Skip to content

Classic Who S1 • Serial 5 · (6 episodes)

The Keys of Marinus

3.39/ 5 414 votes

First aired Saturday, April 11, 1964
Production Code E
Written by Terry Nation
Directed by John Gorrie
Runtime 150 minutes
Time Travel Present Future
Inventory: (Potential Spoilers!) Travel Dials
Locations Marinus
Synopsis

The TARDIS arrives on the planet Marinus on an island of glass surrounded by a sea of acid. The travellers are forced by the elderly Arbitan to retrieve four of the five operating keys to a machine called the Conscience of Marinus - a machine capable of influencing all minds on the planet - of which he is the keeper. These have been hidden in different locations around the planet to prevent them falling into the hands of the evil Yartek and his Voord warriors, who plan to seize the machine and use its originally benevolent mind-influencing power for their own sinister purposes.

6 Episodes:

First aired Saturday, April 11, 1964
Runtime 25 minutes
Written by Terry Nation
Directed by John Gorrie
UK Viewers 9.9 million
Appreciation Index 62

Synopsis

The alien world of Marinus. Perfect peace has reigned here for decades due to the mind-controlling influence of a machine known as the Conscience. But now a race known as the Voord have developed an immunity and Arbitan, keeper of the machine, has been forced to scatter the vital control keys around the planet. Now he needs the help of the time travellers to get them back - it will be an extraordinary journey, with perils every step of the way...

First aired Saturday, April 18, 1964
Runtime 25 minutes
Written by Terry Nation
Directed by John Gorrie
UK Viewers 9.4 million
Appreciation Index 60

Synopsis

The Doctor and his friends arrive in the apparently idyllic city of Morphoton but Barbara soon begins to realise there is more to their hosts than meets the eye.

First aired Saturday, April 25, 1964
Runtime 25 minutes
Written by Terry Nation
Directed by John Gorrie
UK Viewers 9.9 million
Appreciation Index 61

Synopsis

The search for the second key takes the travellers to a jungle where Ian and Barbara come under threat from rapidly growing plants.

First aired Saturday, May 2, 1964
Runtime 25 minutes
Written by Terry Nation
Directed by John Gorrie
UK Viewers 10.4 million
Appreciation Index 60

Synopsis

Searching for the third key, Ian and Barbara meet with the sinister trapper Vasor before following Susan and the others into a cave system guarded by the mysterious Ice Soldiers.

First aired Saturday, May 9, 1964
Runtime 25 minutes
Written by Terry Nation
Directed by John Gorrie
UK Viewers 7.9 million
Appreciation Index 61

Synopsis

The group are reunited with the Doctor in the city of Millennius where Ian faces trial for murder after the fourth key is stolen.

First aired Saturday, May 16, 1964
Runtime 25 minutes
Written by Terry Nation
Directed by John Gorrie
UK Viewers 6.9 million
Appreciation Index 63

Synopsis

The Doctor and his friends must locate the real murderers and the fourth key before heading off for a final confrontation with the Voord

Ratings are from TARDIS Guide members only.

Related Stories:

Other adaptations of this story: