Logopolis

"The universe is hanging by a thread..."

Writer: Christopher H. Bidmead
Format: TV
Broadcast: 28th February - 21st March 1981
Season: 18.07

Featuring: Fourth Doctor, Adric, Nyssa, Tegan

Synopsis

The Doctor and Adric head to Earth to fix the TARDIS' chameleon circuit - hoping to restore the time machine's ability to blend into its surroundings. But once they face danger involving a newly-regenerated Master and a feisty young air hostess called Tegan Jovanka. How can the people of the distant and mysterious planet Logopolis help? And just who is the strange, ghostly figure watching the Doctor's every move...?

Verdict

Logopolis is a wonderful story and will always be remembered as Tom Baker's final adventure as the Fourth Doctor. Of course, before he can go and fall to his demise there's a great big story to get through as well as a return for the Master in his renewed form. There's also the arrival of a new companion in Tegan which, when I come to think of it, seems a little untimely but I guess things were all about setting the show up for its future which would obviously be much changed following Peter Davison's arrival as the Fifth Doctor. But I'll get to that at a later, but not too far away, date. The transition of actors was obviously helped by the return of Nyssa too who was brought to Logopolis by the mysterious Watcher who had been a recurring but silent figure throughout the story. He was almost like a mummy and I liked how Adric initially thought that he was actually the Master. There was good continuation from The Keeper of Traken and after having only watched it a few days ago I thought the timing to blog my goodbye to the Fourth Doctor was pretty much perfect. The story is just a joy and with so much going on it still manages to tell an exciting adventure. The Doctor's sudden urge to fix the chameleon circuit of the TARDIS was interesting but I liked it. It's hard to imagine the Doctor's TARDIS being anything other than a police box but of course we would see it alter shape in Attack of the Cybermen. That wouldn't last long though. We saw the chameleon circuit working wonders for the Master though as he was hopping from place to place ridiculously frequently. I was surprised that we didn't actually see the Master until part three but the suspense that was brought by the knowledge of his presence was terrific. Nyssa didn't arrive until the same time which was good as she thought of him as being her father until the Doctor broke the devastating news. Tegan also lost her aunt to the murdering Time Lord renegade but it would soon get a whole lot worse for Nyssa. Thanks to the Master's meddling on Logopolis, the centrepiece that holds the universe together, Traken was completely destroyed. Nyssa's home planet was gone in an instant thanks to a man who had stolen her father's body. The hatred she must have for him must be enormous. The relationship between the Doctor and Adric was very good at the start and I loved the former trying to explain why they needed to go to Earth and measure a police box's dimensions. There were some wonderful references in this story with the mentions of An Unearthly Child, Full Circle and Warriors' Gate particularly pleasing me. The Doctor mentioning the TARDIS being in repairs on Gallifrey would back up what we saw in The Name of the Doctor with the First Doctor stealing a faulty TARDIS. The Master's plan was cunning and maniacal which was perfect for him and Anthony Ainley certainly resurrected the villain incredibly well. His desire to kill and cause the Doctor chaos and havoc was still as strong as ever which was fantastic. The lead up to the regeneration and the Doctor's almighty fall was good and I liked how the Master wasn't dealt with leaving a return open in the future. The regeneration itself was quite quick and after some terrific flashbacks of all the Fourth Doctor's worst enemies and best friends, the Watcher and Doctor merged and the Fifth Doctor arrived, wordless. Overall, a wonderful way to see the Fourth Doctor and Tom Baker off into the sunset!

Rating: 10/10