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Special Features
Commentary by Tom Baker (The Doctor), Gareth Armstrong (Giuliano), producer Philip Hinchcliffe, and production unit manager Chris D'Oyly-John
The Secret of the Labyrinth: Making-of
Bigger on the Inside: History of the TARDIS
Now and Then: Location featurette
Beneath the Masque: Gareth Roberts and Clayton Hickman take the Masque to task
Photo gallery
Production note option
PDF materials (DVD-ROM, PC/Mac): Radio Times listings
The Secret of the Labyrinth: Making-of
Bigger on the Inside: History of the TARDIS
Now and Then: Location featurette
Beneath the Masque: Gareth Roberts and Clayton Hickman take the Masque to task
Photo gallery
Production note option
PDF materials (DVD-ROM, PC/Mac): Radio Times listings
Editorial Reviews
A wave of Mandragora energy boards the Tardis on its way to 15th century Earth and threatens to undermine the Renaissance.
Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
11 of 11 people found the following review helpful
By Sarah Hadley
Format:VHS Tape
Doctor Who has always been very good with stories the fans call "pseudo-historicals", meaning tales that take place in a historical setting, but involve science fiction concepts - such as "Pyramids of Mars", "The Talons of Weng-Chiang", and "The Curse of Fenric", to name just a few. This is another such story, but it has always been cast aside by most fans for more popular adventures.
In truth, though, it's a pretty entertaining yarn...Tom Baker and Lis Sladen are both very good, and plot - the idea that the Doctor has unwittingly brought a fearsome sentient energy to 15th century Italy - is unusual for this era of the programme. The historical costumes and sets are very nicely done, and most of the guest cast are believable in their roles. The only real problem is that it drags a bit in the last episode, and the final solution isn't totally satisfying.
This is perhaps not the best Tom Baker story out there, but it's an enjoyable one and shouldn't be passed over.
10 of 11 people found the following review helpful
By A Customer
Format:VHS Tape
The Mandragora Helix has hitched a ride via the TARDIS! The Doctor and Sarah land in Italy in the 14th Century, unaware of the evil they have brought with them. The design of the story is excellent, including the new(old?) TARDIS console room. But the story feels a little off kilter, it could have been an excellent 3 parter. Count Frederico isn't that bad of a character, the same with Heironymous. But at the end, the Doctor merely short circuits the Helix, and claiming that it would return in the latter half of the 20th Century(a sequel hunting ending with no sequel)! An "A" typical pseudo-historical adventure.
11 of 13 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
"How Big is Big?...."The Masque of the Mandragora, Season opener for the Fourth Doctor was surprisingly low key. We begin with the Doctor and Sarah in a TARDIS corridor having a conversation about his "enormous boot cupboard."
But as tame as the moment seems, it is one of the scenes I remember best from this story arc....up until this point very little of the TARDIS interior had been seen and here it is suggested how really huge it could be inside it's disguised form. Soon after this moment would be "called back to" in the chase through the TARDIS interior for "INVASION of TIME."
Another great thing about Masque is that is was another Dr. Who story set in Earth's past following the Third Doctor's isolation to Earth's "present" with UNIT (and some galactic yo-yoing towards the end of his tenure) it is good to have the Doc travel for these historical adventures again. This time the Doctor and Sarah are on Earth during the Italian Renaissance when the corrupt and powerful Medicis rule, and to heap some more trouble on to that the Doctor inadvertently transports a Mandragora ball of energy and alien intelligence intent on conquering Earth.
There's a great cast of plotting and political characters maneuvering their Machiavellian notions through this tale: Evil Uncle Frederico; a Count planning to usurp the rule of his naďve, nephew; Giuliano, with the aid of his court astrologer Hieronymous, not to mention the evil brothers of the Cult of Demnos. As in much of the Classic episodes of Dr. Who, there are clear similarities to Classic Lit., this time it is POE's "Masque of the Red Death", with added twists ofcourse. This isn't a complaint, mind you.
There's lots of horses, swords, wonderful costumes and wonderful dialogue, too. There's a running gag begun in this one in which the Doctor never gets to meet the great Leonardo DaVinci, I hope the new series picks up on this and does a story. Not to mention the open ending of this one...look out 1980's!!!
Drinking Game:
Drink when...
....the Doctor and/or Sarah are knocked unconscious
....the Doctor and/or Sarah are bound / gagged or arrested
....the Doctor and/or Sarah talk down to the "eye-ties"
....there is a case of mistaken identity before/ during or after the Masque
....someone is ZAPPED with Helix Lightning (like the Doctor's Clint Eastwoodish stand-off)
...you see a guy in tights (what the heck, go ahead)!
But as tame as the moment seems, it is one of the scenes I remember best from this story arc....up until this point very little of the TARDIS interior had been seen and here it is suggested how really huge it could be inside it's disguised form. Soon after this moment would be "called back to" in the chase through the TARDIS interior for "INVASION of TIME."
Another great thing about Masque is that is was another Dr. Who story set in Earth's past following the Third Doctor's isolation to Earth's "present" with UNIT (and some galactic yo-yoing towards the end of his tenure) it is good to have the Doc travel for these historical adventures again. This time the Doctor and Sarah are on Earth during the Italian Renaissance when the corrupt and powerful Medicis rule, and to heap some more trouble on to that the Doctor inadvertently transports a Mandragora ball of energy and alien intelligence intent on conquering Earth.
There's a great cast of plotting and political characters maneuvering their Machiavellian notions through this tale: Evil Uncle Frederico; a Count planning to usurp the rule of his naďve, nephew; Giuliano, with the aid of his court astrologer Hieronymous, not to mention the evil brothers of the Cult of Demnos. As in much of the Classic episodes of Dr. Who, there are clear similarities to Classic Lit., this time it is POE's "Masque of the Red Death", with added twists ofcourse. This isn't a complaint, mind you.
There's lots of horses, swords, wonderful costumes and wonderful dialogue, too. There's a running gag begun in this one in which the Doctor never gets to meet the great Leonardo DaVinci, I hope the new series picks up on this and does a story. Not to mention the open ending of this one...look out 1980's!!!
Drinking Game:
Drink when...
....the Doctor and/or Sarah are knocked unconscious
....the Doctor and/or Sarah are bound / gagged or arrested
....the Doctor and/or Sarah talk down to the "eye-ties"
....there is a case of mistaken identity before/ during or after the Masque
....someone is ZAPPED with Helix Lightning (like the Doctor's Clint Eastwoodish stand-off)
...you see a guy in tights (what the heck, go ahead)!
Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
Great DVD
If you are a Doctor Who fan you will like this DVD story is great but special effects are ok.
Published 4 months ago by Pete
4.0 out of 5 stars
A thin story line redeemed by its rich historical setting
The Doctor and Sarah are pulled into a spiral in space called the Mandragora Helix, which looks suspiciously like blue paint with silver flecks in it going down a bathtub drain but... Read more
Published on April 20, 2011 by buckbooks
4.0 out of 5 stars
Can't get enough of Tom Baker...
This was my first viewing of "Mandragora" and, I must say, I thoroughly enjoyed it. The production values are high, the characters well-drawn and the ending actually surprised me. Read more
Published on October 15, 2010 by leftright5
4.0 out of 5 stars
The renissance dawn is rising yet the shadows of the dark age loom...
The Doctor and Sarah decide to explore the inside of the TARDIS stumble upon the secondary control room and with it the discovery that they are heading into the Mandragora nebula. Read more
Published on July 15, 2010 by Jacob
5.0 out of 5 stars
One of the best
This is one of the best Dr. Who's. It's set in Middle Ages Italy. The Doctor must stop an evil force from taking over the earth. There is a cult that worships the evil force. Read more
Published on June 10, 2010 by Mr. Paul Goddard
4.0 out of 5 stars
solid Baker/Hinchcliffe
A strong entry in the early Tom Baker years (my favorite era on the show). Great cast, great use of sets and locations, not too bad on the FX. Read more
Published on June 8, 2010 by Michael A. Nelson
5.0 out of 5 stars
This Who has it all
A brilliantly written and acted episode. This episode has it all. Great villain, great chemistry among the cast, great buildup!!! Read more
Published on March 9, 2010 by A. Shapiro
4.0 out of 5 stars
A great story with a confusing ending.
This is a great story, but the ending was rather confusing. It does explain how the Doctor defeats Mandragora, but the explaination is so wrapped up in technobabble, that it's hard... Read more
Published on September 22, 2009 by Jero Briggs
5.0 out of 5 stars
One of the best Tom Baker productions..!
Interestingly, like a few other reviewers, this story also was my very first foray into Who-dom, at a time when in the remaining years of the '70s, all the post-Star Wars... Read more
Published on July 7, 2008 by David Bolter
5.0 out of 5 stars
Yes, five stars (wait, hear me out)
This is supposed to be a bad episode? Are you kidding me? This classic boasts not one but two of the better villains ever to twirl their mustaches on "Dr. Read more
Published on May 5, 2005 by M. G Watson
