Jan 18 2009
Doctor Who: The Armageddon Factor (Review)
Doctor Who: The Armageddon Factor (1979)
The Armageddon Factor is the final chapter in the six-part Key to Time saga when the Doctor, Romana, and K-9 arrive in the middle of an intergalactic, nuclear war between Atrios and Zeos. The TARDIS arrives in bowels of Atrios, near the central command. The Marshal of Atrios is slowly growing insane as he continues to lose his forces to the enemies of Zeos. He goes as far as killing his own men and locking away Princess Astra so he may keep order. For some reason, the Marshal believes the Doctor holds the key to his victory, but there is clearly another force at work here. Soon, the Doctor, Romana, and K-9 uncover a secret plot by the Dark Shadow cult as they, too, are in the search for the Key to Time. Sound confusing? You’re not alone.
The main problem with Armageddon Factor is that the episode feels too situational and decides to shy away from continuity when it isn’t needed. The writing suffers a lot from the fact that the Key to Time doesn’t come into play until part 4 and by then it feels forced. We also don’t get to see much of Atrios or Zeos outside of their command centers. Not all is lost as there is some great acting. Tom Baker gets in some humorous lines, as does K-9, and even an old friend of the Doctor pops in for some laughs. I guess I just found many parts of the script a little crazy. I mean, the Atrios people have never met their enemy, a computer is programmed to destroy Zeos, and the final piece to the key of time is a person. Overall, while not one of the worse Who episodes, it certainly isn’t one of the best. At least this serial makes more use of your imagination than the usual ’special effects’.
