The circus environment itself—its manipulative advertisements, deadly technology, and surreal horrors—acting as an all-pervading antagonistic force.

The Doctor and Ace materialize on Segonax at a landing platform dominated by a garish billboard for the Psychic Circus. A smoke-belching three-wheeled motorcycle descends, its rider adorned with oversized …

The Doctor and Captain Cook share a civilized tea while Ace assists Mags, creating a false sense of safety that evaporates when a buried robot erupts from the ground. The …