The Masque Of Mandragora (1976) Review

The Masque Of Mandragora is, as Sarah Jane would put it, "smashing". It's great fun and a shining example of the alien-historical genre. It's also nice not to be in Britain for once.

PLOT

After narrowly escaping the Mandragora Helix(don't ask), the TARDIS is forced to land in 15th century Italy where the evil Count Federico threatens to undo the noble Duke Giuliano's rule with the help of the pagan-serving astrologer Hieronymous(that's definitely what I'm gonna name my kid).

ANALYSIS

The Masque is very reminiscent of the 1980s Robin Of Sherwood, with a similar spiritual/magical theme mixed with freedom fighting. Except here, of course, the "magic" is explained away. The satanist cult horror parts also harken heavily back to The Daemons, although it's much, much better done here.

The plot is great, the design is perfect(it's historical drama and the BBC, you all know the drill) and the writing is enjoyable and meaty, as one might expect from good old Louis Marks(who also gave us equally wonderful gems Planet Of Giants and Day Of The Daleks).

CHARACTERS

Yay! Tom Baker's brown coat returns! And is it just me, or is his neck getting kind of puffy? 
Yeah, that's notes material, I know, but seriously, why do I even bother talking about the regulars anymore? Unless something big comes up, I just won't.

Gareth "1970s David Tennant" Armstrong brings us the engaging almost-protagonist (like Marco Polo in his story and, I guess the "historical celebrities" in the new series. Except he's not a real person.) Giuliano, a prince trying desperately to save his land and people from the Dark Ages and be a just, enlightened ruler and all those other good things. 

Count Federico is a great pseudo-Sheriff Of Nottingham, constantly spewing insults at his guards and so forth. He also has a Captain Some-Italian-Name-i(dammit, I just remembered his name was Rossini. There goes my joke) who's basically a Guy Of Gisborne stand in. If only Federico had shouted "ROSSINI!!" when the Doctor got away, it would've been complete.

Hieronymous is the best, however. He's a devoted satanist who constantly predicts everybody's death(like Cassandra in The Myth Makers, but without the hissy fits). He's also the poisoner, to complete the package I guess. 

And then there's Marco. Who's boring.

NOTES

*Hello, second TARDIS control room. I wonder why there are two? Yes, I know the obvious answer, but considering that the show has made such a big deal about the Heart of the TARDIS being undernearth the CENTRAL column, it feels a little odd. Besides, would Time Lords really be that cautious?

*In the second control room, The Doctor comes across an old pink shirt with ruffles on it, obviously a reference to the Third Doctor. Only thing is, there's no way Pertwee ever wore a pink shirt. I would've remembered that! (Maybe it was Jo's cosplay costume?)

*As for the design of the second control room, I'm on the fence about it. It looks really cool, I'll give it that, but the lack of a column(even if they couldn't get it to move, they could've at least had SOMETHING there!) and the small size of the console itself don't appeal to me. Also, the stained
glass is a good idea in on itself, but there's only like three roundels with it so it seems kind of pointless.

*Why the heck does the ordinary control room have a tiny little black-and-white TV scanner(and a color one in a roundel) and the second, back-up control room has a ginormous, plasma, 50-inch, 5-D experience one?

*Considering the effect that the Mandragora Helix has on the TARDIS, I wouldn't be surprised if a few fans with good memories thought the Ice Warriors were assaulting the ship.

*Lovely echo effect inside the Helix. Although I wonder where the oxygen comes from(I don't think there was an automatic force field around the TARDIS back in those days. Where did that come from, anyway? Is that extrapolator thing from Series 1 STILL running?!?)?

*Why are the lightning effects on this show always so rubbish?

*So, was Demnos the Mandragora Helix all along or did the Helix corrupt the Demnos cultists? Cause they sort of switch from praising Demnos to praising Mandragora as the story goes on.

*The Helix energy effect is annoyingly crappy. It's obviously plastered onto the footage later on.

*Why would the Helix spare the hair of its victims? Like, the bodies become blue mush, but the hair remains in perfect condition?

*What's up with that salami at the end?

*Did anyone else get a Luna Lovegood vibe with that lion's costume the Doctor dons?

*So, if the Doctor drained the Mandragora, what happened with Hieronymous?

CONCLUSION

A thrilling adventure for any age.