk to Fell, feeling something is amiss.
Fell is very terse and too by-the-book; Elgin realises something is certainly not right with his friend.
The Brig radioes in to Captain Yates.
Jo and Bert are down below; he tries to reassure her, as she’s quite distraught.
The Doctor discovers a lynch pin had been removed from the brake mechanism and says that it was intentional, not an accident.
Bert says a while back he had been trapped, but struggles to remember how he had gotten out.
The Brig returns from GC, but shoots down Jones’ idea to steal the cutting equipment. He goes off to head to the nearest town to find some, but The Doctor and Jones hatch a plan.
Outside the GC plant, Jones leads a demonstration party, banging on drums, chanting, carrying signs and the like. Security at the gate calls for back up, and while they’re distracted, The Doctor drives up to the fence and lowers himself over with a crane. He inadvertantly triggers a futuristic alarm system and cameras well beyond the tech of the 1970s follow him.
The computer advises Stevens to take “no action, yet” against The Doctor. They watch as he enters the storage area. The computer tells Stevens to apprehend The Doctor.
Jo and Bert move through some tunnels; Jo is rather afraid, but Bert continues to reassure her.
The Doctor is approached by Hinks and two others, and beats the three of them handily (though in one angle, you can tell it’s a stuntman in a wig and not Pertwee.) As backup comes running, The Doctor scampers off, but finds himself trapped.
Stevens arrives and shows The Doctor the shed that the cutting equipment is believed to be in; it is empty.
The Brig returns with the cutting equipment. Everyone starts arguing over who is going down to rescue Jo and Bert. It’s decided that The Doctor, Davis and a couple others will go down.
Jo whines and wants to stop, but Bert tells her they have to keep pushing on.
The cutting is done and The Doctor and crew go down.
Bert and Jo make it through the tunnel and he says they can take a rest now. After they turn off their headlamps, they realise they can see each other from some green glow. They see a glowing green ichor, and Bert touches it, saying it burns.
The Doctor, Davis and two other men arrive to find a map attached to Dai’s body, with a note from Jo. The two men take Dai’s body back up, while The Doctor and Davis look for Jo and Bert.
Bert is weak, suffering. Jo helps him, and when they stop, they see his hand is beginning to glow, like Hughes, like Dai. He says she has to go on, to fetch help. She doesn’t want to, but she agrees.
Davis and The Doctor arrive at the area with the green glow. Davis goes to touch the ichor, but The Doctor stops him. They comment on the strange smell and go on, finding Bert. The Doctor tells Davis to take Bert back to the lift, to go up and tell the Brig not to send anyone else down, it’s far too dangerous.
Jo comes across a cave filled with large maggot-like creatures in the green ichor. The Doctor finds her and sees it, horrified. They try to head back, but there’s a collapse in the tunnel and several of the large maggot-like creatures cut them off, threatening them… and the credits roll.
CREEPY!!!!
Episode 3:
Jo and The Doctor run from the creatures.
Davis returns up top; Jones advocates going down, but the Brig says they must respect The Doctor’s wishes that nobody else go down. The Brig says he will do something and intends on visiting GC.
The Doctor and Jo push a mine cart through the maggot-infested area.
Elgin confronts Fell about the mining equipment and the dead man (Dai) and dying man (Bert) recovered from the mine. Fell seems to almost resist his programming, briefly, but the recovers. Elgin follows him into a room and watches him surreptitiously.
The Brig informs Stevens that he’s taking over, as security risks override any other concerns. Stevens threatens the Brig, the Brig throws his weight around and Stevens responds by asking his secretary to get the Minister of Ecology on the phone, much to the Brig’s displeasure.
The Doctor and Jo crawl through a tunnel, coming across what look to be eggs. The Doctor says he thinks he’s beginning to understand. He takes one of the eggs and puts it in a bag. The climb upward through the emergency shaft (where Bert was trying to lead her earlier.)
Fell tells Elgin that he is not authorised to be in this room. Fell tries to dissuade Elgin from asking any questions. Elgin realises that Fell is lying to him about draining local tanks.
The Brig speaks to the Minister of Ecology, who tells him to toe the line and work with Stevens. The Brig is put on the phone with the Prime Minister, who sets the Brig straight.
Jo and The Doctor come to and begin to scale an exit pipe. An alert is triggered and Fell and Elgin see them in the pipe. Elgin realises that the waste disposal is about to go into that pipe and says they must stop it, but Fell says, “They are intruders,” as if that explains everything.
Fell says that the operation is automatic, he cannot stop it.
The Doctor and Jo feel the pipe vibrating and The Doctor says they must hurry.
Elgin keeps nagging at Fell, who’s programming is slipping. He’s at war with himself, but Elgin asks how to open the hatch. In the nick of time, Fell tells Elgin and he lets them out just before the waste is funneled through.
Stevens offers the Brig use of his office and secretary, but the Brig says his own staff are on their way.
The Doctor tells Elgin what happened, and of the maggots. Fell rises (he seems to have had passed out from the internal dispute in his brain) and slips out. The Doctor wonders if he’s going to report to Stevens, but Elgin isn’t sure.
Fell arrives in Stevens’ office and says he has a headache. Stevens tells him he’s been overdoing it and invites him to sit down. He pulls out the strange headset, saying he’ll help him as he did once before. Hinks holds Fell still as Stevens places the headset on Fell’s head. Fell sees strange alterations to what’s in the room, and says, “You’ve done something to my mind.”
The computer tells Stevens that the processing has failed and “self-destruction” is needed. Stevens says it’s not necessary, but the computer calls him a “sentimentalist” and Stevens presses a button. Fell rises from his chair and walks out without a word.
Elgin leads The Doctor and Jo out through some back halls, and watch as Fell runs by and leaps off a high exit to his death.
Stevens is visibly upset over Fell’s death. The computer taunts him for being a sentimentalist.
At Jones’ commune, The Doctor, Brig and Jo and Jones’ people have a happy dinner. (Wow, really? They watch a man kill himself earlier and are partying? Nice.) The Doctor is told there’s a call for him on the telephone.
Jones goes on a lecture about going down the Amazon, looking for a toadstool referenced in some text from the late 1800s.
The Doctor returns with news that Bert passed away and there’s little to be learned from Dai’s body.
Hinks tells Stevens about The Doctor and Jo’s story of the egg and the maggots. Stevens tells Hinks to go fetch the egg.
Jones consoles Jo over her grief because of Bert. They bond and almost kiss before the Brig and The Doctor show up.
As good nights are said, Jo is reading Jones’ book about the Amazon and a maggot is seen crawling into the room, coming up behind her… and the credits roll.
Oh, that’s a nasty cliffhanger, good thing I’m not leaving you hanging on that one.
Oh, wait, I am! Muahahahahahha!
(See you Saturday for the second half.)
Again, we’re in the midst of a serial, so let’s open with a spoiler warning.
Episode 4:
I haven’t mentioned it yet, but I think it’s worth noting that this serial is written by Terry Nation; I think this is the first he wrote since the return of the Daleks to the Doctor Who universe (after unsuccessfully trying to get the US market to buy the Daleks as a tv property.)
The four humanoids (The Doctor and three Thals) lift into the shaft moments before the Daleks break through the door. The Daleks think they’re hiding and by time they release where the prisoners went, they’re out of range of the weaponry.
Rebec says she’s afraid of heights and daren’t look down, and then everyone else, being assholes, talk about having to go miles before they reach the surface. That’s nice.
The Daleks order a patrol to head to the surface to intercept the prisoners, and an anti-gravitational disc is to be brought to the shaft.
Jo follows a Dalek squad to the hidden explosives. The Daleks prime the detonation mechanisms and leave, leaving the explosives to self-detonate. Jo waits till they leave and then fiddles with two of the three dials, but before she can deactivate(?) the third, a rock falls from above and strikes her head, rendering her unconscious.
A Dalek follows the prisoners up the shaft via an anti-gravitational disc. Outside, the Daleks near the shaft terminus on the surface.
Jo wakes up, sees the third device is about to detonate, and grabs the two she deactivated and runs off and hides. Apparently, the Daleks approaching the shaft are right there (perhaps the explosives were hidden near the shaft) and when the one device goes off, they are caught in the blast.
The Doctor and Thals see they’re being pursued; they’re almost at the top when, suddenly their air balloon tears and they all must grab the convenient rungs on the side of the shaft (cuz Daleks use them, yo) and climb out. The Thals make it out and have to pull The Doctor up via a rope for some unexplained reason.
The Dalek pursuing via anti-grav disc is almost there, but the Thals throw some small boulders down the shaft, destroying it.
The Daleks order a massive search for the prisoners, pooling all resources.
Jo finds The Doctor and the Thals and there’s a happy reunion. While Jo and The Doctor catch up on what’s happened, Rebec and Taron talk – he’s not happy that she came on the back-up mission. It seems they’re a couple; he’s afraid that with her presence, he won’t be able to make the right decision and all but blames her for coming. (Geez, dude, I get what you’re saying but give her a kiss and a hug, man. The chicks dig the hugging and kissing.)
The Daleks plan to release a disease to kill the prisoners.
Jo and The Doctor give a little pep talk to Taron and Rebec and then Codal returns with Vaber and the other Thal (who were at the gate to the city) arrive. After Vaber says they went back for the bombs but they were detonated, Jo tells everyone they still have two bombs.
The group heads to a rocky area to sit out the night – on Spiridon, the nights are near artic and the rocky area is warmer due to absorbing the sun’s rays during the tropical day.
Avoiding a patrol of Spiridons (wearing furs to stay warm) and Daleks, The Doctor notices that the Daleks seem to be moving sluggishly. At the rocky area, a strange creature flies overhead, startling everyone.
Vaber returns to “rashly advocating direct attack” mode.
Codal and Taron discusses the refrigeration unit being the point of attack; Vaber chimes in about leaving now with the bombs. He’s rash and wanting to attack to the point of being a poorly written two-dimensional cariacture, not character.
Vaber and Taron get into a fight; Latep and Codal have to break them up. (I’d have put a laser beam between Vaber’s eyes, personally. There’s no place for stupidity and insubordination in a mission like this.)
The Daleks discuss the bacteria they’ve prepared – it will kill all plant and animal life within one day. The bacteria will be ready to released in half a day. Only those who are immunized against it will survive.
Vaber sneaks off while everyone is sleeping, taking the bombs with him. He even leaves a note, “I’ll do what I have to do, alone.” Aw, that’s just what I would do. You know, just so they know for sure where I’m going. Taron and Codal set off after him.
Vaber is caught by Spiridons; one of them says, “Take him to the Daleks,”… and the credits roll.
Creepy enough of a cliffhanger.
Episode 5:
Taron and Codal see Vaber being taken away; the Spiridons have the bombs, too, and they pursue their comrade and his captors.
Strange creatures lurk about the perimeter of the camp as the Plain of Stones; Rebec fires her last two charges on her gun to scare them off, but they don’t scare easily or for long.
Taron and Codal attack a Spiridon lagging behind, knock it out and Taron dons its furs. He hurries to catch up, telling Codal to stay close.
After Latep uses his last two charges, The Doctor has everyone brandish torches to keep the creatures at bay.
Codal approaches Taron, but it turns out it’s one of the Spiridons, who attacks him. Taron saves him at the last moment. Codal takes the other furs and they make plans to grab the bombs and free Vaber.
At hearing the refrigeration unit was the target of the Thal’s plan, he says that’s the worst possible idea – the unit is keeping the majority of the Dalek army on ice. Destroying it would thaw them out.
Wester, the Spiridon who helped Jo, shows up at the camp. He brings news of the bacteria.
Vaber is brought before two Daleks, who demand that he take them to where his companions are. He pretends to play along and makes a break for it, but is killed by the Daleks. Taron and Codal grab the explosives and run off during the distraction.
The Daleks begin immunizing theirselves and their Spiridon slaves against the bacteria. All units are recalled to city to be treated.
At morning, Taron and Codal return to the Plains of Stone with the bombs. When Taron says a Dalek patrol is on their heels, The Doctor says it’s time to stop running and use their brains to fight.
The Doctor and Taron discuss the ice pools; The Doctor points out that the Daleks seem to be vulnerable to colder temperatures.
Jo and Latep intentionally get spotted by the Dalek patrol (which has orders to exterminate all aliens, take no prisoners) and lead them back to the plains. The Doctor draws them off near one of the ice pools. Taron lays in wait and the two of them grab the first Dalek.
Jo and the other Thals tangle with the other Dalek, bringing it to the ice pool. Both Daleks are pushed into the freezing liquid. When they seem docile, Taron and Latep open their chassis and pull out the dead Daleks from inside.
At the city, the Daleks receive the distress signal when the chassis is opened. They decide not to wait any longer on the treatment, prior to the release of the bacteria. (Why they didn’t treat everyone else while they were waiting, I don’t get.) Wester arrives, saying he has a vital message for the section leader. He says he has lured the aliens into a trap, and is instructed to enter the laboratory to await the leader’s attention.
Rebec has entered the empty chassis; Jo and Latep are to go to the shaft with one bomb, while Rebec, The Doctor, Codal and Taron (the latter three in furs) enter the city. They are told to report to central command for treatment, and they see Wester in the lab with the Daleks.
A fault in the device used to administer the immunization has been rectified by the section leader and another Dalek, as Wester stands there with them. Wester runs forward, opening the container of the bacteria. The section leader and associate are already immunizied, but they cannot open the door for fear of contaminating the others (convenient plot device, that.)
When Wester dies from the bacteria, he becomes visible. Spiridons have pasty skin and a wide nose.
As Rebec and her ‘Spiridons’ attempt to leave to go to the lower level, a Dalek realises they are not Spiridons and shouts, “Emergency! Emergency! Emergency,”… and the credits roll.
Nicely done, that.
Episode 6:
The Doctor and associates run off, pursued by Daleks. A maximum security alert is issued.
Again, the Daleks order for the aliens to be pushed to the lower levels.
Two Daleks fire on the Dalek chassis, but fortunately Rebec had already abadoned it. They take the lift down, hoping to use their one bomb to prevent the army from being revived.
The Daleks receive a report that the Dalek Supreme is approaching in a spaceship. Dalek command has identified The Doctor (finally) and the Daleks decide that he must be captured and kept alive for the Dalek Supreme to interrogate.
Jo and Latep see the Dalek Supreme’s ship landing. The Dalek Supreme, a gold and black Dalek, departs, accompanied by other Daleks. Latep explains to Jo, who’d never seen a Dalek like that before, that it is a member of the Dalek Supreme Council.
There seems to be some physical chemistry between Jo and Latep.
Back at the shaft room, The Doctor and Codal try to figure out their plan as the Daleks try to break down the barricade they constructed.
The Dalek Supreme arrives to take over command of the operation. The Daleks report that the invisibility field for Daleks is operating at satisfactory levels. It gives the order to shut down the refrigeration unit – the army is to be thawed out, the invasion is about to begin!
The Dalek Supreme exterminates the section leader for its failure to capture or kill the aliens.
Jo and Latep are at the top of the shaft, readying to climb down. REALLY? The Doctor said it was MILES to the bottom! MILES of climbing down with rope and/or those handholds? I DON’T THINK SO!
The army of Daleks begin to thaw, starting to move about in the grand chamber.
The Daleks are almost through the barricade into the shaft terminus room.
The bomb is knocked over one of the thawing Daleks and though it doesn’t go off, the timing mechanism is damaged. Codal works on repairing it, while The Doctor explains his plan – they can use the bomb to create a chain reaction to flood the chamber with ice from the volcano, freezing the Dalek army for centuries.
Latep and Jo make it down the shaft, and seeing the Daleks break through the barrier, Latep uses the bomb they have to destroy the patrol. They reunite with The Doctor and the others.
Codal repairs the timer, setting it for a thirty second timer. The Doctor wedges it into one of the fissures as more Daleks from the city arrive. The Dalek army begins to be more active. The explosion catches the recent arrivals from the city, and after what seems to be a failure, engulfs the army with the liquid ice.
The Dalek Supreme orders for all sections to be sealed, but the controls are not responding. They send a message to the Dalek Supreme Council about the loss of the army and then gives the order to set self-destruct on all equipment and they abadon the base.
Latep takes Jo aside to talk to her. The Doctor asks Taron that, when they return to Skaro, not to glamourise their story, not make war and battle seem to appealing – he says the Thal people are known throughout history for their love of peace.
Latep asks Jo to go with him, but she says no, she wants to return to her own world. The Thals take the Dalek Supreme’s ship and take off. As Jo and The Doctor watch the ship launch, the Supreme Dalek and two others arrive. They pursue The Doctor and Jo, who must pass through the area with the squirting plants (which can cause the fungal infection that Jo received earlier) to get to the TARDIS. They make it and take off.
The Dalek Supreme says that preparations to free the Dalek army from the ice will begin, this is merely a delay not a defeat.
“The Daleks are never defeated!” – The Dalek Supreme.
Jo tells The Doctor that she wants to go home, back to Earth.
“Home it is, Miss Grant,” he replies… and the final credits roll.
A very, very enjoyable serial. Some small issues (miles? Really? And Vaber was handled a bit poorly in much of his characterisation) but other than that, I highly enjoyed it. Terry Nation does the cliffhanger endings rather well.
For the first time ever, a Doctor Who serial doesn’t quite end the story, but segues into the next directly. We pick up where we left off last serial, so I’m guessing it’s time for a spoiler warning!
Episode 1:
The Doctor sends a message to the Time Lords, but collapses as he does so. Jo helps him to a bed (which comes out of a cabinet in the TARDIS console room) and he says that he’s liable to sleep for quite some time. He instructs her to record anything that might happen in the log and tells her where to find it before he slips into sleep.
Later, he struggles in his sleep, calling out for Jo, telling her to be careful. He settles, but Jo is worried for his health. She records what has happened in the log, saying she has seen him in a similar condition once before (THE DAEMONS, I think), noting he recovered after a sudden rise in temperature.
The TARDIS arrives somewhere, though Jo isn’t sure where – she suspects the Time Lords are operating the TARDIS remotely. The Doctor’s body is somewhat frosty, ice forming on his face in small quantities.
Using the scanner, Jo sees a jungle outside, but some liquid begins spurting against the view screen. She exits (putting on a thick coat and gloves?) and is squirted upon by some flowers, obviously the source of the liquid hitting the scanner.
She wanders about, hearing animals and other jungle/foresty noises. She records on the log (it’s an audio recording device) and then takes off her coat, seeing it’s been stained by the spurting liquid from earlier. Something invisible seems to be following her.
On the TARDIS, The Doctor stirs, rising from his bed, wondering where Jo is.
Jo finds a spacecraft. She goes inside and finds one of the crew dead, but tries to hide from the others. They find her and when she tells them she’s from Earth, they say Earth is just a legend.
The Doctor wakes and has to activate the emergency oxygen system in the TARDIS.
The crew agrees to help Jo, to go back to help The Doctor, but a third member shows up to say there’s a patrol coming in. They leave Jo in the ship to lead “them” away, avoiding Jo’s question of who “they” are.
An invisible creature/person is on the ship with Jo; she watches from a safe area as it rummages through the ship, as if looking for something. The creature (which hasn’t spoken, only breathed heavily) tries to get in the area Jo is hiding but it’s locked. It departs the ship, leaving tear drop shaped foot prints.
On the TARDIS, The Doctor is struggling to survive – cabin atmosphere is unable to sustain life, the alarm signals. He struggles to open the door but collapses at it. Outside, a thick substance has formed over the door, but the men pick away at it – it seems to be a build up of the liquid the plants sprayed on it (and Jo, for that matter.)
The Doctor recognises the men as Thals, from the planet Skaro. He tells them about helping the Thals during the Dalek War and he talks of Barbara, Ian and Susan (obviously referencing THE DALEKS.) One of the Thals refuses to accept the story, calling him a spy.
One of the Thals realises that The Doctor’s been exposed to a fungus and sprays him down with a medicine to treat it. The Thals tell him if untreated, it would have covered his entire body.
On the Thal’s ship, Jo realises that something is growing on the back of her hand, some fungus!
We learn they’re on the planet Spiridon, which the more abrasive Thal, Vaber, describes as “one of the nastiest pieces of space garbage in the ninth system.” The intelligent life form, the spiridons, are invisible.
As they head back to their ship, they come across a strange circular impression in the ground. Using a colour spray, they reveal an invisible Dalek… and the credits roll.
Okay, so far, so good. Daleks, Thals, invisible creatures, aggressive plant life, a strange planet. Let’s keep rocking!
Episode 2:
The Dalek is inactive, however. The Thals explain that the Daleks are still working on invisibility, by studying the spiridons. Thus far it’s limited to short periods of time. The Doctor stops Codal, one of the Thals, from opening the Dalek’s chassis, warning of automatic distress beacons.
Jo wakes on the Thal ship, recording in the log about the infection on her arm.
Vaber and The Doctor wait as Taron and Codal scout ahead; the scouts see a patrol of Daleks, likely heading to recover the deactivated Dalek. Vaber is attacked by some tentacle/vine that screams when The Doctor cuts him free. When some of the “eyeplants” (plants with eyestalks) start moving, the Thals and The Doctor hide, as this is usually a sign of a Spiridon being nearby.
Jo leaves the ship, collapses, then sees the brush moving and goes back inside and collapses again. Spiridon(s?) approach and enter the ship.
Codal runs off, hoping to lead any Spiridon away, but he is caught and attacked. Vaber, Taron and The Doctor arrive at the ship, but hide in the brush as Daleks arrive. The patrol radios in to command centre the discovery of the ship. They receive orders to destroy the Thal spacecraft, but The Doctor rushes out, fearing for Jo’s safety, as her last known location was within the ship. The Daleks capture The Doctor and fire on the ship, destroying it.
The Thals hold back as The Doctor is taken away. He’s brought to the Dalek ship and placed in a cell, where Codal is being held. They turn out their pockets, trying to see if they have anything they can use to escape. He finds the log (which I’m not sure how, I missed that part) and listens to Jo’s recording.
Meanwhile, Jo is sleeping, while a Spiridon mixes a poultice for her arm. It explains that it found her in the machine and brought her to safety. She learns that the Daleks are there from the Spiridon. The medicine makes Jo drowsy and she passes out.
The Daleks discuss using the prisoners for scientific experiments once interrogation is done. The Daleks are aware that there are only two Thals remaining. (But why aren’t they confused about the additional presence of The Doctor, then?)
Vaber and Taron argue over being brash or cautious; Vaber pulls his gun on Taron, demanding the explosives they have. Taron says he’ll have to kill him first to get the explosives, but before Vaber can decide what to do, a ship pass by overhead, bright light and wind howling – there’s an explosion and Taron says the ship came in too fast, was burning up.
The Doctor and Codal sit, as The Doctor tries to figure out how to disable a Dalek, preparing for when the chance comes. The Doctor decides to reverse the polarity (of course) of the log to make a feedback device to confuse the Dalek’s guidance system.
After Jo recovers, the Spiridon explains that the Daleks bombarded the planet with bacteria, wiping out the majority of the population. Of the survivors, all but a few have agreed to work with the Daleks in their pursuit of invisibility. She learns from the Spiridon that The Doctor is still alive, but has been taken to the Dalek city.
Approaching the crashed ship, the Thals discover a woman they know, Rebec. She says there are a couple more survivors, but the ship and all the explosives and equipment were destroyed. She brings news that the Daleks on Spiridon don’t know a dozen, as expected, but closer to TEN THOUSAND… and on that, the credits roll.
NOW THAT IS A CLIFFHANGER. Oh my. Can you imagine sitting there at home, watching your weekly Doctor Who programme and being hit with that bombshell?
Episode 3:
Vaber comes back with Marat and Latep, the other survivors.
Outside the city, Jo and the Spiridon watch as other Spiridons (wearing coats to protect themselves from the cold, so they’re visible) bring in vegetation into the city for the Daleks to experiment upon, as they are developing anti-plant weaponry. Despite the Spiridon’s warnings, Jo plans on sneaking in somehow.
The Thals discuss a freezing cold gooey substance; Taron says that Codal has theorised that the core of the planet is pure liquid ice and like a volcano, sometimes it builds up and erupts. The Daleks built their city on one of these ‘ice volcanos’ and Taron theorises they should be able to find a fissure by which to enter.
Vaber and Latep are taking up positions at the main entrance of the city; should the others enter and cause a distraction, they are to attack. Before they go off, Vaber apologises for turning his gun on Taron, who accepts the apology.
The Doctor continues to fiddle (doh) with the polarity reversing, working on a device to debilitate a Dalek. He says it’s done, now they need a Dalek to try it out on.
Jo slips into one of the cannisters the Spiridons are loading up with vegetation, so she can be brought into the city.
Inside the shafts, Taron and two others crawl in, hoping to find access to the city. They hear rumbling and fear it is an eruption of icy lava.
Jo has made it into the city in one of the carts. She overhears the Daleks talking about moving the prisoners for interrogation.
The Doctor and Codal hear the lift is active and get ready to attack the Dalek that is coming. It enters their cell and orders them to stand. They do not and when it moves closer, they charge it, Codal grappling with its gunstuck and plunger, The Doctor affixing his device to the Dalek, rendering it inactive, but also destroying the device in the process.
The Daleks detect that ice eruption is imminent and the order to close the cooling ducts is given.
The Thals in the tunnels race against time, having to backtrack as an ice flow breaks through a wall and heads their way.
The Doctor and Codal are spotted roaming free and though they run, the city is placed on maximum security alert – the order to “locate and destroy the prisoners” is given. Jo overhears all this. The prisoners are forced to go further down in the lift. After nearly being killed at one level, they go further down, exiting at another.
In the tunnels, the Thals crawl through icy goo into the shaft. Taron sees The Doctor and Codal walking by and calls them over to the grate. They help them free the grate to escape the cooling duct (which had not been closed down just yet.) However, as they try to pull them out, the duct doors begin to close. The Doctor and Codal force the doors open and the three Thals escape.
A Dalek patrol is spotted coming around the corner and the Thals and The Doctor run off; ice flow pours through the open duct, hitting the Daleks.
In the command centre, Jo overhears that the prisoners have been forced down to level zero.
One of the Thals, Marat, is killed in a firefight with the Daleks pursuing them. The others make it into a room and The Doctor seals the door. From Marat’s body, a map showing the location of the explosives they have hidden is found. Daleks are ordered to go and find the stash.
The Doctor and Thals find a ventilation shaft from the room they’re in, leading to the surface. It’s too steep and high a climb, but The Doctor starts working on a plan. The Daleks begin cutting through the door as he does so.
In the command centre, Jo overhears Daleks discussing the explosives cache as they go off to destroy it. She seems to follow them.
The Doctor and Thals work on a balloon to catch the hot air and lift them to the top. They increase the updraft from the unit and it begins to lift. The three Thals are holding on, but The Doctor is distracted by a small panel he opens and sees a massive amount of Daleks in a cavern beyond. The Daleks are almost through the door, but the lift isn’t enough to take all four of them. The Daleks are almost entirely through the door and Rebec cries out, “Doctor, it’s not going to work,”… and the credits roll.
Now that’s a classic cliffhanger! And a great one to leave you guys hanging on. See you tomorrow for the continuation!
Why don’t you take me to spoiler town…
Episode 4:
The Doctor bangs on the door to the airlock with the empty air tank as Professor Dale panicks. As the old man drops down and The Doctor attends to him, The Master arrives to save the day. (Yes, that’s rather clever.)
The Doctor and Dale then appear before the Governor of the prison, along with Cross, The Master and several guards. The Doctor accuses the Governor of wanting Dale dead as he is a threat, politically. Cross denies it, of course, and the Governor orders the two men put in solitary for a year.
The Master protests, asserting his claim on The Doctor, but the Governor says that since The Doctor committed an offense in the prison and is “under punishment”. The Governor says once his year in solitary is over, he’ll be happy to reconsider the representative from Sirius Four’s request.
The Master then threatens to support The Doctor’s request for an official enquiry unless The Doctor is handed over to him. The Governor decides this is best and agrees to it. When they go to see The Doctor in his solitary cell, The Doctor tries to out The Master, but his nemesis mentions having The Doctor’s accomplice in his ship and The Doctor protests no more.
On The Master’s ship, The Doctor and Jo are reunited in a cell. The Master dismisses the guards that brought the prisoner onto the ship and then takes the opportunity to gloat. (I have to admit, I do love a villain who gloats. Who takes the time to rub it in the hero’s face that they have the upper hand. And Roger Delgado could gloat with the best.)
The Master says that his employers have a “special interest” in The Doctor. He doesn’t need his assistance, but claims his mere presence is enough. He informs his prisoners that they’re headed to the home of the Ogrons.
As soon as The Master departs for the flight deck, The Doctor and Jo begin to hatch an escape plan.
After lift-off, The Master observes The Doctor and Jo, via close circuit video, as they seem to be chatting; in truth, The Doctor has a steel file and is working away at the cage, behind his back, which is obscured from the camera. The Doctor regales Jo with a highly inaccurate tale of his trial before the Time Lords, from the end of THE WAR GAMES. After getting bored of The Doctor’s tale, The Master pipes in with a snarky line to his prisoners, and then settles down to read HG WELLS’ THE WAR OF THE WORLDS.
Time passes by and The Doctor manages to saw through and slips out. The Master is still engrossed in his book, though he has the audio on (and video, but he’s not watching), and Jo is rattling off as The Doctor slips out of the cell. (There’s a wonderful bit where Jo goes on about how The Doctor should give The Master a break. I won’t quote it all, you really should watch the serial to enjoy it.)
The ship flies on as The Doctor suits and Jo goes on and on and on (even prompting The Master to dial down the volume, a bit I just loved.) The Doctor leaves the cell area and exits the ship (okay, so there wasn’t an alarm triggered?)
Just then, as coincidence would have it, The Master has to make a course correction, and The Doctor is throw off the ship. Using his air tank as propulsion, he manages to make it back to the ship.
The Master checks over the intercom to see how his prisoners are; Jo says she’s fine and asks The Master not to wake The Doctor, when he doesn’t respond verbally to The Master’s inquiry. Suspecting something, The Master grabs a weapon and departs the flight deck.
The Doctor travels along the ship , entering through another hatch.
The Master arrives at the cell, discovering The Doctor is gone. Jo fears that The Doctor is lost in space, but The Master decides to take precaution, putting her in the airlock.
The Doctor, meanwhile, arrives at the holding cell, having heard from the flight deck what was going on. He disarms The Master.
Outside, another ship approaches The Master’s ship. While the two Time Lords fight, Jo bangs on the door, wanting to be let out. The Master gets to the airlock button, threatening to press it (opening the outer airlock door) if he doesn’t hand over the blaster to him. The Doctor complies, and just then, the ship shakes as the other ship docks with theirs.
Draconians enter the airlock, and The Master spins his cover story, but the Draconians don’t care about “disputes between Earthmen”. The lead Draconian says all diplomatic relations between Earth and Draconia have been severed. Since they have violated Draconian space, the captain sentences them to death, but upon appeal from The Doctor, he agrees to take them to Draconia, locking all three up in the cage.
The Doctor reveals that he’s once before been to Draconia and he helped them through a dangerous time. The Master scoffs at The Doctor’s little tale, and lays down to rest. He activates a small hand held device, which flashes a light as he hdoes.
On another ship, we see an Ogron sitting at a console, receiving some report, some message… and the credits roll.
Oh, what fun – Delgado is firing on all cylinders as The Master.
Episode 5:
The ship has landed on Draconia and the prisoners are ready to be brought before the Emperor.
The Draconian Prince petitions his father to strike first on Earth. The Emperor says he will speak to the Earthmen first.
The Doctor obeys the proper protocol of addressing the Emperor, apparently knowing from his previous time. He claims to have been conferred a noble rank by the fifteenth Emperor. The Prince scoffs, saying this was five hundred years ago. When The Master laughs and addresses the Emperor directly, he is commanded to be silent.
The Draconian Emperor speaks of a legend of a stranger who assisted the fifteenth Emperor when a space plague threatened Draconia. The Doctor says he is there to warn the Emperor about The Master’s plan to foment war between Earth and Draconia.
The Doctor explains the plot against Earth and Draconia, while The Master tries to dismiss it all as the ravings of criminals. The Prince argues with his father when the Emperor seems to put some credence in The Doctor’s explanation.
An Earth spaceship has arrived and a Draconian appears to inform the Emperor that the ship asks for permission to land.
The Master gives a speech that he, too, supports peace. He talks about being a lawman and says that law and order can only exist in times of peace.
The Doctor, in response, puts his hand on his former friend’s shoulder asking, “Are you sure you feel all right, old chap?” Classic banter, love it.
Jo says she hears the sound, saying it’s the Ogrons. The Doctor petitions the Emperor to put the ship that just arrived under guard, and The Master begins to protest, but Ogrons burst in, opening fire. One is killed (or perhaps knocked unconscious) and the others take The Master away.
The Emperor sees the “Earth trooper” that was killed(?) change appearance, once the other Ogrons (and the device that causes the illusion) have left. He sees the truth in The Doctor’s words.
The Master, back on his ship, berates the Ogrons. He says they must ensure that The Doctor does not return to Earth with the Ogron as evidence.
The captured Ogron is interrogated in the Draconian court, but answers no questions. The Emperor says that they will tell the Earthmen, but the Prince and The Doctor say Earth will not believe them, though The Doctor feels with the Ogron as evidence, they have a chance.
The Emperor agrees and sends his son in charge of the mission – they’re using The Master’s craft will allow them to enter Earth space without being attacked and has a cage to keep the Ogron in.
The Master and his Ogrons follow them, but The Doctor and the Prince notice they’re being pursued. The Master regrets having to destroy his nemesis from afar, feeling rocket missiles are so impersonal… but as they close to firing range, they fire the missiles nonetheless.
On the ship, the captive Ogron has broken free and makes it to the flight deck, attacking them. In the fracas, the ship speed is reduced and The Master’s ship docks and a boarding party of Ogrons attacks.
Meanwhile, an Earth battlecruiser approaches. The Master sees it, recalling the boarding party, but the Ogrons take Jo with them. The Master’s ship disengages, but the air lock is still open – The Doctor and the Prince manage to close it, but shortly thereafter, the Earth battlecruiser arrives and tells them they are under arrest for being in possession of a stolen police ship.
Back on Earth, The Doctor and the Prince have been brought to the President who, with General Williams present, have heard the Prince’s claims; however, since the Ogron captive was rescued by The Master, they have no evidence to back their story. Williams shoots down the suggestion to go to the Ogron planet to investigate, saying they need the forces as they are on the brink of war. (He also goes on the “how do we know it’s not a Draconian trick” schtick again. I don’t recall, but I still wonder if he’s part of the Master’s conspiracy.)
The President offers The Doctor one ship, but the General overrules her. The Draconian Prince says how can we expect help from the man who caused the last war between their peoples and it comes out how it all began – the General’s ship fired upon an unarmed Draconian Battlecruiser when they were supposed to be meeting for peace discussions before full war broke out. But the General’s ship had been damaged by a neutron storm, and when the Draconian ship didn’t respond to radio (as their communications had been destroyed by the very same storm), the General’s ship opened fire (which they weren’t supposed to be armed, either…)
The Master’s ship arrives at the Ogron homeworld.
General Williams apologises to the Draconian Prince for his error that led to the Draconia-Earth War. (Holy shit, I totally did not recall this or expect it this time.) He then says he will not only authorise an expedition to find the Ogron homeworld, but he will lead it.
The Master takes Jo into an underground lair on the Ogron homeworld. Jo discovers that The Master has the TARDIS. He tells Jo that she’s going to help him set a trap for The Doctor. He approaches her and tries to force his will on her, but she uses a trick to beat him – reciting nursery rhymes out loud. He then pulls out the device used to make the Earthmen and Draconians see each other and activates it, saying it works on the fear centers of the mind…
Jo reacts with horror… and the credits roll.
Episode 6:
Jo resists, as best she can, the effects of the device. She sees a Drashig, a Sea Devil and others, but she keeps repeating that it’s “just” The Master, and he is just using a device… and though she almost succumbs, it seems her will is strong enough (go Jo!). The Master admits she got the best of him again and has her taken away to a cell.
An Ogron arrives to inform The Master that two of their raiding parties have returned, reporting success in attacking Earth cargo ships, even destroying one. The Master is delighted at this, saying that will “stir things up; It can’t be long before they declare war on each other.”
On Earth, the President, The Doctor and the Prince watch a vide of a man calling for war, a crowd cheering for his words.
General Williams arrives to say everything is ready, they must leave at once. The Prince and The Doctor bid the President farewell and depart with the General.
In her cell, Jo is given a bowl of gruel, and starts digging through the dirt floor with the metal spoon.
The Doctor programs the coordinates for the Ogron homeworld into the General’s personal scoutship. Just then, they are attacked by a(n actual) Draconian battlecruiser and are hit before they can escape via hyperspace. They drop out of hyperspace, but The Doctor must suit up and go outside to repair the damage.
As he’s working on the repairs, they detect an approaching ship. The Doctor is under a tight crunch, as they believe it to be the Draconian battlecruiser in pursuit. Just as The Doctor effects the repairs and slips back in, the battlecruiser arrives and opens fire, but they slip into “maximum hyperdrive”.
Jo has managed to escape her cell and skulks about The Master’s lair.
The General’s ship has arrived at its destination. The pilot has to take it in closer, but worries about whether the repairs The Doctor did can take the heat of entry into the planet’s atmosphere. We see smoke billowing out of the area he did the repairs on as the ship enters atmosphere.
Jo finds a communication room and uses it to send out a mayday message to Earth and Draconia, using galactic coordinates (okay, how did she learn that?) The General’s ship hears the signal and gets a general location on it; first they must orbit around before they can land.
The Master arrives and takes the communication microphone from Jo, saying that was the trap – he left the coordinates for her to find, but the communicator was short range. The Master is well aware that The Doctor is in orbit (well, he knows there’s a ship in orbit and suspects, correctly, that it is The Doctor on board.)
The repairs on the ship are shown to be heavily pouring out fire and smoke. The General’s ship picks up a homing signal that The Master set up to bring them in… but The Doctor and the General muse about it being too convenient.
The Master watches on a scanner and sends out patrols to find them, ordering them to bring The Doctor back alive.
On the surface, The Doctor and the others search for the source of the beacon, using a hand held device. The Doctor, the Prince and General Williams are accompanied by four of Williams’ soldiers.
A group of Ogrons ambush the rescue party. A giant creature that I can’t even describe and the Ogrons rush off. They return to The Master’s lair, terrified of “the monster”. The Master yells at them, frustrated with their cowardice. He says his employers are coming.
As The Doctor and crew start following the beacon again, they see a ship fly overheard; likely, The Master’s employer(s).
Later, The Master calls to The Doctor from above as the party is going through a ravine. The Master is accompanied by four Daleks; they kill two of Williams’ men before The Doctor can get them to surrender.
The prisoners are brought back to The Master’s lair. The Daleks want to exterminate The Doctor immediately, but The Master begs them to let him live for now. Let him live long enough to see their plan come to fruition, to see his beloved Earth destroyed, and then kill him. The Daleks place The Doctor in The Master’s care for the time being.
The Daleks return to their base to prepare their army. The Master tells The Doctor not to be too grateful for his life, as it’s going to be a short war. The Doctor, Prince and Williams are locked up with Jo. Jo has The Master’s fear device, and The Doctor takes it, adjusts it. He tells Williams and the Prince that they need to return to their homeworlds as soon as possible and organise their people to attack and take this base as soon as they can.
After asking Williams and the Prince to close their eyes and cover their ears, The Doctor uses the recalibrated device to compel their guard Ogron to open the gate to the cell. The creature does so, then runs off.
The Master grumbles after getting off the communicator with the Daleks, muttering, “We’ll see who rules the galaxy when this is over…” The guard Ogron arrives to tell him the Dalek told him to open the cell. The Master, knowing all the Daleks are on their ship in orbit already, sends the Ogron to fetch the others.
Jo points out a mural in the lair, showing a large blob-like monster. It looks very similar to the one The Doctor and company saw when the Ogrons ambushed them.
Williams and the Prince head to the surface, while The Doctor and Jo enter The Master’s main lair, only to encounter the renegade Time Lord and a group of Ogrons. The Doctor activates the fear box and the Ogrons panic. The Master fires his gun as an Ogron bumps into him and the blast merely grazes his head The Doctor, but drops him. The gun is dropped and after Jo grabs it, The Master runs off with them.
Jo helps The Doctor, stunned and bleeding from the head, into the TARDIS, where he closes the door and activates the TARDIS. As it begins to travel, he uses the telepathic circuits to contact the Time Lords…
And the final credits roll. Um, what? Now I realise why I wasn’t sure what I thought about this serial, I definitely didn’t watch the last episode… maybe not even the last 2. I’m guessing it’s being continued in the next serial, PLANET OF THE DALEKS… which we’ll do on Monday and Tuesday of next week.
I saw this once, about a year ago. I remember enough to be excited about watching it, but not enough to remember how much I liked it; also, watching the serials in order gives a greater appreciation for the stories than randomly picking one and watching it, I feel.
Episode 1:
We open with a ship flying through space. In the control room/bridge, two crewmembers are seen getting ready for the shift into hyperspace. They talk about hostilities between Earth and the Draconian empire, though one insists it will “blow over”.
As they leap into hyperspace, they almost strike some strange object – recogniseable to us as the TARDIS. They do an emergency stop, and call in a report.
Jo and The Doctor exit the TARDIS, which The Doctor jumped into the cargo hold of the spacecraft. They poke about, Jo checking out the cargo (bulk flour) and peering out a porthole window; outside she sees another space ship outside, though when there’s a high pitched shrill noise, it seems to change shape before her eyes.
The Doctor says they’re in the 26th century, as best he can tell, but wants to find the crew to confirm.
On the bridge, the crew has seen the ship and try to contact it. There’s a high pitched noise and as they watch, the ship suddenly become a Draconian cruiser! The crew gets ready to fight, calling in a distress call.
The Doctor runs into Hardy, one of the crew, who is fetching hand blasters; there’s that same high pitched whine and in Hardy’s eyes, The Doctor, extending his hand in a greeting, becomes a Draconian brandishing a blaster. Jo comes up, and she doesn’t see Hardy, she sees a Drashig! (Which makes a lot more sense, having just watched CARNIVAL OF MONSTERS.)
The Draconian commander contacts the ship, demanding their surrender. Hardy brings the two “dragons” (Jo and The Doctor) on the bridge, but the other tells him to lock them in the hold.
On Earth, a Draconian representative (addressed as Your Highness) accuses Earth of attacking their ships, while the Earth representative (a woman with no form of address as of yet) says they do not but the Draconians have attacked theirs. She reads from the distress report from the ship The Doctor and Jo are on.
A man, General Williams, speaks up, saying that the only time they have invaded Draconian space is in pursuit of the Draconians after they have raided Earth ships. Realising his aggressive tone will be detrimental any chance of coming to a peaceful solution, the woman dismisses him… and he reluctantly obeys, addressing her as “Madame President”.
The Draconian is the son of the Emperor of Draconia. He gives Madame President, accusing her of using lies and evasions and says that this path will only lead them to war… and in war, Draconia will destroy them.
In the brig, The Doctor fills Jo in on the Draconian empire and his theory on the use of sound to induce fear, trigger the fear center of the brain, forcing people to see what they fear most.
The “Draconian” ship is jamming any further distress signals; they demand that the Earth ship surrender their cargo.
On Earth, the President hears about the Draconian attack on the news report; she summons General Williams and demands to know why the blackout was not upheld. He says the news services have their own scanners and must have picked up the story on their own. (uh huh.) She asks about the rescue status and he reports that the rescue ship is seventeen minutes away, but he is sure it will be too late.
We see two Ogrons (!!!) cutting through a bulkhead, presumably that of the Earth ship. (I didn’t remember there were Ogrons in this, very cool.)
The Doctor reverses the polarity of his “ultrasonic screwdriver’s power source” (his words, not mine) in an attempt to escape.
As the “draconians” are almost through the bulkhead, Hardy is sent to fetch the prisoners. As they arrive there, the Ogrons break through. Jo screams (shocker) and she and The Doctor run off, but The Doctor is shot and collapses.
General Williams reports to the President about anti-Draconian protests around the globe; in one, an effigy of the President was burned. A report comes in that the ship has been sighted but is not responding and there is no sign of any Draconian ship.
The Doctor wakes up, hearing Jo’s voice. He gets up, seeing Jo locked up in the brig again. He opens the door and enters, sitting down. He wonders why they used a stun gun on him and didn’t kill him. She tells him they took the cargo, including the TARDIS.
Jo wonders if the Ogrons are working for the Daleks again, but he says that they’re mercenaries, they could be working for anyone. They leave the brig and find the crew, who are also stunned. It seems the Ogrons repaired the airlock, too.
When the Earth battlecruiser radios, The Doctor goes to respond, leaving Jo to tend to the crew. The ships link up and when the troops arrive, the crew of the ship say The Doctor and Jo were stowaways and were working with the dragons… and the credits roll.
So far, a great start. Political drama and intrigue, a mystery that gets bigger, our heroes in physical danger and a cliffhanger!
Episode 2:
Jo and The Doctor are taken back to the brig cubicle and locked in with a guard outside. They discuss the situation they’re in and there’s a cute bit where Jo outlines all they need to do, which is quite the task. “Oh, I don’t know what I’ve been worrying about.”
General Williams, after interrogating the prisoners, tells the President that he suspects them of being spies. The prisoners are locked up while the President is briefed by the crewmen, in the presence of the Draconian Ambassador. Then, The Doctor and Jo are brought in; the President and General confronting the Draconian Prince with them, hoping to elicit some reaction.
The Doctor tries to tell the President that someone is trying to set up a war between the two empires, but the General has them taken away – it really seems that he might be behind the conspiracy!
The Doctor and Jo are taken back to their cell. The Doctor tries using the sonic screwdriver on the door but only manages to set off an alarm.
The Draconian Prince returns to his embassy, wondering what the Earthmen are up to. His associate/assistant wonders if the Emperor might have some plan that the Prince does not know about. The associate says it would be useful to question the prisoners. The Prince says the only way that could happen if the prisoners were to escape, and he could not countenance such a hostile act. The associate muses that if they were to escape and were to seek sanctuary with them, they would have to extend it.
Both Draconians turn and look at each other, meaningfully. The Prince dismisses his secretary, who contacts the President, to discuss the prisoners. He says that the Prince wishes to interrogate them with the President; she agrees and orders the prisoners brought to her.
As they’re being brought to see the President, Draconians attack and capture The Doctor.
General Williams reports to the President, saying they must demand the withdrawal of the Draconian embassy. They bring Jo in to interrogate her.
The Doctor is brought to the Draconian embassy. The Prince accuses The Doctor of working for General Williams, who is responsible for the previous war with the Draconians. The Doctor tells him that the ship WAS attacked, by Ogrons not Draconians.
After arguing with them, trying to get them to see the Earthmen are not behind the plot, The Doctor escapes from the Draconians, only to be captured by Earthmen. He’s brought back to the cell, where Jo awaits. Jo hears the sound that accompanied the Ogrons.
A force of Ogrons attack (the Earth troops seeing them as Draconians, of course) and enter the cell, telling The Doctor and Jo, “You, come,”… and the credits roll.
Episode 3:
The Doctor and Jo escape from their Ogron rescuers, only to be caught by the Earth troops again.
General Williams petitions the President to authorise attacking the Draconians. He tells her, “There is one thing worse than war, Madame President, and that is defeat!” He makes a thinly-veiled threat about her position and being replaced.
They continue their debate, but she refuses to strike the first blow. The General says that they must use the mind probe.
The Doctor is shown laying down, the mind probe attached to him. The General is asking questions, and The Doctor answers with the truth; the General refuses to believe he is anything but a Draconian agent (or he’s trying to make him appear to be one.) The General orders the technician to step up the power of the machine and eventually the machine goes on the fritz.
Later, The Doctor is summoned before the President, but not Jo. Again, The Doctor insists that he telling the truth. She offers a bribe, which he says is nice but he has nothing to offer her. The President says he will be sent to the Lunar Penal Colony. Jo will be kept on Earth.
On the penal colony, The Doctor is brought in with a new batch of inmates. He learns that there are no sentences on the Moon – once you’re there, you stay. And all the prisoners are political.
The governor (warden) of the colony addresses them. There’s one rule, “Do as you’re told”. One of the other new inmates makes a claim about the Peace Party winning one day and they’ll be free, but the governor scoffs and turns them over to the inmate trustee/section leader, Cross.
Another inmate, Professor Dale, explains that Cross, like all trustees, are “common” criminals from other prisons, not political prisoners. He takes The Doctor away to have him “kitted” out with a proper uniform.
General Williams and the President review documents from Sirius Four, claiming that The Doctor and Jo are criminals from their world. She has the representative from Sirius Four, one of the dominion colony planets of Earth. The Commissioner from Sirius Four is none other than The Master!
The Doctor is given a tour by Professor Dale, leading into the recreation area. The Doctor keeps asking about escape; it turns out that the most recent escape was a month ago, but like all the others, they failed and ended up dead.
The President agrees to hand over The Doctor and Jo to Sirius Four.
The Doctor pushes Professor Dale; he seems convinced that the professor has a plan for escape. He tries to persuade the professor and another inmate to trust him. He tells them that there is a third party trying to start a war between Earth and Draconia.
The Master visits Jo in her cell. Jo realises that he is behind the Ogrons, which he admits to. Reluctantly, Jo agrees to accompany him.
The Doctor tells his story to Dale and the other inmate. Dale actually believes The Doctor, saying it explains much. Before he can say much more, Cross enters the rec room, demanding Dale to attend him. Seems it’s a spot check. As Cross pats him down, he tells Dale that there’s a VIP spaceship arriving at Bay 7 in ten minutes. Cross has set up two spacesuits for him, saying he can pinch the ship – turns out that he’s helping Dale escape in exchange for help from the Peace Party when they take over.
Dale chooses The Doctor to go with him – he says he can help The Doctor get his story out. The Peace Party has the right connections there, people will believe him this time. They go to the airlock and find the space suits and suit up, as they have to walk on the surface to get to the ship – they could never escape by using the main entrance.
As they suit up, Cross peers through the door, and twists a dial. Inside, The Doctor hears the hissing of air, but Dale asks him to help him with the air tanks. Both air tanks are empty. The room begins to depressurise… and the credits roll.
Now THAT’S a cliffhanger, and a proper one to leave you on until Friday.
A four parter, so just one post. A serial I know nothing about. So, let’s do it!
Episode 1:
On a strange world, a ship arrives and the natives move to greet it. Agroup of aliens, somewhat different, assist in the unloading of packages and equipment. Two humanoids bumble about there, too. There’s an almost comical vibe to the scene; I do hope this isn’t indicative of the whole serial.
Two aliens who seem more advanced than the worker class arrive; one of the worker class aliens begins gesticulating wildly and grunting, inciting the others to anxious behavior. One of the advanced aliens renders him unconscious with a weapon.
Elsewhere, the TARDIS appears in the cargo hold of a ship. The Doctor and Jo step out.
On the planet, the humanoids disrobe as they’re being watched by the worker aliens. Vorg, the human male, says it’s time to begin the pitch and like a carny he begins a spiel about monsters in the box. The female, Shirna, seems to be a carny girl. Their garb is beyond gaudy, even beyond garish.
The two advanced aliens arrive and the workers disperse; they keep their distance and speak quietly about the visitors, whom they describe as “Lurmans”.
Jo and The Doctor try to figure out where they are. Jo is frightened by some chickens in a crate. It seems they’re still on Earth, though The Doctor was shooting for the blue planet in the Acteon Galaxy, and is obstinate to accept that they’re still on Earth.
They hide in one of the passenger areas, overhearing several of the passengers talk about dinner. One of them, a seaman, is played by Ian Marter, who we will later see play Harry, companion to the Fourth Doctor. They overhear them talking about Fred Astaire.
Jo fetches the newspaper, it’s the London Daily News from April, 1926. As they argue whether they’re really on Earth or not, a plesiosaurus attacks the ship! The crew finds them and realises they’re stowaways.
On the alien planet, the two higher aliens consult with another of their kind; there’s something going on, something about the caste system (though they don’t seem to be the same race, so it’s not just a social caste but a species one – the three aliens speak of being ‘the official species’.)
On the ship, Harry, I mean Lt Andrews, tells the passengers that they’ll have to house the stowaways in their cabin until the Captain can deal with them. While they’re being taken to the cabin, The Doctor and Jo see a strange metal plate on the floor, but Andrews can’t see anything there.
In the cabin, The Doctor learns they’re on the SS Bernice; The Doctor says the plate is made of a metal not known on Earth. Jo doesn’t recognise the name of the ship, so The Doctor explains that the SS Bernice disappeared on June 4, 1926, which according to a calendar is the same day they’re on.
They both notice that something funny is going on with the time. They start working on escaping the cabin.
On the alien planet, the carnies explain they are traveling entertainers. The three aliens huddle; it seems that amusement is prohibited, but the senior of the three says that their President, Zarb, is apparently considering removing that restriction. The thought is that the “Functionaries” (the worker aliens) may be more docile if allowed amusement and distraction.
The aliens vote to deny their Lurman’s entrance visa, but the man pulls out a tape saying he has a document microsigned by The Great Zarb. This is pure sham, but the aliens fall for it enough to reconsider and seek further information.
The Doctor and Jo inspect the plate and decide they have to get a “magnetic core extractor” to open it – and that means going back to the TARDIS, risking capture.
In the saloon, we see Lt Andrews and Major Daly and his daughter, returning from dinner – as they did earlier. Word for word, act for act, they’re reliving the same moment! The events happen as before; Major Daly drifts off to sleep reading his book as Daly’s daughter and Andrews walk laps on the deck, talking about Fred Astaire.
The Doctor times it and the plesiosaurus appears on schedule. Everyone reacts just as before. The Doctor and Jo slip out this time without being caught and make it to the TARDIS. Jo wants to leave, but The Doctor says he has to find out what’s going on.
Just then a giant hand reaches in and takes the TARDIS… and the credits roll.
I have a feeling this isn’t going to be one of my favourite serials; a lot of the corny/cheeseball stories tend not to be, and after following THE THREE DOCTORS, it’s going to be a hard sell.
Episode 2:
The Doctor and Jo watch as the hand takes away the TARDIS, and then they argue; despite HAVING SEEN THE DECK ABOVE SLIDE AWAY, SHE HAS TO ARGUE WITH HIM THAT IT WAS IMPOSSIBLE. I hate willful ignorance. It’s bad enough in real life, why must we have it in our escapist stories, too? The Doctor punches Jo in the face and leaves her, never to see her again. (Sorry, wishful thinking.)
Seriously, though, I know the purpose of the companion is to ask stupid questions so The Doctor can explain to the stupid audience what is going on. It’s my biggest complaint about the show; Liz Shaw was written out because she was intelligent and it wasn’t appropriate for her to ask stupid questions. So instead, we get Jo Grant, who, while competent enough, does the stupid companion gimmick quite well.
Here’s an idea, why not treat your audience with some respect and stop being formulaic in the approach to a show?
/rant
The Doctor leaves to find the TARDIS. Jo follows.
On the alien planet, the three aliens debate and argue more. Somehow, the Lurmans’ data disc has checked out (though it was a sham, so that makes NO sense), but they vote and the original two side up to insist that the Lurman’s entertainment machine be examined first.
Vorg, the male Lurman, has been tinkering with their entertainment machine, trying to sort out some malfunction. He tells Shirna that he found some “bric-a-brac” and shows her the TARDIS, which is the size of a toy in his hand. So, yep, now you know what’s going on.
The tribunal approaches the Lurmans and wishes to know the function of their machine. Vorg goes on a tirade about how it is not a machine, it is an artistic blah de blah… finally one of the three demands he answer – what is the function of the machine.
Again, the Lurmans try to explain that they are entertainers… and the three aliens huddle again. Time is repeating for them as well? I’m confused. They reject the application, again. Again, Vorg pulls out the micrographed document… and the elder of the three rushes off.
The other two remain behind to ask about the machine. Vorg turns it on, showing Lt Andrews and Claire Daly on the ship, talking. He then shows an Ogron in another setting. Then he begins the sales pitch on the Drashig, telling them that they’re the most evil creatures in the universe. The aliens ask if they’re recordings, but Vorg says they’re living in miniaturised environments inside the machine. He then shows them the Drashig, but we don’t get a good view of it.
Back on the ship, the cycle is repeated, the dinosaur has shown up, and Jo and The Doctor go back in the saloon, where Major Daly and his daughter Claire are. Again, they get spotted. The Doctor points out to Jo they have no prior recollection of their meeting before.
Vorg demonstrates that he can manipulate elements, and turns up a dial, making Lt Andrews more aggressive when he arrives to find the stoaways. This apparently is meant to amuse. Shirna realises that The Doctor and Jo are new to the ship.
Lt Andrews and The Doctor engage in a boxing bout, The Doctor winning. Andrews recovers and gives chase, firing at the fleeing stowaways. Andrews and Major Daly give chase. (This is the running scene, so it is, in fact, Doctor Who.)
Jo and The Doctor get back to the strange metal plate, and start using the magnetic core extracter, but Andrews and his men arrive, and ready to shoot the stowaways.
Vorg tells the aliens that he can’t leave it on for too long or the specimens might start to injure each other, and he dials the setting down. Suddenly, Andrews and Daly walk off, talking about dinner, wondering “who the devil are those two?”
The Doctor and Jo open the plate, finding a shaft beneath. Underneath, they find alien technology, some sort of ‘filter circuit’. They’re no longer in the ship but inside the workings of the ‘scope’ itself.
The superior alien returns, declaring the Lurmans’ papers are a forgery. I’m very confused and wonder if the recording I have had a scene spliced in? The other aliens tell their superior that the scope has living creatures inside it, which is a violation with inter-stellar rules.
The lead alien brings in an “eradicator detatchment”, several of the Functionary aliens with a laser rifle. They blast the scope, to no avail. Inside, Jo and The Doctor, crawling through circuitry, are rocked about violently. The superior alien is informed by one of his subordinates that the lifeforms inside would have been destroyed – the eradicator was intended for organic matter, not inorganic – and he says that the job is done.
Inside the SS Bernice, the occupants react to the extreme heat, a side effect of the eradicator. Andrews and Claire go for a walk, as Daly sits down to read again.
Jo and The Doctor recover from the intense heat.
Vorg and Shirna discover that the video of the machine is very fuzzy/wonky, a result of some damage from the heat. We see a Cyberman inside the machine.
The tribunal consult; it seems they believe that the Lurmans are spies. One complains about President Zarb disbanding the army and other things; obviously, at least the one member of this tribunal is not happy with Zarb’s reforms.
The aliens hold a weapon to Vorg’s head, threatening him, claiming if there is a transmitter, he’ll be killed. One of them pokes around in the scope, and pulls out the TARDIS, which grows to regular size. The tribunal are quite paranoid; one of them, Kalik, is preying on the fears of the other two. Vorg tries to insist that the scope is escape proof.
The Doctor and Jo saw through a lock, opening a door and entering a cave. It leads out into a hilly, slightly marshy terrain. The Doctor says they need to take a look around (which makes no sense.)
The scope starts beeping and the aliens want to know why. Circuit 5 has an alert, she activates the viewer for that circuit, which is where the Drashigs are. On the screen, they see The Doctor and Jo, and Vorg says they’re as good as dead, once the Drashigs get their scent.
As they turn to leave, Jo hears a sound. She and The Doctor turn as a giant worm-like creature with a big nasty mouth pops out of the marsh – a Drashig. Amazingly, we don’t get googly eyes from Pertwee… and the credits roll.
Yeah, really not enjoying this as much as the others. It’s worth noting this episode had a different theme, a more synthesised version of the theme music. It really wasn’t very good and I can see why they went back to the original.
Episode 3:
The Drashig passes right by them, as it seems to be hunting them by scent, not sight – it’s following their trail back to the cave.
The tribunal, especially the subversive one, seem VERY interested about the Drashigs.
Jo and The Doctor get back to the cave, but outside are three Drashigs. Jo gets stuck in the marsh, and The Doctor uses the sonic screwdrive to ignite the flammable marsh gases to hold the Drashigs off.
Vorg reaches in and bats away at the Drashigs, allowing The Doctor and Jo to escape through the cave and back into the circuitry. Once there, they rest, The Doctor saying “I’m beginning to feel the centuries, myself.” This is the first time Pertwee’s Doctor has made a statement about his age in centuries and not thousands of years.
The tribunal debate what to do – the highest ranking one, Chairman Pletrac, is panicking and wants to deport them and the machine together, immediately. The other two insist that he should go to his superiors for consultation – that is the proper procedure.
Drashigs have broken out of the circuit into the interior of the machine, pursuing The Doctor and Jo.
Kalik and the other remaining tribunal member discuss what will happen when the Drashigs escape; Kalik plans to use this as part of his plans to lead a rebellion against Zarb.
The Doctor and Jo return to the SS Bernice, looking for rope to descend a long shaft in the interior of the machine. Andrews and Major Daly find her, though not The Doctor, and take her in.
Kalik explains how a disaster with the Drashigs would turn popular opinion against Zarb.
A Drashig bursts into the cargo hold, where The Doctor is. He gets knocked down by debris. Shortly after, Andrews and crew members arrive with rifles and open fire.
The chairman has returned from consultation with Zarb, saying that a dispensation has been granted and they Lurmans and their machine will be deported. The TARDIS will be jettisoned into space, unless the Lurmans claim it. The chairman notices that the Functionaries are not attending the eradicator. He demands to know why and when Kalik admits that he dismissed them for their break, Pletrac says he will be under investigation once the tribunal is dismissed.
Major Daly shoots a Drashig on the ship, then returns to the saloon for a drink, much like he does post-dinosaur sighting.
Andrews gets dynamite and throws some into the machine proper, destroying the power circuits. Vorg and Shirna notice it, but Vorg doesn’t have a handbook to consult how to fix it.
Jo, who was being held in the saloon under the eye of the Dalys, watches as they forget everything and go back into their pre-programmed routine. They suddenly notice her.
The Doctor is back in the machine, scaling down the rope. He sees the Drashig that Andrews killed with the dynamite.
Jo tries to get them to remember shooting the monster, but it’s no good. Claire, however, seems to have some reaction. Major Daly and Andrews rush after her when she takes off.
The Doctor finds a way out of the machine, and Shirna screams (not sure why as he’s tiny) and he passes out… and the credits roll.
Episode 4:
(Oh, thanks goodness. I’m ready for this to be over.)
The Doctor returns to normal size, as Pletrac says the alien must be eradicated. Kalik and his cohort arrive to say he does not have the authority, only the tribunal after a vote may have the authority. The Doctor gets up and puts them in their place. However, Pletrac gets a great line: “The tribunal will not tolerate insolence from unauthorised life forms!”
The Doctor asks what planet he’s on and he learns he is on Inter Minor, not Metebelis 3, the blue planet of the Acteon Galaxy. He finds the TARDIS, pleased to see it, and then the miniscope. He begins to bully them, threatening them with consequences of allowing an illegal machine. He demands they allow him to help those in the machine and he will forgive their transgression.
The tribunal votes against destroying “the tellurian” (The Doctor). Vorg thinks The Doctor is a fellow carny. As they talk, Vorg offends The Doctor by referring the occupants of the scope as “livestock”. They tell The Doctor that the life support systems in the scope are fading and he realises that he’s under a tight time frame.
The two conspirators in the tribunal discuss the sabotage of the eradicator and agree to plant the missing piece in the Lurmans’ luggage, to blame them if need be.
The Lurmans see the side panel of the scope shifting and, fearing the Drashigs, try to leave, but Pletrac stops them, saying they have to stay there.
The Doctor learns that Vorg won the machine and has no idea how it works or how to use it.
The conspirators talk; Orum, Kalik’s associate, is a nervous nelly, worrying about the danger to himself when the Drashigs get out. He has a great line: “One has no wish to be devoured by alien monstrosities, even in the cause of political progress!”
The Doctor has rigged up the scope to the TARDIS, in hopes of getting back in the scope so that he can save Jo and the day. Pletrac tries to stop him, but Vorg beams him in. However, Pletrac opens fire with his weapon, preventing any chance of The Doctor returning. Oh noes!
Jo is in the cargo hold, yelling into the machine for The Doctor, who arrives and takes her off with him.
The machine is overheating; inside the circuitry, Jo and The Doctor are struggling to get out. On the SS Bernice, everyone is passing out.
Several Drashig have escaped the scope; when Pletrac tries to use the eradicator it does not work, but Vorg, who has found the missing component in his bags, rushes to it and puts it in (he used to be in the military it turns out and used a similar weapon then.) He uses it to blast the Drashigs.
The Doctor and Jo collapse in the tunnel inside the machine. Vorg flips the phase two switch (having repaired it before the Drashig escape) and everyone inside the scope are returned to their places, Jo and The Doctor arriving with Vorg and company.
On the SS Bernice, Major Daly is in bed, finishing his book. Claire comes to see him, to say good night. He says he just finished it, saying it’s the longest book he’s ever read in his life. Claire agrees that it seems to be a very long trip, and seems to recall things, but then dismiss it with a shake of her head.
The major crosses through the 4th on his calendar, the day officially over.
Vorg begins running a carny game on Pletrac, after Shirna says they have no way to earn a living. The Doctor and Jo smile at this and then depart in the TARDIS. Pletrac, Vorg and Shirna watch in surprise, the latter smiling broadly… and the final credits roll.
Okay, it wasn’t all that bad. Just a lot of annoying bits here and there. I apologise if I was extra ranty this serial. This is one I won’t ever revisit, I’m sure. Vorg and Shirna were amusing, it was great to see Ian Marter – Harry has always been a companion I liked.
OMG, I knew it was coming up soon, but didn’t think they’d start the season with it. I have seen this before, once. I recall enough to know who the villain is and some scenes here and there, but not very many. I’m excited! This is a historical serial, the concept of having The Doctor meet his previous two selves is just… it’s only been done twice since, with The Five Doctors and The Two Doctors (the latter being one of my most favourite serials of all time.)
Episode 1:
At a riverside location, a man (hunter, perhaps) finds a parachute billowing. Attached to it is a small box.
A jeep pulls up to a location, and from a sign we see it’s a wild life refuge (so guessing not hunter, unless dude is a poacher.) A man, a Doctor Tyler, gets out and is informed that Arthur is watching “it” but hasn’t touched it.
We see the man at the box, and he is most certainly touching it. As he sees the jeep approach, the box begins to crackle and there’s a flash of light enveloping him and he disappears, frightening the nearby birds.
Dr. Tyler arrives, calling out for Mr. Ollis. He doesn’t find him and calls in on the radio to UNIT HQ. We next see him in The Doctor’s lab with The Doctor, Jo and the Brig. The device is used to measure cosmic rays. He tells them he was going to contact them before this business.
He pulls out some scans and shows them to The Doctor; they’re visibly different. Looking at some other print outs, it seems something is approaching Earth at faster than light speed.
Dr. Tyler develops the slide from the machine and a face is visible in the readout. He’s startled, and when he goes back to the machine, there’s a flash of light and he’s gone! And some crackling energy form seems to have taken his place.
At the location, Jo and The Doctor meet with Mrs. Ollis. She’s not concerned about her husband’s disappearance – she says this sort of behavior isn’t unusual.
The Brig returns to the lab, to discover that Dr. Tyler is nowhere to be found. He summons Benton and sends him to find Dr. Tyler, whom he believes is wandering about the HQ.
The Doctor and Jo return to UNIT HQ, but outside, encounter the energy mass. They run and the energy envelops Bessie, which disappears as they watch. Back in the lab, The Doctor sees the plate and suggest that the face might be the missing Mr. Ollis.
After looking at some data from the Brig, The Doctor realises that the light energy scanned Earth and zoomed in on the area. They quickly realise that the energy being seems to be hunting down The Doctor specifically. The beam was the method of transportation.
Two UNIT guards are on duty outside the complex, when a group of strange looking creatures start appearing. Benton arrives with back ups and they start a firefight.
More of the creatures arrive, all about the compound and the troops and the creatures being battling. The UNIT weapons don’t seem to have much effect on the creatures. The Brig calls for an evacuation and then leaves the lab to take charge of things.
The Doctor and Jo stay in the lab, and outside in the hall, we see the energy creature coming out of a vent.
Benton climbs in The Doctor’s lab through the window, as The Doctor is trying to get Jo to leave – he says she’ll be safe, they’re only after him. While Benton argues (his orders were to report there), the creature comes into the lab, destroying/teleporting the wall out of the way. The Doctor, Jo and Benton rush into the TARDIS (and Benton, who has never been inside, stares around in shock.)
The Doctor, at the console, asks, “Well, seregeant, aren’t you going to say that it’s bigger on the inside than the outside? Everybody else does.”
Benton, who is one of my favourite characters, replies, still quite amazed, “It’s pretty obvious, isn’t it? Anyway, nothing to do with you surprises me, any more, Doctor.”
The TARDIS is immobilised. The Doctor sends a report to the Time Lords, saying things are “pretty serious”.
On the Time Lords’ home planet (Gallifrey, still not named yet), they are aware of what is going on. They have traced the source of the beam to a black hole, but they have no idea who is behind it. The black hole is draining “vital cosmic energy”, which could destroy “the whole fabric of all space-time”.
The Time Lord Chancellor says that someone must go help The Doctor, but… the other guy doesn’t have a title or name yet, but he seems to be more in charge of what’s being done to fight the energy drain… anyhow, he tells the Chancellor that nobody can be spared, everyone is busy fighting the energy drain. “But perhaps, he can help himself…”
He turns to a nearby man at a console, saying to bring up The Doctor’s previous form. (Still not referring to it as regeneration; I believe this is introduced when Pertwee regenerates into Tom Baker.) The Chancellor points out that the First Law of Time prohibits this, and the Chancellor says “Be it on your own head.”
The technician pulls up an image of the Second Doctor.
The TARDIS console seems active. When The Doctor walks over, he picks up an item sitting on the console that wasn’t there before. He muses that it seems familiar, and asks Jo if it is hers. She says it’s not her flute. The Doctor corrects her, “Properly speaking, it’s a recorder,” and has Jo is holding it, the Second Doctor materialises on the far side of Jo, taking the recorder from her hand.
He looks around, “Oh, I see you’ve been playing up the TARDIS a bit… I don’t liike it!” The Third Doctor just stares, not entirely pleased to see him. Benton and the Second Doctor (okay, I’m going to do what the new kids do these days, instead of typing Second Doctor, Third Doctor, I’m going with Two and Three) reunite, both pleased to see each other.
Jo asks who the stranger is, if he’s “one of them” (meaning Time Lords), but Three says, “It’s more that he’s one of us… one of me to be more precise.” This elicits a strong reaction from Two. The byplay between Two and Three is delightful and I can’t sit here and transcribe every bit of dialogue, it would take you all day to read this.
Their attempts to explain that Two and Three are the same man just confuse Jo. Two explains that he has been popped in by the Time Lords to help out.
Outside in the lab, the energy creature is attacked by UNIT troops, one of whom is ‘vanished’ by the creature.
Inside the TARDIS, the Doctors, having seen this (and Two commenting on the Brig, still blazing away with guns at every problem), make mental contact with each other to quickly communicate/share information.
Two begins playing his recorder, always a focus for him, but Three begins criticising and they argue. On Gallifrey, the Time Lords see this and the one in charge tells his technician to pull up the First Doctor, saying that he would keep the other two in line.
Two and Three argue, but Jo gets their attention. On the TARDIS scanner, we see One sitting in a crystal. Two and There walk over, Two grinning, as One says, “Ah, there you are… I seem to be stuck up here, hmm? Oh, so you’re my replacements… a dandy and a clown.”
One goes on to inform them that they’re dealing with a Time Breach and they need to cross it. The two Doctors flip a coin to see, and Three loses. Two disconnects the force field and Three runs out the door of the TARDIS, but Jo follows. He stops and grabs her, yelling at her to go back, but the creature vanishes both of them… and the credits roll.
Wow, I can only imagine what the viewers were thinking back then. Was there any advance press about this, or was it just sprung on them?
William Hartnell’s role was reduced to cameos due to his health; originally, the intent was to have him be equally present with the other two, but this, filmed two years before his death in 1975, was the most his failing health would allow.
This is a monumental serial and I’m loving it.
Episode 2:
Two stops Benton from running after them and closes the door. He explains to the sergeant that they’ve not been destroyed, this was done to transport them somewhere. He talks down Benton, who wants to blow up the energy creature, saying they need a more subtle approach.
Two and Benton depart the TARDIS, approaching the energy creature, which seems to be mostly dormant. As the creature ‘sits’, it shakes occasionally, violently. The Brig comes in yelling for them to be careful, but The Doctor runs in front, telling him not to attack.
There’s a moment’s pause as it sinks in with the Brig just who is talking to him. He turns, his eyes widening. “Oh, no,” he murmurs, to which Two replies, “Oh, yes!” The Brig demands to know why he’s changed his appearance and where Jo is.
Two tries to explain things to the Brig, who thinks that because The Doctor has been mucking around with the TARDIS and managed to change his appearance back.
The Chancellor returns to the control room, saying that they must stop transgressing the First Law of Time. The other man (the President, I think, so I will use that for now) says The Doctor is their only hope. (It’s worth noting that the Chancellor is played by Clyde Pollitt, who played one of the three Time Lords who tried and sentenced The Doctor to exile and regeneration in THE WAR GAMES. The Producer of the show said that this was, in fact, meant to be the same character in both serials.)
The President and Chancellor argue over breaking the First Law over “a dangerous gamble”. We learn that One is trapped in a time eddy and can do no more than advise. They discuss Three and his companion having gone into the black hole; the Chancellor says, “Theoretically… they’re dead.”
Three and Jo awake in a rocky terrain. She’s afraid they’re dead, but he assures her they’re not. They get up and take a look around, though over an incline we see one of the amorphous creatures.
Two explains to the Brig and Benton about the anti-matter universe and that the energy creature is anti-matter, though it shouldn’t be able to be there without causing an explosion. Two takes measures to ensure the energy creature stays harmless.
Three and Jo find office equipment and even the wall/door from the lab, just randomly throughout the landscape. They find Bessie and go for a drive. They stop and disembark, and we see Mr. Ollis stalking them.
The Brig summons Two to come address the security council via video link up. There’s a cute bit after the Brig explains that he told the council that Two is Three’s assistant, as the truth would be too hard for them to grapple with. This, of course, is very offensive to Two, but the Brig says there’s nothing to be done about it, and Two agrees to play along.
While they’re away, Benton throws a gum wrapper at the anti-matter creature and this seems to waken, irritate the creature. He uses a device Two had set up to help keep it sedate, but it has no effect. The Brig and Two come running when he calls for help and Two says they have to get in the TARDIS immediately. They do, just as the creature vanishes the device Two had cobbled together.
The Brig, having never been in the TARDIS before, stares around. Two gives him a great line, “Oh, you’ll get used to it, old chap. Relative dimension and all that.” Two offers the Brig a Jelly Baby, which has me freaking out. I didn’t recall anyone but Four using Jelly Babies!!!
Dr. Tyler is doing math in the sand in the alien landscape. Jo and Three find him and they try to catch him up.
From afar, someone is watching them on a video screen. He is pleased to have “a Time Lord within” his power. He is a tall, imposing figure with an ornate helmet. He gestures and sends his blob-like creatures to fetch Three. They surrounded Three, Jo and Tyler and take them prisoner.
The Brig demands to be let out of the TARDIS; he’s going stir-crazy. The Doctor is too busy looking for his recorder – he needs to do some deep thinking and does his best thinking to music.
Three, Jo and Tyler are brought into some sort of palace, but the professor says it’s time to try to escape. Three tries to talk him out of it, but he dashes off when he gets the chance, but he is herded back to Three and Jo.
Two fiddles (oh my) with the Brig’s radio, allowing him to communicate with his troops. One appears on the TARDIS scanner, telling Two to turn off the force field.
Tyler refuses to accept they’re in an anti-matter universe, as they’re being escorted to the being behind all of this.
Two shuts off the TARDIS force field as One instructed him to do so. When he does, the creatures outside the compound disappear, as does the main building itself… and the credits roll.
Episode 3:
Three, Jo and Tyler are brought into an ornate chamber, much like a throne room. When Jo asks who brought them there, their host steps forth, saying he did and in the legends of the Time Lords, he is known as Omega. This resonates with Three, who says Omega was destroyed.
Omega orders Jo and Tyler to be taken elsewhere, but he says that they will not be harmed. The two humans are taken into a cell with no doors, and Tyler scoffs, until doors just appear in the doorway.
Omega says that he seeks revenge against his people. He is responsible for the Time Lords having the ability to travel through time and he was abandoned for it. Three tells Omega that he was not forgotten, it was believed that he was lost in the supernova he created to power the TARDISes.
According to Omega, he survived through force of will alone. He plans to use The Doctor against the Time Lords. Omega tells Three that he will help them or he and his companions will be harmed.
Omega receives an alert that others have arrived.
Two lets the Brig out, and he and Benton follow. They exit into the laboratory. The Brig searches around, and when he opens a door leading outside, he’s quite shocked to see they’re not where they should be. The Brig leaves to “nip out, find a phone and call London”. After he leaves, Two and Benton encounter some of the blob like creatures and run from them.
The Brig runs into Mr. Ollis, who tells them about Three and Jo and Tyler being caught by the creatures. They hide as two of them come by, escorting Two and Benton, and follow them to a mountainside lair.
Two and Benton are brought before Omega, who quickly realises that Two and Three are the same. Omega begins ranting, becoming angry. Outside, thunder roars in response to his emotions. He has Two, Three and Benton taken away while he decides what to do with them.
The Brig and Ollis prepare to assault/infiltrate Omega’s lair.
Two and Three argue over who is responsible for angering Omega. Jo gets them to stop arguing and apologise to each other. They then explain that all about them is a point of singularity inside the black hole, and Omega controls it is all subject to his will.
The two Doctors explain who Omega is, what he did. Jo says they must be able to stop him – after all, if he was all powerful, he wouldn’t have brought The Doctor there to help. She says if Omega can will up an entire world, surely the two of them could work together to force their will on the world about them. They link their minds and create a door in the cell and everyone leaves (despite being told to stay by Three.)
Jo, Benton and Tyler scuttle about Omega’s palace, trying to avoid the bloblike creatures. Two and Three enter the Singularity Chamber but Omega finds them there. They threaten to destroy him with their wills. He does not fear their challenge and opens “the dark side” of his mind against Three.
The companions find their way out, reuniting with the Brig and Ollis. All five run off into the landscape, pursued by the blobbers.
Three and Omega engage in mental combat; we see them in darkness, the two fighting. Omega is no wearing his helmet and has a monstrous face, scarred and disfigured, not unlike Darth Vader’s when his mask is removed in RETURN OF THE JEDI. Three uses a lot of Judo throws on Omega.
One communicates with the President, who tells him that he must join the other two inside the black hole – all three are needed to defeat Omega.
Omega locks in a half-nelson choke/body scissors combination on Three (the ‘Tazmission’ to my fellow professional wrestling fans) and Omega’s voice is heard commanding his dark side to “Destroy him!”… and the credits roll.
Fun bit of cliffhangery drama there.
Episode 4:
Two appeals to Omega, saying if he destroys Three, he will destroy any chance of freedom. Omega lets Three survive and says that he will destroy their friends if they continue to fight him.
Two plays the clown, asking Omega if he would will up a recorder, as he still hasn’t found his. Omega asks Three, “Are you sure you’re of the same intelligence?”
Two keeps pushing him and Three finally confronts him, demanding to know what he’s doing. Two says he’s testing Omega’s limits of his self-control, and muses that they’re not very good – when Omega gets mad, all about trembles and shakes.
They play penitent and apologetic to Omega, asking his forgiveness and ask him about this task he needs them for. Omega goes on a rant on how he created everything here, but he is still trapped. It seems that to escape, he has to abandon control of Singularity… but the moment if he abandons it, he no longer has the power to escape. He wants The Doctor(s) to stay and assume control of Singularity, so that he might escape.
The Brig and others, having found Bessie, drive from the blob creatures, which fire upon them.
The Doctors agree to Omega’s demand. He instructs them to remove his helmet, but there is nothing beneath; the power of the Singularity has corroded away his very being – he only exists because the power of his will insists that he does. Needless to say, he pretty much snaps. He says if he only exists by his will, then his will is to destroy and he will destroy all things.
The two Doctors flee as Omega rants and raves, escaping the palace and seeking Bessie. They follow the tracks heading off.
The Brig and crew return to UNIT HQ, shortly followed by the two Doctors. Everyone rushes into the TARDIS and turn on the force field for safety. The Brig just stares at the two Doctors, baffled.
On Gallifrey, we learn that One passed into the black hole, but still may only be able to observe, advise.
In the TARDIS, Two announces, “If only I could find my recorder, I could play you some music to pass the time.” The Brig wins with the retort, “We must be thankful for small mercies.” Nicholas Courtney had some of the best lines and as much as the actual words, it was his delivery that made them so delightful.
One appears on the TARDIS scanner, saying there’s not much he can do. The three Doctors join in mental contact and seem to agree on some plan, though One declares it to be risky. Two and Three duck under the TARDIS console to fiddle with it.
Two finds his recorder in the middle of the force field generator; Three says this is even better than their original plan. They remove the generator, with the recorder still inside.
One reports in to Gallifrey, saying they have a plan and he will report to them when he can.
Three contacts Omega, saying they think they have a way for him to achieve his freedom. Omega suspects them of deceit when they ask him to allow them to use the TARDIS to come to him, but he allows it, saying they cannot leave the black hole unless he permits it. They bring the TARDIS to Omega’s palace.
The two Doctors say that if he will send the humans back, they will stay and think they have a way for him to be free. He says there is no freedom, but if they offer to stay, he will return the humans to their planet. Three tells the Brig that they must step through the smoke emitted by the Singularity. Tyler is the first to go, and he disappears as he does so. Ollis is next, reluctantly doing so.
Benton is next, as ordered by the Brig. Jo protests that she wants to stay with Three, but he insists and she steps through and disappears next. The Brig says his farewell to the Doctors, stopping to salute them before stepping through.
Omega says it is now time to place his game and there is no escape. Two brings out the force field generator and says it his only freedom. The two Doctors link their minds and try to force him to take it, but he laughs and knocks the generator out of Two’s hands.
Two yells run and there is a brilliant flash.
On Gallifrey, they observe the black hole as it flashes and the power returns to Gallifrey. The President says that once again, Omega is a source of energy.
On Earth, UNIT HQ is back as are the Brig and crew. Shortly after, the TARDIS appears and the two Doctors step out. They explain that because the recorder was inside the force field generator, it was never processed and remained pure matter, so when Omega knocked the generator out of Two’s hands, it caused a chain reaction, making the black hole a supernova once more.
They hear One speaking over the scanner, he says it is time for he and Two to return to their time streams. He fades from the scanner, as Two and Three shake hands.
Two: “It’s been so nice to meet me.”
Three: “I hope I don’t meet me again.”
Two fades from sight. The Brig declares that as far as he is concerned, one Doctor is more than enough. He orders Benton to come along, they have to check that everything is back in the HQ where it belongs.
Jo and Three are left in the TARDIS; Three is sad at Omega’s fate. Jo tries to comfort him.
A new dematerialisation circuit appears atop the center crystal of the TARDIS console. The Doctor says that all the dematerialisation codes have returned to his memory – he’s been forgiven by the Time Lords. Jo is sad, expecting him to leave immediately, but he says he has to build a new force field generator first.
We see Ollis return home, where upon his wife gives him the third degree about where he’s been. He just looks at her, says, “You’d never believe me, woman. Supper ready?”… and the final credits roll.
A most fun serial. A terrible shame that Hartnell was so poorly in health, I would have rather enjoyed him getting equal screen time and dialogue as the two others. Still, most fun.
I’m really excited about tomorrow’s serial – THE THREE DOCTORS!
SEASON TEN
Mon 5.07 Serial 65 – The Three Doctors
Tue 5.08 Serial 66 – Carnival of Monsters
Thu 5.10 Serial 67 – Frontier in Space 1/2
Fri 5.11 Serial 67 – Frontier in Space 2/2
Mon 5.14 Serial 68 – Planet of the Daleks 1/2
Tue 5.15 Serial 68 – Planet of the Daleks 2/2
Thu 5.17 Serial 69 – The Green Death 1/2
Fri 5.18 Serial 69 – The Green Death 2/2
I have no idea which I’m going to pick for my favourite from Season Nine; this was a solid season, quite possibly the best thus far.
