For the second time during these threads, we move onto a set of stories following the recent death of a companion involved. As before, hope people will use these stories as a tribute to Mary Tamn if they wish.

I love The Key To Time idea and what I think is really good about it is that it isn't thrown in your face all season but kept very much in the background except the first scene here and in the last story. I also love the idea of the Black and White Guardians, I often wonder if they should be brought back in the New Series but whether any new actors would be as good as the originals I'm not so sure.

The opening setup scene of the Key To Time storyline in this story is a good one. I prefer Cyril Luckham's appearance and the characterisation of The White Guardian here than his later one in Enlightenment. It always seems so much more powerful and though he is on the good side, the implied threat that literally nothing could happen to The Doctor if he refuses to volunteer to look for the Key is just awesome.

This is followed quickly by the introduction of Romana and I just love the opening scene where she just winds him up and acts exceedingly snobby, providing a neat contrast to the savage Leela. As I said in the tribute thread, I never used to like the First Romana's early stories much but looking at them now, they are actually quite witty and funny and Romana gets off to a strong start despite screaming her way out of the first episode cliffhanger!

I also love all the 'I call you Fred or Romana' stuff and also the fact Romana continues to mock his experience and mental state with long words even though her own inexperience leads her to take 'Honest face' Unstoff at face value. It's an interesting combination that her higher science degree conflicts sharply with her lack of The Doctor's practical knowledge.

As for the main part of the story itself, I have stated in the past that this my least favourite story of the Season for me, but thinking on it, it's not as bad as my other dislike of this Season, The Power Of Kroll. There are many things to like about it. Ian Cuthbertson just steals the scenes as Garron, especially those involving The Doctor and his underling Unstoffe. The whole conman thing seems to just suit Cuthbertson down to the ground. Unstoffe is a great foil to him and off course, the scenes with Binro are touching and superbly written.

The flipside to this is the Graff Vynda-K. Though acted well by Paul Seed, I just find his constant shouting gives me earache most of the time watching this. Then there is The Seeker who just does lots of pointless shrieking, no wonder my ears always ache, even with the volume turned down!

The story itself I don't think is a particularly strong one. It seems to lack any kind of dramatic tension and the resolution I think is a poor one with all that happens is that

So though I think it a better story than I did initially, it's still not up there with the better stories of the Season for me, but definitely an improvement on the end of Season 15.

I love The Ribos Operation! My favourite of the season after The Stones of Blood.

The Unstoffe/Binro scenes are some my favourite scenes in Doctor Who history! Perfectly written and acted.

"Binro was right!"

For some reason, I knew you were going to post on this thread!

Can't think why though...

Haha! Yes I suppose there is a bit of a give away!

never really been a big fan of the KTT season The Ribbos Opperation has some good moments but generaly I find it all a bit on the dull side.

Now Tom Baker is doing Big Finish audios it would be great for him to meet up with Garron and Unstoffe again although obviously they'd have to find someone to replace Iain Cuthbertson

This is the only season I've never ever seen! I'm intending on getting the 'KEY TO TIME' box-set very soon! But I feel I can comment slightly on this - as I have watched the first episode on You Tube. I loved the classy entrance of Romana - and the Doctor's disgust at having an equivalent Time-Lord aboard the Tardis! The idea of the Black and White Guardians was an innovative idea (came in useful for later series). I believe (from photo's) that Romana used to dress in various attire for the rest of the season (Bless Mary Tamm). Good start to the series anyway IMO.
I'll be back to comment on the next series with Romana II - I'd got a video-recorder by then!

I loved the Key to Time season. Mary Tamm was glamorous in every scene. My kind of girl.

On a sad note, today's Daily Mail reported that Mary Tamm's husband, Marcus Ringrose, died of a heart attack hours after Mary's funeral.

Very sad for their daughter and grandson.

I do love this story.Cyril Luckham's White Guardian seems deceptively casual with his garden chair/ umbrella and Creme de Menthe ! The ultimatum the Doctor is given really leaves him with no choice but to complete the tasks which reminds me of the beginning of Genesis of the Daleks.According to wiki the opening scene, with the White Guardian, was actually written by Anthony Read and Graham Williams not Robert Holmes.



I do get what you mean about a lack of tension in parts. This is the kind of story where if I want to just relax with Doctor Who on a miserable winter's day I could put it on and enjoy. Its a character piece not necessarily an action one. But I find it quite satisfying.Robert Holmes does work hard to give us believable characters.I do agree that Ian Cuthbertson just steals the scenes as Garron.I like the general humour in this story as it doesnt overpower the script. Mary Tamm gets a strong start as Romana and I love her and the Doctor's banter at the start.Binro is great. very moving.

I saw the box set a couple of years ago and from memory I liked Androids of Tara much less than this one.

The Key to Tme series was a really interesting idea for the series at that time; an arc linking a number of different stories. It worked well, I think; far less intrusive than some later arcs would be.

The Ribos Operation is actually my favourite story of this series. Garron and Unstoff are an excellent duo, and the plot is a good one, well-handled. While the Graff Vynda K is a bit of a ranting maniac, I think that works with this character, and he's quite a credible villain. I also like the shrivenzale beasts, a very alien monster. Also, perhaps a bit more effort than sometimes was the case has been spent on creating a culture for Ribos and, although we don't see it, I do think there's more of a sense of a whole world out there, not just the bits we see of it.

And of course, we have a new companion. Sad to say, especially given Mary Tamm's recent death, I didn't really warm to her Romana. She had a very cool, aloof persona which didn't engage me. I think this was possibly intended, and she did thaw out a little as the series progressed, but still, it did put me off a bit at the time.

All in all, though, a really good story.

Have to say that when I first watched this story it bored the absolute pants off me, but I was quite young (ah happy days back when I used to record classic Who off UKGold ).
There's very little real action, just lots of dialogue and character interactions. Feels like some sort of Shakespeare play.
I always know when something bores me because I usually end up unknowingly tidying up while watching it, or doing some other household chore.

However as I've got older I've started to appreciate the very refined and grown-up feel to it.

I like the idea of the Guardians, although I felt at the end of the season.....


I just love the way Romana calmly breezes through the story managing to look gorgeous and regal. How The Doctor is able to concentrate on the task at hand I'll never know. Unstoffe's face near the end of the story when confronted with the stunning Romana pretty much sums it up, she looks like a beautiful angel in that white coat.

Any fan boys come up with an explanation why Romana was wearing what appeared to be a wedding ring in this story?

(Presumbly it was Mary Tamm's own?)

She just fancied wearing a ring that day? Which finger she chose to wear it on doesn't have to have any of the same cultural significance to a Time-Lord as it does to a human.


This is one of my favourite stories by the way. During the Tom Baker era Robert Holmes didn't seem to write anything other than classics.

What will happen if the Doctor refuses to search for the Key to Time?

Answer ...

"Nothing. Ever".

Love it.