Episode 62: Invasion

Synopsis:

Barbara and her Menoptra friends find themselves trapped on a narrow ledge as Zarbi and Larvae Guns converge on them...

She backs against the rockface, and finds that it moves slightly. There is a secret entrance into the crags at this point.

They enter and find themselves in a huge chamber containing ancient statues and wall paintings, and Hrostar identifies it as one of their long-lost Temples of Light. Captain Hilio has also found his way here. He has brought a special weapon, devised by their scientists, called the Isoptope. It is a cell destructor, designed specifically to destroy the Animus. He and the other Menoptra argue about what they should do next, and Barbara has to keep the peace.

In the Carzenome, Vicki has been wearing the gold wishbone device which the Doctor had earlier disabled, meaning she has not really been hypnotised. She is able to slip the device off the Doctor.

Now that they are no longer needed by the Animus, they realise they must escape or be killed. The Doctor uses the device to hypnotise one of their Zarbi guards. They will use it to escort them out of the complex. To control it, the Doctor must use his signet ring, which had already been seen to have special powers when it was able to open the TARDIS doors. Vicki nicknames their Zarbi "Zombo".

They emerge onto the surface and go in search of Ian and Barbara.

Underground, Vrestin explains to Hetra that his people are really cousins of the Menoptra - evolved into subterranean grub-like beings after they were forced to go underground by the coming of the Animus.

Ian plans an attack with them. Scared of the surface, they will attack the Carzenome from underneath.

In the Temple of Light, everyone hears movement outside and the rock door begins to open. All are shocked to see a Zarbi appear - but it is the one accompanying the Doctor and Vicki.

A plan is devised. The Doctor and Vicki will return to the Carzenome, taking the Isoptope with them. The others will draw the Zarbi out of the complex with a mock attack, then come and join them. Hrostar asks that "Zombo" be allowed to accompany his party and the Doctor reluctantly agrees, since it also means handing over his ring.

In the caverns of Vortis, the Optera come upon a rockface which they must break through. When a hole is dug, acid from the surface begins to pour through. The Optera Nemini sacrifices herself to plug the hole with her body.

The Doctor and Vicki re-enter the Carzenome. He passes the Isoptope to her for safekeeping. Zarbi force them to the ground.

A wall-mounted weapon fires on them, and they are left smothered in suffocating web...

Next episode: The Centre

Data:

Written by: Bill Strutton

Recorded: Friday 19th February 1965 - Riverside Studio 1

First broadcast: 5:40pm, Saturday 13th March 1965

Ratings: 12 million / AI 48

Designer: John Wood

Director: Richard Martin

Critique:

Martin Jarvis reported that he had some difficulties working with William Hartnell, when the veteran actor accused the younger members of the cast of not taking the work seriously.

During rehearsals, William Russell was excused on the Tuesday to do some filming for The Crusade, as he would be on holiday during its third episode. Jacqueline Hill was released on the Thursday for her pre-filming on the next story.

After the later start of the previous week, which had seen the cast having to leave the building without lights and miss out on their usual post-studio drink, recording returned to 8:30pm. In the afternoon, Hartnell's granddaughter Judith visited the studio. She would later write her grandfather's biography.

The conclusion of the episode was to have had the Doctor talk once more to the Animus, but this was changed during rehearsals and Catherine Fleming was released.

A model shaft was created for the Temple of Light, whose design was influenced by Inca and Aztec architecture.

There is an interesting overhead shot of the Optera digging party. The old studio cameras were heavy and unwieldy. If they were pointed too far off the horizontal they were easily damaged, burning themselves out. Richard Martin employed a large mirror, suspended on chains at a 45 degree angle, to achieve this overhead shot.

After their introduction in the previous instalment, the Optera are developed further. They have odd names for things - like calling the Animus "Pwodarak". Their visual imagery sees them refer to a rock wall as being dumb, and digging holes will "make mouths in it".

It is clear to see why Dennis Spooner and Richard Martin introduced the Optera as another story element. William Russell has a lot to do in the first three episodes, but thereafter his character is very much side-lined along with Vrestin. They would have had very little to do in the second half of the story.

Something which is never explained - how did the Doctor and Vicki find the Temple of Light? Barbara had discovered the entrance purely by accident when she leant against the rock, and the Menoptra specifically describe how these structures are mostly lost.

Another oddity is the lack of trust between the Menoptra. Hilio demands a password from one, as if simply being another of his species isn't enough. Surely he also ought to have been briefed on the scout party which had been sent to Vortis in advance of his invasion force.

Menoptra weapons are useless against the Zarbi - creatures they are familiar with - but they have developed a cell destructor they expect to be effective against the Animus, a creature they have no knowledge of. How do they even know it has a "dark side"?

Trivia:

• There is a drop of one million viewers since the previous instalment, and the appreciation index remains under 50, slipping by another point.
• The Isoptope was just the 'Isotope' in the original script. The name was changed when the Menoptra were being given odd names for people and things. The prop was the casing for a mid-20th Century microphone.
• This was the longest episode of the story, at just over 26 minutes duration.