5.0
The final segment of the Key to Time is at the heart of a devastating war between neighbouring planets Atrios and Zeos. The Fourth Doctor discovers that a sinister entity is manipulating events and the cost of obtaining the final segment may be more personal than he imagined.
Tom Baker
The Doctor
Mary Tamm
Romana
John Leeson
K-9 (voice)
John Woodvine
Marshal
Lalla Ward
Princess Astra
Davyd Harries
Shapp
Ian Saynor
Merak
Ian Liston
'Hero'
Susan Skipper
'Heroine'
John Cannon
Guard
Iain Armstrong
Technician
Pat Gorman
Pilot
Harry Fielder
Guard
William Squire
The Shadow
Barry Jackson
Drax
Valentine Dyall
The Black Guardian
Director
Michael Hayes
Script Editor
Douglas Adams
Script Editor
Anthony Read
Writer
Bob Baker
Writer
Dave Martin
November 25, 2024
6
This final, six-part, instalment of the "Key to Time" series splits quite neatly into two stories, really. The first sees our travelling Time Lord (Tom Baker) and his colleague "Romana" (Mary Tamm) arrive on the planet of "Atrios" right in the middle of their war with the neighbouring "Zeos". Thus far it's proved a bit of a stalemate, but the "Marshal" (John Woodvine) reckons he has a plan that will prove decisive, despite the more pacifist hopes of his princess "Astra" (Lalla Ward). Meantime, though, the "Doctor" begins to wonder if someone else isn't pulling the strings here and when they stumble upon a trans-mat beam they are introduced to the maniacal "Shadow" (William Squire) who rather worryingly knows more than he should about the closing stages of their quest. The "Key to Time" theme was always a rather weakly exploited one, and this denouement didn't really catch fire either. It's all adequate storytelling but there's just too much over-acting and not enough action until the final episode when a combination of factors and some participation from "K9" (and his laser gun) livened it up a bit. I usually felt four parts did the job with these, any more and they were too strung out - and this rather proves that theory. Time for a new assistant, too, I think.
Status:
Released
Original Language:
English
Budget:
$0.00
Revenue:
$0.00