Doctor Who/Recap/S24/E04 Dragonfire: Difference between revisions

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[[File:DragonfireTeam_2892.jpg|frame]]
[[File:DragonfireTeam_2892.jpg|frame]]
{{quote| '''Belasz:''' What are you doing here?<br />
{{quote|'''Belasz:''' What are you doing here?
'''The Doctor:''' That’s a very difficult question. Why is everyone around here so preoccupied with metaphysics?<br />
'''The Doctor:''' That’s a very difficult question. Why is everyone around here so preoccupied with metaphysics?
'''Glitz:''' I think she’s going to kill us, Doctor!<br />
'''Glitz:''' I think she’s going to kill us, Doctor!
'''The Doctor:''' Ah! An existentialist! }}
'''The Doctor:''' Ah! An existentialist! }}


The Doctor and Mel visit Iceworld, a waystation for space travellers on the inhospitable ice planet Svartos, where they run into old <s>friend</s> acquaintance [[Doctor Who/Recap/S23 E4 The Ultimate Foe|Sabalom Glitz]], who has come in search of a dragon that is rumoured to guard a treasure in the tunnels below Iceworld. They are joined on the quest by Ace, a young woman working as a waitress in one of Iceworld's eating establishments after being stranded on Svartos by a [[Negative Space Wedgie]].
The Doctor and Mel visit Iceworld, a waystation for space travellers on the inhospitable ice planet Svartos, where they run into old <s>friend</s> acquaintance [[Doctor Who/Recap/S23/E04 The Ultimate Foe|Sabalom Glitz]], who has come in search of a dragon that is rumoured to guard a treasure in the tunnels below Iceworld. They are joined on the quest by Ace, a young woman working as a waitress in one of Iceworld's eating establishments after being stranded on Svartos by a [[Negative Space Wedgie]].


Along the way, they cross paths with one of Iceworld's long-term inhabitants, a [[Humanoid Alien]] named Kane who must live in sub-zero temperatures to survive, and who is also seeking the dragon's treasure for his own purposes.
Along the way, they cross paths with one of Iceworld's long-term inhabitants, a [[Humanoid Alien]] named Kane who must live in sub-zero temperatures to survive, and who is also seeking the dragon's treasure for his own purposes.


The first episode ends with an infamous [[Literal Cliff Hanger]], as the Doctor climbs past a safety railing and dangles himself over a precipice for no apparent reason. (The intention was that he'd found his way blocked by a rockfall -- which isn't shown in the episode as aired -- and was trying to reach a path that crossed the cliff face -- which also isn't shown until Glitz helps him down onto it at the beginning of the following episode.)
The first episode ends with an infamous [[Literal Cliff Hanger]], as the Doctor climbs past a safety railing and dangles himself over a precipice for no apparent reason. (The intention was that he'd found his way blocked by a rockfall—which isn't shown in the episode as aired—and was trying to reach a path that crossed the cliff face—which also isn't shown until Glitz helps him down onto it at the beginning of the following episode.)


At the end of the adventure, Mel -- in a front-runner for the hotly-contested title of Most Arbitrary ''Doctor Who'' Companion Departure Ever -- decides to leave the TARDIS and travel with Glitz, and the Doctor offers Ace a lift home (via the "scenic route").
At the end of the adventure, Mel—in a front-runner for the hotly-contested title of Most Arbitrary ''Doctor Who'' Companion Departure Ever—decides to leave the TARDIS and travel with Glitz, and the Doctor offers Ace a lift home (via the "scenic route").
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=== Tropes ===
== Tropes ==


* [[BFG]]: Kane's men gear up with some in preparation for the "ANT hunt"
* [[BFG]]: Kane's men gear up with some in preparation for the "ANT hunt"
* [[Call Back]]: There's a brief cameo by an Argolin from ''[[Doctor Who/Recap/S18 E1 The Leisure Hive|The Leisure Hive]]'', in the restaurant where Ace worked.
* [[Call Back]]: There's a brief cameo by an Argolin from ''[[Doctor Who/Recap/S18/E01 The Leisure Hive|The Leisure Hive]]'', in the restaurant where Ace worked.
* [[Children Are Innocent]]: The writer Ian Briggs intended the little girl to represent innocence but was dismayed by the choice to put her in a Mini Pops-esque dress which caused controversy in both fan and media reviews.
* [[Children Are Innocent]]: The writer Ian Briggs intended the little girl to represent innocence but was dismayed by the choice to put her in a Mini Pops-esque dress which caused controversy in both fan and media reviews.
* [[Crying Little Kid]]: Whose getting lost saves both her life and her mother's.
* [[Crying Little Kid]]: Whose getting lost saves both her life and her mother's.
* [[Continuity Nod]]: The Doctor scoffs at the idea that the dragon is a myth like the [[Loch Ness Monster]]. Of course, The Doctor has [[Doctor Who/Recap/S13 E1 Terror of the Zygons|already encountered]] [[Doctor Who/Recap/S22 E5 Timelash|two different Nessies]].
* [[Continuity Nod]]: The Doctor scoffs at the idea that the dragon is a myth like the [[Loch Ness Monster]]. Of course, The Doctor has [[Doctor Who/Recap/S13/E01 Terror of the Zygons|already encountered]] [[Doctor Who/Recap/S22/E05 Timelash|two different Nessies]].
* [[Deal With the Devil]]: Kane with Belasz, and unsuccessfully Ace.
* [[Deal with the Devil]]: Kane with Belasz, and unsuccessfully Ace.
* [[Evil Is Deathly Cold]]
* [[Evil Is Deathly Cold]]
* [[Fun With Acronyms]]: '''A'''gressive '''N'''on-'''T'''errestrial.
* [[Fun with Acronyms]]: '''A'''gressive '''N'''on-'''T'''errestrial.
* [[The Guards Must Be Crazy]]: The Doctor successfully distracts a guard by engaging him in metaphysical debate.
* [[The Guards Must Be Crazy]]: The Doctor successfully distracts a guard by engaging him in metaphysical debate.
* [[Hostage for Macguffin]]: Ace for the Dragonfire.
* [[Hostage for Macguffin]]: Ace for the Dragonfire.
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* [[Moral Dissonance]]: The Doctor and the story treat Glitz as a [[Lovable Rogue]] to the point that Mel happily goes off with him, despite the fact that he sold his crew into slavery and that his response to the deaths of dozens, if not hundreds of innocent people is anger that [[Watch the Paint Job|his ship got blown up]].
* [[Moral Dissonance]]: The Doctor and the story treat Glitz as a [[Lovable Rogue]] to the point that Mel happily goes off with him, despite the fact that he sold his crew into slavery and that his response to the deaths of dozens, if not hundreds of innocent people is anger that [[Watch the Paint Job|his ship got blown up]].
* [[Name of Cain]]: It was originally intended to be Hess, but then [[Those Wacky Nazis|Rudolf Hess]] hit the headlines again.
* [[Name of Cain]]: It was originally intended to be Hess, but then [[Those Wacky Nazis|Rudolf Hess]] hit the headlines again.
* [[Named After Somebody Famous]]: Many of the guest characters are named after famous figures of academic film criticism and theory. Plus [[Citizen Kane (Film)|Kane]] and Ace's real name [[The Wizard of Oz (Film)|Dorothy]].
* [[Named After Somebody Famous]]: Many of the guest characters are named after famous figures of academic film criticism and theory. Plus [[Citizen Kane|Kane]] and Ace's real name [[The Wizard of Oz (film)|Dorothy]].
* [[Not So Different]]: So we have an ancient alien, exiled from his home planet, who recruits disaffected teenage girls to act as his [[The Dragon|Dragons]]. Who are we talking about, again? Lampshaded by the fact that the console in the centre of Iceworld's control room has a very similar silhouette to the TARDIS console.
* [[Not So Different]]: So we have an ancient alien, exiled from his home planet, who recruits disaffected teenage girls to act as his [[The Dragon|Dragons]]. Who are we talking about, again? Lampshaded by the fact that the console in the centre of Iceworld's control room has a very similar silhouette to the TARDIS console.
* [[Not Using the Z Word]]: Kane's army of vacant-eyed, [[Zombie Gait|shambling]], [[Nigh Invulnerable]] men. Their behaviour is explained as being due to their memories being wiped by cryo-freezing.
* [[Not Using the Z Word]]: Kane's army of vacant-eyed, [[Zombie Gait|shambling]], [[Nigh Invulnerable]] men. Their behaviour is explained as being due to their memories being wiped by cryo-freezing.
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* [[Rule Number One]]
* [[Rule Number One]]
* [[Running Gag]]: Glitz defining "philanthropic", from "The Mysterious Planet".
* [[Running Gag]]: Glitz defining "philanthropic", from "The Mysterious Planet".
* [[Sealed Army in A Can]]
* [[Sealed Army in a Can]]
* [[Something That Begins With Boring]]
* [[Something That Begins With Boring]]
* [[The Starscream]]: Belasz {{spoiler|unsuccessfully}}
* [[The Starscream]]: Belasz {{spoiler|unsuccessfully}}
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{{reflist}}
{{reflist}}
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[[Category:Doctor Who (TV)/Recap]]
[[Category:Doctor Who S 24 E 4 Dragonfire]]
[[Category:Recap]]
[[Category:Recap]]
[[Category:Doctor Who]]
[[Category:Doctor Who]]
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[[Category:Doctor Who/Recap]]

Latest revision as of 01:05, 29 June 2016

Belasz: What are you doing here?
The Doctor: That’s a very difficult question. Why is everyone around here so preoccupied with metaphysics?
Glitz: I think she’s going to kill us, Doctor!
The Doctor: Ah! An existentialist!

The Doctor and Mel visit Iceworld, a waystation for space travellers on the inhospitable ice planet Svartos, where they run into old friend acquaintance Sabalom Glitz, who has come in search of a dragon that is rumoured to guard a treasure in the tunnels below Iceworld. They are joined on the quest by Ace, a young woman working as a waitress in one of Iceworld's eating establishments after being stranded on Svartos by a Negative Space Wedgie.

Along the way, they cross paths with one of Iceworld's long-term inhabitants, a Humanoid Alien named Kane who must live in sub-zero temperatures to survive, and who is also seeking the dragon's treasure for his own purposes.

The first episode ends with an infamous Literal Cliff Hanger, as the Doctor climbs past a safety railing and dangles himself over a precipice for no apparent reason. (The intention was that he'd found his way blocked by a rockfall—which isn't shown in the episode as aired—and was trying to reach a path that crossed the cliff face—which also isn't shown until Glitz helps him down onto it at the beginning of the following episode.)

At the end of the adventure, Mel—in a front-runner for the hotly-contested title of Most Arbitrary Doctor Who Companion Departure Ever—decides to leave the TARDIS and travel with Glitz, and the Doctor offers Ace a lift home (via the "scenic route").

Tropes

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