| THE MONSTER OF PELADON by Brian Hayles |
| Story 73 Synopsis: The Doctor returns the TARDIS to Peladon, but finds 50 years have passed, and King Peladon is dead, replaced by his daughter, Thalira. Her new High Priest, Ortron is suspicious of the Doctor, but Federation Ambassador Alpha Centauri vouches for him. Peladon is home to a source of trisilicate, which the Federation need for their war effort. The miners oppose the usage of modern machinery, and a spirit form of Aggedor is killing them. Investigating, the Doctor and Sarah deduce that the spirit is just trickery, probably operating from the refinery. Ice Warriors arrive to take command. Though ostensibly from the Federation, the Doctor deduces they are not kosher. He overhears Eckersley, an engineer from the Federation, conspiring with the Ice Warrior leader, Azaxyr. All the trouble with the spirit of Aggedor is to secure the supply of trisilicate. The Doctor cheats death to help Gebek lead his miners to revolt. Azaxyr is killed, but Eckersley takes the Queen hostage. The Doctor uses Aggedor to track Eckersley through the caves, where it attacks him. Both die. With Ortron having died earlier, the Doctor recommends that the Queen appoint Gebek as her new High Priest. Eckersley's backers sue for peace. |
| Review:- Sequels in Doctor Who are rare. Leaving aside the returns for regular monsters, the instances of the Doctor returning to a planet he has visited for the purpose of another adventure are few and far between. None are so overt as this story. The previous escapade, The Curse Of Peladon, established a familiar world, with many stylised touches "unique" to Peladon. The sequel doesn't discard them - indeed, in some ways, it returns to them all too heartily. Ortron is almost a double for the earlier Hepesh, although he turns out eventually to be one of the good guys. Despite his lunatic mistrust (sadly all too politically credible), he is a well rounded figure in a culture where religion is dominant. Thalira is less successful as Queen, manipulated by everyone, and indoctrinated until she cannot be thought of as a free-thinking character. Gebek is solid and dependable (although played by Rex Robinson, whom I don't respect at all) and a good representative of the Pels. Sadly, he is saddled with the thinly-credible Ettis, who makes Ortron's scepticism look naive by comparison. It is with some relief that he blows himself up by accident, as 4 episodes are already too much to bear. Sarah shows independence, and is blind to seeing the manipulation going on. The Doctor manages to sleepwalk through most of the first half, perking up when his old enemies arrive. Then he manages the gruesome feat of being thought dead (not once but twice!) and is sadly reduced to using Aggedor as a hound. Not a fine hour. The Ice Warriors pull off a neat deception, although the pesky Eckersley doesn't show them up well. Azaxyr provides a bold redressing of their villainous qualities, after the neutralisation of the previous encounter on Peladon. Overall, there isn't enough to recommend this, as conviction is far from present. |
| Disclaimer: I've seen the video, and probably read the book. |