Doctor Who - The Monster of Peladon Reviews

Rating		Votes
10	4%	3
9	4%	3
8	14%	10
7	18%	13
6	23%	17
5	23%	17
4	14%	10
3	0%	0
2	0%	0
1	0%	0
Average Rating 6.2
Votes 73

Synopsis

From http://www.bbc.co.uk/doctorwho/classic/episodeguide

The TARDIS returns to Peladon some fifty years after the Doctor's last visit. The planet is now ruled by Queen Thalira - daughter of the late King Peladon - with advice from Chancellor Ortron. The Doctor and Sarah are arrested by Ortron for trespassing on sacred ground but their names are cleared by Alpha Centauri, now Galactic Federation ambassador to Peladon.

A ghost-like image of Aggedor has been responsible for some deaths in the planet's trisilicate mines, heightening unrest amongst the miners. The Doctor discovers that the apparitions are really the result of the use of a matter projector and a directional heat ray by a human engineer, Eckersley.

Eckersley is in league with a group of renegade Martian warriors, led by Commander Azaxyr, in a plot to seize the trisilicate deposits for Galaxy 5, a power bloc at war with the Federation. Azaxyr mounts an attack on the throne room and kills Ortron.

The Doctor however turns the heat ray on some of the Martians, while others are dispatched by the miners. Eckersley flees, taking the Queen hostage, but the Doctor uses the real Aggedor to track him down. Eckersley is killed, but Aggedor also dies in the skirmish.

Its plans thwarted, Galaxy 5 surrenders to the Federation. The Doctor is invited by Thalira to take over as Chancellor but he declines, suggesting the miners' leader Gebek would make a better candidate.

Has Prerequisite Story

9 out of 22 (40.9%) raters say this story requires a previous story.

Extended Ratings

Plot

6.6

(29)

Acting

7.1

(29)

Effects

6.7

(29)

Replay

6.1

(28)

3rd Doctor

Alpha Centauri

Sarah Jane Smith

Ice Warriors

Politics

Sci-fi

Cast

The Doctor - Jon Pertwee

Sarah Jane Smith - Elisabeth Sladen

Aggedor - Nick Hobbs

Azaxyr - Alan Bennion

Blor - Michael Crane

Body of Alpha Centauri - Stuart Fell

Eckersley - Donald Gee

Ettis - Ralph Watson

Gebek - Rex Robinson

Guard Captain - Terry Walsh

Miner - Roy Evans

Miner - Max Faulkner

Ortron - Frank Gatliff

Preba - Graeme Eton

Sskel - Sonny Caldinez

Thalira - Nina Thomas

Vega Nexos - Gerald Taylor

Voice of Alpha Centauri - Ysanne Churchman

Director:

Lennie Mayne

Writer:

Brian Hayles

Reviews

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Doctor Who

Classic TV Series

The Monster of Peladon

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Has Prerequisite(s):

Reviewed By: adamelijahReview Date: 10/18/17 3:59 am

0 out of 0 found this review helpful.

Monster of Peladon is somewhat unfairly maligned. It was too long, it had some odd costuming choices, the Queen's vacant expression throughout much of the story was very odd, there's an odd bit of continuity error, and a lot of set reuse, and then there's that secret passage that was very cool in the first Peladon story but isn't much of a secret with everyone and their brother using it.

Still, the story has a lot of charms: Sarah Jane is a delight, the Doctor has some great moments including a sword fight. There are some nice surprising plot twists, and enough action and spectacle to make this an enjoyable serial. It's probably the weakest story featuring the Ice Warriors in Classic Who but it's fairly enjoyable for what it is.

Doctor Who

Classic TV Series

The Monster of Peladon

From the Reviewer:

User Rating:

Plot Rating:

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Has Prerequisite(s):

Yes

Reviewed By: TheBigChurroReview Date: 1/20/17 11:55 pm

0 out of 1 found this review helpful.

The Curse of Peladon was fine, nothing special but it had its moments, nice pace at 4 episodes and a change for the Pertwee era (planets and stuff :P ) but its sequel Monster of Peladon is just straight out boring, 6 episodes of frankly filler for the season. Season 11 would be nearly flawless and be Pertwee's best season if it wasn't for this one bringing it down. Easily among Pertwee's worst 3 stories.