UNIT Captain Ruth Matheson heads to an ancient Mayan temple hoping to find out what’s happened to Zoe Heriot…

Tony Jones’ conclusion to this latest box set is another tale that plays with the format quite considerably. It focuses mainly on someone who isn’t quite a companion, although she’s played by someone who was – Daphne Ashbrook, the erstwhile Grace Holloway from the TV Movie – although the presence of Wendy Padbury’s Zoe is felt throughout. It’s also, in part, the conclusion to a story that began in another range but script editor Jacqueline Rayner has ensured that the two are separate enough that if you haven’t heard the other story, you’re not at a disadvantage. And it’s a sequel in a way to a classic adventure, picking up on a potential plothole that’s been left around for a very long time.

The majority of Ashbrook’s interactions are with Matthew Brenher’s Deakin, an intriguing character who occasionally becomes a little too generic bad guy. Director Helen Goldwyn maintains the pace, not allowing the tension to drop as Matheson faces both physical and moral dilemmas – although in the case of the latter, the choice of victim alters the dynamic too far in one direction for it to be as effective as it could be.

Verdict: An unusual final tale. 7/10

Paul Simpson