The King's Demons (TV story): Difference between revisions

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{{Infobox TV|
{{Infobox ClassicTV|
story name= The King's Demons |
story name= The King's Demons |
image= [[Image:Kingsdemons_title.jpg|250px]]|
image= [[Image:Kingsdemons_title.jpg|250px]]|
series=[[Doctor Who]] -<br/>[[TV stories|TV Stories]] <br> [[Season 20]]|
series=[[Doctor Who]] -<br/>[[TV stories|TV Stories]]|
number= 129 |
number= [[Season 20]]|
story number=129|
doctor=[[Fifth Doctor]] |
doctor=[[Fifth Doctor]] |
companions= <ul><li>[[Tegan]]</li><li>[[Turlough]]</li><li>[[Kamelion]] (introduction; joins}</li></ul> |
companions= <ul><li>[[Tegan]]</li><li>[[Turlough]]</li><li>[[Kamelion]] (introduction; joins}</li></ul> |
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==Plot==
==Plot==
===Part 1===
===Part 1===
[[3rd March]] [[Early human history#13th Century|1215]].  [[King John]] has paid an unexpected visit to the castle of Sir Ranulf Fitzwilliam, demanding more tribute in order to finance his Crusades. Fitzwilliam is unable to provide any more money -- he's already willingly given his entire fortune to the King -- and the King claims to be insulted. His champion, the French knight Sir Gilles Estram, challenges Fitzwilliam's honour, and Fitzwilliam is shocked when his hot-headed young son Hugh picks up the gage and agrees to face Estram on the morrow. The [[4th March|fourth of March]] dawns with the local serfs and Fitzwilliam's servants gathered to witness the jousting match, but the match is interrupted when [[The Doctor's TARDIS|the TARDIS]] materialises, startling everybody -- except the King.
''to be added''
 
[[Fifth Doctor|The Doctor]], [[Tegan Jovanka|Tegan]], and [[Turlough]] emerge from the TARDIS and are taken aback when the King loudly and warmly welcomes them as "his demons".  Estram is shocked at the implication that the King has summoned aid from Lucifer so he can win the match. The King invites them to sit by him, and most everybody else shuffles back to avoid them as they take their seats. The match begins again, and Estram easily defeats young Hugh, but as he approaches to deliver the killing blow, the Doctor begs the King to spare the young man's life. The King agrees to do so, much to Fitzwilliam's relief... but Hugh is shamed, feeling that he has been dishonoured.
 
The Doctor and his companions are welcomed into the castle, but Hugh, determined to learn who the new arrivals really are, kidnaps Turlough and takes him to the dungeons to be tortured. Sir Gilles has Ranulf's wife Isabella taken to the dungeons as a hostage to ensure his continued good behaviour, and the furious Ranulf decides to seek answers from the king's demons. The Doctor and Tegan are settling into the guest quarters, where the Doctor, unsettled, explains that the "King John" they have met cannot be the real King John. On [[4th March]] [[Early human history#13th Century|1215]], King John was in [[London]] taking the Crusader's Oath -- and the date is too well documented to be in error.
 
Fitzwilliam confronts the Doctor and Tegan, who try to assure him that they mean him no harm. The Doctor learns that Fitzwilliam's cousin, Sir Geoffrey de Lacy, was summoned to London a week previously by the King to take the Crusader's Oath, but the King hasn't mentioned him since he arrived. The Doctor suggests that the King may be an impostor, but Ranulf doesn't know what to make of this suggestion and isn't entirely convinced that the Doctor and Tegan are friendly.
 
In the dungeons, Sir Gilles finds Hugh preparing to place Turlough in an Iron Maiden, and has Hugh chained up along with his mother Isabella and Turlough. He then leaves the castle to arrange for the TARDIS to be brought inside its walls, and confronts a new arrival -- Sir Geoffrey de Lacy, who just left the King in London two days ago and is startled to hear Sir Gilles claim that the King is here. Sir Gilles accuses Sir Geoffrey of lying and has him arrested.
 
The Doctor and Tegan attend a banquet with Fitzwilliam and the King, at which the King sings a very pointed song about the glory of holy war and the importance of giving up all one's money for the Crusades. Sir Gilles then brings in the Iron Maiden and Sir Geoffrey, and--to Fitzwilliam's horror--accuses Sir Geoffrey of disobeying the King's order to travel to London and prepares to execute him. The Doctor intervenes and challenges Sir Gilles' lack of good taste in following the King's performance with an entertainment of his own. Sir Gilles challenges the Doctor to a duel, and the Doctor bests him at swordplay, much to the King's amusement. But Sir Gilles pulls out a [[Tissue Compression Eliminator]] from beneath his armour, and the Doctor realizes that he is in fact [[The Master|the Master]]...


===Part 2===
===Part 2===
Tegan recognizes the Tissue Compression Eliminator and throws a knife at the Master's head, but he catches it in mid-flight. He gives the Doctor a choice of weapons -- the knife or the TCE? The Doctor takes the TCE, but the Master knows he will never use it. The King demands that the Doctor finish off "Sir Gilles", and when the Doctor refuses, orders the guards to put him in the Iron Maiden. The Doctor objects but the King demands blood -- either Sir Gilles or Sir Geoffrey. The Doctor has no choice but to stand by as the Master is placed in the Iron Maiden, the door is closed... and the Iron Maiden dematerializes with the sound of a TARDIS, revealing the Doctor's final mistake.
''to be added''
 
The King knights the Doctor as his new champion, and the Doctor's first act is to arrest Sir Geoffrey and take him to the dungeons -- to Ranulf's fury, as he'd just started to trust the Doctor. In fact, the Doctor just wants access to [[The Master's TARDIS|the Master's TARDIS]], which he believes will be found in the dungeons. He's quite right: the Master has appeared and released Isabella and Hugh, claiming that he is attempting to stop the Doctor's evil schemes. The Doctor, Tegan and Geoffrey arrive and release Turlough, and the Doctor explains the truth to Geoffrey and asks for his help. They intend to use the TARDIS to take Geoffrey and the impostor to London, but before the Doctor leaves the dungeon, he activates the TCE and affixes it to the Master's TARDIS.
 
The Master reunites Isabella and Hugh with a grateful Ranulf, who places his men-at-arms in the Master's charge. The Doctor and his companions discover that the Master has moved the Doctor's TARDIS, and Sir Geoffrey decides to ride to London alone rather than wait to find it. Turlough helps Geoffrey to get to a horse, but the Master is waiting, and as soon as Geoffrey has cleared the castle walls he is brought down by a crossbow bolt. Turlough is captured as soon as he re-enters the castle.
 
The Doctor and Tegan are captured and taken to the dining hall, where Ranulf shows them the Doctor's TARDIS hidden in the King's chambers, and accuses them of trying to kidnap the King. Tegan manages to get inside the TARDIS and dematerialize, hoping to get back to the King's chambers, but she is stuck in mid-transit when an alarm she doesn't recognize begins sounding on the console. The Doctor takes advantage of the distraction to escape, and eventually locates the King's chambers -- where the Master is standing proudly next to a gleaming metallic android. This is [[Kamelion]], a souvenir from Xeriphas -- an infinitely adaptable decoy capable of changing its form and personality depending upon the will of its operator. Disguised as King John, Kamelion will provoke a rebellion and topple the real King from his throne... and the [[Magna Carta]], due to be signed on [[15th June]] [[Early human history#13th Century|1215]], won't be signed. And now the Doctor has unwittingly helped the Master to prove that the King is in league with demons. From here the Master will go on to undermine the key civilisations of the Universe, spreading chaos and paving the way for his own rule...
 
Sir Geoffrey is brought into the castle, but dies before he can explain what happened. Ranulf takes Turlough to face the King and the Master, only to find the Doctor there as well. "King John" orders Ranulf to boil the Doctor alive in oil, and the Doctor, in response, attempts to use his own willpower to break Kamelion free of the Master's control. Ranulf, seeing the King in torment, is about to kill the Doctor, but at that moment Tegan thumps the TARDIS console in frustration and the TARDIS materializes in the King's chambers. The distraction enables the Doctor to overcome the Master's will, and Kamelion transforms into the image of Tegan. The Doctor bundles the confused robot into the TARDIS and Turlough breaks free of his startled guards and follows.
 
As the TARDIS dematerializes, the furious Master heads for his own TARDIS to follow -- but thanks to the Doctor's use of the TCE, his dimensional circuits are out of alignment and he could end up anywhere ''except'' where he wants to go. Kamelion transforms into his robotic form again and thanks the Doctor for releasing him from the Master's thrall. The Doctor decides to allow him to remain on board, and talks Tegan out of her objections. The argument resolved, he sets the co-ordinates to take them all to the Eye of Orion, one of the wonders of the Universe.
 


==Cast==
==Cast==
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==References==
==References==
[[Kamelion]]
*[[The Master]] used [[Kamelion]], the tool of an earlier invader of [[Xeriphas]], to escape from the planet and then impersonate [[King John]].
*Kamelion does have a mind of its own, but can be controlled [[psychokinetically]].
*The Master's [[Tissue Compression Eliminator]] is referred to as a 'compressor' on several occasions.


==Story Notes==
==Story Notes==
*This story had working titles of; '''The Android''', '''The Demons''', '''A Knight's Tale''', '''Demons Keeper'''.
* Part One was promoted by the BBC as the 600th Doctor Who episode.
* Part One was promoted by the BBC as the 600th Doctor Who episode.
*In order to conceal the fact that the Master featured in this story the Radio Times credited him as Sir Gilles Estram played by James Stoker - 'Estram' being an anagram of 'Master' and 'James Stoker' being an anagram of 'Master's joke'.
*This story marks the debut appearance of short-lived new 'companion' Kamelion - in reality a computer controlled, sound activated, animated robot created by software designer [[Mike Power]] and computer hardware expert [[Chris Padmore]] of a firm called CP Cybernetics.


===Ratings===
===Ratings===
''to be added''
*Part One - 5.8 million viewers
*Part Two - 7.2 million viewers


===Myths===
===Myths===
This story was originally to feature the [[Meddling Monk]]. ''(There is no evidence that this was the original intention. Fan speculation postulates this due to its medieval setting and the fact that The Master's scheme in this story is more similar to the Monk's modus operandi than his own usual more grandiose schemes. Whether it would have been as the Monk or a later regeneration of the same [[Time Lord]], it would have involved recasting the part as [[Peter Butterworth]], who originated the character in [[The Time Meddler]], had died.)''
*This story was originally to feature the [[Meddling Monk]]. ''(There is no evidence that this was the original intention. Fan speculation postulates this due to its medieval setting and the fact that The Master's scheme in this story is more similar to the Monk's modus operandi than his own usual more grandiose schemes. Whether it would have been as the Monk or a later regeneration of the same [[Time Lord]], it would have involved recasting the part as [[Peter Butterworth]], who originated the character in [[The Time Meddler]], had died.)''


===Location Filming===
===Filming Locations===
''to be added''
*Bodiam Castle, Bodiam, East Sussex
*[[BBC Television Centre]] ([[List of stories recorded at BBC Television Centre|TC1]]), Shepherd's Bush, [[London]]


===Discontinuity, Plot Holes, Errors===
===Discontinuity, Plot Holes, Errors===
''to be added''
*Much of the history in this story doesn't make sense or is wrong:
:*The Master's iron maiden TARDIS has an anachronistic Elizabethan ruff.
:*The Magna Carta's importance was fabricated in the 17th century: it achieved very little in the 13th century.
:*French was still the language of the court in the early 13th century, so why does only Sir Gilles speak it?


==Continuity==
==Continuity==
* In the final TARDIS scene of the story, the Doctor introduces Tegan to the android that is Kamelion.  He says that Kamelion's story "appears to begin on [[Xeraphas]]" and that it will "end with the Master".  This neatly ties together both the ''other''  televised stories that have anything to do with Kamelion:  the introduction of the [[Xeraphin|race that created him]] in ''[[Time-Flight]]'' and his eventual demise in ''[[Planet of Fire]]''.
* In the final TARDIS scene of the story, the Doctor introduces Tegan to the android that is Kamelion.  He says that Kamelion's story "appears to begin on [[Xeraphas]]" and that it will "end with the Master".  This neatly ties together both the ''other''  televised stories that have anything to do with Kamelion:  the introduction of the [[Xeraphin|race that created him]] in [[DW]]: ''[[Time-Flight]]'' and his eventual demise in ''[[Planet of Fire]]''.
* The Doctor re-establishes himself as a fair swordsman, having shown skill with a blade in both his [[Third Doctor|third]] ([[DW]]: ''[[The Time Warrior]]'') and [[Fourth Doctor|fourth selves]] ([[DW]]: ''[[The Masque of Mandragora]]'', ''[[The Androids of Tara]]'').  In fact this is the second sword fight between the Doctor and the Master.  As in the first such contest ([[DW]]: ''[[The Sea Devils]]''), the Doctor shows the greater skill.  His abilities in this arena are again displayed by his [[Tenth Doctor|tenth self]].  ([[DW]]:''[[The Christmas Invasion]]'')
* The Doctor re-establishes himself as a fair swordsman, having shown skill with a blade in both his [[Third Doctor|third]] ([[DW]]: ''[[The Time Warrior]]'') and [[Fourth Doctor|fourth selves]] ([[DW]]: ''[[The Masque of Mandragora]]'', ''[[The Androids of Tara]]'').  In fact this is the second sword fight between the Doctor and the Master.  As in the first such contest ([[DW]]: ''[[The Sea Devils]]''), the Doctor shows the greater skill.  His abilities in this arena are again displayed by his [[Tenth Doctor|tenth self]].  ([[DW]]:''[[The Christmas Invasion]]'')
*The story (and, thus, the season) ends in a minor cliffhanger, although it is unlikely initial viewers will have thought of it as such.  Much like the link between  ''[[Invasion of the Dinosaurs]]'' and ''[[Planet of the Daleks]]'', the Doctor here offers to take his companions to a "wonder" of the universe, later referenced in the following story.    Unlike the similar promise the [[Third Doctor]] makes to take [[Sarah Jane]] to [[Florana]], however, the Fifth Doctor's vow to Tegan and Turlough is actually fulfilled.  He proposes to take them to the [[Eye of Orion]], the initial setting for ''[[The Five Doctors]]''.
*The story (and, thus, the season) ends in a minor cliffhanger, although it is unlikely initial viewers will have thought of it as such.  Much like the link between  [[DW]]: ''[[Invasion of the Dinosaurs]]'' and ''[[Planet of the Daleks]]'', the Doctor here offers to take his companions to a "wonder" of the universe, later referenced in the following story.    Unlike the similar promise the [[Third Doctor]] makes to take [[Sarah Jane]] to [[Florana]], however, the Fifth Doctor's vow to Tegan and Turlough is actually fulfilled.  He proposes to take them to the [[Eye of Orion]], the initial setting for ''[[The Five Doctors]]''.
*There probably was a real Sir Gilles, whom the Master killed and impersonated.  In [[MA]]:''[[Sanctuary]]'', set in [[Early_human_history#13th_century|1242]], the Doctor meets a relative of the real Sir Gilles, whose true fate was never known.
*There probably was a real Sir Gilles, whom the Master killed and impersonated.  In [[MA]]:''[[Sanctuary]]'', set in [[Early_human_history#13th_century|1242]], the Doctor meets a relative of the real Sir Gilles, whose true fate was never known.


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==External Links==
==External Links==
''to be added''
*[http://www.bbc.co.uk/doctorwho/classic/episodeguide/kingsdemons/ BBC Episode Guide to '''The King's Demons''']
*[http://www.gallifreyone.com/episode.php?id=6j Outpost Gallifrey Episode Guide: '''The King's Demons''']
*[http://www.drwhoguide.com/who_6j.htm  Doctor Who Reference Guide: Detailed Synopsis - '''The King's Demons''']
*[http://www.shannonsullivan.com/drwho/serials/6j.html A Brief History of Time (Travel): '''The King's Demons''']
*[http://www.doctorwholocations.net/stories/kingsdemons The Locations Guide to Doctor Who - '''The King's Demons''']


{{season 20}}
{{season 20}}

Revision as of 12:16, 15 September 2008

The Master . . . wants to rob the wold of Magna Carta. Small-time villainy, by his standards, but nevertheless something I intend to stop if at all possible. The Doctor

Synopsis

The Doctor and his companions arrive at a medieval joust and are surprised to greeted warmly by King John, who calls them his demons. But when a young nobleman returns, having just left King John in London, the Doctor realizes that this king must be an impostor! Then the Master makes an appearance and the Doctor's worst fears are confirmed...

Plot

Part 1

to be added

Part 2

to be added

Cast

Crew

References

Story Notes

  • This story had working titles of; The Android, The Demons, A Knight's Tale, Demons Keeper.
  • Part One was promoted by the BBC as the 600th Doctor Who episode.
  • In order to conceal the fact that the Master featured in this story the Radio Times credited him as Sir Gilles Estram played by James Stoker - 'Estram' being an anagram of 'Master' and 'James Stoker' being an anagram of 'Master's joke'.
  • This story marks the debut appearance of short-lived new 'companion' Kamelion - in reality a computer controlled, sound activated, animated robot created by software designer Mike Power and computer hardware expert Chris Padmore of a firm called CP Cybernetics.

Ratings

  • Part One - 5.8 million viewers
  • Part Two - 7.2 million viewers

Myths

  • This story was originally to feature the Meddling Monk. (There is no evidence that this was the original intention. Fan speculation postulates this due to its medieval setting and the fact that The Master's scheme in this story is more similar to the Monk's modus operandi than his own usual more grandiose schemes. Whether it would have been as the Monk or a later regeneration of the same Time Lord, it would have involved recasting the part as Peter Butterworth, who originated the character in The Time Meddler, had died.)

Filming Locations

Discontinuity, Plot Holes, Errors

  • Much of the history in this story doesn't make sense or is wrong:
  • The Master's iron maiden TARDIS has an anachronistic Elizabethan ruff.
  • The Magna Carta's importance was fabricated in the 17th century: it achieved very little in the 13th century.
  • French was still the language of the court in the early 13th century, so why does only Sir Gilles speak it?

Continuity

  • In the final TARDIS scene of the story, the Doctor introduces Tegan to the android that is Kamelion. He says that Kamelion's story "appears to begin on Xeraphas" and that it will "end with the Master". This neatly ties together both the other televised stories that have anything to do with Kamelion: the introduction of the race that created him in DW: Time-Flight and his eventual demise in Planet of Fire.
  • The Doctor re-establishes himself as a fair swordsman, having shown skill with a blade in both his third (DW: The Time Warrior) and fourth selves (DW: The Masque of Mandragora, The Androids of Tara). In fact this is the second sword fight between the Doctor and the Master. As in the first such contest (DW: The Sea Devils), the Doctor shows the greater skill. His abilities in this arena are again displayed by his tenth self. (DW:The Christmas Invasion)
  • The story (and, thus, the season) ends in a minor cliffhanger, although it is unlikely initial viewers will have thought of it as such. Much like the link between DW: Invasion of the Dinosaurs and Planet of the Daleks, the Doctor here offers to take his companions to a "wonder" of the universe, later referenced in the following story. Unlike the similar promise the Third Doctor makes to take Sarah Jane to Florana, however, the Fifth Doctor's vow to Tegan and Turlough is actually fulfilled. He proposes to take them to the Eye of Orion, the initial setting for The Five Doctors.
  • There probably was a real Sir Gilles, whom the Master killed and impersonated. In MA:Sanctuary, set in 1242, the Doctor meets a relative of the real Sir Gilles, whose true fate was never known.

DVD and Video Releases

  • The King's Demons was released on video by BBC Worldwide in 1995 as part of a boxed set with the Special Edition version of The Five Doctors.

Novelisation

Kings Demons novel.jpg
Main article: The King's Demons (novelisation)

External Links

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According to one account, the Master had the appearance of Roger Delgado while on Gallifrey. According to another, he had Anthony Ainley's likeness. According to another one, the one with James Dreyfus's appearance was the incarnation who ran away from Gallifrey.

Divided Loyalties, A Brief History of Time Lords and The Legions of Death feature, or otherwise acknowledge, the War Chief, but in the process contradicted the notion put forward by other stories that he was an incarnation of the Master.

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While fighting to extend his life at the end of his regeneration cycle, many bodies were possessed by the Beevers incarnation, but all kept somehow reverting to his real being until he finally regenerated into the MacQueen one. Hence, these sections cannot be strictly chronological
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