Doctor Who:
The Time Warrior
By Robert Holmes
“I've got it! It's one of
those tourist places. A medieval castle all restored to its original condition,
with jolly banquets and buxom serving wenches. That's it, isn't it? Mind you, I
think you've overdoing the sordid realism a bit. I mean, I know things were a
bit grotty in the Middle Ages, but, really, you might leave the tourists a bit
of glamorous illusion.”
UNIT has been called in to
investigate why scientist have been going missing from a top secret scientific
research complex. It appears the scientists have been disappearing
without a trace and no one seems to know where they have gone to. It seems like they have disappeared in thin
air. The Doctor makes a rhondium sensor
to help him detect time signatures and alerts him if those signatures are
present. While incognito The Doctor meets a journalist named Sarah Jane Smith
who is using a pass that her Aunt has given her to use while she is away in
America.
The Doctor also meets an
eccentric scientist named Rubish who seems to like using the TARDIS as a chalk
board to do use calculations on.
Unknown to The Doctor and The Brigadier the reason all the scientist are
disappearing is that a Sontaran named Linx is using an Osmic Projector to move
ahead in time to snag the scientists and bring them back to the Middle
Ages. Linx has crashed on Earth during
the Middle Ages and is the guest of Irongron. Irongron is an evil ruler of his
lands and is thirsty for war. Linx has
promised him weapons in return for a place to repair his ship.
The Doctor’s rhondium
sensor detects Linx stealing another scientist this time being Rubish. He quickly sets the TARDIS to follow the
trail and to hopefully return the missing scientist. Unknowing to him he has a stow away as Sarah
Jane finds herself in the TARDIS and back into the Middle Ages also. Sarah is in for a big shock when she realizes
where she is and then accuses The Doctor of being the one responsible. Hopefully with the help of Hal the Archer and
Sarah Jane The Doctor can free the scientist and defeat Linx.
The Time Warrior is one of
my favorite stories. I just love the
whole Middle Ages setting and the castles that are featured in this story. Maybe it has to do with going to Renaissance
Faires and that whole exposure to that time.
I do love how they attempt to attack the castle and run away from the
stink bombs The Doctor has concocted. Plus
there is some decent sword fighting that makes it that much cooler.
The Time Warrior has quite
a bit historical aspects to it for Doctor Who.
In The Time Warrior we find out the name of The Doctor’s home
planet. Gallifrey is first used as the
name of The Doctor’s home as he tells this to Sarah as they share a quiet
moment. It’s strange they waited so long
to name the planet when they had ample times to reveal its name of Gallifrey in
The War Games and The Three Doctors.
The Time Warrior seems to
be a story of first as this story also introduces us to the popular Doctor Who
villain the Sontarans. This is the
first time we see The Doctor take on the potato looking bad guys and what a
really good debut story we get also.
They come across as ruthless and warmongering and not the caricature
they appear to be now. They seem
threatening and an alien you should be aware of and be afraid of if you are an
alien culture. Not the butt of jokes as
they have been made to be now.
Another first is the first
appearance of one of the most beloved companions of all time. Elisabeth Sladen
starts her 3 plus series on the show and solidifies her place in the hearts of
many Doctor Who fans. She starts off on
the wrong foot but quickly redeems herself helping The Doctor defeat Linx. The Time Warrior is the start of a special
relationship that is far better than any other the Doctor has ever had
including the ones with Rose and River Song.
The Time Warrior is a good
start to Jon Pertwee’s last season as The Doctor and also starts off with some
good first appearances also. The Time
Warrior is a true gem that should be
watched again if only to see Boba Fett Jeremy Bullock taking out Linx with an
arrow.
Grade B+
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