Terminus

"Don't you want to be cured?"

Writer: Stephen Gallagher
Format: TV
Broadcast: 15-23 February 1983
Season: 20.04

Featuring: Fifth Doctor, Nyssa, Tegan, Turlough

Synopsis

Still under the malign influence of the Black Guardian, Turlough sabotages the TARDIS, placing the Doctor and his companions in grave danger. Nyssa disappears through an unstable interface with a nearby space liner, and the Doctor begins a desperate search for her aboard the ship.

When the liner docks at Terminus, a space station at the exact centre of the universe, the horrific truth starts to emerge. It may already be too late to save Nyssa's life, and the existence of the entire cosmos is now at peril...

Verdict

Terminus was another very good serial to continue the landmark twentieth season of Doctor Who and also carry along the Black Guardian trilogy already started in Mawdryn Undead. There was definitely less of the Black Guardian in this one which isn't all that surprising for the middle serial of a trilogy, but it really was noticeable how much he was lacking in appearance time for the two middle parts. I do hope that in the next serial he features more prominently and in more than just projections through Turlough. Tegan continuing to question whether she could trust her newfound companion was really good and the obvious answer was no. His being given Adric's room was quite an emotional moment even if he wasn't the best companion, but then again neither was Turlough. He was acting incredibly sketchy and I was surprised that she didn't end up telling the Doctor about his tampering with the roundel. That was of course what set the TARDIS on course to Terminus via the space liner. The skull-like artwork that was on a number of doorways looked good and I'd have liked to know more about it. I'm sure it was just there to indicate the danger on board with the diseased people. They were of course Lazars and the revelation that the ship the Doctor and co found themselves on was essentially a hospital ship worked well. The moment where a number of them emerged from their would-be cells was very reminiscent of New Earth and I can't help but think this serial is where that episode took inspiration from. Nyssa showing signs that she was infected was excellent and I liked the pace in which that was done and showed her deterioration. Olvir was a good character, but I was surprised when he just let Nyssa be taken because she was contaminated. It didn't sit right with me, but it did show just what this disease was thought of onboard. The mystery behind Terminus and it sitting right at the exact centre of the universe was superb and I was really fascinated. It had been a pretty solid serial up to that point, but from there my interest was peaked. I really enjoyed the concept and finding out that it was this ship jettisoning fuel into the time vortex that caused the Big Bang. There was one more fuel supply that needed jettisoning, and that meant the universe was at stake again. What created it could well destroy it. That's a lot at stake and something excellent to play around with. The different stages of sterilisation on the ship were interesting and I liked how the disease was used in conjunction with Terminus Incorporated and the greed of business. Nyssa soon found a way that those on board could be free of the company because she had been cured, and could synthesise an antidote for them that meant they would no longer rely on the supplies of Terminus that did just enough to keep them alive. I liked that. The radiation armour seen in the serial was very good and I have to say I thought the helmets looked pretty darn cool. The intrigue of the Forbidden Zone was great, but I did find it a bit humorous that with a name like that it was just marked off with tape! Bor was a very humorous character for his brief appearance being the right mix of friendly and delirious. A really nice chap. The Doctor's relationship with Kari was fantastic throughout and it was nice to see that develop from the start where he was pointed at with a gun. The Doctor seems to have a way of bringing people around. Tegan and Turlough spending a lot of time together was good and makes sense moving forward with this being Nyssa's farewell adventure. The way she departed was admirable and I really loved that she wanted to help and be able to use the skills she'd learned on Traken. I am sad to see her go as she is my favourite Fifth Doctor companion, but she'll do wonders. Overall, a fine serial!

Rating: 8/10