Frontios (TV story)
...Frontios buries its own dead...
In the far reaches of the future, the TARDIS crash-lands on the planet Frontios in the Veruna system, where the last remnants of humanity have fled the collision of Earth with the sun. Gruesome tales of a hungry earth stalk the struggling settlement, and a bombardment of meteors from an unseen enemy hold the future of mankind in a precarious balance.
At a crucial point in history, with the future still unknown, the Doctor is unable to intervene for fear of violating the laws of Time itself.
But when the TARDIS is destroyed in an attack on the colony, he may have no choice.
Synopsis
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Plot
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Cast
Tegan Jovanka - Janet Fielding
Vislor Turlough - Mark Strickson
Orderly - Richard Ashley (Episode 1)
Gravis - John Gillett (Episodes 2-4)
Deputy - Alison Skilbeck (Episode 3)
Retrograde - Raymond Murtagh (Episodes 3-4)
Captain Revere - John Beardmore
Crew
Script Editor - Eric Saward
Designer - David Buckingham
Assistant Floor Manager - Joanna Guritz, Ed Stevenson
Production Associate - June Collins
Costumes - Anushia Nieradzik
Make Up - Jill Hagger
Visual Effects - Dave Havard
Production Assistant - Valerie Letley
Sound Effects - Dick Mills
Studio Sound - Martin Ridout
Studio Lighting - John Summers
References
- Turlough makes reference to the Arar Jecks of Heiradi, who had hollowed a huge subterranean city beneath the surface of their planet during the Twenty Aeon War.
- Turlough's home planet was attacked millenia ago by Tractators - an event that was locked into their ancestral memory. The sight of the Tractators triggers a memory resurgence which causes Turlough to go into catatonic shock. Gradually he recalls more and more of these memories, which allow him to 'remember' who the Tractators were, what their goals were - and more importantly, how to defeat them.
- The Gravis is aware of the capabilities of a TARDIS, presumably by reputation.
Story Notes
- For the first time, we see a solid reference to Turlough's home planet, which was attacked millenia ago by the Tractators.
- The role of Range was originally supposed to be played by Peter Arne, a character actor perhaps best known for his roles in the films Victor/Victoria and Return of the Pink Panther, as well as several guest roles on The Avengers. Following a wardrobe test for the part, Arne returned to his flat where he was bludgeoned to death by an unknown assailant. William Lucas filled in for Arne. While a student Arne was in a relationship with, and who was later found floating dead in the Thames, remains a prime suspect, the identity and motive of Arne's killer is a mystery to this day.
Ratings
to be added
Myths
- This story was originally intended to feature Richard Hurndall in a black and white flashback remembered by Peter Davison's Doctor after hitting his head on the TARDIS control console. (False)
Location Filming
to be added
Discontinuity, Plot Holes, Errors
to be added
Continuity
DVD and Video Releases
to be added
Target Novelisations
External Links
Television
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Next story: Resurrection of the Daleks |
All Media
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Next story: Excelis Dawns |
