Robot Gladiators (TV story): Difference between revisions

{{Infobox Story

|image          = Robot_Gladiators_(TV_story).jpg

|season number  = [[Series 1 (K9)|1]]

|main character = [[K9 Mark 2|K9]], [[Starkey]], [[Jorjie Turner|Jorjie]], [[Darius Pike|Darius]], [[Alistair Gryffen|Gryffen]]

|featuring      = [[June Turner|June]]

|enemy          = [[Thorne]],<br />[[Freddie Maxwell]],<br />[[Pain-Maker]],<br />[[Lomax (The Bounty Hunter)|Lomax]]

|writer        = [[Jim Noble]]

|broadcast date = [[31 May (releases)|31 May]] [[2010 (releases)|2010]]

|production code= 1.21

|prev = Taphony and the Time Loop (TV story)

|next     = Mind Snap (TV story)

}}'''''Robot Gladiators''''' was the twenty-first episode of [[Series 1 (K9)|Series 1]] of [[K9 (TV series)|K9]]. It contained the revelation that [[Thorne]] knew of [[K9 Mark 2|K9]]'s [[regeneration unit]] even though the only people who had witnessed his [[regeneration]] were [[Starkey]], [[Jorjie]], [[Darius]] and [[Gryffen]].

Darius and K9 go undercover to expose a [[criminal]] using illegal [[robot]] technology in what he calls "destruct-entertainment". K9 becomes a [[gladiator]] and has to face the evil [[Pain-Maker]] in a battle to the death. What is the sinister plan instigated by Thorne? K9 also befriends the other Robot Gladiators he sees as [[cybernetic]] ancestors, basic [[android]]s who have a heart and spirit that touches K9's superior [[consciousness]].

In Gryffen House, Darius tells the team about Freddie Maxwell, aka "Freddie the Entertainer", and calls him a two bit hustler. According to Darius' contacts, he is the mastermind behind [[Crashclub]], old robots modified and forced to fight in an arena for the entertainment of rich "toffs". Gryffen congratulates Darius and hopes that at last he can put an end to the man who has made a mockery of his [[Thought Matrix]], a revolutionary robotic brain that allows a robot to think for itself rather than to be programmed. When K9 doubts that the thought matrix is that revolutionary, Gryffen explains that while such sophistication may be common in the future, before Gryffen came along, robots were nothing more than wind-up toys. Robots moved on thanks to him and they would have moved on even further if the Department hadn't confiscated his technology. Jorjie suggests they alert the Department as Freddie is using banned technology. Gryffen has tried already, but according to June, the Department has got "bigger fish to fry". Gryffen says that he worked long and hard on the technology and he did it for humanity, not to facilitate "revolting" entertainment. As he leaves, Starkey decides to do something about it - undercover work.

At the Department Mobile HQ, Thorne speaks with [[Lomax (The Bounty Hunter)|Lomax]]. He assures him the Department will have no recorded connection with Crashclub. Freddie will take the whole fall. K9 knows of Thorne's intent to take his regeneration technology, which will make acquiring it harder, but not impossible. They will get it and their plans will succeed. Lomax orders him to use all the powers at his disposal. Thorne assures that he intends to.

 

* [[K9 Mark 2]] - [[John Leeson]]

* [[Alistair Gryffen|Professor Alistair Gryffen]] - [[Robert Moloney]]

* [[Lomax (The Bounty Hunter)|Lomax]] - [[Peter Kent]]

* [[CCPC]] - [[Eugen Bekafigo]]

* [[CCPC]] - [[Jason McNamara]]

* [[CCPC]] - [[Josh Norbido]]

* [[CCPC]] - [[Tyler Rostedt]]

== Production crew ==

* [[Director]] - [[James Bogle]]

* [[Editor]] - [[Patrick Stewart]]

* Puppeteer - [[David Pawsey]]

* Head of Post Production - [[John Lee]]

== References ==

''to be added''

* This episode is similar in premise to the ''[[Torchwood (TV series)|Torchwood]]'' episode ''[[Combat (TV story)|Combat]]''.

{{K9 discontinuity}}

* Thorne says he knows about K9's [[regeneration unit]]. ([[TV]]: ''[[Regeneration (TV story)|Regeneration]]'')

* [[Robot clown]]s previously appeared in [[TV]]: ''[[The Greatest Show in the Galaxy]]''.

* Series One complete box set, released in Australia on [[29 September (releases)|29 September]] [[2010]]. [http://tardis-base.blogspot.com/2010/08/k9-complete-first-series.html]

* ''K9: Series 1: Volume 2'', containing episodes 13–26, released in the UK and US on [[18 April (releases)|18 April]] [[2011]]. [http://merchandise.thedoctorwhosite.co.uk/k9-complete-series-1-13-episodes/], [http://www.amazon.com/K9-Series-1-Vol/dp/B004EJ006M/ref=pd_bxgy_mov_img_b]

* ''K9: Ultimate Collectors Edition'', containing the full first series, scheduled for release in the UK on [[11 June (releases)|11 June]] [[2011]]. [http://www.amazon.co.uk/K9-Complete-Box-Set-DVD/dp/B0076WI3C2/ref=sr_1_4?s=dvd&ie=UTF8&qid=1339049905&sr=1-4]

* [http://www.k9official.com/episodes.html Official K9 web site]