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Doctor Who: The Keeper of Traken (Story 115)

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Retuning to N-Space. The Doctor and his new companion Adric soon discover that the TARDIS is on preset coordinates to a peaceful world know as Traken. Those coordinates were layed in by the Keeper who governs Traken. He's calls for the Doctor's help. The Keeper is soon to die, and he fears that an evil preance will take over Traken. The Doctor agrees, but as soon as they land on Traken they are instantly accused of being the evil preance that is lurking on the planet. Tremas played by Anthony Ainley(Who would very soon step into the role of the Doctor's arch-enemy "The Master") comes to their help and place the Doctor and Adric under his protection, but his new wife Kassia who has been the caretaker of the Melkur statue(and the real evil on Traken) since she was a child now has fallen under its power. Kassia turns against Tremas order to stop the prevent the Doctor from subverting Melkur's plans to enslave Traken useing Kassia to gain power of the Keepership. Fortuately Tremas's daughter Nyssa come to the help to our heros. But it's too late Kassia gains access To the Source. The energy that sustains Traken. Melkur use his link with Kassia to murder her, and make himself the Keeper. Working sepertaly our heros must find a way to defeat this evil keeper, but the Doctor has some nasty supections about Melkur. Supections that he has met him many times before.

Keeper Of Traken is the beginning of a series of great stories in which the Doctor will face great dangers. Keeper Of Traken is a great send off this trilogy. The Surprise ending is the best, and I mean the "very" end.

What's the saga of Dr. who without a true arch-rival. Only the enigmatic renegade, The Master, kept the Doctor on his toes, and it's hard to imagine life that went no further than some wind-up toy soldiers with a bad allergy to gold (Cybermen) and would be conquerors of the universe who can't even climb up a flight of steps (the daleks). Supposedly doomed by the expense of his lost regenerations, and the death of actor Roger Delagado, the master returns, ravaged and dessicated but not without an idea. He lures the doctor to the idylic world of Traken, home of a powerful being known as the Keeper of Traken, where a solemn ritual will pass the mantle of keeper to a new generation. With its elegant foreshadow of the end of the Tom Baker years - the era that introduced Who to America, "Keeper of Traken" presents death as an evil emerging from a pastoral garden free of entropy. Scenes in which the master appears, eliminates the keeper's would-be successor and ultimately assumes the body of another Traken disturbingly hint at the Master's evil, especially for a show originally intended for children. Even before the Master reclaims a new mortal form, his voice alone is enough to give anybody shivers. Lackluster effects never dissauded Who fans, and the cool determined voice of Whovian evil is better than all the CGI of a season of Star Trek Nex Gen. A must-have.

Season 18 continues on a definite high. Although the story is fairly traditional, certain points make it a much more interesting set of episodes than others of its kind. For one, the planet of Traken and its inhabitants are given some culture...not extending beyond the most elite of elite, but it's _something_ anyway. The idea of the Source, with the Keeper and Consuls, is actually a science fiction sort of concept, rarely seen in "Doctor Who" (although this season, more than any other, would feature such ideas). The ending, too, is very nice, and for viewers of the time must have been quite a shock.

The acting is also quite good. Tom Baker is definitely on-form, although slightly more light-hearted than in the last few stories, and Matthew Waterhouse's companion of Adric hasn't yet become annoying (he will soon enough, early in the next season). Anthony Ainley and Sarah Sutton both do very commendable jobs in their 'guest roles' of Tremas and Nyssa, and without a doubt Geoffrey Beevers steals the show as the villain of the piece.

This story leads into the next two stories, "Logopolis" - the last story of season 18, and Tom Baker's final performance as the Doctor - and "Castrovalva" - season 19's opener, which saw the introduction of Peter Davison's Doctor. These were originally conceived as a sort of linked trilogy, and without giving away how they are connected for those few who don't know, it really does work. Try all three of them today!

Another trilogy comes hot on the heels of the E-Space trilogy, which saw the debut of Adric and the departure of Romana and K9. The next transition paves the way for new companions and in Castrovalva, a new Doctor.

The Keeper Of Traken, the Fourth Doctor's penultimate story, is the first story of this second transition and involves the Doctor and Adric, now back in normal space, invited to Traken at the behest of the Keeper, the powerful inwho serves as the organizing principle of the Traken Union. What is the Traken Union? It's "a whole empire held together by people being terribly nice to each other," where "evil just shrivels up and dies." Pity something like that doesn't exist on Earth. The Keeper, now nearing the end of his reign, feels some kind of evil coming to Traken, and it somehow involves three good people--Consul Tremas, his new wife Kassia, also a Consul, and his daughter from his previous marriage, Nyssa.

There's also the Melkur, what Trakenites call evil beings who are trapped upon landing on Traken, calcify, and pass harmlessly through the soil. This Melkur, a white statue with an angular face, seems to be taking its time dying.

On Traken, the Doctor and Adric, with aid from Tremas and Nyssa, get caught up investigating a mysterious force whose profile pattern is somehow familiar. By episode 2, it's clear that there's more to the Melkur. In fact, it may be more than just a statue. To quote the text on the video sleeve, "the Doctor smells a rat of the oldest kind."

One thing that gives me pause is the character of Proctor Neman. Clearly, Traken's powers to refute evil do not extend to people who take bribes, as Neman does. Another point of interest is the chaos and omens that Trakenites attribute with the Keeper's imminent demise. Things waver between "benevolent wisdom versus irrational fears and intuition."

Sarah Sutton shines in her debut as Nyssa, who's established as scientifically adept, a good partner to Adric. Anthony Ainley (Tremas) also debuts in the first in a series of recurring roles in the series. Denis Carey (the Keeper) played Professor Chronotis in the Who story Shada and later the old man in the Who story Timelash. John Woodnutt, who plays Consul Seron, complete in a hairdo that makes him look like an elderly William Shakespeare, also had previous Who appearances: Spearhead From Space (Hibbert) and Frontier In Space (the Draconian Emperor).

Tom Baker's his light-hearted self. In the beginning, when Adric points out that "a lot of time, you don't really make a lot of sense." the Doctor says, "Ahh! Oh, you've noticed that, have you?"

The concept of a planet of harmony is interesting, but unfortunately, we see it in a time of transition. Strong characterizations by the supporting players give life to this story. Oh, and there's a twist ending in the final minute of this story carried through to the next story.

Excellent Tom Baker episode. Full of mystery and suspense from beginning to end. It begins with an old man materialising in the TARDIS asking for the doctors help. It is especially effective in that you don't discover the identity of Melkur until the very end.

I won't repeat the plot here since it's all over these reviews, but I will say that the notion of a peaceful world, held together by an elected "Keeper" who serves for thousands of years and keeps the planet good by tapping into a techologically created "source" is quite a good one. This series is particularly well-acted, featuring, in particular, a notable appearance by Anthony Ainsley (who would go on to play the Master in future episodes) as all-around good guy, Tremas, who breaks from the council of elders to help the Doctor and his companions do the right thing. In this series we also get to meet Nyssa, who will become a regular after this episode.

The costumes and sets in this series were particularly good, and the baddie in these episodes, the Melkor, is especially creepy, both due to his powers and to the fact that he is not what he seems to be. As usual, there are a few lapses in logic and the Doctor, as is frequent in the Tom Baker years, manages to solve a few too many predicaments with overly convenient technology, but the suspense holds throughout and the ending sets up the pathos for the next series, "Logopolis," which is the final Tom Baker series. Much has been made about how Tom Baker seemed to walk through episodes and get overly jokey near the end of his tenure, but in this series and "Logopolis," Tom Baker shows some of his best work. Guess he wanted to go out on a high note.

Absolute must viewing before seeing "Logopolis."

The planet Traken is a paradise where evil does not exist. But the Doctor is called to the planet to help stop some sinister goings-on.

After the wretched Graham Williams era it's nice to see Tom Baker, and the series, back to its enigmatic, serious best. This story is well-written and interesting and contains some strong characters. The Melkur statue is well-designed and dominates its every scene with its imposing form. The only let-down is the figure from the past, who lacks the presence he had previously, his voice completely without any real menace.

Minor gripes aside, however, this is a first-rate tale.

The Doctor and Adric are summoned by the Keeper of Traken to stop a evil presence.The Keeper shows the Doctor,Adric events that have already happened in Traken's past.The Doctor and Adric land are mistaken for the evil on Traken.Tremas and Nyssa(his daughter) take them under their care much to the dimay of the rulers of Traken and Nyssa's new mother Kassia.Kassia has already become a pawn in the aliens plan to take over Traken.Eventually the alien becomes Keeper.The Doctor suspects they have mmet somewhere before.The alien captured the Doctor and reveals himself to be The Master! Adric ,Nyssa and the Doctor stop the Master 's evil plan with the planet.The Doctor and Adric leave once again for Gallifrey.In a last minute twist,the Master finds a new body on Traken.Did you know the character of Tremas is a anagram of Master! After this adventure Nyssa becomes a companion of the Doctor!

I just re-watched this story for the first time in many years. I was struck by a few things, most of them positive.

First, this is the first time we have seen the Doctor without Romana in three Seasons. I loved the Romana character, but it is refreshing to see Baker without her or K-9. Second, the chemistry between Baker and Matthew Waterhouse is very good. Had Baker done one more Season you could see this relationship developing nicely. I always felt we missed out on one final stage for the Baker Doctor. There is renewed energy in the Keeper of Traken and it would have been nice to see that continue. Although Baker was tiring of the role at this point, it was really Nathan-Turner wanting him to leave that ultimately pushed Tom Baker out.

Waterhouse and Davison clearly did not have the same chemistry and the Davison Doctor dismissed Adric right from the beginning. Also, Nathan-Turner unfortunately overloaded the TARDIS with far too many companions when Davison started and the Adric character was the one that lost out. Sorry Tegan fans, but they should have killed her off with her Auntie in Logopolis.

The only disapointment watching this again after so many years is the return of the Master. I was glad to see the Master back, but the build up is so long, and Baker's scene with him at the end of the 4th episode so short, that in the end it is a little ani-climactic. I know it is just setting the stage for the next episodes, but they could have made the Master's appearance a little more dramatic.

Overall an excellent and refreshing Baker episode. This is truly one of the last of the Great Doctor Who adventures as the series under John Nathan-Turner begins a downward spiral after this, until finally you get to the Sylvester McCoy adventures which look like cheesy home videos. Enjoy this from the end of Doctor Who's Golden Age.

This is the first story in the trilogy of tales that brought the Master back to the series and saw Peter Davison take over the lead role from Tom Baker. The Doctor and Adric are asked to come to the Eden-like planet of Traken, where a mysterious evil is rising.... The story also marks the first appearance of the lovely Nyssa, who probably was Davison's best companion. Great sets and a compelling plot (with a surprise ending) make this a must-have story.