Dr. Who (The Early Years) - Part 42 "The Invasion of Time"

Strange things are already afoot once this episode begins. The Doctor is outside of the Tardis and talking to a few aliens, discussing a plan. He has K-9 and Leela in the tardis, forbidding them to come out or turn on the scanner. When she tries the scanner anyway, she realizes the Doctor has locked it. Bemused, Leela wonders why the Doctor doesn't trust her. After signing a contract, the Doctor returns to the Tardis and sets the co-ordinates for Gallifrey.

Upon arriving to Gallifrey, the Doctor claims full rights to the presidency. Since he last visited, no new president has been inaugurated. With no other rivals to challenge him, the Doctor is made president and given the rod, the sash and coronet of Rassilon. He runs into Borusa again, who is puzzled by the Doctors behaviour. The Doctor is now short tempered and verbally abusive to Borusa.

One of the Doctors first acts as President is to banish Leela outside of the Timelord citadel, but she manages to escape. While on the run, she meets Rodan. She's a glorified 'traffic cop', monitoring space but not getting involved. Despite being protected, Rodan lowers the shield protecting her, sensing Leela is not a threat to her. Leela is shocked by her and every Timelord vow of non-intervention.

The Doctor next orders to have his private room completely covered in lead. He stresses to Borusa he wants it everywhere. Floors, ceiling, even the door. While his redecoration is in progress, the Doctor shocks Borusa and the rest of the Timelords even more when he allows the Vardans access to Gallifrey. They are a telepathic race striving to invade Gallifrey, and ultimately all of time. Travelling along wavelengths, they partially materialize.

After her chat with Rodan, Leela realizes the Doctor is not a traitor as he always has a plan. She decides the Doctor must have wanted her outside the city for a reason. She convinces Rodan to join her. While in the Gallifreyan wastelands, the two meet the Outsiders. They are Gallifreyans who have rejected Timelord ways to live a simpler life. Leela convinces them to join in the fight, to regain control of Gallifrey.

To get the full trust of the Vardans, the Doctor orders K-9 to destroy the Transduction Barrier, which protects Gallifrey from being invaded. He then invites Borusa into his special lead-lined room (shielding his thoughts from the Vardans). Now with Borusa's full support, the Doctor devises a way to rid Gallifrey of the Vardans, and putting their planet into a time-loop. But celebrations come to early as the Sontarans invade, while the Transduction Barrier is still down.

The Doctor, Leela, Borusa, K-9 & Rodan all retreat to the Tardis, but the Sontarans are able to break in with help from Kelner, another Timelord. While in the Tardis, we get to see many corridors, a workshop and the swimming pool. The Doctor instructs Rodan to help build a de-mat gun which he uses to destroy the Sontarans. The gun is powered by the Great Key of Rassilon, and after used in the demat gun, the key destroys the de-mat gun and erases the Doctors memory, giving him no knowledge of even claiming to be president. When he opts to leave, Leela decides to stay behind.

WHO: Leela
DEPARTURE LOCATION: Gallifrey
REASON FOR DEPARTURE: Leela has taken a liking to Andred and prefers to stay behind with him, rather than follow with the Doctor. Though she does tell the Doctor she'll miss him.





NEXT: The Key To Time

Bonus Photo

Leela in the Tardis Pool Room