Edward Peel's devilish turn in Season 24's Dragonfire was one of the highlights of that uneven year with the actor bringing a real menace and sense of threat to the proceedings. As well as being physically imposing, possessing a booming voice and harbouring a gaze that could curdle milk, Peel also had a certain icy charm to his performance, even managing to tempt new girl Ace to become one of his frozen army. Kane was also a villain who had genuine motivation as he wanted revenge on his race and was mourning his lost love, Mr Freeze style. As such, while Sylvester McCoy was larking about slipping on fake snow and inexplicably climbing down ledges on his brolly, Kane was the fixed point. The implacable enemy. As befitting for a great villain, Kane got a brilliant death scene, too, which has been seared into the memories of all the fans who were watching the drama unfold at the time. Realising his people were long dead and with no purpose left, Kane - vulnerable to hea t- opened the blinds and let the sun pour in. In a special effects sequence that reminded viewers of the end of Raiders of the Lost Ark, Kane's face melted - the effect created by heating a model. As high tech as it sounds, it's still a gruesomely effective shot nonetheless. Kane's mouth open in a silent scream as his skin flakes off leaving a skull and then dust is still one of the show's most horrific moments to date.
Writer of The Blog of Delights, a review site covering film, TV, cult TV, books and audio. Fan of Dr Who, Bond, X-Men and Marvel. Also the writer of e-book 'Fictional Legends: Doctor Who - the TV Adventures' for Collca.
