Terror of the Vervoids (TV story): Difference between revisions
From Tardis Wiki, the free Doctor Who reference
No edit summary |
|||
| Line 1: | Line 1: | ||
This was the third evidence provided at the [[Trial of a Time Lord]] | This was the third evidence provided at the [[Trial of a Time Lord]] | ||
{{Infobox | {{Infobox ClassicTV| | ||
story name= Terror of the Vervoids | | story name= Terror of the Vervoids | | ||
image=[[Image:Terror_of_the_Vervoids_Doctor_Mel.jpg|250px]] | | image=[[Image:Terror_of_the_Vervoids_Doctor_Mel.jpg|250px]] | | ||
series=[[Doctor Who]] -<br/>[[TV stories|TV Stories]] | | series=[[Doctor Who]] -<br/>[[TV stories|TV Stories]] | | ||
number= | number= [[Season 23]]| | ||
story number= 144c| | |||
doctor=[[Sixth Doctor]] | | doctor=[[Sixth Doctor]] | | ||
companions= [[ | companions= [[Melanie Bush]] | | ||
enemy= [[The Valeyard]], [[Vervoid|Vervoids]] | | enemy= [[The Valeyard]], [[Vervoid|Vervoids]] | | ||
year= [[Space Station | year= [[Space Station Zenobia|Time Lord space station]]<br> [[Hyperion III]]| | ||
writer= [[Pip & Jane Baker]]| | writer= [[Pip & Jane Baker]]| | ||
director= [[Chris Clough]]| | director= [[Chris Clough]]| | ||
| Line 68: | Line 69: | ||
*[[Article Seven]] of [[Gallifrey|Gallifreyan]] law deals with genocide. | *[[Article Seven]] of [[Gallifrey|Gallifreyan]] law deals with genocide. | ||
*[[Demeter Seed]]s are specially bred edible seeds that will grow almost anywhere. | *[[Demeter Seed]]s are specially bred edible seeds that will grow almost anywhere. | ||
===[[:Category:Individuals|Individuals]]=== | |||
*[[Melanie Bush]] comes from [[Pease Pottage]], and has almost total recall. Her house had a large garden, with a compost heap. | |||
===[[:Category:Planets|Planets]]=== | ===[[:Category:Planets|Planets]]=== | ||
*[[Mogar]] is a planet in the [[Perseus Arm]] of the [[Milky Way]]. | *[[Mogar]] is a planet in the [[Perseus Arm]] of the [[Milky Way]]. It is rich in rare metals (including [[vionesium]], similar to [[magnesium]], which emits light and [[carbon dioxide]] when exposed to air and thus ignited), which are being exploitatively mined by [[human]]s, it is the home planet of the [[Mogarian]]s. | ||
*Between Mogar and [[Earth]] lies the [[Black hole]] of [[Tartarus]]. | *Between Mogar and [[Earth]] lies the [[Black hole]] of [[Tartarus]]. | ||
*[[Stella Stora]] suffered from grain shortages around [[2983]]. | *[[Stella Stora]] suffered from grain shortages around [[2983]]. | ||
| Line 76: | Line 80: | ||
===[[:Category:Races and Species|Races and Species]]=== | ===[[:Category:Races and Species|Races and Species]]=== | ||
*[[Vervoid]]s were created on Mogar by Lasky to be a workforce to replace robots. | *[[Vervoid]]s were created on Mogar by Lasky to be a workforce to replace robots. | ||
*[[Mogarian]]s are gold skinned humanoids with grill like mouths who cannot breathe [[oxygen]]. They are a peace loving race, for whom [[water]] on the face is fatal, but who nevertheless drink [[tea]]. | |||
*Vervoids can produce a gas that smells like [[methane]], but is non-explosive, in large enough quantities to kill humans. | |||
==Story Notes== | ==Story Notes== | ||
*This is the first appearance of Bonnie Langford as Mel, who | *This is the first appearance of Bonnie Langford as Mel, who receives no introductory story, and indeed no explanation of how she came to travel with the Doctor. | ||
*Working titles for this story include: '''The Ultimate Foe''' and '''The Vervoids'''. | *Working titles for this story include: '''The Ultimate Foe''' and '''The Vervoids'''. | ||
*This story was a replacement for an original submission, "[[Attack From the Mind]]" by [[Jack Trevor Story]], set on the planet Penelope; later drafts included "[[The Last Adventure]]" by [[Christopher H. Bidmead]] and "[[Paradise Five]]" by [[P.J. Hammond]]. | |||
*Honor Blackman (Professor Lasky) is best known for playing Cathy Gale in [[Wikipedia:The Avengers|The Avengers]] and as Pussy Galore in the [[James Bond]] film [[Wikipedia:Goldfinger|Goldfinger]]. | |||
===Ratings=== | ===Ratings=== | ||
*Part 1 - 5.2 million viewers | :Numbers in brackets refer to parts relating to this story. | ||
*Part 2 - 4.6 million viewers | *Part Nine (1) - 5.2 million viewers | ||
*Part 3 - 5.3 million viewers | *Part Ten (2) - 4.6 million viewers | ||
*Part 4 - 5.3 million viewers | *Part Eleven (3) - 5.3 million viewers | ||
*Part Twelve (4) - 5.3 million viewers | |||
===Myths=== | ===Myths=== | ||
''to be added'' | ''to be added'' | ||
=== | ===Filming Locations=== | ||
' | *[[BBC Television Centre]] ([[List of stories recorded at BBC Television Centre|TC1 & TC3]]), Shepherd's Bush, [[London]] | ||
===Discontinuity, Plot Holes, Errors=== | ===Discontinuity, Plot Holes, Errors=== | ||
*Lasky has been into room 6, not finding her luggage there, because her key is actually for room 9. So how did she get in? | *Lasky has been into room 6, not finding her luggage there, because her key is actually for room 9. So how did she get in? | ||
*The Vervoids wear tracksuits and trainers (wilting and climbing through the tunnel in the final part). | |||
*The Vervoids wear tracksuits and trainers (wilting and climbing through the tunnel in the final | |||
*If the Vervoids are genetically engineered, why create them with lethal stings? | *If the Vervoids are genetically engineered, why create them with lethal stings? | ||
*Why don't the Mogarians notice a major change in character in one of their number? | *Why don't the Mogarians notice a major change in character in one of their number? | ||
*Why does the Captain state that the ship is hi-jack proof, even though it has been hi-jacked by Brookner? | *Why does the Captain state that the ship is hi-jack proof, even though it has been hi-jacked by Brookner? | ||
==Continuity== | ==Continuity== | ||
*Mel meets the Doctor for the 'first time' in ''[[PDA]]:'' [[ | *Mel meets the Doctor for the 'first time' in [[PDA]]: ''[[Business Unusual]]''. | ||
*[[PDA]]: ''[[Instruments of Darkness]]'' reveals some information about the Doctor's previous adventure with Travers. | |||
==DVD and Video Releases== | ==DVD and Video Releases== | ||
Revision as of 16:09, 18 September 2008
This was the third evidence provided at the Trial of a Time Lord
Synopsis
The distraught Doctor gives the court his evidence for the defence. He chooses an incident from his own future, in which he and his companion Mel arrive on the space liner Hyperion III in response to a distress call. There they battle against and ultimately destroy a hostile race of alien plants, the Vervoids, while also helping to thwart a mutiny by the ship's security officer, Rudge.
Plot
to be added
Cast
- The Doctor - Colin Baker
- Mel - Bonnie Langford
- The Valeyard - Michael Jayston
- The Inquisitor - Lynda Bellingham
- Professor Lasky - Honor Blackman
- Commodore Travers - Michael Craig
- Rudge - Denys Hawthorne
- Janet - Yolande Palfrey
- Doland - Malcolm Tierney
- Bruchner - David Allister
- Grenville / Enzu - Tony Scoggo
- Kimber - Arthur Hewlett
- Edwardes - Simon Slater
- Atza - Sam Howard
- Ortezo - Leon Davis
- Guard/First Guard - Hugh Beverton
- Duty Officer - Mike Mungarvan
- Second Guard - Martin Weedon
- Mutant / Ruth Baxter - Barbara Ward
- First Vervoid - Peppi Borza
- Second Vervoid - Bob Appleby
Crew
- Assistant Floor Manager - Karen Little
- Costumes - Andrew Rose
- Designer - Dinah Walker
- Incidental Music - Malcolm Clarke
- Make-Up - Shaunna Harrison
- Producer - John Nathan-Turner
- Production Assistant - Jane Wellesley
- Production Associate - June Collins, Jenny Doe
- Script Editor - Eric Saward
- Special Sounds - Dick Mills
- Studio Lighting - Don Babbage
- Studio Sound - Brian Clark
- Theme Arrangement - Dominic Glynn
- Title Music - Ron Grainer
- Visual Effects - Kevin Molloy
References
- Article Seven of Gallifreyan law deals with genocide.
- Demeter Seeds are specially bred edible seeds that will grow almost anywhere.
Individuals
- Melanie Bush comes from Pease Pottage, and has almost total recall. Her house had a large garden, with a compost heap.
Planets
- Mogar is a planet in the Perseus Arm of the Milky Way. It is rich in rare metals (including vionesium, similar to magnesium, which emits light and carbon dioxide when exposed to air and thus ignited), which are being exploitatively mined by humans, it is the home planet of the Mogarians.
- Between Mogar and Earth lies the Black hole of Tartarus.
- Stella Stora suffered from grain shortages around 2983.
Races and Species
- Vervoids were created on Mogar by Lasky to be a workforce to replace robots.
- Mogarians are gold skinned humanoids with grill like mouths who cannot breathe oxygen. They are a peace loving race, for whom water on the face is fatal, but who nevertheless drink tea.
- Vervoids can produce a gas that smells like methane, but is non-explosive, in large enough quantities to kill humans.
Story Notes
- This is the first appearance of Bonnie Langford as Mel, who receives no introductory story, and indeed no explanation of how she came to travel with the Doctor.
- Working titles for this story include: The Ultimate Foe and The Vervoids.
- This story was a replacement for an original submission, "Attack From the Mind" by Jack Trevor Story, set on the planet Penelope; later drafts included "The Last Adventure" by Christopher H. Bidmead and "Paradise Five" by P.J. Hammond.
- Honor Blackman (Professor Lasky) is best known for playing Cathy Gale in The Avengers and as Pussy Galore in the James Bond film Goldfinger.
Ratings
- Numbers in brackets refer to parts relating to this story.
- Part Nine (1) - 5.2 million viewers
- Part Ten (2) - 4.6 million viewers
- Part Eleven (3) - 5.3 million viewers
- Part Twelve (4) - 5.3 million viewers
Myths
to be added
Filming Locations
- BBC Television Centre (TC1 & TC3), Shepherd's Bush, London
Discontinuity, Plot Holes, Errors
- Lasky has been into room 6, not finding her luggage there, because her key is actually for room 9. So how did she get in?
- The Vervoids wear tracksuits and trainers (wilting and climbing through the tunnel in the final part).
- If the Vervoids are genetically engineered, why create them with lethal stings?
- Why don't the Mogarians notice a major change in character in one of their number?
- Why does the Captain state that the ship is hi-jack proof, even though it has been hi-jacked by Brookner?
Continuity
- Mel meets the Doctor for the 'first time' in PDA: Business Unusual.
- PDA: Instruments of Darkness reveals some information about the Doctor's previous adventure with Travers.
DVD and Video Releases
DVD release
- Due for release in The Trial of a Time Lord boxset on the 29th September along with the other parts of the story.
Video Releases
Released as Doctor Who: Terror of the Vervoids
Released:
- UK October 1993 (Released with the other Trial of the Timelord stories in a Tardis-shaped tin with a random picture of one of the (then) seven Doctors on the base)
- US October 1993 (Same as the UK release except packed in a cardboard box in honor of Doctor Who's 30th anniversary)
- Australia October 1993
Novelisation
- Main article: Terror of the Vervoids (novelisation)
- Novelised by Pip and Jane Baker in 1988.
External Links
- BBC Episode Guide for Terror of the Vervoids
- Outpost Gallifrey Episode Guide: Terror of the Vervoids
- Doctor Who Reference Guide: Detailed Synopsis - Terror of the Vervoids
- A Brief History of Time (Travel) entry for Terror of the Vervoids
- The Tardis Library: Video release information for Terror of the Vervoids
