Keys of Marinus
I have to admit this particular serial is one I have not seen as of this date. My ideas and thoughts on the serial is going to be from any and everything I read on The Keys of Marinus. This particular serial is the fifth of the long running iconic sci-fi television show Doctor Who. After reading one synopsis, I find that this is a very interesting or better description will be sounds very interesting. The format is a little different from the first four shows in that it seems to have quest which all points to a larger goal.(1)
The TARDIS lands on a beach near an acid sea on a planet called Marinus. The fact that this being set on an alien planet can’t that different from other episodes at this time. I do know the original idea of the program is to be educational for children. But in the end, adults like it as much as the children. Now, this is very much science fiction and I have not said that before. This one and four of the first six don’t seem educational. As a result I personally can say the show does not completely fulfill its educational stance. What I can say is that it does seem to be a story which falls into the science fiction genre.
There are six weekly parts to this serial. Which begins with the TARDIS landing on a alien planet and as always the Doctor finding a problem or problems that he must get involved. There is weird thing with this one in that the planet has a conscience which is protected by a man named Arbitan. The conscience of the planet is a computer someone develops some two thousand years before.(2) The concept behinds this is very futuristic. I know computers are a part of our culture now, but the imagination behind this one stretches everything.
After reading the different articles about this serial. I find that it is one I want to watch. It plays right into the science fiction genre in more ways than one. The first thing which puts it pout there is the fact they land on a alien planet, The name of this planet is Marinus, and with other situations the Doctor helps with a problem. I really don’t know if the viewers at the time know this, but after the first five serials it seems to be evident.
The story for The Keys of Marinus does involve keys. These keys are necessary for the keeper to help keep the planet from aliens. These aliens want to control the computer and the planet. In the process of things the Doctor and the crew go to find four of the keys, which there are five. The suspense builds as the Doctor and crew look for the keys. During their travels, they find others who arrive before them.
The crew adventure is long and they complete the mission but not without loss. The Keeper of the computer, Arbitan dies in the process. The Doctor and the crew find The Keys of Marinus and return to the conscience. The way this plays out so Doctor Who. A member of the crew goes to trail for killing a native. Because of this the Doctor becomes an defense attorney and gets Ian off the hook.
Overall, this is a very good episode. I want to see this one along with many of the other classic episodes of Doctor Who. The Keys of Marinus is a typical Doctor Who story and is one for me to watch as soon as I can find it online or on dvd.