History Recap / DoctorWhoS9E2TheCurseOfPeladon

-> ''"There is no plot! I am being completely honest with you."''

The one with a talking dildo alien.

** The ambassador to Alpha Centauri is named "Alpha Centauri".

* LordCountry: The ambassador to Alpha Centauri is named "Alpha Centauri".
** So is Peladon, king of Peladon.

** In the DVD commentary, both Creator/TerranceDicks and Creator/BarryLetts deny there was any deliberate message in the storyline, while admitting that it's entirely possible that the author may well have been inspired to write his story by the political debate at the time.

* ContrivedCoincidence: Jo had prettied herself up for a date with Captain Yates before she unwisely steps into the TARDIS, so she finds it easy to pass herself off as a princess.

* KnightTemplar: Hepesh. [[invoked]][[HarsherInHindsight But we do learn eight Doctors later that the StrawmanHasAPoint, spelled O-O-D.

* RunningGag / TitleDrop: When the real delegate from Earth turns up at the end of the final episode.
-->"The Doctor? Doctor ''who?''"

* WellIntentionedExtremist / KnightTemplar: Hepesh. [[invoked]][[HarsherInHindsight But we do learn eight Doctors later that the]] StrawmanHasAPoint, spelled O-O-D.
** Two stories [[Recap/DoctorWhoS9E4TheMutants later]] we learn something like this happened before.

* ShipTease: Some definite tease between Jo and Peladon, undoubtedly RealitySubtext.
* TheSpeechless: Grun, a mute, and a reasonably heroic one once outmaneuvered by the Doctor.

* WellIntentionedExtremist / KnightTemplar: Hepesh. [[HarsherInHindsight But we do learn eight Doctors later that the]] StrawmanHasAPoint, spelled O-O-D.

This story would mark the final appearance of the original TARDIS interior, which had been present since the show's premiere in 1963. By this point, the production team had already decided to refurbish the set, and as the interior was only needed for a single, brief scene in this serial, it consisted only of the portions that were absolutely necessary. The TARDIS interior would get its first attempted redesign in [[Recap/DoctorWhoS9E5TheTimeMonster "The Time Monster"]] at the end of this season before seeing another renovation in [[Recap/DoctorWhoS10E1TheThreeDoctors "The Three Doctors"]] that simply modernized the old set (among other things ditching the matte print wall, which was more conspicuous on higher-resolution color monitors than the dingy black and white televisions that were commonplace a decade prior).

* LetUsNeverSpeakOfThisAgain: Played for drama in episode four; distraught over Hepesh's failed coup and subsequent death, King Peladon orders the day's events to be wiped from the kingdom's official history.

Written by Bryan Hayles. This serial first aired January 29-February 19, 1972.

* ObscuredSpecialEffects: Alpha Centauri'S UnfortunateCharacterDesign was disguised at the last minute by putting him in a yellow cape. (It doesn't help.)

* BriefAccentImitation: Jo starts speaking in the upper class variant of RP when the Doctor gets her to impersonate a queen.

* ContinuityNod: [[Recap/DoctorWhoS4E3ThePowerOfTheDaleks This isn't the first time the Doctor's impersonated an Earth examiner]].
** Jo rushing in to "save" the Doctor from Aggedor has definite shades of "[[Recap/DoctorWhoS8E1TerrorOfTheAutons Terror of the Autons]]." See TookALevelInKindness, below.

** In the DVD commentary, both Creator/TerranceDicks and Barry Letts deny there was any deliberate message in the storyline, while admitting that it's entirely possible that the author may well have been inspired to write his story by the political debate at the time.

* {{Homage}}: This story is one of times that ''Doctor Who'' has come closest to ''Franchise/StarTrek'', lampshaded by the "Federation" reference. In particular, it bears clear parallels with the ''Series/StarTrekTheOriginalSeries'' episode "Journey to Babel", with political intrigue among an assortment of distinctive-looking alien characters centering around a planet's application to join the Federation.

* PoweredArmor: The Arcturus delegate is housed within a mechanical transport housing somewhat like a Dalek's, although in his case it's mainly for life-support in a non-aquatic environment.

* RunningGag / TitleDrop: When the real delegate from Earth turns up at the end of the episode.

** The [[GettingCrapPastTheRadar rude implications of its appearance]] are oft commented on by reviewers.

* ZettaiRyouiki: Unusual male example in King Peladon.

* ScrewThisIAmOutOfHere: At the end the Doctor asks Jo if [[IChooseToStay she wants to stay]] and become Queen, but then the real ambassador from Earth arrives and they beat a hasty retreat in the TARDIS.