History Recap / DoctorWhoS10E2CarnivalOfMonsters

'''Production code:''' PPP

Written by Creator/RobertHolmes. This four-episode serial first aired from January 27 to February 17, 1973.

JustForFun/TheOneWith meta humour. And the one and only time you'll see a Cyberman in a [[Creator/JonPertwee Pertwee]]-era serial outside of flashbacks or hallucinations, for all of five seconds. Also, the one where the theme tune sounded like twangy rubber bands.[[note]]The briefly used "Delaware" variant of the ''Series/DoctorWho'' theme, named after the modified EMS Synthi 100-- the very same one previously used to score "[[Recap/DoctorWhoS9E3TheSeaDevils The Sea Devils]]"-- that it was performed on. It was only used in the Australian airings of this serial (sources vary as to whether its inclusion in that specific region was intentional or not) and subsequently discontinued because it got poor reception from the series staff themselves.[[/note]]

The scope is being shown around by two entertainers, Vorg and Shirna, Lurmans visiting the reclusive planet of Inter Minor and hoping to make money from the curious natives. However, they have fallen afoul of the planet's bureaucracy as they do not have a permit for the Miniscope. To top it all, the scope is on the point of breaking down.

* BreadAndCircuses: The plot involves aliens using miniscopes to torment people for their amusement.

* KarmaHoudini: Vorg doesn't seem to be a cruel man, but he is rather blasé about keeping sentient beings in captivity, and doesn't show much concern for their well being. He does help the Doctor, though, even though he was threatening to turn him in for his deeds. YMMV on whether that's enough for him to escape punishment.

-> '''Pletrac:''' The function of this tribunal is to keep this planet clean. This Tellurian creature comes from outside our solar system and is a possible carrier of contagion. Furthermore the creature may be hostile.\\

JustForFun/TheOneWith meta humour. And the one and only time you'll see a Cyberman in a [[Creator/JonPertwee Pertwee]]-era serial outside of flashbacks or hallucinations, for all of five seconds. Also, the one where the theme tune sounded like twangy rubber bands.[[note]]The briefly used "Delaware" variant of the ''Series/DoctorWho'' theme, named after the modified EMS Synthi 100-- the very same one previously used to score [[Recap/DoctorWhoS9E3TheSeaDevils "The Sea Devils"]]-- that it was performed on. It was only used in the Australian airings of this serial (sources vary as to whether its inclusion in that specific region was intentional or not) and subsequently discontinued because it got poor reception from the series staff themselves.[[/note]]

%% * 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.

JustForFun/TheOneWith meta humour. And the one and only time you'll see a Cyberman in a Pertwee era serial outside of flashbacks or hallucinations, for all of five seconds. Also, the one where the theme tune sounded like twangy rubber bands.[[note]]The briefly used "Delaware" variant of the ''Series/DoctorWho'' theme, named after the modified EMS Synthi 100-- the very same one previously used to score [[Recap/DoctorWhoS9E3TheSeaDevils "The Sea Devils"]]-- that it was performed on. It was only used in the Australian airings of this serial (sources vary as to whether its inclusion in that specific region was intentional or not) and subsequently discontinued because it got poor reception from the series staff themselves.[[/note]]

The one with meta humour. And the one and only time you'll see a Cyberman in a Pertwee era serial outside of flashbacks or hallucinations, for all of five seconds. Also, the one where the theme tune sounded like twangy rubber bands.[[note]]The briefly used "Delaware" variant of the ''Series/DoctorWho'' theme, named after the modified EMS Synthi 100-- the very same one previously used to score [[Recap/DoctorWhoS9E3TheSeaDevils "The Sea Devils"]]-- that it was performed on. It was only used in the Australian airings of this serial (sources vary as to whether its inclusion in that specific region was intentional or not) and subsequently discontinued because it got poor reception from the series staff themselves.[[/note]]

Written by Creator/RobertHolmes. This serial first aired January 27-February 17, 1973.

* BottleEpisode: The more elaborate set is a combination of PropRecycling from the extensive BBC CostumeDrama collection, some BackedByThePentagon boat exteriors, a BBCQuarry and a dark sound stage. The less elaborate set is a small round area. About half of the plot is three RubberForeheadAliens arguing with two HumanAliens in a small room. The monsters are latex puppets called Drashigs, a SignificantAnagram of "dishrags", as Creator/RobertHolmes assumed that was what they'd end up being made out of considering that this was a cheap story.

-> '''Pletrac''': The function of this tribunal is to keep this planet clean. This Tellurian creature comes from outside our solar system and is a possible carrier of contagion. Furthermore the creature may be hostile.\\
'''The Doctor''': Would you kindly stop referring to me as "the creature", sir. Or I may well become exceedingly hostile!

The one with meta humour. And the one and only time you'll see a Cyberman in a Pertwee era serial outside of flashbacks or hallucinations, for all of five seconds.

Also, the one time the theme tune sounded like twangy rubber bands.[[note]]The briefly used "Delaware" variant of the ''Series/DoctorWho'' theme, named after the modified EMS Synthi 100-- the very same one previously used to score [[Recap/DoctorWhoS9E3TheSeaDevils "The Sea Devils"]]-- that it was performed on. It was only used in the Australian airings of this serial (sources vary as to whether its inclusion in that specific region was intentional or not) and subsequently discontinued because it got poor reception from the series staff themselves.[[/note]]

* HypocriticalHumor: At one point, the bureaucrats order Vorg to be quiet and he responds by going on at length about how obediently quiet he's going to be, only stopping when they tell him again to shut up.

Also, the one time the theme tune sounded like twangy rubber bands.[[note]]The briefly used "Delaware" variant of the ''Series/DoctorWho'' theme, named after the modified EMS Synthi 100-- the very same one previously used to score [[Recap/DoctorWhoS9E3TheSeaDevils "The Sea Devils"]]-- it was performed on. It was only used in the Australian airings of this serial (sources vary as to whether its inclusion in that specific region was intentional or not) and subsequently discontinued because it got poor reception from the series staff themselves.[[/note]]

Also, the one time the theme tune sounded like twangy rubber bands.[[note]]The briefly used "Delaware" variant of the ''Series/DoctorWho'' theme, named after the modified EMS Synthi 100 it was performed on. It was only used in the Australian airings of this serial (sources vary as to whether its inclusion in that specific region was intentional or not) and subsequently discontinued because it got poor reception from the series staff themselves.[[/note]]

Also, the one time the theme tune sounded like twangy rubber bands.[[note]]The briefly used "Delaware" variant of the ''Series/DoctorWho'' theme. It was only used in the Australian airings of this serial as a test run and subsequently discontinued because it got poor reception from the series staff themselves.[[/note]]

* BilingualBonus: Vorg's polari in episode four is translated as: "Parlae the Carny?" (Do you talk the Carnival language?)... "Varda the Bona Palone" (Look at the good (looking) Young Girl)... "Niente dinari here, y'jills" (No money to be made here, you know).

* RoguesGallery: Creator/TheBBC has taken to borrowing this episode's title as a name for the Doctor's gallery, despite there being no connection in the original story.

* WrongGenreSavvy: The Inter Minor characters seem to think that they're in a dark political thriller, when they're actually in one of the more bizarre and lighthearted Doctor Who episodes.

* GettingCrapPastTheRadar: In a very subtle manner. The "polari" patois that Vorg speaks is a real language, and was used by showmen/theatrical people. Emphasis on ''was.'' By the time the serial was written and filmed, however, the language was spoken almost exclusively by the gay subculture in London.

* PlanetOfHats: Planet of balding gray {{jerkass}} bureaucrats with an entirely unjustified superiority complex. Of course, we only meet three of them, but everything said about their cultures suggests they are perfectly typical of their species.

The one with meta humor. And the one and only time you'll see a Cyberman in a Pertwee era serial outside of flashbacks or hallucinations, for all of five seconds.

* IWantYouToMeetAnOldFriendOfMine: Creator/JonPertwee and Tenniel Evans both appeared on ''The Navy Lark''. In fact, it was Evans who convinced Pertwee to go for the role of the Doctor and he returned the favour by recommending him for this story.

* HoistByHisOwnPetard: Kalik is the only casualty of his own scheme.