The Time Monster (TV story)

The Time Monster
Doctor:	[[doctor::Third Doctor]]
Companion(s):	Jo Grant Brigadier Lethbridge-Stewart Captain Mike Yates Sergeant Benton
Main enemy:	The Master
Main setting:	Earth; circa 1970s Atlantis
Key crew
Writer:	Robert Sloman
Director:	Paul Bernard
Producer:	Barry Letts
Release details
Release number:	64
Premiere broadcast:	20th May - 24th June 1972
Format:	6 25-minute episodes
Production code:	OOO

Synopsis

The Master, in the guise of Professor Thascales, has constructed at the Newton Institute in Wootton a device known as TOMTIT - Transmission Of Matter Through Interstitial Time - with which to gain control over Kronos, a creature from outside time. The creature is summoned but the effect proves uncontrollable, so the Master flees.

The Doctor shuts TOMTIT down but the Master later reactivates it, using it first to ensnare Krasis, High Priest of the lost city of Atlantis, and then to attack UNIT forces by way of a series of timeslips. The Master takes Krasis back to Atlantis in his TARDIS in the hope of stealing the sacred Crystal of Kronos, with which he aims finally to dominate the creature. The Doctor follows with Jo but is unable to prevent his enemy from seducing Queen Galleia and staging a coup. Galleia turns against the Master when she learns that he has caused the death of her husband, King Dalios.

The Master then unleashes Kronos, destroying Atlantis. The two Time Lords escape in their respective TARDISes and confront each other in the time vortex. The Doctor threatens to trigger a 'time ram' - a devastating collision - but cannot bring himself to do it.

Jo, held hostage by the Master, has no such qualms, and operates the controls herself. The two TARDISes reappear in a strange void presided over by Kronos - who now appears as a beautiful female face.

The time ram has released Kronos, who agrees to return the Doctor and Jo to Earth. The creature plans to subject the Master to eternal torment, but the Doctor pleads on his behalf and he too goes free.

Plot

to be added

Cast

• The Doctor - Jon Pertwee
• Jo Grant - Katy Manning
• Brigadier Lethbridge-Stewart - Nicholas Courtney
• Sergeant Benton - John Levene
• Captain Mike Yates - Richard Franklin
• The Master - Roger Delgado
• Galleia - Ingrid Pitt
• Dr. Ruth Ingram - Wanda Moore
• Stuart Hyde - Ian Collier
• Dr. Percival - John Wyse
• Dr. Cook - Neville Barber
• Minotaur - Dave Prowse
• Proctor - Barry Ashton
• Krasis - Donald Eccles
• Hippias - Aidan Murphy
• Neophite - Keith Dalton
• Unit Sergeant - Simon Legree
• Kronos - Marc Boyle
• Dalios - George Cormack
• Knight - Gregory Powell
• Roundhead Officer - Dave Carter
• Farmworker - George Lee
• Crito - Derek Murcott
• Lakis - Susan Penhaligon
• Miseus - Michael Walker
• Guard - Melville Jones
• Window Cleaner - Terry Walsh
• Face of Kronos - Ingrid Bower

Crew

• Assistant Floor Manager - Rosemary Hester
• Costumes - Barbara Lane
• Designer - Tim Gleeson
• Film Cameraman - Peter Hamilton
• Film Editor - Martyn Day
• Incidental Music - Dudley Simpson
• Make-Up - Joan Barrett
• Producer - Barry Letts
• Production Assistant - Marion McDougall
• Script Editor - Terrance Dicks
• Special Sounds - Dick Mills
• Studio Lighting - Derek Hobday
• Studio Sound - Tony Millier
• Theme Arrangement - Delia Derbyshire
• Title Music - Ron Grainer
• Visual Effects - Michealjohn Harris, Peter Pegrum

References

• The TOMTIT machine works with assistance from the Master.
• The Doctor has built a time sensor which detects disturbances in the time field.
• The Master uses his TARDIS to Time Ram the Doctor's.
• A Chronovore spares the Master.
• The Doctor gets ejected into the time vortex and speaks to Jo through the TARDIS telepathic circuits.
• This is show (another) exploration of the destruction of Atlantis.
• The Seventh Enabling Act allows the Brigadier to take over from government forces.
• The Doctor makes a Time flow analogue from a Moroccan burgundy bottle, spoons, forks, corks, keyrings, tea leaves and a mug.

Story Notes

• This is the only appearance of the "washing up bowl" interior for the TARDIS (designed by Tim Gleeson).

Ratings

• Episode 1 - 7.6 million viewers
• Episode 2 - 7.4 million viewers
• Episode 3 - 8.1 million viewers
• Episode 4 - 7.6 million viewers
• Episode 5 - 6.0 million viewers
• Episode 6 - 7.6 million viewers

Myths

to be added

Location Filming

to be added

Discontinuity, Plot Holes, Errors

to be added

Continuity

• PDA: The Quantum Archangel is a sequel to this story.
• Another Chronovore appears in NA: No Future.
• This features (another) explanation of how Atlantis was destroyed; The Underwater Menace and The Daemons also featured explanations of this.
• The goes for another 'dip' in the time vortex in Shada and BFA: Seasons of Fear.
• The Doctor builds a similar device to his time sensor in Blink.

DVD, Video and Other Releases

to be added

Target Novelisations

• Novelised as The Time Monster (novelisation) in 1976 by Terrance Dicks.

External Links

• Outpost Gallifrey The Time Monster page
• The Doctor Who Reference Guide detailed synopsis of The Time Monster
• BBC The Time Monster page
• A Brief History of Time (Travel) Guide to The Time Monster