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{{Infobox Story SMW
story name= Frontier in Space |
|image = Annual meeting.jpg  
image=[[file:Frontierinspace_title.jpg|250px]] |
|series=[[Doctor Who television stories|''Doctor Who'' television stories]]
series=[[Doctor Who]] -<br/>[[List of Doctor Who television stories|TV Stories]] |
|season number= Season 10 (Doctor Who 1963)|
number= [[Season 10]] |
|season serial number = 3
story number= 67|
|story number= 67
doctor=[[Third Doctor]]|
|doctor = Third Doctor
companions= [[Jo Grant]]|
|companions= [[Jo Grant|Jo]]
enemy= <ul><li>[[The Master (UNIT years)|The Master]]</li><li>[[Ogron]]s</li><li>[[Dalek|The Daleks]]</li></ul>|
|enemy= {{Delgado|c}}
year= <ul><li>[[Earth]]; [[2540]]</li><li>Penal colony, [[The Moon]]; [[2540]]</li><li>[[Draconia]]; [[2540]]</li><li>[[Ogron]] Homeworld; [[2540]]</li></ul>|
|setting= [[Earth]], [[The Moon]], [[Draconia]], [[The Planet|Ogron planet]], [[2540]]
writer= [[Malcolm Hulke]] |
|writer= Malcolm Hulke
director= [[Paul Bernard]] |
|director= [[Paul Bernard]]  
producer= [[Barry Letts]] |
|producer= [[Barry Letts]]  
broadcast date= [[24th February]] - [[31st March]] [[1973]] |
|novelisation= Doctor Who and the Space War
format= 6 25-minute Episodes |
|epcount = 6
production code= [[List of production codes|QQQ]] |
|broadcast date= 24 February - 31 March 1973
previous story= [[Carnival of Monsters]]|
|network = BBC1
next story= [[Planet of the Daleks]] }}
|format= 6x25-minute episodes
|serial production code= [[List of production codes|QQQ]]
|prev= Carnival of Monsters (TV story)
|next= Planet of the Daleks (TV story)
|made prev= Carnival of Monsters (TV story)
|made next= The Three Doctors (TV story)
|clip = Classic Doctor Who The Doctor Defeats the Emperor’s Mind Probe BritBox
|bts = Peter Capaldi's favourite classic episodes - Doctor Who Series 9 (2015) - BBC|music = [[Dudley Simpson]]|thwr = 27
|thwr2 = 191
}}
'''''Frontier in Space''''' was the third serial of [[season 10 (Doctor Who 1963)|season 10]] of ''[[Doctor Who]]''. It saw the introduction of the [[Draconian]]s and the reappearance of {{Delgado}}. It was loosely connected with the following serial, ''[[Planet of the Daleks (TV story)|Planet of the Daleks]]'', and is significant for showing an alliance between the Master and the [[Dalek]]s. The serial set the stage for the storyline that was later expanded into the [[Second Dalek War]].


'''Frontier in Space''' was the third story in [[Season 10|season ten]] of ''[[Doctor Who]]''. It saw the introduction of the [[Draconian]]s and the reappearance of [[The Master (UNIT years)|the Master]]. It was loosely connected with the following serial, ''[[Planet of the Daleks]]''. It is notable as the final appearance of Roger Delgado in ''Doctor Who'' before his death.
It is further notable as the final appearance of [[Roger Delgado]] in ''Doctor Who'' before his death. Delgado died in a car accident in [[Turkey (country)|Turkey]] in June of 1973, when his [[chauffeur]]-driven vehicle ran off the road and fell into a ravine, during the on-location shoot for the TV miniseries ''Bell of Tibet''. His character was meant to have a final encounter with the Doctor in the serial ''[[The Final Game]]'', which was scrapped. ''Frontier in Space'' was the Master's last appearance until [[Robert Holmes]] and [[Philip Hinchcliffe]] brought the Master back as the main villain of ''[[The Deadly Assassin (TV story)|The Deadly Assassin]]'', albeit in a decaying form played by [[Peter Pratt]].


==Synopsis==
The story also saw the first use of a refitted version of the [[the Doctor's sonic screwdriver|sonic screwdriver]] model which debuted in ''[[Colony in Space (TV story)|Colony in Space]]''. Instead of a silver emitter ring head, it now sported a red emitter ring head, with the addition of two semi-circular black magnets attached to the end, and the extending section of the screwdriver which once contained a red band and a set of alternating yellow and black coiling stripes was now unpainted in a plainly metallic colour scheme. This model of the sonic screwdriver remained in use by the Doctor all the way up to his [[Fifth Doctor|fifth incarnation]] midway through [[Season 19 (Doctor Who 1963)|season 19]], where it was written out of the series in ''[[The Visitation (TV story)|The Visitation]]''.
[[Third Doctor|The Doctor]] and [[Jo Grant|Jo]] are caught up in the escalating tension between planets [[Earth]] and [[Draconia]], and discover that [[the Master (UNIT years)|the Master]] is secretly working to provoke the two sides into all-out war.


==Plot==
== Synopsis ==
===Episode one===
The [[Third Doctor]] and [[Jo Grant|Jo]] are caught in the escalating tension between planets [[Earth]] and [[Draconia]] and discover that {{Delgado}} and the [[Dalek]]s are secretly working to provoke the two into all-out [[war]].
[[file:Prepare for boarding.jpg|left|150px|thumb|The [[Ogron]]s board.]]
As the [[Earth]] cargo ship C982 moves through [[hyperspace]], it narrowly avoids a collision with the [[TARDIS]], which dematerialises out of the way and rematerialises in the ship's hold. As [[Third Doctor|the Doctor]] determines that they are in the 26th century, [[Jo Grant|Jo]] sees a ship come alongside and hears a strange, high-pitched buzz. Before her eyes, the ship shimmers, changing shape, turning into a [[Draconian]] Galaxy-class battlecruiser. The two pilots, Stewart and Hardy, send out a distress signal and prepare for battle. When Hardy goes to get weapons, he meets the Doctor, but thanks to the sound emitted by the enemy ship, sees him and Jo as Draconians. Hardy escorts the Doctor and Jo at gunpoint to the ship as the Draconian captain orders C982 to surrender its cargo or be destroyed.


On Earth, the President and the Draconian ambassador (who is also the Emperor's son) accuse each other of attacking the other's ships and violating the frontier established by treaty between the two empires. General Williams reports to the President that a mission to rescue C982 is being prepared. Williams's hostility against the Draconians is well known — it was his actions that started the original war between the two sides and the Prince believes Williams wants war again, a war the Prince warns the President that will see Earth destroyed. News of the attack spreads and anti-Draconian riots break out on Earth, with the opposition calling for the government to take action.
== Plot ==
=== Episode one ===
As the [[Earth]] [[cargo ship C982]] moves through [[hyperspace]], it narrowly avoids a collision with [[The Doctor's TARDIS|the TARDIS]], which dematerialises out of the way and rematerialises in the ship's hold. The [[Third Doctor]] determines that they are in the [[26th century]]. [[Jo Grant|Jo]] sees a ship come alongside and hears a strange, high-pitched buzz. The ship shimmers, turning into a [[Draconian]] [[Galaxy class|Galaxy-class]] battlecruiser. The two pilots, [[Stewart (Frontier in Space)|Stewart]] and [[Hardy (Frontier in Space)|Hardy]], send out a distress signal and prepare for battle. When Hardy goes to get weapons, he meets the Doctor, but, thanks to the sound emitted by the enemy ship, he sees the Doctor and Jo as Draconians whilst Jo sees Hardy as a [[Drashig]]. Hardy escorts them at gunpoint as the Draconian captain orders C982 to surrender its cargo or be destroyed.


Locked up in C982's hold, the Doctor deduces that the strange sound was some kind of sonic [[Hypnosis|hypnosis]] device that caused Hardy to hallucinate and see what he most feared. As the enemy boarding party burns its way through the airlocks, Hardy gets the Doctor and Jo to use as hostages, but when the airlock door bursts open, the boarders are not Draconians, but [[Ogron]]s. The Ogrons' energy weapons stun the two pilots and the Doctor. They then tie Jo up, taking the ship's cargo and the TARDIS as they leave. When the Doctor revives and releases Jo, she tells him what the Ogrons did, and wonders if they are working for the [[Dalek]]s, as they were when she [[Day of the Daleks|first met them]]. The Doctor points out, however, that the Ogrons are mercenaries. When the rescue party arrives, Hardy and Stewart have stopped hallucinating, but with their memories garbled, accuse the Doctor and Jo of being Draconian traitors...
On Earth, the President and the Draconian ambassador (who is also the Emperor's son) accuse each other of attacking their ships and violating the frontier between the two empires established by treaty. General Williams reports to the President that a mission to rescue C982 is being prepared. Williams's hostility to the Draconians is well known — it was his actions that started the last war between the two — and the Prince believes Williams wants war again, a war, the Prince warns the President, that will see Earth destroyed. News of the attack spreads and anti-Draconian riots break out on Earth. The opposition calls for the government to take action.
[[File:Prepare for boarding.jpg|left|thumb|The [[Ogron]]s board.]]
Locked up in C982's hold, the Doctor [[deduce]]s that the strange sound was some kind of sonic [[hypnosis]] device that caused Hardy and Jo to see what they most feared. As the boarding party burns through the airlocks, Hardy gets the Doctor and Jo to use as hostages, but when the airlock door bursts open, the boarders are not Draconians, but [[Ogron]]s. The Ogrons stun the two pilots and the Doctor. They tie up Jo and take the ship's cargo and the TARDIS as they leave. When the Doctor revives and releases Jo, she tells him what the Ogrons did and wonders if they are working for the [[Dalek]]s, as they were when she first met them. The Doctor points out that the Ogrons are mercenaries, and work for whoever employs them. When the rescue party arrives, Hardy and Stewart have stopped hallucinating, but with their memories garbled, they accuse the Doctor and Jo of being Draconian traitors...


=== Episode two ===
=== Episode two ===
[[file:Draconains attack!.jpg|right|150px|thumb|The [[Draconian]]s attack.]]
The two travellers get locked up again as C982 heads back to Earth. General Williams believes the Doctor and Jo are human agents planted by the Draconians to sabotage any war effort by Earth. He brings the two travellers to confront the Draconian Prince, but the Doctor denies working for the Draconians nor does the Prince recognise them. The Doctor tries to convince the President that a third party is trying to provoke the two empires into war. However, as the Doctor can provide no reason why someone would want to or any evidence to support his claim, Williams orders him and Jo be taken away and vows he will get the truth out of them.
The two travellers get locked up again as C982 heads back to Earth. General Williams believes the Doctor and Jo are human agents planted by the Draconians to sabotage any war effort by Earth. He brings the two travellers to confront the Draconian Prince, but the Doctor denies working for the Draconians. He tries to convince the President that a third party is trying to provoke the two empires into war. However, as he can provide no reason why someone would want to, Williams orders the Doctor and Jo be taken away and vows he will get the truth out of them.


In the Draconian embassy, the Prince arranges to help Jo and the Doctor "escape" so that they can be questioned. When the two are escorted from their cell to be brought to the President, a Draconian squad attacks, taking the Doctor prisoner. When Jo tries to get more guards to help, she is arrested instead. The Draconians question the Doctor, believing that he is involved in a plot with Williams to provoke a new war. The Doctor manages to escape the embassy, but is recaptured in the compound by Earth troops. Once back in the cell with Jo, however, she hears the same sound as on C982. Outside, the Ogrons raid the prison, being seen as Draconians thanks to the hypnosound. They break into the Doctor's cell and order him to go with them....
In the Draconian [[embassy]], the Prince arranges to help Jo and the Doctor "escape" so that they can be questioned. When the two are escorted from their cell to be brought to the President, a Draconian squad attacks, taking the Doctor prisoner. Jo tries to get more guards to help, but she is arrested instead. The Draconians question the Doctor, believing that he is involved in a plot with Williams to provoke a new war. The Doctor escapes but is recaptured in the compound by Earth troops. Once he is back in the cell with Jo, she hears the same sound as on C982. Outside, the Ogrons raid the prison, looking like Draconians thanks to the [[hypnosound]]. They break into the Doctor's cell and order him to go with them.


=== Episode three ===
=== Episode three ===
[[file:Penal Colony.jpg|left|thumb|150px|[[Third Doctor|The Doctor]] on [[the Moon]]'s penal colony.]]
[[File:Penal Colony.jpg|left|thumb|[[Third Doctor|The Doctor]] on [[the Moon]]'s penal colony.]]
The second escape goes no better than the first: the Doctor is recaptured yet again and the Ogrons disappear. This second "rescue attempt" cements Williams' suspicions, making him demand that the President give him the authority to strike first against the Draconians. The President agrees to break off diplomatic relations but will not go further without conclusive proof.
The second escape goes no better than the first: the Doctor is recaptured again, and the Ogrons disappear. This second "rescue attempt" cements Williams' suspicions. He demands the president grant him the authority to strike first against the Draconians. The president agrees to break off diplomatic relations but will go no further without conclusive proof.


Williams places the Doctor under a mind probe, but it indicates the Doctor is telling the truth. Refusing to believe it, Williams orders increased power, but eventually the probe overloads. The President orders that the Doctor be sent to the [[Moon|Lunar]] Penal Colony where political prisoners are exiled for life, while Jo remains on Earth. Williams and the President receive records from the Dominion government of Sirius IV, an Earth colony planet that has achieved a degree of autonomy from Earth. The records "prove" the Doctor and Jo are citizens of Sirius IV as well as career criminals. A commissioner from the Dominion has arrived to claim jurisdiction — who is in actuality the Doctor's old enemy, the Master.
Williams puts the Doctor under a [[mind probe]]. It indicates the Doctor is telling the truth, which he is calmly repeating over and over. Williams refuses to believe it and orders increased power, but the probe overloads. The president orders the Doctor sent to the [[Lunar Penal Colony]], where political prisoners are exiled for life, while Jo remains on Earth. Williams and the president receive records from the Dominion government of [[Sirius IV]], a colony planet with some autonomy. The records "prove" the Doctor and Jo are citizens of Sirius IV and career criminals. A commissioner from the Dominion has arrived to claim jurisdiction — [[The Master (Terror of the Autons)|the Master]].


On the Moon, the Doctor meets Professor Dale of the Peace Party, who shows him around. The Doctor tries to get Dale to trust him and include him in his plans for escape. On Earth, Jo of course recognises the Master immediately, and surmises correctly that he was behind the Ogron attacks. The Master found out about the Doctor and Jo's presence when the Ogrons brought him the TARDIS. Given the unsavoury choice of going with the Master or staying in her cell, Jo agrees to go with him to fetch the Doctor.
On the Moon, the Doctor meets Professor Dale of the [[Peace Party]], who shows him around. The Doctor tries to gain Dale's trust and includes him in his plans for escape. On Earth, Jo recognises the Master immediately and realises he was behind the Ogron attacks. The Master discovered the Doctor and Jo's presence when the Ogrons brought him the TARDIS. Given the unsavoury choice of going with the Master or staying in her cell, Jo agrees to go with him to fetch the Doctor.


Despite his fantastic story, Dale believes the Doctor. The peace with the Draconians lasted many years, but suddenly devolved into senseless acts of hostility. The Doctor's story would explain a great deal. Dale outlines the escape plan: Cross, one of the overseers, will leave two spacesuits near an airlock, and they will walk across the lunar surface to steal a spaceship. Dale offers to take the Doctor back to Earth where he can tell his story to Dale's contacts in the press and government. However, once inside the airlock, they find that the oxygen tanks for the suits are empty. The Doctor triesto open the door, but it is locked. He and Dale can only realise one thing - Cross has tricked them, and is pumping out the room's air...
Dale believes the Doctor. The peace with the Draconians lasted many years but suddenly devolved into senseless acts of hostility. The Doctor's fantastic story explains everything. Dale outlines the escape plan: Cross, one of the overseers, will leave two spacesuits near an airlock. They will cross the lunar surface and steal a spaceship. Dale offers to take the Doctor back to Earth where he can tell his story to Dale's contacts in the press and government. However, once inside the airlock, they find that the suits' [[oxygen]] tanks are empty. The Doctor tries to open the door, but it is locked. He and Dale realise Cross has tricked them and is pumping out the room's air...


=== Episode four ===
=== Episode four ===
[[file:Clambering.jpg|right|150px|thumb|The Doctor climbs outside the prison ship.]]
[[File:Clambering.jpg|right|thumb|The Doctor climbs outside the prison ship.]]
At the last moment, the Master arrives and restores the room's atmosphere. The Master obtains custody of the Doctor, and gets the Doctor to come along quietly by revealing that he has Jo. Reunited with Jo in a cell in the Master's ship, the Doctor wonders why he is still alive. The Master explains that his employers are very interested in the Doctor. The Master sets the automatic controls for the Ogron homeworld.
At the last moment, the Master arrives and restores the room's atmosphere. He obtains custody of the Doctor and gets him to come along quietly by revealing that he has Jo. Reunited with Jo in a cell in the Master's ship, the Doctor wonders why he is still alive. The Master explains that his employers are very interested in the Doctor. The Master sets the ship's automatic controls for the Ogron homeworld.


Under the cover of telling Jo stories of his life, the Doctor uses a hidden steel wire to file his way through the hinges of the cell. While Jo blocks the security camera and natters on, pretending to continue the conversation, the Doctor sneaks out. Donning a [[Spacesuit|spacesuit]], the Doctor exits the ship and makes his way across the hull and into the flight deck. The Master puts Jo in an airlock, threatening to eject her into space if the Doctor does not surrender, but the Doctor takes him by surprise. As the two face off, they do not notice a Draconian battlecruiser approaching. It docks, and enters the airlock where Jo is located.
Pretending to tell Jo stories of his life, the Doctor uses a hidden steel wire to file through the cell's hinges. Jo blocks the security camera and natters, pretending to continue the conversation, while the Doctor sneaks out. Donning a [[spacesuit]], he makes his way across the hull and into the flight deck. The Master puts Jo in an airlock, threatening to eject her into space if the Doctor does not surrender. The Doctor takes him by surprise. As the two face off, they do not see a Draconian battlecruiser approaching. Draconians enter the airlock where Jo is located.


The Draconian captain informs them that, as all diplomatic relations with Earth have been severed, violating Draconian space is punishable by death. The Doctor says he has vital evidence for the Emperor and asks to speak to him. The captain decides to lock up all three of them and take them back to Draconia. However, the Master secretly activates a device whose signal is picked up by the Ogrons.
The Draconian captain tells them all diplomatic relations with Earth have been severed. Violating Draconian space is punishable by death. The Doctor says he has vital proof for the Emperor and asks to speak to him. The captain locks up all three of them to take back to Draconia. However, the Master secretly activates a device whose signal is picked up by the Ogrons, who follow them to Draconia.


===Episode five===
=== Episode five ===
[[file:In poor company.jpg|left|150px|thumb|[[The Master (UNIT years)|The Master]] gives the order to fire.]]
[[File:In poor company.jpg|left|thumb|{{Delgado|c}} gives the order to fire.]]
As the ship arrives on Draconia, the Prince is speaking with his father, asking him for permission to strike first at Earth. The Emperor, like the President, is hesitant, as he knows such a war could bring down both empires.
As the ship arrives on Draconia, the Prince is speaking with his father, the Emperor, asking for permission to strike first at Earth. The Emperor, like the President, is hesitant. He knows such a war could bring down both empires.


The Doctor, Jo and the Master are presented to the Emperor and the Doctor gives the ritual greeting, "My life at your command." The Prince is incensed that the Doctor has the temerity to address the Emperor like a Draconian noble, but the Doctor says that he ''is'' a noble of Draconia — the title was given him by the 15th Emperor, five centuries before when he aided Draconia against a plague from outer space. The Doctor accuses the Master of trying to instigate a war between Earth and Draconia using Ogrons and the hypnosound device. As the Emperor considers this, a courtier announces that an Earth spaceship has arrived. Jo hears the sound of the sonic device, and realises it is the Ogrons. They burst in, guns blazing, and retreat with the Master, leaving several dead Draconians in their wake. One Ogron has been knocked out by the Doctor, and as the effects of the hypnosound fade, the Emperor sees the "Earthman" before him transform into its true form. He then realises the Doctor is speaking the truth.
The Doctor, Jo and the Master are presented to the Emperor, and the Doctor gives the ritual greeting, "My life at your command." The Prince is incensed that the Doctor has the temerity to address the emperor like a Draconian noble, but the Doctor says that he ''is'' a noble of Draconia — the title was given him by the [[Red Emperor|15th emperor]], five centuries before, when he aided Draconia against a [[space plague]]. The Doctor accuses the Master of trying to start a war between Earth and Draconia using Ogrons and the hypnosound device. As the Emperor considers this, a courtier announces that an Earth spaceship has arrived. Jo hears the sound of the sonic device and realises it is the Ogrons. They burst in, guns blazing, and retreat with the Master, leaving several dead Draconians in their wake. One Ogron has been knocked out by the Doctor. As the effects of the hypnosound fade, the Emperor sees the "Earthman" before him transform into its true form and realises the Doctor is speaking the truth.


The Emperor determines that the Ogron must be shown to the Earth authorities, but as a Draconian ship would be shot down, the Prince, the Doctor and Jo will take the Master's police ship. As they cross the frontier into Earth space, they spot another ship following them. However, by the time they identify it as the Ogron ship, it has already launched its missiles. As the Doctor take evasive action, the captive Ogron breaks out of its cell, overpowering its Draconian guard. It enters the flight deck and in the struggle cuts the ship's speed. The Prince and the Doctor subdue the Ogron, but the Master's ship catches up and a party boards the police ship. A firefight breaks out on the flight deck, just as an Earth battlecruiser shows up. The Master recalls the boarding party, who take Jo captive along with rescuing the Ogron prisoner, and their ship zips away. The Earth battlercruiser places the Doctor's ship under arrest.
The Emperor decides the Ogron must be shown to the Earth authorities, but a Draconian ship would be shot down. The Prince, the Doctor and Jo will take the Master's police ship. As they cross the frontier into Earth space, they spot a ship following them. By the time they identify it as the Ogron ship, it has already launched its missiles. As the Doctor takes evasive action, the captive Ogron breaks out of its cell, overpowering its Draconian guard. It enters the flight deck and in the struggle cuts the ship's speed. The Prince and the Doctor subdue the Ogron, but the Master's ship catches up and a party boards the ship. A firefight breaks out on the flight deck, just as an Earth battlecruiser shows up. The Master recalls the boarding party, who rescue the Ogron prisoner and take Jo captive. Their ship zips away. The Earth battlecruiser places the Doctor's ship under arrest.


Without the Ogron, the President is not convinced. The Doctor suggests an expedition to the Ogron homeworld, but Williams thinks it is a Draconian trick to divide Earth's forces. The Prince expects such a response from Williams — after all, he started the first war. Williams protests, but the Prince reveals what is in the Draconian court records. Twenty years before, the Draconians sent a battlecruiser to meet the Earth Empire on a diplomatic mission. When the Draconian ship did not answer the Earth ship's hails, Williams gave the order to attack, believing that the Draconian ship was about to attack his damaged vessel. The battlecruiser was unarmed, its missile banks empty, and the reason it did not answer was because its communications systems were destroyed in a neutron storm, the same storm that had damaged Williams's ship. Williams is shaken by the Prince's revelation and apologises for the wrong he had done to the Draconians. Williams now intends to lead the expedition to the Ogron planet himself.
Without the Ogron, the president is unconvinced. The Doctor suggests a trip to the Ogron homeworld, but Williams thinks it a Draconian trick to divide Earth's forces. The Prince expects this response from Williams — after all, he started the first war. Williams lies and objects, but the Prince reveals what is in the Draconian court records. Twenty years before, the Draconians sent a battlecruiser on a diplomatic mission. When the Draconian ship did not answer hails, Williams gave the order to attack. The battlecruiser was unarmed, its missile banks empty, and the reason it did not answer was because its communications systems were destroyed in the same [[neutron]] storm that had damaged Williams's ship. Williams is shaken by the prince's revelation and apologises for the wrong he had done to the Draconians. Williams now intends to lead the expedition to the Ogron planet himself.


The Master brings Jo to a bunker on the Ogron homeworld, where he shows her the TARDIS, which he plans to use as bait for the Doctor in addition to Jo herself. He tries to hypnotise Jo, first with his own powers and then with the hypnosound.
The Master brings Jo to a bunker on the Ogron homeworld, where he shows her the TARDIS. He plans to use Jo and it as bait for the Doctor. He tries to hypnotise Jo, first with his own powers and then with the hypnosound.


=== Episode six ===
=== Episode six ===
[[file:Annual meeting.jpg|right|150px|thumb|The [[Dalek]]s order the Doctor's extermination.]]
Jo's mind is strong enough to resist. The Master orders her taken away. An Ogron reports that one of their ships found and attacked two Earth cargo ships, destroying one. The Master is delighted. This means that war is not far off, and, indeed, cries for war from Earth are at a fever pitch.
However, Jo's mind is strong enough to resist, and the Master orders her to be taken away. An Ogron reports that one of their ships found and attacked two Earth cargo ships, destroying one. The Master is delighted, as this means that war is not far off, and indeed, demands for war from Earth are at a fever pitch.


Williams prepares his personal scout ship, with the Doctor and the Prince accompanying and heads at maximum speed to the coordinates the Doctor took from the Master's ship. Jo manages to dig her way into the next, unlocked cell and sneak further into the bunker as Williams's ship enters orbit. She pockets the hypnosound, then finds a pad with the coordinates of the planet and bunker on it and transmits a distress signal with the information. The Master shows up, revealing that the signal was muted, and the only person who could have picked it up was the Doctor, whose ship he detected in orbit around the planet. When the Doctor comes, the trap will be sprung.
Williams prepares his personal scout ship. The Doctor and the Prince accompany him as it heads at top speed to the coordinates the Doctor got from the Master's ship. Using the spoon brought with a bowl of thick broth, Jo digs her way into the next unlocked cell and sneaks further into the bunker as Williams's ship enters orbit, and they avert near destruction from a Draconian cruiser. She pockets the hypnosound, then finds a pad with the coordinates of the planet and the bunker. She transmits a [[distress signal]] with the information. The Master shows up, revealing that he deliberately left the coordinates for Jo to find, the signal was muted, and only the Doctor could read it. His ship has been detected in orbit. When he comes, the trap will be sprung.


Williams's crew lands the scout nearby, not knowing the Ogrons have set up an ambush. The Ogrons open fire on the landing party, but are frightened away by an orange, slug-like lizard they call the Eater. The Master is furious, and warns the Ogrons that their masters are coming, which makes them even more terrified than they were of the monster. Williams's party hears the roar of a spaceship landing, and when they look up on the ridge, they see the Master... accompanied by several [[Dalek]]s, who exterminate Williams' men before they can even fire. The Daleks want to exterminate the Doctor immediately, but the Master proposes that the Doctor be placed in his hands, to be allowed to see the galaxy and Earth in ruins before they kill him. The Gold Dalek agrees, and leaves for its ship, to go and prepare the Dalek army on another planet.
Williams' party lands nearby, not knowing the Ogrons have set up an ambush. The Ogrons open fire on them but are frightened away by an orange, slug-like lizard they call the Eater. The Master is furious, and warns them their masters are coming. This terrifies them more than the monster. Williams' group hears the roar of a landing spaceship. When they look at the ridge, they see the Master, accompanied by several [[Dalek]]s, who exterminate Williams' men before they can fire. The Daleks want to exterminate the Doctor immediately, but the Master proposes that the Doctor be placed in his hands, to be allowed to see the galaxy and Earth in ruins before they kill him. The [[Gold Dalek (Day of the Daleks)|Gold Dalek]] agrees and leaves for its ship to prepare the Dalek army on another planet.


Answering the Prince's question, the Doctor explains that the Daleks want a war between Earth and Draconia so both empires will destroy each other, and then the Daleks can pick up the pieces. The Doctor modifies the stolen hypnosound, making the Ogron guard see him as the Gold Dalek, and in fear, it unlocks the gate to the cell. The Doctor tells Williams and the Prince to get the word back to their respective governments and mount a joint expedition against the base on the Ogron planet. The Doctor and Jo find their way to the TARDIS, but are surrounded by the Ogrons and the Master, who trains a blaster on the Doctor. The Doctor activates the hypnosound, panicking the Ogrons. One knocks the Master's arm, making him fire, the shot grazing the Doctor's head. The Master and the Ogrons scatter. The Doctor, barely conscious, asks Jo to help him into the TARDIS. He staggers over to the console, dematerialising the ship, then pressing his palms to the [[Telepathy|telepathic]] circuits. He is sending a message to the [[Time Lord]]s...
The Doctor explains the Daleks were behind the war so they could deceive the empires to destroy each other, thus weakening the universe for conquest. The Doctor modifies the stolen hypnosound, making the Ogron guard see him as the Gold Dalek; in fear, the guard unlocks the cell gate and runs away. The Doctor tells Williams and the Prince to get the word to their respective governments and mount a joint expedition against the base on the Ogron planet. The Doctor and Jo find their way to the TARDIS but are surrounded by the Ogrons and the Master, who trains a blaster on the Doctor. The Doctor activates the hypnosound, panicking the Ogrons. One accidentally knocks the Master's arm, making him fire, the shot grazing the Doctor's head. The Master and the Ogrons scatter, giving Williams and the Prince the chance they need to escape and warn Earth and Draconia. The Doctor, barely conscious, has Jo help him into the TARDIS. He staggers to the console, dematerialises the ship, then presses his palms to the [[Telepathy|telepathic]] circuits, sending a message to the [[Time Lord]]s. The TARDIS spins away into space...


==Cast==
== Cast ==
*[[Third Doctor |The Doctor]] - [[Jon Pertwee]]
* [[Third Doctor|Dr. Who]] - [[Jon Pertwee]]
*[[Jo Grant]] - [[Katy Manning]]
* [[Jo Grant]] - [[Katy Manning]]
*[[The Master (UNIT years)|The Master]] - [[Roger Delgado]]
* {{Delgado|c}} - [[Roger Delgado]]
*[[President of Earth (Frontier in Space)|President of Earth]] - [[Vera Fusek]]
* [[Dora (Frontier in Space)|President of Earth]] - [[Vera Fusek (actor)|Vera Fusek]]
*[[Williams (Frontier in Space)|General Williams]] - [[Michael Hawkins]]
* [[John Williams|General Williams]] - [[Michael Hawkins]]
*[[Draconian Prince]] - [[Peter Birrel]]
* [[Draconian Prince]] - [[Peter Birrel]]
*[[Draconian First Secretary]] - [[Lawrence Davidson]]<ref name=EP2>Uncredited on-screen for Episode Two, due to one of the cast credit slides for Episode One being inadvertently reused, but credited in ''Radio Times''.</ref>
* [[Draconian First Secretary]] - [[Lawrence Davidson]]<ref name="EP2">Uncredited on-screen for episode two, due to one of the cast credit slides for episode one being inadvertently reused, but credited in ''Radio Times''.</ref>
*[[Cell guard (Frontier in Space)|Cell guard]] - [[Timothy Craven]]<ref name=EP2/>
* [[Cell guard]] - [[Timothy Craven]]<ref name="EP2" />
*[[Gardiner]] - [[Ray Lonnen]]
* [[Gardiner]] - [[Ray Lonnen]]
*[[Kemp]] - [[Barry Ashton]]
* [[Kemp]] - [[Barry Ashton]]
*[[Hardy]] - [[John Rees]]
* [[Hardy (Frontier in Space)|Hardy]] - [[John Rees]]
*[[Stewart (Frontier in Space)|Stewart]] - [[James Culliford]]
* [[Stewart (Frontier in Space)|Stewart]] - [[James Culliford]]
*[[Newscaster (Louis Mahoney)|Newscaster]] - [[Louis Mahoney]]<ref name=EP1>Credited for Episode Two, but appears only in Episode One.</ref>
* [[Newscaster (Frontier in Space)|Newscaster]] - [[Louis Mahoney]]<ref name="EP1">Credited for episode two, but appears only in episode one.</ref>
*[[Draconian space pilot]] - [[Roy Pattison]]<ref name=EP1/>
* [[Draconian space pilot]] - [[Roy Pattison]]<ref name="EP1" />
*[[Secretary (Frontier in Space)|Secretary]] - [[Karol Hagar]]
* [[Secretary (Frontier in Space)|Secretary]] - [[Karol Hagar]]
*[[Dale|Professor Dale]] - [[Harold Goldblatt]]
* [[Dale (Frontier in Space)|Professor Dale]] - [[Harold Goldblatt]]
*[[Patel]] - [[Madhav Sharma]]
* [[Patel (Frontier in Space)|Patel]] - [[Madhav Sharma]]
*[[Prison Governor (Frontier in Space)|Prison Governor]] - [[Dennis Bowen]]
* [[Prison governor (Frontier in Space)|Prison Governor]] - [[Dennis Bowen]]
*[[Cross]] - [[Richard Shaw]]
* [[Cross (Frontier in Space)|Cross]] - [[Richard Shaw]]
*[[Sheila]] - [[Luan Peters]]
* [[Sheila (Frontier in Space)|Sheila]] - [[Luan Peters]]
*[[Technician (Frontier in Space)|Technician]] - [[Caroline Hunt]]
* [[Technician (Frontier in Space)|Technician]] - [[Caroline Hunt]]
*[[Lunar guard]] - [[Lawrence Harrington]]
* [[Lunar guard]] - [[Lawrence Harrington]]
*[[Draconian captain]] - [[Bill Wilde]]
* [[Draconian captain]] - [[Bill Wilde]]
*[[Draconian Emperor]] - [[John Woodnutt]]
* [[Draconian Emperor (Frontier in Space)|Draconian Emperor]] - [[John Woodnutt]]
*[[Draconian messenger]] - [[Ian Frost]]
* [[Draconian messenger]] - [[Ian Frost]]
*[[Earth cruiser captain]] - [[Clifford Elkin]]
* [[Earth cruiser captain]] - [[Clifford Elkin]]
*[[Ogron]]s - [[Stephen Thorne]], [[Michael Kilgarriff]], [[Rick Lester]]
* [[First Ogron]] - [[Stephen Thorne]]
*[[Brook|Congressman Brook]] - [[Ramsay Williams]]
* [[Second Ogron]] - [[Michael Kilgarriff]]
*[[Newscaster (Bill Mitchell)|Newscaster]] - [[Bill Mitchell]]<ref name=EP6>Credited both on-screen and in ''Radio Times'' for Episode Six, but does not appear.</ref>
* [[Third Ogron]] - [[Rick Lester]]
*[[Pilot of space ship]] - [[Stanley Price]]
* [[Brook (Frontier in Space)|Congressman Brook]] - [[Ramsay Williams]]
*[[Dalek]]s - [[John Scott Martin]], [[Cy Town]], [[Murphy Grumbar]]
* [[Newscaster 2 (Doctor Who and the Space War)|Newscaster]] - [[Bill Mitchell]]<ref name="EP6">Credited both on-screen and in ''Radio Times'' for episode six, but does not appear.</ref>
*Dalek Voice - [[Michael Wisher]]
* [[Pilot (Frontier in Space)|Pilot of space ship]] - [[Stanley Price]]
{{reflist}}
* [[Dalek]]s - [[John Scott Martin]], [[Cy Town]], [[Murphy Grumbar]]
* Dalek Voice - [[Michael Wisher]]
 
=== Uncredited Cast ===
 
* [[Ogron]]s - [[Steve Kelly]], [[Geoffrey Todd]], [[Maurice Bush]], [[Bruce Wells]], Maurice Purvis, Chris Stevens ([[DWM 201]])


==Crew==
== Crew ==
*[[Assistant Floor Manager]] - [[John Bradburn]]
* [[Assistant Floor Manager]] - [[John Bradburn]]
*[[Costumes]] - [[Barbara Kidd]]
* [[Costumes]] - [[Barbara Kidd]]
*[[Designer]] - [[Cynthia Kljuco]]
* [[Designer (crew)|Designer]] - [[Cynthia Kljuco]]
*[[Film Cameraman]] - [[John Tiley]]
* [[Film Cameraman]] - [[John Tiley]]
*[[Film Editor]] - [[John Bush]]
* [[Film Editor]] - [[John Bush]]
*[[Incidental Music]] - [[Dudley Simpson]]
* [[Incidental Music]] - [[Dudley Simpson]]
*[[Make-Up]] - [[Sandra Shepherd]]
* [[Make-Up]] - [[Sandra Shepherd]]
*[[Producer]] - [[Barry Letts]]
* [[Producer]] - [[Barry Letts]]
*[[Production Assistant]] - [[Nicholas John]]
* [[Production Assistant]] - [[Nicholas John]]
*[[Script Editor]] - [[Terrance Dicks]]
* [[Script Editor]] - [[Terrance Dicks]]
*[[Special Sounds]] - [[Dick Mills]]
* [[Special Sounds]] - [[Dick Mills]]
*[[Studio Lighting]] - [[Ralph Walton]]
* [[Studio Lighting]] - [[Ralph Walton]]
*[[Studio Sound]] - [[Brian Hiles]]
* [[Studio Sound]] - [[Brian Hiles]]
*[[Theme Arrangement]] - [[Delia Derbyshire]]
* [[Theme Arrangement]] - [[Delia Derbyshire]]
*[[Doctor Who theme|Title Music]] - [[Ron Grainer]]
* [[Doctor Who theme|Title Music]] - [[Ron Grainer]]
*[[Visual Effects]] - [[Bernard Wilkie]], [[Rhys Jones (visual effects)|Rhys Jones]]
* [[Visual Effects]] - [[Bernard Wilkie]], [[Rhys Jones (visual effects)|Rhys Jones]]


==References==
=== Uncredited crew ===
===[[:Category:The Doctor|The Doctor]]===
* [[Technical manager|Technical Managers]] - [[Tommy Dawson]], [[Ron Bristow]] ([[INFO]]: ''Frontier in Space'')
*The Doctor once served as a delegate at the [[Third Intergalactic Peace Conference]], though en route he got waylaid by [[Medusoid]]s who used a [[mind probe]] on him and discovered that he was on his way to meet a giant rabbit, a pink elephant and [[Equinoid|a purple horse with yellow spots]], all delegates at the Conference. The Medusoids released the Doctor because, since the mind probe couldn't believe his story, it broke down, and eventually "they ran out of mind probes."
* [[Vision Mixer]]s - [[Mike Turner]], [[Shirley Coward]] ([[INFO]]: ''Frontier in Space'')
*Circa the year [[2040]], the Doctor helped the [[Draconian]]s with a space plague and so they receive him as an honoured guest. He tells Jo the story of his trial by the [[Time Lord]]s, his forced [[regeneration]] and his [[exile to Earth]], though perhaps mainly as a way to conceal the fact that he meanwhile manages to cut his way out of an iron cell. The Master says that the Doctor "does not fear death".
* [[Floor assistant|Floor Assistant]] - [[Christopher Moss]] ([[INFO]]: ''Frontier in Space'')
* [[Production secretary|Production Secretary]] - [[Sarah Newman]] ([[INFO]]: ''Frontier in Space'')
* [[Props Buyer]] - [[Ruth Hyde]] ([[INFO]]: ''Frontier in Space'')
* [[Music copyist|Music Copyist]] - [[George Bayton]] ([[INFO]]: ''Frontier in Space'')
* [[Grams Operator|Grams]] - [[Gordon Phillipson]] ([[INFO]]: ''Frontier in Space'')
* [[Post-production sound|Post-Production Sound]] - [[Ray Angel]] ([[INFO]]: ''Frontier in Space'')


===[[:Category:The Doctor's items|The Doctor's items]]===
== Worldbuilding ==
*The Doctor's [[sonic screwdriver]] can't undo bolts, unless the polarity of the power source is reversed, making it into an electromagnet.
=== The Doctor ===
* The Doctor once served as a delegate at the [[Third Intergalactic Peace Conference]].
* The [[Medusoid]]s used a [[mind probe]] on him; he claimed he was on his way to meet a giant [[rabbit]], a pink [[elephant]] and a [[purple]] [[horse]] with [[yellow]] spots.


===[[:Category:Literature|Literature]]===
=== Literature ===
*In a moment of leisure, the Master relaxes with a copy of the [[H. G. Wells]]' novel ''[[The War of the Worlds]]''.
* In a moment of leisure, the Master relaxes with a copy of [[H. G. Wells]]'s novel ''[[The War of the Worlds]]''.


===[[:Category:The Master|The Master]]===
=== Species ===
*The Master privately characterises the [[Dalek]]s, his ostensible allies, as "stupid tin boxes".
* Jo sees [[Drashig]]s, a [[Sea Devil]], and a [[Solonian#Insectoid Solonians|Mutt]] due to the Master's fear machine.


===[[:Category:Races and species|Races and species]]===
=== United Nations Intelligence Taskforce ===
* The Doctor has met the [[Draconian]]s before.
* While distracting the Master so the Doctor can get to the outside of the ship, Jo mentions that people thought of her job at UNIT as hanging out with [[James Bond]]-type characters and going to fancy dinner parties while she claims in reality it's just doing filing for [[Alistair Gordon Lethbridge-Stewart|the Brigadier]] or else running around making tea and being a general "dogsbody".
* There are brief appearances of a [[Drashig]], a [[Sea Devil]] and a [[Solonian#Insectoid Solonians|Mutt]] when the Master uses his fear machine on Jo.


===[[:Category:United Nations Intelligence Taskforce|UNIT]]===
=== Foods and beverages ===
*Jo mentions again the uncle that got her a job at [[UNIT]] and the lack of romance involved in it and the drudgery involved. Friends and family think she goes on glamorous secret agent missions. She compares [[the Brigadier]], unfavourably, to [[James Bond]]. (Like the Doctor, she appears to have a monologue in order to cover the Doctor's escape.)
* Cross confiscates [[chocolate]] from Patel.
* The President and General Williams drink [[wine]].
* Jo gives the Ogron prisoner a [[banana]].


==Story notes==
== Story notes ==
*This story had the working title '''Frontiers in Space'''.
* This story had the working title ''Frontiers in Space''.
*An unfortunate error was made at the time of production, whereby one of the on-screen cast credit slides for Episode One was inadvertently substituted for one of those from Episode Two. This resulted in Lawrence Davidson (Draconian First Secretary) and Timothy Craven (Cell Guard) not being credited on-screen for Episode Two, though they were credited in ''Radio Times'', and Louis Mahoney (Newscaster) and Roy Pattison (Draconian Space Pilot) being repeated &ndash; even though their characters appeared only in Episode One.
* The original outline had the [[Cybermen]] working with the Master, but they were swapped for the Ogrons before scripting started.<ref>[[The Essential Doctor Who]]: [[TEDW 1|Cybermen]] pg113</ref>
*Assistant floor manager John Bradburn plays the '[[Ogron eater]]' monster seen on the Ogrons' planet.
* The conclusion of this story ends on a cliffhanger leading straight into ''[[Planet of the Daleks (TV story)|Planet of the Daleks]]''. Originally both this story and ''Planet of the Daleks'' were going to be a single 12-part story, and as the two storylines are connected, they are often unofficially considered as such.
*During editing, the first scene of Episode Three, following the reprise, was drastically cut down for timing reasons: a key background scene was eliminated and the character of Sheila, assistant to the President of Earth, was reduced to merely that of a walk-on who massaged the President whilst she talked to her secretary. In the complete version of the scene, Sheila had discussed the origins of the tensions between Earth and Draconia with the President, during which it was revealed that the young General Williams had destroyed a Draconian battle-cruiser &ndash; not realising that it was unarmed, and merely being used to transport the Draconian envoy &ndash; in a blast from his own spacecraft's exhaust rockets. Luan Peters (Sheila) retained an on-screen credit despite no longer having any lines.
* An unfortunate error was made at the time of production, whereby one of the on-screen cast credit slides for episode one was inadvertently substituted for one of those from episode two. This resulted in [[Lawrence Davidson]] (Draconian First Secretary) and [[Timothy Craven]] (Cell Guard) not being credited on-screen for episode two, though they were credited in ''Radio Times'', and [[Louis Mahoney]] (Newscaster) and [[Roy Pattison]] (Draconian Space Pilot) being repeated — even though their characters appeared only in episode one.
*During the scene in the President of Earth's office in Episode Six, where the Doctor, the President and the Draconian Prince are seen watching on the large wall-mounted video screen a news film report of Congressman Brook at a rally calling for war with Draconia, Bill Mitchell was originally to have featured as a newscaster, announcing the news of the rally and introducing the film report. Unfortunately, due to the episode over-running, his appearance had to be edited out of the finished programme. This decision would appear to have been made at a late stage, which explains why Mitchell is still credited both on-screen and in ''Radio Times''.
* Assistant floor manager [[John Bradburn]] plays the [[Ogron eater]] monster seen on the Ogrons' planet.
*This story marks Roger Delgado's last appearance in ''Doctor Who''. On [[18th June]] [[1973]] he was killed in a car crash in Turkey while on the way to the location for a film called ''Bell of Tibet''. As a result of Delgado's death, the writers chose not to cast a new actor in the role of the Master and instead abandoned future plans for the character's interaction with the Third Doctor. The Master would eventually return several years later in ''[[The Deadly Assassin]]'' but would not become a regularly recurring villain again until ''[[The Keeper of Traken]]'' during which the part was passed to [[Anthony Ainley]], who would become a recurring guest star during the final third of the original series run.
* During editing, the first scene of episode three, following the reprise, was drastically cut down for timing reasons: a key background scene was eliminated and the character of Sheila, assistant to the President of Earth, was reduced to merely that of a walk-on who massaged the President whilst she talked to her secretary. In the complete version of the scene, Sheila had discussed the origins of the tensions between Earth and Draconia with the President, during which it was revealed that the young General Williams had destroyed a Draconian battle-cruiser — not realising that it was unarmed, and merely being used to transport the Draconian envoy — in a blast from his own spacecraft's exhaust rockets. [[Luan Peters]] (Sheila) retained an on-screen credit despite no longer having any lines.
*Episode Six had to be revised after it was delivered by director [[Paul Bernard]]. [[Barry Letts]] greatly disliked the way the Ogron eater had been realized by the production team, and tried to limit its inclusion in the serial. Unfortunately, it was center stage in the final moments of Episode Six, and the only way to get rid of it was to film a corrective [[pick-up]] on the first day of studio recording for ''[[Planet of the Daleks]]''. This meant that, technically, Episode Six contained some work by ''Planet'' director, [[David Maloney]]. However, this did not alter Bernard's sole directing credit for the episode.
* During the scene in the President of Earth's office in episode six, where the Doctor, the President and the Draconian prince watch on a large wall-mounted video screen a news film report of Congressman Brook at a political rally calling for war with Draconia, [[Bill Mitchell]] was originally to have featured as a newscaster, announcing the news of the rally and introducing the film report. Unfortunately, either due to the episode overrunning or a decision by [[Paul Bernard]] to use only the footage of Congressman Brook, Mitchell's appearance was edited out of the finished programme. This decision appears to have been made at a late stage, which explains why Mitchell is still credited both on-screen and in ''Radio Times''.
* [[John Scott Martin]] is credited as "Chief Dalek" in ''[[Radio Times]]'', while [[Cy Town]] and [[Murphy Grumbar]] are credited on-screen but not in ''Radio Times''.
* Episode six was revised after it was delivered by director [[Paul Bernard]] as [[Barry Letts]] greatly disliked the way the Ogron eater had been realised by the production team and tried to limit its inclusion in the serial. Unfortunately, it was centre stage in the final moments of episode six, and the only way to get rid of it was to film a corrective [[pick-up]] on the first day of studio recording for ''Planet of the Daleks''. This meant that, technically, episode six contained some work by ''Planet of the Daleks'' director [[David Maloney]]. However, this did not alter Bernard's sole directing credit for the episode.
* Episode five is one of only two episodes in ''Doctor Who'' history to feature the "[[Doctor Who theme#Unused arrangement|Delaware Theme]]" during its opening as well as its closing credits. The UK broadcast used the standard theme music, but the version sent to Australia already had the unused arrangement edited in.
* When the Doctor uses the stolen hypnosound to appear as a Dalek to the Ogron guard in episode six, his commands are provided by Dalek voice actor [[Michael Wisher]].
* Reviewers have observed that the precipitating incident of the first Earth-Draconia war, as depicted in this story, is very similar to the beginning of the [[babylon5:Earth-Minbari War|Earth-Minbari War]] in the 1990s television series ''[[babylon5:Babylon 5 (TV series)|Babylon 5]]''.<ref>In ''[[About Time 3]]'', Lawrence Miles and Tat Wood write: "Fans of American TV-SF, however, will no doubt enjoy the similarities between the start of the Earth/Draconia war and the start of the Earth/Minbar war in ''Babylon 5''. The Draconians, like the Minbari, approach the humans with their gunports open."</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.amazon.com/Doctor-Who-Frontier-Maureen-OBrien/dp/6303943330|title=Doctor Who - Frontier in Space - Video|accessdate=8 March 2012|last=Dalkin|first=Gary S.|work=Editorial review|publisher=amazon.com|quote=Sci-fi aficionados will not need much convincing that this story provided inspiration for ''Babylon 5{{'}}''s Earth-Minbari war.}}</ref> Both space wars begin because an Earth vessel misinterprets the approach of an alien ship as a threat and fires on the ship based on this misunderstanding.
* 8A Fitzroy Park at Highgate, London, which was used as the exterior of the Draconian embassy, was at the time the home of another BBC director, [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Naomi_Capon Naomi Capon].
* After remaining unnamed for several decades, the President of Earth was finally given the name [[Dora (Frontier in Space)|Dora]] in the audio story ''[[The Transcendence of Ephros (audio story)|The Transcendence of Ephros]]''.
* [[Jon Pertwee]] named the Draconians as his favourite monster, largely because of how expressive they were and thus easier to act alongside than Daleks. He was fond of recounting how he had a conversation about space travel, the stars and the planets with one of the Draconian actors during a night shoot without noticing the actor was in costume.
* At [[Terrance Dicks]]' suggestion, the President of Earth became female, with [[Malcolm Hulke]] taking care to note that she was not the first woman to hold the office.
* The same three Dalek casings used for ''[[Day of the Daleks (TV story)|Day of the Daleks]]'' appeared in episode six.
* The Doctor's discovery that the attacks in space were being committed by Ogrons initially came much later, after the Master had liberated him from prison. 
* The notion of the hypnosound was developed to replace the physical masks the Ogrons wore in the original storyline.
* At the lunar penal colony, Patel was originally called Doughty — a name reused by [[Malcolm Hulke]] for the novelisation.
* [[Harold Goldblatt]] had previously appeared with [[Jon Pertwee]] in a [[1938]] radio production in [[Belfast]] entitled ''Lillibullero'', which was one of Pertwee's earliest radio performances.
* The serial made use of spaceship props acquired from [[Gerry Anderson]]'s [[Century 21 Productions|Century 21]].
* The Draconian Empire was originally named the Andromedean Empire.
* [[Malcolm Hulke]] originally intended the Draconians to be like the post-Napoleonic Hapsburgs.
* The notion of the hypnosound was developed to replace the physical masks the Ogrons wore in the original script.


===Ratings===
=== Ratings ===
*Episode 1 - 9.1 million viewers
* Episode one - 9.1 million viewers
*Episode 2 - 7.8 million viewers
* Episode two - 7.8 million viewers
*Episode 3 - 7.5 million viewers
* Episode three - 7.5 million viewers
*Episode 4 - 7.1 million viewers
* Episode four - 7.1 million viewers
*Episode 5 - 7.7 million viewers
* Episode five - 7.7 million viewers
*Episode 6 - 8.9 million viewers
* Episode six - 8.9 million viewers


===Myths===
=== Myths ===
*The fifth episode as seen on the BBC Video release of this story, which is about a minute longer than the one originally transmitted and features the abandoned Delaware synthesiser arrangement of the theme music, is a special 'extended version'. ''(It is a rough cut that was prepared during the original editing of the story and never intended for public consumption.)''
* The fifth episode as seen on the BBC Video release of this story, which is about a minute longer than the one originally transmitted and features the abandoned Delaware synthesiser arrangement of the theme music, is a special "extended version". ''(It is a rough cut that was prepared during the original editing of the story and never intended for public consumption.)''
*Roger Delgado died soon after appearing in the episode which is why The Master doesn't appear in ''Planet of the Daleks''. ''He died several months later; there's no indication the Master was ever intended to appear in the second chapter.''
* [[Roger Delgado]] died soon after appearing in the episode, which is why the Master doesn't appear in ''Planet of the Daleks''. (''He died several months later; there's no indication the Master was ever intended to appear in the second chapter.)''
*A related rumour states that [[Katy Manning]] decided to leave the series after Delgado's death. ''In fact, by the time Delgado died (June 1973), Manning's final episode had already been filmed (April 1973), and her decision to leave would have likely been made by the time ''Frontier in Space'' had been shot, even if the rumour above was true.''
* A related rumour states that [[Katy Manning]] decided to leave the series after Delgado's death. (''In fact, by the time Delgado died (June 1973), Manning's final episode had already been filmed (April 1973), and her decision to leave would have likely been made by the time ''Frontier in Space'' had been shot, even if the rumour above was true.)''


===Filming locations===
=== Filming locations ===
*Hayward Gallery, Belvedere Road, Lambeth, London
* Hayward Gallery, Belvedere Road, Lambeth, London
*Fitzroy Park, Highgate, London
* 8A Fitzroy Park, Highgate, London
*Beachfields Quarry, Cormongers Lane, Redhill, Surrey
* Beachfields Quarry, Cormongers Lane, Redhill, Surrey
*South Bank Centre, Waterloo, London
* South Bank Centre, Waterloo, London
*[[Bray Studios]], Slough
* [[Bray Studios]], Slough
*[[BBC Television Centre]] (Studio 3 & 4), Shepherd's Bush, [[London]]
* [[Ealing Studios]], Ealing Green, Ealing
* [[BBC Television Centre]] (Studio 3 & 4), Shepherd's Bush, [[London]]


===Production errors===
=== Production errors ===
{{discontinuity}}
{{discontinuity}}
*Jo splits her trousers while running to escape the Ogrons in episode three.
* Jo splits her trousers while running to escape the Ogrons in episode three.
*Her tights change color from scene to scene (and occasionally she isn't wearing any at all).
* Jo's tights change colour from scene to scene (and occasionally she isn't wearing any at all).
*Big strings hold up the Doctor up for his spacewalk in episode six.
* Big strings can be seen holding up the Doctor when he exits the Master's stolen prison transport ship in episode four, and again for his second spacewalk in episode six.
*As the space walking Doctor opens the airlock in episode four there is a technician visible inside it.
* As the space walking Doctor opens the airlock in episode four, there is a technician visible inside it. Their hand is caught in the shot and can be seen helping the hatch open below for a brief moment before being pulled back out of view.
* During the Doctor's spacewalk, the wires on the Doctor are clearly visible while he is climbing the outer hull of the ship.
* During episode two when the Doctor rolls back on his chair to escape his Draconian captors, it is quite obvious that he isn't [[Jon Pertwee]], but a stunt double in a wig.
* When Jo helps the Doctor to his feet on the Ogron Planet, she is holding the Master's gun, but when she is helping him inside the TARDIS, the gun disappears.
 
== Continuity ==
* Jo refers to [[Solos]] and the Earth Empire. ([[TV]]: ''[[The Mutants (TV story)|The Mutants]]'')
* The Doctor tells Jo the story of his trial. ([[TV]]: ''[[The War Games (TV story)|The War Games]]'')
* [[PROSE]]: ''[[Legacy of the Daleks (novel)|Legacy of the Daleks]]'' and [[COMIC]]: ''[[Doorway to Hell (comic story)|Doorway to Hell]]'' are both set (for the Master) after this story.
* [[PROSE]]: ''[[Love and War (novel)|Love and War]]'' is set after this story, when [[Earth]] and [[Draconia]] are at relative peace.
* The [[Tenth Doctor]] would later (accidentally) travel back to the war in [[PROSE]]: ''[[Prisoner of the Daleks (novel)|Prisoner of the Daleks]]'' and help put an end to the Dalek threat.
* This story is referenced by the [[Eleventh Doctor]] in [[PROSE]]: ''[[Apollo 23 (novel)|Apollo 23]]''. He describes his imprisonment on the Moon as "cool". He revisits what will become the prison, but it only has a few prisoners and is a moonbase.
* Jo would later remember the events of this story along with others in [[TV]]: ''[[Death of the Doctor (TV story)|Death of the Doctor]]''.
* {{Simm|c}} would later mention their encounter with the Daleks to the Tenth Doctor. As the Master lay dying and refusing to [[Regeneration|regenerate]] shortly afterwards, the Doctor asked him to remember all of their experiences, including their encounter with the Daleks. ([[TV]]: ''[[Last of the Time Lords (TV story)|Last of the Time Lords]]'')
* The Master was sent on his mission by the [[Dalek Emperor]]. ([[AUDIO]]: ''[[The Dalek Conquests (audio story)|The Dalek Conquests]]'')
* The Lunar Penal Colony was operational by [[2144]]. ([[AUDIO]]: ''[[Repeat Offender (audio story)|Repeat Offender]]'')
* In ''[[Planet of the Ogrons (audio story)|Planet of the Ogrons]], ''it is revealed that, originally, there weren't any Ogrons in this adventure, but, in the Time War, the Daleks started to tamper with Ogron history at the point in which they were included in this event.
* The Master, shortly after rescuing the Doctor from the Lunar Penal Colony, recalls the time The Doctor visited him in prison. Additionally, after she is brought by the Master to his quarters on the Ogron Homeworld, Jo states that the Master was, "better off in prison." ([[TV]]: ''[[The Sea Devils (TV story)|The Sea Devils]]'')
* Jo remarks that being hypntotised by the Master once was quite enough. ([[TV]]: ''[[Terror of the Autons (TV story)|Terror of the Autons]]'')
* Jo is still wearing her outfit from when she and the Doctor were in [[Vorg (Carnival of Monsters)|Vorg]]’s [[Miniscope]] on [[Inter Minor]]. ([[TV]]: ''[[Carnival of Monsters (TV story)|Carnival of Monsters]]'')


==Continuity==
== Home video and audio releases ==
*Jo refers to [[Solos]] and the Earth empire as seen in [[The Mutants]].
=== DVD releases ===
*The conclusion of this story ends on a cliffhanger leading straight into [[DW]]: ''[[Planet of the Daleks]]''. Originally both this story and ''[[Planet of the Daleks]]'' were going to be a 12 part story, and as the two storylines are connected, they are often unofficially considered as such.
This story was released in a box set called ''Dalek War'', along with ''[[Planet of the Daleks (TV story)|Planet of the Daleks]]''. The DVD was released in the UK (Region 2) on [[5 October (releases)|5 October]] [[2009 (releases)|2009]], in Australia and New Zealand (Region 4) on [[4 February (releases)|4 February]] [[2010 (releases)|2010]], and in North America on [[2 March (releases)|2 March]] 2010.
*The Doctor tells Jo the story of his trial at the end of ''[[The War Games]]'', which the Master overhears on a closed circuit television channel.
*[[EDA]]: ''[[Legacy of the Daleks]]'' is set (for the Master) after this story.
*[[NA]]: ''[[Love and War]]'' is set after this story when [[Earth]] and [[Draconia]] are in relative peace.
*The war touched off by the Master during this story is the [[Second Dalek War]], which will profoundly affect the life of future companion [[Bernice Summerfield]].
*The [[Tenth Doctor]] would later (accidentally) travel back to the war in [[NSA]]: [[Prisoner of the Daleks|''Prisoner of the Daleks'']] and help put an end to the Dalek threat.
*This story is referenced by the [[Eleventh Doctor]] in [[NSA]]: ''[[Apollo 23 (novel)|Apollo 23]], he describes his imprisonment on the Moon as "Cool". There he revists what will become the prison, but it only has a small amount of prisoners in it and is a moonbase.''


==Timeline==
==== Special features ====
For the Doctor:
* Commentary by [[Katy Manning]] ([[Jo Grant]]), [[Barry Letts]] (Producer) and [[Terrance Dicks]] (Script Editor), moderated by [[Clayton Hickman]]
*This story occurs after: [[PDA]]: ''[[The Suns of Caresh]]''
* ''[[The Perfect Scenario|Perfect Scenario: Lost Frontier]]'' — In the far future, Zed, a young scenariosmith, turns to the world of ''[[Doctor Who]]'' to help him connect to his audience. Including interviews with [[Vera Fusek (actor)|Vera Fusek]] ([[Dora (Frontier in Space)|The President]]) and [[Michael Hawkins]] ([[John Williams|General Williams]])
*This story occurs before: [[DW]]: ''[[Planet of the Daleks]]''
* ''[[The Space War (documentary)|The Space War]]'' — Cast and crew look back at the making of this story
* ''[[Roger Delgado: The Master]]'' — A biography of actor [[Roger Delgado]], featuring unseen photographs, rare excerpts from his TV appearances and interviews with those who knew and loved him
* ''[[Stripped for Action: The Third Doctor (documentary)|Stripped for Action — The Third Doctor]]'' — The series looking at the Doctor's comic book adventures reaches his third incarnation
* PDF materials - Production design drawings, ''[[Radio Times]]'' listings and [[BBC Worldwide|BBC Enterprises]] sales literature (DVD-ROM - PC/Mac)
* Production Information Subtitles
* Photo Gallery
* Coming Soon Trailer - ''[[Kamelion Tales]]''
* [[Easter Egg]]: VT countdown for episode five and opening and closing credits with the unused "Delaware" arrangement of the [[Doctor Who theme|''Doctor Who'' theme]]. To access this hidden feature, press down at Special Features on Disc Two's Subtitles menu to illuminate the ''Doctor Who'' logo.


For the Master:
==== DVD errors ====
*This story occurs after: [[PDA]]: ''[[Verdigris]]''
* The DVD booklet of the Region 2 version, in the section describing the commentary, the images of Barry Letts & Terrance Dicks are mismatched to each other's biography.
*This story occurs before: [[PDA]]: ''[[Last of the Gaderene]]''
* In the scene selection for episode two, the image used for chapter 6 actually comes from episode three.


==Home video and audio releases==
==== Covers ====
===DVD releases===
<gallery position="center" captionalign="center" hideaddbutton="true">
Released in 2009 in a boxset called: The Dalek War, along with [[Planet of the Daleks]].
File:Bbcdvd-frontierinspace.jpg|Region 2 UK cover
File:Frontier in Space DVD Australian cover.png|Region 4 Australian cover
File:Frontier in space us dvd.jpg|Region 1 US cover
</gallery>


===VHS releases===
==== Box sets ====
Released in August 1995. BBC Video 5640
<gallery position="center" captionalign="center" hideaddbutton="true">
File:Dalek War DVD US box set cover.jpg|Region 1 US Dalek War cover
File:Dalek War UK DVD box set side view cover.jpg|Region 2 Dalek War cover
File:Dalek War DVD box set Australian cover.jpg|Region 4 Australian Dalek War cover
</gallery>


==Novelisation and its audiobook==
=== Digital releases ===
[[file:Space War novel.jpg|right|75px]]
This story is available:
: ''Main article: [[Doctor Who and the Space War]]''
* for streaming through [[BritBox]] (Canada and US) as part of Season 10 of ''Classic Doctor Who''.


*Novelised as ''[[Doctor Who and the Space War]]'' by [[Malcolm Hulke]] in [[1976]].
=== VHS releases ===
* This story was released in [[August (releases)|August]] [[1995 (releases)|1995]]. BBC Video 5640
* Episode six was included on the VHS documentary ''[[The Pertwee Years]]''


==External links==
<gallery position="center" captionalign="center" hideaddbutton="true">
*{{bbcepguideclassic|frontierinspace/|Frontier in Space}}
File:Frontier in Space VHS UK cover.jpg|UK VHS cover
*{{dwrefguide|who_3q.htm|Frontier in Space}}
File:Frontier in Space VHS Australian cover.jpg|Australian VHS cover
*{{briefhistory|serials/qqq.html|Frontier in Space}}
File:Frontier in Space VHS US cover.jpg|US VHS cover
*{{locguide|frontierinspace|Frontier in Space}}
The pertwee years (2).jpg|The Pertwee Years
</gallery>


{{season 10}}
== Footnotes ==
{{Master stories}}
{{reflist}}
== External links ==
* {{bbcepguideclassic|frontierinspace/|Frontier in Space}}
* {{radiotimes|2010-01-27/frontier-in-space|Frontier in Space}}
{{dwcast}}
{{dwrefguide|who_3q.htm|Frontier in Space}}
* {{briefhistory|serials/qqq.html|Frontier in Space}}
* {{locguide|frontierinspace|Frontier in Space}}
{{DWTV}}
{{The Master (TotA) stories}}
{{Ogron stories}}
{{Dalek stories}}
{{Dalek stories}}
[[Category:Third Doctor television stories]]
{{Draconian stories}}
[[Category:The Master television stories]]
{{TitleSort}}
[[es:Frontier in Space]]
[[fr:Frontier in Space]]
[[ru:Граница в космосе]]
 
[[Category:Doctor Who (1963) television stories]]
[[Category:The Master (Terror of the Autons) television stories]]
[[Category:Dalek television stories]]
[[Category:Dalek television stories]]
[[Category:Stories set in the 26th century]]
[[Category:Stories set in 2540]]
[[Category:1973 television stories]]
[[Category:Television stories set on the Moon]]
[[Category:Stories set on the Moon]]
[[Category:Season 10 stories]]
[[Category:Season 10 stories]]
[[Category:Draconian stories]]
[[Category:Draconian stories]]
[[Category:Ogron stories]]
[[Category:Ogron television stories]]
[[Category:Television stories set on Earth]]
[[Category:Six part serials]]
[[Category:Stories that use the Delaware theme]]

Latest revision as of 20:04, 3 November 2024

RealWorld.png

Frontier in Space was the third serial of season 10 of Doctor Who. It saw the introduction of the Draconians and the reappearance of the Master. It was loosely connected with the following serial, Planet of the Daleks, and is significant for showing an alliance between the Master and the Daleks. The serial set the stage for the storyline that was later expanded into the Second Dalek War.

It is further notable as the final appearance of Roger Delgado in Doctor Who before his death. Delgado died in a car accident in Turkey in June of 1973, when his chauffeur-driven vehicle ran off the road and fell into a ravine, during the on-location shoot for the TV miniseries Bell of Tibet. His character was meant to have a final encounter with the Doctor in the serial The Final Game, which was scrapped. Frontier in Space was the Master's last appearance until Robert Holmes and Philip Hinchcliffe brought the Master back as the main villain of The Deadly Assassin, albeit in a decaying form played by Peter Pratt.

The story also saw the first use of a refitted version of the sonic screwdriver model which debuted in Colony in Space. Instead of a silver emitter ring head, it now sported a red emitter ring head, with the addition of two semi-circular black magnets attached to the end, and the extending section of the screwdriver which once contained a red band and a set of alternating yellow and black coiling stripes was now unpainted in a plainly metallic colour scheme. This model of the sonic screwdriver remained in use by the Doctor all the way up to his fifth incarnation midway through season 19, where it was written out of the series in The Visitation.

Synopsis[[edit] | [edit source]]

The Third Doctor and Jo are caught in the escalating tension between planets Earth and Draconia and discover that the Master and the Daleks are secretly working to provoke the two into all-out war.

Plot[[edit] | [edit source]]

Episode one[[edit] | [edit source]]

As the Earth cargo ship C982 moves through hyperspace, it narrowly avoids a collision with the TARDIS, which dematerialises out of the way and rematerialises in the ship's hold. The Third Doctor determines that they are in the 26th century. Jo sees a ship come alongside and hears a strange, high-pitched buzz. The ship shimmers, turning into a Draconian Galaxy-class battlecruiser. The two pilots, Stewart and Hardy, send out a distress signal and prepare for battle. When Hardy goes to get weapons, he meets the Doctor, but, thanks to the sound emitted by the enemy ship, he sees the Doctor and Jo as Draconians whilst Jo sees Hardy as a Drashig. Hardy escorts them at gunpoint as the Draconian captain orders C982 to surrender its cargo or be destroyed.

On Earth, the President and the Draconian ambassador (who is also the Emperor's son) accuse each other of attacking their ships and violating the frontier between the two empires established by treaty. General Williams reports to the President that a mission to rescue C982 is being prepared. Williams's hostility to the Draconians is well known — it was his actions that started the last war between the two — and the Prince believes Williams wants war again, a war, the Prince warns the President, that will see Earth destroyed. News of the attack spreads and anti-Draconian riots break out on Earth. The opposition calls for the government to take action.

The Ogrons board.

Locked up in C982's hold, the Doctor deduces that the strange sound was some kind of sonic hypnosis device that caused Hardy and Jo to see what they most feared. As the boarding party burns through the airlocks, Hardy gets the Doctor and Jo to use as hostages, but when the airlock door bursts open, the boarders are not Draconians, but Ogrons. The Ogrons stun the two pilots and the Doctor. They tie up Jo and take the ship's cargo and the TARDIS as they leave. When the Doctor revives and releases Jo, she tells him what the Ogrons did and wonders if they are working for the Daleks, as they were when she first met them. The Doctor points out that the Ogrons are mercenaries, and work for whoever employs them. When the rescue party arrives, Hardy and Stewart have stopped hallucinating, but with their memories garbled, they accuse the Doctor and Jo of being Draconian traitors...

Episode two[[edit] | [edit source]]

The two travellers get locked up again as C982 heads back to Earth. General Williams believes the Doctor and Jo are human agents planted by the Draconians to sabotage any war effort by Earth. He brings the two travellers to confront the Draconian Prince, but the Doctor denies working for the Draconians nor does the Prince recognise them. The Doctor tries to convince the President that a third party is trying to provoke the two empires into war. However, as the Doctor can provide no reason why someone would want to or any evidence to support his claim, Williams orders him and Jo be taken away and vows he will get the truth out of them.

In the Draconian embassy, the Prince arranges to help Jo and the Doctor "escape" so that they can be questioned. When the two are escorted from their cell to be brought to the President, a Draconian squad attacks, taking the Doctor prisoner. Jo tries to get more guards to help, but she is arrested instead. The Draconians question the Doctor, believing that he is involved in a plot with Williams to provoke a new war. The Doctor escapes but is recaptured in the compound by Earth troops. Once he is back in the cell with Jo, she hears the same sound as on C982. Outside, the Ogrons raid the prison, looking like Draconians thanks to the hypnosound. They break into the Doctor's cell and order him to go with them.

Episode three[[edit] | [edit source]]

The Doctor on the Moon's penal colony.

The second escape goes no better than the first: the Doctor is recaptured again, and the Ogrons disappear. This second "rescue attempt" cements Williams' suspicions. He demands the president grant him the authority to strike first against the Draconians. The president agrees to break off diplomatic relations but will go no further without conclusive proof.

Williams puts the Doctor under a mind probe. It indicates the Doctor is telling the truth, which he is calmly repeating over and over. Williams refuses to believe it and orders increased power, but the probe overloads. The president orders the Doctor sent to the Lunar Penal Colony, where political prisoners are exiled for life, while Jo remains on Earth. Williams and the president receive records from the Dominion government of Sirius IV, a colony planet with some autonomy. The records "prove" the Doctor and Jo are citizens of Sirius IV and career criminals. A commissioner from the Dominion has arrived to claim jurisdiction — the Master.

On the Moon, the Doctor meets Professor Dale of the Peace Party, who shows him around. The Doctor tries to gain Dale's trust and includes him in his plans for escape. On Earth, Jo recognises the Master immediately and realises he was behind the Ogron attacks. The Master discovered the Doctor and Jo's presence when the Ogrons brought him the TARDIS. Given the unsavoury choice of going with the Master or staying in her cell, Jo agrees to go with him to fetch the Doctor.

Dale believes the Doctor. The peace with the Draconians lasted many years but suddenly devolved into senseless acts of hostility. The Doctor's fantastic story explains everything. Dale outlines the escape plan: Cross, one of the overseers, will leave two spacesuits near an airlock. They will cross the lunar surface and steal a spaceship. Dale offers to take the Doctor back to Earth where he can tell his story to Dale's contacts in the press and government. However, once inside the airlock, they find that the suits' oxygen tanks are empty. The Doctor tries to open the door, but it is locked. He and Dale realise Cross has tricked them and is pumping out the room's air...

Episode four[[edit] | [edit source]]

The Doctor climbs outside the prison ship.

At the last moment, the Master arrives and restores the room's atmosphere. He obtains custody of the Doctor and gets him to come along quietly by revealing that he has Jo. Reunited with Jo in a cell in the Master's ship, the Doctor wonders why he is still alive. The Master explains that his employers are very interested in the Doctor. The Master sets the ship's automatic controls for the Ogron homeworld.

Pretending to tell Jo stories of his life, the Doctor uses a hidden steel wire to file through the cell's hinges. Jo blocks the security camera and natters, pretending to continue the conversation, while the Doctor sneaks out. Donning a spacesuit, he makes his way across the hull and into the flight deck. The Master puts Jo in an airlock, threatening to eject her into space if the Doctor does not surrender. The Doctor takes him by surprise. As the two face off, they do not see a Draconian battlecruiser approaching. Draconians enter the airlock where Jo is located.

The Draconian captain tells them all diplomatic relations with Earth have been severed. Violating Draconian space is punishable by death. The Doctor says he has vital proof for the Emperor and asks to speak to him. The captain locks up all three of them to take back to Draconia. However, the Master secretly activates a device whose signal is picked up by the Ogrons, who follow them to Draconia.

Episode five[[edit] | [edit source]]

The Master gives the order to fire.

As the ship arrives on Draconia, the Prince is speaking with his father, the Emperor, asking for permission to strike first at Earth. The Emperor, like the President, is hesitant. He knows such a war could bring down both empires.

The Doctor, Jo and the Master are presented to the Emperor, and the Doctor gives the ritual greeting, "My life at your command." The Prince is incensed that the Doctor has the temerity to address the emperor like a Draconian noble, but the Doctor says that he is a noble of Draconia — the title was given him by the 15th emperor, five centuries before, when he aided Draconia against a space plague. The Doctor accuses the Master of trying to start a war between Earth and Draconia using Ogrons and the hypnosound device. As the Emperor considers this, a courtier announces that an Earth spaceship has arrived. Jo hears the sound of the sonic device and realises it is the Ogrons. They burst in, guns blazing, and retreat with the Master, leaving several dead Draconians in their wake. One Ogron has been knocked out by the Doctor. As the effects of the hypnosound fade, the Emperor sees the "Earthman" before him transform into its true form and realises the Doctor is speaking the truth.

The Emperor decides the Ogron must be shown to the Earth authorities, but a Draconian ship would be shot down. The Prince, the Doctor and Jo will take the Master's police ship. As they cross the frontier into Earth space, they spot a ship following them. By the time they identify it as the Ogron ship, it has already launched its missiles. As the Doctor takes evasive action, the captive Ogron breaks out of its cell, overpowering its Draconian guard. It enters the flight deck and in the struggle cuts the ship's speed. The Prince and the Doctor subdue the Ogron, but the Master's ship catches up and a party boards the ship. A firefight breaks out on the flight deck, just as an Earth battlecruiser shows up. The Master recalls the boarding party, who rescue the Ogron prisoner and take Jo captive. Their ship zips away. The Earth battlecruiser places the Doctor's ship under arrest.

Without the Ogron, the president is unconvinced. The Doctor suggests a trip to the Ogron homeworld, but Williams thinks it a Draconian trick to divide Earth's forces. The Prince expects this response from Williams — after all, he started the first war. Williams lies and objects, but the Prince reveals what is in the Draconian court records. Twenty years before, the Draconians sent a battlecruiser on a diplomatic mission. When the Draconian ship did not answer hails, Williams gave the order to attack. The battlecruiser was unarmed, its missile banks empty, and the reason it did not answer was because its communications systems were destroyed in the same neutron storm that had damaged Williams's ship. Williams is shaken by the prince's revelation and apologises for the wrong he had done to the Draconians. Williams now intends to lead the expedition to the Ogron planet himself.

The Master brings Jo to a bunker on the Ogron homeworld, where he shows her the TARDIS. He plans to use Jo and it as bait for the Doctor. He tries to hypnotise Jo, first with his own powers and then with the hypnosound.

Episode six[[edit] | [edit source]]

Jo's mind is strong enough to resist. The Master orders her taken away. An Ogron reports that one of their ships found and attacked two Earth cargo ships, destroying one. The Master is delighted. This means that war is not far off, and, indeed, cries for war from Earth are at a fever pitch.

Williams prepares his personal scout ship. The Doctor and the Prince accompany him as it heads at top speed to the coordinates the Doctor got from the Master's ship. Using the spoon brought with a bowl of thick broth, Jo digs her way into the next unlocked cell and sneaks further into the bunker as Williams's ship enters orbit, and they avert near destruction from a Draconian cruiser. She pockets the hypnosound, then finds a pad with the coordinates of the planet and the bunker. She transmits a distress signal with the information. The Master shows up, revealing that he deliberately left the coordinates for Jo to find, the signal was muted, and only the Doctor could read it. His ship has been detected in orbit. When he comes, the trap will be sprung.

Williams' party lands nearby, not knowing the Ogrons have set up an ambush. The Ogrons open fire on them but are frightened away by an orange, slug-like lizard they call the Eater. The Master is furious, and warns them their masters are coming. This terrifies them more than the monster. Williams' group hears the roar of a landing spaceship. When they look at the ridge, they see the Master, accompanied by several Daleks, who exterminate Williams' men before they can fire. The Daleks want to exterminate the Doctor immediately, but the Master proposes that the Doctor be placed in his hands, to be allowed to see the galaxy and Earth in ruins before they kill him. The Gold Dalek agrees and leaves for its ship to prepare the Dalek army on another planet.

The Doctor explains the Daleks were behind the war so they could deceive the empires to destroy each other, thus weakening the universe for conquest. The Doctor modifies the stolen hypnosound, making the Ogron guard see him as the Gold Dalek; in fear, the guard unlocks the cell gate and runs away. The Doctor tells Williams and the Prince to get the word to their respective governments and mount a joint expedition against the base on the Ogron planet. The Doctor and Jo find their way to the TARDIS but are surrounded by the Ogrons and the Master, who trains a blaster on the Doctor. The Doctor activates the hypnosound, panicking the Ogrons. One accidentally knocks the Master's arm, making him fire, the shot grazing the Doctor's head. The Master and the Ogrons scatter, giving Williams and the Prince the chance they need to escape and warn Earth and Draconia. The Doctor, barely conscious, has Jo help him into the TARDIS. He staggers to the console, dematerialises the ship, then presses his palms to the telepathic circuits, sending a message to the Time Lords. The TARDIS spins away into space...

Cast[[edit] | [edit source]]

Uncredited Cast[[edit] | [edit source]]

Crew[[edit] | [edit source]]

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

Worldbuilding[[edit] | [edit source]]

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

Literature[[edit] | [edit source]]

Species[[edit] | [edit source]]

United Nations Intelligence Taskforce[[edit] | [edit source]]

  • While distracting the Master so the Doctor can get to the outside of the ship, Jo mentions that people thought of her job at UNIT as hanging out with James Bond-type characters and going to fancy dinner parties while she claims in reality it's just doing filing for the Brigadier or else running around making tea and being a general "dogsbody".

Foods and beverages[[edit] | [edit source]]

  • Cross confiscates chocolate from Patel.
  • The President and General Williams drink wine.
  • Jo gives the Ogron prisoner a banana.

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

  • This story had the working title Frontiers in Space.
  • The original outline had the Cybermen working with the Master, but they were swapped for the Ogrons before scripting started.[4]
  • The conclusion of this story ends on a cliffhanger leading straight into Planet of the Daleks. Originally both this story and Planet of the Daleks were going to be a single 12-part story, and as the two storylines are connected, they are often unofficially considered as such.
  • An unfortunate error was made at the time of production, whereby one of the on-screen cast credit slides for episode one was inadvertently substituted for one of those from episode two. This resulted in Lawrence Davidson (Draconian First Secretary) and Timothy Craven (Cell Guard) not being credited on-screen for episode two, though they were credited in Radio Times, and Louis Mahoney (Newscaster) and Roy Pattison (Draconian Space Pilot) being repeated — even though their characters appeared only in episode one.
  • Assistant floor manager John Bradburn plays the Ogron eater monster seen on the Ogrons' planet.
  • During editing, the first scene of episode three, following the reprise, was drastically cut down for timing reasons: a key background scene was eliminated and the character of Sheila, assistant to the President of Earth, was reduced to merely that of a walk-on who massaged the President whilst she talked to her secretary. In the complete version of the scene, Sheila had discussed the origins of the tensions between Earth and Draconia with the President, during which it was revealed that the young General Williams had destroyed a Draconian battle-cruiser — not realising that it was unarmed, and merely being used to transport the Draconian envoy — in a blast from his own spacecraft's exhaust rockets. Luan Peters (Sheila) retained an on-screen credit despite no longer having any lines.
  • During the scene in the President of Earth's office in episode six, where the Doctor, the President and the Draconian prince watch on a large wall-mounted video screen a news film report of Congressman Brook at a political rally calling for war with Draconia, Bill Mitchell was originally to have featured as a newscaster, announcing the news of the rally and introducing the film report. Unfortunately, either due to the episode overrunning or a decision by Paul Bernard to use only the footage of Congressman Brook, Mitchell's appearance was edited out of the finished programme. This decision appears to have been made at a late stage, which explains why Mitchell is still credited both on-screen and in Radio Times.
  • John Scott Martin is credited as "Chief Dalek" in Radio Times, while Cy Town and Murphy Grumbar are credited on-screen but not in Radio Times.
  • Episode six was revised after it was delivered by director Paul Bernard as Barry Letts greatly disliked the way the Ogron eater had been realised by the production team and tried to limit its inclusion in the serial. Unfortunately, it was centre stage in the final moments of episode six, and the only way to get rid of it was to film a corrective pick-up on the first day of studio recording for Planet of the Daleks. This meant that, technically, episode six contained some work by Planet of the Daleks director David Maloney. However, this did not alter Bernard's sole directing credit for the episode.
  • Episode five is one of only two episodes in Doctor Who history to feature the "Delaware Theme" during its opening as well as its closing credits. The UK broadcast used the standard theme music, but the version sent to Australia already had the unused arrangement edited in.
  • When the Doctor uses the stolen hypnosound to appear as a Dalek to the Ogron guard in episode six, his commands are provided by Dalek voice actor Michael Wisher.
  • Reviewers have observed that the precipitating incident of the first Earth-Draconia war, as depicted in this story, is very similar to the beginning of the Earth-Minbari War in the 1990s television series Babylon 5.[5][6] Both space wars begin because an Earth vessel misinterprets the approach of an alien ship as a threat and fires on the ship based on this misunderstanding.
  • 8A Fitzroy Park at Highgate, London, which was used as the exterior of the Draconian embassy, was at the time the home of another BBC director, Naomi Capon.
  • After remaining unnamed for several decades, the President of Earth was finally given the name Dora in the audio story The Transcendence of Ephros.
  • Jon Pertwee named the Draconians as his favourite monster, largely because of how expressive they were and thus easier to act alongside than Daleks. He was fond of recounting how he had a conversation about space travel, the stars and the planets with one of the Draconian actors during a night shoot without noticing the actor was in costume.
  • At Terrance Dicks' suggestion, the President of Earth became female, with Malcolm Hulke taking care to note that she was not the first woman to hold the office.
  • The same three Dalek casings used for Day of the Daleks appeared in episode six.
  • The Doctor's discovery that the attacks in space were being committed by Ogrons initially came much later, after the Master had liberated him from prison. 
  • The notion of the hypnosound was developed to replace the physical masks the Ogrons wore in the original storyline.
  • At the lunar penal colony, Patel was originally called Doughty — a name reused by Malcolm Hulke for the novelisation.
  • Harold Goldblatt had previously appeared with Jon Pertwee in a 1938 radio production in Belfast entitled Lillibullero, which was one of Pertwee's earliest radio performances.
  • The serial made use of spaceship props acquired from Gerry Anderson's Century 21.
  • The Draconian Empire was originally named the Andromedean Empire.
  • Malcolm Hulke originally intended the Draconians to be like the post-Napoleonic Hapsburgs.
  • The notion of the hypnosound was developed to replace the physical masks the Ogrons wore in the original script.

Ratings[[edit] | [edit source]]

  • Episode one - 9.1 million viewers
  • Episode two - 7.8 million viewers
  • Episode three - 7.5 million viewers
  • Episode four - 7.1 million viewers
  • Episode five - 7.7 million viewers
  • Episode six - 8.9 million viewers

Myths[[edit] | [edit source]]

  • The fifth episode as seen on the BBC Video release of this story, which is about a minute longer than the one originally transmitted and features the abandoned Delaware synthesiser arrangement of the theme music, is a special "extended version". (It is a rough cut that was prepared during the original editing of the story and never intended for public consumption.)
  • Roger Delgado died soon after appearing in the episode, which is why the Master doesn't appear in Planet of the Daleks. (He died several months later; there's no indication the Master was ever intended to appear in the second chapter.)
  • A related rumour states that Katy Manning decided to leave the series after Delgado's death. (In fact, by the time Delgado died (June 1973), Manning's final episode had already been filmed (April 1973), and her decision to leave would have likely been made by the time Frontier in Space had been shot, even if the rumour above was true.)

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

  • Hayward Gallery, Belvedere Road, Lambeth, London
  • 8A Fitzroy Park, Highgate, London
  • Beachfields Quarry, Cormongers Lane, Redhill, Surrey
  • South Bank Centre, Waterloo, London
  • Bray Studios, Slough
  • Ealing Studios, Ealing Green, Ealing
  • BBC Television Centre (Studio 3 & 4), 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.
  • Jo splits her trousers while running to escape the Ogrons in episode three.
  • Jo's tights change colour from scene to scene (and occasionally she isn't wearing any at all).
  • Big strings can be seen holding up the Doctor when he exits the Master's stolen prison transport ship in episode four, and again for his second spacewalk in episode six.
  • As the space walking Doctor opens the airlock in episode four, there is a technician visible inside it. Their hand is caught in the shot and can be seen helping the hatch open below for a brief moment before being pulled back out of view.
  • During the Doctor's spacewalk, the wires on the Doctor are clearly visible while he is climbing the outer hull of the ship.
  • During episode two when the Doctor rolls back on his chair to escape his Draconian captors, it is quite obvious that he isn't Jon Pertwee, but a stunt double in a wig.
  • When Jo helps the Doctor to his feet on the Ogron Planet, she is holding the Master's gun, but when she is helping him inside the TARDIS, the gun disappears.

Continuity[[edit] | [edit source]]

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

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

This story was released in a box set called Dalek War, along with Planet of the Daleks. The DVD was released in the UK (Region 2) on 5 October 2009, in Australia and New Zealand (Region 4) on 4 February 2010, and in North America on 2 March 2010.

Special features[[edit] | [edit source]]

DVD errors[[edit] | [edit source]]

  • The DVD booklet of the Region 2 version, in the section describing the commentary, the images of Barry Letts & Terrance Dicks are mismatched to each other's biography.
  • In the scene selection for episode two, the image used for chapter 6 actually comes from episode three.

Covers[[edit] | [edit source]]

  • Region 2 UK cover

    Region 2 UK cover

  • Region 4 Australian cover

    Region 4 Australian cover

  • Region 1 US cover

    Region 1 US cover

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

  • Region 1 US Dalek War cover

    Region 1 US Dalek War cover

  • Region 2 Dalek War cover

    Region 2 Dalek War cover

  • Region 4 Australian Dalek War cover

    Region 4 Australian Dalek War cover

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

This story is available:

  • for streaming through BritBox (Canada and US) as part of Season 10 of Classic Doctor Who.

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

  • UK VHS cover

    UK VHS cover

  • Australian VHS cover

    Australian VHS cover

  • US VHS cover

    US VHS cover

  • The Pertwee Years

    The Pertwee Years

Footnotes[[edit] | [edit source]]

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 Uncredited on-screen for episode two, due to one of the cast credit slides for episode one being inadvertently reused, but credited in Radio Times.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 Credited for episode two, but appears only in episode one.
  3. ↑ Credited both on-screen and in Radio Times for episode six, but does not appear.
  4. ↑ The Essential Doctor Who: Cybermen pg113
  5. ↑ In About Time 3, Lawrence Miles and Tat Wood write: "Fans of American TV-SF, however, will no doubt enjoy the similarities between the start of the Earth/Draconia war and the start of the Earth/Minbar war in Babylon 5. The Draconians, like the Minbari, approach the humans with their gunports open."
  6. ↑ Doctor Who - Frontier in Space - Video. amazon.com. Retrieved on 8 March 2012. “Sci-fi aficionados will not need much convincing that this story provided inspiration for Babylon 5's Earth-Minbari war.”

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