A mysterious evil is at work on Gallifrey. The President of the Time Lords has been assassinated and the Doctor caught red-handed. An inexorable master plan has been set in motion. There can... Read allA mysterious evil is at work on Gallifrey. The President of the Time Lords has been assassinated and the Doctor caught red-handed. An inexorable master plan has been set in motion. There can be no escapeA mysterious evil is at work on Gallifrey. The President of the Time Lords has been assassinated and the Doctor caught red-handed. An inexorable master plan has been set in motion. There can be no escape
- Time Lord
- (uncredited)
- Matrix
- (voice)
- (uncredited)
- Time Lord
- (uncredited)
- Time Lord
- (uncredited)
- Time Lord
- (uncredited)
- Time Lord
- (uncredited)
- Director
- Writers
- Robert Holmes
- Sydney Newman(uncredited)
- Donald Wilson(uncredited)
- All cast & crew
- Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaThis marked the only time the Doctor worked alone, with no companion or assistant (for the main action Midnight (2008), he was also without a companion, however Donna did cameo at the start and end). On the other hand, a 1965 story (subsequently wiped by the BBC) called Mission to the Unknown (1965) didn't feature the Doctor or his assistants at all.
- GoofsBorusa is a Cardinal of the Prydonian Chapter and should be dressed in the Chapter colors of scarlet and orange, yet at the ceremony he's wearing the heliotrope colors of the Patrex Chapter.
- Quotes
Commander Hilred: Castellan, I have to report the intruder in Sector 7...
Castellan Spandrell: Well?
Commander Hilred: Evaded us. And he shot one of my guards.
Castellan Spandrell: I see. Such efficiency.
Commander Hilred: But we have him trapped in the communications tower, Castellan.
Castellan Spandrell: Well done, Hildred. An antiquated capsule, for which you get adequate early warning, tranducts on the very perimeter of the Capitol. You are informed that the occupant is a known criminal, whereupon you allow him to escape and conceal himself in a building a mere 53 stories high. A clever stratagem, Hildred. You're trying to confuse him, I take it?
Commander Hilred: I apologise, Castellan. He won't evade capture a second time.
Castellan Spandrell: In the light of your impressive record so far, I would make no rash commitments.
- ConnectionsFeatured in The Rise and Fall of Gallifrey (2008)
Many fans rate this as one of the best and they are correct to recognise the huge quality of this story as well as its importance in building (and changing) the folklore of the Time Lords and The Doctor. It has everything, Tom Baker on top form, a classic villain, sparkling dialogue, humour, action, material which is important in the history of the series as well as some fresh and unnerving ideas. All this is done with brilliance in direction, acting and writing.
The Doctor has been called back home to Gallifrey. On his way there he has a pre-cognitive dream in which he appears to assassinate the Time Lord President. When he arrives he has to go on the run as he is presumed to be a criminal. He then tries to prevent the President's assassination but instead is made to look like the assassin himself. Behind all this, it turns out, is his old arch- enemy The Master. Now at an end to his cycle of regenerations (we are told Time Lords have a maximum of 12) his body is extremely emaciated but his evil and cunning are as strong as ever.
The Master, played now by Peter Pratt, looks and sounds great and his dialogue and Pratt's acting are excellent. There is also a host of superb and perfectly acted guest characters. The wonderful Borusa, Spandrell, Goth, Runcible and Engin are all fabulous. This adventure is also somewhat unique in that there is no companion for The Doctor.
The section of the story where The Doctor enters 'the matrix', a technically created world which seems real and has real dangers (sound like a forerunner of the film The Matrix to anyone?) is surreal and extremely innovative and clever in its different and interesting creativity.
A real all time classic story. 10/10
- A_Kind_Of_CineMagic
- Dec 5, 2014
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