The Monster of Peladon Part Four

The one where the Ice Warriors declare martial law over Peladon...

It's so good to see the Ice Warriors back on the scene. This story has been terribly humdrum so far, and what it really needs is an injection of something Martian-shaped, and what better way to fill that hole by getting Alan Bennion, Sonny Caldinez and his cronies back? Last time writer Brian Hayles took us by surprise by having the Ice Warriors as good guys. This time the Martians arrive as a security detail sent by the Federation to sort out the in-fighting and get the miners back to work. Or so it seems at first...

Bennion has such a good voice and gives Commander Azaxyr as much scheming presence as his predecessors, Izlyr and Slaar. Azaxyr succeeds in summarising the situation perfectly, establishing that everybody's point of view seems to be opposed by another's: "You say that the miners have rebelled against their proper rulers. But Gebek here says that the nobles have cheated them of their rights. You say that the Doctor here is a spy and a saboteur. But the ambassador says that he is an old and valued friend. You say that your god appears to you because he is angry, but the Doctor here is sure that the appearances are caused by trickery." As the Doctor says: "An excellent summing-up."

One character who refuses to take an active role in the story is Eckersley, who's just been floating about on the periphery of the story like the Third Doctor's very own version of the Watcher. "All this argy-bargy's nothing to do with me," he asserts. But surely Eckersley has to have more involvement in proceedings than this?

The Ice Warriors look pretty impressive in force. There are four Warriors and one Lord, although one of them looks ridiculous because his head's too big for his body (he looks like a green Mr Blobby). When Ettis and the miners break into the throne room, the Martians turn the full might of their weaponry on the intruders and murder them in cold blood (all except Ettis, who escapes). It's quite a demonstration of the Martians' power. I don't think they've ever looked as impressive in number or might since their debut.

Well, that is until the Doctor turns the thermostat up on the central heating in the mines, and the Martians begin to wilt. The fact there's temperature control in the mines is just laughable, and lame plotting on behalf of Hayles.

Ettis is a suitable case for treatment, isn't he? But to be fair, actor Ralph Watson manages to turn what is a pretty one-note character on the page into a more realistic part. In the previous three episodes Ettis has been a somewhat bloodthirsty rebel thug, eager to defend the miners' rights using pretty much any means. But in part 4 he suddenly starts to fracture, in particular after seeing the Ice Warriors gun down all his mates. He keeps banging on about making the Federation agree to "all our demands", but this time says that if they're not heeded, he'll use the sonic lance to destroy the entire citadel of Peladon!

Now that's just madness. He's clearly snapped, because doing that would destroy his Queen, her court, and the entire seat of power on Peladon. He'd be destroying the very foundations of Peladon's government, which can only lead to chaos and misrule. Later, when Rima tells Ettis that Gebek plans to overthrow the Federation troops, he cannot see reason. "Kill them! Kill them all! The queen, the chancellor, the guards! They all betrayed us!" he rants, and then stabs Rima when he tries to alert Gebek.

Ettis's final confrontation with the Doctor is really well played by Watson, who gives the crazed miner a swivel-eyed madness in his final moments. The Doctor tells Ettis that Gebek's rebellion is succeeding, to which he replies: "I don't believe you! It's a trick. You're working for them, you've sold out. You're like Gebek and the rest of them!" Ettis's wide-eyed paranoia has finally taken him over, and there's no going back. I'm so glad Watson manages to make something of the part after being given so little to play with. And all that with a frizzy afro badger wig on too.

Azaxyr's no better though. He's supposed to be there as a representative of the Federation, but his methods seem distinctly undemocratic. He says he will kill hostages daily until the miners resume their work, and when Gebek says the miners will refuse to work, Azaxyr asserts that if the Federation cannot have its trisilicate, he'll blast Peladon into dust. Well, that won't help the Federation's cause either. There's something not quite right about Azaxyr's claim to martial law, and that's soon proven when Sarah and Alpha Centauri discover he's not been sent by the Federation at all. He was on Peladon all along, hiding in the refinery...

So where's the real Federation security contingent? Bit slow on the uptake, aren't they?

First broadcast: April 13th, 1974

Steve's Scoreboard
The Good: Ralph Watson portrays Ettis's descent into paranoia and madness well for saying there's barely anything given to him in the script to play.
The Bad: That's so obviously not Jon Pertwee in the fight scene at the end. It's blatantly Terry Walsh in a big grey wig!
Overall score for episode: ★★★★☆☆☆☆☆☆

"Now listen to me" tally: 34 - the Doctor says: "Now listen to me Gebek, we haven't much time." They never do, do they?
Neck-rub tally: 16

NEXT TIME: Part Five...

My reviews of this story's other episodes: Part One; Part Two; Part Three; Part Five; Part Six

Find out birth/death dates, career information, and facts and trivia about this story's cast and crew at the Doctor Who Cast & Crew site: http://doctorwhocastandcrew.blogspot.com/2014/06/the-monster-of-peladon.html

The Monster of Peladon is available on BBC DVD as part of the Peladon Tales box set. Find it on Amazon - https://www.amazon.co.uk/Doctor-Who-Peladon-Tales-Monster/dp/B002SZQC70