The Time Monster (TV story)

Synopsis

The Master, in the guise of Professor Thascales, has constructed at the Newton Institute in Wootton a device known as TOMTIT - Transmission Of Matter Through Interstitial Time - with which to gain control over Kronos, a creature from outside time. The creature is summoned but the effect proves uncontrollable, so the Master flees.

The Doctor shuts TOMTIT down but the Master later reactivates it, using it first to ensnare Krasis, High Priest of the lost city of Atlantis, and then to attack UNIT forces by way of a series of timeslips. The Master takes Krasis back to Atlantis in his TARDIS in the hope of stealing the sacred Crystal of Kronos, with which he aims finally to dominate the creature. The Doctor follows with Jo but is unable to prevent his enemy from seducing Queen Galleia and staging a coup. Galleia turns against the Master when she learns that he has caused the death of her husband, King Dalios.

The Master then unleashes Kronos, destroying Atlantis. The two Time Lords escape in their respective TARDISes and confront each other in the time vortex. The Doctor threatens to trigger a 'time ram' - a devastating collision - but cannot bring himself to do it.

Jo, held hostage by the Master, has no such qualms, and operates the controls herself. The two TARDISes reappear in a strange void presided over by Kronos - who now appears as a beautiful female face.

The time ram has released Kronos, who agrees to return the Doctor and Jo to Earth. The creature plans to subject the Master to eternal torment, but the Doctor pleads on his behalf and he too goes free.

Plot

to be added

Cast

The Doctor - Jon Pertwee
Jo Grant - Katy Manning
Brigadier Lethbridge-Stewart - Nicholas Courtney
Sergeant Benton - John Levene
Captain Mike Yates - Richard Franklin
The Master - Roger Delgado
Galleia - Ingrid Pitt
Dr. Ruth Ingram - Wanda Moore
Stuart Hyde - Ian Collier
Dr. Percival - John Wyse
Dr. Cook - Neville Barber
Minotaur - Dave Prowse
Proctor - Barry Ashton
Krasis - Donald Eccles
Hippias - Aidan Murphy
Neophite - Keith Dalton
Unit Sergeant - Simon Legree
Kronos - Marc Boyle
Dalios - George Cormack
Knight - Gregory Powell
Roundhead Officer - Dave Carter
Farmworker - George Lee
Crito - Derek Murcott
Lakis - Susan Penhaligon
Miseus - Michael Walker
Guard - Melville Jones
Window Cleaner - Terry Walsh
Face of Kronos - Ingrid Bower

Crew

References

The TOMTIT machine works with assistance from the Master.
The Doctor has built a time sensor which detects disturbances in the time field.
The Master uses his TARDIS to Time Ram the Doctor's.
A Chronovore spares the Master.
The Doctor gets ejected into the time vortex and speaks to Jo through the TARDIS telepathic circuits.
This is show (another) exploration of the destruction of Atlantis.
The Seventh Enabling Act allows the Brigadier to take over from government forces.
The Doctor makes a Time flow analogue from a Moroccan burgundy bottle, spoons, forks, corks, keyrings, tea leaves and a mug.

Story Notes

This is the only appearance of the "washing up bowl" interior for the TARDIS (designed by Tim Gleeson).

Ratings

Episode 1 - 7.6 million viewers
Episode 2 - 7.4 million viewers
Episode 3 - 8.1 million viewers
Episode 4 - 7.6 million viewers
Episode 5 - 6.0 million viewers
Episode 6 - 7.6 million viewers

Myths

to be added

Location Filming

to be added

Discontinuity, Plot Holes, Errors

to be added

Continuity

PDA: The Quantum Archangel is a sequel to this story.
Another Chronovore appears in NA: No Future.
This features (another) explanation of how Atlantis was destroyed; The Underwater Menace and The Daemons also featured explanations of this.
The goes for another 'dip' in the time vortex in Shada and BFA: Seasons of Fear.
The Doctor builds a similar device to his time sensor in Blink.

DVD, Video and Other Releases

to be added

Target Novelisations

Novelised as The Time Monster (novelisation) in 1976 by Terrance Dicks.

External Links