TV #5: The Keys of Marinus

TARDIS crew; 

• First Doctor

• Susan

• Ian

• Barbara 

Notable Characters; 

Arbitan- Guardian of the conscience of Marinus

The Voord- Main enemies 

Altos- Sent by Arbitan to find the keys 

Sabetha- Daughter of Arbitan

Detailed Plot; 

The Sea of Death 

In my blogging of every TV serial, The Keys of Marinus was one I was looking extremely forward to re-watching! It's one of my all time favourite Doctor Who stories and is written by probably my favourite writer for the classic series, Terry Nation. And the introductory part was wonderful, a joy to watch. 

It behind with a magnificent overview of an island with a building standing tall looking over the surrounding sea. The TARDIS materialises and the crew investigate the readings, unlike The Daleks, radiation reads zero and it didn't change. There was an excellent reference as to why the TARDIS didn't have colour TV on the scanner so what the viewer saw outside was exactly what the TARDIS crew saw as well. Ian wasn't too enthused to leave the ship, claiming he could see something moving in the sea. He was right. 

The foursome left the TARDIS and entered onto a quiet landscape and just stood and admired. But something was following them! Earlier, something was seen streaming in the sea, four capsules of some sort and it now seemed they'd arrived. There was a fantastic reference as to how the island had a beach of glass! Susan attempted to swim in a small nearby pool but was quickly stopped by Ian as her shoe fell in and quickly dissolved! The pool was filled with acid. The crew determined that that meant the island was surrounded by a sea of acid. 

The mysterious creature following the TARDIS crew, that we were yet to see all of, was at the TARDIS now and was fiddling with lock and presumably was trying to take it or enter. Susan was soon approaching the ship for some new shoes and it quickly left. It was all very intriguing. There was a brief moment of banter between the Doctor and Ian over the latter not having any shoes on so he couldn't lend Susan any to get to the TARDIS. He had already given her his shoes of course. But suddenly, the crew caught sight of the torpedoes, now empty. They knew the island was now inhabited and Susan was all by herself. In the fourth torpedo, a little distance from the other three, something was inside. Back at the TARDIS, Susan saw footprints in the sand (ironically not part of the beach), and was worried. The creature arose from behind the TARDIS after she left and it was of magnificent design! 

The Doctor, Ian and Barbara investigated the inhabited torpedo but after carefully opening it all they discovered was an empty suit, reminiscent of a wetsuit. Barbara noticed a tear in the material and they concluded that acid had gotten inside the torpedo and the wearer had been dissolved. For the first time, the trio now noticed the overlooking building and were impressed! Some great architecture. They planned on visiting it but by now they were increasingly worried about Susan's absence. They needed to find their companion first!

Susan was seen alone wondering at the bottom of the building and the creature was hiding, prepared to attack her. The remaining trio returned to the TARDIS and noticed Ian's boots had been left, Susan had clearly gone in a hurry. The Doctor quickly determined that the sea of acid was a defence barrier for the island bad that any visitors weren't welcomed. Rather humorously, the creature seemed to get lost in a gap in the walls of the building, just as the other trio arrived near it, but not near Susan. The Doctor seemed very worried now and wanted to urgently find his granddaughter, so the trio split up with the Doctor going alone. 

Susan soon fell through the gap in the wall and her scream was heard by Ian and Barbara, they couldn't be far now! The Doctor had now stumbled through the gap but no reunion was occurring. Susan was wary exploring the inside of the building now, a Holden man entered before quickly leaving and a hidden creature sprung out at Susan and grabbed her... but quickly collapsed. The creature had a dagger in its back and was dead. The doings of the unknown hooded man? 

Barbara soon found herself alone and scared as Ian had also vanished, presumably through the hidden door in the wall. She quickly found her way through too, seeing the dead creature along her way, and was reunited with the Doctor and Susan. But Ian was still missing, where'd he got himself to? 

The mysterious hooded man revealed how he loved in the building alone, had that the creatures who came to the island in the torpedoes were not the planet's inhabitants. Although Ian was free, three quarters of the TARDIS crew were prisoners. It was intriguing how Ian was still free despite going through the hidden gap before Barbara. 

In the small area near the gap entrance, another creature attacked the hooded man but Ian came out of hiding and helped kill the creature saving the man. The man was named as Arbitan and he was extremely thankful to Ian! He revealed the creatures as Voord and that this was a new assault of the island. He would explain further after releasing the rest of the TARDIS crew, knowing they meant no harm now and had no affiliation with the Voord. Danger still lurked within the building though as one Voord still remained alive. 

The Doctor admired the technology the planet, now named as Marinus, had. A spectacular machine was seen in what seemed to be the central room/area of the building. It was referred to as the conscience and it had the possibility to influence all men, and long ago it decided what was right for others. There was no evil within it, it was a unique machine within the universe. A Voord was seen looming, listening in. The TARDIS crew, already having seen some horrific things during their ventures, knew that the machine could be massively dangerous if it fell into the wrong hands. However, Arbitan explained how the machine needed five keys to operate and they'd all been removed and scattered across Marinus. One remained with Arbitan whilst the others were spread across the planet. The circuits within were extremely complicated and could not be duplicates. With the keys returned, the machine would become irresistible to the Voord and they'd be under its control, but all attempts to find the keys had failed. Arbitan had even sent his own daughter a year before but she'd never come back. Arbitan put the weight on the TARDIS crew and wanted them to find the keys! 

It was clear the TARDIS crew weren't interested in doing that and left the building and returned to the TARDIS. But they couldn't quite get near the doors! There was an invisible barrier all around the ship, Arbitan was heard overheard explaining how he'd placed a force barrier around their ship and blocked them from leaving. He wasn't an evil man but Arbitan wanted the keys delivered. He wanted to be protected from the Voord. It seemed the TARDIS crew had no alternative. 

Back inside the building and the foursome had been shown a map and they knew the rough location of the keys. They were all given a teleport device with each programmed to the same destination. Barbara used it quickly and instantly vanished. Arbitan gave the remaining trio a vital warning though, that if once they returned and they'd found that the Voord had taken the building, to demolish the keys and prevent them from controlling the conscience. The crew teleported and arrived at their destination, but Barbara was nowhere to be found. 

As soon as the crew had left, a Voord pounced on Arbitan from behind and stabbed him! Elsewhere however, the Doctor, Susan and Ian had doing the travel dial of Barbara on the floor, and there was blood on it! A great cliffhanger to a marvellous introductory part that has set up the serial fantastically! 

The Velvet Web

A fantastic episode and already I know this serial is going to be magnificent in its entity! After the good cliffhanger of the first part, it was interesting how there seemed to be no urgent worry amongst the Doctor, Susan and Ian. There was a large door behind where they'd teleported and they thought that something behind the doors had taken Barbara by force. Ian was soon worried, and the crew pushed through into a bright and noisy room. Once the alarms had stopped, the trio admired the magnificent display. Barbara was seen unharmed and fine, being treated like a Queen. She explained how the blood was due to her trying to retrieve her travel dial while 'falling through space' and she'd scratched herself in panic. 

Servants soon arrived to the service of the foursome, it was all very unexpected. After a worrying cliffhanger, the episode began with a lot of calm which was a great dynamic twist. Food was brought before the TARDIS crew but Ian was more worried by the bill which was amusing. It was revealed the travellers had arrived in the city of Morphoton. The servants explained how the foursome could literally have anything! The Doctor wanted a laboratory with everything! And they promised him it. The Doctor didn't want Susan taking advantage of the people by making her a silk dress but after they explained they filled their every desire and the promise of the laboratory, he soon changed his mind. 

The crew had become tired and wanted to sleep. Ian felt guilty for taking advantage but soon found himself asleep, just like his companions. As the travellers drifted off into subconsciousness, the eyes of an impressive mantle on the wall awoke, someone was watching. A young women entered and placed small discs on each TARDIS crew member's forehead. Barbara though turned and it fell off sparking a loud alarm that hurt her head, forcing her into sleep. The other three travellers remained undisturbed. 

It was soon morning and all of the travellers except Barbara awake. Ian mentioned a mild irritation on his forehead which the Doctor also claimed he had to. What was the purpose of the discs? Susan's silk dress had arrived and she was pleased and woke Barbara, but when she awoke she seemed confused. The Doctor claimed she wasn't properly awake and offered her juice but Barbara pushed it away. She seemed to be seeing things in Morphoton very differently, somewhat horribly. She was 100% sure she could see the 'truth.' She was rather offensive to Altos, a servant and claimed the crew had been 'given nothing.' 

Altos went to his mysterious masters, the Morpho, the creatures seen in the picture above. And now Barbara was found to be correct, the plan hadn't worked on the history teacher. She knew that the plan had failed and she needed to be overwrought. Barbara ran away and hid herself away, knowing that things weren't as nice and calm as they seemed.

It was now crystal clear that everything Barbara was saying was in fact true, that by her disc falling off she had resisted. The snail like creatures knew she had seen the truth now and wanted her destroyed. 

Sabetha was introduced and found herself with Barbara but she seemed brainwashed and dazed, she was the girl who placed the discs on the TARDIS crew's foreheads. But thanks to Barbara's resistance she was punished. Barbara believed Sabetha was hypnotised and it seemed she was right. 

Altos went to the TARDIS crew and made up a cover story for Barbara's absence. The Doctor and Ian entered a blank room, the supposed magnificent laboratory, and they admired. But there was nothing there, hypnotism was clearly in action. Meanwhile, Sabetha explained how the necklace she was wearing was what she desired most, given to her by the Morpho, her masters. Barbara soon worked out that Sabetha was the daughter of Arbitan! 

The remaining trio from the TARDIS were sleeping once more and the discs were to be placed again on their foreheads, this time with no resistance. They'd lose all memory of Barbara but would use Ian for work and the Doctor for his intelligent. Barbara was now caught by Altos but Sabetha quickly smashed a pot over his head saving the companion. Barbara left to find her fellow crew and try and convince them what had happened. She saw Ian in a corridor but he had no memory of Barbara and took her to the Morpho. This convinced the creatures that he was worthy. 

The Morpho finally explained a bit more about themselves and explained how their brains had outgrew their bodies and their sheer intelligence had created the city of Morphoton! It was disturbingly brilliant. They explained how they considered the human body to be perfect and unable to be replicated. They demanded on the destruction of Barbara and Ian attempted to but was quickly overcome by Barbara, she was free and enough was enough. She smashed the glass of the Morpho creatures and killed them. The influence was gone and everyone was free. Riots arised within the city and now the TARDIS crew intended on getting to the next destination. 

Sabetha and Altos planned on coming with the TARDIS crew as they too were sent by Arbitan. The Doctor seemed to have a plan now, they'd found some more travel dials now and the first key of Marinus had been found. Altos explained how he had a friend who went ahead for the fourth and final key and the Doctor would adopt the plan and try and find the fourth key himself, going ahead. The Doctor would arrive in a high ordered civilisation it seemed and the other five  planned on meeting the Doctor in the next five days. Susan teleported ahead avoiding a goodbye with her grandfather, but as she arrived she was confronted by a loud noise, almost like a swarm affecting her. It was screaming. An intriguing cliffhanger! 

The Screaming Jungle

I really enjoyed this part and it was notable for the absence of the Doctor for the entire 23 minutes and 50 seconds. I was surprised he didn't been get a scene but that didn't take anything away from the episode which I thoroughly enjoyed! 

After the previous episode's cliffhanger with Susan being affected by the swarming sound, the other party soon arrived and the storm seemed to have stopped. It was all very intriguing and Susan was visibly upset. Sabetha claimed they'd arrived at a 'dead place' and a large wall was noticed so the group presumed the key was on the other side. They searched around looking to find an entrance but the archway they saw into the jungle seemed a bit blocked. Susan mentioned how she liked Ian looking after her and Barbara during their travels. 

Susan described the swarming sound she'd heard to Barbara and claimed it was a noise she had heard before. But where? That wasn't clear however she wee certain the noise was 'evil.' Subtly, it seemed that the surrounding vines were alive, moving, trying to get Susan! Barbara though prevented her from being tangled up. Something about this forest was suspicious, and I loved the mystery! 

While Ian, Sabetha and Altos had gone to search for another entrance, Barbara thought the blocked archway was a lot easier to get through than first impressions. She examined closely and got herself through, it wasn't much of a challenge. She explained how she could see a statue at the end and walked on through the jungle archway. As the photo above shows, a grotesque mantle/statue was seen and the face was reminiscent of that in Morphoton that watched the TARDIS crew fall asleep. 

On top of the statue Barbara had found the key! That hardly seemed difficult but suddenly the hands of the statue closed, grabbing Barbara and before Ian could prevent it, the wall turned and Barbara was lost. Ian was now urgent, anxious to find his friend. The key had remained on the archway side of the wall and Altos gave it to Sabetha to keep safe with the other that was found in the previous part. The foursome that found themselves seperated from Barbara soon realised that she would be safe if any danger arose as she could simply use her travel dial to jump to the next destination. 

The statue was heard returning and the wall rotated back, but no Barbara. Ian was concerned but knew time couldn't be lost in trying to find the remaining keys so he urged Susan, Sabetha and Altos to jump ahead to the next destination whilst he would stay and find Barbara. Susan and Altos teleported away but Sabetha noticed that there was a difference in the keys and that shouldn't be the case. The recently found key was fractions shorter when it should be absolutely identical. It was an imitation. A brilliant finding by Sabetha, a character I was liking more and more! Ian still urged her onto the next destination and said he'd join them once he'd found the key and Barbara had she not teleported herself. The science teacher jumped onto the statue and just like it had done with Barbara, the arms closed and it turned. Arriving on the other side the arms simply let go but Ian couldn't see any sign of Barbara. He stepped on a loose slab and that sparked a statute knight to raise an axe and just before it came crashing down on Ian, Barbara quickly shouted out from hiding and saved him. They were reunited at least but Ian was a bit shaken up. Barbara explained how the place was all one booby trap and that it seemed the vegetation was trying to get into the nearby building! Getting in was the aim of Ian and Barbara but the only apparent door was pretty solid and locked. 

An unknown man, Darrius, was seen briefly before the door opened. Barbara went through, Ian was fetching iron bars seen earlier to try and open it but Barbara walked through into a falling net. She was trapped and the ceiling slowly started to descend with some sort of knives or spikes hanging from it! Ian was trapped behind bars that sprung out of nowhere, Barbara was done for. 

To Barbara's appreciation the ceiling rose and Darrius entered, questioning her interest in the keys, wanting proof that Arbitan had sent her to find the keys in the first place. She showed him her travel dial and he examined knowing that only Arbitan could set the correct journey. Leaving into a seemed laboratory, Darrius was caught by invading vines and was being strangled! Ian though had arrived and freed Barbara and the pair saved the elderly man. The man claimed the 'jungle is coming' and the whispering, what Susan heard, was death. 

Darrius was dying and he warned Ian and Barbara about the jungle, but the pair were more interested in the key and wanted to know where they could find it. The dying man mentioned the fake imitation before saying a code. DE3O2. What was the code for? It was unknown as Darrius silently passed away. 

When saying the code Darrius pointed at a door and the pair entered and saw a safe. The code could be used? Ian entered it in but nothing was working. They couldn't be sure the combination was meant for the safe so they scoured the room inch by inch looking for the correct code to the safe. However, they had no luck. Ian was checking inside Darrius' diary and he was found to have Biology as his specialised field of study. It seemed the outside nature was changed by some 'growth accelerator.' 

Suddenly and alarmingly, the outside jungle was becoming noisy. The whispers had started. The jungle was trying to get in, and it succeeded! It broke in, Darrius' theories were correct, the growth process was more than sped up! The jungle was simply attacking Ian and Barbara! Just brilliant. 

The vines were trapping Barbara but Ian thwarted the attempts and after seeing a fallen jar with a combination on it, Ian realised that the 'DE3O2' wasn't a code, it was a chemical formula! Barbara found the De3O2 jar and within she'd retrieved the key! The pair quickly used their dials to escape the wrath of the jungle and they arrived on a snowy landscape, and it was freezing and the winds were blistering. Barbara was too cold to move but they needed to find shelter, or they'd freeze to death. 

A great cliffhanger and I'm loving the format produced by the wonderful Terry Nation here. I really like how each part is its own little story and the cliffhangers lead brilliantly into the next part! 

The Snows of Terror

This episode proved how important and significant the companions in Doctor Who are to the show. Another no show from the Doctor but that didn't discredit the fourth part of this serial at all! It was magnificent. 

It begins with Ian and Barbara arriving at the next destination of a key to the conscience of Marinus, and it's snowing and freezing. They're both too tired and cold and Barbara wanted to sleep. Ian was drained and soon enough the pair were both out cold. After some time asleep, a hooded man loomed over and it seemed he'd taken them into shelter. Vasor was the man the two companions had to thank. Barbara was now awake inside a hut and she woke Ian. The pair were given a hot drink but warned that there were wolves outside, more this winter than ever before. Vasor mentioned how another stranger helped bring the pair back and after it was revealed he went off 'looking for a couple of girls,' Ian and Barbara knew it was Altos. But there was no sign of Susan or Sabetha, what had happened to them after advancing to the snowy location halfway through the previous episode? 

Ian was worried and wanted to go and find the young pair. He asked Vasor if he could lend some warm clothing but that was the man's living and Ian wasn't certain to return. Vasor wanted something in exchange, and noticed the travel dial. It was a deposit of sorts. Vasor supplied Ian with warm clothes, a lantern and a bag. Ian left, leaving Barbara alone in the warmth. 

As soon as Ian left, Vasor locked the hut door. Barbara had faith in Ian and was very confident he'd return soon enough. Wolves were heard and seen close to Ian but now he had going Altos, collapsed on the floor suffering from frostbite. His hands were suspiciously tied. Upon Vasor's request, Barbara tidied away the plates and cutlery they'd been eating with but inside a draw she found Sabetha's chain with the two keys on it! Vasor claimed he'd left the two girls in a cave on the mountain and the keys had been exchanged for food. Barbara was having none of it and accused him of being a thief, knowing how valuable the keys were and how Sabetha prized them. Thankfully though it was revealed how the girls were still alive. But things didn't look good for Ian and Altos. 

Ian had been given a bag by Vasor but didn't know what was within. Altos explained how the 'trapper' was evil, but was worried for Barbara now as she was alone with him! Altos explained what had happened to him and the other two girls as his frostbite was slowly wearing. Ian now noticed what was inside the bad. Raw meat. Vasor wanted to attract the wolves to Ian and make sure he wouldn't return to the hut. 

Vasor was now chasing after Barbara, sadistically playing around but she armed herself. Barbara wasn't going down without a fight! The wolves were getting closer though outside and Ian threw the bag away whilst he and Altos ran, catching sight of the hut, eagerly wanting to get to Barbara knowing she would be in danger. Inside the hut a struggle ensued but surprisingly Barbara broke herself free of Vasor's grasp just as Ian and Altos arrived and she unlocked the door. She was safe and protected now. The trio were in control of Vasor and commanded him to guide them to the cave where Susan and Sabetha were. 

Alive and well, Susan and Sabetha were seen in the cave. Vasor was guiding Ian, Barbara and Altos to the mountains but the girls weren't enjoying their cold surroundings and lack of food so searched for an exit but didn't seem to get any luck. As the trio, guided by Vasor, arrived at the cave there was no sign of the two young girls, but a fire had been lit recently as the ash was still warm. They couldn't be far away. Ian demanded that they go deeper, and that included Vasor. 

A wobbly, unsafe rope-bridge was seen and Susan and Sabetha managed to get across it. Ian wanted to move quickly but Vasor was reluctant, believing their were demons inside the depths of the mountain. The two girls arrived in an interesting move and were confronted by statuesque men, as seen in my above photo. They were frightened and ran back to the rope-bridge where they were reunited with Ian, Barbara and Altos who themselves were in the middle of getting across the bridge. Ian hurriedly made his way across the bridge to greet Susan and Sabetha but that left Vasor alone and he selfishly untied the rope-bridge leaving the group stuck on the side that only lead deeper into the mountain. Vasor claimed there was 'no other way out.' 

Ian sparked the plan of trying to get and use planks to get back to the other side. Barbara noticed how the entire cave itself was ice and the gap through to the room of the still warriors was in danger as a large rock was hanging loose. If it fell, the victim would be crushed. 

The group hadn't lost track of their objective and still needed to find the third key. They presumed it was inside the mountain somewhere. As the party entered the room that scared Susan and Sabetha, the 'demons' were seen and Sabetha had found the key, suspended in the middle of a large block of solid ice. The Ice Soldiers seemed dead, anciently guarding the key. Susan noticed a pipe that ran into the block itself. A dial was turned and the pipe heated, it would melt the ice and the key could be retrieved. The group now focused on creating the plank to get back across the gap and to the exit of the mountain. They needed the other two keys from Vasor before leaving. Large logs had been tied together by Ian and Altos and were shifted along the gap. It wasn't the safest, but it was a route back. 

The ice had now melted and the key was retrieved. But the pipe seemed to have another agenda as the Ice Soldiers sparked into life and awoke! They were armed and were after the crew. Ian was fighting off one soldier while Susan crawled across the unsteady planks, slowly and cautiously. Suddenly, the plank split! Danger! But Susan kept her balance and stayed up. Meanwhile, Ian collapsed the loose rock blocking the path of the Ice Soldiers. The soldiers were stuck. Susan had by now managed to her across and retied the rope-bridge back up and allowed the others to get back across. However, the Ice Soldiers had raised the rock and were close to the group but as Ian lastly got across he untied the bridge once more. The soldiers were stuck inside the mountain. 

The fivesome now returned to Vasor, who was more than shocked to see them. They wanted their items collected and were still on track for the date set to meet the Doctor. Miraculously, the soldiers had arrived at the hut and were breaking through the door with their swords. Vasor was killed by one of these weapons. The group quickly used their travel dials and arrived safely at the next location. However, Ian somehow seemed to be alone and had arrived at some sort of museum of artifacts. A glass box visibly had the key within but before Ian could open it and leave, he was smacked from behind by an unknown gloved man. He was set up for theft as the man too the key. The alarms sounded. A magnificent cliffhanger! How will the group get the fourth key now, and how will Ian defend himself against theft? I look forward to those questions being answered. 

Sentence of Death

The penultimate episode of this already excellent serial was probably the best yet! Now whether that was down to the return of the Doctor or my interest of law I'm not sure, but I'll get to that as the blog goes on. After an intriguing cliffhanger in the last part, the start of this part made me think of some more questions. Was Ian being framed for theft, murdering the already dead person in the room, or both? Whatever the case it didn't look good as he was out cold. After time went on, he slowly woke up and his head was hurting. 

Tarron, an interrogator, was in the room and questioned Ian. He believed the companion to be the culprit but was interested as to how he got into the room of the key. He claimed there was no chance of him getting through the door and security, and also that everything that was being said was on record. Ian gave his details but Tarron believed Ian had somehow gotten rid of the key as it hadn't been found and the room was searched, as well as Ian and the other body. Shockingly, Ian was to be charged with murder! Tarron believed he had an accomplice and I was extremely fascinated in the law system on Marinus! I'm currently studying AS level Law but the system of Ian already being guilty was totally unique! He had to prove beyond doubt that he was non guilty. 

Susan, Barbara and the others were seen for the first time this episode and they'd been granted access to attend the court proceedings but I was very interested as to how Ian had arrived in a slightly different location when using the travel dial to leave the snowy mountains of episode four. Ian was to be allowed a defendant and he wanted the Doctor to speak on his behalf. 

Altos explained how there was no sign of Eprim, his friend who'd jumped ahead in trying to find the keys. The Doctor excellently returned to our screens after a two episode absence and immediately he wanted to defend his companion. The law system was a mockery, Ian would be sentenced to death if he couldn't be proven innocent. 

It was revealed how the location was in the city of Millenius and the three judges did allow a defence for Ian. The Doctor wanted time to prepare his case adequately, to read statements and question witnesses. He was granted two days. The Doctor explained a little more about what he'd been doing in his mini hiatus from the screens and he revealed how he'd met Eprim and that the pair planned on taking the key but had to do it earlier than anticipated as they thought someone else knew their plan. They were correct as the Doctor revealed the body next to Ian was that of Eprim, he'd been murdered. They needed to find the person that knew of their plan and that killed Eprim. 

The Doctor humorously gave out roles to his companions. Sabetha and Altos were to go to the library in search of information and details about the law whilst Susan and Barbara were to be his 'detectives.' Ian was simply told to trust the Doctor, nothing else. 

Aydan, a relief guard who seemed to be first on the scene after the alarms rang when the key was stolen, was seen with Ian. He seemed to think a paradox was in place because it was clear that the key wasn't in the room, but also nigh on impossible that it could have been taken from within. So where was it? Interestingly, it seemed that Aydan was gloved, similarly to those worn by the frame artist. But if he was first on the scene, how could he be the thief? Or was it all a cover story? It was a great mystery! 

The Doctor magnificently seemed to have things worked out within minutes of being in the room of the crime. He acted out his assumptions with Susan and Barbara role playing and in doing so proved my thoughts that Aydon was faking to be first on the scene. He was the murdering thief! 

Susan and Barbara payed a visit to Aydon's home but only his wife was there, the pair though were invited in. Aydon arrived home and seemed suspicious. He pretty much gave himself away saying 'I...' when talking about the key. He didn't deny killing Eprim and when Susan and Barbara were forced to leave he struck his wife for letting them in. It was very clear now who the culprit was. Aydan did phone his prosecutor and it seemed they'd grown suspicios about Susan. She knew too much for their liking. 

The court proceeds continued now after two days had passed. The prosecution concluded his case and the evidence looked favourable. But the Doctor soon wiped away any favouritism. He stood confidently in the courtroom and claimed the murderer was within the court, but not under arrest. He called his first witness, Sabetha, and she presented a key to the judges! She was obviously using one of the three previously found keys but claimed she'd been given it to prevent the murderer's identity from getting out. She though gave it all away and pointed out Aydan who stuttered 'she can't have it, I...' and all but plead his guiltiness. Aydan was caught and then murdered. 

The Doctor explained to the judges privately how Sabetha's key was a fake to the case but it needed to be done to prove Aydan's guilt. The fourth key was still missing however and Ian was still being charged. It was clear that Aydan was involved, but not proven that Ian was not. The Doctor's request for more time was denied and it seemed he had nothing further to say. Ian was to be executed! 

Barbara was given a message. She was outside of the court proceedings and the message read that there would be another death. Barbara wanted to use it as more evidence that there was still another party involved but the phone rang and it was for Barbara. Susan, who's absence had gone unnoticed, was on the other end. It seemed she was being held hostage, and that 'they're going to kill me.' She was scared and on the brink of death! A fantastic cliffhanger to a marvellous episode! 

The Keys of Marinus

A marvellous concluding part to what's been a fantastic serial! With the cliffhanger of the previous part having Susan held hostage and the threat of death, this episode starts with Susan hanging up the phone on Barbara. The latter didn't want to tell the Doctor that his granddaughter was in danger so he could concentrate on clearing Ian's name. Barbara mysteriously questioned Tarron but one thing was for sure- whoever made Susan ring the phone was either the murderer or an accomplice. 

Ian's execution was being counted down. He was nervous and alone. Aydan's wife, Cala, was seen and the trio of Barbara, Sabetha and Altos suspected she might know something, that maybe her husband was meeting with someone frequently. Upon visiting, Cala explained how her husband was secretive. She though was distraught but very stupid. She told Barbara that she must've been worried 'since you spoke to Susan.' How did she know they'd spoken on the phone? As the trio left tears soon turned into smiles on Cala's face and she opened a door and within Susan was held captive and tied up. Cala was massively involved. 

Interestingly, the key to the conscience was still missing and it was unknown where it was. Cala was on the phone with Eyesen, the prosecutor, and he ordered Susan's death! However, the same trio who'd visited Cala worked out that she couldn't have known Barbara and Susan had spoken on the phone. They planned on revisiting the cynical women and as they did, she was about to murder Susan! Thankfully the trio saved her and caught Cala in the act. 

The Doctor was seen and he seemed gutted at having failed to gain Ian's innocence. He wanted to find new evidence somehow and reopen the case. He needed to be quick though! Barbara had now called though and explained how Cala held Susan hostage and was involved in the murder. Tarron was told as was the Doctor, but things weren't any less complicated as Cala had claimed Ian was her accomplice! Susan pointed out how she'd heard Eyesen say to Cala on the phone that he'd collect the key and this sparked great laughter from the Doctor. It was an opportunity to catch the culprit. Meanwhile, Ian's execution countdown continued. Eyesen, intriguingly gloved, was seen opening the evidence cupboard trying to retrieve the key but was caught, captured and immediately unmasked. The Doctor opened up the weapon from the crime scene and within was the key! The Doctor claimed he knew it all along and Tarron confirmed that was the only thing that'd gone un-searched. 

Ian was now free from execution as the murderer and accomplice had now been caught. The Doctor and co had been given the authorisation to take the key and return it to Arbitan and Ian's travel dial was also returned. The group now intended on returning to the island of the conscience and join up with Sabetha and Altos who'd jumped ahead. 

The magnificent overhead of the island was seen once more but the Voord were in control. Their leader, Yartek, had Altos captive and there was no sign of Sabetha. As we knew from the first episode, Arbitan was dead. Sabetha was brought before Yartek and acted as though Altos was just an unimportant servant. He ordered the 'servant's' death if the final key wasn't to be given. An interesting reference was made and it seemed Altos was in love with Sabetha, and that the feeling was mutual. Protecting Sabetha now, Altos revealed how it was the Doctor who had the 5th and final key. Humorously, the TARDIS crew sneaked up upon and scared each other in the building corridors. The Doctor explained how the TARDIS force field was gone but rather than just leaving, they felt obliged to find Sabetha and Altos, concerned by their absence. 

Meanwhile in the central room, Yartek placed 4 of the 5 keys to the conscience of Marinus in the designated slots, he just needed one more. Within the corridors the TARDIS crew attacked a Voord and then split into pairs to find their newly found friends. 

Altos and Sabetha were seen tied back to back, definitely in love. Yartek was wearing Arbitan's cloak and had the hood covering his face. Ian and Susan confronted but all he demanded was the final key from them. Ian threw down the key and he and Susan left. Yartek grabbed the key with joy and planned on enslaving the pair as well as the other with the machine! Brilliantly though, Ian knew that it was Arbitan due to his lack of knowledge of Altos. The Doctor and Barbara were soon reunited with their fellow companions after untying Sabetha and Altos. Ian explained how he'd given Yartek the fake key found previously in the story, the one a fraction too short placed as a decoy by Darrius. 

Altos worryingly explained how the false key will cause the machine to blow up! The group looked for an exit! Yartek placed the 5th key into the machine but it instantly exploded and the building interior was damaged! The Doctor talked very highly of Arbitan to Sabetha, but she was saddened that her father was dead, as expected of course. The goodbyes were said between the TARDIS crew and the new couple, they planned on returning to Millenius. The Doctor would keep the true 5th key to himself in the TARDIS as a memento. The TARDIS dematerialised, the crew had left Marinus.

My analysis; 

A quite brilliant serial that I thoroughly enjoyed from start to finish! A masterclass from Terry Nation here and just like his The Daleks, the pace was perfect and the plot was marvellous. I really loved how each individual episode was its own little story. I think The Keys of Marinus is so much better than the Key to Time season which was dragged and frankly not too interesting, but that'll come in a much later blog. I loved the addition to the crew for this serial in Sabetha and Altos, a pairing that were magnificent characters! I loved the Voord and thought they were great villains, despite only being present in the first and last episodes. The middle third showed how pivotal the companions are in Doctor Who as the Doctor didn't feature at all but the story still moved along effortlessly. I really enjoyed the cliffhangers and how they led into the next mini story for the episode. The last third I particularly enjoyed and the many references to law and the courtroom setting was excellent! The amount of intrigue and mystery throughout was very enjoyable and in general the serial was just excellent! Early who at its very, very best. An excellent plot with a brilliant guest cast and villains! Perfectly paced, there isn't much more I can ask for! 

Rating; 10/10.