History Recap / DoctorWhoS20E2Snakedance

'''Production code:''' 6D

Written by Christopher Bailey. This four-episode serial first aired from January 18 -- 26, 1983.

JustForFun/TheOneWith Series/DocMartin... And the return of everybody's favorite Rubber Snake.

JustForFun/TheOneWith Series/DocMartin.

* NoAntagonist: Subverted, other than the Mara, there are no other villains. Lon is a RoyalBrat but getting possessed by the Mara is not his fault. He does get a BreakTheHaughty moment at the end when [[spoiler:he is last seen weeping in his mother's arms after being freed from the Mara's possession]]. Ambril is the closest thing to an antagonist that doesn't need to be possessed to be a problem and he's just a rather pompous ObstructiveBureaucrat who ends up being an UnwittingPawn in the Mara's plan.

** Blue crystalline stones that can be used to enhance telepathy and allow long distance telepathic communication? Might es well call them matrix stones like they do on Literature/{{Darkover}}.

One random puppet show later, Lon changes into his fanciest of fancy dresses and prepares to lead the traditional ceremony. However, the Mara inside him insists on using the actual legendary great crystal, instead of the glass prop, and Ambril (with the promise of getting shiny archaeological trinkets in return) recluctantly brings it along to the show. It's used, of course, to bring the Mara back to life, but the Doctor and Dojjen use their combined psychic energy to will it into submission. Free of the Mara's possession, Tegan is left trembling and crying in absolute horror while the Doctor just holds her.

%% * GettingCrapPastThe Radar: Due to overwhelming and persistent misuse, GCPTR is on-page examples only until 01 June 2021. If you are reading this in the future, please check the trope page to make sure your example fits the current definition.

This is the favourite classic ''Who'' serial of both Creator/StevenMoffat and Creator/RobertShearman.

This is the favourite classic ''Who'' serial of both Creator/StevenMoffat and Creator/RobShearman.

This is Creator/StevenMoffat's favourite story from the classic series.

Written by Christopher Bailey. This four-episode serial first aired from January 18--26, 1983.

-> ''Dreams are important... never underestimate them.''

The one with Series/DocMartin.

* NoAntagonist: Subverted, other than the Mara, there are no other villains. Lon is a RoyalBrat but getting possessed by the Mara is not his fault. He does get a BreakTheHaughty moment at the end when [[spoiler:he is last seen weeping in his mother's arms after being freed from the Mara's possession]].
* PhonyPsychic: Hawker.

Written by Christopher Bailey. This serial first aired January 18-26, 1983.

** Creator/MartinClunes, the actor who played Lon and who went on to be a star, is being quoted on the DVD for never quite forgiving director Fiona Cumming for putting him in the ceremonial costume, since [[NeverLiveItDown whenever he now appears on a talk-show they always show that clip]] in order to make fun of his earlier jobs pre-stardom.

The one with Series/DocMartin, and he and Tegan get a nasty sunburn.

The one with Series/DocMartin.

* GettingCrapPastTheRadar: Rather infamous for being the episode where the Doctor gets really, really stoned.

* ImpossiblyTackyClothes: Creator/MartinClunes, the actor who played Lon and who went on to be a star, is being quoted on the DVD for never quite forgiving director Fiona Cumming for putting him in the ceremonial costume, since [[NeverLiveItDown whenever he now appears on a talk-show they always show that clip]] in order to make fun of his earlier jobs pre-stardom.