- The Monster of Peladon
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073 – The Monster of Peladon Doctor Who serial
The Ice Warrior leader, Commander Azaxyr, demands the trisilicate the Galactic Federation needs.Cast Others- Nina Thomas — Queen Thalira
- Frank Gatliff — Chancellor Ortron
- Rex Robinson — Gebek
- Ralph Watson — Ettis
- Graeme Eton — Preba
- Michael Crane — Blor
- Terry Walsh — Guard Captain
- Max Faulkner, Roy Evans — Miners
- Nick Hobbs — Aggedor
- Donald Gee — Eckersley
- Stuart Fell — Body of Alpha Centauri
- Ysanne Churchman — Voice of Alpha Centauri
- Alan Bennion — Azaxyr
- Sonny Caldinez — Sskel
- Gerald Taylor — Vega Nexos
Production Writer Brian Hayles Director Lennie Mayne Script editor Terrance Dicks Producer Barry Letts Executive producer(s) None Production code YYY Series Season 11 Length 6 episodes, 25 minutes each Originally broadcast 23 March – 27 April 1974 Chronology ← Preceded by Followed by → Death to the Daleks Planet of the Spiders The Monster of Peladon is a serial in the British science fiction television series Doctor Who, which was first broadcast in six weekly parts from 23 March to 27 April 1974.
Contents
Synopsis
The Third Doctor returns, this time with Sarah, to the planet Peladon, where once again the sacred beast Aggedor casts its shadow.
Plot
On the planet Peladon a power struggle is in place between the trisilicate miners and the ruling class, with miners under the leadership of Gebek and hot-headed Ettis calling for improved conditions. The planet’s ruler Queen Thalira, daughter of the late King Peladon, is sympathetic, but knows her planet is vital to supply the war effort of the Galactic Federation of which it is a member. The Federation is in conflict with the warlike Galaxy Five confederation. The Pels become concerned when a vision of Aggedor, the royal beast, starts appearing in the mines and killing miners, including the alien engineer Vega Nexos. Chancellor Ortron tries to convince the Queen this is a sign of displeasure at the alien presence on the planet, but she remains unconvinced.
Another alien presence reaches the Citadel: the TARDIS, bearing the Doctor and Sarah Jane Smith. He recalls his visit to Peladon fifty years earlier when the planet joined the Galactic Federation, and is pleased to find a familiar face in Alpha Centauri, the Federation Ambassador. The Queen knows of the Doctor from her father and enlists his support in trying to find the cause of the manifestations of Aggedor. He guesses someone is deliberately trying to interrupt trisilicate production, and they seem to have succeeded when the miners decide to strike. Ettis then leads an attack on the Federation armoury and gets weapons for the striking miners. This looks like damaging trisilicate supplies even further, so Engineer Eckersley, a human in charge of the refinery, sends for Federation troops to help restore order.
Both the miners and the Pel leaders are unhappy with the notion of Federation occupation, especially when the Ice Warrior force displays its ruthlessness in shooting down Pels. The sole concern of the force leader, Commander Azaxyr, is to maintain trisilicate production. There is now a realignment in Pel politics: Ortron and Gebek join forces in seeking to rid the planet of the Martians. Ettis, however, has become crazed and is killed trying to blow up the Citadel. The Ice Warriors now impose martial law on the capital, imprisoning the Queen and her courtiers, and even killing Ortron when he tries to flee.
The truth is now revealed: Azaxyr and Eckersley are both Galaxy Five agents and have engineered the crisis and occupation as a means to control the trisilicate supply. The Aggedor apparition was just an image created to support the panic. Gebek now leads the Pels in a final assault on the Ice Warriors, and Azaxyr and the other invaders are killed. Eckersley himself is killed by the real Aggedor when he attacks the Queen, though sadly the beast dies in the process. News now reaches Peladon that Galaxy Five has capitulated, its Peladon stratagem exhausted, and Queen Thalira seeks to repair Pel society when she appoints Gebek her new Chancellor. As ever, the Doctor and Sarah slip away quietly.
Continuity
- This story is a sequel to The Curse of Peladon, and features same themes.
- Sarah Jane refers to these events in the episodes "The Temptation of Sarah Jane Smith" and "Death of the Doctor" in The Sarah Jane Adventures.
- The Fifth Doctor returns to Peladon in the Big Finish audio play The Bride of Peladon.
- The Third Doctor Big Finish visits the planet again in the Companion Chronicles story The Prisoner of Peladon.
Production
Serial details by episode Episode Broadcast date Run time Viewership
(in millions)Archive "Part One" 23 March 1974 24:59 9.2 PAL 2" colour videotape "Part Two" 30 March 1974 23:26 6.8 PAL 2" colour videotape "Part Three" 6 April 1974 24:47 7.4 PAL 2" colour videotape "Part Four" 13 April 1974 24:50 7.2 PAL 2" colour videotape "Part Five" 20 April 1974 23:56 7.5 PAL 2" colour videotape "Part Six" 27 April 1974 23:48 8.1 PAL 2" colour videotape [1][2][3] - The mineral was named Trisilicate because Barry Letts saw it listed on the back of a tube of Boots Toothpaste as one of the ingredients.[4]
Cast notes
- The character played by Roy Evans is credited as 'Miner' on-screen, but is named as Rima in dialogue – and is also credited as such in the Radio Times.
In print
A novelisation of this serial, written by Terrance Dicks, was published by Target Books in December 1980.
Doctor Who book Doctor Who and the Monster of Peladon Series Target novelisations Release number 43 Writer Terrance Dicks Publisher Target Books Cover artist Steve Kyte ISBN 0-426-20132-9 Release date 4 December 1980 Preceded by ' Followed by ' VHS, DVD and CD release
- The serial was released on VHS on 27 December 1995.
- The serial was released on Audio CD with linking narration by Elisabeth Sladen, on 3 March 2008.
- The serial was released on DVD on 18 January 2010 in a boxset entitled 'Peladon Tales', along with The Curse of Peladon
References
- ^ Shaun Lyon et al. (2007-03-31). "The Monster of Peladon". Outpost Gallifrey. http://gallifreyone.com/episode.php?id=yyy. Retrieved 2008-08-30.[dead link]
- ^ "The Monster of Peladon". Doctor Who Reference Guide. http://www.drwhoguide.com/who_3y.htm. Retrieved 2008-08-30.
- ^ Sullivan, Shannon (2007-08-07). "The Monster of Peladon". A Brief History of Time Travel. http://www.shannonsullivan.com/drwho/serials/yyy.html. Retrieved 2008-08-30.
- ^ DVD Commentary of Monster of Peladon
External links
- The Monster of Peladon at BBC Online
- The Monster of Peladon at Doctor Who: A Brief History Of Time (Travel)
- The Monster of Peladon at the Doctor Who Reference Guide
- Fan reviews
- The Monster of Peladon reviews at Outpost Gallifrey
- The Monster of Peladon reviews at The Doctor Who Ratings Guide
- Target novelisation
Doctor Who season 11 serials - The Time Warrior
- Invasion of the Dinosaurs
- Death to the Daleks
- The Monster of Peladon
- Planet of the Spiders
Doctor Who: Ice Warrior stories Second Doctor Third Doctor Audio plays Red Dawn • Frozen Time • The Bride of Peladon • The Judgement of Isskar • The Prisoner of Peladon • Mission to Magnus • Deimos / The Resurrection of Mars • Thin IceNovels Minor appearances Categories:- 1974 television episodes
- Doctor Who serials novelised by Terrance Dicks
- Third Doctor serials
- Screenplays by Brian Hayles
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