Doctor Who and the Revenge of the Procrastitrons of Pyat
Fifth Doctor
Quote: (Uttered while desperately trying to rewire a mine elevator as it plummets into the Pit) “If I can’t reset the polarity of the mag locks, we’re in for a short, sharp …" (Sparks fly from the ruined control panel) "BLAST! Hold on, Adric!” (Episode ends)
Number of Episodes and Response: Four, though the script is clearly padded upwards from a two-parter, with lots of unnecessary running around in corridors and technobabble arguments between Teagan and Adric.
Ep. 1: Impossible Planet
Ep. 2: Mines of Death
Ep. 3: Devil World
Ep. 4: The Banishment
The storyline receives rave reviews for the first three episodes, as critics gush about the intelligent dialogue and sly references to Jewish mysticism, quantum theory (Schrödinger’s Base!) and Shakespeare. Sadly, the climax features a giant inflatable Satan that slays the delicate suspension of disbelief, and the storyline acquires an unjustified bad reputation. Twenty years later, most fans re-evaluate the story and decide that it was actually pretty good.
Leap of Faith?: Not entirely - the elevator fall replaces the Leap of Faith in the plotline. Adric is able to work out a circuitry bypass to restore power to the elevator just before it lands in the bottom of the Pit. The Beast rises, only to be forced back by Hadronic Wave Radiation from the Doctor’s rewired sonic screwdriver. The Pit closes, and the planet falls apart. The Doctor rescues everyone in the TARDIS.
Sixth Doctor
Quote: Doctor: “Spooks, goblins, devils, and now this! Mankind looking for a scapegoat on which to pin his failings! ”
Satan: “Obey me! Or the girl dies!”
Peri: “Doctor, please! Help!”
Doctor: “I DON’T BELIEVE IN THE DEVIL!”
Satan: “Nooooooooo!”
Number of Episodes and Response: The BBC contracted for a four part story, and received a six part script. Budget concerns meant that the entire storyline was compressed into two episodes.
Ep. 1: The Impossible Planet Problem
Ep. 2: The Devilish Pit
Cost overruns, script problems, and criminally incompetent editing doomed this one from the start. There are gaping plot holes, and the supporting characters are either mute or 2-dimensional. None the less, Colin Baker turns in a vigorous performance that seems to grow on you as time passes.
Leap of Faith?: Peri is thrown into the Pit by a maddened Ood, and the Doctor falls after her in an attempt to save her. Happily, they are saved by a net at the bottom of the Pit. The resolution - in which the Beast is destroyed because the Doctor refuses to believe in him - caused national eye-rolling when it aired, though many fans now believe it deserves a second chance.
Seventh Doctor
Quote: Ace: “Professor… is there really a Devil down there?”
Doctor (chewing his umbrella): “Yes, Ace.”
Ace: “But, how do you know?”
Doctor: “Because I put him there…”
Number of Episodes and Response: Four episodes, broadcast in the final season.
Ep. 1: Slave Mine
Ep. 2: Doom World
Ep. 3: Eternity Pit
Ep. 4: Time Forge
The storyline received high ratings for the first two episodes, but viewer numbers dropped sharply in coming weeks, as show was broadcast at the same time as the series premiere of Nickers & Phart, the new Ben Elton comedy. Reviews are mixed, and most critics felt that the BBC FX department was overreaching itself, particularly with the construction of the animatronic Beast. The creature was impressive enough in repose, and in publicity stills, but was decidedly wobbly on film.
Leap of Faith?: The Doctor, knowing that he is responsible for the Beast being chained into the Pit in the first place, insouciantly leaps into the depths after doffing his hat to Ace. The setup (The Beast serves as a kind of ultimate weapon to be unleashed against the Singularitons from beyond the Black Hole) is interesting, but the writers seemed to have painted themselves into a corner by episode 4. In the end, everything is solved by the judicious application of Nitro-Nine. Kaboom!