Why you forgot about it:That same "Third in a Trilogy" thing again, and it's pretty demanding. Why You Should See It Again:THIS is Science Fiction. Be happy it even got made. Most people aware of "Doctor Who" history know that the show changed gears after 1979 - Gone was the Douglas Adams/"Hitchhiker's" feel the show had had the previous two years (Partly owing to one "Douglas Adams" retiring as Script Editor). In came a more severe script editor who was very critical of the "science" of the show and a glossy new look. The result is a mixed bag. Some people were happy to see K-9 go, but we got Adric in return. Some stories were clever and benefit from the new direction ("Full Circle"). Others.....well, others had cactus people ("Meglos"). What many don't know is that the stories that were turned down in this period were VERY good in concept. One of my favourites, "Sealed Orders", had the Doctor receive notice from Gallifrey that he was to kill his companion Romana - while he grappled with this, he chased through the TARDIS while it ran at different time speeds looking for her, trying to get at the truth. Sounds great, doesn't it? Annnnnnd... we got Cactus people. My consolation prize for all the great ideas that were turned down (also including a Celtic mythology story, A Douglas Adams pitch about the Doctor taking a vacation, and a very metatextual story about the Doctor going to see the actor "Tom Baker") is "Warrior's Gate". "Warrior's Gate" is a very divisive story, as most either don't get it or nitpick the odd science on display. Those looking for SCI-FI with a capital "SUH!" are in for a treat though. The recent "Day of the Moon" lovingly referenced this story by having the Doctor's prison be constructed from Dwarf Star Alloy - Here's the source of that reference. There's MUCH to be had here though. This is a story that literally goes "through the looking glass" into the past - And indicates that's what's happening in many ways - The Tharils, the chief aliens in this story, show you both their past and the present in a visually striking way - By passing through a mirror they "reflect" upon themselves. Clever, no? The simple effects used actually lend so much to this story, take a look: The void between two universes that the TARDIS is trapped in is indicated by a simple white void. "The Mind Robber" did this in 1967 and was praised for its surrealism. "The Girl Who Waited" used stark white interiors in Series 6 and was considered "visually striking" - But "Warrior's Gate" uses ALL its settings for one effective setting and story, including those white voids, and is actually a more compelling and original story than either. Again, I haven't said much about the plot. I don't want to spoil this too much, but put simply, it begins with the TARDIS trying to escape alternate universe E-Space, and becoming trapped in a void that is literally on the threshhold of our universe. From there, the Tharils and their human captors, privateers of the corporate "Alien" variety, present the two chief puzzles the TARDIS crew must solve: How do they get home from the gate the Tharils seem to understand, and why is this voidspace shrinking quickly? Three more reasons to recommend this one: 1. Rorvik, the profit-minded captain of the Human traders, is again a unique villain in the annals of "Doctor Who" - He isn't evil or motivated by power or domination - He's just a goal-minded, ruthless micro-managing type who's best summed up by his final rallying cry - "I'm FINALLY getting something done!" 2. Again, this is part 3 of a trilogy - This one about being trapped in "E-space". If you know that going in, you don't really need to see the other parts. (And they pretty much summarize the Doctor's plight and move on within the first 8 minutes of the story anyway. That said, in this case the other two stories - "Full Circle" and "State of Decay" - are actually worth your time.) 3. Adric (who most dislike) and K-9 (who has his haters too) are both in this story. Get ready for this one - Even if you're a fan of neither, both actually work well and have things to do. This is a rare story where 3 companions and the Doctor all have things to do with the plot. After the 1960s, that almost NEVER happened. Heck, K-9 even quotes the "I Ching" - it's plot relevant for those who just read that and have no idea what I'm talking about, but means even more if that book's more than something you skipped in philosophy class. Any other time in the show's history, this probably never would've been made. Including today. Treasure this, it's a unique experience and plays more like an Arthur C Clarke script for "Doctor Who" than any "monster of the week" or "Earth Invasion" number.
In a parallel universe where game shows' final jackpots and consequent fortunes depend on knowledge of obscure music trivia and Jon Pertwee/Tom Baker Doctor Who episodes, I've probably gone rich, insane, and am now a powermad despot. But happily we're not there, so I'm actually rather pleasant. Really.
