The Sands of Time |
BBC Pyramids of Mars |
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| Episodes | 4 |  |
| Story No# | 82 | |
| Production Code | 4G | |
| Season | 13 | |
| Dates | Oct. 25, 1975 - Nov. 15, 1975 |
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With Tom Baker, Elisabeth Sladen.
Written by Stehpen Harris. Script-edited by Robert Holmes. Directed by Paddy Russell. Produced by Philip Hinchcliffe. |
| Synopsis: The Doctor faces the ancient god Sutekh, who is engineering his release from captivity and preparing to slaughter all living beings in the cosmos. |
Proof that Robert Holmes is one of the best by Clement Tang 12/9/12
After seeing so many good reviews of this serial, I thought I may as well try and find the entire story and watch it. Considering that Robert Holmes wrote it, I was expecting a great story, and that's what I got.
The plot was well written. An Egyptian god breaking free from his prison to destroy all life, Sutekh's voice gives you the chills. How cold and menacing he is! Props to the actor for his excellent portrayal. The other supporting cast are also brilliant. You can really pity Laurence. He cares a lot of his brother that he refuses to believe he's gone for good. And Marcus Scarman was well played as the servant of Sutekh. But then, considering the actor played Bragen in The Power of the Daleks, I should have known he would be good.
I love the chemistry between the Doctor and Sarah Jane. They are one of the best pairings in the show. And Tom Baker and Elisabeth Sladen (may she rest in peace) are superb here. You can really tell the actors were enjoying themselves here.
The dialogue is one of the best in history. Just watch the TARDIS pair converse in their first scene for proof. Other great lines include Sutekh's "Wherever I go, I leave nothing but dust and darkness. I find that good." and the last few lines at the end. "We don't want to blamed for starting a fire? Had enough of that in 1666." Excellent, Holmes. Just excellent.
There is one flaw in this, and that's the simple ending. Sending Sutekh further in time to prevent him from reaching Earth? That's a bit too easy to defeat an all-powerful Osirian. But other than that, one of the finest gems Holmes has ever made.
9.5/10
I bring Sutekh's gift of death to all humanity by Paul Williams 30/6/26
Pyramids of Mars is an excellent story, convincing viewers that a villain who doesn't move until the final episode can destroy everything. The direction, the characters, the dialogue and, most of all, the ideas demonstrate the uniqueness of Doctor Who. A hero who is not human but cares about humanity fighting against evil. Only in this show does it make sense for robot mummies to build a rocket in the English countryside so they can free Satan from a prison on Mars.
The power of Sutekh drives the script. He penetrates the TARDIS, alerting the Doctor to his presence. Then his new servant, Scarman, casually destroys his previous servant, Nayim. It is a frightening cliffhanger that doesn't directly threaten the Doctor or Sarah. We learn of the Osirans and their impact on Egyptian mythology before Sarah points out that the world didn't end in 1911 and the Doctor shows her that it could. That short scene plus the calm threats of Sutekh to annihilate all life creates an environment in which it is possible, indeed likely, that he will win.
It is a rare story in which all the supporting characters die and, even rarer, where very individual and the manner of their demise is memorable. From Scarman himself, briefly freed at the end, to his amiable brother, Laurence and the manservant, Collins, all give reason to care. They are not disposable extras chucked in to boost the action but believable, rounded, people. Clements matters even though he says little and never interacts with the regulars.
The characters are victims of the theme of death. The priory with a fake priest hole is full of Egyptian relics and is itself a relic that will soon burn. Three years after 1911 the battlefields of France will resemble the world that Sutekh will leave. The society where wealthy amateurs dabble in medicine, science and Egyptology, where they run and plunder overseas colonies, employ servants and tolerate poachers, is running out of time. The Doctor is more often ahead of them, and he triumphs by pushing Sutekh further into the future.
The reason for the carnage is Horus's compassion. He decided to let Sutekh live. When Sutekh taunts the Doctor by threatening to keep him alive in torment, that is exactly what Horus did to him. The Doctor turns on Laurence for showing the same compassion to his brother. The Doctor whose speech at the beginning contrasts with Sutekh and, in this challenge, he finds a purpose.
Nothing is flawless. The mummies are cumbersome, though relentless. Horus let Sutekh live but left traps to kill others. They fail, as both Scarman and the Doctor easily get pass them. Such moments are overshadowed by the calibre of the direction, acting and dialogue. Pyramids of Mars is a sleek production that will be venerated for as long as Sutekh shall live.