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{{real world}}
{{real world}}
{{ImageLinkTV}}
{{ImageLinkTV}}
{{Infobox Story
{{Infobox Story SMW
|novelisation          = Doctor Who and the Deadly Assassin
|novelisation          = Doctor Who and the Deadly Assassin
|image                  = PRD.jpg
|image                  = PRD.jpg
|series                = [[Doctor Who television stories|''Doctor Who'' television stories]]
|series                = [[Doctor Who television stories|''Doctor Who'' television stories]]
|season number          = Season 14
|season number          = Season 14 (Doctor Who 1963)
|season serial number  = 3
|season serial number  = 3
|story number          = 88
|story number          = 88
|doctor                = Fourth Doctor
|doctor                = Fourth Doctor
|enemy                  = [[The Master]], [[Goth]]
|featuring              = Spandrell
|setting                = [[Gallifrey]]
|enemy                  = The [[Decayed Master]]
|writer                = [[Robert Holmes]]
|setting                = [[Gallifrey]], [[APC Net]]
|writer                = Robert Holmes
|director              = [[David Maloney]]
|director              = [[David Maloney]]
|producer              = [[Philip Hinchcliffe]]
|producer              = [[Philip Hinchcliffe]]
|epcount                = 4
|epcount                = 4
|broadcast date        = [[30 October (releases)|30 October]] - [[20 November (releases)|20 November]] [[1976 (releases)|1976]]
|broadcast date        = 30 October - 20 November 1976
|network                = [[BBC1]]
|network                = BBC1
|format                = 4x25-minute episodes
|format                = 4x25-minute episodes
|serial production code = [[List of production codes|4P]]
|serial production code = [[List of production codes|4P]]
|prev                  = The Hand of Fear (TV story)
|prev                  = The Hand of Fear (TV story)
|next                  = The Face of Evil (TV story)
|next                  = The Face of Evil (TV story)
|clip                  = Premonition of death - Doctor Who - The Deadly Assassin - BBC
|clip                  = Premonition of death - Doctor Who - The Deadly Assassin - BBC|thwr=1
|clip2                  = Who killed the president? - Doctor Who - The Deadly Assassin - BBC
|featuring2=Engin|featuring3=Borusa (The Deadly Assassin){{!}}Borusa|featuring4=Pandad IV{{!}}Pandad IV
|clip3                  = Hand grenade trap - Doctor Who - The Deadly Assassin - BBC
}}{{you may|The Deadly Assassin (reference book)|n1=the reference book of the same name}}
}}
'''''The Deadly Assassin''''' was the third serial of [[Season 14 (Doctor Who 1963)|season 14]] of ''[[Doctor Who]]''. It was the only televised story in the original run of ''Doctor Who'' to feature the Doctor without a [[companion]]. Tom Baker had told [[Philip Hinchcliffe]] he could hold the show on his own. With this story already in place, it was seen as a pilot for such companion-less stories. However, it was deemed that a companion was a necessary feature of the show.
'''''The Deadly Assassin''''' was the third serial of [[season 14]] of ''[[Doctor Who]]''. It was the only televised story in the original run of ''Doctor Who'' to feature the Doctor without a [[companion]]. Tom Baker had told [[Philip Hinchcliffe]] he could hold the show on his own. With this story already in place, it was seen as a pilot for such companion-less stories. However, it was deemed that a companion was a necessary feature of the show.


This serial saw the return of the Doctor's nemesis, {{Pratt}}, but in a heavily decayed state played by [[Peter Pratt]]. [[Roger Delgado]] had died in an automobile accident three years earlier, requiring a new actor to take his place. Afterwards, the Master became subject to a change in appearance and other changes as needed when an actor replaced the role, much like the Doctor.
This serial saw the return of the Doctor's nemesis, [[Decayed Master|the Master]], but in a heavily decayed state played by [[Peter Pratt]]. [[Roger Delgado]] had died in an automobile accident three years earlier, requiring a new actor to take his place. Afterwards, the Master became subject to a change in appearance and other changes as needed when an actor replaced the role, much like the Doctor, although, from an in-universe perspective, which change of actors should be considered a change of "incarnation" is far less clear-cut.


Narratively, this serial introduced several aspects of [[Time Lord]] society which were used or referenced again, including [[the Matrix]], Time Lord Chapters, Time Lord headdresses and robes, and of course [[Rassilon]]. It also introduced the restriction of a Time Lord to a finite limit of twelve [[regeneration]]s, allowing a maximum of thirteen [[incarnation]]s, after which a Time Lord would suffer permanent death.
Narratively, this serial introduced several aspects and notable figures of [[Time Lord]] society which were used, or referenced again, including [[the Matrix]], Time Lord Chapters, Time Lord headdresses and robes, [[Borusa]] and of course [[Rassilon]]. It also introduced the restriction of a Time Lord to a finite limit of twelve [[regeneration]]s, allowing a maximum of thirteen [[incarnation]]s, after which a Time Lord would suffer permanent death.


Later stories revealed that there are exceptions to the rule, such as the Master, who, after exhausting his original cycle, stealing a non-Gallifreyan body ([[TV]]: ''[[The Keeper of Traken]]'') and being executed by the Daleks, ([[TV]]: ''[[Doctor Who (TV story)|Doctor Who]]'') was resurrected by the Time Lords to fight in the [[Last Great Time War]], gaining a new cycle in the process. ([[TV]]: ''[[Utopia (TV story)|Utopia]]'', ''[[The Sound of Drums (TV story)|The Sound of Drums]]'', ''[[The Doctor Falls (TV story)|The Doctor Falls]]''), and the Doctor, who was granted a new regeneration cycle when his [[Eleventh Doctor|final incarnation]] reached the point of death. ([[TV]]: ''[[The Time of the Doctor (TV story)|The Time of the Doctor]]'')
Later stories revealed that there are exceptions to the rule, such as the Master, who, after exhausting his original cycle, stealing a non-Gallifreyan body ([[TV]]: ''[[The Keeper of Traken (TV story)|The Keeper of Traken]]'') and being executed by the Daleks, ([[TV]]: ''[[Doctor Who (TV story)|Doctor Who]]'') was resurrected by the Time Lords to fight in the [[Last Great Time War]], gaining a new cycle in the process. ([[TV]]: ''[[Utopia (TV story)|Utopia]]'', ''[[The Sound of Drums (TV story)|The Sound of Drums]]'', ''[[The Doctor Falls (TV story)|The Doctor Falls]]''), and the Doctor, who was granted a new regeneration cycle when his [[Eleventh Doctor|final incarnation]] reached the point of death. ([[TV]]: ''[[The Time of the Doctor (TV story)|The Time of the Doctor]]'')
 
In 2020, ''The Deadly Assassin'' became part of the ''[[Time Lord Victorious (series)|Time Lord Victorious]]'' multimedia event.


== Synopsis ==
== Synopsis ==
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== Plot ==
== Plot ==
=== Part one ===
=== Part one ===
Having [[The Hand of Fear|dropped off]] former companion [[Sarah Jane Smith]] back home, the [[Fourth Doctor]] heads to [[Gallifrey]] in answer to the [[Time Lord]]s' summons. On the way, he is struck by a premonition in which he seems to [[Assassination|assassinate]] the Time Lord [[Lord President|President]] from a gallery overlooking the [[Panopticon]].
Having dropped off former companion [[Sarah Jane Smith]] back home on [[Earth]], the [[Fourth Doctor]] heads to [[Gallifrey]] in answer to the [[Time Lord]]s' summons. On the way, he is struck by a premonition in which he seems to [[Assassination|assassinate]] the Time Lord [[Lord President|President]] from a gallery overlooking the [[Panopticon]].


[[File:DA Doctors message.jpg|left|thumb|The Doctor's message to the Time Lords.]]
[[File:DA Doctors message.jpg|left|thumb|The Doctor's message to the Time Lords.]]
[[the Doctor's TARDIS|The TARDIS]] lands in the security area of [[Capitol|the Citadel]]. Commander [[Hilred]] immediately impounds it and orders the arrest of its owner. The Doctor leaves a note on the console warning of his premonition and sneaks out of the TARDIS into the Citadel. He is cornered by a guard, who is shot dead by an unknown assailant.
[[the Doctor's TARDIS|The TARDIS]] lands in the security area of [[Capitol|the Citadel]]. Commander [[Hilred]] immediately impounds it and the [[Castellan]] [[Spandrell]] orders the arrest of its owner, who is registered as a wanted criminal. The Doctor leaves a note (written in Gallifreyan script, and bearing an image of the Seal of Rassilon) on the console warning of his premonition and sneaks out of the TARDIS into the Citadel. He is cornered by a guard, who is shot dead by an unknown assailant, who flees before the Doctor can confront them.


The arrival of an unregistered TARDIS in a high-security area raises the tension of an already tense day — the President is resigning and is about to name his successor. The [[Castellan]] [[Spandrell]] berates Hildred for his incompetence in letting the Doctor, a renegade who apparently is also a [[murder]]er, run loose in the capitol.
The arrival of an unregistered TARDIS in a high-security area raises the tension of an already tense day — the President is resigning and is about to name his successor. The Castellan berates Hildred for his incompetence in letting the Doctor, a renegade who apparently is also a [[murder]]er, run loose in the capitol.


Hildred transducts the TARDIS into the capitol, unaware the Doctor has sneaked back and hidden on board. Meanwhile, his movements are being monitored by a dark, robed figure and an unknown associate.
Hildred transducts the TARDIS into the capitol's museum, unaware the Doctor has sneaked back inside. Meanwhile, his movements are being monitored by a dark, robed figure and an unknown associate.


The Doctor infiltrates the resignation announcement by stealing a Time Lord's ceremonial robes. While trying to remain incognito in the crowded floor, he encounters an old classmate, [[Runcible]], now a newscaster, preparing his broadcast from the [[Panopticon]] floor. Runcible greets him coolly while waiting for a signal from a camera operator in the gallery. The Doctor looks up and is horrified to see a [[staser]] rifle fixed to the railing near the unattended camera. He causes a commotion as he charges through the room.
The Doctor infiltrates the resignation announcement by stealing a Time Lord's ceremonial robes. While trying to remain incognito in the crowded floor, he encounters an old classmate, [[Runcible]], who is now a commentator for the local news channel [[Public Register Video]] and preparing his broadcast from the [[Panopticon]] floor. Runcible greets the Doctor coolly, while waiting for a signal from a camera operator in the gallery — who strangely does not answer. The Doctor looks up to the gallery and is horrified to see a [[staser]] rifle fixed to the railing near the unattended camera. He causes a commotion as he charges through the room.


As the President enters and stands at the dais, the Doctor grabs the staser rifle. He aims and fires. The President falls down dead...
As the President enters and stands at the dais, the Doctor grabs the staser rifle, aims and fires. The President falls down dead...


=== Part two ===
=== Part two ===
The Doctor is quickly apprehended by security. The assassination has thrown Gallifrey into a constitutional crisis because the President had yet to name his successor. [[Chancellor]] [[Goth]], thought to have been the most likely successor, calls for prompt elections and opts to stand as a candidate. Goth also urges the Doctor's swift trial and execution.
The Doctor is quickly apprehended by security. The assassination has thrown Gallifrey into a constitutional crisis because the President died before he could name his successor. [[Chancellor]] [[Goth]], thought to have been the most likely successor, calls for prompt elections and opts to stand as a candidate. Goth also urges [[The Doctor's trial (The Deadly Assassin)|the Doctor's swift trial]] and execution.


At the trial, Goth's prosecution moves swiftly. The Doctor, however, invokes [[Article 17]] of the Gallifreyan Constitution, naming himself as a candidate for President. Under it, he cannot be denied the right to make his claim. Goth is outraged, but [[Chancellor]] [[Borusa]] acknowledges that the article gives him protection. He is grudgingly given forty-eight hours to prove his innocence.
At the trial, Goth's prosecution moves swiftly. The Doctor, however, invokes [[Article 17]] of the Gallifreyan Constitution, naming himself as a candidate for President. Under it, he cannot be denied the right to make his claim. Goth is outraged, but [[Lord Cardinal|Cardinal]] {{Arnatt}} acknowledges that the article gives him protection. He is grudgingly given forty-eight hours to prove his innocence.


The robed figure is told by his associate of the Doctor's use of the constitutional loophole. He has anticipated this. The figure is shown as a horribly disfigured and decaying husk.
The robed figure is told by his associate of the Doctor's use of the constitutional loophole. He has anticipated this. The figure is shown as a horribly disfigured and decaying husk.


The Doctor attempts to convince Spandrell and [[Coordinator]] [[Engin]] of his innocence; his shot was intended for the actual assassin, who stood in the crowd on the Panopticon floor. Someone is going to great lengths to frame him. He notes that the sights had been fixed on the rifle to intentionally throw off his aim. Spandrell confirms this by aiming at a target himself. He begins to believe the Doctor. They find the Doctor's original blast mark on the wall. The Doctor realises the gallery camera would have recorded the actual assassin. Runcible screams with horror when he looks into the camera barrel.
The Doctor attempts to convince Spandrell and [[Coordinator]] [[Engin]] of his innocence; his shot was intended for the actual assassin, who stood in the crowd on the Panopticon floor. Someone is going to great lengths to frame him. He notes that the sights had been fixed on the rifle to intentionally throw off his aim. Spandrell confirms this by aiming at a target — a large [[Seal of Rassilon]] symbol on the wall — himself; he begins to believe the Doctor. They find the Doctor's original blast mark on the wall. The Doctor realises the gallery camera would have recorded the actual assassin. Runcible screams with horror when he looks into the camera barrel.


Running to the gallery, they find the camera barrel empty except for the miniaturised corpse of the [[Cameraman (The Deadly Assassin)|cameraman]]. The Doctor recognises this as the work of his arch enemy, {{Pratt}}, and reasons that he has returned to Gallifrey for a final showdown. Runcible goes to fetch the recordings, but when he returns, he falls with a knife protruding from his back.
Running to the gallery, they find the camera barrel empty except for the miniaturised corpse of the [[Cameraman (The Deadly Assassin)|cameraman]]. The Doctor recognises this as the work of his arch enemy, [[Decayed Master|the Master]], and reasons that he has returned to Gallifrey for a final showdown. Runcible goes to fetch the recordings, but when he returns, he falls with a knife protruding from his back.


Spandrell and Engin cannot comprehend why there is no biodata extract for the Master in the [[APC Net]] (aka [[the Matrix]]). This is a network of past and present Time Lord minds that acts as an enormous database and future forecaster. The Doctor decides there must be an unauthorised second access point into the Matrix. The Master used this to forecast the assassination into his mind and then wipe all trace from the Matrix. He reasons that either the Master or the assassin working with him must be inside the Matrix. Despite the stern warning from Engin, he interfaces with the Matrix to find him.
Spandrell and Engin cannot comprehend why there is no biodata extract for the Master in the [[APC Net]] (aka [[the Matrix]]). This is a network of past and present Time Lord minds that acts as an enormous database and future forecaster. The Doctor decides there must be an unauthorised second access point into the Matrix. The Master used this to forecast the assassination into his mind and then wipe all trace from the Matrix. He reasons that either the Master or the assassin working with him must be inside the Matrix. Despite the stern warning from Engin, he interfaces with the Matrix to find him.
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The Doctor finds himself in a vast, rapidly shifting terrain, the domain of the assassin. The two engage in a pitched battle of wills. The assassin has the definite advantage of having created the virtual reality world inside the Matrix.
The Doctor finds himself in a vast, rapidly shifting terrain, the domain of the assassin. The two engage in a pitched battle of wills. The assassin has the definite advantage of having created the virtual reality world inside the Matrix.


The Doctor finds himself in a [[jungle]]. He steps on a [[train]] track, and it becomes stuck. He looks up to see a masked man driving a train towards him...
The Doctor finds himself in a [[jungle]]. He steps on a [[railway]] track, and his foot becomes stuck in the rails as the points change. He looks up to see a masked man driving a train towards him...


=== Part three ===
=== Part three ===
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=== Part four ===
=== Part four ===
The Doctor throws him off and escapes from the Matrix. He revives in Spandrell's office. He informs the shocked Castellan of the assassin's identity. They trace the location of their lair, where they find the Master's lifeless body — he seems to have died of natural causes. Goth, himself near death, admits he was power-hungry and bitter on learning he wasn't to be the President's successor. He had found the dying Master on the planet [[Tersurus]], his body at the end of his [[regeneration]] cycle, and brought him to Gallifrey to help him fulfil his scheme. Goth dies before he can reveal just what the Master's plan was.
The Doctor throws Goth off and escapes from the Matrix. He revives in Spandrell's office. He informs the shocked Castellan of the assassin's identity. They trace the location of their lair, where they find the Master's lifeless body — he seems to have died of natural causes. Goth, himself near death, admits he was power-hungry and bitter on learning he wasn't to be the President's successor. He had found the dying Master on the planet [[Tersurus]], his body at the end of his [[regeneration]] cycle, and brought him to Gallifrey to help him fulfil his scheme. Goth dies before he can reveal just what the Master's plan was.


Cleared of all charges, the Doctor still has lingering doubts. He wants to know the Master's plan. He doubts the Master would accept death so easily. He reasons that the solution lies in the ceremonial relics given to the President on induction, the [[Sash of Rassilon|Sash]] and [[Rod of Rassilon]], and researches their links to ancient Gallifreyan mythology.
Cleared of all charges, the Doctor still has lingering doubts and wants to know the Master's plan. He doubts the Master would accept death so easily and reasons that the solution lies in the ceremonial relics given to the President on induction, the [[Sash of Rassilon|Sash]] and [[Rod of Rassilon]], and researches their links to ancient Gallifreyan mythology.


The Doctor's suspicions are confirmed. The Master has faked his own death. He steals the Sash and Rod, which are the keys to the [[Eye of Harmony]], the heart of a [[black hole]] captured by ancient Time Lord [[Rassilon]]. It is the source of Time Lord power. The Master seeks the power of the Eye to restart his regeneration cycle, even though Gallifrey would be destroyed by doing so. He uses the Rod to unlock the Eye of Harmony, hidden below the Panopticon floor. This begins to release its energy, which would be channelled through the Sash to rejuvenate him.  
The Doctor's suspicions are confirmed. The Master has faked his own death. He steals the Sash and Rod, which are the keys to the [[Eye of Harmony]], the heart of a [[black hole]] captured by ancient Time Lord [[Rassilon]]. It is the source of Time Lord power. The Master seeks the power of the Eye to restart his regeneration cycle, even though Gallifrey would be destroyed by doing so. He uses the Rod to unlock the Eye of Harmony, hidden below the Panopticon floor. This begins to release its energy, which would be channelled through the Sash to rejuvenate him.


[[File:DA Master face in clock.jpg|thumb|The Master as he departs Gallifrey in his TARDIS.]]
[[File:DA Master face in clock.jpg|thumb|The Master as he departs Gallifrey in his TARDIS.]]
The Doctor wrestles with him. The ground shakes around them. Before the Master can uncouple the last cable from the Eye, the Doctor pulls him away, and he falls through a fissure in the floor. The Doctor reconnects the cables, bringing the crisis to an end.
The Doctor wrestles with the Master. The ground shakes around them. Before the Master can uncouple the last cable from the Eye, the Doctor pulls him away, and the Master falls through a fissure in the floor. The Doctor reconnects the cables, bringing the crisis to an end.


Borusa is appalled at the damage; half the capital city lies in ruins and countless lives are lost. Even so, he accepts Engin's claim that the Doctor's actions prevented further catastrophe. Recalling their old relationship as teacher and student, Borusa gives the Doctor a grade of 9 out of 10. The Doctor departs in the TARDIS. Afterwards, Spandrell discovers that the Master has survived and escaped in his own [[the Master's TARDIS|TARDIS]], disguised as a [[grandfather clock]]. He expresses confidence that the Doctor and the Master [[The Keeper of Traken|will cross paths again]]. Before the Master's TARDIS dematerialises, the face of the grandfather clock is replaced by that of the Master...
Borusa is appalled at the damage; half the capital city lies in ruins and countless lives are lost. Even so, he accepts Engin's claim that the Doctor's actions prevented further catastrophe. Recalling their old relationship as teacher and student, Borusa gives the Doctor a grade of 9 out of 10. Spandrell and Engin accompany the Doctor back to the museum, and say their farewells; the Doctor then departs in the TARDIS. Spandrell and Engin then discover that the Master has survived and escaped in his own [[the Master's TARDIS|TARDIS]], disguised as a [[grandfather clock]]. Spandrell expresses confidence that the Doctor and the Master [[The Keeper of Traken (TV story)|will cross paths again]], and has a feeling the universe is not big enough for the two of them. Before the Master's TARDIS dematerialises, the face of the grandfather clock is replaced by that of the Master, with the sound of his laughter heard over the TARDIS dematerialisation sound...


== Cast ==
== Cast ==
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* [[Goth|Chancellor Goth]] - [[Bernard Horsfall]]
* [[Goth|Chancellor Goth]] - [[Bernard Horsfall]]
* [[Spandrell|Castellan Spandrell]] - [[George Pravda]]
* [[Spandrell|Castellan Spandrell]] - [[George Pravda]]
* [[Borusa|Cardinal Borusa]] - [[Angus MacKay]]
* [[Cardinal]] {{Arnatt}} - [[Angus MacKay]]
* {{Pratt|c}} - [[Peter Pratt]]
* [[Decayed Master|The Master]] - [[Peter Pratt]]
* [[Runcible|Commentator Runcible]] - [[Hugh Walters]]
* [[Runcible|Commentator Runcible]] - [[Hugh Walters]]
* [[Engin|Co-Ordinator Engin]] - [[Erik Chitty]]
* [[Engin|Co-ordinator Engin]] - [[Erik Chitty]]
* [[Hilred|Commander Hilred]] - [[Derek Seaton]]
* [[Hilred|Commander Hilred]] - [[Derek Seaton]]
* [[Gold Usher (The Deadly Assassin)|Gold Usher]] - [[Maurice Quick]]
* [[Gold Usher (The Deadly Assassin)|Gold Usher]] - [[Maurice Quick]]
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* [[Solis]] - [[Peter Mayock]]
* [[Solis]] - [[Peter Mayock]]
* Voice - [[Helen Blatch]]
* Voice - [[Helen Blatch]]
=== Uncredited cast ===
* Public Register Video cameraman - [[Brian Nolan]]


== Crew ==
== Crew ==
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* [[Production Assistant]] - [[Nicholas John]]
* [[Production Assistant]] - [[Nicholas John]]
* [[Production Unit Manager]] - [[Chris D'Oyly-John]]
* [[Production Unit Manager]] - [[Chris D'Oyly-John]]
* [[Script Editor]] - [[Robert Holmes]]
* [[Special Sounds]] - [[Dick Mills]]
* [[Special Sounds]] - [[Dick Mills]]
* [[Studio Lighting]] - [[Brian Clemett]]
* [[Studio Lighting]] - [[Brian Clemett]]
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* [[Visual Effects]] - [[Len Hutton]], [[Peter Day]]
* [[Visual Effects]] - [[Len Hutton]], [[Peter Day]]


== References ==
=== Uncredited crew ===
* [[Assistant Floor Manager]] - [[Linda Graeme]] ([[INFO]]: ''The Deadly Assassin'')
* [[Booking assistant|Booking Assistants]] - [[Carol Atterbury]], [[John Holland]] ([[INFO]]: ''The Deadly Assassin'')
* [[Contracts assistant|Contracts Assistant]] - [[Nansi Davies]] ([[INFO]]: ''The Deadly Assassin'')
* [[Costume assistant|Costume Assistant]] - [[Brian Hoyle]] ([[INFO]]: ''The Deadly Assassin'')
* [[Design assistant|Design Assistant]] - [[John Price Jones]] ([[INFO]]: ''The Deadly Assassin'')
* [[Director's assistant|Director's Assistant]] - [[Joan Elliott]] ([[INFO]]: ''The Deadly Assassin'')
* [[Electronic Effects]] - [[A. J. Mitchell]] ([[INFO]]: ''The Deadly Assassin'')
* [[Facilities assistant|Facilities Assistants]] - [[Jennie Betts]], [[Carol Vigurs]] ([[INFO]]: ''The Deadly Assassin'')
* [[Film operative|Film Operatives]] - [[Albert Crush]], [[Bob Johnson]] ([[INFO]]: ''The Deadly Assassin'')
* [[Film sound assistant|Film Sound Assistant]] - [[Terry Elms]] ([[INFO]]: ''The Deadly Assassin'')
* [[Floor assistant|Floor Assistant]] - [[Philip Livingstone]] ([[INFO]]: ''The Deadly Assassin'')
* [[Grams operator|Grams Operator]] - [[James Cadnam]] ([[INFO]]: ''The Deadly Assassin'')
* [[Grip]]s - [[Stan Swetman]] ([[INFO]]: ''The Deadly Assassin'')
* [[Location chef|Location Chef]] - [[Brian Casey]] ([[INFO]]: ''The Deadly Assassin'')
* [[Make-up assistant|Make-Up Assistants]] - [[Hadsera Coouadia]], [[Judith Dalton]] ([[INFO]]: ''The Deadly Assassin'')
* [[Script Editor]] - [[Robert Holmes]] ([[INFO]]: ''The Deadly Assassin'')
* [[Senior cameraman|Senior Cameraman]] - [[Peter Granger]] ([[INFO]]: ''The Deadly Assassin'')
* [[Technical manager|Technical Manager]] - [[Peter Valentine]] ([[INFO]]: ''The Deadly Assassin'')
* [[Visual effects assistant|Visual Effects Assistants]] - [[Dave Bezkorowajny]], [[Steven Drewett]] ([[INFO]]: ''The Deadly Assassin'')
 
== Worldbuilding ==
=== Books ===
=== Books ===
* ''[[The Book of the Old Time]]'' is mentioned.
* ''[[The Book of the Old Time]]'' is mentioned.


=== The Doctor ===
=== The Doctor ===
* According to Coordinator Engin, the Doctor "must have a phenomenal amount of [[Artron energy]]".
* According to Coordinator Engin, the Doctor's [[brain]] "must have an unusually high level of [[artron energy]]".


=== Galaxies ===
=== Galaxies ===
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==== Gallifreyan technology ====
==== Gallifreyan technology ====
* [[Excitonics|Applied excitonics]] is the science used to create the excitonic circuitry the [[biodata]] bank of the Time Lords is made of.
* [[Excitonics|Applied excitonics]] is the science used to create the excitonic circuitry the [[biodata]] bank of the Time Lords is made of.
==== Gallifreyan law ====
* [[Article 17]] could be invoked to present one's claim for the post of President. No candidate for the presidency could be debarred or restrained from this liberty (with the exception of condemned murderers).
** [[Chancellor]] [[Goth]] wished to amend the details of this article once he were elected.


==== Gallifreyan Chapters ====
==== Gallifreyan Chapters ====
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==== Gallifreyan culture ====
==== Gallifreyan culture ====
* The Doctor arrives on [[Presidential Resignation Day]].
* The Doctor arrives on [[Presidential Resignation Day]].
* The Doctor's trial is dated [[309906]].
* [[The Doctor's trial (The Deadly Assassin)|The Doctor's trial]] is dated [[309906]].
* [[Runcible]] appears to use the term "face-lift" as slang for "[[regeneration]]".
* [[Runcible]] appears to use the term "face-lift" as slang for "[[regeneration]]".
* Accused of the assassination of the Lord President, the Doctor faces the possibility of being sentenced to death in a [[vaporisation]] chamber.
* Accused of the assassination of the Lord President, the Doctor faces the possibility of being sentenced to death in a [[vaporisation]] chamber.
Line 161: Line 190:


=== Individual Gallifreyans ===
=== Individual Gallifreyans ===
* [[Borusa]] has recently become a [[Lord Cardinal|Cardinal]].
* {{Arnatt}} has recently become a [[Lord Cardinal|Cardinal]].
* Borusa was a teacher to the First Doctor at the Time Lord Academy. In that age, according to the Doctor, he had stated that truth can be found only in [[mathematics]].
* Borusa was a teacher to the First Doctor at the Time Lord Academy. In that age, according to the Doctor, he had stated that truth can be found only in [[mathematics]].


Line 167: Line 196:
* The Doctor bought a [[hookah]] in a "cash and carry" in [[Constantinople]].
* The Doctor bought a [[hookah]] in a "cash and carry" in [[Constantinople]].


=== TARDIS ===
=== TARDISes ===
* [[The Doctor's TARDIS]] is a T[[type 40|ype 40]] protected by a "double curtain [[trimonic barrier]]" which requires a [[cypher indent key]].
* [[The Doctor's TARDIS]] is a [[Type 40]] protected by a "double curtain [[trimonic barrier]]" which requires a [[cypher indent key]].
* According to Hildred, the Type 40 TARDISes are obsolete.  
* [[The Master's TARDIS]] is disguised as a grandfather clock. It dematerialises after the Doctor's TARDIS leaves Gallifrey.
* [[The Master's TARDIS]] is disguised as a grandfather clock. It dematerialises after the Doctor's TARDIS leaves Gallifrey.  


== Story notes ==
== Story notes ==
* [[Roger Murray-Leach]] reused his symbol from ''[[Revenge of the Cybermen (TV story)|Revenge of the Cybermen]]'' as the [[Seal of Rassilon]].
* The story had a working title of ''The Dangerous Assassin''.
* The story had a working title of ''The Dangerous Assassin''.
* The title is generally considered a [[tautology]] — an assassin is, by definition, deadly. This redundancy was parodied in the spoof ''[[The Curse of Fatal Death]]''. However, [[Robert Holmes]] denied that the title was tautological, saying, "There are plenty of incompetent assassins." ([[INFO]]: ''The Deadly Assassin'')
* The title is generally considered a [[tautology]] — an assassin is, by definition, deadly. This redundancy was parodied in the spoof ''[[The Curse of Fatal Death (TV story)|The Curse of Fatal Death]]''. However, [[Robert Holmes]] denied that the title was tautological, saying, "There are plenty of incompetent assassins." ([[INFO]]: ''The Deadly Assassin'')
* This is the first TV story to feature the Doctor without a companion and the only one during the 1963-89 original series. The [[Doctor Who (TV story)|1996 telefilm]] and revival series featured the Doctor on occasion collaborating with "one-off" companions (such as [[Donna Noble]] in ''[[The Runaway Bride (TV story)|The Runaway Bride]]'') and in ''[[Midnight (TV story)|Midnight]]'', the Doctor has an adventure by himself, away from his companion. All that said, ''The Deadly Assassin'' remains unique as the only televised ''Doctor Who'' adventure to date in which the Doctor appears but there is no companion or companion-surrogate at all. The episode ''[[Heaven Sent (TV story)|Heaven Sent]] ''also features an entire story with only the Doctor and no companions, but the actress [[Jenna Coleman]] appears in the episode as part of the Doctor's mind manifestation.
* This is the first TV story to feature the Doctor without a companion and the only one during the 1963-89 original series. The [[Doctor Who (TV story)|1996 telefilm]] and revival series featured the Doctor on occasion collaborating with "one-off" companions (such as [[Donna Noble]] in ''[[The Runaway Bride (TV story)|The Runaway Bride]]'') and in ''[[Midnight (TV story)|Midnight]]'', the Doctor has an adventure by himself, away from his companion. All that said, ''The Deadly Assassin'' remains unique as the only televised ''Doctor Who'' adventure to date in which the Doctor appears but there is no companion or companion-surrogate at all. The episode ''[[Heaven Sent (TV story)|Heaven Sent]] ''also features an entire story with only the Doctor and no companions, but the actress [[Jenna Coleman]] appears in the episode as part of the Doctor's mind manifestation.
* This was the sole performance for [[Peter Pratt]] as {{Pratt}}. His first line in the role was, "Predictable as ever, Doctor.", and his last line was, "You lie."
* This story features an exclusively male cast, except for the female computer voice provided by [[Helen Blatch]].
* This story features an exclusively male cast, except for the female computer voice provided by Helen Blatch.
* [[Helen Blatch]] (Voice) is uncredited on-screen for part one but credited in ''Radio Times''.
* Helen Blatch (Voice) is uncredited on-screen for part one but is credited in ''Radio Times''.
* This is the first story set entirely on Gallifrey, as well as the first story whose cast is entirely made up of [[Time Lord]]s and the first televised story in which no human characters appear.
* This is the first story set entirely on Gallifrey.
* This story featured the first use of narration, performed by [[Tom Baker]] at the beginning of part one:
* This is the only story where every character is of the same race (Gallifreyan) and is the first televised story in which no human characters appear.
* This story featured the first use of narration, performed by [[Tom Baker]] at the beginning of part one:
::''Through the millennia, the Time Lords of Gallifrey led a life of peace and ordered calm, protected against all threats from lesser civilisations by their great power. But this was to change. Suddenly, and terribly, the Time Lords faced the most dangerous crisis in their long history...''
::''Through the millennia, the Time Lords of Gallifrey led a life of peace and ordered calm, protected against all threats from lesser civilisations by their great power. But this was to change. Suddenly, and terribly, the Time Lords faced the most dangerous crisis in their long history...''
::This text was also shown as a roller caption, superimposed over the Cloisters set.
::This text was also shown as a roller caption, superimposed over the Cloisters set.
* The biplane used in the Matrix sequences in episode three is a 1949 {{w|Stampe SV.4|Stampe SV.4C}}. The plane used in filming, registration G-AWXZ, was also used in the films {{wi|Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade}} and {{wi|The Mummy (1999 film)|The Mummy}}. ([[INFO]]: ''The Deadly Assassin'')
* The biplane used in the Matrix sequences in episode three is a 1949 {{w|Stampe SV.4|Stampe SV.4C}}. The plane used in filming, registration G-AWXZ, was also used in the films {{wi|Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade}} and {{wi|The Mummy (1999 film)|The Mummy}}. ([[INFO]]: ''The Deadly Assassin'')
* The Doctor is without companions at the end of the story, making the period between this story and the next one of the few plausible spots during the show's run which allows for placement of any number of additional ''Doctor Who'' stories in literature, audio, or comics. This allows the inclusion of companions that are exclusive to these adventures. A similar instance occurred between ''[[The Invasion of Time]]'' and ''[[The Ribos Operation]]'', that one allowing for the inclusion of later developments such as [[K-9]].
* The Doctor is without companions at the end of the story, making the period between this story and the next one of the few plausible spots during the show's run which allows for placement of any number of additional ''Doctor Who'' stories in literature, audio, or comics. This allows the inclusion of companions that are exclusive to these adventures. A similar instance occurred between ''[[The Invasion of Time (TV story)|The Invasion of Time]]'' and ''[[The Ribos Operation (TV story)|The Ribos Operation]]'', that one allowing for the inclusion of later developments such as [[K9]].
* Artistic elements introduced in this story, particularly the Time Lord collars and the Seal of Rassilon, appear on multiple later occasions in stories featuring Time Lords.
* Artistic elements introduced in this story, particularly the Time Lord collars and the Seal of Rassilon, appear on multiple later occasions in stories featuring Time Lords.
* This story establishes that Time Lords do sometimes use proper names on their homeworld; previous uses have either been aliases or of ambiguous origin such as [[Morbius]]; rank-and-file Time Lords seen in television stories like ''[[The War Games (TV story)|The War Games]]'' and ''[[The Three Doctors (TV story)|The Three Doctors]]'' had gone unnamed.
* This story establishes that Time Lords do sometimes use proper names on their homeworld; previous uses have either been aliases or of ambiguous origin such as [[Morbius]]; rank-and-file Time Lords seen in television stories like ''[[The War Games (TV story)|The War Games]]'' and ''[[The Three Doctors (TV story)|The Three Doctors]]'' had gone unnamed.
* This story introduces the iconic character [[Rassilon]], who would be referenced often. Rassilon would be seen via a form of projection in ''[[The Five Doctors (TV story)|The Five Doctors]]'' and in person in ''[[The End of Time (TV story)|The End of Time]]'' and ''[[Hell Bent (TV story)|Hell Bent]]''. It also greatly expands on the Time Lord society and mythology hinted at in ''[[The Three Doctors (TV story)|The Three Doctors]]'' and only briefly glimpsed in ''[[The War Games (TV story)|The War Games]]''. This story introduces the characters of Borusa and the Castellan, recurring roles in later Gallifreyan stories. This story also establishes Gallifreyan civilisation, including the first mention of the Time Lord Academy, the Prydonians, the titles of Chancellor/President, and other aspects of Time Lord culture and hierarchy.
* This story introduces the iconic character [[Rassilon]], who would be referenced often. Rassilon would be seen via a form of projection in ''[[The Five Doctors (TV story)|The Five Doctors]]'' and in person in ''[[The End of Time (TV story)|The End of Time]]'' and ''[[Hell Bent (TV story)|Hell Bent]]''. It also greatly expands on the Time Lord society and mythology hinted at in ''[[The Three Doctors (TV story)|The Three Doctors]]'' and only briefly glimpsed in ''[[The War Games (TV story)|The War Games]]''. This story introduces the characters of Borusa and the Castellan, recurring roles in later Gallifreyan stories. This story also establishes Gallifreyan civilisation, including the first mention of the Time Lord Academy, the Prydonians, the titles of Chancellor/President, and other aspects of Time Lord culture and hierarchy.
* The novels ''[[Last of the Gaderene (novel)|Last of the Gaderene]]'' and ''[[Legacy of the Daleks (novel)|Legacy of the Daleks]]'' explain how the Master became how he appears. However, in terms of televised adventures, there is no indication whether or not the Master seen here is necessarily the same incarnation of the Master as last seen portrayed by [[Roger Delgado]] in ''[[Frontier in Space]]''. The 2017 ''[[Doctor Who Magazine]]'' comic strip story [[COMIC]]: ''[[Doorway to Hell (comic story)|Doorway to Hell]]'' follows on from this by depicting the Delgado version of the Master regenerating.
* The novels ''[[Last of the Gaderene (novel)|Last of the Gaderene]]'' and ''[[Legacy of the Daleks (novel)|Legacy of the Daleks]]'' explain how the Master became how he appears. However, in terms of televised adventures, there is no indication whether or not the Master seen here is necessarily the same incarnation of the Master as last seen portrayed by [[Roger Delgado]] in ''[[Frontier in Space (TV story)|Frontier in Space]]''. The 2017 ''[[Doctor Who Magazine]]'' comic strip story [[COMIC]]: ''[[Doorway to Hell (comic story)|Doorway to Hell]]'' follows on from this by depicting the Delgado version of the Master regenerating.
* Part three's cliffhanger of the Doctor being drowned quickly became infamous for its terrifying nature, which caught the attention of media watchdog [[Mary Whitehouse]] and led to her lambasting the show. Because of intense negative reactions from the public, Philip Hinchcliffe was replaced as producer the following season and the BBC wiped the offending cliffhanger from the master 625 line PAL colour videotape; consequently, all home releases and reruns simply use in part three the reprise seen at the beginning of part four.
* Part three's cliffhanger of the Doctor being drowned quickly became infamous for its terrifying nature, which caught the attention of media watchdog [[Mary Whitehouse]] and led to her lambasting the show. Because of intense negative reactions from the public, [[Philip Hinchcliffe]] was replaced as producer the following season and the BBC wiped the offending cliffhanger from the master 625 line PAL colour videotape, one of only a small amount of post-1974 ''Doctor Who'' footage to be affected in such a way; however, off-air U-matic videotape recordings of the uncensored broadcast were still left intact, and it was from these that footage of the infamous cliffhanger was sourced when the scene was restored on home media releases.
* Part of the disturbing nature of the drowning scene at the end of part three came from the fact that Tom Baker suffers from aquaphobia and thus was experiencing a real fear of drowning during filming. Baker was reportedly so worried of the cliffhanger scaring children that he visited a random family to watch part three with them and hear their responses.
* Part of the disturbing nature of the drowning scene at the end of part three came from the fact that Tom Baker suffers from aquaphobia and thus was experiencing a real fear of drowning during filming. Baker was reportedly so worried of the cliffhanger scaring kids that he visited a random family to watch part three with them and hear their responses.
* This serial introduces the fact that a [[Time Lord]] has a [[regeneration]] cycle of only twelve regenerations for thirteen lives. This becomes a major plot point for the character of [[The Master]] in particular in later serials as he has reached the end of his regeneration cycle by the events of ''The Deadly Assassin''. Following his [[resurrection]] to fight in the [[Last Great Time War]] as depicted in the revived series, the Master has a new regeneration cycle as seen in ''[[Utopia (TV story)|Utopia]]'' and ''[[The Doctor Falls (TV story)|The Doctor Falls]]'' which feature the Master suffering injuries that require regeneration though only the regeneration in ''Utopia'' is seen on-screen. [[The Doctor]] himself also suffers from this limitation: though he claims to [[Clyde Langer]] in the serial ''[[Death of the Doctor (TV story)|Death of the Doctor]]'' from ''[[The Sarah Jane Adventures]]'' to have 507 regenerations, this is proven to be a lie in ''[[The Time of the Doctor (TV story)|The Time of the Doctor]]'' where the Doctor receives a new cycle at the end of his [[Eleventh Doctor|final incarnation]].
* This serial introduces the fact that a [[Time Lord]] has a [[regeneration]] cycle of only twelve regenerations for thirteen lives. This becomes a major plot point for the character of [[The Master]] in particular in later serials as he has reached the end of his regeneration cycle by the events of ''The Deadly Assassin''. Following his [[resurrection]] to fight in the [[Last Great Time War]] as depicted in the revived series, the Master has a new regeneration cycle as seen in ''[[Utopia (TV story)|Utopia]]'' and ''[[The Doctor Falls (TV story)|The Doctor Falls]]'' which feature the Master suffering injuries that require regeneration though only the regeneration in ''Utopia'' is seen on-screen. [[The Doctor]] himself also suffers from this limitation: though he claims to [[Clyde Langer]] in the serial ''[[Death of the Doctor (TV story)|Death of the Doctor]]'' from ''[[The Sarah Jane Adventures]]'' to have 507 regenerations, this is proven to be a lie in ''[[The Time of the Doctor (TV story)|The Time of the Doctor]]'' where the Doctor receives a new cycle at the end of his [[Eleventh Doctor|final incarnation]].
* At one point, Spandrell has to read aloud a disturbing letter that the Doctor has written for him. In rehearsals, he used a note written in English and thus had not bothered to learn the lines. When it came time to shoot the scene, [[David Maloney]] and the set designer switched it for a note written in Gallifreyan without telling [[George Pravda]]. The second Spandrell opens the note, he goes visibly pale and sweat springs from his forehead, and stumbles over his words as he struggles to remember them— the appropriate shocked reaction.
* There is a scene where the Doctor is sitting on a chair trying to manipulate Spandrell, who begins explaining why he can't help the Doctor; and the Doctor shoots up from his chair mid-line and looms over Spandrell to intimidate him with his size — he audibly falters and his voice shakes. This was an ad-lib from [[Tom Baker]], and [[George Pravda]] was just reacting with surprise to Baker unexpectedly going off-script.
* At one point, it was planned to include a humorous title card at the end of part four reading, “We thank the High Court of Time Lords and the Keeper of the Records, Gallifrey, for their help and co-operation”. Ultimately, however, this was removed for fear that it lampooned the production too much.
* [[David Maloney]] worked closely with designer [[Roger Murray-Leach]] and costume designer [[James Acheson]] to give Gallifrey a consistent, cohesive look. Although he would eventually be replaced on the serial by [[Joan Ellacott]], Acheson contributed the Time Lords' distinctive high-collared apparel, while Murray-Leach reused a symbol he had designed for ''[[Revenge of the Cybermen (TV story)|Revenge of the Cybermen]]'' as the Prydonian seal. Both would become enduring elements of Gallifrey's portrayal in ''Doctor Who'', with the latter subsequently coming to be known as the “[[Seal of Rassilon]]”.
* [[Robert Holmes]] disliked the previous portrayal of the Time Lords as omnipotent god-like beings, so he re-invented them as corrupt beureaucrats. He questioned why such a perfect society could produce so many criminals and renegades.
* [[Robert Holmes]] and [[Philip Hinchcliffe]] reintroduced the Master in a transitional state so that their successors wouldn't be saddled with a version of the character they might find unsuitable.
* The shot of Goth trying to drown the Doctor was filmed at the swimming pool of the Royal Alexandra and Albert School in Merstham, Surrey, because the pond water was too dirty.
* [[Peter Pratt]]'s uncomfortable mask was originally fitted with tubes which were intended to give the impression of fluid circulating around the Master's atrophied skull. However, this element was discarded when it was discovered that the effect was not visible under the studio lights.
* The original cliffhanger to part two was the Doctor being attacked by the samurai. The train sequence was added when the episode overran.
* Part three originally included a scene where a [[spider]] crawls up the Doctor's arm. This was scrapped when [[Bill Slater]], the Head of Serials, thought it would be too scary for children.
* Filming the scene where Goth tries to drown the Doctor was challenging for [[Tom Baker]], who has a fear of water.
* For a while, it was thought that episode four might introduce a new companion character. [[Robert Holmes]] had come up with the idea of the Doctor being accompanied by a [[Charles Dickens|Dickensian]] street urchin, whom he would mentor in the manner of [[My Fair Lady|Henry Higgins and Eliza Doolittle]]. As such, Holmes considered setting the climactic encounter between the Doctor and the Master in [[Victorian era|Victorian]] [[London]]. However, the new companion's introduction was eventually postponed until later in the season.
* The scene where the Doctor is attacked by a biplane was supposed to be filmed at the Redhill Aerodrome in Redhill, [[Surrey]].
* As of 2024, Tom Baker is the only surviving cast member of this story.
=== Influences ===
* ''[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Manchurian_Candidate_(1962_film) The Manchurian Candidate]''
* ''[[North by Northwest]] ''(the plane sequence)
* ''[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seven_Samurai Seven Samurai] ''(a samurai appears in the Matrix)


=== Ratings ===
=== Ratings ===
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=== Myths ===
=== Myths ===
* This is the only story to reference the fact that Time Lords get twelve regenerations for a total of thirteen lives. Early interviews with the production team behind the 2005 revival (including [[David Tennant]] in ''[[Doctor Who Magazine]]'' [[DWM 415|#415]]) had made it appear as if the allocation of thirteen lives in this story is a piece of minutia unique to this story. In fact, the thirteen life limit has been a major plot element of at least three other stories, all of which involve villains attempting to steal the Doctor's remaining regenerations: ''[[The Keeper of Traken (TV story)|The Keeper of Traken]]'', ''[[Mawdryn Undead (TV story)|Mawdryn Undead]]'' and [[Doctor Who (TV story)|the 1996 TV movie]]. All of these stories referenced the thirteenth life limit in dialogue. Other Time Lords have been encountered since ''The Deadly Assassin'' in later stories who have reached their thirteenth and final incarnation, namely [[Azmael]] and [[Salyavin]].
* This is the only story to reference the fact that Time Lords get twelve regenerations for a total of thirteen lives, and the remainder of the classic series is consistent with the [[Second Doctor]]'s implication in ''[[The War Games (TV story)|The War Games]]'' that Time Lords can regenerate an unlimited number of times unless their body is too badly damaged. ''Early interviews with the production team behind the 2005 revival (including [[David Tennant]] in ''[[Doctor Who Magazine]]'' [[DWM 415|#415]]) had made it appear as if the allocation of thirteen lives in this story is a piece of minutia unique to this story. In fact, the thirteen life limit has been a major plot element of at least four other stories, all of which involve villains attempting to steal the Doctor's remaining regenerations: ''[[The Keeper of Traken (TV story)|The Keeper of Traken]]'', ''[[Mawdryn Undead (TV story)|Mawdryn Undead]]'', ''[[The Ultimate Foe (TV story)|The Ultimate Foe]]'', and [[Doctor Who (TV story)|the 1996 TV movie]]. All of these stories referenced the thirteenth life limit in dialogue. Other Time Lords have been encountered since ''The Deadly Assassin'' in later stories who have reached their thirteenth and final incarnation, namely [[Azmael]] and [[Salyavin]].''
::* In ''[[The Time of the Doctor (TV story)|The Time of the Doctor]]'', the [[Eleventh Doctor]] acknowledged this limit as well and revealed that he was actually in his final incarnation, due to the Tenth Doctor using two and not counting his war incarnation. He was able to regenerate again at the end of this story only due to being granted a new cycle of regenerations by the Time Lords. The ability of the Time Lords to do this was revealed in [[TV]]: ''[[The Five Doctors (TV story)|The Five Doctors]]'', when it is offered to the Master; in [[TV]]: ''[[The Sound of Drums (TV story)|The Sound of Drums]]'', it is confirmed that a new cycle was bestowed upon the Master during the [[Last Great Time War]] which has allowed the Master to regenerate at least four times since he was granted the cycle. ([[TV]]: ''[[Utopia (TV story)|Utopia]]'', ''[[The Doctor Falls (TV story)|The Doctor Falls]], ''[[COMIC]]: ''[[The Then and the Now (comic story)|The Then and the Now]], [[Fast Asleep (comic story)|Fast Asleep]]'')
::* In ''[[The Time of the Doctor (TV story)|The Time of the Doctor]]'', the [[Eleventh Doctor]] acknowledged this limit as well and revealed that he was actually in his final incarnation, due to the Tenth Doctor using two and not counting his war incarnation. He was able to regenerate again at the end of this story only due to being granted a new cycle of regenerations by the Time Lords. The ability of the Time Lords to do this was revealed in [[TV]]: ''[[The Five Doctors (TV story)|The Five Doctors]]'', when it is offered to the Master; in [[TV]]: ''[[The Sound of Drums (TV story)|The Sound of Drums]]'', it is confirmed that a new cycle was bestowed upon the Master during the [[Last Great Time War]] which has allowed the Master to regenerate at least four times since he was granted the cycle. ([[TV]]: ''[[Utopia (TV story)|Utopia]]'', ''[[The Doctor Falls (TV story)|The Doctor Falls]], ''[[COMIC]]: ''[[The Then and the Now (comic story)|The Then and the Now]], [[Fast Asleep (comic story)|Fast Asleep]]'')


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== Continuity ==
== Continuity ==
* The Doctor returns to [[Gallifrey]] due to a summons he received, prompting him to return [[Sarah Jane Smith]] home. ([[TV]]: ''[[The Hand of Fear (TV story)|The Hand of Fear]]'')
* The story begins with the [[Fourth Doctor]] returning to [[Gallifrey]] due to a summons he received; this matches the end of [[TV]]: {{cite source|The Hand of Fear (TV story)}}.
* In his next on-screen encounter with the Doctor, the Master is ultimately able to secure a new body on [[Traken]], which he uses for some time. ([[TV]]: ''[[The Keeper of Traken (TV story)|The Keeper of Traken]]'' onwards)
* Reviewing the Doctor's history, the [[Time Lord]]s find records of his [[exile to Earth]] by the [[Malfeasance Tribunal]], as occurred in [[TV]]: {{cite source|The War Games (TV story)}}, and also of his sentence eventually being lifted, as occurred in [[TV]]: {{cite source|The Three Doctors (TV story)}}. The latter decision is revealed to have been taken at the intercession of the [[Celestial Intervention Agency]]. [[Chancellor]] [[Goth]] is played by [[Bernard Horsfall]], who also played the [[First Time Lord (The War Games)|leader of the Tribunal]] in ''The War Games''; although there is no evidence in-dialogue within ''The Deadly Assassin'' itself that he is playing the same character (and indeed, other sources suggested otherwise), [[PROSE]]: {{cite source|Future Imperfect (short story)}} and [[PROSE]]: {{cite source|The Legacy of Gallifrey (short story)}} would later suggest that Goth was indeed the First Time Lord from the trial.
** Later, the Master agrees to do the bidding of the [[High Council]] when they offer him a new cycle of regenerations. ([[TV]]: ''[[The Five Doctors (TV story)|The Five Doctors]]'')
* The [[Decayed Master]] returns to using the [[Tissue Compression Eliminator]], once used by the [[The Master (Terror of the Autons)|"UNIT era" Master]] in [[TV]]: {{cite source|Terror of the Autons (TV story)}}, and the Doctor recognises the weapon's effects. Tissue compression would become one of the Master's default M.O.s in his [[Tremas Master|next incarnation]].
** He again takes over another non-Time Lord body temporarily after he is executed by the [[Dalek]]s, in which he unsuccessfully attempts to use the [[Eye of Harmony]] to steal the Doctor's remaining regenerations. ([[TV]]: ''[[Doctor Who (TV story)|Doctor Who]]'')  
* This story introduces the [[Eye of Harmony]], the singularity from the heart of a [[black hole]] which an ancient [[Founders of Gallifrey|Gallifreyan founder]] brought back to [[Gallifrey]]. Its narrative of events echoes, but does not quite match, the history of [[Omega]]'s experiments as given in [[TV]]: {{cite source|The Three Doctors (TV story)}}, and gives [[Rassilon]] as the name of the Founder. Later sources would solidify the idea that Omega and Rassilon were contemporaries who worked together on the experiment. The creation of the Eye and [[disappearance of Omega]] would be depicted or referenced in many later stories including [[COMIC]]: {{cite source|Star Death (comic story)}}, [[PROSE]]: {{cite source|The Legacy of Gallifrey (short story)}}, [[COMIC]]: {{cite source|The Final Chapter (comic story)}} and [[PROSE]]: {{cite source|The Book of the War (novel)}}.
** During the [[Last Great Time War]], he is eventually [[resurrection|resurrected]] and given additional regenerations. ([[TV]]: ''[[Utopia (TV story)|Utopia]]'', ''[[The Sound of Drums (TV story)|The Sound of Drums]]'', ''[[The Doctor Falls (TV story)|The Doctor Falls]], ''AUDIO:'' [[Eyes of the Master (audio story)|Eyes of the Master]]'')
* The Doctor recalls that Time Lords are telepathic; [[Susan Foreman]] was depicted with psychic abilities as early as [[TV]]: {{cite source|The Edge of Destruction (TV story)}} and [[TV]]: {{cite source|The Sensorites (TV story)}}, and the idea had also recently been referenced in [[TV]]: {{cite source|The Brain of Morbius (TV story)}}, where the Doctor instinctively recognises [[Morbius]]'s mental presence even before they physically meet.
* Goth's brother Rath appears in [[PROSE]]: ''[[Blood Harvest (novel)|Blood Harvest]]''.
* This story introduces the idea that Time Lords have finite [[regeneration cycle]]s adding up to only twelve [[regeneration]]s. Acquiring more regenerations would remain a key part of the Master's motivation in eras to come, starting with his next televised appearance in [[TV]]: {{cite source|The Keeper of Traken (TV story)}} and as late as [[TV]]: {{cite source|Doctor Who (TV story)}}. The regeneration limit would also become a major plot point for [[the Doctor]] themself in [[TV]]: {{cite source|The Time of the Doctor (TV story)}}.
* Engin reappears in [[PROSE]]: ''[[The Eight Doctors (novel)|The Eight Doctors]]''.
* A great number of stories went on to address the circumstances which reduced the Master to his [[Decayed Master|decayed]] form, including [[PROSE]]: {{cite source|Legacy of the Daleks (novel)}} and [[AUDIO]]: {{cite source|The Two Masters (audio story)}}, both of which also attempt to address how and why Goth found him on the planet [[Tersurus]].
* Time Lords are allotted twelve regenerations for a total of thirteen lives. ([[TV]]: ''[[The Keeper of Traken (TV story)|The Keeper of Traken]]'', ''[[Mawdryn Undead (TV story)|Mawdryn Undead]]'', ''[[The Twin Dilemma (TV story)|The Twin Dilemma]]'', ''[[The Trial of a Time Lord]]'', ''[[Time and the Rani (TV story)|Time and the Rani]]'', [[Doctor Who (TV story)|Doctor Who]]'', ''[[The Time of the Doctor (TV story)|The Time of the Doctor]]'') However, the Time Lords can also grant another Time Lord a new regeneration cycle. ([[TV]]: ''[[The Five Doctors (TV story)|The Five Doctors]]'', ''[[The Time of the Doctor (TV story)|The Time of the Doctor]]'', ''[[Hell Bent (TV story)|Hell Bent]]'')
* The planet Tersurus, only mentioned here, would also serve as the setting of the notorious comedic special [[TV]]: {{cite source|The Curse of Fatal Death (TV story)}}.
* The Master again uses [[matter condensation]] to kill. ([[TV]]: ''[[Terror of the Autons (TV story)|Terror of the Autons]]'')
* The Master escapes Gallifrey in [[Goth's TARDIS|a TARDIS disguised as a grandfather clock]]; he is still using it when he next appears on television in [[TV]]: {{cite source|The Keeper of Traken (TV story)}}, in addition to [[Melkur (The Keeper of Traken)|another, more advanced TARDIS]]. [[AUDIO]]: {{cite source|Dominion (audio story)}} would later clarify that this clock-TARDIS was Goth's own TARDIS, easily stolen by the Master with Goth now dead.
* The Doctor states that Time Lords are telepathic. ([[TV]]: ''[[The Sensorites (TV story)|The Sensorites]]'' et al.)
* Goth's brother [[Rath]] appears in [[PROSE]]: {{cite source|Blood Harvest (novel)}}.
* [[Omega]] was said to have used the creation of a [[black hole]] to give the Time Lords the power of time travel. ([[TV]]: ''[[The Three Doctors (TV story)|The Three Doctors]]'')
* [[Coordinator]] [[Engin]] reappeared in [[PROSE]]: {{cite source|The Eight Doctors (novel)}}, [[PROSE]]: {{cite source|Dalek Combat Training Manual (reference book)}}, [[COMIC]]: {{cite source|Sky Jacks (comic story)}} and [[WC]]: {{cite source|Incoming Transmission (webcast)}}.
* [[Borusa]] reappeared a number of times, starting with [[TV]]: {{cite source|The Invasion of Time (TV story)}}, being revealed to have taken on the Presidency after the Doctor ran off.
* One of the entries in the [[Masterplan Journal]] given in [[PROSE]]: {{cite source|The Secret Diary of the Master (short story)}} was set in the lead-up to this story, while the Master and Goth were formulating their evil plan.


== Home video and audio releases ==
== Home video and audio releases ==
=== DVD releases ===
=== DVD releases ===
* The DVD was released on 11 May 2009 in the UK.
The DVD was released on 11 May 2009 in the UK.


Special Features include:
==== Special Features ====
* Commentary by [[Tom Baker]], [[Bernard Horsfall]] and [[Philip Hinchcliffe]]
* Commentary by [[Tom Baker]] ([[Fourth Doctor|The Doctor]]), [[Bernard Horsfall]] ([[Goth]]) and [[Philip Hinchcliffe]] (Producer)
* [[The Matrix Revisited]] — Cast, crew and critics look back at the making of this story, featuring director [[David Maloney]], designer Roger Murray-Leach and the founder of the National Viewers and Listeners Association, Mary Whitehouse
* ''[[The Matrix Revisited (documentary)|The Matrix Revisited]]'' — Cast, crew and critics look back at the making of this story, featuring director [[David Maloney]], designer [[Roger Murray-Leach]] and the founder of the National Viewers and Listeners Association, [[Mary Whitehouse]]
* [[The Gallifreyan Candidate]] — A look at Richard Condon's novel ''The Manchurian Candidate'', a major influence on the plot of ''The Deadly Assassin''
* ''[[The Gallifreyan Candidate (documentary)|The Gallifreyan Candidate]]'' — A look at Richard Condon's novel ''The Manchurian Candidate'', a major influence on the plot of ''The Deadly Assassin''
* [[The Frighten Factor]] — What exactly is Doctor Who's "Frighten Factor"? A diverse panel of experts try to answer the question.
* ''[[The Frighten Factor (documentary)|The Frighten Factor]]'' — What exactly is ''[[Doctor Who]]''{{'}}s 'Frighten Factor'? A diverse panel of experts try to answer the question.
* Radio Times Billings — Listings for this story presented in a PDF file [DVD-ROM – PC/Mac]
* ''[[Radio Times]]'' Billings — Listings for this story presented in a PDF file [DVD-ROM – PC/Mac]
* Photo Gallery
* Photo Gallery
* Coming Soon Trailer
* Coming Soon Trailer - ''[[Delta and the Bannermen (TV story)|Delta and the Bannermen]]''
* Production Information Subtitles
* Production Information Subtitles
* Easter Egg - Original BBC teaser for the serial. To access this hidden feature, press left at 'Photo Gallery' on the Special Features menu.
* [[Easter Egg]]: Original BBC teaser for the serial. To access this hidden feature, press left at Photo Gallery on the Special Features menu to reveal a hidden ''Doctor Who'' logo.


* Editing for the DVD release was completed by the [[Doctor Who Restoration Team]].
Editing for the DVD release was completed by the [[Doctor Who Restoration Team]].


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* It was released as [[DWDVDF 52|issue 52]] of ''[[The Deadly Assassin (TV story)|The Deadly Assassin]]''.
* It was released as [[DWDVDF 52|issue 52]] of ''[[The Deadly Assassin (TV story)|The Deadly Assassin]]''.
=== Blu-ray releases ===
* It was included as part of the ''Time Lord Victorious: Road to the Dark Times'' Blu-ray on [[9 November (releases)|9 November]] [[2020 (releases)|2020]].
<gallery position="center" captionalign="center" hideaddbutton="true">
File:Road To The Dark Times UK.jpg|thumb|Time Lord Victorious: Road To The Dark Times box-set
</gallery>


=== VHS releases ===
=== VHS releases ===
* It was released in episodic format in the UK in October 1991. It was also re-released and digitally remastered for the [[W H Smith]] exclusive ''[[The Time Lord Collection]]'' in [[2002]], with a better quality freeze frame cliffhanger for part three.
* It was released in episodic format in the UK in October 1991. It was also re-released and digitally remastered for the [[W H Smith]] exclusive ''[[The Time Lord Collection]]'' in [[2002 (releases)|2002]], with a better quality freeze frame cliffhanger for part three.
* This story was released in the US in March 1989 in edited omnibus format, two years before the UK release in episodic format. The US release was issued in a printed cardboard slipcase as opposed to a plastic video case.
* This story was released in the US in March 1989 in edited omnibus format, two years before the UK release in episodic format. The US release was issued in a printed cardboard slipcase — bearing a flash reading ''Celebrating 25 Years of Doctor Who'' — as opposed to a plastic video case.


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=== Digital releases ===
=== Digital releases ===
* The story is available for streaming in the US through Hulu Plus or Amazon Instant Video in the UK.  
* The story is available for streaming in Canada and the US through BritBox or Amazon Instant Video in the UK.
* It is available on the ''Best of Tom Baker ''bundle on iTunes, alongside ''[[Genesis of the Daleks (TV story)|Genesis of the Daleks]], [[The Hand of Fear (TV story)|The Hand of Fear]] ''and ''[[The Talons of Weng-Chiang (TV story)|The Talons of Weng-Chiang]]''.
* It is available on the ''Best of Tom Baker ''bundle on iTunes, alongside ''[[Genesis of the Daleks (TV story)|Genesis of the Daleks]], [[The Hand of Fear (TV story)|The Hand of Fear]] ''and ''[[The Talons of Weng-Chiang (TV story)|The Talons of Weng-Chiang]]''.


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[[Category:Doctor Who (1963) television stories]]
[[Category:Doctor Who (1963) television stories]]
[[Category:Television stories set on Gallifrey]]
[[Category:Television stories set on Gallifrey]]
[[Category:1976 television stories]]
[[Category:1976 television stories]]
[[Category:The Master television stories]]
[[Category:The Master television stories]]
[[Category:Decayed Master stories]]
[[Category:Time Lord television stories]]
[[Category:Time Lord television stories]]
[[Category:Season 14 stories]]
[[Category:Season 14 stories]]
[[Category:Stories set in the Rassilon Era]]
[[Category:Stories set in the Rassilon Era]]
[[Category:Four part serials]]
[[Category:Four part serials]]

Latest revision as of 21:33, 14 December 2024

RealWorld.png

You may be looking for the reference book of the same name.

The Deadly Assassin was the third serial of season 14 of Doctor Who. It was the only televised story in the original run of Doctor Who to feature the Doctor without a companion. Tom Baker had told Philip Hinchcliffe he could hold the show on his own. With this story already in place, it was seen as a pilot for such companion-less stories. However, it was deemed that a companion was a necessary feature of the show.

This serial saw the return of the Doctor's nemesis, the Master, but in a heavily decayed state played by Peter Pratt. Roger Delgado had died in an automobile accident three years earlier, requiring a new actor to take his place. Afterwards, the Master became subject to a change in appearance and other changes as needed when an actor replaced the role, much like the Doctor, although, from an in-universe perspective, which change of actors should be considered a change of "incarnation" is far less clear-cut.

Narratively, this serial introduced several aspects and notable figures of Time Lord society which were used, or referenced again, including the Matrix, Time Lord Chapters, Time Lord headdresses and robes, Borusa and of course Rassilon. It also introduced the restriction of a Time Lord to a finite limit of twelve regenerations, allowing a maximum of thirteen incarnations, after which a Time Lord would suffer permanent death.

Later stories revealed that there are exceptions to the rule, such as the Master, who, after exhausting his original cycle, stealing a non-Gallifreyan body (TV: The Keeper of Traken) and being executed by the Daleks, (TV: Doctor Who) was resurrected by the Time Lords to fight in the Last Great Time War, gaining a new cycle in the process. (TV: Utopia, The Sound of Drums, The Doctor Falls), and the Doctor, who was granted a new regeneration cycle when his final incarnation reached the point of death. (TV: The Time of the Doctor)

In 2020, The Deadly Assassin became part of the Time Lord Victorious multimedia event.

Synopsis[[edit] | [edit source]]

Through the millennia, the Time Lords of Gallifrey led a life of peace and ordered calm, protected against all threats from lesser civilisations by their great power. But this was to change. Suddenly and terribly, the Time Lords faced the most dangerous crisis in their long history...

Plot[[edit] | [edit source]]

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

Having dropped off former companion Sarah Jane Smith back home on Earth, the Fourth Doctor heads to Gallifrey in answer to the Time Lords' summons. On the way, he is struck by a premonition in which he seems to assassinate the Time Lord President from a gallery overlooking the Panopticon.

The Doctor's message to the Time Lords.

The TARDIS lands in the security area of the Citadel. Commander Hilred immediately impounds it and the Castellan Spandrell orders the arrest of its owner, who is registered as a wanted criminal. The Doctor leaves a note (written in Gallifreyan script, and bearing an image of the Seal of Rassilon) on the console warning of his premonition and sneaks out of the TARDIS into the Citadel. He is cornered by a guard, who is shot dead by an unknown assailant, who flees before the Doctor can confront them.

The arrival of an unregistered TARDIS in a high-security area raises the tension of an already tense day — the President is resigning and is about to name his successor. The Castellan berates Hildred for his incompetence in letting the Doctor, a renegade who apparently is also a murderer, run loose in the capitol.

Hildred transducts the TARDIS into the capitol's museum, unaware the Doctor has sneaked back inside. Meanwhile, his movements are being monitored by a dark, robed figure and an unknown associate.

The Doctor infiltrates the resignation announcement by stealing a Time Lord's ceremonial robes. While trying to remain incognito in the crowded floor, he encounters an old classmate, Runcible, who is now a commentator for the local news channel Public Register Video and preparing his broadcast from the Panopticon floor. Runcible greets the Doctor coolly, while waiting for a signal from a camera operator in the gallery — who strangely does not answer. The Doctor looks up to the gallery and is horrified to see a staser rifle fixed to the railing near the unattended camera. He causes a commotion as he charges through the room.

As the President enters and stands at the dais, the Doctor grabs the staser rifle, aims and fires. The President falls down dead...

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

The Doctor is quickly apprehended by security. The assassination has thrown Gallifrey into a constitutional crisis because the President died before he could name his successor. Chancellor Goth, thought to have been the most likely successor, calls for prompt elections and opts to stand as a candidate. Goth also urges the Doctor's swift trial and execution.

At the trial, Goth's prosecution moves swiftly. The Doctor, however, invokes Article 17 of the Gallifreyan Constitution, naming himself as a candidate for President. Under it, he cannot be denied the right to make his claim. Goth is outraged, but Cardinal Borusa acknowledges that the article gives him protection. He is grudgingly given forty-eight hours to prove his innocence.

The robed figure is told by his associate of the Doctor's use of the constitutional loophole. He has anticipated this. The figure is shown as a horribly disfigured and decaying husk.

The Doctor attempts to convince Spandrell and Coordinator Engin of his innocence; his shot was intended for the actual assassin, who stood in the crowd on the Panopticon floor. Someone is going to great lengths to frame him. He notes that the sights had been fixed on the rifle to intentionally throw off his aim. Spandrell confirms this by aiming at a target — a large Seal of Rassilon symbol on the wall — himself; he begins to believe the Doctor. They find the Doctor's original blast mark on the wall. The Doctor realises the gallery camera would have recorded the actual assassin. Runcible screams with horror when he looks into the camera barrel.

Running to the gallery, they find the camera barrel empty except for the miniaturised corpse of the cameraman. The Doctor recognises this as the work of his arch enemy, the Master, and reasons that he has returned to Gallifrey for a final showdown. Runcible goes to fetch the recordings, but when he returns, he falls with a knife protruding from his back.

Spandrell and Engin cannot comprehend why there is no biodata extract for the Master in the APC Net (aka the Matrix). This is a network of past and present Time Lord minds that acts as an enormous database and future forecaster. The Doctor decides there must be an unauthorised second access point into the Matrix. The Master used this to forecast the assassination into his mind and then wipe all trace from the Matrix. He reasons that either the Master or the assassin working with him must be inside the Matrix. Despite the stern warning from Engin, he interfaces with the Matrix to find him.

The Doctor finds himself in a vast, rapidly shifting terrain, the domain of the assassin. The two engage in a pitched battle of wills. The assassin has the definite advantage of having created the virtual reality world inside the Matrix.

The Doctor finds himself in a jungle. He steps on a railway track, and his foot becomes stuck in the rails as the points change. He looks up to see a masked man driving a train towards him...

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

The Doctor prepares for impact, but nothing happens. He gets his foot out and moves on. The Doctor evades the many pitfalls laid for him inside the Matrix. These include being strafed by a biplane and tracked by the assassin. His physical body, still in the APC room is enduring a terrible and potentially lethal strain. Meanwhile, the assassin is finding the battle of wills extremely taxing as well. The Master increases the power, despite the assassin's plea it will kill him. The Doctor begins to turn the tables on his assailant, first by booby-trapping the hunter's equipment, then by avoiding the water poisoned by the assassin. He improvises a blowpipe and shoots a poisoned dart at the assassin, but he is wounded himself.

The Doctor, slipping below the water; drowning within the Matrix.

As the Doctor comes closer to winning the conflict, the Master sends one of the chancellor's guards now under his power to the APC room to kill the Doctor. Engin spots the guard, Solis, tampering with the controls. Spandrell shoots Solis to protect the Doctor.

In the Matrix, the Doctor gains the upper hand against the assassin, who reveals himself as Goth. The Doctor tricks Goth into firing his rifle while in a cloud of swamp gas. As the world around them erupts in chaos and flames, Goth seizes the Doctor and holds his head underwater, about to drown him.

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

The Doctor throws Goth off and escapes from the Matrix. He revives in Spandrell's office. He informs the shocked Castellan of the assassin's identity. They trace the location of their lair, where they find the Master's lifeless body — he seems to have died of natural causes. Goth, himself near death, admits he was power-hungry and bitter on learning he wasn't to be the President's successor. He had found the dying Master on the planet Tersurus, his body at the end of his regeneration cycle, and brought him to Gallifrey to help him fulfil his scheme. Goth dies before he can reveal just what the Master's plan was.

Cleared of all charges, the Doctor still has lingering doubts and wants to know the Master's plan. He doubts the Master would accept death so easily and reasons that the solution lies in the ceremonial relics given to the President on induction, the Sash and Rod of Rassilon, and researches their links to ancient Gallifreyan mythology.

The Doctor's suspicions are confirmed. The Master has faked his own death. He steals the Sash and Rod, which are the keys to the Eye of Harmony, the heart of a black hole captured by ancient Time Lord Rassilon. It is the source of Time Lord power. The Master seeks the power of the Eye to restart his regeneration cycle, even though Gallifrey would be destroyed by doing so. He uses the Rod to unlock the Eye of Harmony, hidden below the Panopticon floor. This begins to release its energy, which would be channelled through the Sash to rejuvenate him.

The Master as he departs Gallifrey in his TARDIS.

The Doctor wrestles with the Master. The ground shakes around them. Before the Master can uncouple the last cable from the Eye, the Doctor pulls him away, and the Master falls through a fissure in the floor. The Doctor reconnects the cables, bringing the crisis to an end.

Borusa is appalled at the damage; half the capital city lies in ruins and countless lives are lost. Even so, he accepts Engin's claim that the Doctor's actions prevented further catastrophe. Recalling their old relationship as teacher and student, Borusa gives the Doctor a grade of 9 out of 10. Spandrell and Engin accompany the Doctor back to the museum, and say their farewells; the Doctor then departs in the TARDIS. Spandrell and Engin then discover that the Master has survived and escaped in his own TARDIS, disguised as a grandfather clock. Spandrell expresses confidence that the Doctor and the Master will cross paths again, and has a feeling the universe is not big enough for the two of them. Before the Master's TARDIS dematerialises, the face of the grandfather clock is replaced by that of the Master, with the sound of his laughter heard over the TARDIS dematerialisation sound...

Cast[[edit] | [edit source]]

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

Crew[[edit] | [edit source]]

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

Worldbuilding[[edit] | [edit source]]

Books[[edit] | [edit source]]

The Doctor[[edit] | [edit source]]

  • According to Coordinator Engin, the Doctor's brain "must have an unusually high level of artron energy".

Galaxies[[edit] | [edit source]]

Gallifrey[[edit] | [edit source]]

Gallifreyan technology[[edit] | [edit source]]

Gallifreyan law[[edit] | [edit source]]

  • Article 17 could be invoked to present one's claim for the post of President. No candidate for the presidency could be debarred or restrained from this liberty (with the exception of condemned murderers).
    • Chancellor Goth wished to amend the details of this article once he were elected.

Gallifreyan Chapters[[edit] | [edit source]]

Gallifreyan culture[[edit] | [edit source]]

Gallifreyan history[[edit] | [edit source]]

Gallifreyan organisations[[edit] | [edit source]]

Individual Gallifreyans[[edit] | [edit source]]

  • Borusa has recently become a Cardinal.
  • Borusa was a teacher to the First Doctor at the Time Lord Academy. In that age, according to the Doctor, he had stated that truth can be found only in mathematics.

Places[[edit] | [edit source]]

TARDISes[[edit] | [edit source]]

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

  • The story had a working title of The Dangerous Assassin.
  • The title is generally considered a tautology — an assassin is, by definition, deadly. This redundancy was parodied in the spoof The Curse of Fatal Death. However, Robert Holmes denied that the title was tautological, saying, "There are plenty of incompetent assassins." (INFO: The Deadly Assassin)
  • This is the first TV story to feature the Doctor without a companion and the only one during the 1963-89 original series. The 1996 telefilm and revival series featured the Doctor on occasion collaborating with "one-off" companions (such as Donna Noble in The Runaway Bride) and in Midnight, the Doctor has an adventure by himself, away from his companion. All that said, The Deadly Assassin remains unique as the only televised Doctor Who adventure to date in which the Doctor appears but there is no companion or companion-surrogate at all. The episode Heaven Sent also features an entire story with only the Doctor and no companions, but the actress Jenna Coleman appears in the episode as part of the Doctor's mind manifestation.
  • This story features an exclusively male cast, except for the female computer voice provided by Helen Blatch.
  • Helen Blatch (Voice) is uncredited on-screen for part one but credited in Radio Times.
  • This is the first story set entirely on Gallifrey, as well as the first story whose cast is entirely made up of Time Lords and the first televised story in which no human characters appear.
  • This story featured the first use of narration, performed by Tom Baker at the beginning of part one:
Through the millennia, the Time Lords of Gallifrey led a life of peace and ordered calm, protected against all threats from lesser civilisations by their great power. But this was to change. Suddenly, and terribly, the Time Lords faced the most dangerous crisis in their long history...
This text was also shown as a roller caption, superimposed over the Cloisters set.
  • The biplane used in the Matrix sequences in episode three is a 1949 Stampe SV.4C. The plane used in filming, registration G-AWXZ, was also used in the films Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade and The Mummy. (INFO: The Deadly Assassin)
  • The Doctor is without companions at the end of the story, making the period between this story and the next one of the few plausible spots during the show's run which allows for placement of any number of additional Doctor Who stories in literature, audio, or comics. This allows the inclusion of companions that are exclusive to these adventures. A similar instance occurred between The Invasion of Time and The Ribos Operation, that one allowing for the inclusion of later developments such as K9.
  • Artistic elements introduced in this story, particularly the Time Lord collars and the Seal of Rassilon, appear on multiple later occasions in stories featuring Time Lords.
  • This story establishes that Time Lords do sometimes use proper names on their homeworld; previous uses have either been aliases or of ambiguous origin such as Morbius; rank-and-file Time Lords seen in television stories like The War Games and The Three Doctors had gone unnamed.
  • This story introduces the iconic character Rassilon, who would be referenced often. Rassilon would be seen via a form of projection in The Five Doctors and in person in The End of Time and Hell Bent. It also greatly expands on the Time Lord society and mythology hinted at in The Three Doctors and only briefly glimpsed in The War Games. This story introduces the characters of Borusa and the Castellan, recurring roles in later Gallifreyan stories. This story also establishes Gallifreyan civilisation, including the first mention of the Time Lord Academy, the Prydonians, the titles of Chancellor/President, and other aspects of Time Lord culture and hierarchy.
  • The novels Last of the Gaderene and Legacy of the Daleks explain how the Master became how he appears. However, in terms of televised adventures, there is no indication whether or not the Master seen here is necessarily the same incarnation of the Master as last seen portrayed by Roger Delgado in Frontier in Space. The 2017 Doctor Who Magazine comic strip story COMIC: Doorway to Hell follows on from this by depicting the Delgado version of the Master regenerating.
  • Part three's cliffhanger of the Doctor being drowned quickly became infamous for its terrifying nature, which caught the attention of media watchdog Mary Whitehouse and led to her lambasting the show. Because of intense negative reactions from the public, Philip Hinchcliffe was replaced as producer the following season and the BBC wiped the offending cliffhanger from the master 625 line PAL colour videotape, one of only a small amount of post-1974 Doctor Who footage to be affected in such a way; however, off-air U-matic videotape recordings of the uncensored broadcast were still left intact, and it was from these that footage of the infamous cliffhanger was sourced when the scene was restored on home media releases.
  • Part of the disturbing nature of the drowning scene at the end of part three came from the fact that Tom Baker suffers from aquaphobia and thus was experiencing a real fear of drowning during filming. Baker was reportedly so worried of the cliffhanger scaring kids that he visited a random family to watch part three with them and hear their responses.
  • This serial introduces the fact that a Time Lord has a regeneration cycle of only twelve regenerations for thirteen lives. This becomes a major plot point for the character of The Master in particular in later serials as he has reached the end of his regeneration cycle by the events of The Deadly Assassin. Following his resurrection to fight in the Last Great Time War as depicted in the revived series, the Master has a new regeneration cycle as seen in Utopia and The Doctor Falls which feature the Master suffering injuries that require regeneration though only the regeneration in Utopia is seen on-screen. The Doctor himself also suffers from this limitation: though he claims to Clyde Langer in the serial Death of the Doctor from The Sarah Jane Adventures to have 507 regenerations, this is proven to be a lie in The Time of the Doctor where the Doctor receives a new cycle at the end of his final incarnation.
  • At one point, Spandrell has to read aloud a disturbing letter that the Doctor has written for him. In rehearsals, he used a note written in English and thus had not bothered to learn the lines. When it came time to shoot the scene, David Maloney and the set designer switched it for a note written in Gallifreyan without telling George Pravda. The second Spandrell opens the note, he goes visibly pale and sweat springs from his forehead, and stumbles over his words as he struggles to remember them— the appropriate shocked reaction.
  • There is a scene where the Doctor is sitting on a chair trying to manipulate Spandrell, who begins explaining why he can't help the Doctor; and the Doctor shoots up from his chair mid-line and looms over Spandrell to intimidate him with his size — he audibly falters and his voice shakes. This was an ad-lib from Tom Baker, and George Pravda was just reacting with surprise to Baker unexpectedly going off-script.
  • At one point, it was planned to include a humorous title card at the end of part four reading, “We thank the High Court of Time Lords and the Keeper of the Records, Gallifrey, for their help and co-operation”. Ultimately, however, this was removed for fear that it lampooned the production too much.
  • David Maloney worked closely with designer Roger Murray-Leach and costume designer James Acheson to give Gallifrey a consistent, cohesive look. Although he would eventually be replaced on the serial by Joan Ellacott, Acheson contributed the Time Lords' distinctive high-collared apparel, while Murray-Leach reused a symbol he had designed for Revenge of the Cybermen as the Prydonian seal. Both would become enduring elements of Gallifrey's portrayal in Doctor Who, with the latter subsequently coming to be known as the “Seal of Rassilon”.
  • Robert Holmes disliked the previous portrayal of the Time Lords as omnipotent god-like beings, so he re-invented them as corrupt beureaucrats. He questioned why such a perfect society could produce so many criminals and renegades.
  • Robert Holmes and Philip Hinchcliffe reintroduced the Master in a transitional state so that their successors wouldn't be saddled with a version of the character they might find unsuitable.
  • The shot of Goth trying to drown the Doctor was filmed at the swimming pool of the Royal Alexandra and Albert School in Merstham, Surrey, because the pond water was too dirty.
  • Peter Pratt's uncomfortable mask was originally fitted with tubes which were intended to give the impression of fluid circulating around the Master's atrophied skull. However, this element was discarded when it was discovered that the effect was not visible under the studio lights.
  • The original cliffhanger to part two was the Doctor being attacked by the samurai. The train sequence was added when the episode overran.
  • Part three originally included a scene where a spider crawls up the Doctor's arm. This was scrapped when Bill Slater, the Head of Serials, thought it would be too scary for children.
  • Filming the scene where Goth tries to drown the Doctor was challenging for Tom Baker, who has a fear of water.
  • For a while, it was thought that episode four might introduce a new companion character. Robert Holmes had come up with the idea of the Doctor being accompanied by a Dickensian street urchin, whom he would mentor in the manner of Henry Higgins and Eliza Doolittle. As such, Holmes considered setting the climactic encounter between the Doctor and the Master in Victorian London. However, the new companion's introduction was eventually postponed until later in the season.
  • The scene where the Doctor is attacked by a biplane was supposed to be filmed at the Redhill Aerodrome in Redhill, Surrey.
  • As of 2024, Tom Baker is the only surviving cast member of this story.

Influences[[edit] | [edit source]]

Ratings[[edit] | [edit source]]

  • Part one - 11.8 million viewers
  • Part two - 12.1 million viewers
  • Part three - 13.0 million viewers
  • Part four - 11.8 million viewers

Myths[[edit] | [edit source]]

  • This is the only story to reference the fact that Time Lords get twelve regenerations for a total of thirteen lives, and the remainder of the classic series is consistent with the Second Doctor's implication in The War Games that Time Lords can regenerate an unlimited number of times unless their body is too badly damaged. Early interviews with the production team behind the 2005 revival (including David Tennant in Doctor Who Magazine #415) had made it appear as if the allocation of thirteen lives in this story is a piece of minutia unique to this story. In fact, the thirteen life limit has been a major plot element of at least four other stories, all of which involve villains attempting to steal the Doctor's remaining regenerations: The Keeper of Traken, Mawdryn Undead, The Ultimate Foe, and the 1996 TV movie. All of these stories referenced the thirteenth life limit in dialogue. Other Time Lords have been encountered since The Deadly Assassin in later stories who have reached their thirteenth and final incarnation, namely Azmael and Salyavin.

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

  • Betchworth Quarry, Pebblehill Road, Betchworth, Surrey
  • Wycombe Air Park, Clay Lane, High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire
  • Royal Alexander and Albert School, Rocky Lane, Merstham, Surrey
  • BBC Television Centre (TC3 and TC8), Shepherd's Bush, London

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.
  • The guard the Master kills in part one begins to fall before the sound effect for the staser is heard. He is also seen again alive and well again in part two.
  • The corpse of the technician is clearly seen to be a Palitoy Action Man figure.
  • Near the end of part four, when the Master chases the Doctor up the Panopticon stairway, the Sash of Rassilon is over his shoulder. Before he puts it back down his front you can clearly see the brown cardboard backing.
  • After Hilred unlocks one of the TARDIS doors, the second guard to go through bumps into the other door.

Continuity[[edit] | [edit source]]

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

DVD releases[[edit] | [edit source]]

The DVD was released on 11 May 2009 in the UK.

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

Editing for the DVD release was completed by the Doctor Who Restoration Team.

  • DVD Region 2 UK cover

    DVD Region 2 UK cover

  • DVD Region 4 Australian cover

    DVD Region 4 Australian cover

  • DVD Region 1 US cover

    DVD Region 1 US cover

Blu-ray releases[[edit] | [edit source]]

  • It was included as part of the Time Lord Victorious: Road to the Dark Times Blu-ray on 9 November 2020.
  • Time Lord Victorious: Road To The Dark Times box-set

    Time Lord Victorious: Road To The Dark Times box-set

VHS releases[[edit] | [edit source]]

  • It was released in episodic format in the UK in October 1991. It was also re-released and digitally remastered for the W H Smith exclusive The Time Lord Collection in 2002, with a better quality freeze frame cliffhanger for part three.
  • This story was released in the US in March 1989 in edited omnibus format, two years before the UK release in episodic format. The US release was issued in a printed cardboard slipcase — bearing a flash reading Celebrating 25 Years of Doctor Who — as opposed to a plastic video case.
  • VHS US cover

    VHS US cover

  • VHS UK cover

    VHS UK cover

  • VHS Australian cover

    VHS Australian cover

Box sets[[edit] | [edit source]]

  • The Time Lord Collection Australian VHS cover

    The Time Lord Collection Australian VHS cover

Digital releases[[edit] | [edit source]]

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

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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
v • e
Decayed Master stories
Television
Audio
Prose
Comics
Video games
Considered
not part
of the DWU
* Substantial appearances only; see a full list of appearances here
v • e
Time Lord Victorious
Television
Webcast
UNIT Field Logs
Daleks!
Time Fracture tie-ins
Other
Audio
Full cast
Short Trips
Audiobooks
Prose
Novels
Short stories
Eaglemoss
Collections
Time Fracture
Show Companion
Other
Features
UNIT Field Logs
Comics
Games
Stage plays
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