Arc of Infinity Part Three

The one where the real identity of the Renegade is revealed...

Just as with the resolution of part 1's cliffhanger, the resolution of part 2's shows that the Doctor isn't really dead. He's actually floating in the black nothingness of the Matrix, wobbling like an ocean wave and subjected to the soundtrack of maniacal laughter. In fact, the Doctor spends an entire 13 of this episode's 24-minute duration wobbling in the Matrix, floating like an upturned tortoise. You can tell it's part 3...

The special effects in this story have a lot to be desired. I suppose they're indicative of the limitations of the time (remember the candy cane lasers in Earthshock?), but the effects used for the lasers and the Matrix in Arc of Infinity are particularly poor. No wonder they wanted to replace them with something better on the DVD (it's arguable whether they managed it or not though).

While the Doctor wobbles in the Matrix, the Castellan and Maxil establish the fact that the Doctor isn't dead at all, and piece together the remarkable theory that the Doctor is in cahoots with the anti-matter creature, and a traitorous member of the High Council. Unfortunately, they come to the incorrect conclusion that President Borusa is the traitor, simply because the biodata transfer and the disrupted execution procedure were programmed using the President's personal code (which is, for future reference, 4553916592). They don't consider the possibility of fraud or the President being framed...

Meanwhile, Tegan and Robin are captured by the robot chicken thing while looking for Colin in the crypt, and are transferred to the Renegade's TARDIS (we assume it's his own, and not a hidden bit of the Doctor's - this is not made clear). I'm yet to understand why the Renegade and his fowl friend are hanging out in a crypt in Amsterdam, but it sure is a huge coincidence that Tegan just happens to be there at this time. The robot chicken thing - apparently it's called the Ergon - scans Tegan's mind and discovers that she is known to the Doctor (what a coincidence!), but doesn't bother to scan Robin's mind. This is just as well because that could well reveal some of the hidden thoughts he may have about Colin...

The Ergon truly is awful. As far as Awful Doctor Who Monsters go, the Ergon vies for top spot. The Davison era is an embarrassment of riches when it comes to rubbish monsters - the giant snake, the Plasmatons, the Garm, the Raston Warrior Robot, the Myrka, the Magma Beast - but the Ergon surely wins the medal for being the silliest. The design is utterly preposterous, and the way actor Malcolm Harvey moves the creature's head to listen while the Renegade speaks is hilarious. There is nothing good about the Ergon, apart from its comedy value.

Tegan reacts quite calmly to all of this, as does Robin. At least Tegan is used to encountering crazy space monsters, laser guns and spaceships, but Robin settles into his new situation quite amicably, accepting things as they happen as if he is part of an ongoing science-fiction adventure in time and space and ought to be on top of these things.

The moment when Tegan and the Doctor are reunited in the Matrix should be quite momentous, but is predictably wasted. Tegan should be angry with the Doctor for leaving her behind, while the Doctor should be extremely surprised to see her of all people (he wouldn't have been surprised if it were Nyssa, for example). The Renegade demands the Doctor's compliance by threatening to wobble Tegan to death, and our hero is eventually returned to Gallifrey so that his transfer from the anti-matter dimension can be completed.

Back on the planet of the Time Lords, it's all coming out. Councillor Hedin plays his hand by revealing to Borusa that he is the traitor, and demands that the Matrix is isolated so that his master can complete his transfer. But who is the mysterious Renegade? Well, it's Omega. Remember him? The shouty megalomaniac from The Three Doctors who was made of anti-matter, and was defeated by the First, Second and Third Doctors. Now he's back, keener than ever to find a corporeal existence in the "real" universe. It's fitting that Omega should be back for the show's 20th anniversary, as the "first and greatest" of the Time Lords, especially when you think about who's coming back in the 20th anniversary special...

Some further observations about this episode:

• When Maxil fetches Nyssa and Damon from the TARDIS, he announces that he has orders to search the TARDIS for the Doctor. He then doesn't search the TARDIS at all, which is just as well as it would probably be like looking for a needle in a haystack!
• The bit where Omega is talking to Hedin and gets all thoughtful cracks me up. "Hmmmmm..." he ponders, rubbing his chin (even though he hasn't got a chin). Plus, why does Hedin feel the need to distort his voice when speaking to Omega? There's nobody else about.
• Damon discovers that a fusion booster has been sent to Earth recently. "It's a highly advanced piece of equipment," explains Damon. "Unstable, but capable of an enormous conversion rate over very short periods." The Doctor then asks if it could be fuelled by water, completely randomly and out of the blue. Why mention water?
• It's not the only random leap the Doctor makes. Because Omega has Tegan prisoner, he assumes that means Omega must be on Earth. Why? It only proves he's been to Earth, or that somebody has on his behalf. It doesn't mean he's still there now.
• I love the little smile that creeps across Nyssa's face when the Doctor mentions he's seen Tegan. That's a nice little character moment that would be conspicuous by its absence if she hadn't reacted at all. I also like the obvious disdain the Doctor shows for gun-toting Nyssa.

By the end of the episode, Hedin is killed foolishly by stepping into the path of the Castellan's laser, thus saving the Doctor and protecting his master's transfer into the Matrix (he always was Hedin for a fall). As the end credits roll, Omega has taken control of the Matrix, which means he has a good idea about what happens next. If so, then he should know that he's probably doomed and his plan will fail because, after all, it's part 4 next...

First broadcast: January 12th, 1983

Steve's Scoreboard
The Good: The revelation that the Renegade is Omega is appropriate in this anniversary year.
The Bad: The Doctor wobbles in the Matrix for 13 minutes while Maxil and his men run about looking for him. This is not dynamic storytelling.
Overall score for episode: ★★★★☆☆☆☆☆☆

NEXT TIME: Part Four...

My reviews of this story's other episodes: Part One; Part Two; Part Four

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.

Arc of Infinity is available as part of a BBC DVD box set. Find it on Amazon - https://www.amazon.co.uk/Doctor-Who-Time-Flight-Arc-Infinity/dp/B000R20VKA