The Claws of Axos (TV story): Difference between revisions
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{{Infobox ClassicTV| | {{Infobox ClassicTV| | ||
story name= The Claws of Axos | | story name= The Claws of Axos | | ||
image= [[ | image= [[File:Clawsofaxos_title.jpg|250px]]| | ||
series=[[Doctor Who]] -<br/>[[List of Doctor Who television stories|TV Stories]] | | series=[[Doctor Who]] -<br />[[List of Doctor Who television stories|TV Stories]] | | ||
number= [[Season 8]] | | number= [[Season 8]] | | ||
story number= 57| | story number= 57| | ||
doctor=[[Third Doctor]] | | doctor=[[Third Doctor]] | | ||
companions= [[Jo Grant]] <br/>[[Brigadier Lethbridge-Stewart]]<br/>[[Mike Yates|Captain Mike Yates]] <br/>[[Sergeant Benton]]| | companions= [[Jo Grant]] <br />[[Brigadier Lethbridge-Stewart]]<br />[[Mike Yates|Captain Mike Yates]] <br />[[Sergeant Benton]]| | ||
enemy= <ul><li>[[The Master (UNIT years)|The Master]]</li><li>[[Axos]]</li></ul> | | enemy= <ul><li>[[The Master (UNIT years)|The Master]]</li><li>[[Axos]]</li></ul> | | ||
year= [[Earth]]; circa [[1970s]] | | year= [[Earth]]; circa [[1970s]] | | ||
writer= [[Bob Baker]] and<br>[[Dave Martin]] | | writer= [[Bob Baker]] and<br />[[Dave Martin]] | | ||
director= [[Michael Ferguson]] | | director= [[Michael Ferguson]] | | ||
producer= [[Barry Letts]] | | producer= [[Barry Letts]] | | ||
| Line 23: | Line 23: | ||
''Claws'' was the third story in the season long "[[The Master|Master arc]]". It saw the introduction of [[Axos]]. Despite its popularity, Axos would not again appear in the [[Doctor Who universe|''Doctor Who'' universe]] until the ''[[Doctor Who Magazine]]'' comic strip, ''[[The Golden Ones]]''. | ''Claws'' was the third story in the season long "[[The Master|Master arc]]". It saw the introduction of [[Axos]]. Despite its popularity, Axos would not again appear in the [[Doctor Who universe|''Doctor Who'' universe]] until the ''[[Doctor Who Magazine]]'' comic strip, ''[[The Golden Ones]]''. | ||
==Synopsis== | == Synopsis == | ||
A group of gold-skinned aliens land on Earth and offer wondrous technology in exchange for fuel. The Doctor, however, isn't fooled, uncovering the Axons' true nature and once again facing his arch enemy the Master... | A group of gold-skinned aliens land on Earth and offer wondrous technology in exchange for fuel. The Doctor, however, isn't fooled, uncovering the Axons' true nature and once again facing his arch enemy the Master... | ||
==Plot== | == Plot == | ||
===Episode one=== | === Episode one === | ||
An approaching alien spaceship is detected on monitoring equipment at [[UNIT HQ]], where [[Brigadier Lethbridge-Stewart]] is entertaining two visitors - [[Chinn]], a Conservative MP making a security inspection, and [[Bill Filer]], an American agent sent to discuss the threat of [[the Master]]. | An approaching alien spaceship is detected on monitoring equipment at [[UNIT HQ]], where [[Brigadier Lethbridge-Stewart]] is entertaining two visitors - [[Chinn]], a Conservative MP making a security inspection, and [[Bill Filer]], an American agent sent to discuss the threat of [[the Master]]. | ||
The ship lands in [[England]] and the [[UNIT]] team, joined by Sir [[George Hardiman]] and Professor [[Winser]] from the nearby [[Nuton Power Complex]], enter the ship and meet its occupants: beautiful golden-skinned humanoids called [[Axon]]s. Unknown to them, Bill Filer also enters the ship and is held prisoner along with the Master. The Axons inform their guests that they are desperately in need of fuel. | The ship lands in [[England]] and the [[UNIT]] team, joined by Sir [[George Hardiman]] and Professor [[Winser]] from the nearby [[Nuton Power Complex]], enter the ship and meet its occupants: beautiful golden-skinned humanoids called [[Axon]]s. Unknown to them, Bill Filer also enters the ship and is held prisoner along with the Master. The Axons inform their guests that they are desperately in need of fuel. | ||
[[ | [[File:Clawsofaxos_ep1.JPG|thumb|left|[[Third Doctor|The Doctor]] faces the irascible [[Chinn]].]] | ||
They propose to exchange the miracle substance they call [[Axonite]] for some much needed energy. Axonite is a "thinking" molecule that can replicate any substance. Despite the Doctor's vocal suspicion, Chinn and the Nuton scientists are transfixed: such a substance would give the [[United Kingdom|UK]] unlimited food and unlimited power. | They propose to exchange the miracle substance they call [[Axonite]] for some much needed energy. Axonite is a "thinking" molecule that can replicate any substance. Despite the Doctor's vocal suspicion, Chinn and the Nuton scientists are transfixed: such a substance would give the [[United Kingdom|UK]] unlimited food and unlimited power. | ||
Back outside, [[Sergeant Benton]] and [[Mike Yates|Captain Yates]] find a decomposing body next to the ship. [[Third Doctor|The Doctor]]'s companion [[Jo Grant]] enters the ship searching for Filer and screams when a hideous monsters appears before her. | Back outside, [[Sergeant Benton]] and [[Mike Yates|Captain Yates]] find a decomposing body next to the ship. [[Third Doctor|The Doctor]]'s companion [[Jo Grant]] enters the ship searching for Filer and screams when a hideous monsters appears before her. | ||
===Episode two=== | === Episode two === | ||
[[ | [[File:Clawsofaxos_ep2.JPG|thumb|right|The golden face of the [[Axon]]s.]] | ||
Jo's scream is overheard by the others, who tell her that she was hallucinating, though she adamantly insists that she heard Filer's voice within the Axonite ship. The Doctor succeeds in convincing Hardiman and Winser that despite the potential of Axonite, it should be scientifically analysed before it is distributed. Chinn is one step ahead of him, and is granted special favours by the Ministry to ensure that distribution is left in the hands of the UK. Convinced that the Doctor and UNIT will be a hindrance, he has the regular army put them under security arrest, though he reluctantly grants permission for the Doctor to assist Winser in the laboratory. | Jo's scream is overheard by the others, who tell her that she was hallucinating, though she adamantly insists that she heard Filer's voice within the Axonite ship. The Doctor succeeds in convincing Hardiman and Winser that despite the potential of Axonite, it should be scientifically analysed before it is distributed. Chinn is one step ahead of him, and is granted special favours by the Ministry to ensure that distribution is left in the hands of the UK. Convinced that the Doctor and UNIT will be a hindrance, he has the regular army put them under security arrest, though he reluctantly grants permission for the Doctor to assist Winser in the laboratory. | ||
Meanwhile, the Axons are not as nice as they seem. They release a duplicate of Bill Filer back to the outside world, and strike a deal with their captive, the Master, offering him his freedom in exchange for his efforts to guarantee worldwide distribution of Axonite. The duplicate Filer attacks the Doctor, but is killed when the real Filer escapes from the Axon ship and shoves the clone into Winser's light accelerator. The Doctor then realises, after an accident involving Winser, that the Axonites are all part of a single parasitic entity brought to Earth by the Master to feed on the planet's energy, though he has little time to relish in this realisation, as he, Jo and Filer are surrounded by the true form of the Axonites in the lab. | Meanwhile, the Axons are not as nice as they seem. They release a duplicate of Bill Filer back to the outside world, and strike a deal with their captive, the Master, offering him his freedom in exchange for his efforts to guarantee worldwide distribution of Axonite. The duplicate Filer attacks the Doctor, but is killed when the real Filer escapes from the Axon ship and shoves the clone into Winser's light accelerator. The Doctor then realises, after an accident involving Winser, that the Axonites are all part of a single parasitic entity brought to Earth by the Master to feed on the planet's energy, though he has little time to relish in this realisation, as he, Jo and Filer are surrounded by the true form of the Axonites in the lab. | ||
===Episode three=== | === Episode three === | ||
[[ | [[File:Clawsofaxos_ep3.JPG|thumb|left|The eye of Axos.]] | ||
The Axons take the Doctor and Jo prisoner in the Axon ship, where the Doctor is interrogated, the Axons, aware that the Doctor is a [[Time Lord]] wanting the secret of time travel. They claim to have the power to repair the blocks in the Doctor's memory imposed on him when he was exiled. | The Axons take the Doctor and Jo prisoner in the Axon ship, where the Doctor is interrogated, the Axons, aware that the Doctor is a [[Time Lord]] wanting the secret of time travel. They claim to have the power to repair the blocks in the Doctor's memory imposed on him when he was exiled. | ||
Meanwhile, the Master has no intention of helping the Axons. Instead, he makes his way to [[the Doctor's TARDIS]], intending to use it to escape Earth, as his own is being used as a bargaining chip by the Axons. However, he fails to get it to work, though it occurs to him that it could be done using power from the reactor in the power station where the TARDIS is currently situated. When he leaves the TARDIS, he is caught by the Brigadier and several UNIT troops, though he is not finished; since the Axons are controlling the reactor, which has the potential to cause a nuclear explosion, he offers his assistance in exchange for his freedom. The Brigadier agrees. The Master's idea is to turn the power of the Axonite back against the Axons. As he prepares to blow up [[Axos]], the Doctor and Jo have not yet escaped their clutches, and will be killed as well. | Meanwhile, the Master has no intention of helping the Axons. Instead, he makes his way to [[the Doctor's TARDIS]], intending to use it to escape Earth, as his own is being used as a bargaining chip by the Axons. However, he fails to get it to work, though it occurs to him that it could be done using power from the reactor in the power station where the TARDIS is currently situated. When he leaves the TARDIS, he is caught by the Brigadier and several UNIT troops, though he is not finished; since the Axons are controlling the reactor, which has the potential to cause a nuclear explosion, he offers his assistance in exchange for his freedom. The Brigadier agrees. The Master's idea is to turn the power of the Axonite back against the Axons. As he prepares to blow up [[Axos]], the Doctor and Jo have not yet escaped their clutches, and will be killed as well. | ||
===Episode four=== | === Episode four === | ||
[[ | [[File:Clawsofaxos_ep4.JPG|thumb|right|Two [[Time Lord]]s working together.]] | ||
The Master's plan fails, and the Doctor and Jo escape from Axos and return to the complex. The Doctor, realising that Axos is interested in travelling through time to broaden its feeding base, plans to trick it into linking up its drive unit to his TARDIS so that he can send Axos into a perpetual time loop. After tricking the Master into completing the repairs on his TARDIS, the Doctor materialise his TARDIS, with the Master on board, at the centre of Axos. He offers to link the two ships together to make one giant time machine, on condition that Axos in return helps him to take revenge on the Time Lords for exiling him to Earth. They accept, but he has tricked them; this results in every part of Axos dematerialising from Earth, including the Axos automatons and the Axonite. They materialise inside the Doctor's TARDIS and warn him that he shall join them within the "loop of time." However, the Doctor simply boosts a flight circuit and frees himself from the loop. | The Master's plan fails, and the Doctor and Jo escape from Axos and return to the complex. The Doctor, realising that Axos is interested in travelling through time to broaden its feeding base, plans to trick it into linking up its drive unit to his TARDIS so that he can send Axos into a perpetual time loop. After tricking the Master into completing the repairs on his TARDIS, the Doctor materialise his TARDIS, with the Master on board, at the centre of Axos. He offers to link the two ships together to make one giant time machine, on condition that Axos in return helps him to take revenge on the Time Lords for exiling him to Earth. They accept, but he has tricked them; this results in every part of Axos dematerialising from Earth, including the Axos automatons and the Axonite. They materialise inside the Doctor's TARDIS and warn him that he shall join them within the "loop of time." However, the Doctor simply boosts a flight circuit and frees himself from the loop. | ||
At the end, with the Master having escaped in his own TARDIS during the confusion aboard Axos, the Doctor returns to Earth, but not of his own volition. Apparently, the Time Lords have programmed the TARDIS to always return to Earth, literally turning the Doctor into "some kind of a galactic yo-yo". | At the end, with the Master having escaped in his own TARDIS during the confusion aboard Axos, the Doctor returns to Earth, but not of his own volition. Apparently, the Time Lords have programmed the TARDIS to always return to Earth, literally turning the Doctor into "some kind of a galactic yo-yo". | ||
==Cast== | == Cast == | ||
*[[Third Doctor|The Doctor]] - [[Jon Pertwee]] | * [[Third Doctor|The Doctor]] - [[Jon Pertwee]] | ||
*[[Jo Grant]] - [[Katy Manning]] | * [[Jo Grant]] - [[Katy Manning]] | ||
*[[Brigadier Lethbridge-Stewart]] - [[Nicholas Courtney]] | * [[Brigadier Lethbridge-Stewart]] - [[Nicholas Courtney]] | ||
*[[Sergeant Benton]] - [[John Levene]] | * [[Sergeant Benton]] - [[John Levene]] | ||
*Captain [[Mike Yates]] - [[Richard Franklin]] | * Captain [[Mike Yates]] - [[Richard Franklin]] | ||
*[[The Master]] - [[Roger Delgado]] | * [[The Master]] - [[Roger Delgado]] | ||
*[[Bill Filer]] - [[Paul Grist (actor)|Paul Grist]] | * [[Bill Filer]] - [[Paul Grist (actor)|Paul Grist]] | ||
*[[Chinn]] - [[Peter Bathurst]] | * [[Chinn]] - [[Peter Bathurst]] | ||
*[[Bell|Corporal Bell]] - [[Fernanda Marlowe]] | * [[Bell|Corporal Bell]] - [[Fernanda Marlowe]] | ||
*[[George Hardiman|Hardiman]] - [[Donald Hewlett]] | * [[George Hardiman|Hardiman]] - [[Donald Hewlett]] | ||
*[[Winser]] - [[David Savile]] | * [[Winser]] - [[David Savile]] | ||
*[[Pigbin Josh]] - [[Derek Ware]] | * [[Pigbin Josh]] - [[Derek Ware]] | ||
*[[Axon]] Man - [[Bernard Holley]] | * [[Axon]] Man - [[Bernard Holley]] | ||
*1st Radar Operator - [[Michael Walker]] | * 1st Radar Operator - [[Michael Walker]] | ||
*2nd Radar Operator - [[David G. Marsh]] | * 2nd Radar Operator - [[David G. Marsh]] | ||
*Axon Woman - [[Patricia Gordino]] | * Axon Woman - [[Patricia Gordino]] | ||
*Axon Boy - [[John Hicks]] | * Axon Boy - [[John Hicks]] | ||
*Axon Girl - [[Debbie Lee London]] | * Axon Girl - [[Debbie Lee London]] | ||
*Captain [[Harker (The Claws of Axos)|Harker]] - [[Tim Piggott-Smith]] | * Captain [[Harker (The Claws of Axos)|Harker]] - [[Tim Piggott-Smith]] | ||
*The [[Defence Minister]] - [[Kenneth Benda]] | * The [[Defence Minister]] - [[Kenneth Benda]] | ||
*Technician - [[Royston Farrell]] | * Technician - [[Royston Farrell]] | ||
==Production Crew== | == Production Crew == | ||
*[[Writer]]s - [[Bob Baker]] and [[Dave Martin]] | * [[Writer]]s - [[Bob Baker]] and [[Dave Martin]] | ||
*Action / Stuntwork - HAVOC | * Action / Stuntwork - HAVOC | ||
*[[Assistant Floor Manager]] - [[Roselyn Parker]] | * [[Assistant Floor Manager]] - [[Roselyn Parker]] | ||
*[[Costumes]] - [[Barbara Lane]] | * [[Costumes]] - [[Barbara Lane]] | ||
*[[Designer (crew)|Designer]] - [[Kenneth Sharp]] | * [[Designer (crew)|Designer]] - [[Kenneth Sharp]] | ||
*[[Film Cameraman]] - [[A A Englander]] | * [[Film Cameraman]] - [[A A Englander]] | ||
*[[Film Editor]] - [[Bob Rymer]] | * [[Film Editor]] - [[Bob Rymer]] | ||
*[[Incidental Music]] - [[Dudley Simpson]] | * [[Incidental Music]] - [[Dudley Simpson]] | ||
*[[Make-Up]] - [[Jan Harrison]], [[Rhian Davies]] | * [[Make-Up]] - [[Jan Harrison]], [[Rhian Davies]] | ||
*[[Production Assistant]] - [[Marion McDougall]] | * [[Production Assistant]] - [[Marion McDougall]] | ||
*[[Script Editor]] - [[Terrance Dicks]] | * [[Script Editor]] - [[Terrance Dicks]] | ||
*[[Special Sounds]] - [[Brian Hodgson]] | * [[Special Sounds]] - [[Brian Hodgson]] | ||
*[[Studio Lighting]] - [[Ralph Walton]] | * [[Studio Lighting]] - [[Ralph Walton]] | ||
*[[Studio Sound]] - [[Dave Kitchen]] | * [[Studio Sound]] - [[Dave Kitchen]] | ||
*[[Theme Arrangement]] - [[Delia Derbyshire]] | * [[Theme Arrangement]] - [[Delia Derbyshire]] | ||
*[[Doctor Who theme|Title Music]] - [[Ron Grainer]] | * [[Doctor Who theme|Title Music]] - [[Ron Grainer]] | ||
*[[Visual Effects]] - [[John Horton]] | * [[Visual Effects]] - [[John Horton]] | ||
*[[Producer]] - [[Barry Letts]] | * [[Producer]] - [[Barry Letts]] | ||
*[[Director]] - [[Michael Ferguson]] | * [[Director]] - [[Michael Ferguson]] | ||
==References== | == References == | ||
===[[:Category:The Doctor|The Doctor]]=== | === [[:Category:The Doctor|The Doctor]] === | ||
*The Doctor tells the Master that the [[Time Lord]]s wiped sections of his memory relating to dematerialisation theory. | * The Doctor tells the Master that the [[Time Lord]]s wiped sections of his memory relating to dematerialisation theory. | ||
===[[:Category:Military|Military]]=== | === [[:Category:Military|Military]] === | ||
*The Brigadier, Captain Yates and Sergeant Benton are arrested by the regular [[British Army|army]]. | * The Brigadier, Captain Yates and Sergeant Benton are arrested by the regular [[British Army|army]]. | ||
===[[:Category:Power stations|Power stations]]=== | === [[:Category:Power stations|Power stations]] === | ||
*The [[Nuton Power Complex]] powers half the [[UK]]. | * The [[Nuton Power Complex]] powers half the [[UK]]. | ||
===[[:Category:Science|Science]]=== | === [[:Category:Science|Science]] === | ||
*Winser's [[particle light accelerator cyclotron]] is a primitive [[electromagnetic tachyon field]]. | * Winser's [[particle light accelerator cyclotron]] is a primitive [[electromagnetic tachyon field]]. | ||
===[[:Category:TARDIS|TARDISes]]=== | === [[:Category:TARDIS|TARDISes]] === | ||
* [[The Master's TARDIS]] was captured by Axos at some prior to these events. | * [[The Master's TARDIS]] was captured by Axos at some prior to these events. | ||
* [[The Doctor's TARDIS]] is capable of holding the entire power output of Britains major nuclear power plant. | * [[The Doctor's TARDIS]] is capable of holding the entire power output of Britains major nuclear power plant. | ||
===[[:Category:Temporal theory|Temporal theory]]=== | === [[:Category:Temporal theory|Temporal theory]] === | ||
* The Doctor puts [[Axos]] in a [[time loop]]. | * The Doctor puts [[Axos]] in a [[time loop]]. | ||
==Story notes== | == Story notes == | ||
*Working titles for this story included '''Doctor Who and the Gift''', '''The Friendly Invasion''', '''The Axons''', and '''The Vampire from Space'''. The last title was used through the production of the first two episodes, and was only changed by the time filming began on the third as the BBC wanted to avoid the word "[[Vampire]]". The DVD release contains unused footage and cuts from the story that are packaged with the original title sequence – naming the story as '''The Vampire from Space'''. '''The Vampire from Space''' was envisaged to be a seven-parter, but the concept of the storylines changed as production progressed. | * Working titles for this story included '''Doctor Who and the Gift''', '''The Friendly Invasion''', '''The Axons''', and '''The Vampire from Space'''. The last title was used through the production of the first two episodes, and was only changed by the time filming began on the third as the BBC wanted to avoid the word "[[Vampire]]". The DVD release contains unused footage and cuts from the story that are packaged with the original title sequence – naming the story as '''The Vampire from Space'''. '''The Vampire from Space''' was envisaged to be a seven-parter, but the concept of the storylines changed as production progressed. | ||
*The line ''“freak weather conditions”'' is in the script to explain the shifts in weather between filming (which goes from snowy to sunny from take to take). | * The line ''“freak weather conditions”'' is in the script to explain the shifts in weather between filming (which goes from snowy to sunny from take to take). | ||
*For reasons unexplained, the opening titles for this serial use the [[Second Doctor]]'s version of the Doctor Who theme music as opposed to the Third Doctor's, as do ''[[The Mind of Evil]]'' and ''[[Terror of the Autons]]''. After this serial however, the theme reverts to the [[Jon Pertwee]] standard. | * For reasons unexplained, the opening titles for this serial use the [[Second Doctor]]'s version of the Doctor Who theme music as opposed to the Third Doctor's, as do ''[[The Mind of Evil]]'' and ''[[Terror of the Autons]]''. After this serial however, the theme reverts to the [[Jon Pertwee]] standard. | ||
*It is never stated exactly who [[Bill Filer]] works for (only that he is [[America]]n). He claims he's "of the New York Mounted Police" but it seems unlikely that's who sent him to England to retrieve the Master. | * It is never stated exactly who [[Bill Filer]] works for (only that he is [[America]]n). He claims he's "of the New York Mounted Police" but it seems unlikely that's who sent him to England to retrieve the Master. | ||
*The 'blue CSO cloth' behind [[Benton]] when he is driving the jeep (with the Axon behind him), ''is'' the sky and not CSO as it was on film and there was no CSO film work performed in the [[1970s]]. | * The 'blue CSO cloth' behind [[Benton]] when he is driving the jeep (with the Axon behind him), ''is'' the sky and not CSO as it was on film and there was no CSO film work performed in the [[1970s]]. | ||
*UNIT mobile HQ is a BBC Outside Broadcast van. | * UNIT mobile HQ is a BBC Outside Broadcast van. | ||
*With the Master's help, the TARDIS can and does leave Earth, having been previously disabled by the Time Lords. However, it is programmed to always return to Earth. | * With the Master's help, the TARDIS can and does leave Earth, having been previously disabled by the Time Lords. However, it is programmed to always return to Earth. | ||
*The original script called for the Axons to land in Hyde Park, with their ship shaped like a human skull. The script was spectacular in other respects also. The production team loved the story, but had it scaled down on account of impracticality and budget. | * The original script called for the Axons to land in Hyde Park, with their ship shaped like a human skull. The script was spectacular in other respects also. The production team loved the story, but had it scaled down on account of impracticality and budget. | ||
*One of the Axon costumes would be later adapted for the [[Krynoid]] in ''[[The Seeds of Doom]]''. | * One of the Axon costumes would be later adapted for the [[Krynoid]] in ''[[The Seeds of Doom]]''. | ||
*[[Nicholas Briggs]] jokeingly said on the [[David Tennant]] video diaries that if they didn't finish the ending of ''[[Rise of the Cybermen]]'' and the beginning of ''[[The Age of Steel]]'', they would have to do a ''Claws of Axos'' rewrite. | * [[Nicholas Briggs]] jokeingly said on the [[David Tennant]] video diaries that if they didn't finish the ending of ''[[Rise of the Cybermen]]'' and the beginning of ''[[The Age of Steel]]'', they would have to do a ''Claws of Axos'' rewrite. | ||
===Ratings=== | === Ratings === | ||
*Episode one - 7.3 million viewers | * Episode one - 7.3 million viewers | ||
*Episode Two - 8.0 million viewers | * Episode Two - 8.0 million viewers | ||
*Episode Three - 6.4 million viewers | * Episode Three - 6.4 million viewers | ||
*Episode Four - 7.8 million viewers | * Episode Four - 7.8 million viewers | ||
===Myths=== | === Myths === | ||
*A common myth about this story is that the [[colour separation overlay]] (CSO) background was accidentally placed in some of the car interior scenes, meaning a blank blue void is seen behind the characters. In reality, the scenes were shot on location (and on 16mm film, making CSO extremely tricky), and clouds can be seen. The differing shades of blue compared to the exterior shots is due to the scenes being filmed at different parts of the day. | * A common myth about this story is that the [[colour separation overlay]] (CSO) background was accidentally placed in some of the car interior scenes, meaning a blank blue void is seen behind the characters. In reality, the scenes were shot on location (and on 16mm film, making CSO extremely tricky), and clouds can be seen. The differing shades of blue compared to the exterior shots is due to the scenes being filmed at different parts of the day. | ||
===Filming locations=== | === Filming locations === | ||
*Dengemarsh Road, Lydd, Kent | * Dengemarsh Road, Lydd, Kent | ||
*Dungeness Road, Dungeness, Kent (Where Axos lands and half buries itself) | * Dungeness Road, Dungeness, Kent (Where Axos lands and half buries itself) | ||
*[[wikipedia:Dungeness power station|Dungeness Power Station]], Dungeness, Kent (Location for the Nuton Power Complex) | * [[wikipedia:Dungeness power station|Dungeness Power Station]], Dungeness, Kent (Location for the Nuton Power Complex) | ||
*Dungeness Beach, Dungeness, Kent | * Dungeness Beach, Dungeness, Kent | ||
*St. Martin's Plains Camp, Shorncliffe, Kent | * St. Martin's Plains Camp, Shorncliffe, Kent | ||
*[[BBC Television Centre]] (Studio 7, 3 and 4), Shepherd's Bush, [[London]] | * [[BBC Television Centre]] (Studio 7, 3 and 4), Shepherd's Bush, [[London]] | ||
===Production errors=== | === Production errors === | ||
{{discontinuity}} | {{discontinuity}} | ||
*In episode 4, after the TARDIS dematerialises from the Nuton lab, it is still there during the UNIT gun battle which follows. | * In episode 4, after the TARDIS dematerialises from the Nuton lab, it is still there during the UNIT gun battle which follows. | ||
*As the Brigadier and his men leave the room where they've been held captive in episode 2, the wall shakes. | * As the Brigadier and his men leave the room where they've been held captive in episode 2, the wall shakes. | ||
*There is the famous shot of a certain young lady's underwear in episode 3 when she escapes from the Axons. | * There is the famous shot of a certain young lady's underwear in episode 3 when she escapes from the Axons. | ||
*The Axon on the bonnet of the car explodes before the grenade that supposedly destroyed it. | * The Axon on the bonnet of the car explodes before the grenade that supposedly destroyed it. | ||
*When the Doctor and the Master enter the TARDIS's console room in Part Four, the circular TARDIS panelling can be seen beyond the door, indicating some kind of anteroom or vestibule. But previously the TARDIS doors had always opened directly into the console room. | * When the Doctor and the Master enter the TARDIS's console room in Part Four, the circular TARDIS panelling can be seen beyond the door, indicating some kind of anteroom or vestibule. But previously the TARDIS doors had always opened directly into the console room. | ||
==Continuity== | == Continuity == | ||
*This is the first time the interior of the Doctor's TARDIS is seen since [[DW]]: ''[[The War Games]]''. | * This is the first time the interior of the Doctor's TARDIS is seen since [[DW]]: ''[[The War Games]]''. | ||
*In [[DW]]: ''[[Last of the Time Lords]]'' both the Doctor and the Master mention the Axons. | * In [[DW]]: ''[[Last of the Time Lords]]'' both the Doctor and the Master mention the Axons. | ||
==Timeline== | == Timeline == | ||
*This story occurs after [[ST]]: ''[[UNIT Christmas Parties: Christmas Truce]]'' | * This story occurs after [[ST]]: ''[[UNIT Christmas Parties: Christmas Truce]]'' | ||
*This story occurs before [[CC]]: ''[[The Doll of Death]]'' | * This story occurs before [[CC]]: ''[[The Doll of Death]]'' | ||
==Home video and audio releases== | == Home video and audio releases == | ||
===DVD releases=== | === DVD releases === | ||
Released as ''Doctor Who: The Claws of Axos''. | Released as ''Doctor Who: The Claws of Axos''. | ||
Released: | Released: | ||
*Region 2 - [[25 April]] [[2005]] | * Region 2 - [[25 April]] [[2005]] | ||
*Region 4 - [[2 June]] [[2005]] | * Region 4 - [[2 June]] [[2005]] | ||
*Region 1 - [[8 November]] [[2005]] | * Region 1 - [[8 November]] [[2005]] | ||
Contents: | Contents: | ||
*Commentary by [[Barry Letts]], [[Katy Manning]] and [[Richard Franklin]] | * Commentary by [[Barry Letts]], [[Katy Manning]] and [[Richard Franklin]] | ||
*Behind the scenes - A 25-minute selection of studio material from the making of this story, including footage that was cut from the finished programme, with optional information subtitles. | * Behind the scenes - A 25-minute selection of studio material from the making of this story, including footage that was cut from the finished programme, with optional information subtitles. | ||
*[[Now and Then]] - A look back at the [[Dungeness]] locations used for this story, contrasting them with how they appear today. | * [[Now and Then]] - A look back at the [[Dungeness]] locations used for this story, contrasting them with how they appear today. | ||
*[[Reverse Standards Conversion - The Axon Legacy]] - A 10-minute documentary which looks at the restoration of this story for DVD. | * [[Reverse Standards Conversion - The Axon Legacy]] - A 10-minute documentary which looks at the restoration of this story for DVD. | ||
*[[Directing Who]] - [[Michael Ferguson]] talks about his work on '''The Claws of Axos'''. | * [[Directing Who]] - [[Michael Ferguson]] talks about his work on '''The Claws of Axos'''. | ||
*Photo Gallery | * Photo Gallery | ||
*Production Subtitles | * Production Subtitles | ||
Notes: | Notes: | ||
| Line 192: | Line 192: | ||
</gallery> | </gallery> | ||
===Video releases=== | === Video releases === | ||
<gallery hideaddbutton="true" > | <gallery hideaddbutton="true" > | ||
file:The Claws of Axos VHS UK cover.jpg|VHS UK cover | file:The Claws of Axos VHS UK cover.jpg|VHS UK cover | ||
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</gallery> | </gallery> | ||
==Novelisation and its audiobook== | == Novelisation and its audiobook == | ||
[[ | [[File:Claws of Axos novel.jpg|right|75px]] | ||
:''Main article: [[Doctor Who and the Claws of Axos]]'' | :''Main article: [[Doctor Who and the Claws of Axos]]'' | ||
*Novelised in [[1977]] as ''[[Doctor Who and the Claws of Axos]]'' by [[Terrance Dicks]]. | * Novelised in [[1977]] as ''[[Doctor Who and the Claws of Axos]]'' by [[Terrance Dicks]]. | ||
==External links== | == External links == | ||
*{{bbcepguideclassic|clawsofaxos/|The Claws of Axos}} | * {{bbcepguideclassic|clawsofaxos/|The Claws of Axos}} | ||
*{{dwrefguide|who_3g.htm|The Claws of Axos}} | * {{dwrefguide|who_3g.htm|The Claws of Axos}} | ||
*{{briefhistory|serials/ggg.html|The Claws of Axos}} | * {{briefhistory|serials/ggg.html|The Claws of Axos}} | ||
*{{locguide|clawsofaxos|The Claws of Axos}} | * {{locguide|clawsofaxos|The Claws of Axos}} | ||
{{DWTV}} | {{DWTV}} | ||
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{{UNIT stories}} | {{UNIT stories}} | ||
{{DEFAULTSORT:Claws of Axos}} | {{DEFAULTSORT:Claws of Axos}} | ||
[[Category:Doctor Who (1963) television stories]] | |||
[[Category:Third Doctor television stories]] | [[Category:Third Doctor television stories]] | ||
[[Category:The Master television stories]] | [[Category:The Master television stories]] | ||
Revision as of 16:23, 5 November 2011
The Claws of Axos was the third story of Season 8 of Doctor Who. It was the first story written by Bob Baker and Dave Martin, who stayed with the series until the end of the 1970s.
Claws was the third story in the season long "Master arc". It saw the introduction of Axos. Despite its popularity, Axos would not again appear in the Doctor Who universe until the Doctor Who Magazine comic strip, The Golden Ones.
Synopsis
A group of gold-skinned aliens land on Earth and offer wondrous technology in exchange for fuel. The Doctor, however, isn't fooled, uncovering the Axons' true nature and once again facing his arch enemy the Master...
Plot
Episode one
An approaching alien spaceship is detected on monitoring equipment at UNIT HQ, where Brigadier Lethbridge-Stewart is entertaining two visitors - Chinn, a Conservative MP making a security inspection, and Bill Filer, an American agent sent to discuss the threat of the Master.
The ship lands in England and the UNIT team, joined by Sir George Hardiman and Professor Winser from the nearby Nuton Power Complex, enter the ship and meet its occupants: beautiful golden-skinned humanoids called Axons. Unknown to them, Bill Filer also enters the ship and is held prisoner along with the Master. The Axons inform their guests that they are desperately in need of fuel.
File:Clawsofaxos ep1.JPG
The Doctor faces the irascible Chinn.
They propose to exchange the miracle substance they call Axonite for some much needed energy. Axonite is a "thinking" molecule that can replicate any substance. Despite the Doctor's vocal suspicion, Chinn and the Nuton scientists are transfixed: such a substance would give the UK unlimited food and unlimited power.
Back outside, Sergeant Benton and Captain Yates find a decomposing body next to the ship. The Doctor's companion Jo Grant enters the ship searching for Filer and screams when a hideous monsters appears before her.
Episode two
File:Clawsofaxos ep2.JPG
The golden face of the Axons.
Jo's scream is overheard by the others, who tell her that she was hallucinating, though she adamantly insists that she heard Filer's voice within the Axonite ship. The Doctor succeeds in convincing Hardiman and Winser that despite the potential of Axonite, it should be scientifically analysed before it is distributed. Chinn is one step ahead of him, and is granted special favours by the Ministry to ensure that distribution is left in the hands of the UK. Convinced that the Doctor and UNIT will be a hindrance, he has the regular army put them under security arrest, though he reluctantly grants permission for the Doctor to assist Winser in the laboratory.
Meanwhile, the Axons are not as nice as they seem. They release a duplicate of Bill Filer back to the outside world, and strike a deal with their captive, the Master, offering him his freedom in exchange for his efforts to guarantee worldwide distribution of Axonite. The duplicate Filer attacks the Doctor, but is killed when the real Filer escapes from the Axon ship and shoves the clone into Winser's light accelerator. The Doctor then realises, after an accident involving Winser, that the Axonites are all part of a single parasitic entity brought to Earth by the Master to feed on the planet's energy, though he has little time to relish in this realisation, as he, Jo and Filer are surrounded by the true form of the Axonites in the lab.
Episode three
File:Clawsofaxos ep3.JPG
The eye of Axos.
The Axons take the Doctor and Jo prisoner in the Axon ship, where the Doctor is interrogated, the Axons, aware that the Doctor is a Time Lord wanting the secret of time travel. They claim to have the power to repair the blocks in the Doctor's memory imposed on him when he was exiled.
Meanwhile, the Master has no intention of helping the Axons. Instead, he makes his way to the Doctor's TARDIS, intending to use it to escape Earth, as his own is being used as a bargaining chip by the Axons. However, he fails to get it to work, though it occurs to him that it could be done using power from the reactor in the power station where the TARDIS is currently situated. When he leaves the TARDIS, he is caught by the Brigadier and several UNIT troops, though he is not finished; since the Axons are controlling the reactor, which has the potential to cause a nuclear explosion, he offers his assistance in exchange for his freedom. The Brigadier agrees. The Master's idea is to turn the power of the Axonite back against the Axons. As he prepares to blow up Axos, the Doctor and Jo have not yet escaped their clutches, and will be killed as well.
Episode four
Two Time Lords working together.
The Master's plan fails, and the Doctor and Jo escape from Axos and return to the complex. The Doctor, realising that Axos is interested in travelling through time to broaden its feeding base, plans to trick it into linking up its drive unit to his TARDIS so that he can send Axos into a perpetual time loop. After tricking the Master into completing the repairs on his TARDIS, the Doctor materialise his TARDIS, with the Master on board, at the centre of Axos. He offers to link the two ships together to make one giant time machine, on condition that Axos in return helps him to take revenge on the Time Lords for exiling him to Earth. They accept, but he has tricked them; this results in every part of Axos dematerialising from Earth, including the Axos automatons and the Axonite. They materialise inside the Doctor's TARDIS and warn him that he shall join them within the "loop of time." However, the Doctor simply boosts a flight circuit and frees himself from the loop.
At the end, with the Master having escaped in his own TARDIS during the confusion aboard Axos, the Doctor returns to Earth, but not of his own volition. Apparently, the Time Lords have programmed the TARDIS to always return to Earth, literally turning the Doctor into "some kind of a galactic yo-yo".
Cast
- The Doctor - Jon Pertwee
- Jo Grant - Katy Manning
- Brigadier Lethbridge-Stewart - Nicholas Courtney
- Sergeant Benton - John Levene
- Captain Mike Yates - Richard Franklin
- The Master - Roger Delgado
- Bill Filer - Paul Grist
- Chinn - Peter Bathurst
- Corporal Bell - Fernanda Marlowe
- Hardiman - Donald Hewlett
- Winser - David Savile
- Pigbin Josh - Derek Ware
- Axon Man - Bernard Holley
- 1st Radar Operator - Michael Walker
- 2nd Radar Operator - David G. Marsh
- Axon Woman - Patricia Gordino
- Axon Boy - John Hicks
- Axon Girl - Debbie Lee London
- Captain Harker - Tim Piggott-Smith
- The Defence Minister - Kenneth Benda
- Technician - Royston Farrell
Production Crew
- Writers - Bob Baker and Dave Martin
- Action / Stuntwork - HAVOC
- Assistant Floor Manager - Roselyn Parker
- Costumes - Barbara Lane
- Designer - Kenneth Sharp
- Film Cameraman - A A Englander
- Film Editor - Bob Rymer
- Incidental Music - Dudley Simpson
- Make-Up - Jan Harrison, Rhian Davies
- Production Assistant - Marion McDougall
- Script Editor - Terrance Dicks
- Special Sounds - Brian Hodgson
- Studio Lighting - Ralph Walton
- Studio Sound - Dave Kitchen
- Theme Arrangement - Delia Derbyshire
- Title Music - Ron Grainer
- Visual Effects - John Horton
- Producer - Barry Letts
- Director - Michael Ferguson
References
The Doctor
- The Doctor tells the Master that the Time Lords wiped sections of his memory relating to dematerialisation theory.
Military
- The Brigadier, Captain Yates and Sergeant Benton are arrested by the regular army.
Power stations
- The Nuton Power Complex powers half the UK.
Science
- Winser's particle light accelerator cyclotron is a primitive electromagnetic tachyon field.
TARDISes
- The Master's TARDIS was captured by Axos at some prior to these events.
- The Doctor's TARDIS is capable of holding the entire power output of Britains major nuclear power plant.
Temporal theory
Story notes
- Working titles for this story included Doctor Who and the Gift, The Friendly Invasion, The Axons, and The Vampire from Space. The last title was used through the production of the first two episodes, and was only changed by the time filming began on the third as the BBC wanted to avoid the word "Vampire". The DVD release contains unused footage and cuts from the story that are packaged with the original title sequence – naming the story as The Vampire from Space. The Vampire from Space was envisaged to be a seven-parter, but the concept of the storylines changed as production progressed.
- The line “freak weather conditions” is in the script to explain the shifts in weather between filming (which goes from snowy to sunny from take to take).
- For reasons unexplained, the opening titles for this serial use the Second Doctor's version of the Doctor Who theme music as opposed to the Third Doctor's, as do The Mind of Evil and Terror of the Autons. After this serial however, the theme reverts to the Jon Pertwee standard.
- It is never stated exactly who Bill Filer works for (only that he is American). He claims he's "of the New York Mounted Police" but it seems unlikely that's who sent him to England to retrieve the Master.
- The 'blue CSO cloth' behind Benton when he is driving the jeep (with the Axon behind him), is the sky and not CSO as it was on film and there was no CSO film work performed in the 1970s.
- UNIT mobile HQ is a BBC Outside Broadcast van.
- With the Master's help, the TARDIS can and does leave Earth, having been previously disabled by the Time Lords. However, it is programmed to always return to Earth.
- The original script called for the Axons to land in Hyde Park, with their ship shaped like a human skull. The script was spectacular in other respects also. The production team loved the story, but had it scaled down on account of impracticality and budget.
- One of the Axon costumes would be later adapted for the Krynoid in The Seeds of Doom.
- Nicholas Briggs jokeingly said on the David Tennant video diaries that if they didn't finish the ending of Rise of the Cybermen and the beginning of The Age of Steel, they would have to do a Claws of Axos rewrite.
Ratings
- Episode one - 7.3 million viewers
- Episode Two - 8.0 million viewers
- Episode Three - 6.4 million viewers
- Episode Four - 7.8 million viewers
Myths
- A common myth about this story is that the colour separation overlay (CSO) background was accidentally placed in some of the car interior scenes, meaning a blank blue void is seen behind the characters. In reality, the scenes were shot on location (and on 16mm film, making CSO extremely tricky), and clouds can be seen. The differing shades of blue compared to the exterior shots is due to the scenes being filmed at different parts of the day.
Filming locations
- Dengemarsh Road, Lydd, Kent
- Dungeness Road, Dungeness, Kent (Where Axos lands and half buries itself)
- Dungeness Power Station, Dungeness, Kent (Location for the Nuton Power Complex)
- Dungeness Beach, Dungeness, Kent
- St. Martin's Plains Camp, Shorncliffe, Kent
- BBC Television Centre (Studio 7, 3 and 4), Shepherd's Bush, London
Production errors
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.
- In episode 4, after the TARDIS dematerialises from the Nuton lab, it is still there during the UNIT gun battle which follows.
- As the Brigadier and his men leave the room where they've been held captive in episode 2, the wall shakes.
- There is the famous shot of a certain young lady's underwear in episode 3 when she escapes from the Axons.
- The Axon on the bonnet of the car explodes before the grenade that supposedly destroyed it.
- When the Doctor and the Master enter the TARDIS's console room in Part Four, the circular TARDIS panelling can be seen beyond the door, indicating some kind of anteroom or vestibule. But previously the TARDIS doors had always opened directly into the console room.
Continuity
- This is the first time the interior of the Doctor's TARDIS is seen since DW: The War Games.
- In DW: Last of the Time Lords both the Doctor and the Master mention the Axons.
Timeline
- This story occurs after ST: UNIT Christmas Parties: Christmas Truce
- This story occurs before CC: The Doll of Death
Home video and audio releases
DVD releases
Released as Doctor Who: The Claws of Axos.
Released:
Contents:
- Commentary by Barry Letts, Katy Manning and Richard Franklin
- Behind the scenes - A 25-minute selection of studio material from the making of this story, including footage that was cut from the finished programme, with optional information subtitles.
- Now and Then - A look back at the Dungeness locations used for this story, contrasting them with how they appear today.
- Reverse Standards Conversion - The Axon Legacy - A 10-minute documentary which looks at the restoration of this story for DVD.
- Directing Who - Michael Ferguson talks about his work on The Claws of Axos.
- Photo Gallery
- Production Subtitles
Notes:
- Editing for DVD release completed by Doctor Who Restoration Team.
DVD Region 2 UK cover
DVD Region 4 Australian cover
DVD Region 1 US cover
Video releases
VHS UK cover
VHS Australian cover
- The Claws of Axos VHS US cover.jpg
VHS US cover
Novelisation and its audiobook
- Main article: Doctor Who and the Claws of Axos
- Novelised in 1977 as Doctor Who and the Claws of Axos by Terrance Dicks.
External links
- The Claws of Axos at the BBC's official site
- The Claws of Axos at the Doctor Who Reference Guide
- The Claws of Axos at Shannon Sullivan's A Brief History of Time (Travel)
- The Claws of Axos at The Locations Guide
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