Part one of The Mark of the Rani is a real gem. Pip & Jane Baker introduce a great setting for a story and a tonne of different, interesting ideas such as enlightenment leaders vs possessed luddites, a new Time Lords enemy and the Doctor’s TARDIS being thrown down a pit. Unfortunately none of this comes to anything in part two, where they introduce embryo dinosaurs and landmines that turn people into trees. The Master and The Rani lack of any kind of coordinated plan, they kind of want to control all these great Enlightenment minds - but we don’t see any significant or dramatic moves towards reaching those aims. You finish the story scratching your head, wondering what they main thrust of the whole thing was meant to be.

Ainley is thankfully on good form and Kate O’Mara’s Rani is very fun! Both completely bombastic but a good reflection of the incumbent Doctor, who also has settled into the part well by this point. It was nice having a baddie for The Master to sort of collaborate with - it was about time a major new Time Lord character was introduced.

Unfortunately the second part starts to feel a bit slow and has no pay off. It is educational in parts but does not have much story to go round. The Rani’s TARDIS however is a true delight. I wish The Doctor had gotten something as spaceship-like as this!