Ep 1. The Ribos Operation: Part 1
- September 2, 1978
- 25 min
The Ribos Operation: Part 1 is the first episode of the sixteenth season of Classic Doctor Who. The episode features the Fourth Doctor, played by Tom Baker, and his companion Romana, played by Mary Tamm, as they embark on a new adventure.
The episode begins with the Doctor and Romana materializing the TARDIS on a mysterious planet. They soon discover that they have landed on Ribos, a planet that is home to a medieval society that is largely unexplored.
As they begin to explore the planet, they discover that a group of rogue time-travelers have arrived on the planet with a plan to sell a powerful artifact to a local warlord. The artifact is known as the Key to Time and is said to have the power to control all of time and space.
The Doctor realizes that he must stop the time-travelers from selling the Key to Time and starts to hatch a plan to thwart their efforts. He also comes across a rogue thief named Garron, who is wanted by the local authorities for stealing a valuable artifact from the warlord.
The Doctor strikes a deal with Garron, promising to help him get off the planet in exchange for his help in stopping the time-travelers. Together, they infiltrate the warlord's palace and try to get their hands on the Key to Time before the time-travelers can do so.
Meanwhile, Romana is captured by the time-travelers and is forced to help them in their efforts to find the Key to Time. Romana eventually manages to escape and reunites with the Doctor and Garron, just in time for a cliffhanger ending that leaves the fate of the entire planet hanging in the balance.
The Ribos Operation: Part 1 is a classic Doctor Who adventure that features all of the hallmarks of the series - including time travel, alien planets, and clever plot twists. Tom Baker delivers another outstanding performance as the Doctor, and Mary Tamm is pitch-perfect as his intelligent and resourceful companion.
Overall, The Ribos Operation: Part 1 is a strong start to the sixteenth season of Doctor Who and sets the stage for even more thrilling adventures to come.