Planet of Fire

Last updated

134 [1] –Planet of Fire
Doctor Who serial
Cast
Others
Production
Directed by Fiona Cumming
Written by Peter Grimwade
Script editor Eric Saward
Produced by John Nathan-Turner
Music by Peter Howell
Production code6Q
Series Season 21
Running time4 episodes, 25 minutes each
First broadcast23 February 1984 (1984-02-23)
Last broadcast2 March 1984 (1984-03-02)
Chronology
← Preceded by
Resurrection of the Daleks 		Followed by →
The Caves of Androzani
List of episodes (1963–1989)

Planet of Fire is the fifth serial of the 21st season in the British science fiction television series Doctor Who , which was first broadcast in four twice-weekly parts on BBC1 from 23 February to 2 March 1984.

Contents

In the serial, the Doctor's old enemy, the Master, plots to use the volcanic gases on the planet Sarn to renew his body after accidentally shrinking himself in an experiment.

Peter Davison's penultimate serial as the Doctor, it marks the departures of both Mark Strickson as Vislor Turlough and Gerald Flood as Kamelion, and introduces Nicola Bryant as Peri Brown.

Plot

The Fifth Doctor and Turlough land on Earth on Lanzarote where Turlough takes Peri Brown on board the TARDIS to save her from drowning. They travel to the planet Sarn, where the natives worship the local volcano as a god. It is revealed that Sarn is a long abandoned Trion colony planet. Turlough, a Trion, suspects some of his family were sent here after a revolution against the hereditary leading clans of his homeworld. Turlough realises the Chosen One, Malkon, may be his brother.

The android Kamelion has meanwhile made mental contact with its old controller, the Master. Kamelion, controlled by the Master, convinces the natives that he is the Outsider, a promised prophet. He seizes Peri and uses her to transport a black box into the control room of his TARDIS. It contains a miniaturised Master, who has been transformed by a disastrous experiment with his Tissue Compression Eliminator weapon. The Master re-established the psychic link with Kamelion and has manoeuvred him to Sarn so that he can take advantage of the restorative powers of the numismaton gas within the fire mountain.

Turlough realises the imminent volcanic bursts will destroy Sarn, so he uses a communication unit to get in touch with Trion and plead for a rescue ship to evacuate the planet. Acting on a message from the Doctor, Turlough programs the TARDIS to rescue the Doctor and Peri. He finds out that a general amnesty has been issued and he is free to return home.

The Doctor succeeds in weakening the Master's hold over Kamelion and interrupts the numismaton experiment. He is unable to prevent the Master from reacquiring his usual size. As the gas flow alters, the Master is trapped and the Doctor watches as he is seemingly immolated. Implored by the terminally wounded Kamelion, the Doctor has put the automaton out of its misery. Escaping the destruction of the gas control room in the TARDIS along with Peri, the Doctor lands to pick up Turlough, only to find that he has elected to return to Trion. Turlough tells Peri to look after the Doctor. He then parts from the Doctor, thanking him for all that he has learned in his travels with him. As the Doctor and Peri return to the TARDIS, she says she has a few months' vacation left and would like to spend it travelling with him. The Doctor accepts and they depart.

Production

Costumes

It was decided that because of the climate of Lanzarote, where the serial was filmed, the cast would have to alter their usual costumes. Although Peter Davison started the story wearing his cricketer outfit, for the rest of the story, he wore a different pair of trousers with question mark braces and a beige floral waistcoat. Strickson shed his usual school uniform in favour of a blue pin-stripe shirt and tan shorts with a pair of swimming briefs underneath. Nicola Bryant also wore a pink bikini beneath her clothes to which she stripped down for a couple of scenes. [5]

Cast notes

Mark Strickson has also reprised the role of Turlough in the audio plays by Big Finish Productions and penned the introduction to the spin-off novel Turlough and the Earthlink Dilemma (1986). Promotional photographs taken during production include a shot of Peter Davison wearing a tuxedo and holding a gun, with Nicola Bryant standing next to him in a bikini, in the style of James Bond. [6]

Broadcast and reception

EpisodeTitleRun timeOriginal air dateUK viewers
(millions)  [7]
1"Part One"24:2623 February 1984 (1984-02-23)7.4
2"Part Two"24:2024 February 1984 (1984-02-24)6.1
3"Part Three"23:571 March 1984 (1984-03-01)7.4
4"Part Four"24:442 March 1984 (1984-03-02)7.0

Writing for Radio Times , Patrick Mulkern gave the serial three stars out of five and observed that writer Peter Grimwade "laces his script with homosexual subtext", noting in particular the "male eye candy on display", arguing that "old sage Timanov’s mentoring of callow youth Malkon has a hint of pederasty" and also commenting on the "unmistakably phallic object" hauled from the seabed and fondled by Howard, Curt and Peri. [8] Paul Cornell, Martin Day and Keith Topping, authors of The Discontinuity Guide , thought that new companion Peri made a good impression, helped by some decent lines. They said "As a whole the story is less than the sum of its parts: not a great deal happens, but it is competently written, and the location filming is excellent." [9]

The serial was also positively reviewed by Arnold T Blumberg of IGN who said it had "a lot to recommend" with "beautiful location work" and effective sets. Blumberg also praised the performances of Anthony Ainley who was "far more menancing" as the Master than he had been previously, and Peter Wyngarde, an "excellent choice" for the role of a religious leader. [10]

Commercial releases

In print

Planet of Fire
Doctor Who Planet of Fire.jpg
Author Peter Grimwade
Cover artist Andrew Skilleter
Series Doctor Who book:
Target novelisations
Release number
93
Publisher Target Books
Publication date
14 February 1985
ISBN 0-426-19940-5

A novelisation of this serial, written by Peter Grimwade, was published by Target Books in October 1984.

Home media

Planet of Fire was released on VHS in September 1998. The DVD was released in June 2010, with commentary by Peter Davison, Nicola Bryant, Mark Strickson and Fiona Cumming, as part of the box set Kamelion Tales along with The King's Demons . [11]

Notes

  1. ↑ Also provided the distorted Trion voice, uncredited.

Related Research Articles

The Caves of Androzani is the sixth serial of the 21st season of the British science fiction television series Doctor Who, which was first broadcast in four twice-weekly parts on BBC1 from 8 to 16 March 1984.

Mawdryn Undead is the third serial of the 20th season of the British science fiction television series Doctor Who. It was originally broadcast in four twice weekly parts on BBC1 from 1 to 9 February 1983.

Enlightenment is the fifth serial of the 20th season of the British science fiction television series Doctor Who, which was originally broadcast in four twice-weekly parts on BBC1 from 1 to 9 March 1983. It was the 127th serial of the series, and was written by Barbara Clegg and directed by Fiona Cumming, making it the first serial to be both written and directed by women.

The Two Doctors is the fourth serial of the 22nd season of the British science fiction television series Doctor Who, which was first broadcast in three weekly parts on BBC1 from 16 February to 2 March 1985.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Vislor Turlough</span> Doctor Who companion

Vislor Turlough is a fictional character played by Mark Strickson in the long-running British science fiction television series Doctor Who. He was a companion of the Fifth Doctor, being a regular in the programme from 1983 to 1984. Turlough appeared in 10 stories.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Peri Brown</span> Fictional character in the TV series Doctor Who

Perpugilliam “Peri” Brown, is a fictional character played by Nicola Bryant in the long-running British science fiction television series Doctor Who.

Logopolis is the seventh and final serial of the 18th season of the British science fiction television series Doctor Who, which was first broadcast in four weekly parts on BBC1 from 28 February to 21 March 1981. It was Tom Baker's last story as the Fourth Doctor and marks the first appearance of Peter Davison as the Fifth Doctor and Janet Fielding as new companion Tegan Jovanka.

Peter Grimwade was a British television director and screenwriter, known for his work as a director and writer of the BBC science fiction television series Doctor Who in the 1980s.

Attack of the Cybermen is the first serial of the 22nd season of the British science fiction television series Doctor Who, which was first broadcast in two weekly parts on 5 and 12 January 1985. It was credited to the pseudonymous author "Paula Moore"; the level of contributions made by Paula Woolsey, Eric Saward and Ian Levine have been disputed. Beginning with this serial and continuing for the remainder of Season 22, episodes were 45 minutes in length ; for syndication, in some markets, this serial is re-edited into four 25-minute segments.

The Visitation is the fourth serial of the 19th season of the British science fiction television series Doctor Who. It was first broadcast in four twice-weekly parts on BBC1 from 15 to 23 February 1982.

Earthshock is the sixth serial of the 19th season of the British science fiction television series Doctor Who. It was first broadcast in four twice-weekly parts on BBC1 from 8 to 16 March 1982. This serial marks the final regular appearance of Matthew Waterhouse as Adric and his death, with the final episode featuring unique silent credits in loving memory of the character. It is also the first to feature the Cybermen since Revenge of the Cybermen in 1975.

Resurrection of the Daleks is the fourth serial of the 21st season in the British science fiction television series Doctor Who, which was first broadcast in two weekly parts on BBC1 between 8 February and 15 February 1984. The serial was intended to be transmitted as four 23-minute episodes but a late scheduling change by the BBC meant that it was transmitted as two episodes of 46 minutes; reruns restored it to its intended format.

Timelash is the fifth serial of the 22nd season in the British science fiction television series Doctor Who, which was first broadcast in two weekly parts on BBC1 on 9 and 16 March 1985.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fifth Doctor</span> Fifth character from Doctor Who

The Fifth Doctor is an incarnation of the Doctor, the protagonist of the British science fiction television series Doctor Who. He is portrayed by Peter Davison.

The King's Demons is the sixth and final serial of the 20th season of the British science fiction television series Doctor Who, which was originally broadcast on BBC1 on 15 and 16 March 1983. This serial introduced Kamelion, voiced by Gerald Flood, as a companion.

Time-Flight is the seventh and final serial of the 19th season of the British science fiction television series Doctor Who, which was first broadcast in four twice-weekly parts on BBC1 from 22 to 30 March 1982.

Frontios is the third serial of the 21st season of the British science fiction television series Doctor Who, which was first broadcast in four twice-weekly parts on BBC1 from 26 January to 3 February 1984.

The Awakening is the second serial of the 21st season of the British science fiction television series Doctor Who, which was originally broadcast on BBC1 on 19 and 20 January 1984.

<i>Doctor Who</i> season 21 Season of television series

The twenty-first season of British science fiction television series Doctor Who began on 5 January 1984 with the Fifth Doctor serial Warriors of the Deep, and ended on 30 March 1984 with Colin Baker's first serial The Twin Dilemma. For the third time, the entire TARDIS crew changed over the course of a single season. John Nathan-Turner produced the series, with Eric Saward script editing.

<i>Doctor Who</i> season 20 Season of television series

The twentieth season of British science fiction television series Doctor Who began on 3 January 1983 with the story Arc of Infinity, and ended 16 March 1983 with The King's Demons. A 20th Anniversary special, "The Five Doctors", followed in November 1983. John Nathan-Turner produced this series, with Eric Saward script editing.

References

  1. ↑ From the Doctor Who Magazine series overview, in issue 407 (pp26-29). The Discontinuity Guide , which counts the unbroadcast serial Shada , lists this as story number 135. Region 1 DVD releases follow The Discontinuity Guide numbering system.
  2. ↑ Nathan-Turner, John (1986). Doctor Who – The Companions. New York: Random House. pp. 18–21. ISBN   0-394-88291-1.
  3. ↑ Howe, David J; Stammers, Mark (1995). Doctor Who – Companions. London: Doctor Who Books. p. 103. ISBN   1852275820.
  4. ↑ "Doctor Who – Classic Series – Companions – Kamelion". BBC. Retrieved 12 November 2012.
  5. ↑ "10 Most Paused Doctor Who Moments Ever". 4 December 2020.
  6. ↑ "Doctor Who Image Archive – Various". shillPages. Retrieved 9 October 2013.
  7. ↑ "Ratings Guide". Doctor Who News. Retrieved 28 May 2017.
  8. ↑ Mulkern, Patrick (29 March 2012). "Planet of Fire". Radio Times. London. Retrieved 14 January 2013.
  9. ↑ "Doctor Who Classic Episode Guide – Planet of Fire – Details". BBC.
  10. ↑ "Doctor Who: Planet of Fire DVD Review – IGN". November 2021.
  11. ↑ Alex Westthorp (2 July 2010). "Doctor Who: Kamelion Tales Collection DVD review". Den of Geek. Retrieved 11 September 2019.

Target novelisation

This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.