Enlightenment
![]() |
![]() |
Enlightenment
This Story: Season 20, Story 5. Production Code 6H
Overall: Story 128, Episodes 602-605
Airdates: 1 Mar – 9 Mar 1983
Written by Barbara Clegg
Directed by Fiona Cumming
Links
[ Wikipedia | Tardis Data Core | SPS Historium | Amazon US DVD | Amazon UK DVD ]
#DoctorWhoMarathon Ep 602 - Enlightenment 1/4 (Serial 6H Story 128) - 1 Mar 1983 #DoctorWho 1/2
— jᎾᎬ sᎥᎬᎶᏞᎬᏒ (@JoeSiegler) February 21, 2023
I remember this, but not in a ton of detail. On the surface it reminds me of some elements of Carnival of Monsters. I think this is the first story written AND directed by a woman. pic.twitter.com/tFhtQWgwRt
#DoctorWhoMarathon Ep 602 - Enlightenment 1/4 (Serial 6H Story 128) - 1 Mar 1983 #DoctorWho 2/2
— jᎾᎬ sᎥᎬᎶᏞᎬᏒ (@JoeSiegler) February 21, 2023
There's an odd feeling of "etherial exploration" with the beginning part of this story. Definitely has a bit of WTF here, as I can't quite figure out what's going on beyond "a race". pic.twitter.com/Keoon3tgfr
#DoctorWhoMarathon Ep 603 - Enlightenment 2/4 (Serial 6H Story 128) - 2 Mar 1983 #DoctorWho 1/2
— jᎾᎬ sᎥᎬᎶᏞᎬᏒ (@JoeSiegler) February 22, 2023
The various ships in the race are shown, but we don't know WHY there is a race yet. First clue of weirdness is a photo of Tegan's Aunt Vanessa, which they made into a plot point. pic.twitter.com/NnoSozAS2L
#DoctorWhoMarathon Ep 603 - Enlightenment 2/4 (Serial 6H Story 128) - 2 Mar 1983 #DoctorWho 2/2
— jᎾᎬ sᎥᎬᎶᏞᎬᏒ (@JoeSiegler) February 22, 2023
The boat people are revealed to be Eternals, some higher being sort of thing, although we don't have a ton of detail. One of the other ships is blown up, bringing a danger to race. pic.twitter.com/eA5uOkNU9F
#DoctorWhoMarathon Ep 604 - Enlightenment 3/4 (Serial 6H Story 128) - 8 Mar 1983 #DoctorWho 1/2
— jᎾᎬ sᎥᎬᎶᏞᎬᏒ (@JoeSiegler) February 24, 2023
Turlough is saved by the captain of another ship and you get the impression the different Eternal captains are up to different things. There is a formal dinner where Tegan gets quite pic.twitter.com/RQ3pURmp3K
#DoctorWhoMarathon Ep 604 - Enlightenment 3/4 (Serial 6H Story 128) - 8 Mar 1983 #DoctorWho 2/2
— jᎾᎬ sᎥᎬᎶᏞᎬᏒ (@JoeSiegler) February 24, 2023
the outfit. The Wrack actress sang a song in a Hartnell story (Gunfighters), & appeared much later in a Matt Smith story (Closing Time). Turlough tries to turn against the BGuardian. pic.twitter.com/Zv71A0deph
#DoctorWhoMarathon Ep 605 - Enlightenment 4/4 (Serial 6H Story 128) - 9 Mar 1983 #DoctorWho 1/2
— jᎾᎬ sᎥᎬᎶᏞᎬᏒ (@JoeSiegler) February 25, 2023
The race ends, and the price for the race is Enlightenment, basically "all knowledge". Due to the way the race ends, the Doctor is given the gift, but he declines, and the W Guardian pic.twitter.com/9teyjSxpMe
#DoctorWhoMarathon Ep 605 - Enlightenment 4/4 (Serial 6H Story 128) - 9 Mar 1983 - 2/2
— jᎾᎬ sᎥᎬᎶᏞᎬᏒ (@JoeSiegler) February 25, 2023
offers it to Turlough who rejects it, wiping out the BGuardian & freeing himself at same time. This is the last time we ever see the Guardians in #DoctorWho. Story was decent, but not great. pic.twitter.com/K5nDZM0CY4