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Mission to the Unknown (TV story): Difference between revisions
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{{Infobox | {{Infobox ClassicTV| | ||
story name= Mission to the Unknown| | story name= Mission to the Unknown| | ||
image=[[Image:Mission to the Unknown.jpg|250px]] | | image=[[Image:Mission to the Unknown.jpg|250px]] | | ||
series=[[Doctor Who]] -<br/>[[TV stories|TV Stories]] | | series=[[Doctor Who]] -<br/>[[TV stories|TV Stories]] | | ||
number= 19 | | number= [[Season 3]] | | ||
story number=19| | |||
doctor= none | | doctor= none | | ||
companions= none | | companions= none | | ||
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producer= [[Verity Lambert]] | | producer= [[Verity Lambert]] | | ||
broadcast date= [[9th October]] [[1965]] | | broadcast date= [[9th October]] [[1965]] | | ||
format= 1 25-minute | format= 1 25-minute episode | | ||
production code= [[List of production codes|TA]] (or D/C)| | production code= [[List of production codes|TA]] (or D/C)| | ||
previous story= [[Galaxy 4 (TV story)|Galaxy 4]]| | previous story= [[Galaxy 4 (TV story)|Galaxy 4]]| | ||
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==Synopsis== | ==Synopsis== | ||
On the planet | On the planet Kembel, Space Security Service agent Marc Cory is investigating a recent sighting of a Dalek spaceship. His suspicion that the creatures may have established a base here proves well-founded. | ||
His two companions, Jeff Garvey and Gordon Lowery, both fall victim to the poisonous thorns of Varga plants - ambulatory flora indigenous to the Daleks' home world, Skaro - and he has no choice but to shoot them before they are themselves transformed into Vargas. | |||
Having overheard the Daleks plotting with representatives of the six outer galaxies to overthrow the solar system, Cory records a warning message and prepares to send it into orbit with a rocket launcher. Before he can do so, however, he is discovered and exterminated. | |||
==Plot== | ==Plot== | ||
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==References== | ==References== | ||
*The term "the [[Solar System]]" here seems to refer to the entire [[Milky Way]] [[Galaxy]]. This may be because [[Humanity]] control the whole Galaxy and the Solar System is at the heart of this [[Human Empire|Empire]]. | *The term "the [[Solar System]]" here seems to refer to the entire [[Milky Way]] [[Galaxy]]. This may be because [[Humanity]] control the whole Galaxy and the Solar System is at the heart of this [[Human Empire|Empire]]. | ||
*The Space Security Service know of [[Skaro]], and recognise [[Dalek]] ships and those from the 'outer galaxies'. | |||
*[[Varga plant]]s grow naturally on [[Skaro]], having been created in Dalek labs. | |||
==Story Notes== | ==Story Notes== | ||
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*Mission to the Unknown is the only Doctor Who story that does not feature the character of the Doctor or the TARDIS at all. Despite this, William Hartnell is still credited as "Dr. Who" — this was because his contract specified he would be credited for all episodes | *Mission to the Unknown is the only Doctor Who story that does not feature the character of the Doctor or the TARDIS at all. Despite this, William Hartnell is still credited as "Dr. Who" — this was because his contract specified he would be credited for all episodes | ||
*The Doctor's companions Vicki ([[Maureen O'Brien]]) and Steven Taylor ([[Peter Purves]]) do not appear either. Unlike Hartnell, their contracts did not guarantee they would be credited, though they were in the BBC listings magazine Radio Times (and episode guides taking their information from here). | *The Doctor's companions Vicki ([[Maureen O'Brien]]) and Steven Taylor ([[Peter Purves]]) do not appear either. Unlike Hartnell, their contracts did not guarantee they would be credited, though they were in the BBC listings magazine Radio Times (and episode guides taking their information from here). | ||
*[[Terry Nation]] wrote this partially as an attempt to create a story about the Daleks that did not involve the Doctor or his companions so that he could eventually develop and sell the idea of a Dalek series, divorced from the Doctor Who universe. In the proposed series, the [[Space Security Service]] was tasked with hunting Daleks, and it would follow their adventures — an approach that can be seen in short stories and comic strips written for the 1965 Dalek [[Outer Space Book]] (cover dated 1966). An unmade pilot titled [[The Destroyers]] was written, but the series concept was never sold | *[[Terry Nation]] wrote this partially as an attempt to create a story about the Daleks that did not involve the Doctor or his companions so that he could eventually develop and sell the idea of a Dalek series, divorced from the Doctor Who universe. In the proposed series, the [[Space Security Service]] was tasked with hunting Daleks, and it would follow their adventures — an approach that can be seen in short stories and comic strips written for the 1965 Dalek [[Outer Space Book]] (cover dated 1966). An unmade pilot titled [[The Destroyers]] was written, but the series concept was never sold. | ||
*The episode was made by the same team as [[Galaxy 4 (TV story)|Galaxy 4]], with both stories sharing pre-filming and, possibly, the same production code | *The episode was made by the same team as [[Galaxy 4 (TV story)|Galaxy 4]], with both stories sharing pre-filming and, possibly, the same production code | ||
*It is also one of the relatively few stories from the Hartnell era that does not lead directly into the next serial. It was followed by [[The Myth Makers]], an unrelated serial. A direct link to this story is made in the first episode of Daleks' Master Plan when the Doctor recovers the tape recorder used by Corey to record his final message. | *It is also one of the relatively few stories from the Hartnell era that does not lead directly into the next serial. It was followed by [[The Myth Makers]], an unrelated serial. A direct link to this story is made in the first episode of Daleks' Master Plan when the Doctor recovers the tape recorder used by Corey to record his final message. | ||
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When fans started compiling reference books in the mid 1970s it was this latter document which formed the basis of many lists. The story was referred to alternatively as Dalek Cutaway and Mission to the Unknown on many occasions, whilst the production code went vacant until the discovery of the design documents stating T/A. In more recent years the exploration of the BBC's written archives has exposed the problems of the title and production code | When fans started compiling reference books in the mid 1970s it was this latter document which formed the basis of many lists. The story was referred to alternatively as Dalek Cutaway and Mission to the Unknown on many occasions, whilst the production code went vacant until the discovery of the design documents stating T/A. In more recent years the exploration of the BBC's written archives has exposed the problems of the title and production code | ||
*See also [[disputed story titles]]. | |||
===Ratings=== | ===Ratings=== | ||
*Mission to the Unknown - 8. | *Mission to the Unknown - 8.3 million viewers | ||
===Myths=== | ===Myths=== | ||
*The members of the alliance were named [[Malpha]], [[Desmir]], [[Stifka]], [[Hjbuj]], [[Pteron]], [[Dbremen]] and [[Leemon]]. (''These names, apart from Malpha, were made up for an Australian fan-published novelisation). In the transmitted story only Malpha and the planet Gearon are named.'') | *The members of the alliance were named [[Malpha]], [[Desmir]], [[Stifka]], [[Hjbuj]], [[Pteron]], [[Dbremen]] and [[Leemon]]. (''These names, apart from Malpha, were made up for an Australian fan-published novelisation). In the transmitted story only Malpha and the planet Gearon are named.'') | ||
=== | ===Filming Locations=== | ||
* | *[[Ealing Television Film Studios]], [[London]] | ||
*[[BBC Television Centre TC3]], [[London]] | |||
===Discontinuity, Plot Holes, Errors=== | ===Discontinuity, Plot Holes, Errors=== | ||
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==Continuity== | ==Continuity== | ||
*This story is continued in [[The Daleks' Master Plan]] which concludes the Daleks' attempts to invade the Galaxy | *This story is continued in ''[[The Daleks' Master Plan]]'' which concludes the Daleks' attempts to invade the Galaxy | ||
==DVD, Video and Other Releases== | ==DVD, Video and Other Releases== | ||
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==Target Novelisations== | ==Target Novelisations== | ||
''to | *Novelised as part of ''[[Doctor Who - The Daleks' Master Plan Part 1: Mission to the Unknown]]'' by [[John Peel]] in [[1989]]. | ||
==See | ==See also== | ||
'' | *[[DW]]: ''[[The Daleks' Master Plan]]'' | ||
==External Links== | ==External Links== | ||
* [http://www.bbc.co.uk/doctorwho/classic/episodeguide/missiontounknown/ Official BBC Page for '''Mission to the Unknown'''] | * [http://www.bbc.co.uk/doctorwho/classic/episodeguide/missiontounknown/ Official BBC Page for '''Mission to the Unknown'''] | ||
* [http://www.gallifreyone.com/episode.php?id=ta Outpost Gallifrey entry for '''Mission to the Unknown'''] | * [http://www.gallifreyone.com/episode.php?id=ta Outpost Gallifrey entry for '''Mission to the Unknown'''] | ||
* [http://www.drwhoguide.com/who_ta.htm | * [http://www.drwhoguide.com/who_ta.htm Doctor Who Reference Guide: Detailed Synopsis - '''Mission to the Unknown'''] | ||
* [http://homepages.bw.edu/~jcurtis/Scripts/Mission/mission1.html '''Mission to the Unknown''' transcript] | * [http://homepages.bw.edu/~jcurtis/Scripts/Mission/mission1.html '''Mission to the Unknown''' transcript] | ||
* [http://www.shannonsullivan.com/drwho/serials/ta.html A Brief History of Time (Travel) entry for '''Mission to the Unknown'''] | * [http://www.shannonsullivan.com/drwho/serials/ta.html A Brief History of Time (Travel) entry for '''Mission to the Unknown'''] | ||
