A Review of the Doctor Who episode, Planet of Fire. Part 1 Broadcast: February 23rd, 1984 Part 2 Broadcast: February 24th, 1984 Part 3 Broadcast: March 1st, 1984 Part 4 Broadcast: March 2nd, 1982 Character: Timanov As someone once rather cynically observed, Planet of Fire is not so much a story as a series of explanations. Peri is introduced; the Master is brought back for a further return appearance; Kamelion is destroyed; Turloughs background is at last revealed; and finally Turlough is written out. This overloading of the scripts - which is even more extreme than that required of the luckless writer Peter Grimwade in his previous Doctor Who assignment, Mawdryn Undead - probably accounts in large part for the drubbing that the story has received from most reviewers. The worst story of the season so far, wrote Robert Davis in Skonnos Issue 7 in 1984. Planet of Fire had a lot to offer, and looking at what [it] had to include you would think this would be an action packed story. Suffice to say [you] would be sadly mistaken! The first three episodes were total padding, and could have been easily condensed down to a singe episode, making the story an acceptable two-parter. These criticisms, although not untypical of those directed at the story, are far too harsh. Given all the imposed prerequisites, including the need to incorporate the Lanzarote location, the end result is by no means as bad as it might have been. The plot involving the inhabitants of the volcanic planet Sarn is actually quite an interesting one even if, with all the other elements eating up screen time, it is rather less well developed than one might have liked. The breadth of the community on Sarn is enhanced by the supporting characters, noted Jane Killick in In-Vision Issue 75, dated November 1997. Even those with only a small part in the story have distinct personalities. Roskal, for example, has few lines but those he does have demonstrate his interest in the technology left by the Trions and in learning how to use it. It is enough to show how the community has been held back by the old teachings, represented by Timanov, and how they have the capacity to advance. The Doctor says as much to Amyand, who has emerged as a character with strong leadership qualities. The story of the Sarns, therefore, is of a people ready to abandon their old, primitive ways and prosper in a new life away from the planet. Another point in this storys favour is that the location filming in Lanzarote is a lot more appropriate than was that in Amsterdam for Arc of Infinity - although it is perhaps a pity that it is used to represent both Sarn and Lanzarote itself, as it is immediately obvious to the viewer that the sequences have all been shot in the same place. Tim Munro, writing in TARDIS Volume 9 Number 1 in 1984, drew attention to some other redeeming features: Turloughs origins were cleverly revealed and all tied up perfectly with the little we were told about him in Mawdryn Undead. The concept of the shrunken Master was inspired to say the least, as was the battle for control of Kamelion... Mark Strickson was superb and I am furious that weve lost him so soon. What a waste!... Anthony Ainley had possibly the worst dialogue in history but being Anthony Ainley he put in a great effort, made it believable and livened up an otherwise tedious story. In fact it is remarkable just how much more imposing and dangerous Anthony Ainleys Master (or strictly speaking the Kamelion-Master) seems when wearing an ordinary business suit in this story as opposed to his standard penguin outfit. He really does put one in mind of Roger Delgado in these scenes, making all the more regrettable the production teams apparent determination to have him usually presented as something akin to a moustache-twirling pantomime villain. (Visitors to the studio for this story actually recall Ainley giving a very intense, serious performance during recording of one particular scene and receiving firm instructions from the control gallery to go more OTT - i.e. over the top - for a retake.) The other members of the guest cast all give good performances, although the distinguished Barbara Shelley is somewhat wasted in the minor role of Sorasta. BEST OF ALL IS PETER AS TIMANOV, AS STEVE MERCER AFFIRMED IN SHADA 18, DATED JULY 1984: TOP HONOURS FOR THIS STORY MUST GO... TO PETER WYNGARDE, OOZING FAITH, FIRE AND FANATICISM [IN] A QUITE BRILLIANT PERFORMANCE... HE, BY HIMSELF, MADE THE WORSHIPPERS OF LOGAR SEEM REAL, AN AUTHENTIC CULTURE. HIS FINAL SCENE, OFFERED A CHANCE OF SALVATION AND RECONCILIATION BY AMYAND AND REJECTING IT RATHER THAN HIS FAITH, WAS EASILY THE MOST MEMORABLE OF THE WHOLE STORY... IF ONLY EVERY GUEST STAR GAVE SUCH GOOD VALUE. Nicola Bryant makes a good debut as Peri, helping to compensate for the viewers disappointment at the loss of the excellent and rather underused Turlough. In fact, notwithstanding the light-hearted closing scene between the Doctor and Peri in the TARDIS, the story as a whole ends on a rather downbeat note. Generally speaking [it] left me feeling quite sad, observed Robert Craker, again in TARDIS Volume 9 Number 1, after the Doctors reluctant destruction of poor old Kamelion (to the delight of most fans, I dare say) who had been well used throughout..., and finally the Doctors refusal to help the trapped Master, leading to what would appear to be his final demise... It cant be though, can it? The final encounter between the two Time Lords would surely be something more momentous. Roots References to Judaism (the penalties that await trespassers on the holy Mountain of Fire) and Christianity (the messianic Outsider, Timanovs reference to oblation, and the Doctor postulating on the Masters desire to be born again). Dialogue Triumphs Kamelion-Master : I am the Master! Peri : Im Perpugilliam Brown, and I can shout just as loud as you can! Timanov : You will never understand, Amyand. Logar is everywhere. He cares for the faithful. Turlough : I dont want to go, Doctor. Ive learnt a lot from you. Cast Timanov – PETER WYNGARDE The Doctor - Peter Davison Peri - Nicola Bryant Turlough - Mark Strickson Voice of Kamelion - Gerald Flood Amyand - James Bate Curt - Michael Bangerter Lomand - John Alkin Lookout - Simon Sutton Malkon - Edward Highmore Professor Howard Foster - Dallas Adams Roskal - Jonathan Caplan Sorasta - Barbara Shelley The Master - Anthony Ainley Zuko - Max Arthur Comments about PETER: “He played it like Laurence of Arabia with a dyed moustache”. Peter Davidson ‘PETER WYNGARDE is superb as Timanov, delivering a performance thats both subtle and powerful - usually at the same time’. Doctor Who Magazine ‘PETER WYNGARDE is superb as Timanov, delivering a performance thats both subtle and powerful - usually at the same time’. Doctor Who Magazine
Posted on: Tue, 12 Aug 2014 09:17:42 +0000
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