The Keys To A Good Episode
Watching Doctor Who: Series 1 Serial 5: The Keys of Marinus
The gang arrive on Tracy Island, where the landscape is made of glass. Susan get separated from the group when she managed to melt one of her shoes in the sea of acid and has to pop back to the nearest Clarks for a replacement pair.
Eventually they all meet back up at the giant pyramid and find Arbitan, keeper of the keys... but he's so good at his job that he needs someone to go and get the other four back for him after he hid them in a global game of hide and seek.
With the TARDIS taken hostage they must retrieve the four keys, and any waifs and strays they find along the way, so that Arbitan can mind control everyone into being good again.
The Sea of Death
From my experience of older films, I had honestly just assumed that this opening image was a painted one... there was actual glee though when it zoomed in and it's revealed to be a Tracy Island. I would really like to know if Blue Peter ever did a make your own planet of Marinus piece. *makes a note to google it later*
Good to see in this episode that the Doctor has decided he should be in charge of checking the radiation levels. *glares at Susan*
Okay, they definitely got Blue Peter to help out with this one... those looked like soda bottle submarines coming out of the water.
Our first view of a non-regular cast member in this episode brings us face-to-face with a scuba diver, or more accurately, face-to-waist.
It's a shame that we didn't get to see a bit of bubbling acid around that shoe, it wasn't very clear what was going on until it was explained. But it did give Ian a chance to be a proper gentleman and give his boots to Susan so that she can retrieve another pair of shoes from the TARDIS.
I do get the feeling that Susan's potential for danger is slightly worse than a few cuts on her feet though after seeing our scuba diving friend attempting to get in the door just before she gets there.
Meanwhile, back at the beach, the other three are discussing the acid sea. We have already had a bit of education this episode with the mention of a tidal pool. I'm hoping for some more now that they've found the submarines. This scene does also remind me that I should remember all the model pieces are in fact meant to be large bits of scenery on a budget... I had wondered earlier what on earth would be in those tiny little pods.
Finally a full shot of our Voord friends... initial reaction... what on Marinus is sticking off the front of that head piece?
Later in her life Susan writes a book "So You've Wandered Off On An Alien Planet".
Okay, okay... wait a minute. Is Susan at the main pyramid that the others saw as they turned around to go back to the TARDIS? Are the others now at it too? And as the Tracy Island view only showed one such structure... how are they there when they all headed in the opposite direction? Regardless of that, who was standing behind the revolving door that ate the scuba diving guy?
More learning! This time about which ancient civilisations built pyramids... I'm quite enjoying looking for this little nuggets of information.
All sturdily constructed... expect for these damned revolving walls which keep eating members of the gang.
Oh Susan, Susan, Susan. Strange guy in a robe appears... you're an explorer... why would you not say hello?
Somehow everyone is now inside, and have come to the conclusion that they're prisoners... I may have missed something, I'm not sure how they're prisoners. Any how, Ian has stumbled across and attack and wrestles with a scuba diving guy before flinging his Tracy Island body down a shaft into the waters below.
Thanks to a handy intro from Arbitan we now know that more Voord will attack... just like that one lurking in the background.
Marinus was a peaceful planet thanks to the Conscience, but some learnt to overcome the machine that brought around this peace and if they can get hold of it themselves they could use it for evil... you've always got to have a bit of evil in there somewhere.
Having turned down the request for help in recovering the keys for the machine, the gang are heading back to the TARDIS, but they're kept out of her by a force field. A bit of blackmail always works when trying to get help from strangers.
Some drama at the end of the episode, murder and a bit of good old fashioned mystery... that'd make me want to tune in in a week to watch the next one. Thankfully, I only have to press the play button though.
The Velvet Web
Blood on the travel dial but not on the ground... I don't think she's hurt badly, let's not overreact.
Barbara hasn't been kidnapped as such, she's stumbled upon a spa and been given a fancy dress. Are we sure these dials don't work in time, because she seems to have been there a lot longer than just a few flicks of the dials.
A study of this culture is going to be very fascinating... and luxurious. But Ian is very suspicious of these new hosts. And I'm suspicious of people who can fall asleep so easily. Had they stayed awake they'd have been able to see Zeus go all glowy-eyed and found that strange woman putting runes on their heads, and I think they might have felt a bit differently. £20 on Ian saying "I told you so" later on in this serial.
Barbara has been woken up and is suddenly aware that something isn't quite right, everything is dirty and strange. When their new host decides she needs a physician she's dragged off and the others don't see anything wrong with this.
I can only assume that the woman that's been discarded is the robed man's daughter. It seems logical.
With Barbara under sedation... oh she's going to have a field day when everyone is back to normal again... the Doctor and Ian go off to see the lab that he'd expressed his desire for the previous evening. And oh my, what a lab! That mug will come in very useful on the TARDIS I'm sure of it... if only they had cup holders on there.
Barbara is gradually helping Sabetha to get her memory back, and has enough of herself to help Barbara escape when Altos comes for her. Her freedom is shortlived though as she bumps into Ian who is now completely under the brain jars' control. Despite the women in Doctor Who being portrayed as damsel in distress types, Barbara then manages to knock Ian away and have a hissy fit at the brains which sets all the slaves free.
Splitting up is always super sensible of course... I have to wonder about the bit where they decide to meet up in five days. Erm... don't you fancy getting it all done with a bit quicker than that?
We're back to regularly scheduled programming of course, a serial wouldn't be right without Susan hysterically screaming at something now would it?
At this point I'm wondering if I missed something. Who are the brain people? And exactly where into the world do they all fit?
The Screaming Jungle
Ah, but she had just arrived in The Screaming Jungle, so for the first time she's actually trying to fit in with her surroundings and make friends.
They've appeared next to a giant wall, and as convoluted story lines go, the key is obviously on the inside. Deductions quickly made, they won't make it through the dense vegetation anytime soon, so they're going to investigate the walls... and, oh... leave Barbara and Susan there. *sigh*
Of all the things I was thinking would happen, a vine coming down the wall and attacking Susan was not one of them. But if Barbara was so convinced it was just a vine, why was she bashing it with a rock?
I'm going to say that it's female logic on Barbara's part that let's her get into the archway. "Oh look Susan, if I just push it aside with my arm I can get through." I absolutely love the idol at the end where Barbara finds the key, love it. I'm going to assume it's gold, all idols really should be, and it has rather human like hands that presumably are there to trap anyone who tries to snatch the key.
Altos is a little creepy, "I'll be your protector Susan." Hmm.
Back at square one with the keys, as it appears that they have picked up a false one from the idol. Ian is now going after Barbara and the real key. But he's almost been killed once and he's only been in there about 20 seconds. Lots of booby traps ahead... it's quite nice to see Ian has become a bit of a damsel in this one.
Listen to the music... something creepy is happening, the vegetation is moving, Barbara... and of course you go into the opening door that was just now locked.
Another hooded figure is lurking, and he's also in need of help. I don't see how he'd be able to tell that Arbitan set the dial based on the journey... because Arbitan was the only one who knew where all the keys were.
After the ominous rambling of the dying man, the dynamic duo have set about searching for the key in his lab. I'd be a little bit suspicious of all of those plants what with the killer vines being so nearby.
This ladies and gentleman is what happens when you mess with the natural order of things.
The Snows of Terror
At the end of the last episode the pair were whizzed off to a ski resort somewhere on the planet, but they were woefully under dressed. So much so, that Barbara is so cold that she instantly can't move... *sigh* I can't wait until the women become a little spunkier.
Rub him slowly Barbara, it'll help him... says the strange man in the middle of nowhere without any friends.
I'm not sure that I believe Susan survived in this weather condition when these two nearly died.
If I were Barbara at this point I think I might have gone out into the cold rather than stay with our new bearded friend. He's becoming increasingly creepy since Ian has gone. I'm not at all comforted by the fact that Ian has just found Altos tied up in the snow. As they're getting him up to go back, it is discovered that the bag Ian was given has raw meat in it to entice the wolves. Quickly tossing it away, they head back to save Barbara... again.
By now she has discovered that all their new friend does is steal from people and leave them for dead, so she really should be worried that she's still alive. A kerfuffle ensues and they make the tracker take them to where he abandoned Sabetha and Susan... which as luck would have it, is right where the next key is. Well, I haven't gotten to that bit yet, but come on, it seems like an educated guess. Especially as they've just been trapped in the cave.
"Bring me a shrubbery!!"
Magically they've found a hot water tap in the ice mountain, although instinct is telling me that those warriors are going to thaw too... especially as they've got acting credits. I'm not sure why Ian and Altos are trying to rebuild the bridge... they got their travel dials back didn't they?
If Susan fell off this ice bridge thing they've built we'd all get along a lot better.
So no, they didn't get their stuff back that was stolen... but why on earth wouldn't they?! What were they thinking they were going to do? *calm breaths*
These dials don't seem to be very accurate, they never quite arrive at the same place. Although at least this time Ian has seemingly ended up right next to the key in a museum display case. We should ask ourselves one thing though... why on earth was this one in a glass box with a simple alarm on it when the others all came with booby traps and guards?
Sentence of Death
Okay, it's a maximum security vault... that makes me feel much better about the situation now.
If he couldn't have entered through the door, then how did the real thief get in there? Hmm... the plot thickens!
Crimes are much more exciting in alien places, there's a lot more people getting put to death than anything else. Luckily the Doctor has reappeared to be Ian's lawyer, and he's pulled out the official hands on lapels stance to make himself look a lot more official. He instantly managed to bargain for some extra time to prepare, and he sends everyone off to find whatever they can that's useful.
The girls go off prying and clearly stir up some trouble. I'm a little troubled that this was all relatively easy to deduce. Aydan really doesn't seem like the sort of guy you'd want to be looking after a secret.
After some court room drama, Ian is basically at death's door, and Barbara receives a threat and a phone call to warn her that if she reveals the location of the key then another will die... *looks around* Has anyone seen Susan?
The Keys of Marinus
Barbara is using a lot of logic at the beginning of this one. Although part of me thinks that an enraged Doctor might be useful, but possibly that's only true of the new regenerations.
That bitch!! I didn't see that one coming, I'm slipping a bit! She had better fold like a cheap suit! She's really testing my last nerve now, implicating Chesterton.
Luckily the Doctor has had more realisations and has managed to set a very successful trap. A little anti-climactic, but resolved none the less.
Now we have to see what becomes of everything once they get back to the Conscience with Arbitan dead.
Having looked at the cast list it's easy to see what drove the costume decisions, give everyone masks or helmets so that they can play multiple parts.
Our original baddies are back, hiding in plain sight, and for some reason Ian has given up the key quite easily. I was about to moan about him, but he's given them the fake key... I'd say it's fine, but after him and Susan leave the main room, why is he acting all "yes something was a bit odd wasn't it"?
One last view of Tracy Island at the end before we make off for somewhere new next week.
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It didn't feel quite right to me that each episode had either a new civilisation and/or a new villain, when the beginning of the episode portrayed the planet as a united people until the Voord broke free. But then you would have been left with each jump being with the same mix of people just in a slightly different locale.
Having watched the extra about the sets in Marinus I have to say that I chuckled a bit. He sounds like he disliked everything they put together, but honestly I didn't notice that they were bad. I think everyone noticed that the ice was polythene wrap, but I would have done exactly the same, and it worked. No point fixing something if it ain't broke! And I loved the fact that the lab was a broom cupboard with a table and a mug, it really brought home that they were under the influence of the brains. I'm trying to think of modern who episodes where there has been little to no set dressing... and honestly I'm drawing short... the only one that comes to mind is The Girl Who Waited. Amy gets stuck in a quarantine zone which is all very white-walled hospital chic and Rory and the Doctor go to try and rescue her. Funnily enough I just read the Wiki for this episode and it was filmed on a lower budget. You don't need big budgets to get a good episode. Just imagine what a modern day set and effects budget would have gotten you in 1964.
There might be a small hiatus in proceedings while I wait for more DVDs to arrive, I might have to start rationing myself, or sacrificing pizza... it's a tough call but generally eating comes before new DVDs... Most of the time.
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