| THE MASQUE OF MANDRAGORA by Louis Marks |
| Story 86 Synopsis: During a tour of the TARDIS, the Doctor and Sarah stumble across the secondary console room. On the scanner, they see themselves heading toward the Mandragora Helix. Whilst there, they unwittingly bring a sample of the Helix energy into the TARDIS. Materialising in 1492, Sarah is captured, and the Doctor arrested. Helix energy finds ints way to the Temple of Demnos, and makes contact with the leader of the Brethren, Hieronymous, who is also the Court Astrologer, and has predicted the death of the new Duke, Giuliano, at the behest of his scheming uncle, Federico. Hieronymous tries to use Sarah to kill the Doctor, but he realises she has been hypnotised. Federico tries to have Giuliano named as a cult worshipper, but the Doctor warns him that Hieronymous plots to kill him. In the temple, the Helix-controlled Hieronymous kills Federico. An impending lunar eclipse will give Mandragora a gateway to control the Earth. The Doctor thwarts Hieronymous, and short-circuits the Helix. Back at the TARDIS, he warns Sarah that the next time the Helix will strike is 500 years later, i.e. the latter part of the 20th century... |
| Review:- So, Season 14 kicks off with a tale combining science and mysticism, and a battle that threatens the past and the present. Not bad going, really. Most stories set in Italy would play up some tourist landmark. Not this story. Here, the woods could be anywhere (and the market is Portmeirion, in Wales, so that proves the point), but the whole style of the story is so smooth that it doesn't much matter. The script is hugely entertaining, the set designs are wonderful (the Helix, the catacombs, the temple with its altar), but the real stars here are the cast. Federico is an archetypal villain, but played so smoothly that he doesn't become dull. Deluded into thinking he is master of his destiny, he comes a cropper at the hands of alien power beyond his understanding. A great performance. Hieronymous is cold and calculating, and clearly doesn't believe in what he's saying, but never mind. He makes a smooth extra villain. Giuliano is a pleasant young man who happens to be the new Duke. If it weren't for Marco, you wonder whether he'd think it safe to get up in the morning. Still, when you've two solid baddies, it helps to have an out-and-out goodie, too. Sarah doesn't get a whole lot to do, being captured, threatened and hypnotised left, right and centre. I doubt it'll teach her to steal oranges so blatantly after arrival. The Doctor makes Mandragora seem important, but Federico and Hieronymous alone don't seem to faze him. This continues the idea that only the extremely powerful are worth worrying about. I still find that terribly flawed, but it's a bit late to worry about it now. On the whole, a fun show, educational, dramatic and enthralling. Incidentally, the mooted rematch for the Mandragora was recounted in a DWM comic strip, The Mark of Mandragora. |
| Disclaimer: I've seen the video, and read the book. |