Happy 59th Anniversary Doctor Who. Thank you for all the years of joy and escapism.
This was my idea for an Anniversary story, the Doctor is forced to play the game of Rassilon once again.
Category: The Villains of Doctor Who
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The Doctor finds himself on a familiar world, acid seas, glass beaches and a reawakened conscience.
The Voord have finally gained control of the machine and dominate the world of Marinus, subverting it’s populace to their evil will.
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This will be the first in a series of semi-regular blog posts celebrating different elements, moments, stories, characters, etc from Doctor Who.
I love to celebrate the show, I love to love it so let’s go back to my roots a bit with this one. Why I love The Keeper of Traken.
My Doctor Who journey started way back in August 1980 with episode one of the Leisure Hive. But from that season a few things stood out to very young me. The cactus Doctor of Meglos, the terrifying Full Circle, but one story stole my heart and scared me witless. The Keeper of Traken.
From the Keeper appearing in and indeed taking control of the TARDIS in the stories opening scenes, and setting the stage for the unfolding story it just felt different.
The beautiful sets and costumes and some old Doctor Who hands bring this story a realness that made the Doctors struggle and success feel more vital to kiddy me. Did I understand all that was happening? Not at all at that age, but that really didn’t matter, the drama and energy and music all served to sweep me away into a rich and deep Universe.
But it was the Melkur and the decrepit Master within that really sealed the deal. The lopsided and asymmetrical Melkur absolutely scared me witless. The addition of Geoffrey Beevers gentle voice that just dripped charm and threat in equal measure, coming from the calcified ruin of a creature that was not just a statue but could roam at will (a thought occurs that maybe this is why the Weeping Angels have become a true modern Who success) truly unsettled me, and I think that combination still works today. I’d listen to Beevers read the telephone book and be chilled and soothed in equal measure!
As a child the world is a big and scary place, but when that scariness is contained within the safe confines of 25 minutes on a television set it becomes bearable, even thrilling and that is the magic of Doctor Who to me. First and foremost it will always be my escape and the Keeper of Traken is perfect escapism. It gels together so we’ll, a marriage of vision, sound, imagination and atmosphere. This is why I love The Keeper of Traken … Oh, and Nyssa, of course. I wished she was my big sister (and I share the same birthday as Sarah Sutton)
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Davros sits before a portrait his mother commissioned of him. The Shadow of a Dalek speaks of the future he will create. My little visual tribute to my all time favourite Big Finish story, I Davros.
The tone atmosphere, history and depth of the story is unimaginably good, as are all of the performances. Hearing how Davros becomes the Davros we know and what drives him is fascinating. If you’ve never heard it, treat yourselves, you won’t regret it!
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Retreading long forgotten footsteps the Doctor finds herself alone and repeating history. What malevolent force has forced her back along her own timeline, where one wrong move could destroy both the past and the future?
Only one being had the power to utterly usurp and make a mockery of time this way, the Black Guardian has returned to toy with the Doctor once again.
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The Doctor recognized the smell before entering the room, the smell of an embalmers. Medicinal, sterile but the scent of death ever present. She knew exactly who was there.
‘Davros, of course it would have to be you…’ the hints of accusation and disappointment coloured her words. It did not go unnoticed.
‘I see, Doctor, that your manners haven’t improved with this new face either.’ Davros purred as she slowly edged towards her old enemy.
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Found in the ruins of a bombed house in London during the Second World War this was the only item to escape the destruction undamaged.
It is now housed in a sealed bunker within the UNIT Black Archive as it’s said anyone who gazes upon it for too long becomes an unwitting victim to a mesmeric influence…
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‘Welcome home, Doctor. I hope you don’t mind but we’ve been keeping your wee spot warm.’
Gallifrey Gothic: Fan Art 