Shortly after departing from Gallifrey the Doctor discovers an item in the TARDIS that means a rapid return to the Kasterborous system…

Timothy X Atack’s story for the Fourth Doctor was recorded nearly five years ago, long before the revelations about the Time Lords that we’ve had in the Chris Chibnall era, and does feel as if it slots into those weeks between The Deadly Assassin and The Face of Evil (when we should have had The Seeds of Doom repeat, maybe? Some of us still haven’t got over that!). It’s a tonal mishmash, which is emphasised by Jamie Robertson’s score that picks up on the comedic sides initially, and then moves increasingly towards tragedy as the plot develops.

There may not be an official companion, but the Doctor spends a lot of his time teamed up with Emma Noakes’ Eleanora – and she’s someone that I really hope returns to the audio range. Based on how she’s both written and played here, she could make a great foil for many of the different Doctors, and Nick Briggs enables some sparkling scenes between her and Tom Baker. Annette Badland’s Eminent Sedanya is the sort of teacher none of us particularly wants to meet up with again while Adrian Lukis’ Ansillon also seems to have played a key part in the Doctor’s life and James Dreyfus’ Master once again demonstrates the less stable parts of the Time Lord’s personality.

Verdict: An unusual tale with hints of Gormenghast. 8/10

Paul Simpson

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