N.B. there might (or might not) be spoilers in this article!
I’ve possibly laboured the point that this era of Doctor Who feels ahead of its time, with the twenty-first century incarnation of Doctor Who sharing some of its traits. Unfortunately, that means you also get the underwhelming season finale – one that promises much but rarely delivers.
“When will it all end?”
Astra, The Armageddon Factor: Part One
The Armageddon Factor even has one of those characters whose sole role seems to be take away some of the Doctor’s mystery. Thankfully the Doctor is having none of Drax’s calling-him-Theta nonsense and insists on being referred to as ‘Doctor’. I’ve nothing against Barry Jackson’s performance – it seems that trying to put a snarky humorous sidekick on the same level as the Doctor always has always irritated me.
But, as you’d expect from a Bob Baker and Dave Martin script, there are lots of interesting ideas here. What with the imperial poppycock of war between Atrios and Zeos (with John Woodvine being in a particularly grumpy mood), K-9’s going over to the dark side and a time loop, it all points towards The Armageddon Factor being an epic conclusion to the Doctor and Romana’s ‘jackdaw meanderings’ in their search for the Key to Time. Ultimately though, it’s a bit of disappointment – after all that effort the Doctor just scatters the key to the six corners of the universe again.
“I’d stay and watch you die, but I haven’t the time. “
Astra, The Armageddon Factor: Part Four
Indeed, if anything, it’s all rather subdued for the Bristol Boys. Perhaps they knew it was going to be their last script together? Or maybe it’s caused by the story being stretched out over six episodes. And it does feel stretched. For one, K-9 on that conveyer belt in Part Two is interminable. And when the Doctor finally rescued the tin dog, I did ask myself if you would really climb into a furnace for a robot that you probably have a new boxed copy of back in the TARDIS. Speaking of K-9, there’s a nice nod to his sulking about being left in the TARDIS in The Power of Kroll. Perhaps that’s why he hooks up with The Shadow – to get back at the Doctor for not taking for a walk on the third moon of Delta Magna and then almost letting him fry on Atrios?
All in all it’s hard not to be disappointed by The Armageddon Factor, although it’s interesting to note that the Doctor isn’t the only Time Lord to base his appearance on someone he’s met before. I know I’m jumping the gun a little here, but it’s a pity we never got to see The Two Romanas.
"It’s funny that when you say 'Armageddon Factor' it sounds like you're saying 'I’m a-getting fatter.'"
"The best way of explaining this – 'Empirical poppycock'."
"Princess Astra is played by the same actress as Romana 2." [Or is Romana 2 played by the same actress as Princess Astra? – UT]
Son of UT Rating: 8/10
