Production Code: 6G
First Transmitted
1 - 15/02/1983 18:55
2 - 16/02/1983 18:45
3 - 22/02/1983 18:55
4 - 23/02/1983 18:45
Plot
The TARDIS attaches itself to a space liner after Turlough, still under the Black Guardian's influence, damages its controls. The Doctor and Nyssa meet two space pirates, Kari and Olvir, who have come on board the liner in search of plunder, while Tegan and Turlough get lost in the infrastructure.
The liner docks with what appears to be a hulk floating in space. This is Terminus, which claims to offer a cure for lazar disease. It is crewed by a group of armoured slave workers, the Vanir, while the cure is administered by a huge dog-like creature known as the Garm. Nyssa, who has contracted the disease from sufferers transported aboard the liner, discovers that the cure - involving exposure to radiation - does actually work. T
he Doctor and Kari meanwhile learn that the ship, once capable of time travel, was responsible for the creation of the universe when an ejection of fuel from one of its engines caused the 'big bang'. Aided by Kari and the Garm, the Doctor is able to disconnect a still active but damaged engine that is on the point of exploding - something that could result in the universe's destruction.
Episode Endings
As lazars emerge from sealed compartments and jostle their way through the corridors of the liner, Olvir hysterically shouts that this is a leper ship and they are all going to die.
An armoured Vanir, Valgard, drops the staff with which he has been attempting to choke Kari and turns his attention instead to the Doctor, grasping him about the throat and stating that he is going to kill him.
Turlough, on the Black Guardian's instructions, sabotages some equipment aboard Terminus. In the control room, the effects are seen by the Doctor and Kari: an automatic sequence has begun to jettison fuel from the damaged engine. The Doctor tells Kari: 'If we don't do something quickly, the whole universe will be destroyed.'
Nyssa decides to part company with the Doctor and remain with the Vanir to help them run Terminus as a proper hospital. Turlough meanwhile is given an ultimatum by the Black Guardian: this is his last chance to kill the Doctor.
Roots
Polanski's Repulsion (Tegan attacked by arms).
Papillon (a leper colony as sanctuary for convicts).
Things to Come (pirate costume design).
Gallagher's An Alternative to Suicide (exploitative company).
Norse mythology (Valgard, Eirak, Sigurd, Bor, the Garm).
Dialogue Triumphs
Bor : [On discovering that he is not dead.] "It's a relief. I am hoping for something rather better on the other side."
Dialogue Disasters
The Black Guardian : [Telling Turlough how to disable the TARDIS] "Operate the blue switches!"
Kari : "Freeeeeeze!"
Continuity
Terminus is at the centre of the known universe. The craft was once capable of time travel (though the Doctor doesn't explain who built it). When one of its jettisoned fuel pods exploded in a void, it caused a chain reaction [that led to Event One]. The ripples followed the craft through time throwing it billions of years into the future.
The TARDIS' space time element is beneath the console (it is, according to the Black Guardian, 'the heart of the TARDIS': see Arc of Infinity). When removed [in flight] this causes the jamming of the column and dimensional instability. On impending break up, the TARDIS fail-safe seeks out and locks onto the nearest spacecraft. The Doctor states it has never worked before.
Lazar's disease is cured by a massive dose of radiation, but this is a crude method, sometimes exchanging one killer disease for another. Nyssa thinks she can put into practice her Traken education, so elects to stay with the Vanir, promising to synthesize a form of Hydromel, the drug supplied by Terminus Incorporated.
Kari and Olvir's 'chief' is named as Colonel Periera by Valgard, who worked for the raider for five years until being turned in for the reward money.
QV
Location
A ship travelling to Terminus and Terminus itself.
Links
Turlough is given Adric's room in the TARDIS: there are visual references to Kinda (the double helix), 'The Visitation' (the android's mask) and Logopolis (the star chart), amongst others.
Trivia
There is excellent set design work by Dick Coles.
Nyssa leaves the TARDIS crew in a moving scene at the story's end.
Myth
This story was originally to have featured the Ice Warriors. (It wasn't.)
Cast & Crew
Cast
The Doctor - Peter Davison
Nyssa - Sarah Sutton
Tegan - Janet Fielding
Turlough - Mark Strickson
Black Guardian - Valentine Dyall
Bor - Peter Benson
Eirak - Martin Potter
Inga - Rachel Weaver
Kari - Liza Goddard
Olvir - Dominic Guard
Sigurd - Tim Munro
Tannoy Voice - Martin Muncaster
The Garm - R J Bell
Valgard - Andrew Burt
Crew
Director - Mary Ridge
Terminus