Underworld (TV story)
Synopsis
The TARDIS arrives on a Minyan space craft, the R1C, commanded by a man named Jackson. Jackson and his crew are on a long quest to recover the Minyan race banks from a ship called the P7E which left their planet centuries ago. The Doctor helps to free the R1C after it becomes buried in a meteorite storm, but it then crashes into another newly-formed planet.
Inside the planet is a system of caves at the heart of which is the P7E. The P7E's computer, the Oracle, was programmed to protect the race banks but subsequently went insane and - with the aid of its robotic servants, the Seers - imposed its rule upon the Minyan survivors and their descendants. It allows Jackson to take what appear to be the race banks, but they are actually imitations containing fission grenades.
The Doctor realises the deception and obtains the genuine race banks. He then tricks the Oracle's guards into taking the grenades back to their leader. The resulting explosion destroys the planet and the P7E and boosts the R1C off on a voyage to Minyos II, carrying with it the Minyan survivors.
Plot
The TARDIS lands on a remote planet, where the Doctor investigates a organization known as the Underworld. The danger over, The Doctor and Leela depart in the TARDIS.
Cast
- The Doctor - Tom Baker
- Leela - Louise Jameson
- Voice of K9 - John Leeson
- Ankh - Frank Jarvis
- Guard Klimt - Jay Neill
- Herrick - Alan Lake
- Idas - Norman Tipton
- Idmon - Jimmy Gardner
- Jackson - James Maxwell
- Lakh - Richard Shaw
- Naia - Stacey Tendeter
- Orfe - Jonathan Newth
- Rask - James Marcus
- Tala - Imogen Bickford-Smith
- Tarn - Godfrey James
- Voice of the Oracle - Christine Pollon
Crew
- Assistant Floor Manager - Gary Downie
- Costumes - Rupert Jarvis
- Designer - Dick Coles
- Film Editor - Richard Trevor
- Incidental Music - Dudley Simpson
- Make-Up - Cecile Hay-Arthur
- Producer - Graham Williams
- Production Assistant - Mike Cager
- Production Unit Manager - John Nathan-Turner
- Script Editor - Anthony Read
- Special Sounds - Dick Mills
- Studio Lighting - Mike Jefferies
- Studio Sound - Richard Chubb
- Theme Arrangement - Delia Derbyshire
- Title Music - Ron Grainer
- Visual Effects - Richard Conway
References
- The Minyans, when living on Minyos, accepted Time Lord technology, then kicked them out by force, went to war and destroyed their world, 100,000 years previously.
- Minyans can regenerate thousands of times, with mechanical help, but retain the same persona each time
- The Doctor has been to Aberdeen and Blackpool.
Story Notes
- The Minyan spacecraft set turned out to be more expensive than anticipated thus almost all other scenes were created using CSO.
- The story is a very obvious play on the story of Jason and the Argonauts as the names of various characters are quite similar: Jackson/Jason, Herrick/Heracles, Tala/Atalanta, Orfe/Orpheus, Minyos/Minos, R1C/Argossey, P7E/Persephone.
- This story had a working title of Underground.
Ratings
- Part 1 - 8.9 million viewers
- Part 2 - 9.1 million viewers
- Part 3 - 8.9 million viewers
- Part 4 - 11.7 million viewers
Myths
to be added
Filming Locations
- BBC Television Centre (TC3 and TC4), Shepherd's Bush, London
Discontinuity, Plot Holes, Errors
to be added
Continuity
- Further information is revealed of Minyos in BFG: The Inquiry.
- In DW: Mawdryn Undead there is seen another example of Time Lord technology allowing for perpetual regeneration.
Video and DVD Releases
Released as Doctor Who: Underworld.
Released:
Novelisation
- Main article: Doctor Who and the Underworld
Novelised as Doctor Who and the Underworld by Terrance Dicks in 1980.
See also
to be added
External Links
- BBC Episode Guide for Underworld
- Outpost Gallifrey Episode Guide: Underworld
- Doctor Who Reference Guide: Detailed Synopsis - Underworld
- A Brief History of Time (Travel): Underworld
- The Tardis Library: Video release information for Underworld
- The Tardis Library: Book release information for Underworld
