The UNIT Campaign: The Mind of Evil

Thunderbolt II

‘The Mind of Evil’ expands the duties of UNIT to oversee the first World Peace Conference and the disposal of an illegal nerve gas missile. This allows for a UNIT campaign to branch out into espionage, allowing for a more Bondian feel.

At the end of the story the missile is destroyed but there is surprisingly little fallout. An investigation reveals that the Thunderbolt was decoy. A week before UNIT took possession of it the military site where it was held was visited by inspectors, supposedly preparing the missile for transport.

It would appear that they switched the missile, meaning that there is another Thunderbolt out there, a Thunderbolt II. The PCs are assigned the task of find out who has it and preventing its use.

There first clue comes in the description of the inspectors and their use of military jargon. They are revealed to all be former UNIT soldiers. Each were discharged after encounter with previous alien species, either due to post-traumatic stress or behaviour that their commanding officers found unacceptable (for example the torture of captured Cybermen or Silurians).

These former officers are hard to trace, their homes sold and their family and friends claiming they’ve dropped off the Earth. One officer, Gary Fines, always visits the grave of his mother on the anniversary of her death which is only a few days away. If the PCs lay in wait they’ll have a chance to either capture him or tail him.

Either way Fines leads them to his new employer, Lord Justin Sudfield. A former minister Lord Sudfield was privy to classified information about aliens he decided that the country would never fall into enemy hands.

Leading a shadowy organisation known as Scorched Earth he plans to use Thunderbolt II to render the UK uninhabitable should aliens attempt to conquer them. The former UNIT soldiers are his own private army and he has supporters in both the government and in UNIT.

The Thunderbolt II is being kept in a recently constructed installation on his manor, close to his family crypt. The manor is surrounded by fields, where his horses roam free during the day, making a stealthy approach difficult (although not impossible).

The PCs can either lead a full UNIT raid (although this maybe hampered by traitors within their ranks) or go in at night, attempting avoid Scorched Earth guards patrolling the ground.

At some point the PCs should encounter Lord Sudfield (either they are captured and brought before him or he confronts them as they sabotage the missile). He’ll make a well reasoned and impassioned plea to leave the missile in his hands, attempting to convince them that he will only use it as a last resort and surely they wouldn’t want to see their homeland fall into the hands of the monsters they fight.

If they either take possession of the missile or render it useless Lord Sudfield will promise that they’ll regret it. One day they won’t stop the alien invasion and people will suffer because they took away the only means to stop the enemy from winning.

If they are swayed the PCs have sold a little piece of their soul. They’ll have to lie to superior officers and Scorched Earth will have a hold over them. That being said the organisation believes in their goal and their anti-alien agenda isn’t exactly at odds with UNIT.

Pandora Box

The original idea for ‘The Mind of Evil’ was that the Keller Machine actually was just that, a device that removed evil impulses. In this adventure the PCs explore just such a scenario.

Following the events of this story the government funded a project to produce a device that would do what the Keller Machine promised. The Pandora box was the result, a white rubik cube sized device. Placed against the forehead of a subject it drains their darkest impulses and thoughts, turning pitch black in the process.

The Doctor can verify that it does indeed work, although the concept sickens him. Yet the public supports the use of the Pandora box in all major prisons, seriously reducing the number of repeat offenders.

There are two problems. Firstly the used Pandora Box are mentally toxic once used. Anyone going near a black Pandora Box begins to have dark thoughts and feel a desire to act on their worst impulses. The more Pandora boxes there are the greater the influence.

Secondly while subjects are drained of evil impulses they are also drained of any good impulses. They become apathetic, standing by while others are hurt or worse. They feel nothing for anyone else, good or bad.

The PCs are affected by these events as society changes around them. They can get caught up in the debate about whether it is better to change the nature of evil men versus the nature of free will. Is someone good just because they can’t be evil?

Their UNIT duties could also be affected by the Pandora boxes. They might be given the task of disposing of the black Pandora boxes, perhaps taking them to lead lined caverns deep underground, while feeling their effect of being in their proximity.

Maybe there is a black market for the Pandora boxes. People could gain a thrill from experiencing pure evil. Particularly twisted individuals could even get their kicks by using a black Pandora box to turn a good person evil.

Come the next alien invasion what will the PCs do when they are ordered to test a Pandora box on a captured alien prisoner? How will the galactic community respond if they learn that Earth is using such a device on other species if they go through with their orders?

If the PCs disobey orders and take a stand against the Pandora box they might be sentence to have their own impulses removed. This could force them to go on the run and take drastic measures to end the use of the technology.

All of which raises questions about the true identity of the inventor of the Pandora box. It can’t be the Master this time but that doesn’t mean it can’t be someone with their own agenda. Someone that the Doctor knows has a tendency to meddle in the affairs of others.

“There Is A Time To Live And There Is A Time To Sleep.”

‘The Name Of The Doctor’, written by Stephen Moffat, is both the beginning and the end of the Doctor. A wonderful conclusion to this season and celebration of nearly 50 years of Doctor Who.

Spoilers From Here On In!

There is a sense of finality to this episode, reminiscent to Season 6, with the Doctor being forced to face his own end. Not unlike ‘Alien Bodies’ by Lawrence Miles, it concerns the Doctor’s final resting place and I wonder how tempting it must have been to call this story ‘The Tomb Of The Doctor’.

Right from the start it was clear this was going to be something special, with Clara meeting a colourised 1st Doctor on Gallifrey, just as he is about to escape with Susan in the TARDIS.

In rapid sequence we are hurtled through time and space with Clara as she catches glimpses of the various incarnations of the Doctor. Some of the insertions weren’t always perfect but they captured the spirit of what many were hoping for in the 50th anniversary.

This wasn’t just a glimpse of an old photo of a previous Doctor. This was the current companion witnessing them alive, in the moment. Clara is there to save them, hurtling through a fiery void, breaking apart.

Immediately we know how Clara keeps appearing, first in the far future and then the Victorian era but we don’t yet know why. We’ve caught a glimpse of the episodes future and must travel back to the start, via the opening titles.

Once again we’re in the Victorian era, reunited with Lady Vastra, Jenny and Strax. A tip off from a serial killer reveals that the Doctors secret has been revealed, requiring a psychic conference call that includes Clara and River Song.

This was a magical sequence, with enough time to have some very funny lines from Strax, duplicity from Lady Vastra drugging the letter sent to Clara and delicious naughtiness from River Song.

This quirky scene turned to cold terror as the mysterious Whisper Men invaded the home of Lady Vastra and despatched Jenny, in a sequence not unlike issue 6 of ‘The Invisibles’ by Grant Morrison in which a serial killer similarly menaces those in a time travelling trance.

The Whisper Men were another fine creation. Wearing Victorian garb and top hats atop eyeless faces with sharp, pointy maws that whisper rhyming couplets of doom. They obviously share kinship with the Silence in their human figures made wrong.

With the Victorian trio dead or captured and River Song already dead in the library it is up to Clara to bring the warning to the Doctor, a warning only he understand the true significance of.

An ancient enemy has found the Doctor’s grave and if he wants to save his friends he must travel there, something he knows he absolutely must not do. The Doctor being the Doctor, he goes anyway because saving his friends is what he does.

At last the Doctor arrives at Trenzalore, the scene of his final battle. I loved the flickering light of dusk that blanketed the planet, like the flickering light of an old television set. A reminder that it wasn’t quite the end but it would be soon.

The giant, dead TARDIS that dominated the landscape of graves was incredibly iconic. No wonder the TARDIS had attempted not to land there. It wasn’t just the Doctor’s final resting place but her own.

With the Doctor and Clara menaced by the Whisper Men and using a secret entrance to access the tomb I was reminded of ‘The Five Doctors’, particularly as moments later they are creeping through the crypt with flaming torches (apparently made from Dalek eyestalks). We even have a phantom companion in the form of River Song.

Meanwhile Lady Vastra and Strax find themselves at the summit of the tomb and quickly revive Jenny. It is then revealed that the Whisper Men work for the Great Intelligence, still wearing the form of Dr Simeon.

Existing as pure information the Whisper Men act as empty husks he can inhabit, which he demonstrates to his prisoners. This reinforces the idea that he is implacable and virtually undefeatable. Destroy his physical form and he’ll just find enough from the horde of Whisper Men.

With the Doctor and Clara reaching the summit the Great Intelligence demands that the Doctor open his own tomb by speaking the only words that will unlock the door, his own name.

We’d been teased that we’d learn the Doctor’s name here but they neatly sidestep this by having River Song speak it for him, unheard by anyone else including ourselves. If nothing else this confirms that she does actually know it.

Within the ivy covered remnants of the control room we see the thing that the Doctor was so desperate to protect. It isn’t his body, but the scar tissue he left on the universe, his path through existence.

This is another great idea, that expands the mythology of the Doctor Who universe. I initially thought that the writhing pillar of light might by the Gallifreyan’s natural form but even if it isn’t it is interesting to ponder whether other Time Lords would leave similar time streams as monuments to their lives or only those who travel as frequently as the Doctor.

The Great Intelligence reveals his ultimate plan, stepping into the Doctor’s personal timeline to undo all of the Doctors victories, killing each of his incarnations and wipe him from existence.

Outside the stars go out, one by one. Jenny vanishes and Strax becomes war-like again, trying to kill Lady Vastra. This is the universe without the Doctor in it. It can be speculated that this is the calamity  that the Silence were trying to prevent.

With all of existence at stake and understanding her nature as the Impossible Girl Clara follows the Great Intelligence into the Doctor’s time stream to put right all that he has put on. This expands on the sequence that began the episode, revealing that the it was an echo of Clara that suggested to the 1st Doctor which TARDIS to take.

Of course this is a Moffat script and no one can truly die. The Doctor prepares to risk everything by entering his own time stream to save Clara, but not before a heart felt final (?) farewell to his wife River Song, who he could see all along. It remains to be seen if this is truly the last we’ll see of her but this was a good send off.

With Clara lost in a hellish fogbound wasteland, surrounded by ghosts of the Doctor and without an identity of her own the Doctor guides her with the sound, leading her to salvation. She is saved by the same thing that she used to save the Doctor in ‘The Rings of Akhaten’, a leaf that represents unlimited potential.

Reunited with the Doctor there is a final surprise for Clara and the viewer. There is someone else in the Doctor’s time stream. An incarnation that we’ve not yet seen amongst the 11 we’ve encountered on screen.

We learn that the Doctor uses the name ‘The Doctor’ as a promise to himself. Echoing previous themes about how his name dictates his actions and vice versa this new incarnation did something so terrible that the 11th Doctor suggests he has forfeited the right to use the title.

The revelation that this incarnation is played by John Hurt is worthy enough of a cliff hanger ending, setting up the much anticipated 50th Anniversary.

I greatly enjoyed this episode, carrying its theme of finality and the legacy the Doctor leaves  behind throughout. While we are no closer to knowing the Doctor’s real identity of his secrets (and ‘Lungbarrow’ answers those questions for me) we did at least get an explanation for Clara.

I’m glad that Clara is a real person and had guessed that she was ‘Clara Prime’ with the other two versions being echoes of the original but it was handled well here, as was the reason that this was necessary.

I think it may have worked better if we’d known Clara for longer, as we’ve had just over half a season for the relationship to build between the two. Her sacrifice might have been weightier had it been someone like Amy Pond who’d stepped into his time stream.

Freed of her Impossible Girl status we may see some growth from Clara. The acknowledgment that even she isn’t sure who she is may allow some depth to be added to her.

Matt Smith gave another great performance, carrying the weight of these momentous events. The Doctor is experiencing a momentous moment in his life, coming to face to face with his own mortality and Matt Smith really sells it, from his tears in Clara’s living room to his defiant confrontation with the Great Intelligence.

Despite my misgivings about Jenna-Louise Coleman last episode she was very good here, refusing to be overshadowed by some very familiar old faces. She captured the wonder and awe of travelling through the Doctor’s life, aided by some great era appropriate costumes.

Richard E Grant brilliantly played the Great Intelligence, full of inhuman menace. It is shame that this would seem to bring to an end to the Great Intelligence’s involvement in the Doctor’s life (although since the time stream contained the 11th Doctors future he may turn up again only to be thwarted by an echo of Clara).

Should we surmise that the 2nd Doctor’s encounter with the Great Intelligence were early signs of the villains encroachment into his time line given the dating problems of ‘The Abominable Snowmen’ and the GI’s creation in ‘The Snowmen’?

While I normally don’t like titles promising things they can’t (such as ‘The Doctor’s Daughter’ and ‘The Next Doctor’) I am fine with not knowing the name of the Doctor. His name wouldn’t have any significance unless it revealed he was someone else and if he was someone else he wouldn’t be the Doctor.

Looking back at this season I don’t think there have been as many great episodes but even the worst of the episodes (namely ‘Dinosaurs On A Spaceship’, ‘The Power of Three’ and ‘Journey To The Centre Of The TARDIS’) have had some good parts.

I have a lot of anticipation built up for the 50th anniversary and once that celebration is behind us I am looking forward to seeing what the future holds for Doctor Who.

The UNIT Campaign: Terror Of The Autons

This is a continuing series of adventures for those wanting to run a UNIT campaign in parallel to the television stories.

MISSING TIME

The Master is still on the loose and to make matters worse there is apparently a traitor within UNIT. Supplies are going missing and someone is sabotaging the organisation’s efforts to track the rogue Time Lord.

The PCs are part of the investigation but are soon distracted by time skipping. They’ll suddenly find themselves in different locations, hours into the future. Could the Master be manipulating time in some way?

In fact the PCs encountered the Master during the Auton incident and wiped their memories, just as he had with Jo Grant. He went one step further with them, brainwashing them to be loyal to him.

The Master has been ringing them to activate their programming. They then bring him whatever supplies he needs and makes sure that the investigation is hampered. They awake with no memory of this, nor any recollection of the phone call.

PCs may at first pursue the time manipulation angle but the Doctor will quickly confirm that his instruments don’t detect any chronal activity. The truth will be revealed if they instead concentrate on the search for the traitor within UNIT.

They’ll find witnesses that will put them in the secure areas where the supplies were taken (with one such witness being the Scottish Mr Campbell). Vehicles signed out in their name show additional mileage and fuel consumption that they don’t recollect.

If there is another UNIT officer investigating these incidents they may believe the PCs are willing traitors. The PCs will either need to cover up the evidence or find a way to convince a superior officer of their innocence.

Once they know they have been affected the Doctor could help deprogram them. They will need lengthy psych evaluation but they will no longer be a pawn of the Master. In fact they now have the advantage.

When the Master next contacts them to give them orders they can lead an operation to capture him. This will take him by surprise and the Master may begin to view the PCs as worthy foes.

To ensure that the Master is still free to put the events of ‘The Mind of Evil’ in motion you can reveal that there is another UNIT officer under his spell, perhaps the very same officer who was pursuing the PCs.

THE COVER UP

At the end of ‘The Terror Of The Autons’ Captain Mike Yates shoots the Master, only for it to turn out to be Rex Farrel.  The PCs are assigned the unpleasant job of providing a cover story for this incident, least the public find out that UNIT shot an innocent man.

This can be part of the bigger cover story, explaining away the wave of deaths caused by the Autons. Will they make Rex Farrel just another statistic, buried amongst all the other people killed by plastic? Might they pin his murder on the Master so that they can give further motivation for the public to report any sightings of the escaped criminal?

You could also explore the fall out for Mike Yates. Does he feel guilt for shooting Farrel or try to tell himself that he was just doing his job? How do other UNIT soldiers feel, knowing that the enemy can turn innocent people into weapons?

There could also be an internal investigation with the PCs either taking part or giving evidence. This can establish how UNIT deals with similar incidents in the future.

HAUNTED

The Doctor and Jo Grant are missing! They were last scene entering the UNIT lab but have now vanished, with no one seeing them leave. The TARDIS is still there, its door locked, so the Brigadier is confident that they are still on Earth.

The PCs are assigned to investigate and experience several supernatural incidents. Doors open and close on their own, typewriters type ‘Help Me’! and the temperature drops sharply.

The explanation is that the Doctor couldn’t resist experimenting with the dematerialisation circuit he stole from the Master. The mental blocks placed on him by the Time Lords caused him to accidentally send himself and Jo Grant out of phase. In their incorporeal forms they are only able to interact with the physical world by absorbing heat from the local area. Even then their interaction is brief and clumsy.

Eventually the PCs may witness ghostly forms of Jo or the Doctor appearing. Once they realise that they are trapped they must seek a way to bring them back in phase. PCs with a scientific background stand the best chance of achieving this but it could also be an opportunity to bring Liz Shaw back, to oversee the rescue.

One solution could be to have Jo and the Doctor enter an environment with a high temperature. Given physical form the Doctor can work to stabilise their condition but they must work quickly before the local area bursts into flames.

The PCs will have been responsible for saving the Doctor and Jo, something that will strengthen their relationship.

“Hail To You The Doctor. Saviour Of The Cybermen.”

‘Nightmare In Silver’, written by  Neil Gaiman, is the most effective Cybermen centred story since their return in the new series. It is an extremely tense story as the odds increase against our heroes and even the Doctor is turned against them.

Spoilers From Here On In!

Following on from last episode Clara has been forced to bring along the two children she looks after, Angie and Artie, with her in the TARDIS. It is a shame we don’t get to see the Doctor’s reaction to this as he seems happy enough to take them Hedgewick’s World of Wonders, the biggest amusement park in the universe.

Typically for the Doctor he has arrived after it has closed and fallen into ruin. The only residents are two-bit showman Webley, his assistant Porridge and a motely platoon of imperial soldiers.

There is still one exhibit that catches the Doctor’s attention, the last Cyberman. Reduced to a chess playing machine, referencing the historical Silver Turk, it sets up the theme of the episode, man vs machine.

It isn’t long before it is revealed that the Cybermen haven’t been defeated at all. They have been hibernating beneath the planet and they have been upgraded.

I have been disappointed with previous Cybermen episodes. The introduction of the Cybus models muddled their continuity and made them little more than robots. While they were effectively used in ‘The Pandorica Opens’ and ‘A Good Man Goes To War’ they were wasted in ‘Closing Time’.

I was therefore looking forward Neil Gaiman reinventing them and he doesn’t disappoint. Their sleek, new design retains their robotic nature while still reminding you there is someone inside.

Their ability to upgrade themselves almost instantly and their host of surprising tricks all make them a much more convincing threat. You believe that they could covert planets so quickly that the only way to stop them would be to destroy star systems.

This advanced model even eliminates the Doctor’s one defence against them, they can now cyber convert any species. Infected the Doctor fights for control over his own mind as the Cybermen try to turn him into a new Cyber Planner.

These scenes are great, with Matt Smith brilliantly switching between the role of the Doctor and ‘Mr Clever’, as he calls himself. This is enhanced by the direction from Stephen Woolfendeen and the production design, particularly when we switch to ‘inside’ the Doctor’s mind, amber Gallifreyan  swirling around the Doctor’s side while the other is electric blue lights pulsing in a dark cloud.

This compromises the Doctor, forcing the others to tie him up. There are scenes here that are reminiscent of ‘The Curse of Fenric’ as the Cyber Planner tries to trick Clara by pretending to be the Doctor. This increases the unease of the episode, as the Doctor isn’t reliable anymore.

It also continues the theme throughout the season, of the Doctor asking Clara to trust him while holding back information. Here, with the Cyber Planner in control of his mouth, some of those secrets are revealed.

With the Doctor locked in an internal battle for control of his brain it leaves Clara in charge of the platoon as they hold off millions of Cybermen. These scenes are thrilling, as every victory the good guys score is momentary as the Cybermen upgrade themselves.

They could have been more effective if the platoon had been played as a joke or if we’d gotten to know them better, which would have added more weight to their demise. It was interesting that they were only dying because the Doctor wouldn’t allow them the easy option of blowing up the planet.

The resolution is nicely set up through out the episode, with Porridge revealed to be the missing Emperor, the only one who can still destroy the world after the Cybermen had destroyed the bombs trigger mechanism.

While he and everyone else survives the destruction by beaming up to the Imperial ship that comes to rescue them in seconds it is still a sacrifice. Porridge had given up his freedom in order to live up to his responsibilities. It is easy to see the parallels with the Doctor here.

There are some really talented guest stars here. Jason Watkins as Webley and Warwick Davis bring a lot to their character, required to bring both humour and pathos to their roles.

Warwick Davis in particular communicates a lot that is unsaid, especially given the later revelation that he the Emperor. This can be seen in the conversation about the wax work of Emperor as they unknowingly insult him or his conversation with Clara about the destroyed star system.

The actors playing the platoon use their limited screen time to communicate the fear and vulnerability of their characters, raising them up from mere cartoonish characterchures.

The curse of the bad child actors strikes again with Eve de Leon Allen as Angie and Kassius Carey Johnson as Artie. Their youth does not excuse some painful delivery and acting but they are not helped by the script.

While generally the writing is strong, especially with the plot, there are some terrible characterisation and lines for the Angie and Artie. Their behaviour was completely unrealistic, tarnishing any scene in which they were present.

From the opening where they initially believe they are on moon despite being able to breath and experiencing gravity to Angie walking into a barracks of soldiers to declare she is bored to her petulant statement that she hates the Cyberman who kidnapped her their inclusion only harmed the overall episode.

This is shame as it ruined the reveal that Porridge was the Emperor. We are supposed to be impressed by Angie’s insight but instead it is annoying. We see this earlier as well, as Angie guess that the chess trick is done through mirrors is similarly supposed to be inspired when it is in fact nonsensical.

While Clara was more prominent this episode I’m becoming increasingly of the mind that Jenna-Louise Coleman simply doesn’t have the range the role requires, unless she is being told to play it that way.

In ‘Cold War’ I mentioned that Clara was unmoved by the grisly murder she witnessed and here she barely reacts to the kidnapping of the children, the death of soldiers or the loss of billions of lives. Yes she calls it horrible but there is barely a flicker of emotion in her face or inflection in her voice.

This emptiness in her character makes it hard to find depth in her character. While Warick was able to communicate his characters internal turmoil without saying a word I find it hard to know what Clara is going through in this adventure.

Angie and Artie are in danger, the Doctor has been infected and she is in charge of a platoon yet she takes it all in her stride. What is Clara feeling or thinking about this? Jenna-Louise Coleman isn’t giving anything away.

I can ignore these grumbles because I did enjoy the episode. This is how the Cybermen should be, this is how you make them scary. Having the Cyber Planner have plenty of character is a step in the right direction, even the partially converted Webley was still engaging. They don’t have to be flat, monotone beings that can be destroyed with emotions.

I also liked the references to the past, even bringing up their weakness to cleaning fluids and gold (although this was a physical problem with their breathing vents and not a software issue). We even got a glimpse of the previous Doctors.

I hope this sets the template for who the race are used in the future.

“By order of the High Council, this is an impartial enquiry into the behaviour of the accused person, known as the Doctor.”

‘Trial Of A Time Lord’ was the name over arcing plot of the 23rd Season of Doctor Who. The Time Lord in question was the Doctor, accused of meddling in the affairs of other planets and transgressing the First Law of time.

It was eventually revealed that this was a ploy to cover up Gallifrey’s involvement in Ravalox, even going so far as summoning a possible future incarnation of the Doctor in the form of the Valeyard.

What if it wasn’t?

Certainly there are people involved in trial that believe it to be legitimate. If the Doctor was deposed as President it seems only natural that those in the High Council would take the opportunity of re-examining whether the Doctor should be allowed to continue interfering in space-time events.

This could provide a framework for a campaign (or an extended series of linked adventures) to explore the adventures of previous Doctors. This allows it to be more of an anthology series, with each adventure being provided as evidence in the on-going case.

One week it might be a 3rd Doctor adventure and the next a 1st Doctor or 5th Doctor story. ‘Trial Of A Time Lord’ demonstrated that they can even view events in the Doctor’s future, allowing incarnations after the 6th Doctor.

In the year of the 50th Anniversary of Doctor Who this is a great excuse to explore the whole series and really explore what makes the Doctor the Doctor. Past companions and even enemies might be pulled from the time stream to take the stand and provide evidence.

Those brought to the courtrooms might not be sent back immediately, in case they are recalled to the stand. This allows companions from different eras to meet and interact. They could even band together to find a way to clear the Doctor or help him escape.

Each adventure can played straight, with the court room scenes only occurring at the beginning or the end but you might also wish to have both the defence and prosecution interject during the case.

This can allow either side to provide additional insight into events or reveal things that the main characters weren’t present for. In this way either side can manipulate the context of events.

For example a PC might destroy an important piece of technology. The prosecution could seize upon this as a demonstration of the accused’s reckless nature, with this act putting peoples lives at risk. The defence could counter by revealing Matrix footage that shows the technology had been sabotaged or otherwise changed to threaten people’s lives, thus justifying its destruction.

This gives the players greater control of the narrative, allowing them to introduce new evidence and facts. The important thing is that they don’t allow PCs in the ‘past’ to act on information they haven’t yet gained.

If you decide that this trial is also a sham you may allow it to be revealed that certain evidence has been doctored or falsified. In this situation facts in the adventure can be changed completely or entire scenes to be dismissed.

Major changes such as this should come at the expense of plot points, agreed by the games master. The story should still make sense even if a ‘fact’ is revealed to be a lie. This requires good improvisational skills on both sides of the table.

In ‘Trial of a Time Lord’ the Doctor waives his right to a court appointed defender. If you wish to bring in your players own characters this is a perfect opportunity to change events.

Either the Doctor has encountered them before or has heard of their reputation. The PCs could find themselves pulled out of the vortex only to find that the Doctor is placing his faith in them.

While this could involve presenting past (and future) adventures in the format discussed above it could also require them to go out into the field to collect evidence and talk to witnesses.

This can be used as an excuse to take the PCs to revisit past adventures. They could lurk behind the scenes of ‘The War Machines’, ‘The Highlanders’ or ‘The Arc of Infinity’ trying to clear the Doctor’s name while also staying undetected (although if they bump into the past Doctor this could explain how he knows them).

Rather than travelling in time the PCs might instead experience these adventures replayed to them within the Matrix. In this virtual environment there is no danger of them affecting time but there is still danger, as being hurt or even killed within the Matrix is still dangerous.

If they are successful the Time Lords might be impressed with the PCs talents and employee them as part of their justice system. Your campaign can then focus on the trials of other Time Lords.

If they can capture the Doctor why can’t they also bring the Master, the Rani or the Meddling Monk to trial? In this situation the PCs could act as the prosecution, putting them in even greater danger as these evil Time Lords would doubtlessly have laid traps for anyone delving into their past.

Would would these villains choose as their court defenders? It is easy to imagine they’d pick someone with their own morality who might use any strategy they can to undermine the prosecution, from tampering with evidence to intimidating witnesses to outright murder.

It should be easy to create a constant stream of Time Lords to place on trial (for the PCs to both defend and prosecute), especially if you introduce Faction Paradox, twisted worshippers of Rassilon or Borusa and those who are secretly vampires.

The Time Lords have also been known to punish other races, such as placing the Fendahl in a time loop. The PCs could take part in their trials, bringing them into contact with other species history and making important decisions over whether the Time Lords have the moral right to punish them.

If you wish to explore diverging timelines you might like to consider what would have happened if the Doctor had been found guilty? Such a scenario is explored in the Big Finish audio ‘He Jests At Scars’ but you are free to present your own version of a universe without the Doctor.

In addition what if the Doctor had succeeded but had been so incensed by what he had learnt that he saw the Time Lords as the enemy? This could have led to an extended campaign of dismantling their power base and freeing them from the influence of his own people.

The Time Lords could turn to the Master, as they had in the past, to hunt the Doctor down. The Master could quite relish the power this gives him as well as the irony that the Doctor was now the criminal.

“You’ll Be My Secret. My Special Monster.”

‘The Crimson Horror’, by Mark Gatiss, is another strong episode. Taking the Doctor up north, it features a welcome return of Lady Vastra, Jenny and Strax. Diana Rigg and her daughter Rachael Stirling are fabulous, bringing pathos and camp in equal measure to a story that captures the magic of Doctor Who.

Spoilers From Here On In! 

In my review of ‘Cold War’ I proclaimed it my favourite of the Mark  Gatiss penned episodes. ‘The Crimson Horror’ has immediately knocked it from that top slot. I found it entertaining and very well written.

Where as ‘Cold War’ reminded me of the 2nd Doctor era this story was very reminiscent of the tv series ‘The Avengers’ and not just because both featured Diana Rigg. ‘The Avengers’ would revolve around eccentric, mysterious organisations that Emma Peel and John Steed would need to infiltrate in order to uncover the outlandish plot of the villain.

Unusually it is the Victorian trio of Lady Vastra, Jenny and Strax who initially take centre stage, further reinforcing my belief that they could support their own spin-off series. For nearly the first quarter of the show the Doctor is absent, glimpsed only in the image from a dead man’s eye.

Mark Gatiss perfectly captures the language and tone of the Victorian period, as Lady Vastra is asked to investigate a series of murders, the victims skin having turned crimson. This leads to Sweet Ville, a community overseen by Mrs Gillyflower, a haven from the evils of the world.

As well as some great banter from the ever dependable Strax, there are some great creepy moments. The scene in which Jenny infiltrates a factory only to discover the thunderous noise of machinery is issuing forth from dozens of giant phonographs is bizarre and unsettling. A revelation that shows that Sweet Ville is a facade and makes us further question its true purpose.

When Jenny does find the Doctor he is locked up, a lumbering crimson skinned monster. A secret friend for lonely Ada, the blind daughter of Mrs Gillyflower, this only strengths the thematic connection to the Frankenstein monster the Doctor now resembles.

Once freed and revived the Doctor reveals how he came to be in this situation. Director Saul Metzstein does a great job here, rushing us through the Doctor and Clara’s investigation using sepia toned scratchy images providing us will the salient points while maintaining the tone.

The crimson horror is a side effect of Mrs Gillyflower’s plan to preserve the worthy to survive an apocalypse. In her perfect little homes her perfect followers sit in glass domes in suspended animation, a display case for humanity. All of which is made possible by Mrs Gillyflower’s silent partner, Mr Sweet.

From here the plot shifts from a Victorian mystery to a pulpy adventure. The search for Clara is on, with Mrs Gillyflower’s pilgrims in hot pursuit of the heroes. Mrs Gillyflower reveals her true colours to her daughter, proclaiming that there will be no place for her in the heaven she is creating.

The plot becomes even more ludicrous when it is revealed the factory chimney is in fact a rocket, designed to poison the air, ensuring the apocalypse. While silly it is still in keeping with the tone of the episode and not outside the realms of possibility for the Doctor Who universe.

Amongst the action, with Jenny indulging in a little cat suit wearing violence, there is still time for some nicely acted scenes. Clara’s rescue raises questions for the Victorian trio who saw her die, which the Doctor seems very reluctant to explain.

There is also a lovely scene with Ada, brilliantly performed by Rachel Stirling. Initially presented as a villainous cohort of her mother we see the lonely world in which she lives, shunned by her parent and kept in the dark. We understand now why she imprisoned the Doctor, if only so she could have a friend.

Ada is a victim, blaming herself for violence and mistreatment she suffers at the hands of those around her. The Doctor’s tender attitude to his former jailer is much more pleasant than his wilfully negligent behaviour we’ve seen in the last few episodes.

Coming face to face with Mrs Gillyflower her partner, Mr Sweet, is revealed to be a prehistoric parasite. The effects here are simple but effective, creating a grotesque but believable creature to life.

Diana Rigg seems to have great fun here, revelling in the villainy of the character. Witness her gleeful delivery of her ‘Wrong Hands’ line. Mrs Gillyflower is interesting as villain who is steadfast in her evil convictions, even more so as these stem from a religious belief.

The ending is exciting and tense, with Ada taken as a human shield by her own mother. Everyone has a part to play, from Lady Vastra and Jenny removing the rockets poisonous pay-load to Strax, who finally gets to kill the villain. It is only a shame that they only had his shot cause Mrs Gillyflower to fall to her death, rather than kill her directly.

I found it interesting that considering the shows usual ethos of forgiveness that it culminates with Ada refusing to forgive her dying mother and brutally beating Mr Sweets to death, who even the Doctor was willing to take back to the prehistoric period.

The episode ends with an unexpected plot development, much akin to the Master’s reveal in ‘Utopia’ or Amy’s kidnap in ‘The Almost People’.  Returning home Clara is confronted by the children she looks after who have uncovered her time travelling secret, black mailing her into a trip in the TARDIS.

Not only does this have some fun developments for the next episode but Clara discovers that there is photo of her in Victorian London, for the first time revealing to her the existence of her other incarnations.

I greatly enjoyed this episode. The pacing problems that plagued the last few episodes were completely absent. There was plenty of plot, plenty of action and a good resolution.

Mart Gatiss love for the series is never more clear than here. He writes the characters with affection and I loved the mention of Tegan. The story plays to the strengths of the production and the cast.

The production team do a fantastic job of turning Bute Town into Victorian Yorkshire. The costumes and props creates a convincing glimpse of the era that really helps ground the silly motives of the villain.

My only complaint was the side lining of Clara, who is absent for nearly half the episode. She does shine when she appears, particularly in her banter with the Doctor about the superiority of the chair to his sonic screwdriver, but I still feel that she isn’t as flesh out as Amy Pond was by this stage in the series.

Nonetheless I was entertained by this episode and can even forgive the terrible Tom Tom joke.

“Doctor, you have evaded your responsibilities for far too long.”

At the end of ‘The Five Doctors’ the Doctor is told by Chancellor Flavia that he has been made President. To Tegan’s dismay the Doctor prefers to go on the run from his own people rather than accept the role.

What if the Doctor had decided to accept his responsibility?

The Doctor has certainly shown some loyalty to his home world in the past. He carried out missions for them in his Third Incarnation (begrudgingly), responded to their request to return in ‘The Hand of Fear’, spoke about the duties of a Time Lord and proactively prevented the conquest of Gallifrey in ‘The Invasion of Time.’

The former President has abused forbidden technology in a quest to gain immortality and it isn’t that long ago that the Doctor learnt about other dangerous artefacts hidden on his home world in ‘The Deadly Assassin’. What might happen if the Doctor doesn’t keep an eye on things?

‘Trial of the Time Lords’ has the 6th Doctor realising that Gallifrey has become corrupted and that the evil they display is far greater than either the Daleks or the Cybermen. The 5th Doctor could come to the same conclusion here and take steps to avoid it.

What is more the Doctor has just been brought face to face with his earlier incarnations. He describes his 1st incarnation as tetchy and that he has mellowed with age. It could be that the Doctor appreciates how maturity has changed him. Could he decide that running away is immature and that the right thing to do is accept the role handed to him?

Out of the all of the incarnations of the Doctor so far it is the Fifth who is the least rebellious. He is less a man of action and more of a thinker, letting others talk before deciding upon a course of action. A perfect incarnation to become a leader.

With the resources available to President Doctor it would be a simple matter to return Tegan and Turlough home. This shouldn’t be a hard decision for the Doctor, since he was never overly attached to either (abandoning Tegan once and Turlough had tried to kill him several times).

The Doctor is then free to shape Gallifrey in a new direction. He has more knowledge and experience of what dangers the universe holds than any other Time Lord. He has learnt when it is appropriate to intervene in events and when it is better to show restraint. He knows what problems need to be dealt with and how things can be made better.

It is likely that the Doctor wouldn’t stay for long on the home world. He’d much prefer to go on fact finding or diplomatic missions. The council would probably insist that he have a full compliment of Time Lords to pilot the latest model of TARDIS with security guards on hand to protect him.

The Doctor could approach various races to open up a relationship with Gallifrey for mutual protection. In exchange for peace the Time Lords could offer to protect the timelines of their respective allies.

Humans, Ice Warriors and Draconians are the obvious candidates to join the alliance. Recent episodes of Doctor Who have demonstrated that not all Sontarans are bad. They might only need direction for their eternal thirst for battle.

‘Resurrection of the Daleks’ works perfectly in this new time line since it involves the creation of clones to assassinate the High Council of Time Lords (amongst several other storylines).

The story could focus on the kidnapping of various past companions, which will force the Doctor to choose between his responsibilities to Gallifrey and his personal interests. It could also have past companions arrive on Gallifrey and the Doctor suspecting that something is not right with them.

This could provoke the Doctor in launching a war against the Daleks, either to eliminate them or at least dissuade them from making any further attacks against the Time Lords. It is possible this would either ignite the Time War or nip it in the bud, since at this point in time the Daleks are far more disorganised and still weak from their conflict with the Movellans.

In this timeline the events of ‘The Caves of Androzani’ are unlikely to occur which means that the 5th Doctor could experience a much longer life. He may live longer than any previous incarnation, enjoying the benefits of protection on Gallifrey.

‘The Trial of a Time Lord’ could occur with a more political edge. The Doctor could start to unearth scandals such as the Time Lords involvement in Ravolox. Those members of the council who wish to hide their secrets would have to find a way to place the Doctor on trial since his Presidency offers him some protection.

This could lead to an inquiry or political manoeuvres to remove him from office. The advantage here is that the Doctor could have supporters who can try to reveal the conspiracy against him. He may even call upon past companions, the only people he can really trust, to help gather information in the field.

A consequence of these events is that the Doctor could decide to expose all of the secrets of Gallifrey and make amends for the sins of the past. This could incorporate several 7th Doctor adventures such as ‘Remembrance of the Daleks’, ‘The Happiness Patrol’, ‘Silver Nemesis’ and ‘The Curse of Fenric’.

It could be that his longer life and weight of responsibility naturally changes his personality to be closer to the cosmic manipulator and game player he’ll become as the 7th Doctor. He would become the man that makes the hard decisions because they need to be made.

Making the Doctor President of Gallifrey creates a perfect gap in your campaign for player characters to fill. While the Doctor is dealing with the bureaucracy of keeping the universe safe the PCs are his hand picked agents despatched to carry out missions.

President Doctor would act as their patron, providing them with a sense of purpose, support and resources. PCs would have much more leeway than they would under the rule of any other Time Lord, since the Doctor knows that sometimes rules need to be broken to get the job done.

This allows a campaign in which the Doctor has a lot of interaction with the PCs but doesn’t overshadow them. They are still the ones who are actually saving the day and making the important decisions. PCs just have the peace of mind that someone they trust is keeping an eye on Gallifrey and the rest of the universe.

The Doctor would likely pick Time Lords who have a similar outlook to the universe. He could also select past companions to accompany them, since they helped him view the world in a different light.

In this campaign setting Gallifrey becomes a much more important part of the universe while still giving the PCs the freedom to explore.

“Secrets Protect Us. Secrets Make Us Safe.”

‘Journey to the centre of the TARDIS’, written by Stephen Thompson, allows the Doctor’s most faithful companion take centre stage. The title alone promises that we’ll go further into the TARDIS than ever before.

Unfortunately the episode fails to deliver with a rushed story, disappointing guest stars and the worst kind of plot resolution you can have in a time travel story.

Spoilers From Here On!

In this second half of this season there has been a reoccurring theme of small casts in restricted locations, with the except of ‘The Bells of Saint John’. ‘Cold War’ confined the action to a submarine and ‘Hide’ had only a handful of guest characters within a mansion and surrounding woods.

Here the Doctor and Clara are trapped within the TARDIS, along with a salvage crew the Doctor tricks into assisting him, as the ship itself turns against them. Despite being bigger on the inside the TARDIS nonetheless creates a nicely claustrophobic feel, thanks to its narrow corridors and nightmarishly shifting architecture.

While creating a nice sense of tension this does have the side effect of making the Doctor Who universe much smaller. After three episodes in a row about confinement I hope that we’ll see things open up later.

The episode begins promisingly, with some impressive special effects as the TARDIS is snatched up by a salvage ship run by brothers Gregor & Bram and their android Tricky. I could almost forgive the Doctor ridiculously switching the TARDIS to basic mode without first checking their surrounding area.

With Clara lost within the TARDIS and in danger from a venting engine the Doctor tricks the salvage team into a rescue attempt, threating to self destruct the ship within them inside.

Matt Smith is great here, once again showing a darker, more ruthless side of the Doctor. His quirky, eccentric behaviour is reserved for his companions. Others should beware stepping into a mad man’s box.

If the Doctor wasn’t the hero of the show it would be easy to view him as the villain here. It also makes the later actions of the salvage team more understandable, given that they are already facing death.

Meanwhile Clara is left wandering the TARDIS, pursued by grotesque zombie husks. Director Mat King employees a technique similar to ‘Hide’, keeping the monster just out of view or its image distorted. By retaining some element of the unknown the creature becomes more terrifying.

The presence of a monster within the TARDIS is also very intriguing. What are they? Does the Doctor know about them? Are they some form of infestation or part of the TARDIS’ defence system? All good questions to draw the viewer in.

As Clara flees we get glimpses of various sections of the TARDIS, including the swimming pool and library. It is in the library that we learn that  there is a book about the Time War (written by the Doctor?) which contains the Doctor’s true identity.

The library also contains liquid books, one of several good science fiction ideas within this episode. I particularly liked the tree like Architectural Reconfiguration system, with its glowing orbs inscribed with gallifreyian sigils.

When the salvage team take one of the orbs the TARDIS turns on them, its materialisation sound becoming more like a snarl. These scenes were reminiscent of ‘The Doctor’s Wife’ as they are trapped in an ever changing labyrinth. 

The scene in which the Doctor pulls Clara from the echo of the same console room is also exciting and an idea that plays into the strangeness of the TARDIS. Once reunited with Clara, however, things become more of a standard running down corridors episode.

After Tricky is pinned by a metal pole it is revealed that he isn’t a robot after all, but a younger Van Baalen brother. If we’d had more time to get to know him this might have had more weight but as it is this is just silly.

The idea that his brothers took advantage of his amnesia to convince him that due to his cybernetic eyes and a electronic voice box he was an android is ridiculous. We don’t have clear idea of how long this occurred but surely Tricky would have noticed that the rest of his body was organic and he still needed to sleep, eat and other bodily functions.

The revelation that the zombies were their future selves is, killed by the exploding Eye of Harmony, works much better. Again we witness how terrible predestination is, as the Van Baalen brothers become the conjoined zombies that they have just eliminated.

The exploded centre of the TARDIS, its pieces suspended in a white void, was a dream-like image. A nice contrast to the noise and harsh lighting of the previous scenes. In this moment of destruction there is a sense of serenity.

The resolution, with the Doctor giving his past self the remote to the salvage ships magnetic lock and thus erasing events, was cleverly set up but doesn’t disguise (indeed it blatantly points out) that this a Reset Button ending.

In a time travel story this is the equivalent of the ‘It Was All A Dream’. The comparison isn’t entirely fair, as the characters must still find a way to reset things within their particular loop (thus providing real stakes) but it is disappointing that much of what we saw never happened, even if there are hints that it has influenced those involved.

This is a solid episode, with a straightforward plot (despite folding time and space) but I was left disappointed. While it was nice to address the fact that the TARDIS is more than just the console room it didn’t hold up to previous glimpses of the interior.

While many deride the obvious location filming involved in ‘The Invasion of Time’ it at least gave us scope. Much better are the scenes in the 4th and 5th Doctor eras showing living quarters, cluttered costume room and ivy covered cloister room. All of which efficiently conveyed that you could live in the TARDIS.

The books and audios have also given us much more information about the interior of the TARDIS, all of which leaves this episode failing to deliver anything truly inspiring, aside from the previously mentioned TARDIS tree.

While I loved the burnt husk design of the zombies and the idea that they are future versions of the characters it doesn’t quite stand up to examination. If they die in front of the Eye of Harmony why would they become the undead? Why does one have claws?

The biggest disappointment are the Baalen brothers. The acting was underwhelming, with dramatic scenes rendered entirely flat. It doesn’t help that Tricky doesn’t act in any way like an android. While his emotional response to the death of Bram is a clue to his nature it only highlights how emotionless Gregor was behaving.

They added little to the overall plot, other than giving the TARDIS a reason to turn aggressive. The story would have been equally enjoyable if it had just been the Doctor and Clara, trying to survive in the ship as its engine overloaded.

This episode wasn’t bad, there are far to many good points for that. Instead it is disappointing because it could have been so much more. It was a missed opportunity, overshadowed by ‘The Doctor’s Wife’, a much better examination of the TARDIS.

“They’ve forgiven me. They’ve given me back my freedom.”

At the end of ‘The Three Doctors’ the Time Lords provide the Doctor with a new dematerialisation circuit and restore his knowledge of time travel. Once again the Doctor is free to explore space and time.

How would things change if they didn’t? What if the Doctor had continued his exile on Earth?

While the space based stories would vanish from the timeline (Carnival of Monsters, Frontier in Space, Planet of the Daleks) other UNIT based stories would still happen.

‘The Green Death’ would have more involvement from the Doctor, since he doesn’t take his short trip to Metebelis Three (and most importantly doesn’t take a crystal that will lead to ‘Planet of the Spiders’).

‘The Time Warrior’ is trickier as the Doctor uses the TARDIS to the middle ages. It can still occur as Linx was using a Osmic Projector to snatch scientists from the 20th century. If the Doctor was able to work this out he could use himself as bait and allow himself to be taken back in time.

Once in the Middle Ages the Doctor need only reverse the Osmic Projector to return everyone to their rightful place in time. The only change is that Sarah Jane Smith would have had only a minor role and as a consequence may have no further interaction with the Doctor or UNIT.

The ‘Invasion of the Dinosaurs’ could have the Doctor on hand when the first time distortions but it is an easy tweak for the Doctor to arrive back from the Middle Ages once events are in motion, just as occurs in the original story.

Without the removal of their blue crystal the spiders of Metebelis Three don’t come to Earth and destroy themselves when the Spider Queen tries to extend her powers. Blissfully unaware the Doctor continues to live out his current incarnation on Earth.

‘Robot’ and ‘Terror of the Zygons’ fit perfectly as Third Doctor adventures. The lack of alien invasions and the decline of UNIT would give the Doctor time to pursue his own interests.

Would he continue to try and get the TARDIS to work or would he eventually accept his fate? Would he even make a deal with the devil by teaming up with the Master (who has kept his activities restricted to Earth since he knows the Doctor can’t challenge him anywhere else)?

Let us suppose that the Doctor eventually does regenerate on Earth. How would being exiled effect the Fourth Doctor? I would suggest that he wouldn’t restrict himself to the UK and begin travelling the globe. This fits perfectly with a Doctor who enjoys spending time in Paris and Italy.

He’d still be on call if UNIT needed him but I think the Fourth Doctor would relish his independence. He’d pick up travelling companions along the way, giving them a guided tour of their own world.

This is a perfect setup for an International flavoured campaign set on ‘modern day’ Earth. A traveller of no fixed abode, seeing the sights and getting into trouble. There is so much to explore that the Doctor might not even mind that he is confined to one world, at least for a few centuries.

The campaign can almost become a travelogue. Companions could be made up of locals or tourists, especially students on their gap year. The Doctor is unlikely to form any deep bonds with them. He’d make it clear that this is a temporary arrangement and that he has no intention of settling down. For the moment they can walk the same path but tomorrow he’ll be moving on.

Adventures don’t have to involve any science fiction elements. Other countries and cultures are as exotic as any alien world. There are wonders, danger and excitement to be  found everywhere.

Not to say that the Doctor won’t encounter aliens or time travellers. Why would these outsiders restrict themselves to the UK? The Doctor could be on hand to prevent aliens from escaping their prison beneath the sphinx in Egypt, foil a time travellers attempt to plunge Sweden back into the prehistoric era or discover the secret alien invasion in the heart of Amazon.

The Doctor’s time line could end up back on track with ‘The Ribos Operation’. The White Guardian could recruit the Doctor in exchange for use of his TARDIS or they could use a time capsule owned by Romana.

Events could proceed as before, with the Doctor embracing his ability to explore space and time once again. Alternatively he might have gained a deeper appreciation for Earth and return there, gaining more fulfilment by travelling by more primitive forms of transport than the TARDIS.

He might pass this passion on to Romana. At last he would have a companion who can stay with him forever on his travels. With two Time Lords in permanent residence Earth would enjoy a great deal of protection.

Occasionally they might send a postcard to Gallifrey with a simple message.

‘Wish You Were Here!’

“To you I am a ghost. We’re all ghosts to you.”

‘Hide’, written by Neil Cross, is a spooky story. Rich in atmosphere, brilliant directing and some excellent guest stars hampered only by worrying shifts in tone, unfortunately side-lining Clara and rushing the ending.

Spoilers From Here On!

Just as ‘Cold War’ was reminiscent of a 2nd Doctor story this has the feel of the 3rd Doctor era, no doubt due to its 1974 setting. Professor Palmer and his empathic assistant Emma Grayling make good stand ins for the Doctor and his companion as they hunt for evidence of ghosts in Caliburn mansion.

The series has always championed science over the supernatural but it is easy to forget that psychic ability is real within the Who universe. Emma’s gift is real and the opening scene is nicely evocative, the distorted, screaming face of the ghost appearing with each flash of a camera bulb.

The tension and fear is diffused by the Doctor and Clara’s unexpected appearance, proclaiming that they are ghost busters. This sudden shift in tone will continue to hold the story back from being truly great, constantly preventing the horror of the adventure from being effective.

While the Doctor praises both Professor Palmer and Emma for their work it is hard to shake the feeling that he is patronising them. He has an air of frivolousness to his behaviour, also seen in ‘The Curse Of The Black Spot’, that he is here for amusement, rather than an attempt to help people.

Far better is the scene when the assembled characters study the creepy black and white photos of the ghost throughout the ages and hears it dark past. This leads into Emma and Palmer comparing notes of the Doctor, with subtext being that Palmer understands how experience makes liars of us all.

Scenes like this, and later the scene between Emma and Clara, highlight the brilliant characterisation in the writing. The subtext allows the exposition to perform duty, revealing details about the subject and the speaker.

After the Doctor and Clara’s fruitless search of the mansion a mysterious spinning black circle appears, revealing for the first time that there is more going on than a ghost. I found this sequence visually confusing, with the spectre appearing in a forest in the opposite direction of the disc.

By the end of the episode I was none the wiser how this worked, or how the figure could write on the wall. It was spooky scene but seemed more surface than substance. Something scary happened because something scary had to happen.

This does provide the Doctor with the idea of taking a whistle stop tour of the local area, from the birth of the planet to its end a billions of years later. This was clever sequence which also served to highlight how the Doctor’s perception of reality is far different to those of us who have to tread the slow path, living our lives day by day.

This is was also an important scene for Clara, as like Rose, she realise that her days are finite and every time she travels to the far future she herself effectively becomes a ghost. This all links in nicely to her on-going plot strand, where the Doctor has already seen her die twice.

The result of taking photos throughout history reveals images of a stranded time traveller, Hila Tukurian, running in terror from a distorted inhuman figure in the background. The image is extremely creepy, as is the nightmarish idea that within this pocket dimension only three minutes have passed and that she’ll be trapped for all time unless they save her.

The Doctor’s sudden exposition about the identity of Hila is jarring, as his ability to use the sonic screwdriver to reconfigure projected light to show her image. It raises questions about how much the Doctor knows and what the nature of these time travel experiments were.

Equally jarring is the following scene where the Doctor plans to use the Eye of Harmony and a crystal from Metebelis 3 to rescue Hila. The nods to the past are appreciated but I was disturbed by his lack of concern for Emma, who must play a vital role in the operation.

She asks if it will hurt and after the Doctor first lies that it won’t he admits that it might, indeed it might be agony. Disturbingly he says that he’d be interested in finding out. This crosses the line from eccentric behaviour to outright malevolent.

For a long time the Doctor has been concerned about the quality of life of others. He has despised anything that makes others suffer, going as far as considering euthanizing the space whale in ‘The Beast Below’ to put it out of its misery.

Here the Doctor doesn’t even show Emma the courtesy of letting her know what she was in for but when the truth came out he doesn’t even show concern for her wellbeing or whether she still wants to make that choice.

The 11th Doctor has frequently been shown to slightly autistic in regard to his lack of understanding of other peoples emotions or needs but here it is taken to another level. Since other incarnations have shown a capacity for empathy actions like this make the 11th Doctor less likeable.

The rescue itself is well done, set within a foggy forest with shaky camera shots and a barely glimpsed grotesque creature. The cold blue colour and Matt Smith’s performance as a clearly terrified Doctor makes these moments standout, especially when he becomes stranded.

Clara’s last minute rescue with a reluctant TARDIS is suitably heart stopping, intercutting with Palmer, Hila and Emma holding the portal open. I liked the distorted vortex graphic as they enter the TARDIS pocket dimension although I fear the voice interface could become overused and take away from the pathos of ‘The Doctor’s Wife’ where it indicated that the Doctor and TARDIS won’t speak directly again.

Just as the episode seems over the Doctor realises that one of the creatures from the pocket dimension has been stranded in our world the whole time. While this is nicely setup through the episode it does mean that the last few scenes are extremely rushed as the Doctor makes another rescue attempt, virtually replicating scenes we’d just seen.

When we do get our first clear view of the Crooked Man (according to the credits) it is shown to be a masterpiece of special effects, from its design to the crunching noises it makes as it moves.

Throughout all of this Clara felt underused, aside from her rescue of the Doctor. There was nice scene where she and Emma talked about their lives and Clara urged Emma to she the attraction that Palmer clearly felt for her. Again, her strongest characteristic so far is her empathy, appropriate considering her parallels with Emma.

Pacing is again problematic. Stories like this need time to breath, to give room to both characterisation and plotting. It is easy to imagine that is this was in the classic format we’d have one episode concerned with the ghost hunting with its nature revealed as the cliff hanger, a second episode establishing its nature ending with the Doctor trapped in the pocket dimension and the third (and possibly fourth) episode dealing with Clara rescue him and Hila.

Despite these problems overall this is a good episode. Dougray Scott adds a lot of pathos as Professor Palmer with Jessica Raine as Emma holding the whole plot together. It is equal parts scary and exciting.

Neil Cross has been a great addition to the writing staff and shows how a new voice can revitalise a series.