| THE ROMANS by Dennis Spooner |
| Story 12 Synopsis: The TARDIS brings its crew to a villa near Rome. The Doctor, Ian, Vicki and Barbara spend some time relaxing and unwinding, before the Doctor decides to go and have a look at Rome. He takes Vicki with him. On the way, they find noted lyre-player Maximus Petullian dead, and a passing guard assumes the Doctor is Petullian - and takes him to the Palace of Emperor Nero. Ian and Barbara meanwhile get attacked at the villa. Barbara is sold as a slave - to Tavius, a representative from Nero's palace. Ian is sent onto a galley ship, which crashes in bad weather. He survives, as does a fellow slave, Delos. Working together, they aim for Rome, but are made to fight in the Arena. The Doctor cannot play the lyre, but pretends too, and seems a big hit. Jealous, Nero plans to have him thrown to the lions. Nero has taken a shine to Barbara, to the displeasure of the Empress, Poppaea. When Barbara sees Ian fighting Delos, Nero decides that Ian must be trapped - during his fight with Ian, Delos tried to kill Nero. Tavius thinks that Petullian has come to kill Nero, but the Doctor dodges this task, instead inspiring Nero to start his Great Fire. In the chaos, the Doctor and Vicki hotfoot it back to the villa. Tavius brings Ian and Barbara together, and allows them a safe escape from the Palace. Back at the villa, Ian and Barbara don't get a chance to tell the Doctor and Vicki of their escapades in Rome. |
| Review:- An entertaining use of sets, a simplish story, and a couple of slight tricks, make this a pleasant little tale. Much is amusing, but I wouldn't call it knock-out comedy. Though it beats Men Behaving Badly and the glut of 1990's U. S. comedies for 6. The Doctor absolutely storms through the story, determined not to interfere, but secretly quite proud to have triggered the fire. He makes a better job of beating the assassin than he did of Bennett, only 2 episodes earlier. Ian gets put through the wringer, makes a good friend, but knows when to cut and run. Barbara is a bit dull, but you can't have everything. Vicki seems quite a useful member of the team, and even gets a subplot, involving the poisoner. Nero may be slightly inaccurate, but the acting is so joyful, I can overlook this. The suggestion that he is jealous of Petullian makes sense, and his volatile temper helps the whole story run along nicely. Tavius is possibly the unsung hero, a counterpoint to Sevcheria. The final moment where Tavius is seen clutching a cross suddenly throws light on his motives. Despite wanting to help Petullian murder Nero, he is tolerant and gracious to Barbara all the way, without trying to force his attentions on her. In a way, as good an advert for Christianity as you could expect. An entertaining, expansive story, which shows the Romans. I just think it's a pity that Byzantium! doesn't do it more justice. |
| Disclaimer: I've seen the video. |