Underworld (TV story)

Underworld
Doctor:	[[doctor::Fourth Doctor]]
Companion(s):	Leela K-9
Main enemy:	The Oracle
Main setting:	The Underworld
Key crew
Writers:	Bob Baker and Dave Martin
Director:	Norman Stewart
Producer:	Graham Williams
Release details
Release number:	96
Premiere broadcast:	7th January - 28th January 1978
Format:	4 25-minute Episodes
Production code:	4Y

Synopsis

The TARDIS arrives on a Minyan space craft, the R1C, commanded by a man named Jackson. Jackson and his crew are on a long quest to recover the Minyan race banks from a ship called the P7E which left their planet centuries ago. The Doctor helps to free the R1C after it becomes buried in a meteorite storm, but it then crashes into another newly-formed planet.

Inside the planet is a system of caves at the heart of which is the P7E. The P7E's computer, the Oracle, was programmed to protect the race banks but subsequently went insane and - with the aid of its robotic servants, the Seers - imposed its rule upon the Minyan survivors and their descendants. It allows Jackson to take what appear to be the race banks, but they are actually imitations containing fission grenades.

The Doctor realises the deception and obtains the genuine race banks. He then tricks the Oracle's guards into taking the grenades back to their leader. The resulting explosion destroys the planet and the P7E and boosts the R1C off on a voyage to Minyos II, carrying with it the Minyan survivors.

Plot

to be added

Cast

• The Doctor - Tom Baker
• Leela - Louise Jameson
• Voice of K9 - John Leeson
• Ankh - Frank Jarvis
• Guard Klimt - Jay Neill
• Herrick - Alan Lake
• Idas - Norman Tipton
• Idmon - Jimmy Gardner
• Jackson - James Maxwell
• Lakh - Richard Shaw
• Naia - Stacey Tendeter
• Orfe - Jonathan Newth
• Rask - James Marcus
• Tala - Imogen Bickford-Smith
• Tarn - Godfrey James
• Voice of the Oracle - Christine Pollon

Crew

• Assistant Floor Manager - Gary Downie
• Costumes - Rupert Jarvis
• Designer - Dick Coles
• Film Editor - Richard Trevor
• Incidental Music - Dudley Simpson
• Make-Up - Cecile Hay-Arthur
• Producer - Graham Williams
• Production Assistant - Mike Cager
• Production Unit Manager - John Nathan-Turner
• Script Editor - Anthony Read
• Special Sounds - Dick Mills
• Studio Lighting - Mike Jefferies
• Studio Sound - Richard Chubb
• Theme Arrangement - Delia Derbyshire
• Title Music - Ron Grainer
• Visual Effects - Richard Conway

References

to be added

Story Notes

• The Minyan spacecraft set turned out to be more expensive than anticipated thus almost all other scenes were created using CSO.
• The story is a very obvious play on the story of Jason and the Argonaughts as the names are quite similar of various characters; Jackson/Jason, Herrick/Heracles, Tala/Atalanta, Orfe/Orpheus, Minyos/Minos, R1C/Argossey, P7E/Persephone.

Ratings

• Part 1 - 8.9 million
• Part 2 - 9.1 million
• Part 3 - 8.9 million
• Part 4 - 11.7 million

Myths

to be added

Location Filming

to be added

Discontinuity, Plot Holes, Errors

to be added

Continuity

• Further information is revealed of Minyos in The Inquiry.

Video Releases

Released as Doctor Who: Underworld.

Released:

• UK March 2002
• US May 2003
• Australia May 2002

Target Novelisations

Released as Doctor Who: Underworld.

Released:

• January 1980

See Also

to be added

External Links

• BBC Episode Guide for Underworld, with video clips
• Doctor Who Reference Guide detailed synopsis of Underworld
• Underworld entry at A Brief History of Time (Travel)
• Outpost Gallifrey entry for Underworld
• The Tardis Library: Video release information for Underworld
• The Tardis Library: Book release information for Underworld