Ep 1. Time and the Rani: Part 1

The episode "Time and the Rani: Part 1" is the first episode of the 24th season of Classic Doctor Who and features the Seventh Doctor, portrayed by Sylvester McCoy. The plot revolves around the Doctor and his companion, Mel, being captured by the villainous Rani and forced to assist her in executing a plan to recreate the entire planet of Lakertya.

The episode begins with the TARDIS being pulled off course by a beam of energy, causing the Doctor to crash land on the planet Lakertya. Upon exiting the TARDIS, the Doctor and Mel are greeted by the Lakertyans, a race of humanoid aliens who are being used as slaves by the Rani. The Doctor and Mel quickly discover that the Rani is behind the energy beam that brought them to Lakertya and that she intends to use the planet's resources to carry out her evil plan.

The Rani, portrayed by Kate O'Mara, is a rogue Time Lord who seeks to control the universe through her scientific knowledge and technology. She has captured the Doctor and Mel in order to use their expertise to help her create a machine that will recreate Lakertya's ecosystem and enable her to rule the planet. The Doctor, however, is not interested in helping the Rani and instead seeks to find a way to stop her plan.

As the episode progresses, the Doctor and Mel navigate the dangers of Lakertya, which include poisonous plants, deadly creatures, and traps set by the Rani. The Doctor is able to outsmart the Rani several times, making her doubt her own abilities and becoming increasingly frustrated with the Doctor's interference in her plans.

Towards the end of the episode, the Doctor and Mel are captured by the Rani's robot minions and taken to her laboratory. There, they discover that the Rani's plan to recreate Lakertya is far more sinister than they initially thought. The Rani plans to use the planet's resources to create a new type of "genius" creature that will be under her control and allow her to dominate the universe.

The episode ends on a cliffhanger as the Doctor and Mel are trapped in the Rani's laboratory, with only one hour left until the Rani's machine activates. The Doctor must find a way to escape and stop the Rani before it's too late.

Overall, "Time and the Rani: Part 1" is a thrilling and action-packed episode that sets the stage for the rest of the season. The introduction of the Rani as a new villain provides an interesting dynamic for the Doctor, and the episode's setting on a dangerous alien planet adds to the tension and excitement. Fans of Classic Doctor Who and sci-fi in general will enjoy this episode.