The Kings' Demons by Terence Dudley
15 - 16 March 1983
A slight story deserves a slight review, I think. Like Black Orchid the season before it, The Kings' Demons is
only half the length of most of its contemporaries. The chief problem I
saw with it was that it didn't seem to realize this restriction until
the start of the second episode.
The first part starts promising enough, with a historical setting that
seems rendered fairly well and some guest characters whose actors are
doing an able job. King John (or rather his facsimile) was a highlight
for me, with his cruel, plummy tone lending itself well to his florid
dialogue. ("Your words are more generous than your purse...")
The Master's demasking at the end of part one is also a bit of a fun
conceit, though it was easy to see coming. His affected accent and
slight mumble as "Gilles" both makes him difficult to understand, and
makes him stand out a little as odd. I must say, it's also odd (and
slightly disappointing) that Nyssa went out just a few episodes too soon
and missed one last rematch with the man who stole her father's face,
something the show never really fully reckoned with. Missed opportunity.
Things go off the rails in part two, I'm afraid. With not very much time
left in the story at all, we see the Doctor and company fail (badly) at
keeping the trust of the lord of the castle and his family, kind of get
his cousin killed unless I'm misremembering something, and then escape
without ever letting them know what really happened.
There's also the interesting matter of Kamelion. The Master's
explanation leaves the question of whether he's fully sentient or not
rather muddy, and his introduction is, as a whole, pretty rushed. I fail
to understand why exactly he's invited to stay on the TARDIS at the end
of the story. I think Tegan has the right idea!
So, half good, half bad. A familiar thing at this point...
A very special anniversary is almost due to be celebrated, but before that, we have our Season 20 roundup next.
(Modified from the original posted at Gallifrey Base on 25 April 2024.)
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