Doctor Who
S14E14
· The Face of Evil Part 2

Doctor and Leela defy the tribe to inspect relics

The Doctor and Leela stand outside Xoanon's shrine, having cut through the wall's fabric, where the Doctor immediately voices his intention to examine the relics within. Leela warns of the danger, citing both the perilous village atmosphere and the taboo of approaching the shrine. Their hushed exchange underscores the high stakes of defying tribal warnings to uncover the truth behind the artifacts that may hold the key to averting catastrophe.

Plot Beats

The narrative micro-steps within this event

1

The Doctor and Leela decide to investigate Xoanon's shrine despite the danger. The Doctor expresses his intent to examine the relics.

determination to apprehension ["outside Xoanon's shrine"]

Who Was There

Characters present in this moment

2
The Fourth Doctor
Science Officer
 primary

Driven by intellectual urgency masking his awareness of danger, a blend of excitement and calculated resolve.

The Doctor stands resolute, his posture suggesting movement toward the shrine despite Leela's warning, his voice low and urgent as he voices his intention to examine the relics inside the forbidden space.

Goals in this moment
  • • To examine the relics which may hold the key to averting catastrophe
  • • To convince Leela of the necessity of his actions despite her warnings
Active beliefs
  • • Trust in his ability to discern truth from danger
  • • Belief that uncovering the shrine's secrets is essential to resolving the crisis
Character traits
Determined Curious Persuasive Defiant
Follow The Fourth …'s journey
Leela
primary

Deeply apprehensive about the shrine's taboo and the village's hostility, torn between her loyalty to the Doctor and her awareness of the lethal consequences.

Leela hovers protectively near the Doctor, her warrior instincts on high alert as she voices her fears in hushed yet sharp tones, her body language tense between caution and loyalty.

Goals in this moment
  • • To prevent the Doctor from risking himself in a place forbidden by tribal law
  • • To protect him from both supernatural harm and the Sevateem's wrath
Active beliefs
  • • Belief in the sanctity of tribal taboos
  • • Fear that defying these warnings will invite doom upon them both
Character traits
Cautious Protective Skeptical Honest
Follow Leela's journey

Location Details

Places and their significance in this event

1
Xoanon's Shrine

The narrow ledge outside Xoanon's shrine serves as the stage for the confrontation between the Doctor and Leela, its confined space intensifying the tension as the pair debate the perilous decision to breach further into the tabooed sanctum.

Atmosphere Pressured with a sense of impending violation, the air thick with the scent of incense …
Function A liminal threshold between tribal law and forbidden knowledge, where defiance and danger intersect.
Symbolism Symbolizes the point where faith in tribal dogma clashes with the necessity of uncovering hidden …
Access The shrine is forbidden by tribal law, with only those who defy tradition or face …
The cavern walls are jagged from the Doctor's earlier intrusion with his sonic screwdriver Torchlight from within the shrine paints shifting gold bars against their boots

Narrative Connections

How this event relates to others in the story

What led here 2
Causal

"The Doctor's decision to return to the village (beat_68dc546c1f598057) directly leads to their subsequent investigation of Xoanon's shrine (beat_227bb3c195137765), revealing the Hand of Xoanon and escalating the stakes."

Leela questions the Doctors memory lapse
S14E14 · The Face of Evil Part …
Causal

"The Doctor's decision to return to the village (beat_68dc546c1f598057) directly leads to their subsequent investigation of Xoanon's shrine (beat_227bb3c195137765), revealing the Hand of Xoanon and escalating the stakes."

Doctor insists on returning to village despite danger
S14E14 · The Face of Evil Part …
What this causes 1
Thematic Parallel medium

"The Doctor and Leela's initial investigation of the shrine and the Hand of Xoanon (beat_227bb3c195137765, beat_8f094cb5b4c1914b) parallels their later analysis of the carving (beat_0619e8b422ffacf1, beat_94c7dd47d3e0028a), both revealing misinterpreted technology as divine."

Doctor reveals Hand of Xoanon as alien artifact
S14E14 · The Face of Evil Part …

Themes This Exemplifies

Thematic resonance and meaning

Technological Salvation Against Tribal Dogma
4
The narrative champions the role of applied science and alien technology as the ultimate disruptor of primitive superstition, presenting the Doctor’s knowledge as the tribe’s …

Key Dialogue

"DOCTOR: I must examine those relics."
"LEELA: The village was dangerous enough, but the shrine of Xoanon?"