Review of Enlightenment (#127)
DVD Release Date: 08 Jun 21
Original Air Date: 01 – 09 Mar 1983
Doctors/Companions: Five, Tegan Jovanka, Vislor Turlough
Stars: Peter Davison, Janet Fielding, Mark Strickson
Preceding Story: Terminus (Five, Nyssa, Tegan, Turlough)
Succeeding Story: The King’s Demons (Five, Tegan, Turlough)
I’ve occasionally heard other fans talk about how much they enjoy Enlightenment, but it’s not one that’s made much of an impression on me before (thus its fate as a member of Everything Else). Maybe I just never consider it, as part of an era I usually find a little dull.
But despite starring the Beige Doctor, and including both a baddie with a bird on his head and one of the more irritating Companions, the plot and the other Companion being awesome—that’s Tegan, one of my personal faves—make it eminently watchable.
Going in, pretty much all I remembered about Enlightenment was the race. I also knew it involved the Black Guardian and the end of Turlough’s interactions with him, but that was as much due to having pulled it out of my Black Guardian boxed set as anything. And though I didn’t write it down in my pre-viewing notes, I had at least a vague impression of Captain Wrack in my mind.
The story opens with the Doctor receiving an incomplete message from the White Guardian, then following coordinates to land on an Edwardian-era sailing yacht—or so the TARDIS crew think. But things are strange, and get stranger, until our first episode cliffhanger reveals that the ship is actually sailing through space.
From here the story gets twistier. The officers “exist in eternity,” meaning they can’t die, and need mortal minds to tap into for creativity. These Eternals use Ephemerals as toys, and this sailing race through the Terran solar system is just one way for them to keep themselves amused through their interminable existence.
But the stakes for those Ephemerals aboard the ships—including the Doctor and his friends—are literally life and death, which becomes apparent when one of the ships explodes. Sabotage is less amusing, but certainly not outside the rules, and our heroes soon learn that Capt. Wrack, captain of the Buccaneer, is willing to do anything it takes to win. The prize for the winning Eternal is Enlightenment (so many capital E’s in this adventure…).
“Everything conceived in time, from the beginning to the end, will be clear to me,” Wrack explains to Turlough. “I shall create and destroy as I wish. I’ll never be bored again.” While that may sound like a heck of a deal for the winning Eternal, no one else in the universe wants that to happen.
This is, of course, why the White Guardian sent the Doctor. With Turlough working both sides, and Tegan drawing the attention of at least a pair of the Eternals—one a creeper who doesn’t understand boundaries, and the other an (admittedly fabulous) pirate queen without scruples—the Doctor’s task is anything but easy.
It is, however, entertaining. The setting and premise are unique, the guest characters (and actors) are quite engaging, and the Doctor and Tegan are downright civil with each other. I don’t even quite hate Turlough here (he is so much better once the Black Guardian arc is over).
It is worth noting that Enlightenment was both written and directed by women (Barbara Clegg and Fiona Cumming, respectively), the first and only time two women helmed an adventure for 35 years, until The Witchfinders rolled around in 2018. I can’t help but wonder if I wouldn’t have enjoyed the Fifth Doctor’s era more had there been more such pairings.
Alas, we’ll never know. But what I have learned is that I should celebrate women creators where I can. From now on, I’ll definitely turn to Enlightenment for entertainment—and suggest others do the same.
The idea of a race for space ships seemed such a brilliant no-brainer once it was revealed and I do recall thoroughly enjoying this one at the time.
Lynda Baron as Wrack was an interesting casting, but I also recall being slightly discombobulated by her then appearing in Open All Hours as Nurse Gladys Emmanuel, which I think was the programme that followed Doctor Who on one of the broadcast nights – this was the era when the programme was broadcast two nights a week on BBC1.
I don’t recall too much about the novelisation other than the end scenes where Turlough is deciding whether to choose the crystal or to give the Doctor up where he contemplates punching the Doctor in his smug face! Not a line I was expecting to be honest!
It was an entertaining story and one I do enjoy rewatching from time to time. A solid 8/10 from me.
Forgot to add though, Leee John from the band Imagination was a piece of casting that I thought fitted the phrase “stunt casting” perfectly, but hey ho, these things happen and that’s one of the reasons for me why it doesn’t get 10/10
As an American, particularly one who first started watching Classic Who in 2008, the casting choices never mean anything to me beyond the surface performance. I can see why it would bother someone who knew the cast from elsewhere, though!
I once had my head bitten off by Jon Pertwee at a con when I said that some fans struggle to watch actors that they think are well known for other parts. I wasn’t necessarily agreeing with that sentiment but I don’t think Mr Pertwee heard it like that 😀
Like I say, I’m pretty sure that the programme Open All Hours, immediately followed one of the episodes each week and Lynda Baron’s appearance in both wasn’t annoying to me, just a bit discombobulating.
I do still think that the less said about Leee John the better, as I felt he was not a good actor in this part, but what do I know?
Getting Jon Pertwee riled up at a con? Congratulations! That memory is a keeper.
Not a fan of Turlough? I always liked him just because he was a little different than the typical companion. A bit of a coward and selfish but still very smart and ultimately coming through in the end. Having said that, I haven’t seen Enlightenment in some time.
Yeah, early Turlough really grates on my nerves. Once he gets out from under the Black Guardian, I like him a lot better, but in those early days… ~shudder~