The Cradle of the Snake

This is part of a series of reviews of Doctor Who in chronological timeline order.

Previous Story: The Whispering Forest

I find Big Finish adapting the one-off (or in this case two-off) villains to be very hit-or-miss (see, The Age of Sutekh). Fortunately, I can safely say that this story is a fantastic usage of the Mara. The Mara, despite getting two whole stories on TV, still felt like it had loads of untapped potential and this story is just scratching the surface.

For starters, I really like that they flip the format of the previous stories around. Instead of having Tegan possessed for most of the story, it's instead the Doctor and Nyssa who are possessed. This just makes sense honestly; they've been present for both previous encounters with the Mara and it didn't think to possess one of them?

We get to explore the Manussan Empire now, something only hinted at before and I was a bit disappointed to see that it's essentially Earth. This would have been a great place to build an interesting and unique location, and have it only somewhat similar to Earth. Instead this story barely differs Earth with that of Manussa and I think that's probably the biggest missed opportunity here. That's a minor thing though, and the rest of this story makes up for it plenty.

Peter Davison is shockingly good in villain roles, something he's proved time and time again and this story is no exception. In fact, I'd argue this is one of the best examples of him playing the villain. The Mara-possessed Doctor is so callous and cruel, it's a stark change from the passive and kind Fifth Doctor and yet Davison plays the villain so naturally. I'd honestly say he's better as a villain at some points.

Overall, this is an excellent conclusion to the previous two Mara stories. The cast get to really show off their acting chops and with a villain as frighteningly fascinating as the Mara it's difficult to go wrong.

Next Story: Heroes of Sontar

Doctor Who – The Monthly Adventures

#138. The Cradle of the Snake ~ 10/10

◆ An Introduction

I think it would be fair to say that Tegan is a bit of a Marmite character, with many vehemently hating her and others adoring her. I definitely fall into the latter category, because I think the best companions have wit and sarcasm running through their veins (which is why I also enjoy the likes of Klein, Flip and Bill).

It should come as no surprise then that I was a massive fan of the Mara adventures. They gave our favourite Aussie some amazing character development, allowed Janet Fielding to deliver two remarkable performances, and introduced us to one of the most interesting enemies in the franchise’s history.

It’s now time to conclude the first trilogy in this story arc… and the Mara is back with a vengeance. Part Three; the remix!

◆ Publisher’s Summary

"The Mara is in all of us, deep in our minds. In our darkest thoughts, that’s where it started. Some people call it a demon, but that’s too simple. It’s about temptation."

Tegan's nightmares have returned. Seeking to banish the snake-like Mara from his companion's psyche, the Doctor sets course for Manussa, the creature's point of origin. But the TARDIS arrives instead in the heyday of the Manussan Empire, where infotainment impresario Rick ausGarten is preparing to turn dreams into reality.

The sun is setting on the Manussan Empire… and it's all the Doctor's fault.

◆ The Fifth Doctor

Peter Davison gets some utterly excellent material in ‘The Cradle of the Snake’, allowing him to switch between the usual niceness of his incarnation and a more nasty Mara-possessed variant. His performance here is really great.

The Doctor has so many friends that he only ever meets once. Listen to the play acting he does when possessed by the Mara, listen to how callous and cruel he becomes. Rick ausGarten believes that the Doctor would be a natural television presenter, and even offers him a job. Meanwhile, Yoanna thinks he could be a great counsellor, claiming that he is such a good listener (something his companions aren’t so sure of).

◆ Tegan Jovanka

‘The Cradle of the Snake’ is the conclusion to the Mara Trilogy, so it rightfully puts Janet Fielding centre stage. Her performance here is absolutely magnificent.

Tegan has been having dreams of the Mara again, and she’s clearly rattled by them. She appreciates the Doctor’s help, even if she comes across as spiky and moaning.

◆ Vislor Turlough

‘The Cradle of the Snake’ sees Mark Strickson back on top form, after a shaky performance in the last adventure.

Turlough has put temptation behind him, after what went on with the Black Guardian. Given that he is always nervous and on edge, his fellow companions are suspicious that the Mara has possessed him! Everybody is too nice on Manussa, and it’s making him uncomfortable. There were always snakes around where Turlough grew up, so he masterfully helps Tegan get well away from one using her jacket. Locked inside a police cell, the Mara-possessed Doctor tries to infect him with the mark of the snake (and he is understandably terrified)!

◆ “Older” Nyssa

‘The Cradle of the Snake’ offers up some excellent material for Sarah Sutton who, much like Davison, gets to switch between the usual niceness of her character and a more arrogant Mara-possessed side.

Nyssa was on Manussa the last time they dealt with the Mara, and claims to know what her friend is going through. The goodness on her own world was robust, but it feels like the people on Manussa are trying too hard. The Mara-possessed Nyssa is actually quite frightening; exceedingly vain and arrogant, drinking alcohol and being generally quite snobby.

◆ Story Recap

Having fallen under the influence of the Mara for a third time, the Doctor enters into his companion’s psyche in the hopes of forcing it out. Whilst he believes he is successful, a second opinion wouldn’t go amiss, which means it’s time for the TARDIS to return to the planet Manussa… but something isn’t quite right.

Rick ausGarten believes he can use the famed blue crystals to turn dreams into reality, which makes him the perfect person to create the physical manifestation of the Mara… a whole century before the Sumaran Empire would come to dominate this planet.

The Mara has most definitely left Tegan’s mind, but only because the Doctor is now its host!

◆ Indulgent Chaos

‘The Cradle of the Snake’ is a story that people rarely talk about, despite the fact it brings back one of the greatest villains from the Fifth Doctor’s televised tenure. The Mara was a spirit of chaos that delighted in the pain and madness of others, tempting individuals into letting it control them to create utter carnage wherever it went. It lived inside the deepest and darkest thoughts of most beings, just waiting for an opportunity to manifest itself.

Now imagine a creature with that much power being in control of the Doctor. That is an absolutely tremendous idea, especially when it involves arguably the most polite and civil incarnation. I’ve already sang Davison’s praise earlier in the review, but it’s genuinely so captivating to hear him turn on a sixpence between pleasant and evil. It isn’t just him though, as the Mara also manages to possess Nyssa in the latter stages of the play, who becomes a lot more arrogant and playful.

This is an idea that works so well simply because of what I believe the Mara is meant to represent – the chaotic sides of our personality, the things we hold back because of common sense and just knowing the difference between right and wrong. To hear two of our main characters acting so differently is actually quite frightening.

◆ Continuity Corner

‘The Cradle of the Snake’ is the final instalment of the Mara Trilogy, so it understandably features a lot of great references to the previous adventures. The TARDIS has returned to Manussa, though over a thousand years before the events of ‘Snakedance’. Tegan and Turlough free the Doctor from possession using a circle of television cameras and screens (similar to the circle of mirrors used on Deva Loka in ‘Kinda’). These little nods to the Mara’s previous appearances are really nice additions.

◆ Sound Design

The TARDIS has returned to Manussa, just over a thousand years before its previous visit. Palm trees and fountains surround a cityscape inspired by South Asian architecture, with Tuk-Tuk taxis ferrying people around a great metropolis. This is a period when the Manussan Empire was thriving, long before the Mara’s reign of terror. Andy Hardwick has really done a brilliant job with the sound design!

The rumbling of a single engine Cessna Skyhawk, as the Doctor confronts the Mara inside of Tegan’s mind. Baaing sheep, with the voices of Nyssa and Turlough. Tweeting birds inside of ausGarten’s warehouse. Tuk-Tuk taxis race through the bustling streets of Manussa. The hissing of a snake. The physical manifestation of the Mara bursts out of the dream-maker, shattering glass around it and letting out a great roar! Crowds of Manussan people chanting for the Mara… before going silent as they pass on the mark of the snake.

◆ Music

Andy Hardwick is also handling the score for ‘The Cradle of the Snake’, and it is hauntingly beautiful. The voice of a chanting female snake-charmer gives way to some spectacular choral vocals, mixed with dramatic string instruments, as the Mara attempts to manifest itself. Then you have the quieter sections of the score which feature this gorgeous twinkling piano. I’m also a particular fan of the electronic piece that is used as the theme tune to Rick ausGarten’s TV show (with lots of rapid synthesised notes).

I definitely advise listening to the isolated score on the CD extras, because it is easily some of Andy Hardwick’s best work.

◆ Conclusion

“The Mara’s withdrawn into Tegan’s psyche, and it wants me to go in after it…”

The Mara is back with a vengeance, and now it wants to upset the Web of Time by bringing about its Sumaran Empire a hundred years earlier than planned! If that wasn’t worrying enough, the snake has took control of a new host… the Doctor.

Marc Platt really had his work cut out for him with ‘The Cradle of the Snake’, since he had to create a follow-up to two of the greatest stories from the Davison era. Thankfully, he more than succeeds.

The Mara is supposed to dwell inside us all, deep in our darkest thoughts, so it makes sense to have it possess the nicest incarnation of the Doctor. It is such a great idea, and the performances only assist in elevating it. Peter Davison genuinely stole the show for me this time round, and he actually made for a really convincing villain. ‘The Cradle of the Snake’ is a great conclusion to what is now the Mara Trilogy.