Full Circle (TV story)

Synopsis

The TARDIS falls through a CVE into E-Space and arrives on the planet Alzarius. There the inhabitants of a crashed Starliner and a group of young rebels called the Outlers, led by a boy named Varsh and including his brother Adric, are being terrorised by a race of Marshmen who emerge from the marshes at a time known as Mistfall.

The Doctor discovers that the Starliner's inhabitants are not the descendants of its original crew, as has been claimed by their leaders the Deciders, but evolved Marshmen. With the Time Lord's help and encouragement, the Starliner is repaired and able to leave the planet.

Plot

to be added

Cast

Crew

References

Astronomical objects

Alzarius occupies the same coordinates as Gallifrey in E-Space.

Gallifrey

The Doctor and Romana are summoned to Gallifrey.

Individuals

As they're travelling to Gallifrey the Doctor comments to Romana; "Yes, well, you only came to help with the Key to Time.".
The Doctor says that he's looking forward to seeing Leela and Andred again and that the K9 Mark II can meet its twin (K9 Mark I).

Spacecraft

The Star Liner was originally from Terradon.

Space-time anomalies

The TARDIS enters E-Space via a Charged Vacuum Emboitment.

Technology

The technology of Gallifrey and Alzarius/Terradon is very interchangable; the Doctor using the image converter from the Star Liner in the TARDIS.

Story notes

This is the first story in the 'E-Space Trilogy'.
The story has a working title of The Planet that Slept.
Adric's name was suggested by script editor Christopher H Bidmead as an anagram of that of eminent physicist P A M Dirac (who in 1930 was the first to predict the existence of antimatter).
Alan Rowe makes his final Doctor Who appearance, as Garif. He had previously appeared as Doctor Evans and the voice of Space Control in The Moonbase, Edward of Wessex The Time Warrior and as Skinsale in Horror of Fang Rock.

Ratings

Part 1 - 5.9 million viewers
Part 2 - 3.7 million viewers
Part 3 - 5.9 million viewers
Part 4 - 5.5 million viewers

Myths

to be added

Filming locations

Black Park, Black Park Road, Fulmer, Buckinghamshire
BBC Television Centre (TC3 & TC6), 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.

When the TARDIS is seen drifting through E-Space, the background stars appear in front of the TARDIS.
The Marshmen have cuffs.

Continuity

to be added

DVD and Video releases

Full Circle has been released on DVD in a box set alongside State of Decay and Warriors Gate. The box set in titled The E-Space Trilogy.
Editing for DVD release completed by Doctor Who Restoration Team.