Ep 19. The Deadly Assassin, Episode 3
- November 13, 1976
The Doctor finds himself in a precarious situation in The Deadly Assassin, Episode 3, the 19th episode of Doctor Who: The Best of The Fourth Doctor. When a Time Lord is murdered, suspicion falls on the Doctor. In order to clear his name, the Doctor must travel back to the heart of the Time Lord society on Gallifrey.
As the Doctor arrives on Gallifrey, he discovers a complex political landscape, with rival factions vying for power. The Time Lord President, Chancellor Goth, takes a special interest in the Doctor's case. The Doctor is accused of committing the murder, and he must navigate the treacherous hallways of the Time Lord Capitol in order to uncover the true culprit.
The Doctor soon realizes that the murder is part of a larger conspiracy, involving the Master, his old enemy. The Master has returned to Gallifrey, disguised as a Cardinal, and is plotting to steal the Eye of Harmony, the source of power for Time Lord civilization. In order to stop him, the Doctor must team up with a young Time Lord, Castellan Spandrell, and unravel the various threads of the conspiracy.
Along the way, the Doctor must confront the darker aspects of Time Lord society. The Time Lords are depicted as a cold and unfeeling race, detached from the suffering of other civilizations. The Doctor's renegade status and compassion for other species is contrasted with the callousness of the Time Lord establishment.
The Deadly Assassin, Episode 3 is a tense and political episode that showcases the Fourth Doctor's intelligence and resourcefulness. Tom Baker gives a standout performance as the Doctor, displaying his trademark wit and charm, as well as his darker edge. The episode also features impressive world-building and set design, making the Time Lord Capitol a memorable location.
Overall, The Deadly Assassin, Episode 3 is a classic Doctor Who story that is a must-watch for fans of the show. The episode is a standout in the Fourth Doctor's tenure, and continues to be celebrated as one of the series' best.