The Brain of Morbius - Episode 2

I wonder that if Terrance Dicks knew then what he knows now whether he would have wanted to take his name off this story because it’s a great little adventure and sure it might be stronger in tone than what Dicks would have seen during his time on the show but this is the sort of story that works for Tom Baker’s Doctor and for this period of the show.

It’s not very often I do this but my favourite line of the episode and possibly even the story is when Solon insults Kondo by calling him a “Chicken brain biological disaster”. It’s a great insult and shows why Solon is a really good character and Philip Madoc is such a good actor. The changes that Solon goes through in just one episode is quite remarkable and that helped me get past the last of anything really happening.

Once the episode gets over the reprise, the story starts with the Doctor talking to the Sisterhood. I commented that the sisterhood were a group that didn’t really get me interested in the story but this episode continues a change that I have noticed.

Morbius committed some crimes on Kahn which helps to explain why Morbius is held in the regard that he is. It forms part of a nice scene between the sisterhood and the Doctor where we learn that there is a bit of history between them and the Timelords. The Doctor soon finds himself about to be burnt at the stake by the sisterhood. Sort of out of the frying pan and into the fire so to speak. The shot of the flames in front of the Doctor is a good one. Sarah is blinded at the end of this scene and it seems to serve just one purpose and that is to make the cliffhanger seem more effective.

The scene between Kondo and Solon is a good one because Kondo shows Solon that he isn’t simply a simpleton. There is a nice bit of fear in Solon’s face and it shows that Solon isn’t quite as in control as he would like to think he is and it adds a nice bit of interest in their relationship. Solon’s involvement in this story becomes more interesting when during this episode we hear him talking to someone else who is clearly Morbius but this scene just shows that at best Solon is misguided and not the evil force that he pretends to be.

The episode seems to exist just to build up to the big reveal of Morbius is actually a brain in a jar. It’s one of two famous sci-fi brains in a jar. The other being Dave Lister in Red Dwarf VI. I think that the cliffhanger doesn’t quite have the shock that the previous one did but it’s still a good ending and I like that despite not a great deal happening in this episode, it’s still an engaging and interesting 25 minutes. It’s largely down to the performances from Baker, Sladen and Madoc but I think that this is a very dark and very entertaining adventure.