S18E16
Tragic
Written by Terrance Dicks
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State of Decay Part 4

The Doctor must stop Aukon and his vampire minions from summoning the Great One, a powerful creature that feeds on the life blood of entire universes.

In the fourth part of 'State of Decay,' the Doctor and his companions face off against the vampire Aukon and his minions. The Doctor learns that Aukon plans to sacrifice a Time Lord, Romana, to summon the Great One, a powerful creature that will allow them to feed on the life blood of entire universes. The Doctor also discovers that a young boy, Adric, is to be initiated into the vampire cult.

The Doctor meets with a group of rebels, led by Ivo, who are fighting against the vampires. The Doctor uses his knowledge and cunning to help the rebels devise a plan to stop Aukon and his minions. The Doctor and the rebels launch a final attack on the vampires' stronghold, the Tower.

Meanwhile, Romana is prepared for sacrifice, and Adric is initiated into the vampire cult. However, the Doctor and the rebels intervene, and the Doctor uses a scout ship to destroy the Great One. The vampires are ultimately defeated, and their powers are broken.

The Doctor and his companions escape, and the Doctor reflects on the success of their mission. The rebels are left to rebuild and use the knowledge they have gained to create a better future.


Events in This Episode

The narrative beats that drive the story

29
Act 3

This act commences with Aukon's declaration of the Great One's imminent arising, fueled by the blood and souls of countless victims, promising universal devastation. Romana and Adric remain captive; Adric contemplates joining the vampires for power and eternal life, while Romana steadfastly resists. Meanwhile, the Doctor, having successfully gained the rebels' trust, devises a desperate plan to assault the Tower. He rallies the rebels, employing K9 as an armored, laser-equipped commando, and conceptualizes a "mighty bolt of steel" to combat the vampires. The rebels launch their attack, engaging the vampire guards in fierce hand-to-hand combat, while the Doctor infiltrates the Tower's spaceship bay. He frantically attempts to activate one of three scout ships, succeeding on the third attempt just as Aukon prepares Romana for sacrifice. The Doctor launches the scout ship, which ascends and then plummets, piercing the ground where the Great One begins to emerge. The impact destroys the Great One, causing the vampires—Aukon, Zargo, and Camilla—to age rapidly and disintegrate into dust, their powers broken. With the immediate threat neutralized, the Doctor explains his ingenious plan to the relieved rebels, who celebrate their hard-won victory. He entrusts Kalmar with the recovered scientific knowledge, empowering the rebels to rebuild their society. Finally, the Doctor, Romana, and Adric depart in the TARDIS, leaving the liberated world to forge its own future, while Adric expresses regret for his earlier wavering loyalty. This act resolves the central conflict, defeats the primary antagonists, and establishes the new status quo for the surviving characters.