Frontier in Space
Previous: Carnival of Monsters
Frontier in Space
Interesting fashion choice of doughnut leg-warmers...for your forearms...
Also, how is it so easy for them to move their seatbelts around those Mega Shoulder-Pads?
Cargo ship in pre-war time making a hyperspace jump. Counting down Something Going Wrong in three...oh wait, speaking of Three..
Huh, I wasn't expecting our heroes to be The Thing That Goes Wrong. OH RIGHT. This is season ten so Three can actually fly the TARDIS again!
"Only YOU could manage to have a traffic accident in space!" Hello Jo! Not enjoying TARDIS travel too much, are we?
Woah woah wait...did that other ship outside just...explode and then un-explode?
"A moment ago, it seemed to change shape! It was when I heard that noise...didn't you hear it?" Sorry, Jo, neither did I.
Oh wait, there it is. Also, #ITSATRAP
WOAH SUDDENLY EVERYONE IS TRIPPING BALLS JO RELAX THAT'S NOT A DRASHIG IT'S JUST A MAN WITH TWO GUNS
Sir, I understand you need to multitask right now, but I think the point of holding someone at gunpoint is to actually be *watching* them.
Meanwhile on Earth, That '70s Future.
"The treaty between our two empires established a frontier in space." #yousaidthething
On that note, nice to see that Earth has a female president!
With all these illusions and insistence that no one is antagonizing the other, I'm assuming there's a third party futzing around with them.
Also, I wonder why Jo mentioning "bolts" was all Three needed to dissuade him from trying the sonic on the cell door.
"That sound made you see what you fear most." #TheMoreYouKnow
"Seems to act like a post-hyptnotic command." *raises hand and bounces in chair* OOO OOO OOO I BET I KNOW WHO THE THIRD PARTY IS.
"It's only a load of flour!"
"IT'S MY CARGO!"
Huh, we're halfway through this episode and I don't think we know the pilots' names yet.
Wait, who are these guys trying to burn through that door?
"I'm reversing the polarity of my ultrasonic screwdriver's power source." It's...ultrasonic now?
*cell door opens* *escape interrupted by pilot with gun*
"...oh how very embarrassing good afternoon." *goes back in cell*
Ogrons??!? DID THREE JUST GET SHOT?????!?
This general seems weirdly insistent that everyone on the cargo ship is going to die...insistent in a "just as I planned it" kind of way...
They put Jo back in the cell but they just left Three on the floor? Now that wasn't very considerate of them.
"Doctor...they also took the TARDIS." #wellshit
So we've had the return of the Ogrons and a mention of Solos from The Mutants? Sounds like Three had some nice continuity going here.
"Come on, Jo, let's go and find the crew." *cut to dead-looking crew*
Never mind, they're both knocked out like Three.
Speaking of Three, he's wearing that green ensemble I love so much.
...and under those frilly Victorian sleeves, he has a distinctly '70s wristwatch. Somehow that just makes me smile.
OH MY GOD WHAT IS THE RESCUE TEAM EVEN WEARING YOU GUYS AREN'T PLAYING IN THE NFL IN SPACE #mostepicshoulderpads
"They're traitors!" *guns raised* Huh, they usually don't use these misunderstandings as the cliffhanger.
There sure is a lot of putting Three and Jo back in that cell in this story, isn't there?
I just realized: if this is a cargo ship, would they really have need for a cell? Oh wait...unless they had pirates or something.
Or, in this case, repeatedly-wrongly-accused stowaways.
omg Jo...she sounded so confident coming up with an escape plan all on her own only to learn that the point was entirely moot.
"Hey I've got a TERRIFIC idea! I saw this film once, you see..." I saw this film once #Isawthisfilmonce #joyoureadorable
"JO! Will you stop pacing up and down like a perishing panda!" JO IS A PANDA. Also, come on Three, be a little nicer to the lady.
Sounding more and more like I was right about that third party.
"All we've got to do is find out what's going on, who's behind the Ogrons, where they've taken the TARDIS, go and get it back, and then we can all go home. Right?"
"Right."
"Oh...I don't know what I've been worrying about. :/ "
I know this is odd but...does this story make Jo the first companion to wear jeans? Because I don't think anyone earlier wore them.
Seems like everyone before had skirts, slacks, or suits. Or a kilt.
Anyone else find it super suspicious that General Williams can't seem to look the president in the face for this entire scene? #thirdparty?
...I should really start keeping track of how often Three and Jo get put in a cell in this story because this is...what, the fourth time?
At least the security officers have the courtesy to ask them if they're hungry first.
"Sooner or later, you're going to tell them...everything. They'll use the mind probe." #NONOTTHEMINDPROBE
Aww, Three's being nice to Jo again. "Now come and sit down, stop worrying. Come on, sit down." *hand-hold* #cuties
And now it's time for Storytime with Uncle Three! Today's story: Uncle Three and the Mean Old Medusiods!
"I was on my way to meet a giant rabbit, a pink elephant, and a purple horse with yellow spots." There's a Dr. Seuss pun in here somewhere.
Welp, looks like Three's plea of "let me explain you a thing" didn't work. And is that the first time we've seen Williams smile?
HEY KIDS GUESS WHAT WE'RE GOING BACK IN A CELL
*alarm* "...Yes well I think we'll sit here for a while after all." Only Three and Jo could make giving up on a prison break look adorable.
Can I just say I love those giant emeralds the Draconians are rocking? I dunno, there's just something neat about large jewels.
Also, I love how they have certain verbal tics instead of sounding alien solely by speaking more formally. They hold their S's a lot.
Uh oh, sniper rifle...SHOTS FIRED. SHOTS FIRED.
Aw, for a second I honestly thought Jo had made a quick escape even in those heels.
General Williams is going to be the better-intentioned Benik of this story, isn't he? They even look kinda similar.
Although, I feel somehow less inclined to punch Williams in the face.
Both sides think Three and Jo are agents of the other side and wow Three is already looking so done.
"General Williams hates our people! Once before, he caused war between us and the Earth men. Now he plans to do so again!" OKAY THIS IS NEW
Ah, time for some Time-Fu! and three just backflips out of the chair in the most beautifully pathetic way possible oh my god I love you
like he didn't so much "backflip" as he did "lean back in the chair really hard and roll out onto the floor"
Actually I take that back: that was still pretty badass.
HEY THERE CELL FANCY RUNNING INTO YOU AGAIN
I kinda love how both Three and Jo have gone from being worried about the situation to being exasperated by it.
Uh oh, there's that hallucinogenic whine again...MORE OGRONS.
Wow, I feel pretty bad for that poor door.
Wait, are the Ogrons busting them out?
"That was close..." *captured again*
Woah, archive footage of actual riots. According to the InfoText, it's the Tokyo student riots of 1969.
"Those two traitors are back in their cell and that's where they'll stay!" AGAIN???
"If you're not seen to act decisively against the Draconians, you can...and WILL...be replaced."
"By you, perhaps?"
#dundunDUUUN
Mind probe time? Mind probe time!
Wow, Three doesn't even look frustrated, he just looks bored. 300% done.
Umm, Williams maybe if you actually turned around and looked at the screen you'd see the Ogrons that Three's talking about.
Aww, Three looks so pleased with himself that he blew up the machine with his mind. #POWEROFTRUTH
Oh hey, it's the cell again. Um, look cell, don't take this the wrong way but...I really think we should start seeing other rooms.
"I like the new outfit. Who're you fighting tonight?" Jo does look like she's on her way to a fancy dress martial arts tournament.
But seriously, could you imagine Jo having a practice sparring match with Three in that outfit? I suddenly want this to happen.
"Under the powers vested in me by the Special Security Act, I'm sending you to the Lunar Penal Colony." DEAD LEAVES!
(No but really, if you've never seen Dead Leaves, you should. It's fun and wacky and original. And takes place in a prison on the moon.)
Meanwhile on the Moon...
That was fast. Also, can we talk about the suspiciously coffin-shaped doors for a second?
Hah! I love how all the other prisoners are still in their blue prison suits and Three just swaggers in like Green Velvet King.
"What did they get you for?"
"...It's a long story."
AND I LOVE HOW THE FIRST THING THREE SAYS TO THE GUARDS IS A REPRIMAND FOR TAKING THAT GUY'S CHOCOLATE
I like this rebel chocolate guy already. I hope we get to learn his name soon.
Woah, hold up...where did these surprisingly fleshed-out criminal records for Three and Jo come from?
"Send in the commissioner from Sirius 4, please." OKAY I'M GONNA TAKE A WILD STAB AND GUESS WHO'S COMING IN NEXT
I WAS RIGHT. Hello Master! Good to see you again! You wouldn't mind helping break Three and Miss Grant out of prison, would you?
Ahhh, so THAT'S what three-dimensional chess looks like!
"There are books, video films, handicraft and discussion groups, all sorts of ways of passing the time."
"Including planning to escape?"
"...That's not one of the things we discuss."
Time for our Daily Appreciation of Roger Delgado's Eyebrows.
On today's Lunar Penal Colony menu: that blue Star Wars milk.
Jeez, have they seriously not given Jo anything to do but just sit and be bored in that cell? Don't worry, you've got a visitor now.
"You...! What are you doing here?"
"To coin a phrase, I've come to take you away from all this."
#helloimthemasterimheretorescueyou
THIRD PARTY IDENTIFIED. #guesswhoitwas
Oh my sweet bby Jo, you've come such a long way since Terror of the Autons.
The Master seems to've reached the point of "dammit Miss Grant you and the Doctor are going to be rescued by me AND LIKE IT."
"ANYWHERE is better than here!" AND MAY THIS BE THE LAST WE SEE OF A CELL IN THIS STORY.
Yay, we finally have someone who believes Three's story!
AND HE'S IN LEAGUE WITH THE GUARD AND THEY'RE BOTH PLANNING AN ESCAPE THIS IS EVEN BETTER
"Come on, professor, come on...you were giving off conspiracy in waves over there." omg three sounds like a schoolgirl hungry for gossip :D
I find it sort of hilarious that the special sign for the Peace Party is literally just throwing an exaggerated peace sign at each other.
Either that or everyone who's done it so far has really long fingers.
"All we have to do is walk across the moon's surface, ten minutes, and we're there." All we have to do is walk across the moon's surface.
Uh oh...that doesn't look like the trusting glance of a co-conspirator to me...
Oxygen tanks are empty, and I bet that knob was set to depressurize the airlock...I sense a cliffhanger...
Yup and yup!
Three doesn't seem to be banging on the door that hard. Then again, that's probably Pertwee trying not to break the set.
Hmm, now there's a suspiciously familiar black gloved hand...
"I do hope that you're alright, Doctor." Current mood: Delgado!Master saving Three from near-death experiences and asking if he's okay.
Meanie governor, poor Master just wants his Threesies back.
"Some very awkward questions could be asked."
"I have nothing to fear."
You might want to look the Master in the face when you say that.
Also, I love that in a scene with two bad guys, one of them being the Master, it's actually the other guy doing the literal beard-stroking.
can we talk about three's prison gel sandals because
also the fact that his "list of crimes" is basically punching a cop, stealing a ship, and...tax evasion.
Oh and also he apparently robbed a bank, that too.
WELL WHADADYA KNOW. IT'S. ANOTHER. GODDAMN CELL.
Actually, this one's less like a cell and more like a zoo cage. And I was just listening to a Short Trip today with Three at the zoo.
Well, at least Three and Jo are back together again.
"Your health is very precious to me...for the moment." Careful, Master, your sensitive side is showing again.
Wait, I think that cockpit set is a re-skin of the first one or the exact same set. Budgeting!
And now it's time for NUMBERS! Buckle up for safety after doing math!
("This really is the lunar surface, taken from an Apollo landing module.") Oh wow. There's authenticity and there's THE ACTUAL MOON.
"They found me guilty, changed my appearance and exiled me to Earth."
"And that's where you met me."
"That's right, that's where I met you."
"And that alone made the exile worthwhile, Miss Grant."
"Thank you!"
#PRECIOUSBABBIES
But really, Three? Have you seriously never gotten around to telling Jo the story of how you wound up on Earth before?
Good ol' Master, always armed with appropriate reading material: War of the Worlds.
"But if we do get back, I really think you ought to be a bit more reasonable with the Master. I mean, he keeps offering you a share in the galaxy, or whatever's going on, and you keep refusing and playing dirty tricks on him." OR WHATEVER'S GOING ON
Wow, I'm surprised the Master picked Jo's monologue about Three being nicer to him to reach over and turn the volume down.
No but seriously can we just give a round of applause for Jo Grant existing?
BECAUSE APPARENTLY SHE HAS TO GIVE A CONTINUOUS SPEECH WHILE THREE GOES ON A FREAKING SPACE WALK OH MY GOD JO YOU TREASURE
AND NOW THREE'S DOING THE VENT-YOUR-OXYGEN-IN-SPACE-TO-PROPEL-YOURSELF-BACK-TO-THE-SHIP THING BECAUSE THRUSTERS
Wait...Master I thought you said you needed Three in good health...where are you going with that gun?
On the off chance that Three ISN'T floating aimlessly in space thousands of miles away...
Oh no the Master's making a random offer for Jo on the assumption that he's on the flight deck aND HE ISN'T WHERE'D HE GO
AH, there he is! Nice fabric-slapping work, by the way.
Don't worry, Jo, the Draconians just docked so you won't have to worry about the airlock...wait why are they pointing guns at you.
"All diplomatic relations have been severed. You have violated Draconian space! The penalty is death!" Well...that's inconvenient.
WELP BACK IN THE CELL. Cell, are you stalking us? This is starting to get kinda creepy.
"This won't be my first visit to Draconia, you know. Many years ago I spent quite some time there." And you wait until now to bring this up?
I love how Three and Jo are just chilling on the bed and the Master's just standing there doing his best Grumpy Cat.
Oh wait, never mind, he's going down for a nap...and taking out what looks suspiciously like a distress beacon?
Looks like Ogron reinforcements are on their way.
"Hadn't we better wake our cellmate?"
"He's awake already! He's just trying to show us how unconcerned he is."
*evil chuckle*
delgado's master is a fucking treasure oh my god
Shoulderpad Game: Draconian Emperor.
Wait, the emperor is actually believing Three's story? This is a pleasant change of pace.
Usually stories driven by nobody believing the protagonists' truths drive me crazy, but somehow I've been taking it in stride here. Huh.
I just noticed JO'S BOOTS. CAN WE TALK ABOUT THOSE BOOTS.
(no seriously they look like platform Converses but the camera's too far out to tell)
"I have devoted my life to the cause of law and order and law and order can only exist in a time of peace!"
"You feeling alright, old chap?"
That sound again...OGRON ATTACK!
and the emperor just sits there and watches omg
aHA! Someone finally got to see the hypnosis wear off! #thetruthwillberevealed
YOU get a mind probe! And YOU get a mind probe! EVERY RACE GETS A MIND PROBE!
"The Ogrons've got the finest defense mechanism of all: stupidity. They haven't got a mind for you to probe."
Well, at least the Draconians let up on the misogyny a bit to "respect the customs of our guests" when Jo has something relevant to say.
Hello again, cell! Nice to see you've moved on and let someone else in.
"You know, I think it's about time women's lib was brought to Draconia." Jo, my queen.
Umm...your majesty...that rattling sound behind you is the Ogron trying to break out of the cell...your majesty...?
Oh wait, maybe that's the prince on the flight deck. Either way, looks like we've got company.
"That must be them. No other ship would be on a course for Earth at a time like this."
"WE'RE on a course for Earth!"
"WELL *NATURALLY* BECAUSE WE'RE CHASING THEM!!!!!"
#andersonturnaround #youreloweringtheiqofthewholestreet
Pros of hiring idiots to do your dirty work: they'll do whatever you tell them. Cons: they're idiots.
"You do not wish to kill him?"
"Of COURSE I do! I dunno...rocket fire at long range, it's...I dunno, somehow it lacks that personal touch."
Can we talk about how genius it was that his eyes were in shadow the whole time so it was impossible to read what he was really thinking?
Honestly I have no idea if that was intentional or not, but the effect was fantastic.
Wait...does Three seriously not suspect that that's the Master's ship following them? Or that that's HIS VOICE ON THE SPEAKER?
Okay, granted there's a lot of audio distortion, but I would've thought Three would know the Master's voice pretty well by now.
Ohhhh okay, he DOES suspect something and that's why he's luring them closer to check. That works.
ZEN FIRE ZE MISSILES
Good thing that tussle with the Ogron on the flight deck didn't take too long. On the other hand, Impending Boarding.
And now another episode of The Doctor Would Never Use a Gun, My Ass. (Although I do appreciate that they limit his use considerably.)
(I'm in the "the Doctor can use weapons in extreme circumstances, but he shouldn't make it a habit" school of thought.)
"What is happening? They should have taken that ship by now! God, must I do everything myself?!?" At this rate, Master, you probably should.
On the other hand, they just successfully made off with Jo, so...score one for the Ogrons, unfortunately.
Three and the prince seem to have a lot of trouble standing up, but the camera isn't doing anything weird so...what exactly is going on?
*turn on InfoText* Ah, the air was escaping through the airlock. But...wouldn't that be pulling them towards it and not pushing them away?
*InfoText topic turns to Roger Delgado's untimely death* oh no here come the sads
("He didn't turn up for work on the morning of Monday 18 June.") #no #nononono
("His body was later found in the wreckage of the hire car which was driving him to the location.") #NONONONO
Which reminds me, I'm still amazed that they never got Anthony Ainley to come back and play the Master in a Big Finish audio.
I mean Geoffrey Beevers is great, but Big Finish started doing Doctor Who in 1999 and Ainley didn't die until 2004.
Plus, all account I've heard make no secret of just how much he ADORED playing the Master.
Actually, I can probably just ask: @bigfinish, how come you guys never brought Anthony Ainley back to play the Master in his final years?
Meanwhile back on Earth...
Ah, the details behind that initial spark of war between Earth and Draconia 20 years ago finally comes to light!
Looks like General Williams has nothing left to go on, at last.
"Your highness, please accept my deepest regrets for the wrong I have done your people." 'Bout time, man, 'bout time.
And he's even volunteering to lead the expedition to the Ogron quarry! ...I mean, homeworld!
Oh wow, Roger Delgado really was only about an inch or two taller than Katy Manning.
Well, at least we've got the TARDIS back, in a sense. Thanks for the conveniently dramatic lighting, by the way, Master.
"I know that you will obey me." Wait. Is this...? OH MY GOD YES WE'VE FINALLY MADE IT TO THIS SCENE.
"MARY HAD A LITTLE LAMB HIS FLEECE WAS WHITE AS SNOW AND EVERYWHERE THAT MARY WENT THAT LAMB WAS SURE TO GO. HUMPTY DUMPTY SAT ON A WALL HUMPTY DUMPTY HAD A GREAT FALL..."
"STOP THAT, MISS GRANT!"
"It's a form of self-conditioning: you fill your head with nonsense and then you can't be hypnotized!"
#JOGRANTFORQUEENOFEVERYTHING
"ALRIGHT ALRIGHT alright...I was never very fond of nursery rhymes anyhow." GUYS THE MUSIC EVEN FADES OUT WHEN HE GIVE UP
...Oh. This just means he's going to try the fear-wave box on her now.
Drashigs, Mutants, Sea Devils, and Jo just says no to all of it. #ontheartofbeingaBAMF #withjustyourmind
I love how the Master just sees all this as a minor inconvenience. Huh, Doctor's companions don't fall before me anymore. Oh well...
OH GODDAMMIT CELL, I THOUGHT WE WERE THROUGH. I THOUGHT YOU'D MOVED ON.
Well, at least this time Jo's in one where she can plausibly use the old Dig Your Way Out With a Spoon trick.
"No doubt you're a qualified space engineer too, Doctor?"
"Naturally!"
General Williams, I'm not sure if you're trying to look stressed or devious right now...
Wow, the spoon thing actually worked! #praisebetothepowerofspooning
okay is that a really unfortunate rock formation or is there a painting of a liver-shaped bug monster on the wall
("The script describes the wall painting as 'a vast, dragon-like monster, rearing up for the kill, an Ogron in its claws'.") Ah, okay.
Jo's even managing to get a signal out with the Ogron's coordinates to both sides! Remind me again why anyone calls her a ditz?
"Thank you, Miss Grant. That was the trap." ...Bugger.
Aaand the damaged circuitry on Williams' ship is getting worse...how exactly do they plan to wrap everything up in the next 12 minutes?
ESPECIALLY NOW THAT THE HULL IS LITERALLY SPEWING FIRE NOW
Oh, they landed just fine. Okay.
Ogron ambush! But wait OH GOD THERE'S THAT GIANT BLOB THING
I love how the Ogrons are about a half-foot taller than the Master and outnumber him by So Many, but he can part them like the damn Red Sea.
Another ship's landing? Aren't you guys going to go check it out?
"Unarmed, maybe, but not unaccompanied! I've brought some old friends along to meet you!" MOTHERFUCKIN DALEEEEEEKS
Bit early, though, aren't you? Planet of the Daleks is the next serial...oh right, these two stories make up that Dalek War arc.
This is the only time that the Master and the Daleks team up, isn't it? Unless it happens in the Expanded Universe somewhere.
I remember they were in The Five Doctors together, but that was just one Dalek running around in a hall of mirrors and shooting aimlessly.
Bit eager to get to the exterminating already, eh guys?
I think I've officially reached the point where any Dalek that doesn't sound like @BriggsNicholas sounds inauthentic to me.
("The third Dalek operator is having trouble steering, so Roger Delgado surreptitiously gives him a helping hand.") Aww...
Wait...The Three Doctors was filmed AFTER this? ...Okay...?
No, cell, you can't have custody of the kids.
And of course the Master has just one condition for the Daleks' help: can I rule Earth when you're done? Kthx
Ah little fear-box, you will do OUR work now!
"Right, we'll see who rules the galaxy when this is over...'Do not fail the Daleks' indeed, you stupid tin boxes..."
Current Mood: the Master doing a mocking Dalek impression oh my god that was worth the wait.
("The whole session overran its scheduled 10 P.M. finish by 23 minutes.") Wait...I thought the BBC's power always went out at 10?
Speaking of which, only two minutes left and this story feels NOWHERE near being done.
ALSO DID THE MASTER JUST SHOOT THREE IN THE HEAD
"Telepathic circuits...sending a message to the Time Lords..." ALSO THAT
Wait, the Daleks here were voiced by Michael Wisher? Okay, never mind, turns out they had Davros' voice after all.
Well. There's cliffhangers, and then there's Cliffhangers. With this strong a narrative link, it almost feels like The Daleks' Master Plan.
OH GOD I JUST REALIZED THAT WAS MY LAST DELGADO!MASTER STORY. Rest in Peace, old chap. The Whoniverse wouldn't be the same without you.
Next: Planet of the Daleks