Doctor Who/Recap/S11/E01 The Time Warrior

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< Doctor Who‎ | Recap‎ | S11
A longshanked rascal with a mighty nose!
—Irongron describes the Doctor

An intrepid investigative journalist, Sarah Jane Smith, infiltrates a secret research centre where a number of top scientists are being held in protective custody while UNIT investigates the disappearance of some of their colleagues.

The Doctor follows the trail back to The Middle Ages in the TARDIS; unbeknownst to him, Sarah Jane has stowed away on board. It seems that a robber baron called Irongron has made a deal with Linx, a Sontaran of the Sontaran Army Space Corps. Linx gives Irongron advanced weapons in exchange for time and shelter while repairing his damaged spacecraft. The kidnapped scientists are working under hypnosis to help.

The Doctor helps local lord Sir Edward of Wessex to repel an attack by Irongron's men, then drugs the food in Irongron's castle in order to remove the advanced weapons while they sleep. With the help of one of the scientists, the Doctor then sends the scientists back to the 20th century.

Linx kills Irongron and is about to leave when he is shot in the back of the neck with an arrow by Hal, one of Wessex's archers. Turns out that's the only weak spot on a Sontaran's armour - the "probic vent" - and he dies. The Doctor, Sarah and Hal escape before the ship can explode and destroy Irongron's castle.

Watch it here

Tropes

  • Achilles' Heel: the probic vent
  • Anachronism Stew: It's implied that the action may be taking place pre-1066 ("Wessex," as a place name, was quickly dispensed with after the Norman Conquest), but the armor and weapons look to be anywhere between the 13 to 15th Centuries.
  • Blind Without'Em: Prof. Rubeish
  • Bullet-Proof Fashion Plate: After spending days in the middle ages, exercising (and presumably sweating) and rolling around in the dirt and straw, the Doctor's clothing is still immaculate.
  • Cut His Heart Out with a Spoon:

Irongron: I'll chop him up so fine, not even a sparrow will fill its beak!

The Doctor: A straight line may be the shortest distance between two points, but it is by no means the most interesting.

    • The Doctor pretty much states his MO when Sarah Jane Smith asks "Are you serious?"

"About what I do, yes. Not necessarily about the way I do it."

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