| WARRIORS' GATE by Steve Gallagher |
| Story 113 Synopsis: Stuck in E-Space, the Doctor, Romana, K9 and Adric are surprised when the doors open, and a strange lion-like man named Biroc enters. K9 blows a fuse. The TARDIS lands at zero co-ordinates, and the Doctor sets off after Biroc. A slave ship is also stuck in the area, and the commander, Rorvik, goes to examine the TARDIS. In a strange hall, Biroc passes through a mirror. As the Doctor examines the chains he left behind, a robot swings an axe above his head. He dodges at the last minute, and eventually causes the robot to crash into another robot. Examening its control unit, he finds the robots were built by slaves to help them overthrow their masters. Rorvik and crew arrive in the hall, and threaten the Doctor. He backs through the mirror. Meanwhile, Romana is taken to the ship and taken as a replacement for Biroc. Another of Biroc's people, the Tharils, is revived, and rescues Romana. Behind the mirror, Biroc says that the Tharils used to exploit the humans, until the humans built the robots and turned the tables. The Doctor is taken back in time, but warps forward to find himself surrounded by Rorvik and his men. He and Romana realise that Rorvik is supplying slaves, the Tharils. Rorvik becomes obsessed with smashing the mirror, to escape back to N-Space. The Doctor tries to stop him, but Biroc persuades him not to. Back at the TARDIS, Romana decides to stay and help Biroc free his people. The Doctor gives her K9. Rorvik uses a backblast, but the mirrors reflect, and the ship is destroyed, releasing the captive Tharils on board. The TARDIS returns to N-Space. |
| Review:- So the quest to find the way out of E-space brings the TARDIS into an unfamiliar and strange realm populated by nasty bullies. Indeed, with the slave crew on one side and the Tharils on the other, it's almost a wonder that the Doctor can find a way through. Perhaps it is significant that the Time Lords side with the time sensitives, and not the mortals? This has to be one of the most discussable stories ever screened as Doctor Who. Chiefly because it doesn't just dole out explanations easily, in a straight line. In fact, there is more here that is inexplicable and never gets addressed, than is comprehensible and does get dealt with. The Tharils are very hazily characterised. Biroc talks in apparent riddles, which matches up with K9 going temporarily haywire. How they move so freely is not even mentioned, just taken for granted. But they are interestingly designed. The slaver crew feature half a dozen different characters who are sketched in sufficiently to understand what each of them is actually like. At the top, Rorvik is clearly a villain - not even a good businessman or a manager, just a villain. His single-mindedness marks out how dangerous he is, so it helps that most of his crew aren't quite so didactic. Packard is more reasonable, more cautious, although does show some steel when he throws K9 about. As for Aldo and Royce, who provide a more plebeian commentary on proceedings... The series regulars get plenty to do. Adric has to try and find his way around with only a coin to help, then try to free Romana, and use the MZ in a stand-off. K9 is blasted by the Time Winds, and seemingly doomed to rusty oblivion, despite talking as much sense as before. His inability to pass through the mirror seems quite tragic, although it would have been too much to expect him to deal with the robotic Gundans. Romana proves her worth to the slave crew, leading them to the gateway, and to the Tharils, in leading them to freedom. She seems more in tune with the Tharils than the Doctor quite quickly. She is almost tolerant of Adric, and quite concerned for K9. Her eventual decision to join Biroc feels inevitable, although it is as tacked on as any other lesser leaving scene in series past. She won't be missed. The Doctor has lots to do, in an oddly involving story. He starts off almost despondent at being trapped in E-Space, but is bold enough to follow Biroc to the great hall. He holds off the Gundan, learning some of the truth of the situation from them. He just about holds back Rorvik, until he makes it through the mirror. There, his journey with Biroc is confusing, and the realisation that he is in the past is strange. His condemnation of the Tharil attitude to their slaves is unequivocal. Although he struggles to convince anyone of the imminent danger from the dimensional contraction, he is determined to save everyone. Even at the cost of a thumping from Rorvik. Only when Biroc reiterates his message of "do nothing" does he finally realise how. He is aghast to lose Romana, but pragmatic enough to leave K9 with her. The sets are incredible. The use of the white void, plus the decent design of Rorvik's ship, together with the incredibly effective hall, both past and present, are all worthy of praise. There are some loose ends that could be better explained, but even without them, this is a superb story, fun to watch and stimulating, too. Recommended. |
| Disclaimer: I've seen the video, and read the book. |