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Classic Who S18 • Serial 3 · (4 episodes)

Full Circle

3.38/ 5 252 votes

First aired Saturday, October 25, 1980
Production Code 5R
Written by Andrew Smith
Directed by Peter Grimwade
Runtime 100 minutes
Story Arc: (Potential Spoilers!) E-Space
Inventory: (Potential Spoilers!) Sonic Screwdriver
Locations Alzarius E-Space
Synopsis

The TARDIS falls through a CVE into E-Space and arrives on the planet Alzarius. There, the inhabitants of a crashed starliner and a group of young rebels called the Outlers are terrorised by a race of Marshmen who emerge from the marshes at a time known as Mistfall. Will the Fourth Doctor be able to help the starliner's inhabitants repair their ship and leave the planet?

4 Episodes:

First aired Saturday, October 25, 1980
Runtime 25 minutes
Written by Andrew Smith
Directed by Peter Grimwade
UK Viewers 5.9 million

Synopsis

Deep space, an unknown time - on course for Gallifrey, the TARDIS passes through a strange disruption. When they materialise, the scanner shows the Time Lord homeworld... but the travellers have passed into the negative pocket universe of E-Space and are in fact on the planet Alzarius, where evolution works very differently...

First aired Saturday, November 1, 1980
Runtime 25 minutes
Written by Andrew Smith
Directed by Peter Grimwade
UK Viewers 3.7 million

Synopsis

As the humanoid community takes refuge in their crashed spaceship, venomous marsh spiders begin to hatch from the local fruit while bestial marshmen emerge from the waters to walk the land. It is quite apparent that the marshmen desire entry into the spaceship. Meanwhile, as a curious marshchild shadows the Doctor, a group of teen rebels decides to take over the TARDIS.

First aired Saturday, November 8, 1980
Runtime 25 minutes
Written by Andrew Smith
Directed by Peter Grimwade
UK Viewers 5.9 million

Synopsis

Infection from a spider bite causes Romana's personality to change. Meanwhile the Doctor, after discovering that the spaceship society is in a perpetual state of repair and upgrade, has morality issues with the ship's leading scientist who readies himself to perform gruesome experiments on the live marshchild while it's fully conscious.

First aired Saturday, November 15, 1980
Runtime 25 minutes
Written by Andrew Smith
Directed by Peter Grimwade
UK Viewers 5.4 million
Appreciation Index 65

Synopsis

Marshmen invade the Terradonian ship thanks to Romana, who seems to be in communion with them. While the ship's inhabitants flee for their lives, the Doctor discovers a crucial fact why these humanoids can never return to the planet Terradon.

Ratings are from TARDIS Guide members only.

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