Doctor Who (1963) 15.06.04

The Invasion of Time - Part Four

Andred attempts to shoot the Doctor with his blaster but it doesn't work inside the TARDIS. The doctor has K-9 poke around in the Matrix. K-9 finds a way to create a hole in the force field protecting Gallifrey. He hopes that this will convince the Vardans to reveal themselves.

Kelner send some of his guards to deal with Andred's compatriots. The guards, sent by Kelner, kill Andred's allies who are standing outside the TARDIS. The Doctor exits the TARDIS and sends the guards that Kelner sent off on a wild goose chase.

The Doctor then goes to see the Vardans. He explains to them that he has found a way to create a hole in the force field surrounding Gallifrey. The Vardans are pleased. One of them goes with the Doctor as he deals with the force field. The Vardans materialize once the force field has dropped. 

Leela trains with the renegade Time Lords in the wilderness. They come up with a plan and then infiltrate the Citadel. They make their way to the President's office where they find the Doctor, K-9, and Andred. The Doctor gives the order and K-9 does something that makes the Vardans depart Gallifrey very suddenly.

The Doctor announces that the fight is over. Everyone is ready to celebrate but then more aliens materialize in the Citadel, Sontarans.

Thoughts

There is more than one bit of hocus pocus that didn't seem terribly scientific in this episode. I don't understand what it is that K-9 did to cause the Vardans to disappear. I guess that with the defenses still down it was easy for the Sontarans to land in Gallifrey. 

The scene where Leela is shown practicing with a bow and arrows seems fairly unsafe. Everyone else in the scene is lining the route between her and the target. Obviously it is done so that they can get everyone in the shot but the unsafe nature of it all (regardless of how good a shot Lella was) jumped out at me.

Is that it for the Vardans? I think it might be. I'm glad that the supporting cast have done a decent job so far because the Vardans were rather bland.

I wonder how well it was known when this story first aired that the Sontarans were going to show up at in this story? It seems a bit late in the game for them to be making their first appearance.

Some of the science seems kind of like magic but I guess that's not uncommon for this show. It isn't the reason I tune in and keep coming back for more.

I am still enjoying this story and eager to see what comes next.