The Mind of Evil

"Interfering with the mind... it's a dangerous business."

Writer: Don Houghton
Format: TV
Broadcast: 30 January - 6 March 1971
Season: 8.02

Featuring: Third Doctor, Jo

Synopsis

Professor Emil Keller has created a machine that can pacify even the most dangerous of criminals. But when the Doctor and Jo arrive at Stangmoor Prison for a demonstration, things start to go horribly wrong - especially when they discover that the Doctor's old enemy the Master is responsible for the machine.

Verdict

The Mind of Evil was a fantastic way to conclude my 29 days in a row of Classic Doctor Who television blogging! It's been a whirlwind and quite the use of BritBox's free trial, but after a shaky past couple of stories or so, I am glad to have finished with one of my favourites. I have always really liked this serial and I found it compelling to be going back and watching for the first time in eight years. The premise of the story is something I have always enjoyed with the idea of curing criminals with a Doctor Who spin. The Keller machine concept was great and its ability to take the negative impulses in the brain that made individuals criminals was terrific. It almost seems as if it should be something the Doctor might encourage! Of course, the demonstration showed that there was a great deal wrong with the methods. It turns out that Professor Keller was in fact the Master and I really loved the sophisticated way in which he emerged into the serial. He's only just featured in Terror of the Autons for his debut, but keeping him out of part one would definitely have aided the surprise. It's clear to see that he's made such a big impression already amongst UNIT and the continuity that came from his first serial with his TARDIS's dematerialisation circuit and the Doctor offering it as a bargain was fantastic. That was brilliant storytelling. It was quite fascinating to see the differing effects of some of the cliffhangers that almost always seemed to involve the Keller machine. The way the Doctor particularly suffered from the ending of part three told a big story. If even the Doctor was susceptible and unable to control the machine, then who could? The idea of a creature being inside the machine and feeding off the evil of the mind was really good, but my only qualm was perhaps there should have been a bit more regarding that. Especially because it was six parts! To be fair though, it didn't seem too long in the slightest which is a big positive. When the machine was used on the Master, I thought the image of the Doctor laughing maniacally was hilarious. His ability to have taken over the prison was excellent and it made for a very good setting of his operations. The Trojan horse plan from the Brigadier to infiltrate was pretty comedic and had Nicholas Courtney in a rather humorous role momentarily. The cliffhanger to part five was very strong with it seeming all but certain that the Doctor had been shot, but the revelation that the Brigadier had emerged just in time was great. The Doctor's reaction was hardly one of being pleased! The humour that came when the Doctor questioned the Brigadier about not having the missile on top of losing the Master was wonderful. Their relationship really is marvellous and that was evident at the conclusion when the Doctor's jealousy was clear to see when he realised he was stuck and the Master was free to explore in his TARDIS. The Doctor still felt he was stuck and it was very powerful having the Master mock his exile. You can just see in Jon Pertwee's performance how much the Doctor wants to just have free reign of his TARDIS. The Master's plans to use the missile to revert the planet to war and take over the planet in its ruins was good, but the Doctor was able to gain a small victory and prevent his desire. It's intriguing then that the Master still stands triumphant at the end. It's also quite surprising given what's said here that he returns in The Claws of Axos in the serial that immediately follows. Overall though, a brilliant serial!

Rating: 9/10