| THE CURSE OF PELADON by Brian Hayles |
| Story 61 Synopsis: The planet of Peladon is bidding to join the Federation, and as such, a set of delegates from other Federation planets are on hand to decide on Peladon's application. Though King Peladon is welcoming, High Priest Hepesh wants no part of it, and claims that Peladon is cursed by a spirit, Aggedor. The TARDIS lands Jo and the Doctor on the mountainside, and promptly tumbles to the valley floor. Climbing into the castle, they are assumed to be the delegates from Earth. The Doctor is more concerned with the delegation from Mars - the Ice Warriors! Saving Izlyr from a falling statue, the Doctor earns the Martian's gratitude. Hepesh sees the Doctor as a troublemaker, and when Arcturus, another delegate is attacked, the Doctor is accused. When he is tricked into profaning the Temple of Aggedor, the Doctor is sentenced to death. Jo pleads for mercy, so King Peladon allows him a trial by combat against his Champion, Grun. The Doctor wins, spares Grun's life, but Arcturus prepares to attack. Ssorg, Izlyr's lieutenant, blasts Arcturus with a cannon. The Doctor deduces that Arcturus was the traitor, wanting Peladon to not join the Federation so that Peladon's mineral deposits will be Arcturus' for the negotiating. Arcturus has been in league with Hepesh all along. Hepesh organises a mutiny, and threatens his King's life. He wants the Federation to leave. Then, the Doctor arrives, having found the real Aggedor, and tamed it. It strikes down Hepesh, and Peladon is uncontested. When the real delegate from Earth arrives, the Doctor and Jo peg it in a hurry. |
| Review:- A pretty slight tale, enhanced by the local colour. Hepesh is so clearly the baddie, but his ally remains undetected for ages. It is odd, that during part 3, having being caught escaping, rather than say "Well, look, here's the map Hepesh gave me" (and it's sticking out of his pocket when he walks in!), the Doctor just goes along with the King's demands! The Ice Warriors are entertaining, and come off well as noble aliens with no need to be the baddies. Alpha Centauri is just asking to be murdered, however, and it is daunting to know that the character survives into Legacy. Jo and the Doctor struggle, which is unsurprising, given their being outnumbered. It takes the Doctor a heck of a time to realise that he's in any danger. Grun is one of the few mute characters ever seen, and the Doctor just about makes him sympathetic, though it's close, given that he acts the villain for 3 episodes, before going soft. Aggedor is quite fearsome, until its final appearance in the denouement, where it is towered over by everyone. But at least it doesn't get attached to Jo, which makes a change. Peladon himself manages to get through the whole show in 1 piece, mainly by not doing a great deal. His attraction to Jo is a bit gut-curdling, but thankfully his lack of etiquette in condemning a good friend of hers gets him nowhere, and is a useful lesson. Hepesh does the old "power behind the throne" shtick, and at least doesn't sing to Aggedor. He just overacts. Klokheda partha mennin klatch... do me a favour. As I say, it's OK, but not nuch to write home about. |
| Disclaimer: I've seen the video, and I might have read the book. |