The episode opens with a frantic discussion about the Catholic plot to assassinate Henri, and unfolds in an equally breathless and frantic way, relying on a mixture of misunderstood motives, secretive behaviour and an inability to see things from a different perspective.

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War of God is driven by the differences between the TARDIS crew. Steven’s caution is contrasted with the Doctor’s pleasure at a perfect landing and the opportunity to meet Preslin, a foremost apothecary in 16th Century Paris. Throughout, while Steven dithers, trying to avoid getting involved, the Doctor, for all his words, seems keen to do whatever he can to help Preslin. In the end, reluctantly or not, both have been drawn into the intrigues and trouble brewing between Catholics and Protestants.

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As a climax to Doctor Who‘s longest serial to date, Destruction of Time is a sombre, hollow experience. The first part of the episode wraps up the Mavic Chen story – unlike earlier episodes where he took a high-handed approach to his Dalek allies, this time the scene is full of menace, as his hubris gives way to madness, and he is exterminated – denying Sara the opportunity to execute justice for her brother and the Solar System.

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An exercise in putting the audience on edge, The Abandoned Planet postpones any grand showdowns, largely removing both the Doctor and the Daleks for the majority of its running time. Even the Varga Plants have vanished. Instead, the focus is on Steven and Sara’s nervous expedition into the deserted Dalek ‘city of the dead’ in search both of the Doctor and the Time Destructor. The focus is also on Chen, whose ‘arrogance and greed have a further use’ to the Daleks.

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The reveal that the bandaged creature in the mummy’s tomb is actually the Monk is a great, if very obvious, pay-off to the previous cliffhanger – and Butterworth’s ‘monky-business’ is huge fun, especially when he turns a corner of the pyramid and walks straight into a Dalek patrol. His desperate improvisation (and Beatles hair) is practically the second Doctor a year early. Our last glimpse of him, stranded on a planet of ice, is suitably sequel hunting. It’s a shame that never happened, however given the similarities in characterisation it’s hard to see him working as such a good foil against Troughton. But up against Hartnell – here at his most imperious when he’s negotiating for the release of the Dalek hostages – he’s perfect.

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Hartnell sounds very hoarse – like he’s picked up a winter cold – or maybe it’s the sand in Ancient Eygpt. While the Doctor pootles about fixing the TARDIS lock, Steven sees another time machine arriving – he assumes it’s the Monk, but in reality it’s the Daleks. After a few weeks of respite, the peril is increasing again.

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A new year begins, and the Daleks are back – while the Doctor and friends were enjoying their Christmas bubbly, the Daleks were fitting the Taranium Core to their Time Destructor. As their allies wait nervously to see the results, they gossip between themselves. There’s a nice reminder that only the Daleks and their mysterious rivals have conquered the dimension of time:

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