Showing posts with label Nyssa. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Nyssa. Show all posts

22 February, 2012

Dr. Who (The Early Years) - Part 62 "The Fifth Doctor In Review"

Notes: While the Tardis was being operated by this Doctor, it had a more lived in feel. The Tardis had a trio of companions, then downgraded to two, but it still felt lived in, no matter how many companions were travelling with him. There were various scenes within the Tardis and some of the companions room were even seen. But things for the Doctor did not start off well. While he was technically still regenerating, he felt and acted different. Well, more different than he should have. Temporary post-regeneration amnesia set in and he was searing for the Doctor and forgot about one of his companions. To make matters worse, the Master had a trap set for the Doctor, in hopes of driving him completely insane. With the help of his companions he began to feel more like himself again, or at least what he felt he should be acting like considering the regeneration. For several adventures he travelled with three companions till he ran into the Cybermen once again. They were bent on destroying Earth where a conference was being held to find a solution to the Cybermen problem. Adric sacrificed himself to try and save the Earth. This was the first companion who died while he was with the Doctor since Katarina and Sara Kingdom. But there was no time to grieve as the Doctor ran straight into the Master once more. As always, the Doctor was able to defeat the Master but a bigger threat was soon to target the Doctor. In his earlier regeneration, the Doctor defeated the Black Guardian, an omnipotent being who vowed to kill the Doctor. The problem is, the Black Guardian was forbidden from killing the Doctor directly, so he employed someone Turlough. Turlough was convinced the Doctor was evil so attempted several times to kill the Doctor. But the more time he spent with the Doctor, the more he realized he was not told the truth. He finally decided not to kill the Doctor, but instead travel with him. So the double companions were a trio once more. But shortly after, Nyssa left the Tardis when she found a place that needed her. Once more, the Doctor ran into the Master. This time he was using a shape changing robot named Kamelion to impersonate King John, in hopes of stopping the Magna-Carta from being signed. It came down to a battle of wits, where the Doctor won, and took Kamelion away from the Master. Outside of the Masters influence, Kamelion was able to use his own personality and asked the Doctor if he would be able to travel with him as well. The Doctor agreed and the double became a triple again; well sort of. In the next episode, there is no mention of Kamelion. For the very next adventure the Doctor was drawn back to Gallifrey where he was reunited with the Doctor, the Doctor and the Doctor. Three earlier incarnations of the Doctor had been drawn to the Death Zone by a high ranking member of Gallifreyan society. Also drawn to the Death Zone along with the Doctor was his grand-daughter Susan, the Brigadier & Sarah Jane Smith. Once the mission was complete, Turlough and Tegan continued to travel with the Doctor, and Kamelion was still not seen. In the next adventure the Doctor had with the Daleks, Tegan had had enough and decided to leave the Tardis. She told the Doctor it stopped being fun. Next to leave was Turlough. The Tardis picked up a distress signal from Turlough's home planet and Turlough did everything he could to ignore the call and tried to stop the transmission from reaching the Tardis. The Doctor discovered this however and realized Turlough must be in trouble with his home planet for some reason. But the Tardis was pre-set and both realized Kamelion (who WAS still on the Tardis) had reset the controls. Once again, the Doctor was facing the Master who still had control of Kamelion. But the Master's plans were foiled first by Peri, a person Turlough earlier saw drowning and brought her aboard to recuperate, and then by Kamelion himself who begged the Doctor to destroy him. The Doctor reluctantly destroyed Kamelion, but Peter Davison was happy to do so. The Kamelion prop was difficult to control and everyone on the production hated used it. That was the reason it was not featured in many stories. Once the adventure was complete, the Turlough went back to his home planet after he was told he was no longer a political prisoner. Telling the Doctor she was already planning to travel, Peri asked the Doctor if she could travel with him instead of being dropped off back at home. The Doctor agreed. But the next adventure changed everything. The Doctor and Peri contracted a disease and the only antidote was limited and the Doctor was only able to acquire enough for Peri. The Doctor gambled, and hoped, he would regenerate - he did.
Name: The Doctor
Actor: Peter Davison
April 13, 1951 -
Occupation: Timelord
First Seen: Earth, 1981
First Episode: Castrovalva (Season 19)
Last Seen: Androzani, Inside the Tardis
Last Episode: The Caves of Androzani (Season 21)
Special Appearance: Dimensions In Time (1993), Timecrash (2007)

Notes: Adric was with the Doctor when he regenerated and tried as best he could to help him recover. But Adric was captured by the Master and replied with a projection of himself. The projection was being used to set-up the Doctor and hopefully kill him. But the projection was linked to Adric who used every ounce of his strength to resist the Master. Adric finally resisted enough and the Doctor was able to rescue him from the Master. But life on board the Tardis was suddenly very difficult for Adric. With Tegan and Nyssa on board, Adric felt less and less a part of the group and often thought he was ignored. He tried to convince the Doctor there was a way for him to return to his home in E-Space but the Doctor refused to listen and they had an argument. Later, they were able to make up and Adric admitted he didn't really want to go home. But this adventure involved the Cybermen who were trying to destroy Earth. Adric found himself on a doomed ship headed for Earth. He was able to break a few of the controls the Cybermen set up, but the instability drew the ship off-course. But only through time. Instead of hitting earth in the future as it was supposed to, it did so 65,000,000 years in the past. Effectively killing off the dinosaurs. Adric was still on-board when the ship hit and was killed on impact. Though some speculate he actually survived the crash of the ship only long enough to be eaten by a dinosaur.
Name: Adric
Actor: Mathew Waterhouse
December 19, 1961
Occupation: Civilian
First Seen: E-Space; Alzarius
First Episode: Full Circle (Season 18)
Last Seen: Earth, 65,000,000 B.C.
Last Episode: Earth Shock (Season 19)
Special Appearance: None

Notes: Travelling with the Doctor must have been difficult for Nyssa every time they met the Master. The Master effectively stole her fathers body, killing him. Nyssa also ran into another doppelgänger, someone who looked exactly like her on Earth. Nyssa was a member of the Tardis crew when Adric died, and despite the grief the group felt, she had to put that aside when they ran into the Master once more. Calm and collective, Nyssa was a voice of reason in the Tardis. She was even willing to give Turlough the benefit of the doubt, when Tegan complained there was something not right about him. It was after she contracted the deadly Lazar's disease when she finally decided her life on the Tardis had come to an end. Finally finding a place that needed her and her skills, she opted to leave the Doctor and spent time on a leaper ship to help find a refined cure for the deadly disease.
Name: Nyssa
Actor: Sarah Sutton
December 12, 1961 -
Occupation: Bio-electronics Specialist
First Seen: Traken,
First Episode: Keeper of Traken (Season 18)
Last Seen: Terminus, Centre of the Universe
Last Episode: Terminus (Season 19)
Special Appearances: None

Notes: Though having just met the Doctor, Tegan was with him after he regenerated. Initially she insisted he return her back home in hopes of continuing her stewardess job. Just after Adric died, she actually got a taste of what her stewardess job would be like when she essentially performed the duties on board a concord, which had been displaced in time. She also had a traumatic experience while travelling with the Doctor when an alien entity known as the Mara invaded and took control of her body. For a short time, she was left on Earth at Heathrow when the Doctor assumed she wanted to remain behind, but vacationing in Amsterdam she ran into him again. She rejoined the Doctor and this time stopped demanding he return her home. It was a good thing she did so because soon it was discovered the Mara had not been totally destroyed and still lingered within her. With the Doctors help, the Mara was once again destroyed, seemingly forever. During the adventure Turlough joined the crew, she met the Brigadier and later met him again when the Tardis was drawn to Gallifrey in the Death Zone. Her initial thoughts of Turlough were essentially true, but there was more to Turlough than meets the eye. Eventually she had to accept Turlough as a travelling companion and even learned to like him, though she always seemed to keep an eye on him. When Tegan met up with the Daleks, she saw many deaths including a person she began to regard as a friend. With all the death and destruction involved, Tegan realized she stopped having fun with the Doctor. Tearfully she ran away from the Tardis and the Doctor. But she did admit she was going to miss him.
Name: Tegan Jovanka
Actor: Janet Fielding
January 01, 1957 -
Occupation: Stewardess
First Seen: Earth, 1981
First Episode: Logopolis (Season 18)
Last Seen: Earth, 1984
Last Episode: Resurrection of the Daleks (Season 21)
Special Appearance: A Fix With Sontarans (1985)

Notes: Turlough was an alien, living in exile while on Earth. As a cover, he was attending a boys school which he utterly hated. Quite the rascal, he got into trouble every chance he could. He became involved with the Doctor when he stole the Brigadiers car, who was now retired from Unit and working at the boys school. While unconscious, he was approached by the Black Guardian who made him an offer. If he destroyed the Doctor, the Black Guardian would take Turlough away from Earth. Of course one of the main reasons Turlough reluctantly agreed was because the Black Guardian told him the Doctor was evil. Despite many opportunities, Turlough failed in his mission to kill the Doctor when he started to realize the Black Guardian had lied to him. The Black Guardian gave Turlough one last chance, but still refused to kill or betray the Doctor. The Black Guardian swore vengeance on Turlough. With his affinity toward the Doctor exposed, the Doctor allowed Turlough to continue to follow him. If Tegan distrusted Turlough before, she certainly distrusted him now. But that gradually faded over time. Still travelling with the Doctor, Turlough was able to visit Gallifrey and also ran into the Master; at one point keeping him at bay with a sword. When Tegan left, he was sorry to see her go. As much as Tegan distrusted Turlough, Turlough distrusted Kamelion. While visiting Earth, Kamelion began acting up and a related transmission was discovered. While the Doctor was out trying to find the source of the transmission, Turlough was back at the Tardis. He was dealing with Kamelion and rescuing an Earth girl whom he saw drowning in the water outside. He ran out to rescue her and brought her into the Tardis to recover. But despite Turlough's attempts to stop Kamelion , Kamelion was able to steer the Tardis toward the planet Sarn where a crashed ship from Turlough's home planet Trion was. While on Sarn, the Doctor discovered Peri was on-board, and Kamelion was still being controlled by the Master. Once this adventure was finished, Turlough found out he was no longer a political prisoner and opted to return home with his new-found brother.
Name: Vislor Turlough
Actor: Mark Strickson
April 06, 1959 -
Occupation: Civilian
First Seen: Earth, 1983
First Episode: Mawdryn Undead (Season 20)
Last Seen: Sarn
Last Episode: Planet of Fire (Season 21)
Special Appearance: None

Notes: Kamelion was an attempt to bring the future to Doctor Who, but the robot used for Kamelion never truly worked the way it was expected. As a result, he only appeared in two stories, despite being five stories in-between. After being defeated by the Doctor, the Master was left stranded on ancient Xeriphas where he discovered Kamelion. Though Kamelion has a mind of his own, he's easily influenced and the Master can be very influential. Kamelion helped the Master impersonate King John to thwart the signing of the Magna Carta, but the plan was defused by the Doctor. The Doctor engaged the Master in a mind over matter where the Doctor won and had Kamelion transform into his companion Tegan. At which point he dragged Kamelion into the Tardis and away from the Master's influence. Unbeknownst to the Doctor, the Master was once again able to influence Kamelion which resulted in the Tardis being dragged to the planet Sarn. The Master needed Kamelion's help to restore the Master after he was accidentally hit with his own TCE. Kamelion decided he didn't want to be continually controlled by the Master and was too weak to resist any longer. He requested the Doctor destroy him before he did anything else wrong. The Doctor promptly complied to Kamelion's wishes and used the Master's TCE without haste.
Name: Kamelion
Actor: Gerald Flood (Voice of Kamelion)
April 21, 1927 - April 12, 1989
Occupation: Android
First Seen: Earth, 1215
First Episode: The King's Demons (Season 20)
Last Seen: Sarn
Last Episode: Planet of Fire (Season 21)
Special Appearance: None

Notes: Perpugilliam, Peri for short, was trying to escape her step-father who had marooned her on a boat in an attempt to stop her from leaving for Morocco with some new found friends. But in an attempt to swim back to shore, she developed a cramp and began to drown. Fortunately, Turlough saw this and swam out to rescue her. While unconscious, Turlough brought her onto the Tardis, and forgot about her when the Tardis next took off. While on the Tardis, she met Kamelion who was now disguised as her step-father Howard. Once the Doctor and Turlough left the Tardis when they arrived to Sarn, Kamelion transformed into the Master. Confused, Peri tried to get away and was soon caught up in a battle between the Doctor and the Master. Realizing the Master was evil, she sided with the Doctor and asked to accompany him. The Doctor reluctantly agreed. The very next adventure, both contracted a deadly disease with only one known cure. With only enough antidote for one person, the Doctor selflessly gave it all to Peri, saving her life. The Doctor hoped he would regenerate, and he did. This stunned and shocked Peri. She currently is still travelling with the Doctor.
Name: Perpugilliam Brown
Actor: Nicola Bryant
October 11, 1962 -
Occupation: Student
First Seen: Earth, 1984
First Episode: Planet of Fire (Season 21)
Last Seen: Still Travelling in the Tardis
Last Episode: Planet of Fire (Season 21)
Special Appearance: None

09 December, 2011

Dr. Who (The Early Years) - Part 56 "Terminus"

Turlough is still working with the Black Guardian to kill the Doctor, though at this point reluctantly. He's discovered the Doctor is only evil to the Black Guardia. Because of this, Turlough finds it increasingly difficult to carry out his task, he's not certain he can do it. So when the Black Guardian instructs him to sabotage the Tardis, he takes this more indirect route with the Black Guardians' promise he will be 'lifted away' to safety when the Tardis breaks up.

Tegan notices the Tardis is beginning to break up so calls for the Tardis, but Nyssa is trapped in her room. As a fail-safe, the Tardis locks onto a nearby ship and opens a door into the ship so she can escape. Using the Tardis scanner, the Doctor notices the door open in her room and encourages her to go through, knowing she'll be safer where ever she than in her room which is starting to dissolve. Once safe, the Doctor concentrates on the Tardis and fixes it. He then heads to Nyssa's room to see if he can find where she went.

Meanwhile, the ship is also boarded by space pirates who are uncertain what they will find inside. They quickly run into the Doctor who has been reunited with Nyssa, when they discover to their horror they are on Terminus, a leper ship where people go to either be cured or killed. Though told to stay behind, Tegan and Turlough follow the Doctor but are quickly trapped inside the ventilation system when they hide from a sentry robot. After ducking into the shaft, a group of Lazars walk over the grate leading into the shaft, and quickly becomes stuck.

As the Doctor, Nyssa and the two pirates are exploring the ship, Nyssa becomes very hot and takes off the skirt she's wearing. She's also not feeling well and realizes she's come down with the Lazar disease. Space Pirate Olvir tells Nyssa he had a sister with Lazar and she never came back from Terminus. It's not long before Nyssa is captured and brought to the slaves running the ship. The only thing that keeps them going is Hydromel, a drug that keeps them from getting the Lazar disease. If they don't work, they no longer receive shipments of the Hydromel. They are known as the Vanir and quickly process Nyssa for the 'cure'.

As the Doctor continues his search, unaware of Nyssa's capture, he runs into Bor, one of the Vanir who tells the Doctor a second of the ships engines is going to explode, as one already has. Having already known the ship is at the center of the universe and once capable of Time Travel, he realizes the ships first engine explosion is what started 'Event One'. If a second engine blows, it'll destroy the universe. The Doctor is about to help Bor, but is then captured by another of the Vanir who thinks The Doctor and Kari are corporate spies for the company that enslaves them.

The Doctor escapes and prevents the ships engine from exploding. Meanwhile, Nyssa is doused with radiation which does cure her, but to her horror she learns the process is unrefined and typical chances of survival are hit or miss. With the Doctors aid, she convinces the Vanir they can turn Terminus into a working facility, and she can process synthetic hydromel, thus freeing them from the company. The Vanir agree to help, so Nyssa opts to stay behind to help with continual research into the Lazar cure. She's confident the cure can be refined with a vastly higher survival rate.

WHO: Nyssa

DEPARTURE LOCATION: Terminus, a ship at the center of the universe.

REASON FOR DEPARTURE: Having been cured from the Lazar disease, Nyssa decides to spend the rest of her life finding a cure for other infected Lazars.

22 November, 2011

Dr. Who (The Early Years) - Part 55 "Mawdryn Undead"

The Tardis is flying through space when suddenly Nyssa notices a ship is flying directly towards them. Though the probability is high, the Doctor takes evasive maneuvers to avert a collision and materializes the Tardis inside the ship. Stepping out of the Tardis, Tegan thinks the ship looks more like the Queen Mary, for how extravagant it is. As they continue to explore, they find no one. That's when Tegan corrects herself and now thinks the ship reminds her more of the Mary Celeste. When they try to take off again, the Tardis is stuck. There is some interference holding the Tardis in place.

Meanwhile, on Earth. Turlough is a bored school student who coaxes his friend "Hippo" into taking a vintage car for a joy-ride. Hippo is horrified when Turlough does not return immediately s he suggested he would. Turlough's cockiness soon fades as he suddenly has to veer off the road to avoid a collision. In an instant, he's hovering over his body while a sinister figure strikes up a bargain with him. Turlough's 'Black Guardian' wants him to kill the Doctor, in exchange for giving him free passage back to his home planet. Turns out, Turlough is a marooned alien and very bored with Earth. Reluctantly, Turlough agrees when he hears how evil the Doctor is.

Back on the ship, the Doctor finds the source of the interference, but he must use the ships transport pod to travel to Earth and disable it, so the Tardis can follow him. He instructs Tegan and Nyssa to stay in the Tardis and once released, it will go to Earth where they will meet up with the Doctor. The girls do as instructed but when they are on Earth and find the transport pod, they find a badly burnt figure laying on the floor. The girls immediately think something happened to the Doctor, causing him to regenerate. However, it's not long before Tegan begins to have her doubts about who this character is.

Once on Earth himself, the Doctor meets Turlough while he's trying to disable the interference. Turlough is about to smash the Doctor's head in with a rock when an explosion takes place knocking both of them back, and the rock out of Turlough's hands. However the Tardis should be free, so when it doesn't show up the Doctor is worried. Suddenly, the owner of the vehicle Turlough wrecked shows up looking for Turlough, it's none other than Brigadier Lethbridge-Stewart. The Doctor is happy to see his friend again, but the Brigadier has no idea who the Doctor is.

Fearing for the Doctors life, Tegan runs off looking for help. It's not long before she runs into a teacher who is willing to help her. Too her surprise, the teacher knows the Doctor. It's Brigadier Lethbridge-Stewart who's just retired from UNIT. He's anxious to meet the Doctor. But when they arrive at the Tardis, the person they found has continued to regenerate and despite his head, looks much better. He pilots the Tardis back to his ship, bringing along the Brigadier. However this Brigadier is from 1977, which is dangerous because the Doctor has invited the Brigadier he met from 1983 to travel back with him to the ship. Turlough accompanies the Doctor and Brigadier.

Back on the ship, the Doctor is reunited with Tegan and Nyssa and horrified to realize they each brought a Brigadier with them. To make matters worse, each has wandered off. The Doctor sends Turlough off to help keep the two Brigadier's separate. As Turlough does that, the Doctor discovers the identity of the person Nyssa thought was the Doctor. His name is Mawdryn, along with his fellow shipmates (who were hiding earlier) stole Gallifreyan technology in the hopes of becoming Timelords. The result worked to some degree, they are now cursed with perpetual regeneration for all eternity. The prospect is too much for them to bear and they wish to be released from their curse. The ask the Doctor for help.

The Doctor refuses to help Mawdryn and the rest of his crew, because to do so will require him to be hooked up to the machine and burn off the remainder of his regenerations to cure them. Mawdryn says the Doctor can only help of his own free will, so they allow him to leave. But to the Doctors horror, he finds Tegan and Nyssa have been infected by Mawdryn and if they travel in the Tardis they will either age or deage depending on which direction the Tardis travels. The only way to cure both of them is to hook them up to Mawdryn's machine also. Reluctantly the Doctor returns to sacrifice himself and cure everyone else.

With the two Brigadiers still wandering around, Turlough is doing what he can keep them separate. While doing so, he has another run in with the Black Guardian who is dissatisfied with Turlough. He once again warns Turlough of the bargain they struck, but Turlough thinks its enough to he has marooned the Doctor. He's increasingly finding it more and more difficult to want to kill the Doctor. When he tells the Black Guardian the Doctor doesn't seem evil, the Black Guardian tells him the Doctors good is his evil.

Turlough succeeds in trapping the younger Brigadier in a room as the older Brigadier now helps the Doctor set up the Mawdryn's equipment. But the Brigadier is resourceful and soon finds a way out of the room he's been trapped in. He finds the Doctor and his older self. Ignoring the Doctor's pleas to leave, he's bewildered by his older self and reaches out to touch himself. There is an explosion which takes place at the exact moment the Doctor was offering up his future regenerations. The explosion is transferred into the equipment and thus saves the Doctors future regenerations. As Mawdryn dies, he thanks the Doctor. Returning each Brigadier to their respective time zone, Turlough asks the Doctor if he can accompany him. The Doctor agrees, to the dismay of Tegan who doesn't trust him.

WHO: Vislor Turlough

PLANET OF ORIGIN: Trion, circa 1983

REASON FOR JOINING: Turlough is an alien exiled to Earth, but hates his boring life. When the Black Guardian offers him a chance to leave the planet, he hastily agrees and thus becomes involved with the Doctor. Having agreed to kill the Doctor, Turlough asks to join the Tardis crew in hopes of fulfilling his end of the agreement.

16 November, 2011

Dr. Who (The Early Years) - Part 54 "Arc of Infinity"

After finally dropping Tegan off at Heathrow airport, Nyssa and the Doctor are busy doing some repairs to the Tardis. He fixes the audio on the scanner when Nyssa suggests fixing other features of the Tardis, such as the Tardis' state of temporal grace. It's then they notice a 'massive source of magnetic radiation' targeting the Tardis. It enters the Tardis and attempts to bond with the Doctor. Though it's initial attempt fails, the Doctor realizes the danger is far from over. Especially when Nyssa points out the creature was comprised of anti-matter.

The Timelords of Gallifrey have noticed the bonding attempt and also realize how dangerous such a bond could be. They forceably recall the Doctors Tardis back to Gallifrey. The Tardis materializes in a locked room and the Doctor soon meets Maxil, one of the Chancellery guards. (Ironically, the character is played by Colin Baker who later goes on to play the Doctor in future stories.) Taking no chances, Maxil disables the Tardis.

Back on Earth, Tegan is on Holiday in Amsterdam. When she tries to meet her favourite cousin, she runs into his friend instead who claims he's missing. The story he tells is so fantastic, he can't even tell the police. Tegan however, is more ready to listen. Doing some of her own investigation she finds her cousin Colin, but he seems to be possessed. Tegan then finds out who is responsible for possession, it's the same creature who tried to bond with the Doctor. Scanning her brain, he discovers she's known to the Doctor. He decides to use her as bait against the Doctor.

Back on Gallifrey, the Doctor is sentenced to death to prevent another bonding with the creature. Borusa, the Castallen and the other Timelords of the High Council almost unanimously passed the decree, with only one person holding out, Hedin, a one time friend of the Doctor. Nyssa attempts to rescue the Doctor and pulls a gun on the High Council. The Doctor tries to put Nyssa at ease and takes the gun away from her. As a last wish, he requests the council overlook her zealous misplaced loyalty. The High council agree and place the Doctor in the disintegration booth. Nyssa watches in horror as the Doctor dissolves.

The Doctor has actually not been vaporized, but placed inside the Matrix. He discovers it's Omega who's trying to bond with him. Omega promises to release the Doctor if he promises not to try and stop him, but the Doctor says he'll do whatever he can to stop him. Currently Omegas Tardis is in Amsterdam and he's captured Tegan so he uses her as a hostage to get the Doctors loyalty. The Doctor finally admits he can't leave Gallifrey anyway. The Doctor is finally released and despite promising Omega, he tries to leave Gallifrey and head to Amsterdam thanks to Tegan boldly ignoring Omega's threats. Once out of the matrix, the Doctor learns his friend Hedin is working with Omega.

Hedin has laid evidence making it look like President Borusa is responsible for a previous murder and for working with Omega. When the Castellan finds the President he aims to arrest him. When he discovers the Doctor is still alive and with Borusa, he immediately sentences him to death and fires his weapon, but Hedin jumps in front of the blast, saving the Doctor. Borusa explains to the Castellan that Hedin was the traitor, not himself or the Doctor. Now knowing where Omega is, the Timelords help the Doctor escape Gallifrey without being detected by Omega.

The Timelords are just able to help the Doctor escape. Having landed in Amsterdam, the Doctor finds Omega and Tegan but Omega quickly escapes when his Tardis explodes. But he mentions the Doctor is too late and quickly escapes in a body that has bonded with normal space. Shaking the dust off, Nyssa and the Doctor, now with Tegan following along chase after Omega. They discover a man who's been killed and his clothes taken. The Doctor stresses how important it is to find Omega because his bond is not permanent.

It's not long before Omega also discovers his bond is not permanent. In blind fear, he tries to evade the Doctor and ultimately hopes to take the rest of the universe with him when he finally returns back to anti-matter and disperses. Fortunately the Doctor catches up with him and puts Omega out of his misery before he can explode, saving the universe and giving Omega the only freedom he can truly have. It's then Tegan mentions to Nyssa she was fired from her job so the Tardis is now stuck with her. Nyssa gives Tegan a hug, the Doctor doesn't look so pleased.

07 November, 2011

Dr. Who (The Early Years) - Part 53 "Earth Shock"

As the Tardis is travelling the vortex, the Tardis crew are engaged in their own activities. Adric, in his room, alone but when the Doctor stops by he complains he's always being picked on by everyone and considered a joke. He suddenly informs the Doctor he wants to go back to his own people. The Doctor argues it's not possible as they would have to travel through the CVE and E-Space uses negative co-ordinates. Adric is adamant to try and plot a course, but the Doctor is stubborn and refuses. Not put off, Adric decides to do so anyway. Nyssa persuades the Doctor to at least give Adric the chance and see what he comes up with.

The Doctor finally agrees to allow Adric to see what he can come up with. While he's doing that, the Doctor has landed inside a cavern on Earth to go for a walk, Tegan and Nyssa follow him. But unknown to them, a team of palaeontologists were recently down there and killed. It's not long before the Tardis crew run into the security rescue team, who obviously believe the Doctor is responsible. But suddenly they are attacked by robots and the Doctor realizers they are guarding a metallic hatch the palaeontologists were close to when digging. With some persuasion, the Doctor makes the security team realize they are not responsible and offers the Tardis as sanctuary when he discovers the hatch was concealing a bomb.

Using the Tardis, the Doctor traces the source of the bomb to a small freighter on it's way to Earth with a cargo and a tight schedule. Arriving on the freighter, the Doctor asks the security team to stay behind while he and Adric go off to scout about. It's not long before they discover a body and are blamed for the murder. They are brought to meet the Captain of the ship and the Doctor does all he can to illustrate he's not responsible for the death. When things start affecting the ship, the Doctor offers to help. But things turn from bad to worse when the Doctor himself is being watched. Secretly on the ship, a patrol of Cybermen are plotting take control of the ship and have recognized the Tardis.

They Cyber Leader realizes the Doctor is evidently on board and reviews previous incarnations of the Doctor. After realizing none of the men they know were seen, he realizes the Doctor has regenerated once more and it's not long before they figure out who the Doctor is. They can tell by his Timelord arrogance. Not needing to hide their presence any longer, the Cybermen make their move to take over the ship. But the ships security are no match for the Cybermen and are dropping like flies. With the Doctors help, the bridge is secure.

Not wanting to wait any longer, the security team in the Tardis moves out to try and help the Doctor, Tegan joins them. They have learned to concentrate their fire in order to overtake the Cybermen. Upset with the deaths inflicted by the Cybermen, Tegan runs in and grabs a Cyber-Gun and destroys a Cyberman. Meanwhile, the Cybermen have finally broken through the Doctors improved security and have taken control of the ship. They plan to use the ship as an enormous bomb to destroy a conference on Earth, who are plotting to rise against the Cybermen.

More Cybermen but the security are holding their own till Tegan is suddenly captures. She is brought before the Cyber-Leader who illustrates the power he has over the Doctor by threatening her life. He orders the Doctor to take him to the Tardis, leaving Adric on the bridge. With the Cyber-Leader gone, the security from Earth finally makes it to the bridge and helps liberate it form the two Cybermen remaining. The ship is locked on a collision with Earth but Adric sets about unlocking it. He's pressured to evacuate but stubbornly he knows he can solve the problem. Meanwhile on the Tardis, the Doctor uses Adrics gold plated badge against the Cyber-Leader, destroying him. Having solved two of the three locks, Adric succeeds in sending the ship backwards in time 65 million years (merely killing off the dinosaurs), but the Tardis crew watch in horror as it strikes the Earth with Adric still onboard, having been unable to solve the third and final lock when a dying Cyberman destroys the ships computer.

WHO: Adric

DEPARTURE LOCATION: Freighter crashing into Earth, 65 million years in the past.

REASON FOR DEPARTURE: Being unable to solve a final logic code on a doomed space freighter, Adric dies trying to protect the Earth, which he does but in doing so destroys the dinosaurs.

31 October, 2011

Dr. Who (The Early Years) - Part 52 "Castrovalva"

A new era begins for Doctor Who and things begin to unravel quickly for the newly regenerated Doctor. Despite the preperations, the regeneration is failing and the Doctor is effectively out of commission and must rely on the rest of the Tardis crew to help him through this delicate time. The first problem is with Adric, who has been captured by the Master and now exists as a projection. The Masters goal is to trick the Doctor into a trap within a trap. Though Adric seems to be helping the Doctor, he actually sets the Tardis on a specific course as ordered by the Master.

After Adric suddenly disappears from the Tardis, Tegan and Nyssa help the Doctor find the Zero Room - A portion of the Tardis set aside to help Timelords heal from troublesome regenerations. The girls manager to find the Zero Room just in time, but a new problem is emerging. Neither girl knows how to fly the Tardis and it's on a collision course with 'event one', the greatest explosion ever; the Big Bang! Fortunately (at least they think so), they find the Tardis Index File. Using the I.F. they decipher where they are headed and how to avoid it, but the Tardis doesn't have enough power to escape the pull of event one. Things get worse as the Tardis begins to heat up the closer it gets to the Big Bang.

In his delicate state, Tegan opts to not tell the Doctor about Adric missing though know they still need his help in order to escape from their current predicament. Tegan suggests finding enough power to escape the gravitational pull and the Doctor gives them a way. By ejecting 1/4 of the Tardis, enough thrust will be achieved to finally escape the Masters plan. The Doctor gives the girls enough information to do the task on their own as he collapses from exhaustion. Tegan is worried because the 1/4 of the Tardis ejected is random and she's afraid the control room could be one ejected. Nyssa points out if Tegan doesn't do as the Doctor ordered they are going to die anyway. Reluctantly Tegan complies at the last second. The Master watching from afar laughs gleefully, thinking the Doctor and Tardis have been destroyed. But he's also disappointed he didn't get to spring the second part of his trap. To his horror and delight, he learns from Adric the Doctor did escape.

Free of event one, the girls help the Doctor back to the Zero Room, but it's one of the rooms jettisoned. Nyssa helps the Doctor build a special Zero Cabinet out of what's left of the Zero Room as Tegan heads back to the console room to search for a tranquil place to land the Tardis. The I.F. points her to Castrovalva, a calm and peaceful place which will help the Doctor complete his regeneration. After a rough landing, the girls carry the Doctor to the city but lose him on the way as they try and climb up to the city, situated on a high cliff. After they lose the Doctor, they are captured themselves. But the Castrovalvans are a friendly sort and agree to help the Doctor who is now suffering slightly from amnesia, and in search of the Doctor.

The Portreeve is the wise man of the city and takes an immediate interest in the Doctor. But as the Doctor starts to remember who he is, things take another turn for the worse as the city of Castrovalva begins to affect his mind as it folds into itself. Things don't add up till he realizes the Portreeve is actually the Master who's using Adric's mental equations to create Castrovalva and all the people. Though created by the Master, he doesn't control them and they give their lives to rescue Adric and help the Tardis crew escape. Only then does the Doctor tell Tegan she didn't really fly the Tardis because the Index File was another projection from the Master, so he effectively piloted the Tardis to Castrovalva.

Next: A Death In The Family



17 October, 2011

Dr. Who (The Early Years) - Part 51 "The Fourth Doctor In Review"

Notes: If anything, Tom Baker is certainly recognized as 'THE' Doctor when most people talk about the older Doctor Who episodes. As to whether he's the 'BEST' Doctor is widely debated. Technically, he was still UNIT's scientific adviser but he was being used less and less in this capacity. After the story 'Robot', The Doctor went on to adventure other places besides Earth, meaning UNIT stories became less and less frequent. Also, the Tardis began to 'fill up'. The first Doctor had three people in his Tardis but eventually that was scaled back to two by the time Patrick Troughton took over. When Jon Pertwee was the Doctor, he was down to just one dedicated companion. Tom Baker also had a dedicated companion in Sarah but Harry Sullivan did travel with them for a short time. Once Sarah Jane left, the Doctor had one adventure all by himself on Gallifrey. After that Leela began to accompany him. Shorty after K-9 joined the Doctor and the days of the single companion were essentially gone for the time being. Even still, using K-9 was an easy fix when the story required only one companion because K-9 would either break down, or the planet would be inhospitable for him. Leela left and was replaced by Romana during a season long story arc, something the newer episodes are now doing. When the first Romana actress left the series, she 'regenerated' into Lalla Ward and tensions on the set were extreme. There was something between Tom and Lalla, but it wasn't good. There was a lot of friction between the two actors who seemingly despised each other. There are even a few episodes of Doctor Who where you can see the tension even on screen. Usually neither looked the other in the eye. So it was a surprise to everyone when Tom suddenly announced they had gotten married over the weekend. The marriage really didn't last long and when Lalla was once asked at a convention what her favorite Doctor Who monster is, she replied "Tom Baker". Just before Romana left the series, Adric was introduced. This marked the beginning of the 'crowded house' feel of the Tardis. Adric did have one adventure with the Doctor as a sole companion, but it was the adventure they met Nyssa. Though not joining the Tardis this episode, she did the very next episode along with Tegan. Just in time for another regeneration, and a new era of Doctor Who.
Name: The Doctor 1974-1981
Actor: Tom Baker
January 20, 1934 -
Occupation: Timelord
First Seen: Earth, 1974
First Episode: Robot (Season 12)
Last Seen: Earth, 1981
Last Episode: Logopolis (Season 18)
Special Appearance: The Five Doctors (1983), Dimensions In Time (1993)


Notes: The Doctor still has lose affiliations with UNIT after his regeneration, though he's not as dedicated to the cause as when he was marooned on Earth. The Brigadier has the ability to contact the Doctor when his help is needed and generally the Doctor comes to the aid. The Doctor can at times infuriate the Brigadier, but Lethbridge-Stewart knows the Doctor is almost always right, which conflicts with his own ego. All things aside, the two generally become very good friends though the Brigadier refuses to travel in the Tardis with the Doctor for loyalty with UNIT. If he had his way, he'd like to run into at least one alien threat that wasn't immune to bullets. In the original series, the Brigadier met 6 incarnations of the Doctor and considers them wonderful chaps, all of them.
Name: Brigadier Alistair Gordon Lethbridge-Stewart
Actor: Nicholas Courtney
12/16/29 - 02/22/11
Occupation: Brigadier of UNIT.
First Seen: Earth, 1974
First Episode: Robot (Season 12)
Last Seen: Earth, 1975
Last Episode: Terror of the Zygons (Season 13)
Special Appearance: Mawdryn Undead (1983), The Five Doctors (1983),


Notes: Working as a medic for UNIT, Harry was looking over the Doctor when he regenerated for the third time. He quite probably thought the Doctor was insane and when he was invited into the Tardis, he did so to prove it didn't actually work. Harry stayed with the Doctor till another adventure brought them back to Earth. He then opted to catch a ride back to UNIT headquarters instead of travel with the Doctor. Though he enjoyed the time with the Doctor, Harry always seemed eager to head home. Always chivalrous, he drove Sarah Jane crazy with his view on the women's role and annoyed her by constantly calling her 'old girl'. He reunites with Sarah and the Doctor when another adventure brought them back to Earth, though he's not invited back onto the Tardis. Quite probably because he would have declined the offer.
Name: Harry Sullivan
Actor: Ian Marter
10/28/1944 - 10/28/1986
Occupation: Medic
First Seen: Earth, 1974
First Episode: Robot (Season 12)
Last Seen: Earth, 1975
Last Episode: Android Invasion (Season 13)


Notes: Much as Tom Baker is the most recognized Doctor, Elisabeth Sladen as Sarah Jane Smith is widely recognized as THE companion of the Doctor. It's true she started out with Jon Pertwee as a feminist, but her tough exterior gradually faded. No, it didn't disappear all together. It seems her travels with the Doctor mellowed her out. It certainly broadened her mind and taught her to look beyond just the surface of things. Being a journalist, this was a handy skill to develop. Sarah traveled with the Doctor for quite a long time and would likely have traveled even longer with him if he hadn't dropped her off at home when he learned there was trouble on Gallifrey. Lke the Brigadier, she's met several different regenerations of the Doctor. She met the first five while on Gallifrey's Death Zone and would later go on to meet the tenth and eleventh Doctors. In fact, the Doctor became so fond of Sarah he gave her a K-9 unit as a present. She used K-9 till he became inoperable and had to place him in storage. Exactly when she meets the latest Doctors will be discussed in the future.
Name: Sarah Jane Smith
Actor: Elisabeth Sladen
February 01, 1948 - April 19, 2011
Occupation: Journalist
First Seen: Earth, 1974
First Episode: Robot (Season 12)
Last Seen: Earth, 1976
Last Episode: Hand of Fear (Season 14)
Special Appearance: K9 & Company (1981), The Five Doctors (1983), School Reunion (2006), The Stolen Earth (2008), Journey's End (2008), End of Time (2009) Sarah Jane Adventures (2008-2011)


Notes: A descendant of a crashed spaceship on an unnamed planet, Leela's people were essentially savages. At some point in the planets past, the Doctor visited the crashed ship and tried to repair it though he forgot to whip his personality out of the computer when done. As a result, the computer used his likeness which created an alter ego, driving the computer insane. After the Doctor set things straight Leela decided to accompany him, though the Doctor had to forbid the use of deadly force, through the poisonous Janis thorns she used. As a savage, she believed the Tardis was magic, though the Doctor did his best to try and explain it scientifically. As an outcast when he first met her, Leela had no where to go when he returned to Gallifry. This time he took Leela with him, despite having to leave Sarah behind on Earth the last time he visited. Or maybe the Doctor realized Leela would fit in better. And fit in she did. So much in fact, when the Doctor was departing, she opted to stay behind, having fallen in love with a Gallifreyan. K-9 stayed with Leela.
Name: Leela
Actor: Louise Jameson
April 20, 1951 -
Occupation: Savage
First Seen: Unnamed planet in the future.
First Episode: Face of Evil (Season 14)
Last Seen: Gallifrey
Last Episode: Invasion of Time (Season 15)
Special Appearance: Dimensions In Time (1993)


Notes: Originally owned by Professor Marius, K-9 was given to the Doctor when the Professor realized he was going to be heading back to Earth and K-9 would not be able to travel with him. K-9's time with the Doctor was tricky because landing on a planet with rough or rocky terrain meant K-9 had to sit out on the adventure. This was something Tom Baker grew to appreciate because he'd have to bend down to K-9's level to have a conversation with it. When Leela left the series K-9 was scripted to depart as well, but by then K-9 was every child's favorite companion and in a last minute scene, the Doctor brings in a new K-9. This second version of K-9 traveled with the Doctor and Romana during the Key of Time quest, though there were still a few times he was unable to join them because of swamps or other terrain hazards. Another device which took K-9 out of the picture was damage. Several episodes had K-9 out of commission in part or all because he was not functioning properly. When Romana opted to stay behind in E-Space, K-9 stayed with her and reminded her he had full schematics of the Tardis saved in his memory if they desired to build their own.
Name: K-9
Actor: John Leeson / David Brierly
March 1943 - / 1935 - June 10th 2008
Occupation: Faithful Computer Pet
First Seen: Bi-Al Foundation, Asteroid K4067; 5080
First Episode: Invisible Enemy (Season 15)
Last Seen: E-Space
Last Episode: Warriors Gate (Season 18)
Special Appearance: K9 & Company (1981), The Five Doctors (1983), Dimensions In Time (1993), School Reunion (2006), Journey's End (2008), Sarah Jane Adventures (2008-2010), K9 Series (2009-2010)


Notes: Romana's full name is Romanadvoratrelundar but shorted to just Romana when the Doctor realized it was too much to say, especially if he needed to get her attention quickly. She was sent to help the Doctor in his quest to find the Key of Time. A device which would enable the White Guardian to restore the balance in the universe. Tensions between the Doctor and Romana were at first high. The Doctor finally had someone on board truly his equal, and Romana wanted to simply get the task completed, instead of getting involved in local affairs as the Doctor was prone to do. Ultimately, the two became very fond of each other and instead of returning back to Gallifrey when the task was complete, she decided to regenerate and continue traveling with the Doctor.
Name: Romanadvoratrelundar I
Actor: Mary Tamm
March 22, 1950 -
Occupation: Timelady
First Seen: The Tardis, Gallifrey Native
First Episode: Ribos Operation (Season 16)
Last Seen: The Tardis
Last Episode: The Armageddon Factor (Season 16)
Special Appearance: None


Notes: When Patrick Troughton's Doctor was forced to regenerate, the Timelords gave him several options of what he could look like. He ultimately decided to take his chances randomly. So it's not so odd to find out when Romana decided to regenerate she chose what she wanted to look like. Though the Doctor was against the idea, she wanted her next regeneration to look like Princess Astra, someone the pair met on the previous adventure. Unlike the other Romana who seemed very sure of herself, this Romana turned out to be a screamer. Of course, its possible she gave that impression to make it look like she wasn't as much of a threat as she was. This was a characteristic the second Doctor had. This Romana also seemed to be more caring and empathetic towards others plights. She completely understood the Doctors reasoning's for getting involved and was upset when Gallifrey recalled her. Instead of going back to Gallifrey, she stayed in E-Space with K-9 to help free the Tharils from the various worlds they were imprisoned on.
Name: Romanadvoratrelundar II
Actor: Lalla Ward
June 28th, 1951
Occupation: Time Lady
First Seen: The Tardis
First Episode: Destiny of the Daleks (Season 17)
Last Seen: E-Space
Last Episode: Warriors Gate (18)
Special Appearance: Dimensions In Time (1993)


Notes: The Doctor met Adric when he was first trapped in E-Space. As a promising elite on the crashed starliner he was from, Adric became bored with his life and tried to join his brother who was rebelling against the society. But the time of mists brought some dark days for Alzarius when the Marshmen began attacking the starliner. Adric's brother died in a Marshmen attack so after the Doctor helped resolve the situation he stowed away in the Tardis. The Doctor was hesitant in letting Adric remain, but relented and asked Adric if he'd miss E-Space because the Doctor was heading back to his normal universe. Adric said there was nothing for him anymore and was excited to travel with the Doctor. Adric was at the Doctors side when he regenerated.
Name: Adric
Actor: Matthew Waterhouse
December 19th, 1961
Occupation: Civilian
First Seen: Alzarius (E-Space)
First Episode: Full Circle (Season 18)
Last Seen: Still traveling with the Doctor
Last Episode: Logopolis (Season 18)
Special Appearance: None


Notes: When her father married, Nyssa was assigned to take care of the evil Melkur instead of her step-mother. Though she didn't realize it, her step-mother was already being influenced by the Melkur who turned out to be the Master's Tardis. The Doctor left Traken with Adric after defeating the Master while Nyssa stayed behind. But the Doctor was unaware of the Masters true intent and was not around to stop the Master from taking over the body of Tremas, Nyssa's father. Unable to find her father, Nyssa tried to contact the Doctor but it was the Watcher who picked her up and brought her to Logopolis to be reunited with the Doctor and Adric. When the Doctor fell to his death, Nyssa was at his side.
Name: Nyssa
Actor: Sarah Sutton
December 12, 1961 -
Occupation: Civilian
First Seen: Traken
First Episode: Keeper of Traken (Season 18)
Last Seen: Still traveling with the Doctor
Last Episode: Logopolis
Special Appearance: Dimensions In Time (1993)


Notes: On her way to her first flight as an airline stewardess, Tegan's car broke down close to one of the last Police Box's. However, the Doctor materialized around it to take measurements and in so doing sprung a trap set by the Master. So Tegan stumbled into the Tardis, when the doors suddenly closed behind her. The Master, while waiting to bait the Doctor even further, murdered Tegan's aunt by compressing her atoms, shrinking her. When the Doctor took off for Logoplis, Tegan was still on-board the Tardis, lost and unaware of her Aunt's death. The Doctor was successful in stopping the Master's evil plan, but feel to his death. Tegan, along with Nyssa and Adric were by his side when the Watcher helped the Doctor to regenerate.
Name: Tegan Jovanka
Actor: Janet Fielding
January 1st, 1957
Occupation: Stewardess
First Seen: Earth, 1981
First Episode: Logopolis (Season 18)
Last Seen: Still traveling with the Doctor.
Last Episode: Logopolis (Season 18)
Special Appearance: A Fix With Sontarans (1985)