Meglos (TV story): Difference between revisions

From Tardis Wiki, the free Doctor Who reference
m (Bot: Cosmetic changes)
 
(296 intermediate revisions by 71 users not shown)
Line 1: Line 1:
{{title|''Meglos'' (TV story)}}
{{title dab away}}
{{Infobox ClassicTV
{{real world}}
|image = [[Image:I am alive.jpg|250px]]
{{ImageLinkTV}}
|story name = Meglos
{{Infobox Story SMW
|series = [[Doctor Who]] -<br/>[[List of Doctor Who television stories|TV Stories]]
|image = I am alive.jpg
|number = [[Season 18]]
|novelisation = Meglos (novelisation)
|series =[[Doctor Who television stories|''Doctor Who'' television stories]]
|season number = Season 18 (Doctor Who 1963)|
|season serial number = 2
|story number = 110
|story number = 110
|doctor = [[Fourth Doctor]]
|doctor = Fourth Doctor
|companions = [[Romana II]]<BR>[[K9 Mark II]]
|companions = [[K9 Mark II]], [[Romana II]]
|enemy = <ul><li>[[Meglos]]</li><li>[[Gaztak]]s</li><ul><li>[[Grugger|General Grugger]]</li></ul></ul>
|enemy = [[Meglos]]
|year = <ul><li>[[Zolfa-Thura]]; circa [[1980]]</li><li>[[Tigella]]; circa [[1980]]</li></ul>
|setting = [[Zolfa-Thura]] and [[Tigella]], [[1980]]
|writer = [[John Flanagan]] and <br>[[Andrew McCulloch]]
|writer = John Flanagan, Andrew McCulloch
|director = [[Terence Dudley]]
|director = [[Terence Dudley]]
|producer = [[John Nathan-Turner]]
|producer = [[John Nathan-Turner]]
|broadcast date = [[27th September]] - [[18th October]] [[1980]]
|epcount = 4
|format = 4 25-minute episodes
|broadcast date = 27 September - 18 October 1980
|production code = [[List of production codes|5Q]]
|network = BBC1
|previous story = [[The Leisure Hive]]
|format = 4x25-minute episodes
|next story = [[Full Circle]]
|serial production code = [[List of production codes|5Q]]
}}'''''Meglos''''' was the second [[serial]] of [[Season 18]] and so was the second serial in the [[John Nathan-Turner|Nathan-Turner]] era. ''Meglos'' also saw [[Jacqueline Hill]] return in the role of [[Lexa]], her first appearance since ''[[The Chase]]''.  
|prev = The Leisure Hive (TV story)
|next = Full Circle (TV story)
|made prev = State of Decay (TV story)
|made next=Full Circle (TV story)
|clip = The Doctor's betrayal - Doctor Who Meglos - BBC
|clip2=I am the Doctor! - Doctor Who Meglos - BBC
|clip3 = Caris encounters Meglos - Doctor Who Meglos - BBC
|thwr = 2
|thwr2 = 72
}}{{dab page|Meglos (disambiguation)}}
'''''Meglos''''' was the second serial of [[Season 18 (Doctor Who 1963)|season 18]] of ''[[Doctor Who]]''. It featured [[Jacqueline Hill]]'s return to the programme for the first time since the ''Doctor Who'' story ''[[The Chase (TV story)|The Chase]]'' in [[1965 (releases)|1965]]. However, she was not playing [[Barbara Wright]], but a whole new character - [[Lexa]].


After the innovative tale of ''[[The Leisure Hive]]'', ''Meglos'' was somewhat a step back into old ways. The storyline resembled those of [[Robert Holmes]] as did the antagonist, [[Meglos]]. It made use of a comedy duo in the from of [[Grugger]] and [[Brotadac]], a common feature of prior stories.
''Meglos'' also allowed [[Tom Baker]] to play the Doctor and also the main antagonists of the story, making Baker the third actor of the Doctor to have played both the Doctor and one of the main antagonists in a story, following [[William Hartnell]] in ''{{nwlh|[[The Massacre (TV story)|The Massacre]]}}'', and [[Patrick Troughton]] in ''{{nwlh|[[The Enemy of the World (TV story)|The Enemy of the World]]}}''.


''Meglos'' saw [[Tom Baker|Baker]] take on two roles in the same story, as [[Patrick Troughton]] before him had. [[List of Doppelgängers|Doppelgängers]] of the Doctor had appeared before in ''[[The Chase]]'' and ''[[The Enemy of the World]]'' and a Doppelgänger would later take on [[Fifth Doctor|the Doctor]]'s appearance in ''[[Arc of Infinity (TV story)|Arc of Infinity]]'', a story that saw [[Colin Baker]] play [[Maxil|a role]] other than [[Sixth Doctor|the Doctor]].
''Meglos'' came into being after [[Christopher H. Bidmead]] purposefully sought out [[John Flanagan]] and [[Andrew McCulloch]] as new talent. Nathan-Turner was unimpressed with the ideas put forward and the serial was shuffled to various placements in the season, largely because it didn't feature [[Adric]].


==Synopsis==
Behind the scenes, ''Meglos'' was highly innovative as the [[BBC]]'s first use of [[Scene Sync]], a [[motion control]] technology that improved the believability of composite shots that used [[CSO]]. It would be the only ''Doctor Who'' serial to avail itself of the technology. Nevertheless, other BBC productions would use Scene Sync based on this successful test, such as [[Barry Letts]]' {{wi|Gulliver in Lilliput}}, starring [[Elisabeth Sladen]]. ([[DOC]]: ''[[The Scene Sync Story (documentary)|The Scene Sync Story]]'')
On [[Tigella]], two opposing faction are irrevocably divided over one fundamental issue: the [[Dodecahedron]], a mysterious object which provides the entire planet's energy.  


With the [[Savant]]s and the [[Deon]]s locked in a crippling stalemate, and their civilisation on the brink of collapse, the [[Tigellan]] leader, [[Zastor]], seeks [[Fourth Doctor|the Doctor]]'s help. But the Doctor and [[Romana II|Romana]] have been trapped aboard [[The Doctor's TARDIS|the TARDIS]] in a [[time loop]] by [[Meglos]], the last of the [[Zolfa-Thuran]]s, who will stop at nothing to steal back the awesome power of the Dodecahedron.  
== Synopsis ==
On [[Tigella]], two opposing [[faction]]s are irrevocably divided over one fundamental issue: the [[Dodecahedron]], a mysterious artefact which provides the entire planet's [[energy]]. With the [[Savant (Meglos)|Savants]] and the [[Deon]]s locked in a crippling stalemate, and their [[civilisation]] on the brink of collapse, the Tigellan leader [[Zastor]] seeks the [[Fourth Doctor]]'s help. But the Doctor and [[Romana II]] have been trapped aboard [[the TARDIS]] in a [[time loop]] by [[Meglos]], the last of the [[Zolfa-Thuran]]s, who will stop at nothing to steal back the awesome power of the Dodecahedron.


==Plot==
== Plot ==
===Part one===
=== Part one ===
In [[The Doctor's TARDIS|the TARDIS]], [[Fourth Doctor|the Doctor]] and [[Romana II|Romana]] are once again repairing [[K9 Mark II|K9]]. They land on the planet [[Tigella]] and the Doctor remembers a previous visit there. He befriended a man named [[Zastor]], leader of the [[Tigellan]]s.
In [[The Doctor's TARDIS|the TARDIS]], the [[Fourth Doctor]] and [[Romana II|Romana]] are repairing [[K9 Mark II|K9]] yet again. They hover near the planet [[Tigella]]; the Doctor recalls an earlier visit when he befriended a man named [[Zastor]], leader of the [[Tigellan]]s, and decides to get in touch with him.
On Tigella, a power loss occurs when a transformer breaks down. The inhabitants, living under the surface, find it hard to compensate.


On Tigella, a loss of power occurs after a transformer breaks down. The inhabitants, living under the surface, find it hard to compensate.  
Arguments continue between the [[Deon]]s and the [[Savant (Meglos)|Savants]] over ownership of the [[Dodecahedron]], Tigella's power source and the Deons' deity. The Deons refuse the workers access to the Dodecahedron. Zastor, unable to decide, orders the Doctor sent for. [[Deedrix]] leads the workers in the belief that the Dodecahedron is merely an artefact; [[Lexa]], leader of the Deons, holds firm in her faith that the Dodecahedron is a [[god]].


Arguments continue between the [[Deon]]s and the [[Savant]]s as to ownership of the [[Dodecahedron]], Tigella’s power source and the Deon’s deity. The Deons refuse the workers access to the Dodecahedron. Zastor, unable to decide, orders the Doctor to be sent for. He hopes him to help in decisions. [[Deedrix]] leads the workers in the belief that the Dodecahedron is merely an artefact while [[Lexa]], leader of the Deons, holds firm her faith that the Dodecahedron is a [[god]].
On [[Zolfa-Thura]], a ship touches down. A party of [[Gaztak]]s led by General [[Grugger]] emerge. They bring forth an [[human|Earthling]], whom they stun. They brought him to the planet on the promise of reward. A hidden structure emerges from the ground. A door opens and the party enters. Within is [[Meglos]], a [[Zolfa-Thuran]].


[[File:Meglos emerges in Humanoid form.jpg|left|thumb|[[Meglos]] emerges in [[Humanoid]] form.]]
Meglos outlines his plans to the Gaztaks. He wants them to have the Dodecahedron to power the galaxy. He tells them of the recent power fluctuations the Tigellans have been experiencing. The Earthling and Meglos are placed in adjacent chambers.
On [[Zolfa-Thura]], a ship touches down. A party of [[Gaztak]]s, led by General [[Grugger]], emerges. They bring forth an [[Human|Earthling]] whom they stun. They brought him to the planet on the promise of reward. A hidden room emerges from the ground. A door opens and the party enters. Within they meet [[Meglos]], a [[Zolfa-Thuran]].


Meglos outlines his new plans to the Gaztaks. He wants them to attain the Dodecahedron so that he can use it to power the galaxy. He tells them of the recent power fluctuations the Tigellans have been experiencing. The Earthling and Meglos are placed in adjacent chambers.  
Grugger plans to steal the machinery, but Meglos traps him and his aide, [[Brotadac]], in the room. They agree to comply with his plan.
{{video|Meglos' Transformation - Meglos - Doctor Who - BBC|thumb|left|[[Meglos]] transforms into Earthling form.}}
They then transfer Meglos' [[consciousness]] into the Earthling. His skin becomes cactus-like in appearance. Claiming the Doctor is a threat, Meglos traps him in a [[time loop]]. As Meglos turns around, it appears he has taken on the Doctor's appearance...


Grugger plans to steal the machinery but Meglos traps him and his aid, [[Brotadac]], within the room. They agree to comply with his plan.  
=== Part two ===
Onboard the TARDIS, the Doctor and Romana continue around the loop. Their only respite is a small period of freedom between the loops. Meanwhile, Meglos leaves with the [[Gaztak]]s in their ship. On Tigella, Lexa tells Zastor that she will allow the Doctor access to the Dodecahedron if he swears the Deon oath.


They transfer Meglos’ conscience into the Earthling. His skin becomes cactus-like in appearance. Predicting the Doctor to be a threat, Meglos traps him in a [[time loop]]. He then takes on the Doctor’s appearance.
Outside, the Gaztak ship lands. The Gaztaks stay with their ship whilst Meglos enters the Tigellan city and introduces himself. The Doctor and Romana break the loop by performing the actions before they happen, freeing themselves. Meglos swears allegiance to [[Ti]] in the Deon ceremony. He tells the Tigellans that it is not safe for them to remain near as they are not [[Time Lord]]s like him. They agree to leave him to work alone. Meanwhile, the TARDIS lands on Tigella and the Doctor and Romana emerge. They are crossing the ground to the city when Romana is attacked by [[Bell Plant]]s. The Doctor and K9 continue on their way, unaware of her troubles.
{{video|The Doctor Meglos - Doctor Who Meglos - BBC|thumb|The Doctor arrives.}}
Meglos inspects the Dodecahedron and places a device on it. Lexa and [[Caris]] hide outside, having stayed behind to secretly observe the goings on. After Meglos leaves, they enter to find the Dodecahedron gone. The Doctor and K9 arrive at the Tigellan city. The guard tells him he didn't see him leave. Confused, the Doctor shrugs it off. He orders K9 to find Romana after noticing her absence. Meanwhile, Romana frees herself from the plants. She notices scorching on some of the vegetation. Lexa and Caris report their finding to Deedrix and Zastor and order the capture of the Doctor. The real Doctor is taken prisoner.


===Part two===
Romana stumbles upon the Gaztak ship, and finds it responsible for the burning. The Gaztaks notice her and she runs. K9 heads back to the city as his batteries run low. The Gaztaks corner Romana and Brotadac orders her death...
Onboard the TARDIS, the Doctor and Romana continue around the loop. There only respite is a small period of freedom between the loops. Meanwhile, Meglos leaves with the [[Gaztak]]s in their ship. On Tigella, Lexa tells Zastor that she will allow the Doctor access to the Dodecahedron if he swears the Deon oath.  


Outside, the Gaztak ship lands. The Gaztaks stay with their ship whilst Meglost introduces enters the Tigellan city and introduces himself. The Doctor and Romana throw the loop out by repeating the actions before they happen, freeing themselves. Meglos swears allegiance to [[Ti]] in the Deon ceremony. He tells the Tigellans that it is not safe for them to remain near as they are not [[Time Lord]]s like him. They agree to leave him to work alone. Meanwhile, the TARDIS lands on Tigella and the Doctor and Romana emerge. They begin to traverse the surrounding area when Romana is attacked by [[Bell Plant]]s. The Doctor and K9 continue on their way, unaware of her troubles.  
=== Part three ===
Grugger grabs Romana and questions her as to her origins. She tells him that he wouldn't believe her. Grugger orders her to lead him to her craft.
 
In the city, Deedrix and Caris speculate on the Dodecahedron's disappearance. An announcement informs them that the power loss has reached critical. This means the city will collapse.


[[File:Alligence.jpg|right|thumb|Meglos swears allegiance to [[Ti]].]]
Outside, Romana leads the Gaztaks in a circle back to their own ship. The Tigellans try to stop the damage. They have two hours to prevent the collapse. Lexa and Zastor question the Doctor and he realises they see him as the thief. Meanwhile, Romana convinces the Gaztaks to give her another chance to take them to her ship.
Meglos inspects the Dodecahedron and places a device upon it. Lexa and [[Caris]] hide outside, having stayed behind the secretly observe the goings on. After Meglos leaves. the enter to find the Dodecahedron gone. The Doctor and K9 arrive at the Tigellan city. The guards tells him he didn't see him leave. Confused, the Doctor shrugs it off. He orders K9 to go find Romana after noticing her absence. Meanwhile, Romana frees herself from the plants, she notices large amounts of scorching to some of the vegetation. Lexa and Caris report their finding to Deedrix and Zastor. They order the capture of the Doctor. The real Doctor is taken prisoner.  


Romana stumbles upon the Gaztak ship, she finds it responsible for the burning. Noticed by the Gaztaks, she runs from them. K9 heads back to the city as his batteries start to become low on charge. The Gaztaks corner Romana and Brotadac orders her death.  
Zastor agrees to allow the Doctor to see the power room. Meglos is harassed by the Earthling he took over, who is fighting him. Meglos approaches Caris and tells her she will obey him. He shows her an impossible thing to prove his power, the shrunken Dodecahedron. Lexa returns to her Deons and gives them orders.


===Part three===
The Deons stage a revolution. They capture the Doctor, Zastor and Deedrix in the power room. Lexa proclaims that, to pacify Ti, all non-believers will be sent to the surface. Lexa tells Zastor that his belief was only words, not actions, and he is to be exiled. Lexa tells the Doctor that he is to be prepared for sacrifice.
Grugger grabs Romana and questions her as to her origins. She tells him that he wouldn't believe her. Grugger orders her to lead him to her craft.


In the city, Deedrix and Caris theorise as to the Dodecahedron's disappearance. An announcement informs them that the power loss has reached critical. This means the city will collapse.
[[File:Plant vs Gaztak.jpg|thumb|left|[[Bell Plant]]s attack the [[Gaztak]]s.]]
Outside, Romana leads the Gaztaks to the Bell Plants. Stamping on a root, she instigates an attack and runs away. The city doors begin to close.


Outside, Romana leads the Gaztaks round in a circle, back to their own ship. The Tigellans attempt to stop the damage. They manage to gain two hours in which to prevent the collapse. Lexa and Zastor question the Doctor and he realise that they saw him as the thief. Meanwhile, Romana convinces the Gaztaks to give her another chance at getting them to her ship.  
Romana finds K9 in a bush and carries him inside. The Gaztaks break free but are too slow to get indoors. Caris tells Meglos that he cannot escape but he disagrees, telling her there are ventilation shafts. He is again troubled by the Earthling. Though distracted by this, Caris pulls a gun on him and leads him through the city. The Gaztaks batter down the door and fight with the Tigellans. The Gaztaks force the Tigellans back.


Zastor agrees to allow the Doctor to see the power room. Meglos is harassed by the Earthling who he took over. The man's being fighting his. Meglos approaches Caris and tells her that he will obey him. He shows her an impossible thing to prove his power, the shrunken Dodecahedron. Lexa returns to her Deons and gives them orders.
Romana sees Meglos, whom she thinks is the Doctor. She hits Caris, dazing her, and Meglos runs away. The Gaztaks ransack the city and Grugger kicks K9, calling him "useless". Caris tells Romana that it was not the Doctor she saw.


The Deons stage a revolution. They capture the Doctor, Zastor and Deedrix in the power room. Lexa proclaims that, in order to pacify Ti, all non-believers will be sent to the surface. Lexa tells Zastor that his belief was only words, not actions and so he too is given the sentence. Lexa then tells the Doctor that he is to be prepared for sacrifice.  
Meglos emerges from the city and talks to Grugger, showing him the shrunken Dodecahedron. Meanwhile, Lexa continues her ceremony, hoping the sacrifice of the Doctor will return the Dodecahedron. The Gaztaks and Meglos board their ship again and prepare for take off. Romana and Caris begin to search for the real Doctor.


[[File:Plant vs Gaztak.jpg|thumb|left|[[Bell Plant]]s attack the [[Gaztak]]s.]]
A large stone hangs above the Doctor. It is suspended by three ropes. A Deon burns through two of them. He moves to the third...
Outside, Romana leads the Gaztaks to the Bell Plants. Stamping on a root, she instigates an attack and runs away. The city doors begin to close. Romana finds K9 in a bush and carries him inside. The Gaztaks break free but are too slow to get indoors.  


Caris tells Meglos that he can no longer escape but he disagrees, telling her their are ventilation shaft. He is again troubled by the Earthling. While distracted by this, Caris pulls a gun on him and leads him through the city. The Gaztaks batter down the door and a fight with the Tigellans ensues. The Gaztaks force the Tigellans back.
=== Part four ===
Zastor and Deedrix meet up with Caris and Romana. The Deons guarding the former are told of the attack and head for the surface. The new party heads for the power room. They rush in and Deedrix grabs the flaming torch from a Deon, preventing him from burning the final rope. Zastor and Romana tell Lexa of the Gaztak attack and that Meglos was the guilty one.


Romana see Meglos, who she believes to be the Doctor. She hits Caris dazing her and Meglos runs away. The Gaztaks ransack the city and Grugger kicks K9 proclaiming him "useless". Caris tells Romana that it was not the Doctor whom she saw.  
On their ship, the Gaztaks and Meglos approach Zolfa-Thura. Meglos promises Grugger and Brotadac all the power they wish. The Doctor questions Meglos' motives in taking the Dodecahedron to Zolfa-Thura. Romana reminds him of the screens of Zoltha-Thura and he concurs. Back on Zolfa-Thura, Meglos buries the Dodecahedron in the ground with the boundary of the [[Screens of Zolfa-Thura]] and activates it. The Dodecahedron rises atop of Meglos' room.


Meglos emerges from the city and talks to Grugger. He shows him the shrunken Dodecahedron. Meanwhile, Lexa continues her ceremony, hoping that the sacrifice of the Doctor will return the Dodecahedron. The Gaztaks and Meglos board their ship again and prepare for take off. Romana and Caris begin to search for the real Doctor.  
On Tigella, the Doctor and Romana bid farewell to the Tigellans before heading back to the TARDIS. However, as they leave, an apparently dead Gaztak rises and shoots at Romana. Lexa takes the shot. She falls, injured, and Romana rushes to her aid. The Doctor tells her they must leave, and Romana grabs K9 and follows him. Caris and Deedrix go with them.


A large stone hangs above the Doctor. It is suspended by three ropes. A Deon burns through two of them. He then moves to the third.
Meglos tells Grugger and Brotadac that the Dodecahedron can be amplified by the screens to fire a beam capable of destroying planets. He asks them to choose a planet to be destroyed and Grugger picks Tigella, angered by the loss of life. The Dodecahedron powers up as the TARDIS lands nearby.


===Part four===
The Doctor decides to trick the Gaztaks by pretending to be Meglos. He leaves the others with the TARDIS. In the room, Meglos takes off his coat and heads out to check the screen's alignment. The Doctor sees him and takes his own coat off. Grugger decides he no longer needs Meglos and tells Brotadac he can wear the Doctor's coat as he always wanted to.
Zastor and Deedrix meet up with Caris and Romana. The Deons guarding the former are told of the attack and head for the surface. The new party heads for the power room. They rush in and Deedrix grabs the flaming torch from a Deon, preventing him from burning the final rope. Zastor and Romana tell Lexa of the Gaztak attack and how Meglos was the guilty one.  


On their ship, the Gaztaks and Meglos approach Zolfa-Thura. Meglos promises Grugger and Brotadac all the power they can have. The Doctor questions Meglos' motives it taking the Dodecahedron to Zolfa-Thura. Romana reminds him of the screens of Zoltha-Thura and he concurs. Back of Zolfa-Thura, Meglos buries the Dodecahedron in the ground with the boundary of the [[Screens of Zolfa-Thura]]. He then activates it using a device. The Dodecahedron rises atop of Meglos' room.
The Doctor enters and interrupts them. He stalls the countdown, telling them preparations need to be made. A Gaztak walks in carrying the real Doctor's coat. The Doctor tells Grugger it is a present for him. Grugger is unimpressed and pressures him to activate the Dodecahedron.


On Tigella, the Doctor and Romana bid farewell to the Tigellans before heading back to the TARDIS. However, as they move to leave an apparently dead Gaztak rises and shoots at Romana, Lexa takes the shot. She falls, injured and Romana rushes to her aid. Romana is saddened at her death as she saved her life. The Doctor tells her they must leave and so Romana grabs K9 and follows him. Caris and Deedrix go with them.
Outside, Romana, K9, Caris and Deedrix decide to have a closer look at the screens. The Doctor tells Brotadac that the screens require two minutes to power up. He heads outside. Grugger tells Brotadac to take the Doctor prisoner, deciding that he can be kept in their spacecraft as he is no longer needed. Brotadac instructs two Gaztaks to capture him. The Doctor hides and they take Meglos prisoner. However, Brotadac and some Gaztaks find the real Doctor and capture him also, still believing him to be Meglos. The take him to their ship.


Meglos tells Grugger and Brotadac that the Dodecahedron can be amplified by the screens to fire a beam capable of destroying planets. He asks them to choose a planet to be destroyed and Grugger picks Tigella, angry of the loss of life sustained there. The Dodecahedron powers up as the TARDIS lands nearby.  
[[File:The Screens of Zolfa-Thura.jpg|thumb|right|The [[Dodecahedron]] powers up.]]
Romana and her party see the Doctor being taken in. The Doctor is thrown in with Meglos. He tells Meglos that he has inverted the controls so that the Dodecahedron will destroy Zolfa-Thura and all on it. K9 distracts a guard posted to the Gaztak ship. Deedrix tries to knock him out so K9 shoots him. They then rush inside. K9 begins to cut down the door to the Doctor and Meglos' cell.


The Doctor decides to trick the Gaztaks by pretending to be Meglos. He leaves the others with the TARDIS. Within the room, Meglos takes of his coat and heads out to check the screen alignments. The Doctor sees him and takes his own coat of. Grugger decides he no longer needs Meglos and tells Brotadac he can wear the Doctor's coat as he always wanted to.
Deedrix and Caris detain Meglos but he exits the body, leaving the Earthling behind. He shuffles out of the ship. Grugger and Brotadac begin the countdown. At zero the beams will converge and the Dodecahedron will activate. The Doctor, Romana, K9, Caris, Deedrix and the Earthling leave in the TARDIS. Meglos enters the room and returns to his cactus form. Grugger realises that something is wrong but is unable to stop it before detonation.


The Doctor enters and interrupts them. He stalls the countdown, telling the pair that preparations need to be made. A Gaztak walks in carrying the real Doctor's coat. The Doctor plays it off telling Grugger it is a present for hi. Grugger is unimpressed and pressures him to activate it.  
The Doctor returns to Tigella where he bids farewell to Zastor. Romana informs the Doctor that Gallifrey wants them back immediately. The Earthling, initially wary of returning home since he told his wife he'd be back home much earlier, agrees to let the Doctor take him back in the TARDIS. However, the Earthling is somewhat puzzled (quite understandably) when the Doctor tells him he can drop him off at home before he leaves...


Outside, Romana, K9, Caris and Deedrix decide to have a closer look at the screens. The Doctor tells Brotadac that the screens require two minutes to power up, he then heads outside. Grugger tells Brotadac to take the Doctor a prisoner, deciding that he can be kept in their spacecraft as he is no longer needed. Brotadac instructs two Gaztaks to capture him. The Doctor hides and they take Meglos prisoner. However, Brotadac and some Gaztaks find the real Doctor and capture him also, still believing him to be Meglos. The take him to their ship.
== Cast ==
* [[Fourth Doctor|Doctor Who]] - [[Tom Baker]]
* [[Romana II|Romana]] - [[Lalla Ward]]
* Voice of [[K9 Mark II|K9]] - [[John Leeson]]
* General [[Grugger]] - [[Bill Fraser]]
* Lieutenant [[Brotadac]] - [[Frederick Treves]]
* [[Zastor]] - [[Edward Underdown]]
* [[Lexa]] - [[Jacqueline Hill]]
* [[Caris]] - [[Colette Gleeson]]
* [[Deedrix]] - [[Crawford Logan]]
* [[George Morris|Earthling]] - [[Christopher Owen]]
* [[Guard (Meglos)|Tigellan Guard]] - [[Simon Shaw]]


[[File:The Screens of Zolfa-Thura.jpg|thumb|right|The [[Dodecahedron]] powers up.]]
=== Uncredited cast ===
Romana and her party see the Doctor being taken in. The Doctor is thrown in with Meglos. He tells Meglos that he has inverted the controls so that the Dodecahedron will destroy Zolfa-Thura and all on it. K9 distracts a guard posted to the Gaztak ship. Deedrix then fails to knock him out so K9 shoots him. They then rush inside. K9 begins to cut down the Door to the Doctor and Meglos' cell.
* Voice of [[Meglos]] - [[Crawford Logan]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bigfinish.com/releases/v/toby-hadoke-s-who-s-round-72---crawford-logan-1159|title=72. Toby Hadoke's Who's Round #72 - Crawford Logan|author=Big Finish|date of source=13 November 2014|website name=bigfinish.com|accessdate=14 November 2014}}</ref>
* Savant - [[David Cole (extra)|David Cole]] ([[DWM 285]])
* Meglos - Tom Baker and Christopher Owen


Deedrix and Caris detain Meglos but he exits the body, leaving the Earthling behind. He then shuffles out of the ship. Grugger and Brotadac begin the countdown. At zero the beams will converge and the Dodecahedron will activate. The Doctor, Romana, K9, Caris, Deedrix and the Earthling leave in the TARDIS. Meglos enters the room and returns to his cactus form. Grugger realises that something is wrong but is unable to stop it before detonation.
== Crew ==
* [[Assistant Floor Manager]] - [[Val McCrimmon]]
* [[Costumes]] - [[June Hudson]]
* [[Director's assistant|Director's Assistant]] - [[Hermione Stewart]]
* [[Designer (crew)|Designer]] - [[Philip Lindley]]
* [[Executive Producer]] - [[Barry Letts]]
* [[Incidental Music]] - [[Paddy Kingsland]], [[Peter Howell]]
* [[Make-Up]] - [[Cecile Hay-Arthur]]
* [[Producer]] - [[John Nathan-Turner]]
* [[Production Assistant]] - [[Marilyn Gold]]
* [[Production Unit Manager]] - [[Angela Smith]]
* [[Script Editor]] - [[Christopher H. Bidmead]]
* [[Senior cameraman|Senior Cameraman]] - [[Alec Wheal]]
* [[Special Sounds]] - [[Dick Mills]]
* [[Studio Lighting]] - [[Bert Postlethwaite]]
* [[Studio Sound]] - [[John Holmes (sound designer)|John Holmes]]
* [[Technical manager|Technical Manager]] - [[Brendan Carr]]
* [[Theme Arrangement]] - [[Peter Howell]]
* [[Doctor Who theme|Title Music]] - [[Ron Grainer]]
* [[Video effects|Video Effects]] - [[Dave Jervis|David Jervis]]
* [[Videotape editor|Videotape Editors]] - [[Ian Williams]], [[Sam Upton]]
* [[Vision Mixer]] - [[Graham Giles]]
* [[Visual Effects]] - [[Steven Drewett]]


The Doctor returns to Tigella where he bids farewell to Zastor. Romana informs the Doctor that Gallifrey want them back immediately.
=== Uncredited crew ===
* [[Assistant Floor Manager]] - [[Alex Bridcut]] ([[INFO]]: ''Meglos'')
* [[Director's assistant|Director's Assistant]] - [[Karen Loxton]] ([[INFO]]: ''Meglos'')
* [[Floor assistant|Floor Assistant]] - [[Alan Sandbrook]] ([[INFO]]: ''Meglos'')
* [[Grams operator|Grams Operator]] - [[Andrew Hunter]] ([[INFO]]: ''Meglos'')
* [[Camera crew|Camera Crew]] - [[Crew 11]] ([[INFO]]: ''Meglos'')
* [[Show working supervisor|Show Working Supervisor]] - [[Chick Hetherington]] ([[INFO]]: ''Meglos'')
* [[Costume assistant|Costume Assistant]] - [[Sarah Leigh]] ([[INFO]]: ''Meglos'')
* [[Make-up assistant|Make-Up Assistants]] - [[Catherine Whitfield]], [[Margaret Magee]], [[Jan Lee]], [[Janet Philips]] ([[INFO]]: ''Meglos'')
* [[Design assistant|Design Assistant]] - [[Mary Greaves]] ([[INFO]]: ''Meglos'')
* [[Props Buyer]] - [[Al Huxley]] ([[INFO]]: ''Meglos'')
* [[Production secretary|Production Secretary]] - [[Jane Judge]] ([[INFO]]: ''Meglos'')
* [[Visual effects assistant|Visual Effects Assistant]] - [[Mike Kelt]] ([[INFO]]: ''Meglos'')


==Cast==
== Worldbuilding ==
*[[Fourth Doctor|The Doctor]] - [[Tom Baker]]
=== K9 ===
*[[Romana II|Romana]] - [[Lalla Ward]]
* As a result of his brief swim at [[Brighton]] Beach, [[K9 Mark II|K9]]'s batteries are damaged and now require a recharge every two hours.
*[[K9 Mark II|K9]] - [[John Leeson]]
*[[Meglos]] - [[Tom Baker]]
*[[Lexa]] - [[Jacqueline Hill]]
*[[Zastor]] - [[Edward Underdown]]
*General [[Grugger]] - [[Bill Fraser]]
*[[George Morris|Earthling]] - [[Christopher Owen]]
*Lieutenant [[Brotadac]] - [[Frederick Treves]]
*[[Caris]] - [[Colette Gleeson]]
*[[Deedrix]] - [[Crawford Logan]]
*Tigellan Guard - [[Simon Shaw]]


==Crew==
=== Objects ===
*[[Assistant Floor Manager]] - [[Val McCrimmon]], [[Karen Loxton]]
* The Doctor wasn't allowed to see the [[Dodecahedron]] on his previous visit (but did, as he remembers seeing it).
*[[Costumes]] - [[June Hudson]]
*[[Designer]] - [[Philip Lindley]]
*[[Executive Producer]] - [[Barry Letts]]
*[[Incidental Music]] - [[Paddy Kingsland]], [[Peter Howell]]
*[[Make-Up]] - [[Cecile Hay-Arthur]]
*[[Producer]] - [[John Nathan-Turner]]
*[[Production Assistant]] - [[Marilyn Gold]]
*[[Production Unit Manager]] - [[Angela Smith]]
*[[Script Editor]] - [[Christopher H. Bidmead]]
*[[Special Sounds]] - [[Dick Mills]]
*[[Studio Lighting]] - [[Bert Postlethwaite]]
*[[Studio Sound]] - [[John Holmes]]
*[[Theme Arrangement]] - [[Peter Howell]]
*[[Title Music]] - [[Ron Grainer]]
*[[Visual Effects]] - [[Steven Drewett]]


==References==
=== Species ===
===[[:Category:K9|K9]]===
* The [[Tigellan]]s know of the [[Time Lord]]s.
*As a result of his brief swim at Brighton Beach, [[K9 Mark II|K9]]'s batteries are damaged and now require a recharge every 2 hours.
* Time Lords are [[Time sensitivity|time sensitive]] enough to be aware of being in a [[time loop]].


===[[:category:Objects|Objects]]===
=== Romana ===
*The Doctor wasn't allowed to see the [[dodecahedron]] on his previous visit (but did as he remembers seeing it).
* Romana knows martial arts, and has heard of the [[Screens of Zolfa-Thura]].


===[[:Category:Races and species|Races and species]]===
=== Individual Tigellans ===
*The [[Tigellan]]s know of the [[Time Lord]]s.
* [[Esrith]] is part of Lexa's rebellion.
*Time Lords are [[Time sensitive]] enough to be aware of being in a [[Time loop]].


===[[:Category:Romana|Romana]]===
=== Individual ===
*Romana knows martial arts, and has heard of the screens of [[Zolfa-Thura]].


==Story notes==
* Romana's outfit was inspired by ''[[Little Lord Fauntleroy]]''.
*Jacqueline Hill previously played [[Barbara Wright]].
*The working titles for Meglos were: '''The Golden Pentangle''', '''The Golden Pentagram''', '''The Golden Star''', '''The Last Sol-Fataran''' and '''The Last Zolfa-Thuran'''.
*The end title's music of each of the episodes has been reduced by 2 or 1 octaves.
*With the obvious exceptions of season one's ''[[The Edge of Destruction]]'' and single episode stories ([[Season 3|Season Three]]'s ''[[Mission to the Unknown]]''), the ''[[The Five Doctors]]'' , [[Doctor Who (1996)|1996 TV movie]] and the [[Series 1 (Doctor Who)|new BBC Wales series]]), this is the only story in the series' history in which all the credited cast members appear in all the episodes.
*The sound effect created for the approach of the [[Fendahl]] in ''[[Image of the Fendahl]]'' is re-used as background atmosphere for the Tigellan jungle.
*The scenes set on the surface of Zolfa-Thura were realised by way of a new effects technique referred to as scene-sync - a development of the established CSO process. This involved two cameras being electronically synchronised to follow identical movements so that they could be made to track in unison and maintain the composite image (created in the usual way), whereas previously CSO shots had almost invariably been static.
*Bill Fraser agreed to play Grugger only if he could kick K9.


===Ratings===
== Story notes ==
*Part 1 - 5.0 million viewers
* The working titles for ''Meglos'' were ''The Golden Pentangle'', ''The Golden Pentagram'', ''The Golden Star'', ''The Last Sol-Fataran'' and ''The Last Zolfa-Thuran''.<ref>http://www.shannonsullivan.com/doctorwho/serials/5q.html</ref>
*Part 2 - 4.2 million viewers
* The sound effect created for the approach of the [[Fendahl]] in [[TV]]: ''[[Image of the Fendahl (TV story)|Image of the Fendahl]]'' is re-used as background atmosphere for the Tigellan jungle, as well as effects used in ''[[The Daleks' Master Plan (TV story)|The Daleks' Master Plan]]'' and ''[[Planet of the Daleks (TV story)|Planet of the Daleks]]''.
*Part 3 - 4.7 million viewers
* The scenes set on the surface of Zolfa-Thura were realised by way of a new effects technique referred to as scene-sync - a development of the established CSO process. This involved two cameras being electronically synchronised to follow identical movements so that they could be made to track in unison and maintain the composite image (created in the usual way), whereas previously, the camera in CSO shots had almost invariably been static.
*Part 4 - 4.7 million viewers
* Mysteriously, part four's end-titles theme music is played a whole-step lower than normal; curiously, this puts the tune back in its original key of E minor.
* Brotadac is an anagram of "bad actor", an in-joke from the production team.
* [[Bill Fraser]] agreed to play Grugger on the condition that his character be allowed to kick K9 on-screen.
* This is the last story until ''[[Four to Doomsday (TV story)|Four to Doomsday]]'' to not be part of a wider [[story arc]].
* This was the last story of Season 18 to be released on both VHS and DVD.
* [[John Flanagan]] wanted [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lee_Marvin Lee Marvin] to play Grugger and was amazed when [[Bill Fraser]] was cast as he had not imagined him in the role at all. [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harry_Andrews Harry Andrews], [[Bernard Archard]], [[Brian Blessed]], [[Peter Cushing]], [[James Ellis]], [[Ronald Fraser]], [[Peter Gilmore]], [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Donald_Houston Donald Houston], [[Glyn Houston]], [[Stratford Johns]], [[T. P. McKenna]], [[Donald Pleasence]], [[Leonard Sachs]], [[George Sewell]], [[Nigel Stock]], [[John Stratton]], [[Richard Todd]], [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peter_Vaughan Peter Vaughan], [[Frank Windsor]] and [[Peter Wyngarde]] were also considered.
* [[Timothy Bateson]], [[Geoffrey Bayldon]] and [[Colin Jeavons]] were considered for Broadtac.
* [[Maurice Denham]], [[Esmond Knight]] and [[Ralph Michael]] were considered for Zastor.
* In the original storyline, Lexa simply vanished from the action once she had served her purpose within the narrative. [[Christopher H. Bidmead]] suggested her act of self-sacrifice as a more dramatic end for the character.
* [[Jacqueline Hill]] regretted appearing in the story feeling that since she played Barbara, it was inappropriate to appear as a different character. She admitted that show had changed considerably since her time and was now recognisable in name only.
* This is the only story of the original run where every credited cast member appears in every episode.
* [[John Flanagan]] and [[Andrew McCulloch]] were struggling to think of the ultimate villain, until they realised that it was sitting there the whole time - a gnarled cactus.
* Keen to inject more science into the scripts, [[Christopher H. Bidmead]] suggested the chronic hysteresis element, the terminology derived from a loop-like phenomenon which arises in fields such as electromagnetism. 
* This story features the only use in ''Doctor Who'' of a camera-linking system known as Scene-Sync that allowed the use of non-static shots of characters superimposed onto a miniature set. As the cameras on the actors were moved, the cameras on the miniature set moved the equivalent scaled amount automatically. The exact scale motion was achieved by trial and error, involving minute adjustments to the voltage delivered to the slave camera's motors.  
* During production of this story, [[Madame Tussauds]] in London debuted the "Doctor Who Exhibition". Included were sculptures of both the Fourth Doctor and his Meglos doppelganger. As a result, [[Tom Baker]] is the only person to have appeared twice in the wax museum. 
* The Dodecahedron was originally a five-sided object, thereby influencing the number of screens found on Zolfa-Thura, rather than a twelve-sided object made up of pentagons.
* [[John Nathan-Turner]] chose [[Terence Dudley]] to direct, having worked with him on ''[[All Creatures Great and Small]].'' Dudley was also friends with [[Jacqueline Hill]]'s husband [[Alvin Rakoff]].
* [[John Flanagan]] and [[Andrew McCulloch]] hoped that many of the scenes on Zolfa-Thura and in the Tigellan jungle would be achieved on location, but [[John Nathan-Turner]] decided that their scripts represented an opportunity to save money by confining all recording to the studio.
* For a time, it was suggested that the Gaztaks might exhibit an East Asian appearance, with [[Bill Fraser]] and [[Frederick Treves]] made up accordingly, but this notion was dropped.
* [[Christopher H. Bidmead]] was required to significantly expand some of the scripts, particularly part three, which was found to be running seven minutes short. Amongst the added material was Romana leading the Gaztaks in a circle through the jungle.
* [[Tom Baker]] was now slowly recovering from the illness which had plagued him during ''[[The Leisure Hive (TV story)|The Leisure Hive]]'', but his long convalescence was still dampening his mood, and he disliked the latex facial appliance he had to wear to give him a cactus-like appearance.


===Myths===
=== Ratings ===
''to be added''
* Part one - 5.0 million viewers
* Part two - 4.2 million viewers
* Part three - 4.7 million viewers
* Part four - 4.7 million viewers


===Filming locations===
=== Filming locations ===
''to be added''
''to be added''


===Production errors===
=== Production errors ===
{{discontinuity}}
{{discontinuity}}
*In part one the wires holding the planet up over Zolpha Thura are horribly obvious.
* In part one, the wires holding the planet up over Zolfa Thura are obvious.
*The cactus gloves show Tom Baker's wrists quite often.
* In part one, when information about the Doctor is shown on a screen in Meglos's base, the word "date" is misspelled as "dateb", with the correct spelling appearing on screen briefly before the camera cuts away.
* In the outdoor scenes on Zolfa Thura in parts one and four, the blue colour of the blue screen is visible through General Grugger's beard.
* The cactus gloves worn by Tom Baker as Meglos show his wrists quite often.
* When the Gaztaks first exit their ship in episode one, one of the Gaztaks holding the Earthling trips and nearly falls over.
* Due to the poor CSO effects used in many of the outdoor scenes on Zolfa Thura, when Meglos buries the Dodecahedron in the sand between the Screens of Zolfa Thura in part four, he appears to be semi-transparent.
* The closing theme in part four is erroneously played at a reduced pitch. ''Perhaps coincidentally, this means the theme is now being played in the same key as the Delia Derbyshire arrangement.''


==Continuity==
== Continuity ==
*The Gaztaks appear in [[PDA]]: ''[[Warmonger]]''.
* The Gaztaks appear in [[PROSE]]: ''[[Warmonger (novel)|Warmonger]]''.
*The Doctor previously faced a villainous doppelganger of himself in [[DW]]: ''[[The Enemy of the World]]''.
* The Doctor previously encountered a villainous doppelganger of himself in his [[First Doctor|first incarnation]] in [[TV]]: ''[[The Massacre (TV story)|The Massacre]]'', and in his [[Second Doctor|second incarnation]] in [[TV]]: ''[[The Enemy of the World (TV story)|The Enemy of the World]]''.
* K9 is being repaired during this story, the result of rolling into water when the Doctor hadn't set up his sea water defences. ([[TV]]: ''[[The Leisure Hive (TV story)|The Leisure Hive]]'')


==[[Fourth Doctor - Timeline|Timeline]]==
== Home video and audio releases ==
*This story takes place after [[ST]]: ''[[Checkpoint]]''
=== CD Release ===
*This story takes place before [[DW]]: ''[[Full Circle]]''
<gallery position="center" captionalign="center" hideaddbutton="true">
 
Music-1192.jpg|cd cover
==Home video and audio releases==
</gallery>
Released on VHS in the UK in March 2003.
=== VHS Release ===
This story was released on VHS in the UK in [[March (releases)|March]] [[2003 (releases)|2003]].


<gallery>
<gallery position="center" captionalign="center" hideaddbutton="true">
File:Meglos VHS UK cover.jpg|VHS UK cover
File:Meglos VHS UK cover.jpg|VHS UK cover
File:Meglos VHS Australian cover.jpg|VHS Australian cover
File:Meglos VHS Australian cover.jpg|VHS Australian cover
Line 189: Line 251:
</gallery>
</gallery>


=== DVD Release ===
It was released on DVD on the following dates:
It was released on DVD on the following dates:
*Region 2 - [[10th January]] [[2011]]  
* Region 2 - [[10 January (releases)|10 January]] [[2011 (releases)|2011]]
*Region 1 - [[11th January]] [[2011]]
* Region 1 - [[11 January (releases)|11 January]] 2011
*Region 4 - [[20th January]] [[2011]]
* Region 4 - [[20 January (releases)|20 January]] 2011


It had several bonus features. In particular it had a documentary exploring the writing of the serial titled [[Meglos Men]].
==== Special Features ====
* Commentary by [[Lalla Ward]] ([[Romana II|Romana]]), [[Christopher Owen]] ([[George Morris|Earthling]]), [[John Flanagan]] (writer), [[Paddy Kingsland]] (composer) and [[Peter Howell]] (composer)
* ''[[Meglos Men (documentary)|Meglos Men]]'' - Writers John Flanagan and [[Andrew McCulloch]] meet with script editor [[Christopher H. Bidmead]]
* ''[[The Scene Sync Story (documentary)|The Scene Sync Story]]'' - A look at the pioneering technique used to create many of this story's shots
* ''[[Jacqueline Hill: A Life in Pictures (documentary)|Jacqueline Hill - A Life in Pictures]]'' - A look at the life of [[Jacqueline Hill]], with husband [[Alvin Rakoff]], ''[[Doctor Who]]'' producer [[Verity Lambert]] and actors [[William Russell]] and [[Ann Davies]]
* ''[[Entropy Explained (documentary)|Entropy Explained]]''
* Isolated Score
* ''[[Radio Times]]'' Listings (PDF DVD-ROM - PC/Mac)
* Production Information Subtitles
* Photo Gallery
* Coming Soon Trailer - ''[[The Mutants (TV story)|The Mutants]]''
* [[Easter Egg]]: Clean 1980 title sequence & closing credits. To access this hidden feature, press left at Audio Options on the Special Features menu to reveal a hidden ''Doctor Who'' logo.


<gallery captionalign="left">
<gallery position="center" captionalign="center" hideaddbutton="true">
Meglos.jpg|DVD UK cover
Meglos.jpg|Region 1 cover
Meglos us.jpg|DVD US cover
Meglos region4.jpg|Region 4 cover
Meglos uk.jpg|Region 2 UK cover
</gallery>
</gallery>


==Novelisation and its audiobook==
== External links ==
[[Image:Meglos novel.jpg|right|75px]]
* {{bbcepguideclassic|meglos/|Meglos}}
: ''Main article: [[Meglos (novelisation)]]''
* {{radiotimes|2011-03-20/meglos}}
 
{{dwcast}}
* Novelised by [[Terrance Dicks]] in [[1983]].
{{dwrefguide|who_5q.htm|Meglos}}
* The novel answers the question of how Meglos's species would be able to advance technologically as immobile cacti by their ability to take over the minds of other beings, implying that, despite what was shown, they are able to do it without technological adjuncts.
* {{briefhistory|serials/5q.html|Meglos}}
* Also explained is why Meglos asked for an Earthling to use as a [[Host body]] rather than a (much closer) Tigellan? The novelization claims that Meglos considers Earthlings to be more "malleable".
== Footnotes ==
 
{{reflist}}
==See also==
{{DWTV}}
''to be added''
{{TitleSort}}
[[es:Meglos (serial)]]
[[ru:Меглос (ТВ история)]]


==External links==
[[Category:Doctor Who (1963) television stories]]
*{{bbcepguideclassic|meglos/|Meglos}}
[[Category:K9 television stories]]
*{{dwrefguide|who_5q.htm|Meglos}}
*{{briefhistory|serials/5q.html|Meglos}}
{{season 18}}
[[Category:Fourth Doctor episodes]]
[[Category:Romana episodes]]
[[Category:K9 episodes]]
[[Category:1980 television stories]]
[[Category:1980 television stories]]
[[Category:Season 18 stories]]
[[Category:Season 18 stories]]
[[Category:Romana II television stories]]
[[Category:Stories set in 1980]]
[[Category:Television stories set in Mutter's Spiral]]
[[Category:Television stories with unique variations of the Doctor Who theme]]
[[Category:Stories set in a time loop]]
[[Category:Fourth Doctor television stories]]

Latest revision as of 20:08, 3 November 2024

RealWorld.png

You may wish to consult Meglos (disambiguation) for other, similarly-named pages.

Meglos was the second serial of season 18 of Doctor Who. It featured Jacqueline Hill's return to the programme for the first time since the Doctor Who story The Chase in 1965. However, she was not playing Barbara Wright, but a whole new character - Lexa.

Meglos also allowed Tom Baker to play the Doctor and also the main antagonists of the story, making Baker the third actor of the Doctor to have played both the Doctor and one of the main antagonists in a story, following William Hartnell in The Massacre, and Patrick Troughton in The Enemy of the World.

Meglos came into being after Christopher H. Bidmead purposefully sought out John Flanagan and Andrew McCulloch as new talent. Nathan-Turner was unimpressed with the ideas put forward and the serial was shuffled to various placements in the season, largely because it didn't feature Adric.

Behind the scenes, Meglos was highly innovative as the BBC's first use of Scene Sync, a motion control technology that improved the believability of composite shots that used CSO. It would be the only Doctor Who serial to avail itself of the technology. Nevertheless, other BBC productions would use Scene Sync based on this successful test, such as Barry Letts' Gulliver in Lilliput, starring Elisabeth Sladen. (DOC: The Scene Sync Story)

Synopsis[[edit] | [edit source]]

On Tigella, two opposing factions are irrevocably divided over one fundamental issue: the Dodecahedron, a mysterious artefact which provides the entire planet's energy. With the Savants and the Deons locked in a crippling stalemate, and their civilisation on the brink of collapse, the Tigellan leader Zastor seeks the Fourth Doctor's help. But the Doctor and Romana II have been trapped aboard the TARDIS in a time loop by Meglos, the last of the Zolfa-Thurans, who will stop at nothing to steal back the awesome power of the Dodecahedron.

Plot[[edit] | [edit source]]

Part one[[edit] | [edit source]]

In the TARDIS, the Fourth Doctor and Romana are repairing K9 yet again. They hover near the planet Tigella; the Doctor recalls an earlier visit when he befriended a man named Zastor, leader of the Tigellans, and decides to get in touch with him. On Tigella, a power loss occurs when a transformer breaks down. The inhabitants, living under the surface, find it hard to compensate.

Arguments continue between the Deons and the Savants over ownership of the Dodecahedron, Tigella's power source and the Deons' deity. The Deons refuse the workers access to the Dodecahedron. Zastor, unable to decide, orders the Doctor sent for. Deedrix leads the workers in the belief that the Dodecahedron is merely an artefact; Lexa, leader of the Deons, holds firm in her faith that the Dodecahedron is a god.

On Zolfa-Thura, a ship touches down. A party of Gaztaks led by General Grugger emerge. They bring forth an Earthling, whom they stun. They brought him to the planet on the promise of reward. A hidden structure emerges from the ground. A door opens and the party enters. Within is Meglos, a Zolfa-Thuran.

Meglos outlines his plans to the Gaztaks. He wants them to have the Dodecahedron to power the galaxy. He tells them of the recent power fluctuations the Tigellans have been experiencing. The Earthling and Meglos are placed in adjacent chambers.

Grugger plans to steal the machinery, but Meglos traps him and his aide, Brotadac, in the room. They agree to comply with his plan.

▶︎
YouTube

They then transfer Meglos' consciousness into the Earthling. His skin becomes cactus-like in appearance. Claiming the Doctor is a threat, Meglos traps him in a time loop. As Meglos turns around, it appears he has taken on the Doctor's appearance...

Part two[[edit] | [edit source]]

Onboard the TARDIS, the Doctor and Romana continue around the loop. Their only respite is a small period of freedom between the loops. Meanwhile, Meglos leaves with the Gaztaks in their ship. On Tigella, Lexa tells Zastor that she will allow the Doctor access to the Dodecahedron if he swears the Deon oath.

Outside, the Gaztak ship lands. The Gaztaks stay with their ship whilst Meglos enters the Tigellan city and introduces himself. The Doctor and Romana break the loop by performing the actions before they happen, freeing themselves. Meglos swears allegiance to Ti in the Deon ceremony. He tells the Tigellans that it is not safe for them to remain near as they are not Time Lords like him. They agree to leave him to work alone. Meanwhile, the TARDIS lands on Tigella and the Doctor and Romana emerge. They are crossing the ground to the city when Romana is attacked by Bell Plants. The Doctor and K9 continue on their way, unaware of her troubles.

▶︎
YouTube
The Doctor arrives.

Meglos inspects the Dodecahedron and places a device on it. Lexa and Caris hide outside, having stayed behind to secretly observe the goings on. After Meglos leaves, they enter to find the Dodecahedron gone. The Doctor and K9 arrive at the Tigellan city. The guard tells him he didn't see him leave. Confused, the Doctor shrugs it off. He orders K9 to find Romana after noticing her absence. Meanwhile, Romana frees herself from the plants. She notices scorching on some of the vegetation. Lexa and Caris report their finding to Deedrix and Zastor and order the capture of the Doctor. The real Doctor is taken prisoner.

Romana stumbles upon the Gaztak ship, and finds it responsible for the burning. The Gaztaks notice her and she runs. K9 heads back to the city as his batteries run low. The Gaztaks corner Romana and Brotadac orders her death...

Part three[[edit] | [edit source]]

Grugger grabs Romana and questions her as to her origins. She tells him that he wouldn't believe her. Grugger orders her to lead him to her craft.

In the city, Deedrix and Caris speculate on the Dodecahedron's disappearance. An announcement informs them that the power loss has reached critical. This means the city will collapse.

Outside, Romana leads the Gaztaks in a circle back to their own ship. The Tigellans try to stop the damage. They have two hours to prevent the collapse. Lexa and Zastor question the Doctor and he realises they see him as the thief. Meanwhile, Romana convinces the Gaztaks to give her another chance to take them to her ship.

Zastor agrees to allow the Doctor to see the power room. Meglos is harassed by the Earthling he took over, who is fighting him. Meglos approaches Caris and tells her she will obey him. He shows her an impossible thing to prove his power, the shrunken Dodecahedron. Lexa returns to her Deons and gives them orders.

The Deons stage a revolution. They capture the Doctor, Zastor and Deedrix in the power room. Lexa proclaims that, to pacify Ti, all non-believers will be sent to the surface. Lexa tells Zastor that his belief was only words, not actions, and he is to be exiled. Lexa tells the Doctor that he is to be prepared for sacrifice.

Bell Plants attack the Gaztaks.

Outside, Romana leads the Gaztaks to the Bell Plants. Stamping on a root, she instigates an attack and runs away. The city doors begin to close.

Romana finds K9 in a bush and carries him inside. The Gaztaks break free but are too slow to get indoors. Caris tells Meglos that he cannot escape but he disagrees, telling her there are ventilation shafts. He is again troubled by the Earthling. Though distracted by this, Caris pulls a gun on him and leads him through the city. The Gaztaks batter down the door and fight with the Tigellans. The Gaztaks force the Tigellans back.

Romana sees Meglos, whom she thinks is the Doctor. She hits Caris, dazing her, and Meglos runs away. The Gaztaks ransack the city and Grugger kicks K9, calling him "useless". Caris tells Romana that it was not the Doctor she saw.

Meglos emerges from the city and talks to Grugger, showing him the shrunken Dodecahedron. Meanwhile, Lexa continues her ceremony, hoping the sacrifice of the Doctor will return the Dodecahedron. The Gaztaks and Meglos board their ship again and prepare for take off. Romana and Caris begin to search for the real Doctor.

A large stone hangs above the Doctor. It is suspended by three ropes. A Deon burns through two of them. He moves to the third...

Part four[[edit] | [edit source]]

Zastor and Deedrix meet up with Caris and Romana. The Deons guarding the former are told of the attack and head for the surface. The new party heads for the power room. They rush in and Deedrix grabs the flaming torch from a Deon, preventing him from burning the final rope. Zastor and Romana tell Lexa of the Gaztak attack and that Meglos was the guilty one.

On their ship, the Gaztaks and Meglos approach Zolfa-Thura. Meglos promises Grugger and Brotadac all the power they wish. The Doctor questions Meglos' motives in taking the Dodecahedron to Zolfa-Thura. Romana reminds him of the screens of Zoltha-Thura and he concurs. Back on Zolfa-Thura, Meglos buries the Dodecahedron in the ground with the boundary of the Screens of Zolfa-Thura and activates it. The Dodecahedron rises atop of Meglos' room.

On Tigella, the Doctor and Romana bid farewell to the Tigellans before heading back to the TARDIS. However, as they leave, an apparently dead Gaztak rises and shoots at Romana. Lexa takes the shot. She falls, injured, and Romana rushes to her aid. The Doctor tells her they must leave, and Romana grabs K9 and follows him. Caris and Deedrix go with them.

Meglos tells Grugger and Brotadac that the Dodecahedron can be amplified by the screens to fire a beam capable of destroying planets. He asks them to choose a planet to be destroyed and Grugger picks Tigella, angered by the loss of life. The Dodecahedron powers up as the TARDIS lands nearby.

The Doctor decides to trick the Gaztaks by pretending to be Meglos. He leaves the others with the TARDIS. In the room, Meglos takes off his coat and heads out to check the screen's alignment. The Doctor sees him and takes his own coat off. Grugger decides he no longer needs Meglos and tells Brotadac he can wear the Doctor's coat as he always wanted to.

The Doctor enters and interrupts them. He stalls the countdown, telling them preparations need to be made. A Gaztak walks in carrying the real Doctor's coat. The Doctor tells Grugger it is a present for him. Grugger is unimpressed and pressures him to activate the Dodecahedron.

Outside, Romana, K9, Caris and Deedrix decide to have a closer look at the screens. The Doctor tells Brotadac that the screens require two minutes to power up. He heads outside. Grugger tells Brotadac to take the Doctor prisoner, deciding that he can be kept in their spacecraft as he is no longer needed. Brotadac instructs two Gaztaks to capture him. The Doctor hides and they take Meglos prisoner. However, Brotadac and some Gaztaks find the real Doctor and capture him also, still believing him to be Meglos. The take him to their ship.

The Dodecahedron powers up.

Romana and her party see the Doctor being taken in. The Doctor is thrown in with Meglos. He tells Meglos that he has inverted the controls so that the Dodecahedron will destroy Zolfa-Thura and all on it. K9 distracts a guard posted to the Gaztak ship. Deedrix tries to knock him out so K9 shoots him. They then rush inside. K9 begins to cut down the door to the Doctor and Meglos' cell.

Deedrix and Caris detain Meglos but he exits the body, leaving the Earthling behind. He shuffles out of the ship. Grugger and Brotadac begin the countdown. At zero the beams will converge and the Dodecahedron will activate. The Doctor, Romana, K9, Caris, Deedrix and the Earthling leave in the TARDIS. Meglos enters the room and returns to his cactus form. Grugger realises that something is wrong but is unable to stop it before detonation.

The Doctor returns to Tigella where he bids farewell to Zastor. Romana informs the Doctor that Gallifrey wants them back immediately. The Earthling, initially wary of returning home since he told his wife he'd be back home much earlier, agrees to let the Doctor take him back in the TARDIS. However, the Earthling is somewhat puzzled (quite understandably) when the Doctor tells him he can drop him off at home before he leaves...

Cast[[edit] | [edit source]]

Uncredited cast[[edit] | [edit source]]

Crew[[edit] | [edit source]]

Uncredited crew[[edit] | [edit source]]

Worldbuilding[[edit] | [edit source]]

K9[[edit] | [edit source]]

  • As a result of his brief swim at Brighton Beach, K9's batteries are damaged and now require a recharge every two hours.

Objects[[edit] | [edit source]]

  • The Doctor wasn't allowed to see the Dodecahedron on his previous visit (but did, as he remembers seeing it).

Species[[edit] | [edit source]]

Romana[[edit] | [edit source]]

Individual Tigellans[[edit] | [edit source]]

  • Esrith is part of Lexa's rebellion.

Individual[[edit] | [edit source]]

Story notes[[edit] | [edit source]]

  • The working titles for Meglos were The Golden Pentangle, The Golden Pentagram, The Golden Star, The Last Sol-Fataran and The Last Zolfa-Thuran.[2]
  • The sound effect created for the approach of the Fendahl in TV: Image of the Fendahl is re-used as background atmosphere for the Tigellan jungle, as well as effects used in The Daleks' Master Plan and Planet of the Daleks.
  • The scenes set on the surface of Zolfa-Thura were realised by way of a new effects technique referred to as scene-sync - a development of the established CSO process. This involved two cameras being electronically synchronised to follow identical movements so that they could be made to track in unison and maintain the composite image (created in the usual way), whereas previously, the camera in CSO shots had almost invariably been static.
  • Mysteriously, part four's end-titles theme music is played a whole-step lower than normal; curiously, this puts the tune back in its original key of E minor.
  • Brotadac is an anagram of "bad actor", an in-joke from the production team.
  • Bill Fraser agreed to play Grugger on the condition that his character be allowed to kick K9 on-screen.
  • This is the last story until Four to Doomsday to not be part of a wider story arc.
  • This was the last story of Season 18 to be released on both VHS and DVD.
  • John Flanagan wanted Lee Marvin to play Grugger and was amazed when Bill Fraser was cast as he had not imagined him in the role at all. Harry Andrews, Bernard Archard, Brian Blessed, Peter Cushing, James Ellis, Ronald Fraser, Peter Gilmore, Donald Houston, Glyn Houston, Stratford Johns, T. P. McKenna, Donald Pleasence, Leonard Sachs, George Sewell, Nigel Stock, John Stratton, Richard Todd, Peter Vaughan, Frank Windsor and Peter Wyngarde were also considered.
  • Timothy Bateson, Geoffrey Bayldon and Colin Jeavons were considered for Broadtac.
  • Maurice Denham, Esmond Knight and Ralph Michael were considered for Zastor.
  • In the original storyline, Lexa simply vanished from the action once she had served her purpose within the narrative. Christopher H. Bidmead suggested her act of self-sacrifice as a more dramatic end for the character.
  • Jacqueline Hill regretted appearing in the story feeling that since she played Barbara, it was inappropriate to appear as a different character. She admitted that show had changed considerably since her time and was now recognisable in name only.
  • This is the only story of the original run where every credited cast member appears in every episode.
  • John Flanagan and Andrew McCulloch were struggling to think of the ultimate villain, until they realised that it was sitting there the whole time - a gnarled cactus.
  • Keen to inject more science into the scripts, Christopher H. Bidmead suggested the chronic hysteresis element, the terminology derived from a loop-like phenomenon which arises in fields such as electromagnetism. 
  • This story features the only use in Doctor Who of a camera-linking system known as Scene-Sync that allowed the use of non-static shots of characters superimposed onto a miniature set. As the cameras on the actors were moved, the cameras on the miniature set moved the equivalent scaled amount automatically. The exact scale motion was achieved by trial and error, involving minute adjustments to the voltage delivered to the slave camera's motors.  
  • During production of this story, Madame Tussauds in London debuted the "Doctor Who Exhibition". Included were sculptures of both the Fourth Doctor and his Meglos doppelganger. As a result, Tom Baker is the only person to have appeared twice in the wax museum. 
  • The Dodecahedron was originally a five-sided object, thereby influencing the number of screens found on Zolfa-Thura, rather than a twelve-sided object made up of pentagons.
  • John Nathan-Turner chose Terence Dudley to direct, having worked with him on All Creatures Great and Small. Dudley was also friends with Jacqueline Hill's husband Alvin Rakoff.
  • John Flanagan and Andrew McCulloch hoped that many of the scenes on Zolfa-Thura and in the Tigellan jungle would be achieved on location, but John Nathan-Turner decided that their scripts represented an opportunity to save money by confining all recording to the studio.
  • For a time, it was suggested that the Gaztaks might exhibit an East Asian appearance, with Bill Fraser and Frederick Treves made up accordingly, but this notion was dropped.
  • Christopher H. Bidmead was required to significantly expand some of the scripts, particularly part three, which was found to be running seven minutes short. Amongst the added material was Romana leading the Gaztaks in a circle through the jungle.
  • Tom Baker was now slowly recovering from the illness which had plagued him during The Leisure Hive, but his long convalescence was still dampening his mood, and he disliked the latex facial appliance he had to wear to give him a cactus-like appearance.

Ratings[[edit] | [edit source]]

  • Part one - 5.0 million viewers
  • Part two - 4.2 million viewers
  • Part three - 4.7 million viewers
  • Part four - 4.7 million viewers

Filming locations[[edit] | [edit source]]

to be added

Production errors[[edit] | [edit source]]

If you'd like to talk about narrative problems with this story — like plot holes and things that seem to contradict other stories — please go to this episode's discontinuity discussion.
  • In part one, the wires holding the planet up over Zolfa Thura are obvious.
  • In part one, when information about the Doctor is shown on a screen in Meglos's base, the word "date" is misspelled as "dateb", with the correct spelling appearing on screen briefly before the camera cuts away.
  • In the outdoor scenes on Zolfa Thura in parts one and four, the blue colour of the blue screen is visible through General Grugger's beard.
  • The cactus gloves worn by Tom Baker as Meglos show his wrists quite often.
  • When the Gaztaks first exit their ship in episode one, one of the Gaztaks holding the Earthling trips and nearly falls over.
  • Due to the poor CSO effects used in many of the outdoor scenes on Zolfa Thura, when Meglos buries the Dodecahedron in the sand between the Screens of Zolfa Thura in part four, he appears to be semi-transparent.
  • The closing theme in part four is erroneously played at a reduced pitch. Perhaps coincidentally, this means the theme is now being played in the same key as the Delia Derbyshire arrangement.

Continuity[[edit] | [edit source]]

Home video and audio releases[[edit] | [edit source]]

CD Release[[edit] | [edit source]]

  • cd cover

    cd cover

VHS Release[[edit] | [edit source]]

This story was released on VHS in the UK in March 2003.

  • VHS UK cover

    VHS UK cover

  • VHS Australian cover

    VHS Australian cover

  • VHS US cover

    VHS US cover

DVD Release[[edit] | [edit source]]

It was released on DVD on the following dates:

Special Features[[edit] | [edit source]]

  • Region 1 cover

    Region 1 cover

  • Region 4 cover

    Region 4 cover

  • Region 2 UK cover

    Region 2 UK cover

External links[[edit] | [edit source]]

Footnotes[[edit] | [edit source]]

  1. ↑ Big Finish (13 November 2014). 72. Toby Hadoke's Who's Round #72 - Crawford Logan. bigfinish.com. Retrieved on 14 November 2014.
  2. ↑ http://www.shannonsullivan.com/doctorwho/serials/5q.html
v • e
Doctor Who television stories
 
Seasons 1-4: William Hartnell
Season 1: 1963-1964
Season 2: 1964-1965
Season 3: 1965-1966
Season 4: 1966
 
Seasons 4-6: Patrick Troughton
Season 4: 1966-1967
Season 5: 1967-1968
Season 6: 1968-1969
 
Seasons 7-11: Jon Pertwee
Season 7: 1970
Season 8: 1971
Season 9: 1972
Season 10: 1972-1973
Season 11: 1973-1974
 
Seasons 12-18: Tom Baker
Season 12: 1974-1975
Season 13: 1975-1976
Season 14: 1976-1977
Season 15: 1977-1978
Season 16: 1978-1979
Season 17: 1979-1980
Season 18: 1980-1981
 
Seasons 19-21: Peter Davison
Season 19: 1982
Season 20: 1983
Children in Need 1983
Season 21: 1984
 
Seasons 21-23: Colin Baker
Season 21: 1984
Season 22: 1985
Season 23: 1986
 
Seasons 24-26: Sylvester McCoy
Season 24: 1987
Season 25: 1988-1989
Season 26: 1989
 
TV Movie & 2013 specials: Paul McGann
TV Movie: 1996
Specials: 2013
Minisodes
 
Series 1: Christopher Eccleston
Series 1: 2005
Regular episodes
 
Series 2-4: David Tennant
Series 2: 2005-2006
Minisode
Christmas Special
Regular episodes
Series 3: 2006-2007
Christmas Special
Regular episodes
Animated special
Series 4: 2007-2010
Minisode
Christmas Special
Regular episodes
Minisodes
Animated special
Seasonal specials
 
Series 5-2013 specials: Matt Smith
Series 5: 2010
Regular episodes
Series 6: 2010-2011
Christmas Special
Minisodes
Regular episodes
(Part 1: Apr 2011)
Regular episodes
(Part 2: Aug 2011)
Minisode
Series 7: 2011-2013
Christmas Special
Minisodes
Regular episodes
(Part 1: 2012)
Minisode
Christmas Special
Regular episodes
(Part 2: 2013)
Specials: 2013
 
Series 8-10: Peter Capaldi
Series 8: 2014
Regular episodes
Series 9: 2014-2015
Christmas Special
Minisode
Regular episodes
Christmas Special
Series 10: 2016-2017
Christmas Special
Regular episodes
Christmas Special
 
Series 11-13: Jodie Whittaker
Series 11: 2018-2019
Regular episodes
New Year Special
Series 12: 2020-2021
Regular episodes
New Year Special
Series 13: 2021
Minisodes
Regular episodes
Seasonal specials
 
60th Anniversary Specials: David Tennant
Specials: 2023
Minisodes
60th Anniversary Specials
 
Season 1 (2023)-present: Ncuti Gatwa
Season 1: 2023-2024
Christmas Special
Regular episodes
Retrieved from "https://tardis.wiki/w/index.php?title=Meglos_(TV_story)&oldid=3889732"