The Master illustrates the uses for the Doomsday Weapon. (Colony in Space Episode Six) ©BBC |
The main problem with Colony in Space is that it's simply too long. If they'd made this a four-parter and introduced the Master at the end of episode two this might have been all right. But instead they've given Malcolm Hulke six episodes and he turns in a story in which the colonists and IMC trade the upper hand every episode (odd, this; usually Hulke is a lot better at filling his stories out). With a colony totally devoid of interest and an IMC crew that's been neutered against the director's wishes (Morgan was originally going to be played by actress Susan Jameson until BBC Head of Drama Serials Ronnie Marsh overruled Michael Briant's decision), there's far too much time wasted with dull power struggles and not enough on the far more interesting Primitive city. The point of the colonist story (corporations are evil and ruthless -- admittedly a more radical idea in 1971 than now) is made early in episode two and then reiterated ad nauseam, and the Primitive city is only given prominence in episodes four and six. The result is a rather tedious runaround, and the first real clunker of Jon Pertwee's run.
But now it's time to turn our attention to the last story of season 8: The Dæmons62. This first episode is a bit of an odd one: it starts with the Doctor dismissing Jo Grant's belief in anything magical or occult ("You know, really, Jo, I'm obviously wasting my time trying to turn you into a scientist") and then spends the rest of the time with the Doctor trying to stop an archaeological dig because a number of occult signs are lining up ("Aquarius? The Devil's Hump? Beltane?" the Doctor mutters to himself), with no scientific explanation (or even technobabble) given. It's just off to Devil's End to stop Professor Horner because a white witch named Miss Hawthorne said so. Well, all right, it's not quite that simplistic, but it sometimes feels like it.
And then there are strange goings-on in the village of Devil's End (the first "outsiders aren't welcome" village of the 70s, and only the second ever after The Smugglers -- and note Bert the Landlord's reaction to the Doctor if you need proof), with strong winds, unexplained deaths, and police constables temporarily turning homicidal. It would also seem the vicar has disappeared -- but this one can be explained, as we see that his replacement, Mr. Magister, is in fact the Master. Clearly evil things are afoot, and the ceremony the Master is carrying out is clearly designed for mischief, ending as it does with a gargoyle's head moving and the Master crying out "Azal! Azal!" Although, entertainingly, during this ceremony the Master throws up the horns during his invocation. All right, clearly he's meant to be summoning the devil or some such and thus is using the sign correctly, but it's still fun to see.
So the Doctor tries to get to the dig to stop Horner from breaking into the Devil's Hump, but he's juuuust too late, and Horner and the Doctor are blasted by what appears to be snow as the ground begins shaking violently. This could be an issue... but we'll have to wait until next time to learn more.
62 You can blame director Christopher Barry for the inclusion of the ash (that's the name for the symbol æ) in the title -- apparently he thought it gave the story extra atmosphere.