Ep 13. The Androids of Tara: Part 1
- November 25, 1978
- 24 min
The Androids of Tara: Part 1 is the thirteenth episode of the sixteenth season of Classic Doctor Who. The episode was first aired on November 25, 1978, and it was written by David Fisher and directed by Michael Hayes.
The episode begins with the TARDIS landing on the planet of Tara, where the Fourth Doctor and Romana find themselves embroiled in a political intrigue. Tara is a feudal world divided into two factions; the aristocratic parties of the ruling Prince Reynart and the Count Grendel. The two sides have been fighting for the throne, and the Doctor and Romana witness Prince Reynart's coronation from the TARDIS. However, before the coronation is complete, a duplicate of the prince and his bracelet, which gives him the power and authority to rule the kingdom, are stolen.
The Doctor and Romana then find themselves separated, with Romana being kidnapped by Count Grendel's henchmen and the Doctor meeting Prince Reynart. The Doctor then deduces that the Count has used androids, exact replicas of persons, to create chaos in the kingdom, and he attempts to warn Prince Reynart of the plot. The count is using the androids to his advantage and has plotted a scheme that would allow him to seize the throne.
The Doctor and the Prince head to Count Grendel's castle to retrieve the duplicate bracelet. Along the way, they encounter Princess Strella, who is a doppelganger of Romana and engaged to Prince Reynart. However, Princess Strella is aware of the androids' plot and offers to help the Doctor and Prince Reynart stop it. The episode ends with the Doctor and Prince Reynart about to enter the Count's castle to retrieve the stolen bracelet.
The episode is typical of Classic Doctor Who, with the Doctor and Romana finding themselves embroiled in a political intrigue on a new planet. The story is interesting with the use of androids as a plot point, and the introduction of Princess Strella creates a sort of love triangle with the Doctor and Romana. The episode maintains a good balance of humor, action and intrigue, making it a must-watch for any fans of the series.