"Doctor Who"
The Mark of the Rani: Part 1 (1985)

Director:

Sarah Hellings

Writers:

Pip Baker (writer) &
Jane Baker (writer)

TV Series:

"Doctor Who" (1963)

Original Air Date:

2 February 1985 (Season 22, Episode 5)

Genre:

Adventure | Drama | Sci-Fi

Plot:

Plot Keywords:

Master | Man With No Name | Extraterrestrial Hero | Famous Opening Theme | Christ Allegory

Cast

Colin Baker	...	The Doctor
Nicola Bryant	...	Peri
Anthony Ainley	...	The Master
Kate O'Mara	...	The Rani
Terence Alexander	...	Lord Ravensworth
Peter Childs	...	Jack Ward
Gary Cady	...	Luke Ward
Richard Steele	...	Guard
William Ilkley	...	Tim Bass
Hus Levant	...	Edwin Green (as Hus Levent)
Kevin White	...	Sam Rudge
Martyn Whitby	...	Drayman
Sarah James	...	Young Woman
Cordelia Ditton	...	Older Woman

Runtime:

45 min

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Australia:G | UK:U

Filming Locations:

Blists Hill Open Air Museum, Ironbridge, Shropshire, England, UK

Trivia:

The first appearance of The Rani.

Quotes:

[the Master has The Doctor captive and is bragging yet again]
The Rani: Do stop squabbling and get on with it!

"If this place gives you the creeps lets get out of it." Pretty good Colin Baker story.

*** This comment may contain spoilers ***

Doctor Who: The Mark of the Rani: Part 1 starts as the Doctor (Colin Baker) & Peri (Nicola Bryant) are due to arrive at Kew Gardens, however the TARDIS instead materialises in England in Killingworth near Newcastle during the 19th Century. The Doctor's instruments sense another Time Lord nearby & he decides to investigate, the Doctor & Peri stumble across a mining pit which according to it's owner Lord Ravensworth (Terence Alexander) has suffered from outbursts of violence amongst it's workers. Intrigued the Doctor investigates further & discovers that an evil female Time Lord called the Rani (Kate O'Mara) has been taking fluid from people's brains for her experiments & to add to his problems the Master (Anthony Ainley) is in fact alive & wants revenge...

This Doctor Who adventure was episode 5 from season 22 that originally aired here in the UK during early 1985 & was Colin Baker's third story as the Doctor, directed by Sarah Hellings this is a good story during a time when the show was on a bit of a downward spiral. The script by Pip & Jane Baker is a rarity amongst many 70's & 80's Doctor Who stories in that it takes place in a genuine historical setting & it marks the first time the show makes reference to a real life historical figure in the inventor of the steam engine George Stevenson since William Hartnell met Wyatt Earp among other's at the gunfight at the OK Corral during The Gunfighters (1966). The best aspect of Mark of the Rani is the fun & often quite amusing banter & dialogue between the three Time Lords (even though it never explains how the Master comes back from the dead after his last appearance in Planet of Fire (1984) where he was supposedly killed) on show as they try to out-insult other other & the Doctor & Peri don't argue much during this one which helps. This was a story from when Doctor Who changed it's format from four 25 minute episodes to two 45 minute episodes & it works pretty well here, it moves along at a nice pace, it never bores & there's a great cliffhanger at the end of this episode. The one thing which isn't too great is the actual basic story, it's maybe a touch simplistic, it's a little lacking in ideas & not that exciting either.

Mark of the Rani was actually shot at a living museum, the Blists Hill Open Air Museum in Ironbridge which means everything looks pretty authentic & the studio bound sets are also impressive. There hasn't really been any special effects in this episode & there's no monsters either, the costumes are good as well but what on earth is Peri wearing? The pink high heels are fine but that horrible yellow dress looks ridiculous. The acting is a bit suspicious as are some of the accents but that adds to the fun, it's amazing some of the extras who appear in these things & Terence Alexander of Bergerac (1981 - 1991) fame turns up here as does Kate O'Mara before she starred in Dynasty (1986) in the first Doctor Who story to feature the Rani.

Mark of the Rani isn't the greatest Doctor Who story ever but it's still good fun & provides enough entertainment to satisfy, a must for fans & those looking for some sci-fi fun.