Ep 5. The Mark of the Rani (1)
- February 2, 1985
In Doctor Who season 22 episode 5, titled "The Mark of the Rani (1)", the Doctor and his TARDIS companion Peri arrive in 19th century England to investigate why the local miners are falling into a deep coma with no apparent cause. While the Doctor tries to solve this mystery, he encounters an old enemy - the Rani, a Time Lady who creates chaos by interfering with the history of Earth.
The Doctor discovers that the Rani is tampering with the time of the Industrial Revolution, causing a major shift in the timeline by advancing technology that shouldn't have been discovered yet. She has been stealing human brains to perform experiments on them, which explains the comatose miners. The Doctor and Peri must stop the Rani from altering the course of history and prevent her from taking over the planet.
The Rani is shown to be a brilliant, yet evil scientist who has no regard for the lives of others. She has created a new species called the Tetraps, which are small, four-eyed creatures with sharp teeth. The Tetraps serve as her loyal minions and assist her in her mission to rewrite history.
The Doctor also encounters a familiar face from his past - his fellow Time Lord, the Master. The Master has been working with the Rani, but they have different agendas and don't completely trust one another. The Master is only interested in furthering his own schemes, but he may prove to be a valuable ally to the Doctor in his battle against the Rani.
As the episode progresses, the Doctor and Peri are captured and the Rani uses her technology to brainwash them to do her bidding. The Rani believes that the Doctor is interfering with her plans, and decides to put an end to him once and for all. However, the Doctor's intelligence and quick thinking may be the only thing that can save him and the planet from the Rani's grasp.
Overall, "The Mark of the Rani (1)" is a thrilling episode that showcases the Doctor's ability to navigate complex time travel scenarios and outsmart his enemies. The Rani is a formidable foe, and the inclusion of the Master adds an extra layer of intrigue to the story. Viewers will be left on the edge of their seats, wondering if the Doctor and Peri will come out on top and stop the Rani's mad plans.
