Geek Syndicate
ANTONY’S CHOICE:
Synopsis (from Tardis.wikia.com):
The Doctor is called in by UNIT to investigate when scientists go missing from a top security institute. He follows the kidnappings back in time to the Middle Ages,
unaware investigative journalist Sarah Jane Smith has
stowed away on the TARDIS. As events unfold, the Doctor
discovers a sinister alien intent on altering the future of
mankind.
I’m more forgiving of this third incarnation of the Time
Lord than Luke. While I find him to be much more arrogant
than others, a certain paternal quality comes through between the Doctor and his companion which has never really been recaptured. This is particularly true of the relationship between the Time Lord and his second companion, Jo
Grant who had left to marry an eco-warrior cum scientist
in the previous story in a throat-lump-forming final scene.
Throw at this paternal Doctor a companion who is feisty,
intelligent and certain of herself and an interesting new
dynamic begins to form.
shows the new character at her best. She’s a journalist:
and from her introduction she shows an intelligence and
inquisitiveness that will set her in good stead throughout
the adventure and beyond.
The story is framed in the present but is essentially a historical of the variety introduced with The Time Meddler.
Indeed, the story opens with a small, spherical space craft
crashing to earth. A short, humanoid figure emerges and
plants a flag: claiming the planet for the Sontaran empire.
This is the first appearance of the Sontarans, in this case,
Linx. The plot revolves around the interloper kidnapping
scientists from “present day” Earth in order to help him repair his ship. UNIT are brought in to investigate the disappearances and Sarah... well, she smells a story.
One of the interesting elements of this story is that actually, Sarah is very wary of the Doctor for a good portion of
the adventure. She doesn’t trust him at all, stows away on
the TARDIS to find out what he’s up to and then becomes
convinced that the Doctor is the villain and that he’s working with Irongron, a local bandit chief to usurp control of
Wessex castle from its rightful incumbent. Of course, it’s
that Sontaran who’s up to mischief – providing Irongron
with flintlock rifles and even a robotic warrior to bolster
his forces.
The companion in question will be familiar to readers who
are familiar only with Doctor Who since it re-started in
2005. Sarah-Jane Smith. Sarah was born on the crest of
a feminist wave – perhaps an immediate reaction against
previous “Who girls” whose job was simply to look pretty
and ask “What is it Doctor?” at the appropriate moment.
Sarah-Jane went on to become one of the most fondly
remembered companions and is usually associated with
the Fourth Doctor, but she had a whole year travelling
with Doctor number three. To be honest, I think this story
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