Terror of the Vervoids (TV story): Difference between revisions

From Tardis Wiki, the free Doctor Who reference
m (sentence case headers per MOS - part 2 3)
m (Bot: Cosmetic changes)
 
(312 intermediate revisions by 90 users not shown)
Line 1: Line 1:
{{Infobox ClassicTV
{{title dab away}}
|image           = [[File:Human-Vervoid.jpg|250px]]
{{real world}}
|story name      = Terror of the Vervoids
{{ImageLinkTV}}
|series         = [[Doctor Who]] -<br/>[[List of Doctor Who television stories|TV Stories]]
{{Infobox Story SMW
|number          = [[Season 23]]
|image                 = Human-Vervoid.jpg
|story number   = 143c
|novelisation          = Terror of the Vervoids (novelisation)
|doctor         = [[Sixth Doctor]]<br>[[The Valeyard]]
|series                 = [[Doctor Who television stories|''Doctor Who'' television stories]]
|companions     = [[Melanie Bush]] (Introduction; joins)
|season number          = Season 23 (Doctor Who 1963)|
|enemy          = [[The Valeyard]]<br>[[Vervoid|Vervoids]]<br>[[Rudge]]<br>[[Mogarian]]s
|season serial number  = 3
|year            = [[Space Station Zenobia|Time Lord space station]]<br> [[Hyperion III]], 2986 C.E.
|story number           = 145
|writer         = [[Pip & Jane Baker]]
|adapted into          = Terror of the Vervoids (home video)
|director       = [[Chris Clough]]
|doctor                 = Sixth Doctor
|producer       = [[John Nathan-Turner]]
|companions             = [[Melanie Bush|Mel]]
|broadcast date = [[1st November]] - [[22nd November]] [[1986]]
|featuring              = [[Darkel]]
|format         = 4 25-minute episodes
|enemy                  = [[Doland]], [[Vervoid]]s, [[the Valeyard]]
|production code = [[List of production codes|7C-1]]
|setting                = {{il|[[Space Station Zenobia|Time Lord space station]]|The ''[[Hyperion III]]'', [[2986]]}}
|previous story  = [[Mindwarp]]
|writer                 = Pip & Jane Baker
|next story      = [[The Ultimate Foe]]
|director               = [[Chris Clough]]
|producer               = [[John Nathan-Turner]]
|broadcast date         = 1 - 22 November 1986
|network                = BBC1
|format                 = 4x25-minute episodes
|serial production code = [[List of production codes|7C]]
|prev                  = Mindwarp (TV story)
|next                   = The Ultimate Foe (TV story)
|epcount = 4|thwr = 24
|thwr2 = 71|thwr3=85
}}
}}
'''''Terror of the Vervoids''''' was the unbroadcast title given to the third story of ''The Trial of a Time Lord'', the season-long story arc that covered [[Season 23 (Doctor Who 1963)|season 23]] of ''[[Doctor Who]]''. While the previous stories of the season delved into past adventures of the [[Sixth Doctor]], this story examined the Doctor's pending future. Using that anachronistic style, it introduced [[Bonnie Langford]] as [[companion]] [[Melanie Bush]], deviating from the formulaic structure where a stranger found themselves meeting the Doctor for the first time, and vice versa. Instead, her character was a future companion that the Doctor had yet to meet - something later repeated with the character [[River Song]] [[Silence in the Library (TV story)|22 years later]].


==Synopsis==
On [[23 September (releases)|23 September]] [[2019 (releases)|2019]], [[Season 23 (Doctor Who 1963)|Season 23]] was released on [[Blu-ray]] Box Set with updated special effects, in which this story was also edited into a [[Terror of the Vervoids (home video)|standalone story]]. With it, a unique new [[title sequence]] was created by fan [[Robert Ritchie|Rob Ritchie]].
The distraught Doctor gives the court his evidence for the defence. He chooses an incident from his own future, in which he and his companion [[Mel]] arrive on the space liner [[Hyperion III]] in response to a distress call. There they battle against and ultimately destroy a hostile race of alien plants, the [[Vervoid]]s, while also helping to thwart a mutiny by the ship's security officer, Rudge.


==Plot==
== Synopsis ==
The [[Time Lord]]s have brought [[Sixth Doctor|the Doctor]] to trial, accusing him of gross interference in the affairs of other planets. If he is found guilty he must forfeit all his remaining [[regeneration]]s. In the hope of proving his innocence, [[Melanie Bush]], an as-of-yet unmet companion from later in his life, is summoned to the court. Hopefully, through her help, the jurors will be reassured in letting the Doctor go free by seeing what good acts he stands to commit as opposed to destructive ones.


==== Part Nine ====
In his defence, the Doctor tells of an adventure from his personal future - set on board the [[Hyperion III]] space liner in his future. Answering a distress call, the Doctor and Mel arrive on the liner just as a series of grisly murders begins.
[[File:Mogarian science.jpg|left|150px|thumb|A [[Mogarian]] performs his experiment.]]
The Doctor returns to the courtroom after a recess, given to allow him to mourn Peri’s death, shown in the previous block of evidence. The Doctor begins his defence, showing events from his future on the galactic liner Hyperion III, a ship taking a supply of rare metals from Mogar to Earth in the year 2986AD. The Doctor states that many of the passengers and crew will not survive the journey to Earth, for "[someone determined to] protect a secret hidden on the space liner... will become a murderer."’’


On the spaceliner Hyperon III, an elderly man named Kimber thinks he recognises a fellow passenger as an investigator called Hallett. However, the passenger denies this, claiming that he is a mineralogist called Grenville. A trio of scientist passengers - Professor Lasky and her colleagues Bruchner and Doland - are alarmed that Grenville might be an investigator.
== Plot ==
=== Part nine ===
The Doctor returns to the courtroom after a recess, given to allow him some time to mourn [[Peri Brown]]'s death, which was revealed in the previous block of evidence. The Doctor begins his defence, showing events from his future. The galactic liner ''[[Hyperion III]]'' is a ship taking a supply of rare metals from Mogar to Earth in the year [[2986]] AD. The Doctor states that many of the passengers and crew will not survive the journey to Earth, for "[someone determined to] protect a secret hidden on the space liner... will become a murderer."


Edwardes, the communications officer, detects a craft close to the ship - the TARDIS - but is unable to get a reply. Suddenly, an unseen figure attacks him, and injects him with a syringe. He then uses the communication equipment to send a message to the TARDIS. On board, the Doctor and Mel pick up a [[Mayday (distress signal)|Mayday]] message, stating '...perative traitor be identified before landing Earth.' They materialise within the Hyperion III's cargo hold, next to the Hydroponics centre. The Doctor tells Mel he can sense evil, and says they should leave, but they are seized by guards. They are brought before Commodore Travers - whom the Doctor has met once before. Travers denies sending a mayday signal, but wants the Doctor and Mel to remain on board, and confines them to passenger quarters. Travers hopes (from his previous experience of the Doctor's behaviour) that he will be able to find out who sent the fake mayday call.
On the spaceliner ''Hyperion III'', an elderly man named [[Kimber]] thinks he recognises a fellow passenger as an investigator called [[Hallett (Terror of the Vervoids)|Hallett]]. However, the passenger denies this, claiming that he is a mineralogist called Grenville. A trio of scientist passengers — Professor [[Sarah Lasky]] and her colleagues [[Bruchner]] and [[Doland]] — are alarmed that Grenville might actually be an investigator.


The Doctor is convinced that whoever sent the message knew him, and wanted him on board. Mel suggests that the Doctor ask for a passenger list, in the hope of spotting a familiar name, while she wanders around the large liner in hope of finding the mysterious contact. Security officer Rudge takes Mel to the ship's gymnasium, where he shows her how to use the headphones and tape recordings to help her exercise. While she is doing so, Doland arrives and informs Lasky that someone has broken into their Hydroponics centre. As they rush off to find Bruchner, Mel hears someone on her headphones, telling her to take the Doctor to Cabin 6. Down in the cargo hold, Lasky, Doland and Bruchner check the Hydroponics centre; the large pods inside are stable, but the Demeter seeds have been stolen from the small work cabin.
[[Edwardes]], the communications officer, detects a craft close to the ship — the TARDIS — but is unable to get a reply. Suddenly, an unseen figure attacks him and injects him with a syringe. He then uses the communication equipment to send a message to [[the Doctor's TARDIS|the TARDIS]]. On board, the Doctor and Mel pick up a [[Mayday (distress signal)|Mayday]] message, stating "...perative traitor be identified before landing [[Earth]]." They materialise within the ''Hyperion III''{{'}}s cargo hold, next to the [[hydroponics]] centre. The Doctor tells [[Melanie Bush|Mel]] he can sense evil, and says they should leave, but they are seized by guards. They are brought before Commodore [[Travers (Terror of the Vervoids)|Travers]] — whom the Doctor has met once before. Travers denies sending a mayday signal, but wants the Doctor and Mel to remain on board, and confines them to passenger quarters. Travers hopes, from his previous experience of the Doctor's behaviour, that he will be able to find out who sent the fake mayday call.


In the lounge, the Doctor persuades the stewardess Janet to let him see the passenger list, but he does not recognise any of the names. Mel arrives and gives the Doctor the message to go to Cabin 6, but the Doctor declines, claiming he feels like he would be simply walking into a trap. Mel decides to go by herself, but when she arrives, she discovers the Doctor is already there. They find the room has been wrecked, supposedly in a fight, and they find the silver Demeter seeds and a single boot.
[[File:Mogarian science.jpg|left|thumb|A [[Mogarian]] performs his experiment.]]
The Doctor is convinced that whoever sent the message knew him and wanted him on board. Mel suggests that the Doctor ask for a passenger list, in the hope of spotting a familiar name, while she wanders around the large liner in hope of finding the mysterious contact. Security officer [[Rudge]] takes Mel to the ship's gymnasium, where he shows her how to use the headphones and tape recordings to help her exercise. While she is doing so, Doland arrives and informs Lasky that someone has broken into their hydroponics centre. As they rush off to find Bruchner, Mel hears someone on her headphones, telling her to take the Doctor to Cabin 6. Down in the cargo hold, Lasky, Doland and Bruchner check the hydroponics centre; the large pods inside are stable, but the [[Demeter seed]]s have been stolen from the small work cabin.


Rudge contacts Travers to inform him there has been an 'accident' in the waste disposal unit; it seems that someone has been thrown inside. All that is left is a boot matching the one found by the Doctor and Mel in Cabin 6. They learn that these belonged to Grenville, but the Doctor does not recognise the name.
In the lounge, the Doctor persuades the stewardess [[Janet (Terror of the Vervoids)|Janet]] to let him see the passenger list, but he does not recognise any of the names. Mel arrives and gives the Doctor the message to go to Cabin 6, but the Doctor declines, claiming he feels like he would be simply walking into a trap. Mel decides to go by herself, but when she arrives, she discovers the Doctor is already there. They find the room has been wrecked, supposedly in a fight, and they find the silver Demeter seeds and a single boot.


The Doctor and Mel go to the gymnasium. The Doctor says that, with Grenville dead, there is nothing they can do. Mel departs to investigate the hydroponics centre alone.
Rudge contacts Travers to inform him there has been an accident in the waste disposal unit; it seems that someone has been thrown inside. All that is left is a boot matching the one found by the Doctor and Mel in Cabin 6. They learn that these belonged to Grenville, but the Doctor does not recognise the name. The Doctor and Mel go to the gymnasium. The Doctor says that, with Grenville dead, there is nothing they can do. Mel departs to investigate the hydroponics centre alone.


''The Doctor claims that there have been changes to these scenes, and states that he is being manipulated.''
Back in the courtroom, the Doctor interrupts the display to claim that there have been changes to these scenes and states that he is being manipulated.


Mel enters the cargo hold, where she meets Edwardes. He agrees to show her the Hydroponics centre. It was set up for the journey specially for Lasky, Doland and Bruchner, and that only 'low spectrum' light is allowed inside to keep the pods dormant. When Edwardes tries to enter, he is electrocuted. Mel screams in fright, and sparks fly around the mysterious pods...
Mel enters the cargo hold, where she meets Edwardes. He agrees to show her the hydroponics centre. It was set up for the journey specially for Lasky, Doland and Bruchner, and that only low spectrum light is allowed inside to keep the pods dormant. When Edwardes tries to enter, he is electrocuted. Mel screams in fright, sparks fly around the mysterious pods and something begins to emerge from them...


====Part ten====
=== Part ten ===
[[File:Gonner.jpg|right|thumb|150px|A [[Vervoid]] kills [[Kimber]].]]
[[File:Gonner.jpg|right|thumb|A [[Vervoid]] kills [[Kimber]].]]
Two guards arrive at the scene, and Mel tells them that Edwardes is dead. One of the guards leads Mel away, and the other guard examines Edwardes' corpse. Later, Doland and Bruchner arrive to find that all the pods have been opened. Bruchner looks on in horror, asking Doland if he realises what has been unleashed.Rudge brings the Doctor to the bridge to help question Mel about being in the Hydroponics centre. Rudge then gets a message from the medical team that was sent down to the hold to collect Edwardes' body, claiming that neither Edwardes or the guard can be found. When Travers asks the Doctor what is going on - with a passenger, now Edwardes and a guard all gone missing, two, if not all three, murdered - Mel replies that a killer must be on board the ship.Travers decides to speed up their journey to Earth, and has the ship's course altered. He enters the lounge to inform the passengers that their arrival time will be brought forward by around 72 hours. Three Mogarians express their concerns that this will take them close to the Black hole of Tartarus, but Travers assures them that they will be within adequate safety margins. Later, one of the Mogarians collapses after having a drink. The Doctor attempts to remove the figure's face plate, but the others protest that oxygen is lethal to a Mogarian. The Doctor believes it is not a Mogarian, and removes the face plate to reveal that is actually Grenville. The Doctor, however, recognises the man as Hallett, an undercover investigator. When Kimber recalls recognising Hallett before, in front of most of the other passengers, the Doctor guesses that Hallett has faked his own death to avoid being discovered.The Valeyard asks the Doctor how he knew the man was a fake. The Doctor replays the scene where the Mogarians spoke to Travers about the black hole, which shows that the fake one did not have his translator switched on. The Doctor also points out that Hallett's death meant that he could no longer play a passive role on board the Hyperion III.Mel realises that the Demeter seeds left in the wrecked cabin for her and the Doctor to discover were a clue to lead them to the Hydroponics centre. They go down to the hold to have a look at the place, and the Doctor wonders what came out of the pods. Returning to the passenger quarters, they see Lasky leaving a guarded Isolation Room. They wonder what she was doing inside, so the Doctor sets off a fire alarm to distract the guard. He and Mel enter the room, where they find a half-human, half-plant hybrid strapped to a table. Mel screams in fright...
Two guards arrive at the scene, and Mel tells them that Edwardes is dead. One of the guards leads Mel away, and the other guard examines Edwardes' corpse. Later, Doland and Bruchner arrive to find that all the pods have been opened. Bruchner looks on in horror, asking Doland if he realises what has been unleashed. Rudge brings the Doctor to the bridge to help question Mel about being in the hydroponics centre. Rudge then gets a message from the medical team that was sent down to the hold to collect Edwardes' body, claiming that neither Edwardes nor the guard can be found.


====Part Eleven====
When Travers asks the Doctor what is going on — with a passenger, now Edwardes and a guard all gone missing, two, if not all three, murdered — Mel replies that a killer must be on board the ship. Travers decides to speed up their journey to Earth and has the ship's course altered. He enters the lounge to inform the passengers that their arrival time will be brought forward by around 72 hours. Three Mogarians express their concerns that this will take them close to the [[Black Hole of Tartarus]], but Travers assures them that they will be within adequate safety margins.
[[File:In the bridge.jpg|left|150px|thumb|The Doctor and crew look on.]]
The creature sits up and implores the Doctor and Mel to stop Lasky, but Lasky, Bruchner and Doland arrive and sedate her. Doland tells the time travellers that the creature is his assistant, Ruth Baxter. During their experiments involving cross-fertilisation, a speck of pollen penetrated a tiny scratch in Ruth's thumb, causing the resulting plant maturing process to partially transform her human body. They are taking her to Earth in the hope that they can reverse the infection.Mel hears a noise in the air conditioning ducts. Attaching one of the headphones to the grill, she uses the gym sound equipment to amplify the sound and record what she hears onto one of the music tapes. She overhears creatures planning to kill all the 'animal-kind' on the ship. As she listens, she is attacked from behind and rendered unconscious with an anaesthetic. The murderer dumps her in a disposal trolley. The Doctor enters the gym and hears the recording, including her scream when she was attacked. The Doctor runs after the trolley, and rescues her from being killed in the waste disposal unit. Unfortunately, the killer has removed the tape. Bruchner is becoming increasingly hysterical about the situation with the Hydroponics centre, especially when the elderly Kimber disappears. It turns out that he, Edwardes and the missing guard have all been killed by plant-like creatures called Vervoids - the creatures that came out of the pods when Edwardes was electrocuted. The Vervoids are slowly skulking through the Hyperion III's air ducts, secretly killing the crew and passengers one at a time, and dumping their bodies in their lair. Lasky finds Bruchner burning the notes on their work in the Hydroponics centre's small work cabin, and tries unsuccessfully to reason with him about his actions. Bruchner knocks Lasky out, runs off and attacks a guard, taking his gun. He goes to the bridge, and forces Travers and the pilot to leave, then changes the course of the Hyperion to head straight into the black hole of Tartarus - planning to destroy the ship, and the Vervoids with it...


===Part twelve ===
Later, one of the Mogarians collapses after having a drink. The Doctor attempts to remove the figure's face plate, but the others protest that oxygen is lethal to a Mogarian. The Doctor believes it is not a Mogarian and removes the faceplate to reveal that is actually Grenville. The Doctor, however, recognises the man as Hallett, an undercover investigator. When Kimber recalls recognising Hallett before, in front of most of the other passengers, the Doctor guesses that Hallett has faked his own death to avoid being discovered.
[[File:One for the scrapbook.jpg|right|thumb|150px|The Vervoids admire their killings.]]
The Doctor, Lasky and Travers attempt to break into the bridge, but they discover it is filled with marsh gas. This has been released into the bridge by the Vervoids, who - having overheard Lasky talking with Bruchner in the Hydroponics centre - have learned that they are the only members of their species. Bruchner is killed by the gas, but the ship is still heading into the black hole. Rudge summons the two Mogarians, as they can breathe in the poisonous atmosphere. They manage to direct the ship away from the black hole, but when it is safe, Rudge tells Travers that he and the Mogarians are taking over the ship.


Mel manages to get to the lounge ahead of Rudge, and warns Doland and Janet of the hijacking. Rudge tells the Doctor that the Mogarians are trying to regain the supply of metals stored in the vault, as they consider the expiring resources of rare minerals were stolen from their planet. Rudge himself is taking the hijacking as a means of securing a "more comfortable retirement", as this Mogar-Earth journey was to be his last voyage as a security officer before being written off. On the bridge, an unknown assailant kills the Mogarians by throwing liquid oxygen at them.
The Valeyard asks the Doctor how he knew the man was a fake. The Doctor replays the scene where the Mogarians spoke to Travers about the black hole, which shows that the fake one did not have his translator switched on. The Doctor also points out that Hallett's death meant that he could no longer play a passive role on board the ''Hyperion III''.


Mel sneaks through the air ducts to let the Doctor know that the guards will attack the lounge. The Doctor believes this is too risky, and tells her to attack the bridge instead. When they arrive, they find the Mogarians dead, and take the face plates to prove to Rudge the hijack is over. Doland knocks the gun from Rudge's hands, and he runs into the corridors, but is soon killed by the Vervoids.
Mel realises that the Demeter seeds left in the wrecked cabin for her and the Doctor to discover were a clue to lead them to the hydroponics centre. They go down to the hold to have a look at the place, and the Doctor wonders what came out of the pods. Returning to the passenger quarters, they see Lasky leaving a guarded isolation room. They wonder what she was doing inside, so the Doctor sets off a fire alarm to distract the guard. He and Mel enter the room, where they find a half-human, half-plant hybrid strapped to a table. Mel screams in fright...


The Doctor tells Travers about the stolen tape recording, and requests his permission to search the passenger cabins. While Mel checks Lasky's locker in the gym, the Doctor tells Doland that he thinks the traitor is either him or Lasky. After searching the professor's cabin, Doland suggests the cabinet in the Hydroponics centre work cabin. There, Doland reveals the tape is in his pocket, but that he has wiped it. Taking the Doctor's gun, Doland admits the murders. He reveals that he plans to use the Vervoids for slave labour, taking over factories and farms from robots. However, the Doctor has disarmed the gun, and Travers arrives and arrests Doland. However, he and his guard are attacked and killed by the Vervoids.
=== Part eleven ===
[[File:In the bridge.jpg|left|thumb|The Doctor and crew look on.]]
The creature sits up and implores the Doctor and Mel to stop Lasky, but Lasky, Bruchner and Doland arrive and sedate her. Doland tells the time travellers that the creature is his assistant, Ruth Baxter. During their experiments involving cross-fertilisation, a speck of pollen penetrated a tiny scratch in Ruth's thumb, causing the resulting plant maturing process to partially transform her human body. They are taking her to Earth in the hope that they can reverse the infection.


The Doctor, Mel, Travers and Lasky meet on the bridge to discuss the Vervoids. Lasky believes that something must have gone wrong with their DNA, but the Doctor tells them that the Vervoids' hostillity towards them is instinctive: They are a form of carefully bred plant life, and all 'animal-kind' ultimately consumes plant life. This means that the Vervoids hate 'animal-kind' and kill for survival. Lasky realises that this is what made Bruchner so hysterical, and vows to help destroy the creatures, with Travers asking the Doctor to do the same.
Mel hears a noise in the air conditioning ducts. Attaching one of the headphones to the grill, she uses the gym sound equipment to amplify the sound and record what she hears onto one of the music tapes. She overhears creatures planning to kill all the animal-kind on the ship. As she listens, she is attacked from behind and rendered unconscious with an [[anaesthetic]]. The attacker dumps her in a disposal trolley. The Doctor enters the gym and hears the recording, including her scream when she was attacked. The Doctor runs after the trolley and rescues her from being killed in the waste disposal unit. Unfortunately, the attacker has removed the tape.


''The Doctor states that this shows he was not meddling, but had been asked to help. The Inquisitor accepts his argument, but the Valeyard wishes to see the outcome of events.''
Bruchner is becoming increasingly hysterical about the situation with the hydroponics centre, especially when the elderly Kimber disappears. It turns out that he, Edwardes and the missing guard have all been killed by plant-like creatures called Vervoids — the creatures that came out of the pods when Edwardes was electrocuted. The Vervoids are slowly skulking through the ''Hyperion III''{{'}}s air ducts, secretly killing the crew and passengers one at a time and dumping their bodies in their lair. Lasky finds Bruchner burning the notes on their work in the hydroponics centre's small work cabin and tries unsuccessfully to reason with him about his actions. Bruchner knocks Lasky out, runs off and attacks a guard, taking his gun. He goes to the bridge and forces Travers and the pilot to leave, then changes the course of the ''Hyperion'' to head straight into the [[black hole]] of Tartarus — planning to destroy the ship, and the Vervoids with it. The Doctor informs the Commodore of the Hyperion III of this fact. Professor Lasky is stunned by this news. The Doctor looks accusingly at the Commodore...
 
=== Part twelve ===
[[File:One for the scrapbook.jpg|right|thumb|The Vervoids admire their killings.]]
The Doctor, Lasky and Travers attempt to break into the bridge, but they discover it is filled with marsh gas. This has been released into the bridge by the Vervoids, who — having overheard Lasky talking with Bruchner in the hydroponics centre — have learned that they are the only members of their species. Bruchner is killed by the gas, but the ship is still heading into the black hole. Rudge summons the two Mogarians, as they can breathe in the poisonous atmosphere. They manage to direct the ship away from the black hole, but when it is safe, Rudge tells Travers that he and the Mogarians are taking over the ship.
 
Mel gets to the lounge ahead of Rudge and warns Doland and Janet of the hijacking. Rudge tells the Doctor that the Mogarians are trying to regain the supply of metals stored in the vault, as they consider the expiring resources of rare minerals were stolen from their planet. Rudge himself is taking the hijacking as a means of securing a "more comfortable [[retirement]]", as this Mogar-Earth journey was to be his last voyage as a security officer before being written off. On the bridge, an unknown assailant kills the Mogarians by throwing a liquid at them which damages their suits and causes them to die from exposure to an oxygen environment.
 
Mel sneaks through the air ducts to let the Doctor know that the guards will attack the lounge. The Doctor believes this is too risky and tells her to attack the bridge instead. When they arrive, they find the Mogarians dead and take the face plates to prove to Rudge the hijack is over. Doland knocks the gun from Rudge's hands, and he runs into the corridors but is soon killed by the Vervoids.
 
The Doctor tells Travers about the stolen tape recording and requests his permission to search the passenger cabins. While Mel checks Lasky's locker in the gym, the Doctor tells Doland that he thinks the traitor is either him or Lasky. After searching the professor's cabin, Doland suggests the [[cabinet]] in the hydroponics centre work cabin. There, Doland reveals the tape is in his pocket, but that he has wiped it. Taking the Doctor's gun, Doland admits to the murders. He reveals that he plans to use the Vervoids for slave labour, taking over factories and farms from robots. However, the Doctor has disarmed the gun, and Travers arrives and arrests Doland. However, Doland and the guard are attacked and killed by the Vervoids.
 
The Doctor, Mel, Travers and Lasky meet on the bridge to discuss the Vervoids. Lasky believes that something must have gone wrong with their DNA, but the Doctor tells them that the Vervoids' hostillity towards them is instinctive: They are a form of carefully bred plant life, and all animal-kind ultimately consumes plant life. This means that the Vervoids hate animal-kind and kill for survival. Lasky realises that this is what made Bruchner so hysterical, and vows to help destroy the creatures, with Travers asking the Doctor to do the same.
 
Back in the courtroom, the Doctor states that this shows he was not meddling but had been asked to help. The Inquisitor accepts his argument, but the Valeyard wishes to see the outcome of events.


In the hydroponics centre, Lasky finds that the necessary chemicals to create herbicide had been taken by the Vervoids. She, Mel and the Doctor are then surrounded by the plants. Lasky tries to reason with them, but they kill her and take her body back to their lair. Escaping through the air ducts, Mel and the Doctor discover the pile of bodies. The Doctor tells the distraught Mel that this is the Vervoids' version of a compost heap.
In the hydroponics centre, Lasky finds that the necessary chemicals to create herbicide had been taken by the Vervoids. She, Mel and the Doctor are then surrounded by the plants. Lasky tries to reason with them, but they kill her and take her body back to their lair. Escaping through the air ducts, Mel and the Doctor discover the pile of bodies. The Doctor tells the distraught Mel that this is the Vervoids' version of a compost heap.


The Doctor has an idea that vionesium, the rare metal taken from Mogar stored in the ship's vault, would accelerate the Vervoids' life-cycle towards its natural end. Exposed to oxygenated air, vionesium releases intense light and carbon dioxide - to the Vervoids, the basic ingredients for their life-cycle induced by the seasons of spring, summer and autumn. Travers lowers the lighting and heating in the ship, forcing the Vervoids back to their lair, where the Doctor and Mel are waiting. They successfully deploy the metal against the Vervoids, which causes the creatures' leaf-covered bodies to turn brown, wither, and die. Having saved the survivors, the Doctor and Mel bid their farewells to Travers and Janet, and depart in the TARDIS.
The Doctor has an idea that [[vionesium]], the rare metal taken from Mogar and stored in the ship's vault, would accelerate the Vervoids' life-cycle towards its natural end. Exposed to oxygenated air, vionesium releases intense light and carbon dioxide — to the Vervoids, the basic ingredients for their life-cycle induced by the seasons of [[spring]], [[summer]] and [[autumn]]. Travers lowers the lighting and heating in the ship, forcing the Vervoids back to their lair, where the Doctor and Mel are waiting. They successfully deploy the metal against the Vervoids, which causes the creatures' leaf-covered bodies to turn brown, wither, and die. Having saved the survivors, the Doctor and Mel bid their farewells to Travers and Janet, and depart in the TARDIS.
 
The Inquisitor asks the Doctor if any of the Vervoids survived, and he informs her that none did; if even a leaf had survived and reached Earth, a Vervoid would have grown. Seizing on this, the Valeyard accuses the Doctor of destroying a entire species and for the punishment, the charge must now be genocide...


==Cast==
Back in the courtroom, the Inquisitor asks the Doctor if any of the Vervoids survived, and he informs her that none did; if even a leaf had survived and reached Earth, a Vervoid would have grown. Seizing on this, the Valeyard accuses the Doctor of destroying an entire species and for the punishment, the charge must now be genocide...
*[[Sixth Doctor|The Doctor]] - [[Colin Baker]]
*[[Melanie Bush|Mel]] - [[Bonnie Langford]]
*[[The Valeyard]] - [[Michael Jayston]]
*[[The Inquisitor]] - [[Lynda Bellingham]]
*[[Lasky|Professor Lasky]] - [[Honor Blackman]]
*[[Travers|Commodore Travers]] - [[Michael Craig]]
*[[Rudge]] - [[Denys Hawthorne]]
*[[Janet]] - [[Yolande Palfrey]]
*[[Doland]] - [[Malcolm Tierney]]
*[[Bruchner]] - [[David Allister]]
*[[Hallett|Grenville / Hallett]] - [[Tony Scoggo]]
*[[Kimber]] - [[Arthur Hewlett]]
*[[Edwardes]] - [[Simon Slater]]
*[[Atza]] - [[Sam Howard]]
*[[Ortezo]] - [[Leon Davis]]
*Guard/First Guard - [[Hugh Beverton]]
*Duty Officer - [[Mike Mungarvan]]
*Second Guard - [[Martin Weedon]]
*Mutant / [[Ruth Baxter]] - [[Barbara Ward]]
*First Vervoid - [[Peppi Borza]]
*Second Vervoid - [[Bob Appleby]]


==Crew==
== Cast ==
*[[Assistant Floor Manager]] - [[Karen Little]]
* [[Sixth Doctor|The Doctor]] - [[Colin Baker]]
*[[Costumes]] - [[Andrew Rose]]
* [[Melanie Bush|Melanie]] - [[Bonnie Langford]]
*[[Designer]] - [[Dinah Walker]]
* [[The Valeyard]] - [[Michael Jayston]]
*[[Incidental Music]] - [[Malcolm Clarke]]
* [[The Inquisitor]] - [[Lynda Bellingham]]
*[[Make-Up]] - [[Shaunna Harrison]]
* [[Sarah Lasky|Professor Lasky]] - [[Honor Blackman]]
*[[Producer]] - [[John Nathan-Turner]]
* [[Travers (Terror of the Vervoids)|Commodore]] - [[Michael Craig]]
*[[Production Assistant]] - [[Jane Wellesley]]
* [[Rudge]] - [[Denys Hawthorne]]
*[[Production Associate]] - [[June Collins]], [[Jenny Doe]]
* [[Janet (Terror of the Vervoids)|Janet]] - [[Yolande Palfrey]]
*[[Script Editor]] - [[Eric Saward]]
* [[Doland]] - [[Malcolm Tierney]]
*[[Special Sounds]] - [[Dick Mills]]
* [[Bruchner]] - [[David Allister]]
*[[Studio Lighting]] - [[Don Babbage]]
* [[Hallett (Terror of the Vervoids)|Grenville / Hallett]] - [[Tony Scoggo]]
*[[Studio Sound]] - [[Brian Clark]]
* [[Kimber]] - [[Arthur Hewlett]]
*[[Theme Arrangement]] - [[Dominic Glynn]]
* [[Edwardes]] - [[Simon Slater]]
*[[Title Music]] - [[Ron Grainer]]
* [[Atza]] - [[Sam Howard]]
*[[Visual Effects]] - [[Kevin Molloy]]
* [[Ortezo]] - [[Leon Davis]]
* [[Guard 1 (Terror of the Vervoids)|Guard]]/[[Guard 1 (Terror of the Vervoids)|First Guard]] - [[Hugh Beverton]]
* [[Duty officer (Terror of the Vervoids)|Duty Officer]] - [[Mike Mungarvan]]
* [[Guard 2 (Terror of the Vervoids)|Second Guard]] - [[Martin Weedon]]
* Mutant / [[Ruth Baxter]] - [[Barbara Ward]]
* First Vervoid - [[Peppi Borza]]
* Second Vervoid - [[Bob Appleby]]


==References==
=== Uncredited cast ===
*[[Article 7]] of [[Gallifrey]]an law deals with genocide.
* Time Lords - [[Derek Hunt]], [[David Bache]]
*[[Fourth Doctor|The Doctor]] faced a similar choice on whether it was justified to wipe out a potentially genocidal species in ''[[Genesis of the Daleks]]'', with him coming to a different conclusion.
* Clerk of Court - [[Ian Marshall-Fisher|Ian Marshal-Fisher]]
*[[Demeter Seed]]s are specially bred edible seeds that will grow almost anywhere.
* Guards - [[Richard Bonehill]], [[Kevin O'Brien]]
*In contrast to the events presented on Ravalox and Thoros Beta in the previous 8 episodes, the events presented here form part of The Doctor's defence case, rather than The Valeyard's prosecution and are selected by him from the future of his personal timeline to defend the case for his continued existence. Why he chooses this particular incident to support that view is unclear, particularly as it features the above mentioned, self-confessed genocide.
* Loaders - [[Robert Goodman]], [[Richard Bonehill]]
*It is similarly unclear why The Doctor allows the Hyperion III to remain on course to Earth and destroy the Vervoids, rather than evacuating the survivors in the TARDIS and re-routing the liner to a planet with no humanoid life.
* Officer - [[Robert Goodman]] (all [[DWM 323]])


===[[:Category:Individuals|Individuals]]===
== Crew ==
*[[Melanie Bush]] comes from [[Pease Pottage]], and has almost total recall. Her house had a large garden, with a compost heap.
* [[Assistant Floor Manager]] - [[Karen Little]]
*Travers and Hallett have both met the Doctor on a previous occasion.
* [[Camera Supervisor]] - [[Alec Wheal]]
* [[Costumes]] - [[Andrew Rose]]
* [[Designer (crew)|Designer]] - [[Dinah Walker]]
* [[Incidental Music]] - [[Malcolm Clarke]]
* [[Make-Up]] - [[Shaunna Harrison]]
* [[Producer]] - [[John Nathan-Turner]]
* [[Production Assistant]] - [[Jane Wellesley]]
* [[Production Associate]]s - [[June Collins]], [[Jenny Doe]]
* [[Production Manager]] - [[Ian Fraser]]
* [[Script Editor]] - [[Eric Saward]]
* [[Special Sounds]] - [[Dick Mills]]
* [[Studio Lighting|Lighting Director]] - [[Don Babbage]]
* [[Studio Sound|Sound]] - [[Brian Clark]]
* [[Technical Co-Ordinator]] - [[Alan Arbuthnott]]
* [[Theme Arrangement]] - [[Dominic Glynn]]
* [[Doctor Who theme|Title Music]] - [[Ron Grainer]]
* [[Video Effects]] - [[Danny Popkin]]
* [[Videotape editor|Videotape Editor]] - [[Hugh Parson]]
* [[Vision Mixer]] - [[Shirley Coward]]
* [[Visual Effects]] - [[Kevin Molloy]]


===[[:Category:Planets|Planets]]===
== Worldbuilding ==
*[[Mogar]] is a planet in the [[Perseus Arm]] of the [[Milky Way]]. It is rich in rare metals (including [[vionesium]], similar to [[magnesium]], which emits light and [[carbon dioxide]] when exposed to air and thus ignited), which are being exploitatively mined by [[human]]s. It is the home planet of the [[Mogarian]]s.
* Mel mentions [[Vitamin A]].
*Between Mogar and [[Earth]] lies the [[Black hole]] of [[Tartarus]].
* [[Article 7]] of [[Gallifreyan law]] stipulates that genocide is unconditionally punishable by death.
*[[Stella Stora]] suffered from grain shortages around [[2983]].
* [[Demeter seed]]s are specially bred edible seeds that will grow almost anywhere.
* According to [[Doland]], the [[Roman Empire]] was built on [[slave]] labour.
* The Doctor asks for a [[phaser]], arousing the astonishment of Melanie.
* The Doctor and Mel discuss the husbandry concept of [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Judas_goat Judas goats], albeit erroneously (by stating they're decoys to lure out predators).


===[[:Category:Races and species|Races and species]]===
=== Individuals ===
*[[Vervoid]]s were created on Mogar by Lasky to be a workforce to replace robots.
* [[Melanie Bush]] comes from [[Pease Pottage]], and has almost total recall. Her house had a large garden, with a compost heap.
*[[Mogarian]]s are gold skinned humanoids with grill like mouths who cannot breathe [[oxygen]]. They are a peace loving race, for whom [[water]] on the face is fatal, but who nevertheless drink [[tea]].
* Lasky is reading ''[[Murder on the Orient Express]]'' in the lounge.
*Vervoids can produce a gas that smells like [[methane]], but is non-explosive, in large enough quantities to kill humans.
* Lasky is a [[thremmatologist]].


==Story notes==
=== Planets ===
*This would be in the series the last time the 6th doctor would be seen in the TARDIS console room, as Sylvester McCoy would play the 6th for the regeneration for the new series.
* [[Mogar]] is a planet in the [[Perseus arm]] of the [[Milky Way]]. It is the home planet of the [[Mogarian]]s.
*This is the first appearance of Bonnie Langford as Mel, who receives no introductory story, and indeed no explanation of how she came to travel with the Doctor.
* Between Mogar and [[Earth]] lies the [[Black Hole of Tartarus]].
*The story was commissioned as '''The Ultimate Foe''' but no working title is known to be recorded in production paperwork, though writers Pip & Jane Baker later recalled the story was called '''The Vervoids''' during production.
* [[Stella Stora]] suffered from [[grain]] shortages around [[2983]].
*This story was a replacement for an original submission, "[[Attack From the Mind]]" by [[Jack Trevor Story]], set on the planet Penelope; later drafts included "[[The Last Adventure]]" by [[Christopher H. Bidmead]] and "[[Paradise 5]]" by [[P.J. Hammond]].
* The Doctor purposes Melanie to go to [[Pyro Shika]], a "fascinating planet".
*Honor Blackman (Professor Lasky) is best known for playing Cathy Gale in [[Wikipedia:The Avengers|The Avengers]] and as Pussy Galore in the [[James Bond]] film [[Wikipedia:Goldfinger|Goldfinger]].
*Lasky is reading ''[[wikipedia:Murder on the Orient Express|Murder on the Orient Express]]'' in the lounge.
*Two of the Mogarians play ''[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phoenix_(video_game) Phoenix]'' in Part Ten.
*Unlike the previous two stories, the events of this serial have no underlying connection to the Doctor's trial, though the trial is used as a framing device.


===Ratings===
=== Species ===
:Numbers in brackets refer to parts relating to this story.
* [[Vervoid]]s were created on the planet Mogar by Lasky to be a workforce to replace robots.
*Part Nine (1) - 5.2 million viewers
* [[Mogarian]]s are gold skinned humanoids with grill-like mouths who must wear environmental suits in an [[oxygen]] atmosphere.
*Part Ten (2) - 4.6 million viewers
* Vervoids can produce a gas that smells like [[methane]].
*Part Eleven (3) - 5.3 million viewers
* The Doctor likens Vervoid instincts to [[salmon]] swimming upstream to spawn even if they die.
*Part Twelve (4) - 5.3 million viewers


===Myths===
=== Cultural references from real world ===
''to be added''
* The Doctor quotes ''The Listeners'' by Walter de la Mare: "‘Is there anybody there?’ said the Traveller"


===Filming locations===
== Story notes ==
*[[BBC Television Centre]] ([[List of stories recorded at BBC Television Centre|TC1 &amp; TC3]]), Shepherd's Bush, [[London]]
* This would be the last time in the series that [[Colin Baker]] would be seen in the TARDIS console room, as [[Sylvester McCoy]] stood in for him in the [[regeneration]] scene of [[TV]]: ''[[Time and the Rani (TV story)|Time and the Rani]]''.
* The story was commissioned as ''The Ultimate Foe'' but no working title is recorded in production paperwork, though writers [[Pip & Jane Baker]] later recalled the story was called ''The Vervoids'' during production.
* The ''Radio Times'' programme listing for part twelve was accompanied by a black-and-white publicity still of Professor Lasky, with the accompanying caption "Glamorous passenger on a space liner heading for disaster: [[Honor Blackman]] plays suspect scientist Professor Lasky / BBC1, 5.45 p.m. Doctor Who". ''(original published text)''
* This story was a replacement for an original submission, "[[Attack from the Mind (unproduced TV story)|Attack from the Mind]]" by {{w|David Halliwell}} set on the planet Penelope. Later drafts included "[[The Last Adventure (TV story)|The Last Adventure]]" by [[Christopher H. Bidmead]] and "[[Paradise 5 (audio story)|Paradise 5]]" by [[P.J. Hammond]].
* In keeping with the colour coding of the Doctor's outfit, he is seen in archival footage wearing a yellow cravat with a blue and green star pattern and a blue, green, and purple striped waistcoat. This outfit serves to visually aid the idea of the footage being from the Doctor's future, though he appears to switch back to his red check waistcoat and red cravat in ''[[Time and the Rani (TV story)|Time and the Rani]]''.
* For the episode nine cliffhanger, [[John Nathan-Turner]] asked [[Bonnie Langford]] to scream in the key of F, since this would segue perfectly into the closing theme music.
* Unlike the previous two stories, the events of this serial have no underlying connection to the Doctor's trial, though the trial is used as a framing device.
* The role of Sarah Lasky was written for a woman in her forties, but was played by [[Honor Blackman]], who was almost 60 at the time of taping.
* The ending of part eleven was supposed to be a model shot of the ''Hyperion III'' flying towards the Black Hole of Tartarus. [[John Nathan-Turner]] thought that all episodes of the "Trial" season should end on a close-up on the Doctor's face however (even though episode 9 memorably avoided that), and had the episode re-edited to end on a shot of the Doctor looking vaguely annoyed at Lasky.
* [[Tom Adams (actor)|Tom Adams]], [[George Baker]], [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ian_Bannen Ian Bannen], [[Keith Barron]], [[John Carson]], [[Frank Finlay]], [[Ronald Fraser]], [[Peter Gilmore]], [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Richard_Johnson_(actor) Richard Johnson], [[Patrick Stewart]], [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anthony_Valentine Anthony Valentine] and [[Frank Windsor]] were considered for Commodore Travers.
* [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nicholas_Ball_(actor) Nicholas Ball], [[Jim Broadbent]], [[Andrew Burt]], [[Jack Galloway]], [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_Gothard Michael Gothard], [[Del Henney]], [[Ian Hogg]], [[Martin Jarvis]], [[Paul Jerricho]], [[Clive Merrison]], [[Edward Peel]], [[Jeff Rawle]], [[Paul Shelley]], [[Donald Sumpter]], [[James Warwick]] and [[Simon Williams]] were considered for Doland.
* [[Pip Baker]] got the idea for the Vervoids after reading in a scientific journal that plants have feelings.
* [[Pip and Jane Baker|Pip & Jane Baker]] enjoyed the disclipline of a whodunnit. They claimed that the production team assumed that Janet was the killer, as she had the best access. According to [[Jane Baker]], there was a betting group on who was going to be the murderer.
* There was brief discussion of having [[Robert Holmes]] write the segment, but he was dealing with health problems and re-writes on ''[[The Mysterious Planet (TV story)|The Mysterious Planet]].''
* The Vervoids were named after the vervain, a genus of semi-woody flowering plants also known as the verbena.
* [[Pip and Jane Baker]] worked closely with [[Eric Saward]] to try to avert any major problems, but communication became poor as he grew increasingly unhappy with the scripts. He later resigned as script editor, leaving [[John Nathan-Turner]] to assume his duties. Saward would receive no televised credit on the broadcast episodes.
* [[Gary Downie]] recommended [[Chris Clough]] as director, having worked with him on ''[[EastEnders]]''.
* [[Bonnie Langford]] was delighted to learn that [[Chris Clough]] had hired dancers to play the Vervoids to ensure that the creatures would move gracefully.
* [[Bonnie Langford]] had worked with several of the Vervoid artistes previously on stage, and she was amused to see them made up as monsters.
* The cabin set was redressed as Janet's compartment.
* A minor emergency occurred when the tube through which Vervoid actor [[Peppi Borza]] was “exhaling” marsh gas accidentally dropped down inside his mask, threatening to choke him. Fortunately, the headpiece was removed before it was too late and, after being cleared by the medical staff, Borza was able to return to work.
* There was a pessimistic atomsphere onset, as there was no comfirmation that the show would come back for another series, leading to fears of cancellation. Matters weren't helped when [[Eric Saward]] gave a scathing interview to ''[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Starlog Starlog]'' magazine where he detailed his exit from the show and criticised [[John Nathan-Turner]].


===Production errors===
=== Ratings ===
{{discontinuity}}At the end of Part One, Mel screams loudly and then the pods open then she stops screaming, but at the start of Part Two, Mel screams then stops then the pods open.
:Numbers in brackets refer to parts relating to this story.
* Part nine (1) - 5.2 million viewers
* Part ten (2) - 4.6 million viewers
* Part eleven (3) - 5.3 million viewers
* Part twelve (4) - 5.3 million viewers


==Continuity==
=== Filming locations ===
*Mel meets the Doctor for the 'first time' in [[PDA]]: ''[[Business Unusual]]''.
* [[BBC Television Centre]] ([[List of stories recorded at BBC Television Centre|TC1 &amp; TC3]]), Shepherd's Bush, [[London]]
*[[PDA]]: ''[[Instruments of Darkness]]'' reveals some information about the Doctor's previous adventure with Travers.


==[[Sixth Doctor - Timeline|Timeline]]==
=== Production errors ===
*This story takes place after [[DW]]: ''[[Mindwarp]]''
{{discontinuity}}
*The flash-forward scenes occur in between [[MA]]: ''[[Millennial Rites]]'' and [[PDA]]: ''[[The Quantum Archangel]]''
* At the end of part one, Mel screams loudly and then the pods open then she stops screaming, but at the start of part two, Mel screams then stops then the pods open.
*This story takes place before [[DW]]: ''[[The Ultimate Foe]]''
* The yellow ray guns seen in this serial are clearly embossed label makers held upside down.


==Home video and audio releases==
=== Special Edition ===
'''DVD release'''
'''''Terror of the Vervoids - Special Edition''''' was released in [[7 October (releases)|7 October]] [[2019 (releases)|2019]] in the [[Season 23 (Doctor Who 1963)|Season 23]] boxset of ''[[The Collection]]''. It featured updated CGI effects done by [[Rob Ritchie]].{{Store variant data|variant=Special Edition|release date =7 October 2019}}
*Released in [[The Trial of a Time Lord]] boxset on the [[29th September]] [[2008]].
* Editing for DVD release completed by [[Doctor Who Restoration Team]].


'''VHS releases'''
It removed the courtroom framing scenes from the story, along with two scenes from the "evidence" segments that were strongly suggested to in-universe have been added in by the Valeyard.


Released as ''Doctor Who: Terror of the Vervoids''
==== Deviations from original serial ====
* This version had an opening with an original title sequence.
''to be expanded''


Released:
==== Gallery ====
<gallery position="center" captionalign="center" hideaddbutton="true" orientation="landscape">
Terror of the Vervoids (2019 Special Edition) title card.jpg |Title card
Hyperion III.jpg |Updated [[Hyperion III]]
</gallery>


*[[UK]] [[October]] [[1993]] (Released with the other Trial of the Timelord stories in a Tardis-shaped tin with a random picture of one of the (then) seven Doctors on the base)
== Continuity ==
*[[US]] [[October]] [[1993]] (Same as the UK release except packed in a cardboard box in honor of Doctor Who's 30th anniversary)
* The Doctor will later meet Met for the 'first time.' ([[PROSE]]: ''[[Business Unusual (novel)|Business Unusual]]'')
*[[Australia]] [[October]] [[1993]]
* The Doctor previously encountered Travers. ([[PROSE]]: ''[[Instruments of Darkness (novel)|Instruments of Darkness]]'')
* One account stated the Vervoid threat aboard the ''Hyperion III'' was a "possible future", ([[PROSE]]: ''[[Mindwarp (novelisation)|Mindwarp]]'') and the Doctor later contemplated how to prevent his encounter with the Vervoids as he believed it would lead to his becoming the Valeyard. ([[PROSE]]: ''[[Millennial Rites (novel)|Millennial Rites]]'') He eventually did encounter them, as the [[Seventh Doctor]] recounted to [[Bernice Summerfield]], wondering if she was with him as that part of his life was confusing. ([[PROSE]]: ''[[All-Consuming Fire (novel)|All-Consuming Fire]]'')
* The Doctor previously learnt the Vervoid evidence was indeed altered, but this was forgotten on exiting the Matrix. The Doctor had in fact not committed genocide as he planted a new crop of Vervoids genetically modified to lack genocidal tendencies. ([[PROSE]]: ''[[Interstitial Insecurity (short story)|Interstitial Insecurity]]'')
* The Doctor has a sense of evil when he arrives on the ''Hyperion''. ([[TV]]: ''[[The War Machines (TV story)|The War Machines]]'')
* In a [[parallel universe]] in which [[The Valeyard (He Jests at Scars...)|the Valeyard]] killed the Sixth Doctor and acquired his seven remaining [[regeneration]]s, the Valeyard and his companion [[Ellie Martin (He Jests at Scars...)|Ellie Martin]] travelled to the ''Hyperion III'' in the place of the Doctor and Mel. He left Travers and his entire crew dead and the "[[Vervoid|augmented aubergines]]" to their own devices. This incident was observed by the [[Time Lord]] [[Vansell (He Jests at Scars...)|Vansell]], [[Coordinator]] of the [[Celestial Intervention Agency|CIA]]. ([[AUDIO]]: ''[[He Jests at Scars... (audio story)|He Jests at Scars...]]'')
* The Doctor walks in the wrong direction to where he was heading but when his path was corrected, he stated that he was aware he was going the wrong way. He later does this in his [[tenth incarnation]]. ([[TV]]: ''[[Army of Ghosts (TV story)|Army of Ghosts]]'')
* The Doctor tries to take Mel to [[Pyro Shika]]. ([[PROSE]]: ''[[The Mondas Touch (short story)|The Mondas Touch]]'')
* The Doctor recalls the Roman Empire falling. ([[TV]]: ''[[The Romans (TV story)|The Romans]]'')
* The Doctor uses one of the yellow ray guns from this story when attempting to shoot [[Reggie Rat]] while acting as continuity announcer on [[Untitled (1986 TV story)|BBC Three]].


==Novelisation and its audiobook==
== Home video and audio releases ==
[[Image:Terror of the Vervoids TOATL novel.jpg|right|75px]]
VHS releases
:''Main article: [[Terror of the Vervoids (novelisation)]]''
* This story was released as ''Doctor Who: Terror of the Vervoids''.
* It was released:
** [[UK]] October 1993 (released with the other ''The Trial of a Time Lord'' stories in a Tardis-shaped tin with a random picture of one of the (then) seven Doctors on the base)
** [[US]] October 1993 (same as the UK release except packed in a cardboard box in honour of ''Doctor Who''{{'}}s 30th anniversary)
** [[Australia]] October 1993
DVD release
* This story was released in ''[[The Trial of a Time Lord (box set)|The Trial of a Time Lord]]'' boxset on [[29 September (releases)|29 September]] [[2008 (releases)|2008]].
* Editing for the DVD release was completed by the [[Doctor Who Restoration Team]].


* Novelised by [[Pip and Jane Baker]] in [[1988]].
==== Special Features ====
* Commentary by [[Colin Baker]] ([[Sixth Doctor|the Doctor]]), [[Michael Craig]] ([[Travers (Terror of the Vervoids)|Commodore Travers]]), [[Pip and Jane Baker]] (Writers) and [[Chris Clough]] (Director)
* ''[[The Making of The Trial of a Time Lord: Part Three - Terror of the Vervoids|The Making of Terror of the Vervoids]]'' - A new documentary featuring members of the cast and crew
* Deleted and Extended Scenes - 14 minutes of extra material not used in the final production
* ''[[The Lost Season (documentary)|The Lost Season]]'' - An exploration of the stories originally scheduled for this series, before being replaced by ''[[Season 23 (Doctor Who 1963)|The Trial of a Time Lord]]''
* ''[[Now, Get Out of That: Doctor Who Cliffhangers (documentary)|Now, Get Out of That]]'' - An examination of ''Doctor Who's'' all-important cliffhangers
* Trails and Continuity - From the original 1986 transmission
* ''The Saturday Picture Show'' - Mark Curry interviews new companion [[Bonnie Langford]]
* Photo Gallery
* Production Information Subtitles


==External links==
<gallery position="center" captionalign="center" hideaddbutton="true">
*{{bbcepguideclassic|trialtimelord3/|Terror of the Vervoids}}
File:Bbcdvd-ttoatl-terrorofthevervoids.jpg|Region 2 UK cover
*{{dwrefguide|trial.htm#7C1|Terror of the Vervoids}}
File:Terror of the vervoids.jpg|Region 1 US cover
*{{briefhistory|serials/7c-1.html|Terror of the Vervoids}}
File:Trial of a time lord 9-12 region4.jpg|Region 4 AUS cover
*[http://www.timelash.com/tardis/display.asp?805 The Tardis Library: Video release information for '''Terror of the Vervoids''']
</gallery>
Blu-Ray releases
* This story was released in the Season 23 Boxset on 3 October 2019.
Blu-Ray contents
* Audio Commentary featuring [[Colin Baker]], [[Michael Craig]], [[Chris Clough]], and [[Pip and Jane Baker]].
* 5.1 Surround Sound Mix
* Isolated Music Soundtrack
* [[The Making of The Trial of a Time Lord: Part Three - Terror of the Vervoids]].
* Behind the Sofa
* Deleted and Extended Scenes
* Studio Footage
* Trails and Continuity
* ''[[Terror of the Vervoids (home video)|Terror of the Vervoids]]'' - A 2019 four-part special edition with updated special effects, a new title sequence and omitting the courtroom material and "altered" Matrix scenes to create a new standalone version of the story.
* Production Subtitles
* HD Photo Gallery
* PDF Written Archive
* Alternative and Extended Cuts.


== External links ==
* {{bbcepguideclassic|trialtimelord3/|The Trial of a Time Lord 3}}
* {{radiotimes|2012-06-29/the-trial-of-a-time-lord|The Trial of a Time Lord}}
{{dwcast}}
{{dwrefguide|trial.htm#7C1|Terror of the Vervoids}}
* {{briefhistory|serials/7c-1.html|Terror of the Vervoids}}
* [http://www.timelash.com/tardis/display.asp?805 The Tardis Library: Video release information for '''Terror of the Vervoids''']
{{DWTV}}
{{Revised editions of Doctor Who TV stories}}
{{Valeyard stories}}
{{TitleSort}}
[[de:Terror of the Vervoids]]
[[es:Terror of the Vervoids]]


{{season 23}}
[[Category:Doctor Who (1963) television stories]]
[[Category:Sixth Doctor episodes]]
[[Category:Stories set in 2986]]
[[Category:Time Lord episodes]]
[[Category:Television stories set in Mutter's Spiral]]
[[Category:Stories set in the 30th century]]
[[Category:Stories set in Mutter's Spiral]]
[[Category:1986 television stories]]
[[Category:The Trial of a Time Lord arc]]
[[Category:Season 23 stories]]
[[Category:Season 23 stories]]

Latest revision as of 20:10, 3 November 2024

RealWorld.png

Terror of the Vervoids was the unbroadcast title given to the third story of The Trial of a Time Lord, the season-long story arc that covered season 23 of Doctor Who. While the previous stories of the season delved into past adventures of the Sixth Doctor, this story examined the Doctor's pending future. Using that anachronistic style, it introduced Bonnie Langford as companion Melanie Bush, deviating from the formulaic structure where a stranger found themselves meeting the Doctor for the first time, and vice versa. Instead, her character was a future companion that the Doctor had yet to meet - something later repeated with the character River Song 22 years later.

On 23 September 2019, Season 23 was released on Blu-ray Box Set with updated special effects, in which this story was also edited into a standalone story. With it, a unique new title sequence was created by fan Rob Ritchie.

Synopsis[[edit] | [edit source]]

The Time Lords have brought the Doctor to trial, accusing him of gross interference in the affairs of other planets. If he is found guilty he must forfeit all his remaining regenerations. In the hope of proving his innocence, Melanie Bush, an as-of-yet unmet companion from later in his life, is summoned to the court. Hopefully, through her help, the jurors will be reassured in letting the Doctor go free by seeing what good acts he stands to commit as opposed to destructive ones.

In his defence, the Doctor tells of an adventure from his personal future - set on board the Hyperion III space liner in his future. Answering a distress call, the Doctor and Mel arrive on the liner just as a series of grisly murders begins.

Plot[[edit] | [edit source]]

Part nine[[edit] | [edit source]]

The Doctor returns to the courtroom after a recess, given to allow him some time to mourn Peri Brown's death, which was revealed in the previous block of evidence. The Doctor begins his defence, showing events from his future. The galactic liner Hyperion III is a ship taking a supply of rare metals from Mogar to Earth in the year 2986 AD. The Doctor states that many of the passengers and crew will not survive the journey to Earth, for "[someone determined to] protect a secret hidden on the space liner... will become a murderer."

On the spaceliner Hyperion III, an elderly man named Kimber thinks he recognises a fellow passenger as an investigator called Hallett. However, the passenger denies this, claiming that he is a mineralogist called Grenville. A trio of scientist passengers — Professor Sarah Lasky and her colleagues Bruchner and Doland — are alarmed that Grenville might actually be an investigator.

Edwardes, the communications officer, detects a craft close to the ship — the TARDIS — but is unable to get a reply. Suddenly, an unseen figure attacks him and injects him with a syringe. He then uses the communication equipment to send a message to the TARDIS. On board, the Doctor and Mel pick up a Mayday message, stating "...perative traitor be identified before landing Earth." They materialise within the Hyperion III's cargo hold, next to the hydroponics centre. The Doctor tells Mel he can sense evil, and says they should leave, but they are seized by guards. They are brought before Commodore Travers — whom the Doctor has met once before. Travers denies sending a mayday signal, but wants the Doctor and Mel to remain on board, and confines them to passenger quarters. Travers hopes, from his previous experience of the Doctor's behaviour, that he will be able to find out who sent the fake mayday call.

A Mogarian performs his experiment.

The Doctor is convinced that whoever sent the message knew him and wanted him on board. Mel suggests that the Doctor ask for a passenger list, in the hope of spotting a familiar name, while she wanders around the large liner in hope of finding the mysterious contact. Security officer Rudge takes Mel to the ship's gymnasium, where he shows her how to use the headphones and tape recordings to help her exercise. While she is doing so, Doland arrives and informs Lasky that someone has broken into their hydroponics centre. As they rush off to find Bruchner, Mel hears someone on her headphones, telling her to take the Doctor to Cabin 6. Down in the cargo hold, Lasky, Doland and Bruchner check the hydroponics centre; the large pods inside are stable, but the Demeter seeds have been stolen from the small work cabin.

In the lounge, the Doctor persuades the stewardess Janet to let him see the passenger list, but he does not recognise any of the names. Mel arrives and gives the Doctor the message to go to Cabin 6, but the Doctor declines, claiming he feels like he would be simply walking into a trap. Mel decides to go by herself, but when she arrives, she discovers the Doctor is already there. They find the room has been wrecked, supposedly in a fight, and they find the silver Demeter seeds and a single boot.

Rudge contacts Travers to inform him there has been an accident in the waste disposal unit; it seems that someone has been thrown inside. All that is left is a boot matching the one found by the Doctor and Mel in Cabin 6. They learn that these belonged to Grenville, but the Doctor does not recognise the name. The Doctor and Mel go to the gymnasium. The Doctor says that, with Grenville dead, there is nothing they can do. Mel departs to investigate the hydroponics centre alone.

Back in the courtroom, the Doctor interrupts the display to claim that there have been changes to these scenes and states that he is being manipulated.

Mel enters the cargo hold, where she meets Edwardes. He agrees to show her the hydroponics centre. It was set up for the journey specially for Lasky, Doland and Bruchner, and that only low spectrum light is allowed inside to keep the pods dormant. When Edwardes tries to enter, he is electrocuted. Mel screams in fright, sparks fly around the mysterious pods and something begins to emerge from them...

Part ten[[edit] | [edit source]]

A Vervoid kills Kimber.

Two guards arrive at the scene, and Mel tells them that Edwardes is dead. One of the guards leads Mel away, and the other guard examines Edwardes' corpse. Later, Doland and Bruchner arrive to find that all the pods have been opened. Bruchner looks on in horror, asking Doland if he realises what has been unleashed. Rudge brings the Doctor to the bridge to help question Mel about being in the hydroponics centre. Rudge then gets a message from the medical team that was sent down to the hold to collect Edwardes' body, claiming that neither Edwardes nor the guard can be found.

When Travers asks the Doctor what is going on — with a passenger, now Edwardes and a guard all gone missing, two, if not all three, murdered — Mel replies that a killer must be on board the ship. Travers decides to speed up their journey to Earth and has the ship's course altered. He enters the lounge to inform the passengers that their arrival time will be brought forward by around 72 hours. Three Mogarians express their concerns that this will take them close to the Black Hole of Tartarus, but Travers assures them that they will be within adequate safety margins.

Later, one of the Mogarians collapses after having a drink. The Doctor attempts to remove the figure's face plate, but the others protest that oxygen is lethal to a Mogarian. The Doctor believes it is not a Mogarian and removes the faceplate to reveal that is actually Grenville. The Doctor, however, recognises the man as Hallett, an undercover investigator. When Kimber recalls recognising Hallett before, in front of most of the other passengers, the Doctor guesses that Hallett has faked his own death to avoid being discovered.

The Valeyard asks the Doctor how he knew the man was a fake. The Doctor replays the scene where the Mogarians spoke to Travers about the black hole, which shows that the fake one did not have his translator switched on. The Doctor also points out that Hallett's death meant that he could no longer play a passive role on board the Hyperion III.

Mel realises that the Demeter seeds left in the wrecked cabin for her and the Doctor to discover were a clue to lead them to the hydroponics centre. They go down to the hold to have a look at the place, and the Doctor wonders what came out of the pods. Returning to the passenger quarters, they see Lasky leaving a guarded isolation room. They wonder what she was doing inside, so the Doctor sets off a fire alarm to distract the guard. He and Mel enter the room, where they find a half-human, half-plant hybrid strapped to a table. Mel screams in fright...

Part eleven[[edit] | [edit source]]

The Doctor and crew look on.

The creature sits up and implores the Doctor and Mel to stop Lasky, but Lasky, Bruchner and Doland arrive and sedate her. Doland tells the time travellers that the creature is his assistant, Ruth Baxter. During their experiments involving cross-fertilisation, a speck of pollen penetrated a tiny scratch in Ruth's thumb, causing the resulting plant maturing process to partially transform her human body. They are taking her to Earth in the hope that they can reverse the infection.

Mel hears a noise in the air conditioning ducts. Attaching one of the headphones to the grill, she uses the gym sound equipment to amplify the sound and record what she hears onto one of the music tapes. She overhears creatures planning to kill all the animal-kind on the ship. As she listens, she is attacked from behind and rendered unconscious with an anaesthetic. The attacker dumps her in a disposal trolley. The Doctor enters the gym and hears the recording, including her scream when she was attacked. The Doctor runs after the trolley and rescues her from being killed in the waste disposal unit. Unfortunately, the attacker has removed the tape.

Bruchner is becoming increasingly hysterical about the situation with the hydroponics centre, especially when the elderly Kimber disappears. It turns out that he, Edwardes and the missing guard have all been killed by plant-like creatures called Vervoids — the creatures that came out of the pods when Edwardes was electrocuted. The Vervoids are slowly skulking through the Hyperion III's air ducts, secretly killing the crew and passengers one at a time and dumping their bodies in their lair. Lasky finds Bruchner burning the notes on their work in the hydroponics centre's small work cabin and tries unsuccessfully to reason with him about his actions. Bruchner knocks Lasky out, runs off and attacks a guard, taking his gun. He goes to the bridge and forces Travers and the pilot to leave, then changes the course of the Hyperion to head straight into the black hole of Tartarus — planning to destroy the ship, and the Vervoids with it. The Doctor informs the Commodore of the Hyperion III of this fact. Professor Lasky is stunned by this news. The Doctor looks accusingly at the Commodore...

Part twelve[[edit] | [edit source]]

The Vervoids admire their killings.

The Doctor, Lasky and Travers attempt to break into the bridge, but they discover it is filled with marsh gas. This has been released into the bridge by the Vervoids, who — having overheard Lasky talking with Bruchner in the hydroponics centre — have learned that they are the only members of their species. Bruchner is killed by the gas, but the ship is still heading into the black hole. Rudge summons the two Mogarians, as they can breathe in the poisonous atmosphere. They manage to direct the ship away from the black hole, but when it is safe, Rudge tells Travers that he and the Mogarians are taking over the ship.

Mel gets to the lounge ahead of Rudge and warns Doland and Janet of the hijacking. Rudge tells the Doctor that the Mogarians are trying to regain the supply of metals stored in the vault, as they consider the expiring resources of rare minerals were stolen from their planet. Rudge himself is taking the hijacking as a means of securing a "more comfortable retirement", as this Mogar-Earth journey was to be his last voyage as a security officer before being written off. On the bridge, an unknown assailant kills the Mogarians by throwing a liquid at them which damages their suits and causes them to die from exposure to an oxygen environment.

Mel sneaks through the air ducts to let the Doctor know that the guards will attack the lounge. The Doctor believes this is too risky and tells her to attack the bridge instead. When they arrive, they find the Mogarians dead and take the face plates to prove to Rudge the hijack is over. Doland knocks the gun from Rudge's hands, and he runs into the corridors but is soon killed by the Vervoids.

The Doctor tells Travers about the stolen tape recording and requests his permission to search the passenger cabins. While Mel checks Lasky's locker in the gym, the Doctor tells Doland that he thinks the traitor is either him or Lasky. After searching the professor's cabin, Doland suggests the cabinet in the hydroponics centre work cabin. There, Doland reveals the tape is in his pocket, but that he has wiped it. Taking the Doctor's gun, Doland admits to the murders. He reveals that he plans to use the Vervoids for slave labour, taking over factories and farms from robots. However, the Doctor has disarmed the gun, and Travers arrives and arrests Doland. However, Doland and the guard are attacked and killed by the Vervoids.

The Doctor, Mel, Travers and Lasky meet on the bridge to discuss the Vervoids. Lasky believes that something must have gone wrong with their DNA, but the Doctor tells them that the Vervoids' hostillity towards them is instinctive: They are a form of carefully bred plant life, and all animal-kind ultimately consumes plant life. This means that the Vervoids hate animal-kind and kill for survival. Lasky realises that this is what made Bruchner so hysterical, and vows to help destroy the creatures, with Travers asking the Doctor to do the same.

Back in the courtroom, the Doctor states that this shows he was not meddling but had been asked to help. The Inquisitor accepts his argument, but the Valeyard wishes to see the outcome of events.

In the hydroponics centre, Lasky finds that the necessary chemicals to create herbicide had been taken by the Vervoids. She, Mel and the Doctor are then surrounded by the plants. Lasky tries to reason with them, but they kill her and take her body back to their lair. Escaping through the air ducts, Mel and the Doctor discover the pile of bodies. The Doctor tells the distraught Mel that this is the Vervoids' version of a compost heap.

The Doctor has an idea that vionesium, the rare metal taken from Mogar and stored in the ship's vault, would accelerate the Vervoids' life-cycle towards its natural end. Exposed to oxygenated air, vionesium releases intense light and carbon dioxide — to the Vervoids, the basic ingredients for their life-cycle induced by the seasons of spring, summer and autumn. Travers lowers the lighting and heating in the ship, forcing the Vervoids back to their lair, where the Doctor and Mel are waiting. They successfully deploy the metal against the Vervoids, which causes the creatures' leaf-covered bodies to turn brown, wither, and die. Having saved the survivors, the Doctor and Mel bid their farewells to Travers and Janet, and depart in the TARDIS.

Back in the courtroom, the Inquisitor asks the Doctor if any of the Vervoids survived, and he informs her that none did; if even a leaf had survived and reached Earth, a Vervoid would have grown. Seizing on this, the Valeyard accuses the Doctor of destroying an entire species and for the punishment, the charge must now be genocide...

Cast[[edit] | [edit source]]

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

Crew[[edit] | [edit source]]

Worldbuilding[[edit] | [edit source]]

  • Mel mentions Vitamin A.
  • Article 7 of Gallifreyan law stipulates that genocide is unconditionally punishable by death.
  • Demeter seeds are specially bred edible seeds that will grow almost anywhere.
  • According to Doland, the Roman Empire was built on slave labour.
  • The Doctor asks for a phaser, arousing the astonishment of Melanie.
  • The Doctor and Mel discuss the husbandry concept of Judas goats, albeit erroneously (by stating they're decoys to lure out predators).

Individuals[[edit] | [edit source]]

Planets[[edit] | [edit source]]

Species[[edit] | [edit source]]

  • Vervoids were created on the planet Mogar by Lasky to be a workforce to replace robots.
  • Mogarians are gold skinned humanoids with grill-like mouths who must wear environmental suits in an oxygen atmosphere.
  • Vervoids can produce a gas that smells like methane.
  • The Doctor likens Vervoid instincts to salmon swimming upstream to spawn even if they die.

Cultural references from real world[[edit] | [edit source]]

  • The Doctor quotes The Listeners by Walter de la Mare: "‘Is there anybody there?’ said the Traveller"

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

  • This would be the last time in the series that Colin Baker would be seen in the TARDIS console room, as Sylvester McCoy stood in for him in the regeneration scene of TV: Time and the Rani.
  • The story was commissioned as The Ultimate Foe but no working title is recorded in production paperwork, though writers Pip & Jane Baker later recalled the story was called The Vervoids during production.
  • The Radio Times programme listing for part twelve was accompanied by a black-and-white publicity still of Professor Lasky, with the accompanying caption "Glamorous passenger on a space liner heading for disaster: Honor Blackman plays suspect scientist Professor Lasky / BBC1, 5.45 p.m. Doctor Who". (original published text)
  • This story was a replacement for an original submission, "Attack from the Mind" by David Halliwell set on the planet Penelope. Later drafts included "The Last Adventure" by Christopher H. Bidmead and "Paradise 5" by P.J. Hammond.
  • In keeping with the colour coding of the Doctor's outfit, he is seen in archival footage wearing a yellow cravat with a blue and green star pattern and a blue, green, and purple striped waistcoat. This outfit serves to visually aid the idea of the footage being from the Doctor's future, though he appears to switch back to his red check waistcoat and red cravat in Time and the Rani.
  • For the episode nine cliffhanger, John Nathan-Turner asked Bonnie Langford to scream in the key of F, since this would segue perfectly into the closing theme music.
  • Unlike the previous two stories, the events of this serial have no underlying connection to the Doctor's trial, though the trial is used as a framing device.
  • The role of Sarah Lasky was written for a woman in her forties, but was played by Honor Blackman, who was almost 60 at the time of taping.
  • The ending of part eleven was supposed to be a model shot of the Hyperion III flying towards the Black Hole of Tartarus. John Nathan-Turner thought that all episodes of the "Trial" season should end on a close-up on the Doctor's face however (even though episode 9 memorably avoided that), and had the episode re-edited to end on a shot of the Doctor looking vaguely annoyed at Lasky.
  • Tom Adams, George Baker, Ian Bannen, Keith Barron, John Carson, Frank Finlay, Ronald Fraser, Peter Gilmore, Richard Johnson, Patrick Stewart, Anthony Valentine and Frank Windsor were considered for Commodore Travers.
  • Nicholas Ball, Jim Broadbent, Andrew Burt, Jack Galloway, Michael Gothard, Del Henney, Ian Hogg, Martin Jarvis, Paul Jerricho, Clive Merrison, Edward Peel, Jeff Rawle, Paul Shelley, Donald Sumpter, James Warwick and Simon Williams were considered for Doland.
  • Pip Baker got the idea for the Vervoids after reading in a scientific journal that plants have feelings.
  • Pip & Jane Baker enjoyed the disclipline of a whodunnit. They claimed that the production team assumed that Janet was the killer, as she had the best access. According to Jane Baker, there was a betting group on who was going to be the murderer.
  • There was brief discussion of having Robert Holmes write the segment, but he was dealing with health problems and re-writes on The Mysterious Planet.
  • The Vervoids were named after the vervain, a genus of semi-woody flowering plants also known as the verbena.
  • Pip and Jane Baker worked closely with Eric Saward to try to avert any major problems, but communication became poor as he grew increasingly unhappy with the scripts. He later resigned as script editor, leaving John Nathan-Turner to assume his duties. Saward would receive no televised credit on the broadcast episodes.
  • Gary Downie recommended Chris Clough as director, having worked with him on EastEnders.
  • Bonnie Langford was delighted to learn that Chris Clough had hired dancers to play the Vervoids to ensure that the creatures would move gracefully.
  • Bonnie Langford had worked with several of the Vervoid artistes previously on stage, and she was amused to see them made up as monsters.
  • The cabin set was redressed as Janet's compartment.
  • A minor emergency occurred when the tube through which Vervoid actor Peppi Borza was “exhaling” marsh gas accidentally dropped down inside his mask, threatening to choke him. Fortunately, the headpiece was removed before it was too late and, after being cleared by the medical staff, Borza was able to return to work.
  • There was a pessimistic atomsphere onset, as there was no comfirmation that the show would come back for another series, leading to fears of cancellation. Matters weren't helped when Eric Saward gave a scathing interview to Starlog magazine where he detailed his exit from the show and criticised John Nathan-Turner.

Ratings[[edit] | [edit source]]

Numbers in brackets refer to parts relating to this story.
  • Part nine (1) - 5.2 million viewers
  • Part ten (2) - 4.6 million viewers
  • Part eleven (3) - 5.3 million viewers
  • Part twelve (4) - 5.3 million viewers

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

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.
  • At the end of part one, Mel screams loudly and then the pods open then she stops screaming, but at the start of part two, Mel screams then stops then the pods open.
  • The yellow ray guns seen in this serial are clearly embossed label makers held upside down.

Special Edition[[edit] | [edit source]]

Terror of the Vervoids - Special Edition was released in 7 October 2019 in the Season 23 boxset of The Collection. It featured updated CGI effects done by Rob Ritchie.

It removed the courtroom framing scenes from the story, along with two scenes from the "evidence" segments that were strongly suggested to in-universe have been added in by the Valeyard.

Deviations from original serial[[edit] | [edit source]]

  • This version had an opening with an original title sequence.

to be expanded

Gallery[[edit] | [edit source]]

Continuity[[edit] | [edit source]]

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

VHS releases

  • This story was released as Doctor Who: Terror of the Vervoids.
  • It was released:
    • UK October 1993 (released with the other The Trial of a Time Lord stories in a Tardis-shaped tin with a random picture of one of the (then) seven Doctors on the base)
    • US October 1993 (same as the UK release except packed in a cardboard box in honour of Doctor Who's 30th anniversary)
    • Australia October 1993

DVD release

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

  • Region 2 UK cover

    Region 2 UK cover

  • Region 1 US cover

    Region 1 US cover

  • Region 4 AUS cover

    Region 4 AUS cover

Blu-Ray releases

  • This story was released in the Season 23 Boxset on 3 October 2019.

Blu-Ray contents

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

v • e
Doctor Who television stories
 
Seasons 1-4: William Hartnell
Season 1: 1963-1964
Season 2: 1964-1965
Season 3: 1965-1966
Season 4: 1966
 
Seasons 4-6: Patrick Troughton
Season 4: 1966-1967
Season 5: 1967-1968
Season 6: 1968-1969
 
Seasons 7-11: Jon Pertwee
Season 7: 1970
Season 8: 1971
Season 9: 1972
Season 10: 1972-1973
Season 11: 1973-1974
 
Seasons 12-18: Tom Baker
Season 12: 1974-1975
Season 13: 1975-1976
Season 14: 1976-1977
Season 15: 1977-1978
Season 16: 1978-1979
Season 17: 1979-1980
Season 18: 1980-1981
 
Seasons 19-21: Peter Davison
Season 19: 1982
Season 20: 1983
Children in Need 1983
Season 21: 1984
 
Seasons 21-23: Colin Baker
Season 21: 1984
Season 22: 1985
Season 23: 1986
The Trial of a Time Lord (The Mysterious Planet • Mindwarp • Terror of the Vervoids • The Ultimate Foe)
 
Seasons 24-26: Sylvester McCoy
Season 24: 1987
Season 25: 1988-1989
Season 26: 1989
 
TV Movie & 2013 specials: Paul McGann
TV Movie: 1996
Specials: 2013
Minisodes
 
Series 1: Christopher Eccleston
Series 1: 2005
Regular episodes
 
Series 2-4: David Tennant
Series 2: 2005-2006
Minisode
Christmas Special
Regular episodes
Series 3: 2006-2007
Christmas Special
Regular episodes
Animated special
Series 4: 2007-2010
Minisode
Christmas Special
Regular episodes
Minisodes
Animated special
Seasonal specials
 
Series 5-2013 specials: Matt Smith
Series 5: 2010
Regular episodes
Series 6: 2010-2011
Christmas Special
Minisodes
Regular episodes
(Part 1: Apr 2011)
Regular episodes
(Part 2: Aug 2011)
Minisode
Series 7: 2011-2013
Christmas Special
Minisodes
Regular episodes
(Part 1: 2012)
Minisode
Christmas Special
Regular episodes
(Part 2: 2013)
Specials: 2013
 
Series 8-10: Peter Capaldi
Series 8: 2014
Regular episodes
Series 9: 2014-2015
Christmas Special
Minisode
Regular episodes
Christmas Special
Series 10: 2016-2017
Christmas Special
Regular episodes
Christmas Special
 
Series 11-13: Jodie Whittaker
Series 11: 2018-2019
Regular episodes
New Year Special
Series 12: 2020-2021
Regular episodes
New Year Special
Series 13: 2021
Minisodes
Regular episodes
Seasonal specials
 
60th Anniversary Specials: David Tennant
Specials: 2023
Minisodes
60th Anniversary Specials
 
Season 1 (2023)-present: Ncuti Gatwa
Season 1: 2023-2024
Christmas Special
Regular episodes
v • e
Revised editions of Doctor Who TV stories
1990s
VFX re-edits
2000s
VFX re-edits
Re-edits
VFX updates
Animation
2010s
VFX re-edits
Re-edits
Planet of Giants • The Trial of a Time Lord Alternate Edits
VFX updates
Animation
2020s
VFX re-edits
Re-edits
VFX updates
Animation
Within each section, stories are listed by modern release order.
v • e
The Valeyard stories
Television
Audio
Prose
Complete list of appearances
Retrieved from "https://tardis.wiki/w/index.php?title=Terror_of_the_Vervoids_(TV_story)&oldid=3889814"