| VENGEANCE ON VAROS by Philip Martin |
| Story 138 Synopsis: The TARDIS has run out of Zyton-7. The Doctor is miffed, until he decides to try getting a refill. Varos has it. Indeed, Varos is in negotiations with the Galatron Mining Corporation, who want to pay low low prices. Varos is a pretty grim society, with the main populace living in cell-type living rooms, where they watch a stream of TV progs about the punishment of criminals. The Doctor stops one such punishment, freeing rebel Jondar, and suddenly, there's a spanner in the works. The Governor is being undermined by his own security, who fail miserably to catch the Doctor. But he gets separated from Peri, Jondar and Areta, and nearly dies on live telly. He revives, but two mortuary attendants get a close look at an acid bath. Peri and Areta get transmogrified by Quillam, the Governor's chief scientist. The Doctor and Jondar survive a fake execution, but slowly convince the Governor to stay tough in negotiations. Galatron's representative, Sil, is ruthless and exploitative. Peri and Areta are restored and released, and the Doctor finally stops Sil. Quillam suffers at the hands of deadly vines, the security team get stopped, and the Governor negotiates a fair deal for the Zyton ore. |
| Review:- Having tackled continuity (or not), Doctor Who tackles violence, in Phil Martin's study of video nasties. By and large, this is a good story, with some lovely sets, nice acting, good motivation, and palpable drama. Yes, the Doctor and Peri are kept away from the action for too long, but that gives a chance for a little build-up. The Punishment Dome sets are nicely geometric, and many of the traps are realistically portrayed. The buggy in which much of the actors get to move about is a bit silly, as any willing rebel could slip away with little fuss. There are 2 moments in this story which have been discussed more than any other. So, here they are again. 1) The middle cliffhanger. This gets such praise, it's ridiculous. Perhaps a study of television that parodies television will amuse those familiar with the workings of telly. But this didn't grab me in 1985, and it still failed when I had the recent chance to see it again. Yes, the Doctor being dead is dramatic - but that's not the 'hanger is it? No, the "Cut it" line is, and it's dull as a consequence. 2) Acid bath time! As with Attack Of The Cybermen, I watched the video with an open mind, trying to spot gratuity. It's doesn't seem as blatant as most people seem to say, but it is difficult. The only argument I can think of, is that Varos is portrayed from the Doctor's arrival in the Dome, as a "kill or be killed" kind of place. This would certainly explain the poisioned vine trap which occurs late on, and is arguably worse, for the Doctor could pass off the acid bath incident as an unfortunate accident. The poisoned vines are a deliberate act of violence. A court of law might let the Doctor off for the first, but even Self Defence wouldn't cover the latter. Martin Jarvis is good as usual, Owen Teale and Jason Connery share the rugged rebel mantle, Nabil Shaban delivers his lines. The most fun seeing this again was noticing the Security Chief, whose name I really should be bothered to look up, is played by Forbes Collins, more familiar to me as bad King John, from Maid Marian & Her Merry Men. Now, does he ever get interviewed? So, in summary, I like this for the set designs of the Punishment Dome, and for the character motivations. No, it isn't perfect, and yes, it is violent. But the good guys win in the end, so that's alright. Isn't it? |
| Disclaimer: I've seen the video, and read the book. |