| THE ULTIMATE EVIL by Wally K. Daly |
| Story ? Synopsis: The Doctor decides to take Peri on a holiday, and a crystal globe brochure sends them to Tranquela, where the locals are being afflicted by a mysterious bout of rage that washes over them every so often, and prompts some to suggest war on their enemies, the Amelierons. But two scientists have worked out that the hatred is being directed at them on purpose. The culprit, Dawfr Mordant, a Salakan arms dealer, is fomenting war so that he can sell arms, and get the rights to the planet. The Doctor is also badly affected by the hate ray, and nearly causes untold damage. He takes the TARDIS to Ameliera to warn them that the Tranquelans are about to declare war, and is sent away with a flea in his ear. He finally realises the holiday globe, also a Mordant creation, is a spying device. He threatens Mordant that he will expose this to the Time Lords, who also have some of the globes, unless he leaves the planet alone for good. Mordant complies. |
| Review:- Holidays never turn out to be on Doctor Who, which is fine from a dramatic standpoint, but becomes a little wearying otherwise. This story was meant to be screened as part of Season 23, alongside The Nightmare Fair and Mission To Magnus, but were all scrapped. In this case, the replacement, Mindwarp, seems somewhat similar. As a story in its own right, this actually isn't all that bad, though it's perhaps rather simplistic. Indeed, the ideas of two continents being so grossly affected by something so apparently trite as a hate ray is insulting basic for even a so-called kids show. But the society of Tranquela, and the war with the ascetic Amelierons, is presented fairly effectively, and is kept convincing. Escoval's motive is simple feudal jealousy, of a kind experienced in real life by people all the time. The notion that an unscrupulous third party might seek to foment a war for their own ends has been seen before in Frontier In Space, to name but one. So, there's nothing too surprising there. Also, the notion of a violent Doctor showing callous disregard for his companion and seemingly all life, is an extension of the rather dopey plotline of Season 22. At least Peri has some consolation for once, in getting a feasible romance, albeit one tinged with danger. The Dwarf Mordant is perhaps too similar to Sil, although he seems a more independent rogue than the malevolent Thoros Betan. His designs on Gallifrey, not to mention his superior weaponry, mark him out as a rather different kettle of fish. The convenience of Tranquelan teleportation proves of scant relevance to the plot, except to the mawkish (though I found it surprising and welcome) conclusion. On the whole, I could see this working on television, especially with a nice beach setting. The cover, too, is unexpectedly effective, even if the Mordant is disconcertingly optical. For a first-time Doctor Who writer, this is a modest triumph. |
| Disclaimer: I have a copy. |