The Keeper of Traken
The Keeper of Traken
This Story: Season 18, Story 6. Production Code 5T
Overall: Story 115, Episodes 552-555
Airdates: 31 Jan 1981 – 21 Feb 1981
Written by Johnny Byrne
Directed by John Black
Links
- The second (and final) appearance of the “Burnt Master”, and the first appearance for the Anthony Ainley incarnation of The Master.
- The first appearance of Nyssa, although at this point she’s not yet a companion.
Links
[ Wikipedia | Tardis Data Core | SPS Historium | Amazon US DVD | Amazon UK DVD ]#DoctorWhoMarathon Ep 552 - The Keeper of Traken 1/4 (Serial 5T Story 115) - 31 Jan 1981. #DoctorWho 1/2
— jᎾᎬ sᎥᎬᎶᏞᎬᏒ (@JoeSiegler) January 3, 2023
This story has a few firsts. First for Nyssa and Anthony Ainley as Tremas/The Master. It's also one of my fav TBaker stories, which is odd as it's the only one with Adric as pic.twitter.com/GBONPVf3qU
#DoctorWhoMarathon Ep 552 - The Keeper of Traken 1/4 (Serial 5T Story 115) - 31 Jan 1981. #DoctorWho 2/2
— jᎾᎬ sᎥᎬᎶᏞᎬᏒ (@JoeSiegler) January 3, 2023
a solo companion. This story also features the "burnt" Master that we last saw 4 seasons ago. Despite this being a setup ep, it wasn't as dry as they can be generally. pic.twitter.com/CRRosw6fDE
#DoctorWhoMarathon Ep 553 - The Keeper of Traken 2/4 (Serial 5T Story 115) - 7 Feb 1981. #DoctorWho 1/2
— jᎾᎬ sᎥᎬᎶᏞᎬᏒ (@JoeSiegler) January 3, 2023
The Doctor & Adric are saved from execution from Tremas, a scientist. The Doctor looks to find his Tardis and investigate what he thinks is an attack on the Keeper. Adric & pic.twitter.com/jG9aR1rKH8
#DoctorWhoMarathon Ep 553 - The Keeper of Traken 2/4 (Serial 5T Story 115) - 7 Feb 1981. #DoctorWho 2/2
— jᎾᎬ sᎥᎬᎶᏞᎬᏒ (@JoeSiegler) January 3, 2023
Nyssa do some investigating on their own. The rest of the ep is mostly political dealings with the various council members. Kassia feels borderline nuts here being controlled. pic.twitter.com/CiBFDB2Hka
#DoctorWhoMarathon Ep 554 - The Keeper of Traken 3/4 (Serial 5T Story 115) - 14 Feb 1981. #DoctorWho 1/2
— jᎾᎬ sᎥᎬᎶᏞᎬᏒ (@JoeSiegler) January 4, 2023
The Melkur uses circumstance to become the Keeper himself. Kassia gets a bit more power hungry in the leadup to that. Nyssa works to help the Doctor & Adric. Given I know how pic.twitter.com/ZlBLAmbVox
#DoctorWhoMarathon Ep 554 - The Keeper of Traken 3/4 (Serial 5T Story 115) - 14 Feb 1981. #DoctorWho 2/2
— jᎾᎬ sᎥᎬᎶᏞᎬᏒ (@JoeSiegler) January 4, 2023
this all ends, it's a weird feeling watching it now, as it's hard not to jump ahead mentally. We find out that Melkur is the Master and it's he who becomes the Keeper. pic.twitter.com/EWs1Ip9JD0
#DoctorWhoMarathon Ep 555 - The Keeper of Traken 4/4 (Serial 5T Story 115) - 21 Feb 1981. #DoctorWho 1/2
— jᎾᎬ sᎥᎬᎶᏞᎬᏒ (@JoeSiegler) January 6, 2023
"A new body.. at last!" The Master returns to Doctor Who properly at the end of ep4 when he takes over Tremas' body after being defeated. As scripted, Nyssa was not supposed pic.twitter.com/jm5aLQfACa
#DoctorWhoMarathon Ep 555 - The Keeper of Traken 4/4 (Serial 5T Story 115) - 21 Feb 1981. #DoctorWho 2/2
— jᎾᎬ sᎥᎬᎶᏞᎬᏒ (@JoeSiegler) January 6, 2023
to stay on after this. Turns out Nyssa & Adric saved the day - and the Doctor. The Master takes over Tremas' body and becomes whole again. Traken was an excellent story. pic.twitter.com/viQXapMBNq