A UNIT training exercise gets infinitely more dangerous…

Tim Foley’s six parter concludes this special celebration of Peter Davison’s forty years as the Doctor, with guest appearances from Janet Fielding and Mark Strickson reprising their roles as Tegan and Turlough and Jon Culshaw providing the Brigadier, the Master and Kamelion (that may have been intended as a surprise in the story but it’s on the cover…) Unlike some six parters from the classic years, it’s not a four-parter followed by a two-parter – although there’s a two-episode or so section midway that doesn’t involve those introduced earlier on.

There’s plenty of nods to continuity in Foley’s script, but not so much that it tips into fanwank territory – one of the key plotlines picks up on a forgotten element of one of the era’s tales – and the nature of the opponents means that you can have more than one version of characters involved at any time. Ken Bentley is an old hand at handling such doppelgänger madness, and the subtle differences in the actors’ performances and deft direction ensure that even if you take a break between episodes, you’re never in doubt as to who’s who. Except, of course, when you’re meant to be.

It’s not just a celebratory jolly – there’s some nicely done character development for Tegan, providing some extra context for an upcoming decision on her part, and the scenes between the Brig and Turlough have some fun sparring.

Foley uses both the Brigadier and the Master well, and introduces a potentially recurring new character in Lucy Fleming’s Veronica Holmes, who goes through the gamut of UNIT experiences in the space of the six episodes (and acknowledges that). Fiona Hampton’s Sergeant Wharry, Homer Todiwala’s Corporal Palmer and Oscar Pearce’s Captain Mears give us a good indication of how a 1980s UNIT series would feel – no doubt wait for the Big Finish announcement! – and Juliet Aubrey’s Prodigal is a very different take on something familiar. Lee Adams’ sound design has to quickly take us to many different locations, with some nicely subtle indicators at times.

Verdict: An enjoyable celebration of the era. Here’s to decades more… 9/10

Paul Simpson

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