Episode 57 (M4): Inferno

And so we reach the third Doctor's final adventure with Liz... no, wait a minute, that's not right. I didn't comment on this before, but story titles can sometimes clash with episode titles from other serials. The Rescue, of course, can refer to the previous two-parter - or to an episode of serial B, The Daleks (which some people refer to as The Mutants, the same name as another third Doctor story). Anyway, context makes this clear most of the time.

We start, of course, with the reprise of the (rather good) duel that closed the previous episode. Unfortunately, this is followed by an unbelievable fight with Nero's guard, which Isaac will be commenting on in the next review so I'll just remove my own analysis. In fact this scene is a little lacking generally - the arena seems far too small, especially when I think about how huge the palace appeared, and it's also odd how the slave trader seems to have become master of the gladiators. Still, this is a minor part of the episode, and I'll move swiftly on.

Nero's ruthlessness is brought even more to the fore this time. He already plans to feed the Doctor to the lions, and now decides to get rid of Barbara too! Things are not looking good for our heroes. Fortunately Tavius is on hand, and -

Gah! I've got a working TV again, but now I find the DVD has somehow got scratched! Despite a couple of goes with a disc cleaner I didn't have much hope because the damage looked quite deep, and sure enough I couldn't recover it. We eventually had to skip to the next chapter, losing almost all of Barbara's conversation with Tavius, and on the commentary skipping whatever Christopher Barry had to say about Ray Cusick's modelwork. Still, after fuming for a bit, I got on with the rest of the story.

The way the conspiracy is revealed seemed a bit sudden, but then this is another pacy episode and they had to move things along. The star of the show this time is definitely Derek Francis - the camera loves him, and when he is with William Hartnell you can just see them egging each other on. The scene where Nero makes the speech about killing the Doctor for burning his plans and then turns it to praise is note-perfect. Maureen O'Brien is still a shining light, too, making the most of limited opportunities to win over the audience.

Everything rushes to its epic conclusion. The torch in the face moment is brutal, and as Rome burns and Nero plays his lyre it is brought home to us just how much of his comedic performance is actual insanity, pure and simple. It recasts some of the humour we've seen earlier, just as the reveal of Tavius as an early adopter of Christianity shines a new light on his motivation. It's not perfect - Cusick comments on how much he hated the burning Rome effect, though I don't think it's as bad as all that - but the other noted "error" (Tavius clutching a cross instead of a fish) is a matter of the effect it has to have on the audience, and even less of a problem than the tables at the feast last time. Oddly, Vicki and the Doctor seem quite pleased with their work, particularly the latter who reacts with glee upon discovering that he caused one of the famous events from history, despite the death and destruction involved.

Then we have what is essentially an epilogue for the TARDIS crew. Seeing Iananbarbara back in the villa brings us full circle, and this is emphasised by the humour which is picked up from the first episode, with Ian's revenge joke about the fridge and Barbara's accidental admission that it was she who hit Ian over the head. They seem so much a couple now, and this turns the scene where he forces her to clear up the pieces of pot from something that could be interpreted as almost misogynistic into a playful husband-and-wife moment. "O tempora! O mores!", as Ian says.

Interestingly, I hadn't even spotted that Vicki and the Doctor were still unaware of Iananbarbara being in Rome too until the conversation upon their return. Dennis Spooner's writing twists and turns delightfully this episode, and (once we've left the arena) this is supported by excellent production.

We finish in the TARDIS, with what is effectively an advert for next week's episode. Even here we have a character moment for Vicki, showing how she almost worships the Doctor and can't believe he is unable to control the TARDIS. A great end to the serial.

Broadcast:
Date: Saturday, 6th February 1965
Viewers: 12.0 million
Chart Position: 13
Appreciation Index: 50

Rating:
7.5/10.

Next Time:
Serial M as a whole.