The TARDIS fell through a crack in time and space and arrived in another universe known as E-Space, to distinguish it from our own universe, N-Space. E-Space is home to a menagerie of aliens and other creatures, such as the Marshmen, the Great Vampires and also the time-sensitive Tharils. The Fourth Doctor, Romana and K-9 tried to find a way out of E-Space, which they eventually discovered in Warriors’ Gate. However, Romana and K-9 Mark II decided to remain in E-Space, whilst the Doctor returned to our universe.

Full Circle

★★★★☆

TX: 25/10/1980 – 15/11/1980

Written by Andrew Smith Directed by Peter Grimwade

The TARDIS falls through a CVE into E-Space, an area outside the known universe. The Doctor, Romana and K-9 discover a crashed Starliner full of passengers from the planet Terradon that never seems to leave the swamp planet of Alzarius. Worse still, the inhabitants of the Starliner and a group of young rebels called the Outlers, including two brothers named Varsh and Adric, are being terrorised by creatures known as Marshmen and Marshspiders, which emerge at a time called Mistfall. Writer Andrew Smith told me that the Marshmen were a tribute to The Sea Devils. The Doctor uses DNA testing onboard the Starliner to determine the heritage of these creatures. It transpires that, contrary to the testimony of their leaders (the ironically-named Deciders), the passengers of the Starliner are in fact descended from the Marshmen in the swamp, as they share the same genetic structure with the other creatures. The Doctor is able to help repair the Starliner and enable its passengers’ departure from the planet Alzarius.

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State of Decay

★★★★☆

TX: 22/11/1980 – 13/12/1980

Written by Terrance Dicks  Directed by Peter Moffatt

Still trapped in E-Space, the Fourth Doctor, Romana, K-9 and stowaway Adric find themselves on a feudal planet that lives in fear of the wasting and serves ‘the Three Who Rule’. These three are in fact the last of the Great Vampires and they have ruled over the planet for centuries since their spaceship crashed there. Zargo, Camilla, and Aukon—who dwell in a shadowy Tower. The Doctor and Romana discover evidence of advanced technology and wonder what happened to cause the planet to devolve to its current “state of decay”. After being taken prisoner by the three lords, the Doctor and Romana discover that the great Tower in which the Lords dwell is a spaceship called Hydrax, originally from Earth. The three lords are members of the original crew, mutated into vampires, while the subjects beneath them are the descendants of the other colonists, made dull and primitive by generations of breeding and oppression. Their names have gradually changed over the centuries in accordance with Grimm’s law of consonant shift. A rebel called Tarak infiltrates the Tower, freeing the Doctor and Romana. The Doctor returns to the TARDIS, while Romana stays with Tarak to search for Adric. They find Adric in a state of trance. Zargo and Camilla attack them, but Aukon compels them to stop. He wants Adric as a Chosen One and Romana, a Time Lord, for sacrifice at the Arising, the first taste of revenge for their master, the “Great One.” In the TARDIS the Doctor discovers that the Great Vampires could only be defeated using specially designed ships which fired steel bolts that speared the monsters through the heart. Deep within the tower, he finds the last Great Vampire, about to be revived. The Doctor rigs one of the spaceship’s old scout ships to launch and fall back toward the ground, driving itself into the heart of the subterranean Great One. With the Great One dispatched, the three vampire Lords crumble to dust. The Doctor finds Romana and Adric and they leave the planet, hoping it will develop once again toward its former advanced state. This gothic adventure by Terrance Dicks was originally supposed to fill the gap that Horror of Fang Rock took. However, the BBC vetoed this because at the time they were showing an adaptation of Dracula and they didn’t want Doctor Who to look too similar.

Warriors’ Gate

★★★★☆

TX: 03/01/1981 – 24/01/1981

Written by Stephen Gallagher   Directed by Paul Joyce

The TARDIS arrives at a gateway to another universe. The Doctor and Romana encounter Biroc, one of the time-sensitive Tharils that are being trafficked by humans. The Tharils can walk through time and space, but they once ran a mighty empire, until they were destroyed by the Gundan. The Gundan Robots still litter the ruins of the Tharils’ palace. Biroc sabotages the human traffickers’ ship so it explodes. The Doctor and Romana discover another CVE in the gateway, which will allow them to return to N-Space and escape E-Space. However, Romana and K-9 decide to stay behind in E-Space, so the Fourth Doctor bids them farewell as he returns to our universe.