Trusted
14,606
edits
Arc of Infinity (TV story): Difference between revisions
From Tardis Wiki, the free Doctor Who reference
→References
| Line 120: | Line 120: | ||
=== Biology === | === Biology === | ||
* To remain in | * To remain in [[N-Space]], Omega needs to bond with a [[Time Lord]], reversing his polarity. To that end [[Hedin]] steals and transmits the Doctor's [[biodata]] extract. | ||
=== The Doctor === | === The Doctor === | ||
* After finding himself "vaporised", the Doctor appears in [[the Matrix]]. | * After finding himself "vaporised", the Doctor appears in [[the Matrix]]. | ||
| Line 130: | Line 130: | ||
* Damon tells the Doctor that his former companion [[Leela]] is well. The Doctor is sorry to have missed her and [[Andred]]'s [[wedding]]. | * Damon tells the Doctor that his former companion [[Leela]] is well. The Doctor is sorry to have missed her and [[Andred]]'s [[wedding]]. | ||
* [[Guard 1 (Arc of Infinity)|One guard]] alerts Maxil to the Doctor and Nyssa's presence, while [[Guard 2 (Arc of Infinity)|another]] tries to arrest them. | * [[Guard 1 (Arc of Infinity)|One guard]] alerts Maxil to the Doctor and Nyssa's presence, while [[Guard 2 (Arc of Infinity)|another]] tries to arrest them. | ||
=== Species === | === Species === | ||
| Line 150: | Line 147: | ||
=== Time Lords === | === Time Lords === | ||
* [[Borusa]] has [[regenerated]] again and is now [[Lord President]]. When he meets the Doctor, Borusa notes that he has also regenerated. | * [[Borusa]] has [[regenerated]] again and is now [[Lord President]]. When he meets the Doctor, Borusa notes that he has also regenerated. | ||
* A sound similar to a [[Cloister Bell]] is heard when the [[execution]] of the Doctor is to be performed. | * A sound similar to a [[Cloister Bell]] is heard when the [[execution]] of the Doctor is to be performed. | ||
== Story notes == | == Story notes == | ||
* [[Peter Davison]] also played Omega in part four when Omega's body becomes a replica of the Doctor's, but was credited on-screen only as "The Doctor". | * [[Peter Davison]] also played Omega in part four when Omega's body becomes a replica of the Doctor's, but was credited on-screen only as "The Doctor". | ||
* | * Sean Arnold and [[Patrick Stewart]] were considered for the role of the Castellan; [[Glyn Owen]], [[William Lucas]] and [[Maurice Denham]] were considered for Hedin; and Pierce Brosnan was considered for Maxil. [[Colin Baker]] was cast as Maxil after [[assistant floor manager]] [[Lynn Richards]] recalled seeing Baker in ''[[w:c:blakes7:City at the Edge of the World (episode)|City at the Edge of the World]]'', a 1980 episode of ''[[Blake's 7 (series)|Blake's 7]]''. ([[TCH 36]]) | ||
* [[Maya Woolfe]] (Hostel Receptionist) is credited as "First Receptionist" in the combined ''[[Radio Times]]'' cast for parts three/four. | * [[Maya Woolfe]] (Hostel Receptionist) is credited as "First Receptionist" in the combined ''[[Radio Times]]'' cast for parts three/four. | ||
* Crowd control in Amsterdam proved to be a major issue throughout the shoot, with Dutch viewers recognising | * Crowd control in Amsterdam proved to be a major issue throughout the shoot, with Dutch viewers recognising Peter Davison from ''[[All Creatures Great and Small]]''. [[John Nathan-Turner]] tried to assist [[Ron Jones]] in dealing with the onlookers, and indeed is visible in the transmitted version of ''Arc of Infinity'', gesturing away a group of onlookers in the background of the part four scene of the Doctor and Nyssa at the telephone box. At one point, Nathan-Turner's attempts at crowd control became dangerous when an elderly woman assumed he was a thief and attacked him. | ||
* The Dutch street organ that transfixes Omega for a moment during part four is playing the song "Tulips from Amsterdam". The same music is heard during the establishing shot of Amsterdam at the start of part one. | * The Dutch street organ that transfixes Omega for a moment during part four is playing the song "Tulips from Amsterdam". The same music is heard during the establishing shot of Amsterdam at the start of part one. | ||
* [[Ian Collier]] takes on the role of Omega, originally played by [[Stephen Thorne]] in [[TV]]: ''[[The Three Doctors (TV story)|The Three Doctors]]''. To keep the return of Omega a surprise, Collier was billed in the end credits as "The Renegade" for parts one and two, with the billing becoming "Omega" for parts three and four. | * [[Ian Collier]] takes on the role of Omega, originally played by [[Stephen Thorne]] in [[TV]]: ''[[The Three Doctors (TV story)|The Three Doctors]]''. To keep the return of Omega a surprise, Collier was billed in the end credits as "The Renegade" for parts one and two, with the billing becoming "Omega" for parts three and four. | ||
* The '' | * The ''Radio Times'' programme listing for part one was accompanied by a black and white head-and-shoulders photograph of Lord President Borusa and the Doctor labelled "New Season", with the accompanying caption "Summoned to Gallifrey, planet of all time lords — the Lord President tells the Doctor of his future: 6.45". | ||
* Every story during [[Season 20]] featured a component of a story from the show's past. For this serial, it was [[Omega]], who last faced the first three incarnations of the Doctor in the tenth-anniversary story | * Every story during [[Season 20]] featured a component of a story from the show's past. For this serial, it was [[Omega]], who last faced the first three incarnations of the Doctor in the tenth-anniversary story, ''[[The Three Doctors (TV story)|The Three Doctors]]''. | ||
* Tegan is the first companion to have rejoined the Doctor on his travels after having departed, although other companions/recurring characters had previously left the Doctor's company then reappeared | * Tegan is the first companion to have rejoined the Doctor on his travels after having departed, although other companions/recurring characters had previously left the Doctor's company then reappeared. | ||
* Tegan, while playing a significant part in the serial, has no scenes on Gallifrey, thus does not interact with half of the guest cast. | * Tegan, while playing a significant part in the serial, has no scenes on Gallifrey, thus does not interact with half of the guest cast. | ||
* | * John Nathan-Turner nicknamed Colin Baker "Archie", because he thought he gave "the archest performance he's ever seen in rehearsal". Baker had to remove his elaborate helmet as it kept bumping into doorways and arches on the set, so he spent most of the story with the helmet under his arm, against his hip. He later said it felt like he was carrying a chicken around, and took to calling it "the chicken". | ||
* The story was originally set in [[London]]. | * The story was originally set in [[London]]. | ||
* The original storyline involved the Doctor suffering nightmares about his regeneration, which were actually a precursor to the arrival | * The original storyline involved the Doctor suffering nightmares about his regeneration, which were actually a precursor to the arrival of an entity called the Avatar, who takes on the Doctor's form and goes to Amsterdam. Operating there as Neman, the Avatar begins to take control of human minds, striving to create a form in which it will be able to permanently maintain its existence. The Doctor and Nyssa discover Neman's plot when they land in a future version of Amsterdam, which is populated by robot guards called Sweepers, the elderly Resisters, and barbaric Anarchs. Realising that history has been altered, they travel back in time to present-day Amsterdam. There, the Doctor discovers that Time Lord regeneration is the mechanism by which the Avatar is made manifest. The Avatar is defeated when the Doctor relives his own recent regeneration. | ||
* | * Colin Baker was originally considered for the role of the Castellan. | ||
* It was [[Ian Levine]] who suggested the inclusion of Omega. | * It was [[Ian Levine]] who suggested the inclusion of Omega. | ||
* Cardinal Zorac was originally called Zoral. | * Cardinal Zorac was originally called Zoral. | ||
* While visiting Amsterdam's red light district, [[Janet Fielding]] was mistaken for a prostitute. | * While visiting Amsterdam's red light district, [[Janet Fielding]] was mistaken for a prostitute. | ||
* Filming was allowed in Amsterdam so long as the story didn't involve drug smuggling, prostitution or diamond theft. | * Filming was allowed in Amsterdam so long as the story didn't involve drug smuggling, prostitution or diamond theft. | ||
* | * Colin Baker played Maxil not as a guest role, but as someone who thinks he's starring in his own series. As a result, John Nathan Turner had to tell him that "it's called ''Doctor Who,'' not ''The Bloke Who's a Guard in the Background''"''.'' | ||
* | * Colin Baker was a fan of the show and delighted to play a guest role, but was also disappointed that this seemingly meant that he could never play the Doctor. | ||
* When | * When Colin Baker was offered the role of Maxil, he was doing a play in [[Brighton]]. | ||
* | * Colin Baker jokes that while filming the scene where Commander Maxil shoots the Doctor, he was gunning for Peter Davison's part. Davison claimed that Baker enjoyed the scene a bit too much. | ||
* [[Sarah Sutton]] ripped her trousers during the crypt scene. | * [[Sarah Sutton]] ripped her trousers during the crypt scene. | ||
* | * Ian Collier described Omega's costume as one of the most uncomfortable experiences of his life. | ||
* | * Ian Collier got burned filming the explosives scenes. They used metal plates to cover the charges. | ||
* | * Peter Davison claimed that he was planning to use a dildo he purchased in Amsterdam as a weapon to kill Omega, but because they were running behind schedule, he didn't get a chance. | ||
* The cast found the Ergon costume laughable. [[Eric Saward]] claimed it was neve described in the script and thought it was "lunatic" when he saw it. [[Johnny Byrne]] claimed it was a | * The cast found the Ergon costume laughable. [[Eric Saward]] claimed it was neve described in the script and thought it was "lunatic" when he saw it. [[Johnny Byrne]] claimed it was a legitimate, "less successful attempt" at biosynthesis. | ||
* | * John Nathan-Turner never explained why he wanted Tegan back or left her behind. Eric Saward thought it was contrived, while Peter Davison thought it was a "ludicrous coincidence". | ||
* | * Sarah Sutton grew to dislike running around in Amsterdam, especially after three days of it. | ||
* | * Eric Saward claimed that John Nathan-Turner wanted to film in Amsterdam for no rhyme or reason and that all you could do is run around the streets. | ||
* [[Leela]] had been written into the script, but [[Louise Jameson]] was not available. A few of Leela's actions critical to the plot were therefore given to Nyssa, resulting in a slightly unusually aggressive role for the character. | * [[Leela]] had been written into the script, but [[Louise Jameson]] was not available. A few of Leela's actions critical to the plot were therefore given to Nyssa, resulting in a slightly unusually aggressive role for the character. | ||
=== Influences === | |||
*''[[Frankenstein]] - ''The scene of Omega at the Punch and Judy show and interacting with a child was inspired by the 1931 film, as well as [[The Bride of Frankenstein|''The Bride of Frankenstein'']]''.'' | |||
=== Ratings === | === Ratings === | ||
| Line 223: | Line 223: | ||
* [[Borusa]] has now ascended to the role of [[Lord President]]. ([[TV]]: ''[[The Deadly Assassin (TV story)|The Deadly Assassin]]'', ''[[The Invasion of Time (TV story)|The Invasion of Time]]'') | * [[Borusa]] has now ascended to the role of [[Lord President]]. ([[TV]]: ''[[The Deadly Assassin (TV story)|The Deadly Assassin]]'', ''[[The Invasion of Time (TV story)|The Invasion of Time]]'') | ||
* [[Leela]] has married [[Andred]], for whom she had left the [[Fourth Doctor]]. ([[TV]]: ''[[The Invasion of Time (TV story)|The Invasion of Time]]'') | * [[Leela]] has married [[Andred]], for whom she had left the [[Fourth Doctor]]. ([[TV]]: ''[[The Invasion of Time (TV story)|The Invasion of Time]]'') | ||
* The Doctor again enters the [[ | * The Doctor again enters the [[the Matrix]]. ([[TV]]: ''[[The Deadly Assassin (TV story)|The Deadly Assassin]]'') | ||
*The Castellan mentions that the destruction of a Time Lord has only been ordered once before. Previously, [[Morbius]] was ordered destroyed. ([[TV]]: ''[[The Brain of Morbius (TV story)|The Brain of Morbius]]'') | |||
* Hedin and Omega appear in [[PROSE]]: ''[[The Infinity Doctors (novel)|The Infinity Doctors]]''. | * Hedin and Omega appear in [[PROSE]]: ''[[The Infinity Doctors (novel)|The Infinity Doctors]]''. | ||
* Omega also appears in [[AUDIO]]: ''[[Omega (audio story)|Omega]]'', which takes place immediately after the events of this story from the perspective of the Fifth Doctor. | * Omega also appears in [[AUDIO]]: ''[[Omega (audio story)|Omega]]'', which takes place immediately after the events of this story from the perspective of the Fifth Doctor. | ||
| Line 232: | Line 233: | ||
* This is one of the moments during the Doctor's timeline in which one incarnation of [[Clara Oswald]] comes across the Fifth Doctor while trying to undo the damage done by the [[Great Intelligence]]. ([[TV]]: ''[[The Name of the Doctor (TV story)|The Name of the Doctor]]'') | * This is one of the moments during the Doctor's timeline in which one incarnation of [[Clara Oswald]] comes across the Fifth Doctor while trying to undo the damage done by the [[Great Intelligence]]. ([[TV]]: ''[[The Name of the Doctor (TV story)|The Name of the Doctor]]'') | ||
* Tegan would later tell the Doctor and Nyssa that she lost her sense of adventure in Amsterdam. ([[PROSE]]: ''[[The Sands of Time (novel)|The Sands of Time]]'') | * Tegan would later tell the Doctor and Nyssa that she lost her sense of adventure in Amsterdam. ([[PROSE]]: ''[[The Sands of Time (novel)|The Sands of Time]]'') | ||
* Zorac notes how violence has erupted on Gallifrey every time the Doctor returns there. ([[TV]]: ''[[The War Games (TV story)|The War Games]]'', ''[[The Deadly Assassin (TV story)|The Deadly Assassin]]'', ''[[The Invasion of Time (TV story)|The Invasion of Time]]'') | * Zorac notes how violence has erupted on Gallifrey every time the Doctor returns there. ([[TV]]: ''[[The War Games (TV story)|The War Games]]'', ''[[The Deadly Assassin (TV story)|The Deadly Assassin]]'', ''[[The Invasion of Time (TV story)|The Invasion of Time]]'') | ||
* Tegan later described the Ergon as "looking suspiciously like a plucked [[chicken]]". ([[AUDIO]]: ''[[The Waters of Amsterdam (audio story)|The Waters of Amsterdam]]'') | * Tegan later described the Ergon as "looking suspiciously like a plucked [[chicken]]". ([[AUDIO]]: ''[[The Waters of Amsterdam (audio story)|The Waters of Amsterdam]]'') | ||
* The Doctor would take on Maxil's appearance during his next [[regeneration]]. ([[TV]]: ''[[The Caves of Androzani (TV story)|The Caves of Androzani]]'') | * The Doctor would take on Maxil's appearance during his next [[regeneration]]. ([[TV]]: ''[[The Caves of Androzani (TV story)|The Caves of Androzani]]'') | ||
