Time and the Rani (TV story)

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This is idiotic!The Rani

Synopsis

The Rani intends to take advantage of an asteroid composed of strange matter which is passing the remote planet of Lakertya. If she can explode the asteroid by colliding it with another mass of strange matter, she can cause a chain reaction which will ultimately result in the creation of a time manipulator. With this device, she will be able to massively change history and rectify the "randomness" of evolution throughout the time-space continuum.

Unfortunately, strange matter is both rare and extremely heavy. In order for her plan to work, she must find a substance which has the same properties as strange matter, but is light enough to be propelled to escape velocity from the surface of the planet. Toward that end, she ties the universe's greatest minds into the single brain that will comprise the core of the time manipulator. Together, she reasons, they must be able to discover a lightweight substitute for strange matter.

One of the geniuses she collects is the Doctor. In his post-regenerative state, however, he's dazed and confused. As he struggles to emerge from his regeneration cycle, Mel encounters the locals who are divided about how best to end the oppressive rule of the Rani and her henchmen, the Tetraps.

Plot

The Doctor has regenerated for the sixth time and now the Rani has taken the newly regenerated Doctor prisoner. The Doctor must foil the Rani's evil schemes before all is lost.

Cast

Crew

References

Human scientists

Humanoid species

Time Lords

Story Notes

  • Loyhargil is an anagram of 'holy grail'.
  • Working title for this story was Strange Matter.
  • This is the first story to feature computer generated images (CGI) for the titles and many of the effects (including the TARDIS's flight through space in the pre-title sequence).
  • The story's 'problems' can be partly explained as Pip and Jane Baker (the writers) in that they had no idea who would be playing the new Doctor or how he would be characterised - and, at least when they started work on the project, the series had no script editor for them to discuss things with.
  • Colin Baker refused to participate in the filming of the regeneration sequence. As a result, Sylvester McCoy donned a wig and briefly appeared as the Sixth Doctor, making him the only Doctor actor to play two different incarnations.
  • The Sixth Doctor's death is ranked as the second weakest death in science fiction history.[1]
  • Sylvester McCoy protested wearing a jumper with questions marks on them. [source needed]
  • During the regeneration, the exercise bike the Sixth Doctor rides in Terror of the Vervoids is visible in the TARDIS control room. In Issue 409 of Doctor Who Magazine, in an article on regeneration, the writer suggests that the Sixth Doctor's "mortal" injury may have been caused by him falling off the bike.

Ratings

  • Part 1 - 5.1 million viewers
  • Part 2 - 4.2 million viewers
  • Part 3 - 4.3 million viewers
  • Part 4 - 4.9 million viewers

Myths

to be added

Filming Locations

  • Cloford Quarry, Cloford, Frome, Somerset (Exterior of Rani's base)
  • Westdown Quarry, Chantry, Frome, Somerset (Location where the TARDIS lands)
  • Whatley Quarry, Whatley, Frome, Somerset
  • BBC Television Centre (TC1 & TC8), Shepherd's Bush, London

Discontinuity, Plot Holes, Errors

  • Sylvester McCoy pronounces "Princeton University" as "Prince Town". Since he has just regenerated the Doctor might be having diffuicualty pronoucing words.

Continuity

Timeline

DVD, Video and Other Releases

to be added

Novelisation

Time and the Rani novel.jpg
Main article: Time and the Rani (novelisation)

See also

to be added

External Links

Footnotes

  1. ↑ io9 12 Weakest Deaths In Science Fiction History

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