Underworld (TV story)

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Underworld was the penultimate story of Season 15, and the first over which script editor Anthony Read had complete creative control. Read had requested that writers Bob Baker and Dave Martin make the script explicitly allegorical of the ancient myth of Jason and the Quest for the Golden Fleece.

Beyond this, though, Underworld was unusual in number of regards. Perhaps most obviously, it was the serial that used by far the most colour separation overlay (CSO) in the programme's history. Rampant inflation had eaten away at the budget for the back half of the season, and using CSO in virtually every shot of Underworld was the only feasible way to preserve production of The Invasion of Time. It also advanced the mythos of the Time Lords, by explaining the origin of their non-interference policy. Ultimately, though, these novelties may not have impressed the average Doctor Who fan. According to one large, if unscientific, poll, Underworld was the worst adventure starring Tom Baker, and one of the five worst of all time.[1]

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 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

to be added

Cast

Crew

References

The Doctor

Races and species

  • 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.

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

  • Imogen Bickford-Smith was going to replace Louise Jameson as the Doctor's companion. Though an actual news story at the time, it was a complete fabrication of the actor's agent, who had gotten wind of Jameson's impending departure. Producer Graham Williams never considered retaining Bickford-Smith beyond Underworld.

Filming locations

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.

to be added

Continuity

Timeline

Home video and audio releases

DVD releases

  • This story was first released on DVD in the UK on 29th March 2010 as part of the Myths And Legends Boxset. The one disc set includes a restored version of the story, as well as the following special features:
  • Commentary by Tom Baker (The Doctor), Louise Jameson (Leela) and Bob Baker (Co-Writer).
  • Into The Unknown
  • Underworld – In Studio
  • Coming Soon Trailer
  • Radio Times Billings
  • Production Subtitles
  • Photo Gallery
  • UK DVD 2010 Cover

    UK DVD 2010 Cover

  • UK DVD 2010 Boxset

    UK DVD 2010 Boxset

Video releases

  • VHS UK cover

    VHS UK cover

  • VHS Australian cover

    VHS Australian cover

  • VHS US cover

    VHS US cover

Novelisation and its audiobook

Underworld novel.jpg
Main article: Doctor Who and the Underworld

Novelised as Doctor Who and the Underworld by Terrance Dicks in 1980.

External links

References

  1. ↑ Doctor Who Dynamic Rankings - filter for the Fourth Doctor's stories to see how Underworld ranks.

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