The serpentine Mara lives in the dark places of the inside. It occupies a space on the astral plane. The Mara comes to our dimension by possessing others, including the Doctor’s companion Tegan Jovanka. The Mara has only appeared twice onscreen in the long history of Doctor Who. But how long will it be until the Doctor encounters this terrifying giant snake again?

Kinda

★★★★★

TX: 01/02/1982 – 09/02/1982

Written by Christopher Bailey    Directed by Peter Grimwade

The Fifth Doctor, Tegan and Adric relax on the jungle planet of Deva Loka, whilst Nyssa recovers in the TARDIS. “There’s always something to look at if you open your eyes!” The time travellers discover a human scientific expedition to the planet. The mental health of the explorers is being negatively affected by the Box of Jhana, an artefact of cultural significance to the indigenous tribe of the Kinda. Tegan falls asleep near some wind chimes and in her deep sleep falls under the influence of the Mara, a snake-like creature that possesses people through their dreams. The Doctor contends with the mad Hindle, the second in command of the scientific mission, whom Adric briefly sides with. After seeking advice from the native Kinda tribe, the Doctor and scientist Todd learn more about the nature of the Mara. The Doctor realises that they can expel the Mara from its new host Aris by trapping it in a circle of mirrors. The Mara reveals itself as a giant snake before ultimately being banished back to its realm by the mirrors. The Doctor and his companions leave the scientific team, content that the explorers no longer have any plans to colonise the dangerous planet of Deva Loka.

Snakedance

★★★★☆

TX: 18/01/1983 – 26/01/1983

Written by Christopher Bailey    Directed by Fiona Cumming

Tegan is suffering from nightmares onboard the TARDIS. The Doctor asks her to concentrate during her dreams and ultimately the Fifth Doctor traces the source of her discomfort back to the decadent planet of Manussa. Manussa was formerly the homeworld of the Sumaran Empire, ruled over by the serpentine Mara that originally possessed Tegan back on Deva Loka. Unfortunately, Tegan once again falls under the influence of the Mara, as does Lon, the bored son of the Manussan Federator and the Lady Tanha. Tegan and Lon steal the great crystal (the Great Mind’s Eye) needed to release the Mara, from the archaeologist Ambril. Tegan also takes control of a showman called Dugdale. The Doctor and Nyssa meet Ambril’s predecessor Dojjen, who communes with the Doctor. Dojjen reveals to the Doctor that the Mara can only be banished by finding a still point in the mind. During a ceremony as part of a commemoration of the banishment of the Mara five hundred years previously, Tegan and Lon place the great crystal in the wall pattern of a cave that Tegan dreamed about. The Mara transfers from Tegan’s mind into corporeal existence, becoming a gigantic Snake in the process. However, the Doctor arrives in time and refuses to look at the snake or recognise its evil, relying instead on the still point he finds through mental commune with Dojjen via the Little Mind’s Eye given to him by the deputy curator Chela. This resistance interrupts the manifestation of the Mara and its three slaves are freed while the snake itself dies and rots. The Doctor reassures a traumatised Tegan that the Mara has finally been destroyed. To quote the Doctor: “You won’t succeed. In the end, evil never does.” Captain Jack Harkness later tells Torchwood member Gwen Cooper that the evil fairies they have encountered could be “part Mara” (Small Worlds).