Fabula
Season 11 · Episode 4
S11E4
Cynical
Written by Robert Holmes
View Graph

The Time Warrior Part 4

The Doctor and Sarah try to stop Linx, a Sontaran warrior, from teaming up with Irongron to use his magic weapons in battle, while also rescuing kidnapped scientists.

The narrative begins with Linx, a Sontaran warrior, holding the Doctor, Sarah, and several scientists captive in his workshop. Linx plans to use the prisoners to aid in his fight for freedom. The Doctor attempts to reason with Linx, explaining that his super race ideology is flawed. Meanwhile, Rubeish, one of the scientists, secretly works to disable the mind control devices used on the other captives.

As the story unfolds, Linx is thwarted by Rubeish and the Doctor, who use various tactics to undermine his plans. The Doctor and Sarah escape and make their way to Irongron's castle, where they encounter more danger. Linx eventually escapes and heads back to his spaceship. The Doctor and Sarah work together to stop Linx from destroying Irongron's castle with sorcery.

The climax features a series of action-packed sequences, including a fight between the Doctor and Irongron, and a final confrontation with Linx. Ultimately, Linx is killed by an arrow to his probic vent, and his spaceship explodes, saving the day.


Events in This Episode

The narrative beats that drive the story

37
Act 1

The act opens with Sarah emerging from hiding to intervene as Linx prepares to harm the Doctor, leading to her own capture. Linx reiterates his intent to use the prisoners for his "struggle for freedom," prompting the Doctor to challenge his "super race" ideology. The Doctor subtly reveals the Sontaran's probic vent weakness. Rubeish, one of the captive scientists, seizes an opportunity, striking Linx and incapacitating him. With Linx momentarily neutralized, the Doctor instructs Sarah to proceed with her part of their plan, while he and Rubeish begin securing Linx and deprogramming the other scientists. Meanwhile, Captain Irongron, unaware of Linx's predicament, demands his presence. To stall Irongron and buy time for the scientists' rescue, the Doctor dons a robot suit, impersonating a gift from Linx. He engages Irongron in a defensive sword fight, eventually revealing his identity as the "wizard." Irongron, enraged, captures the Doctor, intending a slow, magical death. Concurrently, Sarah infiltrates Irongron's kitchen, where she is caught by Meg, a scullion, and put to work. Sarah seizes this chance to poison Irongron's stew with a sleeping potion. Rubeish successfully awakens the hypnotized scientists, instructing them to maintain their charade. Irongron discovers the bound Linx and frees him, informing him of the Doctor's impending demise. The Doctor is then subjected to a cruel game, serving as a living target for Irongron's men to practice with their "star weapons." Sarah, hearing the commotion, races to the great hall, uses a candelabra to create a diversion, and helps the Doctor escape. They flee the castle, disabling guards at the gate. Outside, they meet Sir Edward, learning that Linx's spaceship is preparing for takeoff and will destroy the entire castle. Recognizing the danger to Rubeish and the scientists, the Doctor, Sarah, and Hal resolve to return to the castle to prevent the catastrophe and complete the rescue.

Act 2

The Doctor, Sarah, and Hal return to Irongron's castle under the cover of night. The Doctor deploys a device that induces sleep in the castle guards, allowing them to enter unhindered. Inside Linx's workshop, they discover Linx has departed, having integrated the osmic projector—the device needed to send the scientists home—into his spaceship, which is now powering up for takeoff. The Doctor, facing a critical time constraint, ventures into the active spaceship to retrieve the projector. Simultaneously, Hal is dispatched to disarm Irongron and his men, who are now succumbing to the sleeping potion Sarah administered earlier. The Doctor successfully extracts the osmic projector and begins the urgent process of sending the scientists back to their own time, one by one. Meanwhile, in Irongron's hall, Linx returns for a final, heated confrontation with Irongron, declaring their alliance over and his imminent departure. Linx leaves amidst Irongron's laughter, but soon after, the poisoned stew takes full effect, and Irongron and his men fall into a deep sleep. Linx reappears in his workshop, interrupting the Doctor's rescue efforts. The Doctor engages Linx in a physical struggle, employing Venusian Aikido to buy Rubeish enough time to send the last scientist home. During this chaotic scene, Irongron, having partially awakened and discovered Hal disarming his men, realizes he has been tricked. Enraged, Irongron storms into the workshop, confronting Linx. Irongron accuses Linx of sorcery and treachery, then kills the Sontaran warrior with his sword. In his dying moments, Linx activates a large switch, triggering an accelerated self-destruction sequence for his spaceship, giving everyone less than a minute to escape before the castle explodes. The Doctor, Sarah, and Hal flee the workshop as the spaceship glows red and computer equipment begins to explode around them.

Act 3

The spaceship's explosive demise rocks Irongron's castle, sending a powerful shockwave that knocks the Doctor, Sarah, and Hal to the ground outside. They quickly recover, dusting themselves off, and observe the remnants of the destroyed castle. The Doctor reassures Hal that Sir Edward's problems are now resolved, confirming the destruction of Irongron, his castle, his "magic weapons," and the alien "sorcerer" Linx. Hal expresses gratitude, offering a reward and inviting the Doctor to personally inform Sir Edward of their success, acknowledging the significant debt owed to him. The Doctor, however, declines the offer, explaining that he and Sarah must depart immediately. He bids Hal farewell. Hal, still under the impression of the Doctor's extraordinary abilities, praises him as a "great magician." The Doctor, with a characteristic touch of humility, refutes this claim, stating he is "not a magician at all." Sarah, however, playfully interjects, suggesting she is "not so sure about that," hinting at the Doctor's often-unexplained capabilities. With their mission accomplished and the immediate threats neutralized, the Doctor and Sarah enter the TARDIS. The time machine dematerializes, leaving Hal alone amidst the aftermath of the castle's destruction, signifying the end of their adventure in this particular time and place.