I have a particular fondness for this episode, possibly more than it deserves.

What is there to dislike, you may ask?

Well, there's some hamminess in, to be sure. The Graff is a bit over the top, and not a nuanced character. The seeker even more so, and I'm no fan of the precognition plot device. Garron may seem to be a bit of a caricature, and Unstoffe's ad libbing to try to grift a couple of extra pennies may seem a bit to obvious. Tom Baker is a ham, and he may not be to everyone's tastes when he's obviously amusing himself. For that matter, the resolution has the Doctor setting up someone to be killed, with no qualms or second thoughts whatsoever.

Absolutely none of that bothers me, though. If there's one thing that does bother me, it's the shrivenzale's floppy foot. There's just no way that comes across as menacing. I wish they could have done just a little bit better with that.

Well, then why the heck do you like it, you may ask?

Well, the opening scene with the White Guardian is just lovely. Cyril Luckham's performance is spot on. The atmosphere in the scene is just right. It's a nice setup for the season, and a unique way of introducing a new companion. Speaking of which, I like the Fred joke.

I think Garron and Unstoffe are a nice double-act, and very entertaining to watch. I like the thought that was put into how the Doctor knows the segment is not one of the crown jewels. It's a little thing, but writers often forget little things. The plot is solid enough, but what really makes this story stand out is, of course, Binro the Heretic.

Binro is, I suppose their version of Galileo, but with a different arc. He has lost everything because he has held firm to his believe that his planet is not the center of the universe. He has been ridiculed and cast out and now lives in squalor, but he still has the heart to offer sanctuary to Unstoffe, which for him is risk with no reward. And what does he get in return? Validation. Nigel Plaskitt's performance when he tells his protector that someday people will turn to each other and say "Binro was right" is beautifully heartfelt. It's wonderful, sure, but the look on Timothy Bateson's face in that moment is positively magical.

In that one instant, and flaws or failings I might have seen in the story fade away to nothing.

I love this story - objectively, maybe a little more than it deserves - but when has love ever been objective?