Season 26, Episode 3 | 4 parts | First broadcast: 25 October – 15 November 1989 | Writer: Ian Briggs | Director: Nicholas Mallett
Cast
- Sylvester McCoy as the Doctor
- Sophie Aldred as Ace
- Dinsdale Landen as Dr. Judson
- Alfred Lynch as Commander Millington
- Nicholas Parsons as Reverend Wainwright
Summary
Landing at a secret naval base on the English coast during the Second World War, the Doctor and Ace uncover a top-secret code-breaking operation entangled with an ancient Norse curse and a malevolent, immensely old evil called Fenric, imprisoned for centuries and now scheming to break free through a chain of manipulation stretching across time. As vampiric Haemovores rise from the sea and the base’s secrets unravel, the Doctor must confront a chess match against Fenric itself, with Ace’s own faith and history unexpectedly at its center.
Interesting Facts
- The story interweaves genuine Second World War code-breaking history with ancient mythology, giving it an unusually layered, atmospheric tone.
- It further develops companion Ace’s personal history, revealing a startling generational connection between her family and the events of the story.
- The serial was substantially re-edited for its DVD release into an extended version restoring material cut from the original broadcast for time.
- Its bleak, morally ambiguous tone and dark subject matter are frequently cited by fans and critics as among the strongest and most sophisticated of the entire classic series.