Oroborus (TV story): Difference between revisions

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{{title dab away}}
{{real world}}
{{real world}}
{{title|''{{PAGENAME}}''}}
{{ImageLinkTV}}
{{Infobox K9
{{Infobox Story SMW
|image         = [[File:oroborus.jpg|250px]]
|image           = Oroborus.jpg
|story name    = Orborus
|season number   = Series 1 (K9)
|series        = [[K9 (TV series)|K9]]
|series episode number = 11
|number         = [[Series 1 (K9)|1]]
|main character  = [[K9 Mark 2]], [[Starkey]], [[Jorjie Turner|Jorjie]], [[Darius Pike|Darius]], [[Alistair Gryffen|Gryffen]]
|featuring      = <ul><li>[[K9 Mark 2]]</li><li>[[Starkey]]</li><li>[[Jorjie Turner]]</li><li>[[Darius Pike]]</li><li>[[Alistair Gryffen|Professor Alistair Gryffen]]</li></ul>
|featuring      =
|enemy         = [[Oroborus]]
|enemy           = [[Oroborus]]
|setting       = [[London]], [[2050]]
|setting         = [[London]], [[2050]]
|writer         = [[Deborah Parsons]]
|writer         = Deborah Parsons
|producer       = <ul><li>[[Penny Wall]]</li><li>[[Richard Stewart]]</li><li>[[Simon Barnes]]</li></ul>
|director        = [[Daniel Nettheim]]
|director      = [[Daniel Nettheim]]
|producer       = [[Penny Wall]], [[Richard Stewart]], [[Simon Barnes]]
|broadcast date = [[22 March]] [[2010]]
|broadcast date = 22 March 2010
|format         = 1 x 30 minute episode
|format         = 1 x 30 minute episode
|production code= 1.11
|production code = 1.11
|previous story= [[Curse of Anubis]]
|series          = ''[[K9 (TV series)|K9]]''
|next story= [[Alien Avatar]]
|prev            = Curse of Anubis (TV story)
}}{{TV stub}}
|next           = Alien Avatar (TV story)
'''''Oroborus''''' was the eleventh episode of [[Series 1 (K9)|Series 1]] of ''[[K9 (TV series)|K9]]''.It revealed Starkey's backstory. It also developed his relationship with Gryffen.
|epcount = 1
}}{{you may|Oroborus|Ouroboros|n1=the creature|n2=the symbol}}
'''''Oroborus''''' was the eleventh episode of ''[[K9 (TV series)|K9]]''. It was written by [[Deborah Parsons]], and directed by [[Daniel Nettheim]]. It revealed [[Starkey]]'s backstory and developed his relationship with [[Alistair Gryffen|Gryffen]].


== Synopsis ==
== Synopsis ==
K9 notices a change in behaviour within his friends and discovers time itself is being disrupted. Small chunks in time are being eaten away. A [[Time-Snake]] has invaded the mansion and [[Starkey]] makes a discovery about his own parents that means that only he alone can face the [[Oroborus]] and offer himself as a meal to defeat the creature.
[[K9 Mark 2|K9]] notices a change in behaviour in his friends and discovers [[time]] itself is being disrupted. Small chunks of time are being eaten away. A Time Snake has invaded the mansion and [[Starkey]] makes a discovery about his own parents that means he alone can face the [[Oroborus]]. He offers himself as a meal to defeat the creature.


== Plot ==
== Plot ==
At the Gryffen house, the STM suddenly activates and starts pulling everything in the room towards the vortex. While Gryffen and Starkey both express their disbelief that the STM could have turned on by itself, K9 registers the power source as unknown. He then fires on the STM, locking off the plasma thrusters and shutting it down. After K9's long and detailed explanation of how he did it, Darius and Jorjie walk in wondering what happened. Gryffen suspects that someone may have touched the STM, but both Darius and Jorjie say they haven't, as does Starkey (who has a strange itch on his arm). Gryffen determines that someone or something has breached the vortex, and sends K9 to search the house.
At the [[Gryffen Manor|Gryffen house]], the [[STM]] suddenly activates and starts pulling everything in the room towards the vortex. [[Alistair Gryffen|Gryffen]] and [[Starkey]] express their disbelief the STM could have turned on by itself. K9 registers the power source as unknown. He fires on the STM, locking off the plasma thrusters and shutting it down. After K9's long and detailed explanation of how he did it, [[Darius Pike|Darius]] and [[Jorjie Turner|Jorjie]] walk in, wondering what happened. Gryffen suspects someone has touched the STM, but Darius and Jorjie say they haven't, as does Starkey, who has a strange itch on his [[arm]]. Gryffen determines someone or something has breached the vortex. He sends K9 to search the house.


Darius receives his payment from Starkey for a pair of resistors (which don't work). Starkey witnesses a weird distortion and loop when Jorjie complains about Darius. K9 returns to Gryffen and tells him he has found no presence. That night, as K9 sleeps next to Starkey, he wakes up and tries to warn him of something, but time suddenly reverses and K9 goes back to sleep. Starkey then feels the same strange itch he felt before. That morning, Gryffen is cooking breakfast when Starkey walks in. This startles Gryffen, causing him to drop one of his eggs. Time then loops and his him dropping the egg repeats. Starkey keeps feeling the same strange itch and starts sneezing; Gryffen wonders if he's allergic to something. Gryffen decides to check and takes a blood sample from Starkey.
Darius gets his payment from Starkey for a pair of resistors which don't work. Starkey witnesses a weird distortion and loop, when Jorjie complains about Darius. K9 returns to Gryffen and tells him he has found no presence. That night, K9 wakes next to Starkey and tries to warn him of something, but time suddenly reverses and K9 goes back to sleep. Starkey feels the same strange itch as before. That morning, Gryffen is cooking [[breakfast]] when Starkey walks in. Gryffen is startled and drops an [[egg]]. Time loops and his dropping the egg repeats. Starkey keeps feeling the same strange itch and starts sneezing. Gryffen wonders if he's allergic to something. Gryffen decides to check and takes a blood sample from Starkey.


Gryffen finds a strange mark on Starkey's arm, Starkey then tells him it has suddenly become itchy, which it never had before. Darius then returns back from shopping, confusing Gryffen as he thought Darius went shopping yesterday. Darius tells Starkey to pay up for the resistors, and Starkey tells him he paid him yesterday. Darius refuses to believe it and demands he pay up, starting an argument. Starkey call Jorjie thinking that she'll back him up, but she says that Darius gave him the resistors yesterday and that he didn't pay him. Even though K9 didn't witness it, he scans Starkey and determines that he isn't lying.
Gryffen finds a strange mark on Starkey's arm. Starkey tells him it has suddenly become itchy, which it never had before. Darius returns back from shopping, confusing Gryffen as he thought Darius went shopping the day before. Darius tells Starkey to pay for the resistors and Starkey tells him he paid him yesterday. Darius refuses to believe it and demands he pay up, starting an argument. Starkey calls Jorjie, thinking she'll back him up, but she says Darius gave him the resistors yesterday and he didn't pay him. Even though K9 didn't witness it, he scans Starkey and determines he isn't lying.


Starkey gives up and plays Darius the money, and as K9 records it a "temporal error" occurs which reverses time. Starkey talks to K9 in his bedroom, wondering if Jorjie lied or if he really didn't give Darius the money. K9 detects a temporal loss, stating he lost seven seconds. Starkey researches schizophrenia and tells K9 of how he heard voices and saw faces as a child hoping they were memories. K9 tells Starkey to relax when he thinks he's going mad, telling him he's had similar moments.
Starkey gives up and pays Darius. As K9 records it, a "temporal error" occurs, reversing time. Starkey talks to K9 in his bedroom. He wonders if Jorjie lied or if he really didn't give Darius the money. K9 detects a temporal loss; he lost seven seconds. Starkey researches schizophrenia and tells K9 he heard voices and saw faces as a child. He hopes they are memories. K9 tells Starkey to relax when he thinks he's going mad. K9 has had similar moments.


Darius asks Gryffen if he's found out what happened to the STM, wondering if it has been sabotaged. As Gryffen and Darius both confirm they haven't, Gryffen asks Darius who else was here, and his question is answered when Starkey walks in. Gryffen tells Starkey that his blood results are ready and goes to have a look. Gryffen is shocked at the readings, revealing that Starkey's body is producing strange antibodies. K9 scans them and confirms they are alien. Darius assumes he's an alien but Gryffen says Starkey's immune system is capable of defending against alien pathogens. Darius insists Starkey's an alien but K9 confirms he's human.
Darius asks Gryffen if he's found out what happened to the STM, wondering if it has been sabotaged. Both Gryffen and Darius say it wasn't them. Gryffen asks Darius who else was here. His question is answered when Starkey walks in. Gryffen tells Starkey his blood results are ready and goes to have a look. Gryffen is shocked at the readings. Starkey's body is producing strange antibodies. K9 scans them and confirms they are alien. Darius assumes he's an alien but Gryffen says Starkey's immune system is capable of defending against alien pathogens. Darius insists Starkey's an alien but K9 confirms he's human.


Gryffen states that alien immunology is beyond known science and that only two people have experimented with it, a couple who tested the antibodies on their son... Starkey. In his bedroom, Starkey researches and analyses his alien antibodies, experiencing the same strange itch again. A strange creature slithers through the cellar and the STM activates. Starkey asks K9's help but he is asleep. Starkey tries to stop the STM using the same method K9 did. He succeeds, but Gryffen walks in demanding to know what Starkey is doing. He finds out someone has tried to access time, but when Starkey says it is the same as the incident yesterday, both Gryffen and K9 then tell him it never happened. Gryffen thinks Starkey switched it on.
Gryffen states that alien immunology is beyond known science and only two people have experimented with it, a couple who tested the antibodies on themselves and their son. This leads Starkey and Gryffen to believe that the child is Starkey. In his bedroom, Starkey researches and analyses his alien antibodies, experiencing the itch again. A strange creature slithers through the cellar and the STM activates. Starkey asks K9's help but he is asleep. Starkey tries to stop the STM, using the same method K9 did. He succeeds, but Gryffen walks in, demanding to know what Starkey is doing. He finds someone has tried to access time, but when Starkey says it is the same as the incident yesterday, Gryffen and K9 tell him it never happened. Gryffen thinks Starkey switched it on.


Starkey leaves to get his stuff, and K9 offers to join him, but they both notice that everyone has lost memories. K9 checks his memory of searching the house after the first breach, and learns that temporal loss corrupted the file of the cellar. They both go down there and discover strange tracks. Gryffen and Darius discuss Starkey tampering with the STM; Gryffen tells Darius he is trying to find his parents. As Starkey and K9 search, they hear a creature slithering, a time distortion occurs and K9 shuts down.
Starkey leaves to get his stuff and K9 offers to join him. They notice that everyone has lost memories. K9 checks his memory of searching the house after the first breach and learns temporal loss corrupted the file of the cellar. They go down and discover strange tracks. Gryffen and Darius discuss Starkey tampering with the STM. Gryffen believe that Starkey is trying to find his parents. As Starkey and K9 search, they hear slithering. A time distortion occurs and K9 shuts down.


Jorjie goes to Gryffen and Darius, looking for Starkey. They tell her what Starkey was doing with the STM, but Jorjie wonders if the STM is what's causing time-shifts across London. When Gryffen states the STM is localised, Jorjie determines Starkey isn't tampering and turns on the news. The newsreader apologises that the King's birthday message was both not shown and shown twice. He then interviews Brook Thomas, a spokesperson for a train company, about the news that all the trains are arriving on time. She says that the trains are 100% on time even if they are several hours late and that some trains are arriving even before they leave. The newsreader then introduces the interview again and the spokesperson repeats her statement.
Jorjie goes to Gryffen and Darius, looking for Starkey. They tell her what Starkey was doing with the STM, but Jorjie wonders if the STM is what's causing time-shifts across London. When Gryffen says the STM is localised, Jorjie determines Starkey isn't tampering and turns on the news. The newsreader apologises that the King's birthday message was both not shown and shown twice. He interviews Brook Thomas, a spokesperson for a train company, about the news that all the trains are arriving on time. She says that the trains are 100% on time even if they are several hours late and that some trains are arriving even before they leave. The newsreader introduces the interview again and the spokesperson repeats her statement.


Back in the cellar K9 reactivates and determines that he has lost three seconds; Starkey then finds some reptilian skin. Starkey shows Gryffen, who apologises for doubting him. The team realises that since the snake skin was shed, the snake is growing and is getting hungrier. Gryffen's analysis identifies it as an Oroborus, a time-consuming snake. Starkey decides to go alone to the cellar and stop it since he possesses alien antibodies. Their plan is to lure the Oroborus underneath the STM, then Gryffen activates it. But there is a risk, if the vaccine isn't effective Starkey will be consumed.
[[File:Oroborus2.jpg|thumb|right|The [[oroborus]] is identified on Gryffen's computer]]
Back in the cellar, K9 reactivates and determines he has lost three seconds. Starkey finds some reptilian skin. Starkey shows Gryffen, who apologises for doubting him. The team realise the snake skin was shed. The snake is growing and is getting hungrier. Gryffen's analysis identifies it as an Oroborus, a time-consuming snake. Starkey decides to go alone to the cellar and stop it since he has alien antibodies. They plan to lure the Oroborus beneath the STM, then Gryffen will activate it. If the vaccine isn't effective, Starkey will be consumed.


Starkey goes through the cellar and faces the Oroborus, Starkey slowly backs away. The Oroborous gets right underneath the STM room, but Starkey is trapped in a dead end and the Oroborus is blocking the doorway. Gryffen activates the STM and sends the Oroborus away, while K9 finds Starkey. They get back to the others, who are relieved to have them back. Later that night, when Starkey is in bed, Gryffen visits and apologises for doubting him. He gives Starkey a picture he found of two scientists he believes are his parents and bids him good-night as Starkey looks at the photo.
Starkey goes to the cellar and faces the Oroborus, then slowly backs away. The Oroborous gets right beneath the STM room, but Starkey is trapped in a dead end and the Oroborus blocks the door. Gryffen activates the STM and sends the Oroborus away, while K9 finds Starkey. They return to the others, who are relieved to have them back. Later that night, when Starkey is in bed, Gryffen visits and apologises for doubting him. He gives Starkey a picture he found of two scientists he believes are his parents and bids him good-night as Starkey looks at the photo.
 
[[File:Oroborus2.jpg|thumb|right|The [[oroborus]] is identified on Gryffen's computer]]


== Cast ==
== Cast ==
* [[K9 Mark 2]] - [[John Leeson]]
* Professor [[Alistair Gryffen]] - [[Robert Moloney]]
* [[Starkey]] - [[Keegan Joyce]]
* [[Starkey]] - [[Keegan Joyce]]
* [[Jorjie Turner]] - [[Philippa Coulthard]]
* [[Jorjie Turner]] - [[Philippa Coulthard]]
* [[Darius Pike]] - [[Daniel Webber]]
* [[Darius Pike]] - [[Daniel Webber]]
* [[Professor]] [[Alistair Gryffen]] - [[Robert Moloney]]
* Voice of [[K9 Mark 2|K9]] - [[John Leeson]]
* [[June Turner]] - [[Robyn Moore]]
* [[June Turner]] - [[Robyn Moore]]
* [[Interviewer]] - [[Mark Hodson]]
* [[Interviewer (Oroborus)|Interviewer]] - [[Mark Hodson]]
* [[Brook Thomas]] - [[Michelle Atkinson]]
* [[Brook Thomas]] - [[Michelle Atkinson]]
* [[CCPC]] - [[Josh Norbido]]
* [[CCPC]] - [[Josh Norbido]], [[Jason McNamara]], [[Maual Savdie]] and [[Dane Paltman]]
* [[CCPC]] - [[Jason McNamara]]
* [[CCPC]] - [[Maual Savdie]]
* [[CCPC]] - [[Dane Paltman]]


== Production crew ==
''Robert Moloney, Keegan Joyce, Philippa Coulthard, Daniel Webber and John Leeson are all credited in the opening of the episode and not the closing credits. With the exception of Leeson's credit, they are credited only by their name and not with their respective character's name attached. Unusually, the Disney XD broadcast of this episode presented the closing credits as a series of slides with no headers rather than as the typical style of scrolling credits with headers. This broadcast also omitted the Support Cast credits.''
 
== Crew ==
* [[Writer]] - [[Deborah Parsons]]
* [[Writer]] - [[Deborah Parsons]]
* [[Director]] - [[Daniel Nettheim]]
* [[Director (crew)|Director]] - [[Daniel Nettheim]]
* [[Producer]]s - [[Penny Wall]], [[Richard Stewart]], [[Simon Barnes]]
* [[Producer]]s - [[Penny Wall]], [[Richard Stewart]], [[Simon Barnes]]
* [[Executive producer]]s - [[Jim Howell]], [[Grant Bradley]], [[Steve Robbins]]
* [[Executive producer]]s - [[Jim Howell]], [[Grant Bradley]], [[Steve Robbins]]
Line 78: Line 79:
* Music by - [[Christopher Elves]]
* Music by - [[Christopher Elves]]
* K9 theme music by - [[Michael Lira]]
* K9 theme music by - [[Michael Lira]]
* [[Editor]] - [[Patrick Stewart]]
* [[Editor]] - [[Patrick Stewart (editor)|Patrick Stewart]]
* Casting - [[Faith Martin]] and associates
* Casting - [[Faith Martin]] and associates
* Episodic casting - [[Lisa Maloney]]
* Episodic casting - [[Lisa Maloney]]
Line 89: Line 90:
* [[Costume Designer]] - [[Joanne Thompson]]
* [[Costume Designer]] - [[Joanne Thompson]]
* Makeup Designer - [[Sharon Robbins]]
* Makeup Designer - [[Sharon Robbins]]
* Puppeteer - [[David Pawsey]]
* [[Puppeteer (crew)|Puppeteer]] - [[David Pawsey]]
* [[Location Manager]] - [[Charles Boyle]]
* [[Location Manager]] - [[Charles Boyle]]
* Sound Recordist - [[Ian Grant]]
* Sound Recordist - [[Ian Grant]]
Line 100: Line 101:
* Unit Manager - [[Graeme Suhr]]
* Unit Manager - [[Graeme Suhr]]
* Post Production Facility - [[Cutting Edge Australia]]
* Post Production Facility - [[Cutting Edge Australia]]
* Head of Post Production - [[John Lee]]
* Head of Post Production - [[John Lee (post-production)|John Lee]]
* Sound Design - [[Warren Pearson]]
* Sound Design - [[Warren Pearson]]


== References ==
== Worldbuilding ==
''to be added''
* The newscast is on [[Channel 8]].
* [[TubeCorp]] has taken over responsibility for the [[London Underground]].
* The Oroborus turned [[Centauri]] into a [[black hole]] by siphoning off its future.
* Starkey reads about [[schizophrenia]].


== Story notes ==
== Story notes ==
Line 119: Line 123:


=== Production errors ===
=== Production errors ===
* [[Connor Van Vuuren]] is credited as [[Drake]] even though he doesn't appear.
{{K9 discontinuity}}
''to be added''


== Continuity ==
== Continuity ==
{{K9 discontinuity}}
* The Oroborus is said to feed off [[potential energy]], the same energy source used by the [[Weeping Angel]]s. ([[TV]]: ''[[Blink (TV story)|Blink]]'')
* The Oroborus is said to feed off [[potential energy]], the same energy source used by the [[Weeping Angel]]s. ([[DW]]: ''[[Blink]]'')


== Home video releases ==
== Home video releases ==
[[File:Dvd-k9complete.jpg|thumb|250px|right|Official Boxset Cover.]]
This episode is featured in the following DVD sets:
* This episode is featured in the Series One complete box set, released in Australia on [[29 September]] [[2010]]. [http://tardis-base.blogspot.com/2010/08/k9-complete-first-series.html]
* Series One complete box set, released in Australia on [[29 September (releases)|29 September]] 2010. [http://tardis-base.blogspot.com/2010/08/k9-complete-first-series.html]
[[File:Dvd-k9bounty.jpg|thumb|left|200px|''The Bounty Hunter'' Official Cover.]]
* A "vanilla" DVD called ''Alien Avatar'', containing ''[[The Fall of the House of Gryffen (TV story)|The Fall of the House of Gryffen]]'', ''[[Jaws of Orthrus (TV story)|Jaws of Orthrus]]'', ''[[Dream-Eaters (TV story)|Dream-Eaters]]'', ''[[Curse of Anubis (TV story)|Curse of Anubis]]'', ''Oroborus'' and ''[[Alien Avatar (TV story)|Alien Avatar]]'', released in Australia on [[1 December (releases)|1 December]] [[2010 (releases)|2010]]. [http://merchandise.thedoctorwhosite.co.uk/k9-dvd-complete-series-bounty-hunter/]
* This episode is featured in a "vanilla" DVD called ''The Bounty Hunter'', along with ''[[Regeneration (TV story)|Regeneration]]'', ''[[Liberation]]'', ''[[The Korven]]''. ''[[Sirens of Ceres]]'' and ''[[Fear Itself (TV story)|Fear Itself]]'', released in Australia on [[29 September]] [[2010]]. [http://merchandise.thedoctorwhosite.co.uk/k9-dvd-complete-series-bounty-hunter/]
* ''K9: Series 1: Volume 1'', containing episodes 1–12, released in the UK on [[31 January (releases)|31 January]] [[2011 (releases)|2011]] and in the US on [[30 March (releases)|30 March]] [[2011 (releases)|2011]]. [http://merchandise.thedoctorwhosite.co.uk/k9-complete-series-1-13-episodes/], [http://www.amazon.com/K9-Series-1-Vol/dp/B004EJ006M/ref=pd_bxgy_mov_img_b]
* This episode was released along with episodes 1-12 as "K-9: Series 1; Volume 1" on [[31 January]] [[2011]]. [http://merchandise.thedoctorwhosite.co.uk/k9-complete-series-1-13-episodes/]
* ''K9: Ultimate Collectors Edition'', containing the full first series, was released in the UK on [[11 June (releases)|11 June]] [[2012 (releases)|2012]]. [http://www.amazon.co.uk/K9-Complete-Box-Set-DVD/dp/B0076WI3C2/ref=sr_1_4?s=dvd&ie=UTF8&qid=1339049905&sr=1-4]
* [[File:Dvd-k9vol1uk.jpg|thumb|K-9: Series 1; Volume 1"]]
 
<gallery position=center captionalign=center hideaddbutton="true" widths="170">
File:Dvd-k9complete.jpg|Complete Boxset<br />(Region 4, Australia)
File:K9 Alien Avatar Australia DVD.jpg|''Alien Avatar''<br />(Region 4, Australia)
File:K9 Series 1 Vol 1 DVD.jpg|Series 1, Volume 1<br />(Region 0, sold in UK and US)
File:K9 Ultimate Collectors Edition DVD.jpg|"Ultimate Collectors Edition"<br />(Region 2, UK)
</gallery>


== External links ==
== External links ==
[http://www.k9official.com/episodes.html]
* [http://www.thedoctorwhosite.co.uk/k9/episodes/ TheDoctorWhoSite.co.uk]
{{K9 series 1}}
{{elx|page url=http://www.k9official.com/episodes.html|page name=Episode Guide|website name=K9 website}}
[[category:K9 television stories]]
{{K9TV}}
[[Category:Stories set in the 2050s]]
{{TitleSort}}
 
[[Category:K9 television stories]]
[[Category:2010 television stories]]
[[Category:2010 television stories]]
[[Category:Series 1 (K9) stories]]
[[Category:Series 1 (K9) stories]]
[[Category:Stories set in London]]

Latest revision as of 00:44, 22 October 2024

RealWorld.png

You may be looking for the creature or the symbol.

Oroborus was the eleventh episode of K9. It was written by Deborah Parsons, and directed by Daniel Nettheim. It revealed Starkey's backstory and developed his relationship with Gryffen.

Synopsis[[edit] | [edit source]]

K9 notices a change in behaviour in his friends and discovers time itself is being disrupted. Small chunks of time are being eaten away. A Time Snake has invaded the mansion and Starkey makes a discovery about his own parents that means he alone can face the Oroborus. He offers himself as a meal to defeat the creature.

Plot[[edit] | [edit source]]

At the Gryffen house, the STM suddenly activates and starts pulling everything in the room towards the vortex. Gryffen and Starkey express their disbelief the STM could have turned on by itself. K9 registers the power source as unknown. He fires on the STM, locking off the plasma thrusters and shutting it down. After K9's long and detailed explanation of how he did it, Darius and Jorjie walk in, wondering what happened. Gryffen suspects someone has touched the STM, but Darius and Jorjie say they haven't, as does Starkey, who has a strange itch on his arm. Gryffen determines someone or something has breached the vortex. He sends K9 to search the house.

Darius gets his payment from Starkey for a pair of resistors which don't work. Starkey witnesses a weird distortion and loop, when Jorjie complains about Darius. K9 returns to Gryffen and tells him he has found no presence. That night, K9 wakes next to Starkey and tries to warn him of something, but time suddenly reverses and K9 goes back to sleep. Starkey feels the same strange itch as before. That morning, Gryffen is cooking breakfast when Starkey walks in. Gryffen is startled and drops an egg. Time loops and his dropping the egg repeats. Starkey keeps feeling the same strange itch and starts sneezing. Gryffen wonders if he's allergic to something. Gryffen decides to check and takes a blood sample from Starkey.

Gryffen finds a strange mark on Starkey's arm. Starkey tells him it has suddenly become itchy, which it never had before. Darius returns back from shopping, confusing Gryffen as he thought Darius went shopping the day before. Darius tells Starkey to pay for the resistors and Starkey tells him he paid him yesterday. Darius refuses to believe it and demands he pay up, starting an argument. Starkey calls Jorjie, thinking she'll back him up, but she says Darius gave him the resistors yesterday and he didn't pay him. Even though K9 didn't witness it, he scans Starkey and determines he isn't lying.

Starkey gives up and pays Darius. As K9 records it, a "temporal error" occurs, reversing time. Starkey talks to K9 in his bedroom. He wonders if Jorjie lied or if he really didn't give Darius the money. K9 detects a temporal loss; he lost seven seconds. Starkey researches schizophrenia and tells K9 he heard voices and saw faces as a child. He hopes they are memories. K9 tells Starkey to relax when he thinks he's going mad. K9 has had similar moments.

Darius asks Gryffen if he's found out what happened to the STM, wondering if it has been sabotaged. Both Gryffen and Darius say it wasn't them. Gryffen asks Darius who else was here. His question is answered when Starkey walks in. Gryffen tells Starkey his blood results are ready and goes to have a look. Gryffen is shocked at the readings. Starkey's body is producing strange antibodies. K9 scans them and confirms they are alien. Darius assumes he's an alien but Gryffen says Starkey's immune system is capable of defending against alien pathogens. Darius insists Starkey's an alien but K9 confirms he's human.

Gryffen states that alien immunology is beyond known science and only two people have experimented with it, a couple who tested the antibodies on themselves and their son. This leads Starkey and Gryffen to believe that the child is Starkey. In his bedroom, Starkey researches and analyses his alien antibodies, experiencing the itch again. A strange creature slithers through the cellar and the STM activates. Starkey asks K9's help but he is asleep. Starkey tries to stop the STM, using the same method K9 did. He succeeds, but Gryffen walks in, demanding to know what Starkey is doing. He finds someone has tried to access time, but when Starkey says it is the same as the incident yesterday, Gryffen and K9 tell him it never happened. Gryffen thinks Starkey switched it on.

Starkey leaves to get his stuff and K9 offers to join him. They notice that everyone has lost memories. K9 checks his memory of searching the house after the first breach and learns temporal loss corrupted the file of the cellar. They go down and discover strange tracks. Gryffen and Darius discuss Starkey tampering with the STM. Gryffen believe that Starkey is trying to find his parents. As Starkey and K9 search, they hear slithering. A time distortion occurs and K9 shuts down.

Jorjie goes to Gryffen and Darius, looking for Starkey. They tell her what Starkey was doing with the STM, but Jorjie wonders if the STM is what's causing time-shifts across London. When Gryffen says the STM is localised, Jorjie determines Starkey isn't tampering and turns on the news. The newsreader apologises that the King's birthday message was both not shown and shown twice. He interviews Brook Thomas, a spokesperson for a train company, about the news that all the trains are arriving on time. She says that the trains are 100% on time even if they are several hours late and that some trains are arriving even before they leave. The newsreader introduces the interview again and the spokesperson repeats her statement.

The oroborus is identified on Gryffen's computer

Back in the cellar, K9 reactivates and determines he has lost three seconds. Starkey finds some reptilian skin. Starkey shows Gryffen, who apologises for doubting him. The team realise the snake skin was shed. The snake is growing and is getting hungrier. Gryffen's analysis identifies it as an Oroborus, a time-consuming snake. Starkey decides to go alone to the cellar and stop it since he has alien antibodies. They plan to lure the Oroborus beneath the STM, then Gryffen will activate it. If the vaccine isn't effective, Starkey will be consumed.

Starkey goes to the cellar and faces the Oroborus, then slowly backs away. The Oroborous gets right beneath the STM room, but Starkey is trapped in a dead end and the Oroborus blocks the door. Gryffen activates the STM and sends the Oroborus away, while K9 finds Starkey. They return to the others, who are relieved to have them back. Later that night, when Starkey is in bed, Gryffen visits and apologises for doubting him. He gives Starkey a picture he found of two scientists he believes are his parents and bids him good-night as Starkey looks at the photo.

Cast[[edit] | [edit source]]

Robert Moloney, Keegan Joyce, Philippa Coulthard, Daniel Webber and John Leeson are all credited in the opening of the episode and not the closing credits. With the exception of Leeson's credit, they are credited only by their name and not with their respective character's name attached. Unusually, the Disney XD broadcast of this episode presented the closing credits as a series of slides with no headers rather than as the typical style of scrolling credits with headers. This broadcast also omitted the Support Cast credits.

Crew[[edit] | [edit source]]

Worldbuilding[[edit] | [edit source]]

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

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Ratings[[edit] | [edit source]]

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Myths[[edit] | [edit source]]

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

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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.

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Continuity[[edit] | [edit source]]

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

This episode is featured in the following DVD sets:

  • Complete Boxset (Region 4, Australia)

    Complete Boxset
    (Region 4, Australia)

  • Alien Avatar (Region 4, Australia)

    Alien Avatar
    (Region 4, Australia)

  • Series 1, Volume 1 (Region 0, sold in UK and US)

    Series 1, Volume 1
    (Region 0, sold in UK and US)

  • "Ultimate Collectors Edition" (Region 2, UK)

    "Ultimate Collectors Edition"
    (Region 2, UK)

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

v • e
K9 television stories
Series 1
Stories listed here are only those that have been officially licensed by Metal Mutt Productions.
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