(590) Mawdryn Undead - Part 3

The third episode of this story is a strange one because the story does progress in terms of narrative but it still has the same problems as the previous two. Firstly there is still the problem that I cant buy the fact that Nyssa and Tegan believe that Mawdryn is the Doctor. Thankfully there are still things in this episode (like the previous two) that made the episode worth watching. The Doctor’s suspicion is made more obvious in this episode which is a relief and shows some sense in the Doctor for the first time. I still think that the Doctor and his Brigadier’s side of the story works much better than Nyssa and Tegan’s. They are very inactive in this episode which is a little bit frustrating.

The two Brigadiers moving around and just missing each other is something that is quite fun to see. It’s inevitable that they are going to meet and if you didn’t see it coming then you really aren’t trying. Even the Doctor puts a red flag up when he says what would happen if they met. Nicholas Courtney is playing the two brigadiers pretty much the same but its amazing what difference that the moustache makes to his performance.

Mawdryn is supposed to be this big figure in the story but doesn’t actually do anything to deserve that. He starts off ok trying to convince Nyssa and Tegan he is the Doctor and then when he leaves the TARDIS he spends an awfully long time dragging himself along the floor. It’s a shame that David Collings got lumbered with this role but its because of him that there is even something good to see.

There is one good thing that happens in this episode and the nonsense about Mawdryn being the Doctor because the Doctor comes bouncing into the TARDIS and this is when Nyssa and Tegan finally put two and two together. The Brigadier (1983) finds out a few moments later. Finally one problem gets dealt with. Just the big plot problem of Turlough trying to kill the Doctor. He makes no effort in trying to do this. I bet the Black Guardian wishes he had gone with someone else.

The episode ends with the Doctor revealing that Mawdryn’s plan would mean the end of him as a timelord. This is quite a good ending but its another episode which is a mixed bag. I don’t see things changing that much in the final episode. Well one thing is for sure, the festive spirit that I felt yesterday isn’t as strong.