CRRRRS 607 Doctor Who: Battlefield
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Captain Roy Mator delivers a passionate, personal, and frenetic review of Doctor Who's 'Battlefield,' the 1989 Season 26 premiere starring Sylvester McCoy as the Seventh Doctor and Sophie Aldred as Ace. Amidst a chaotic recording session marked by interruptions, personal stress, and a rushed pace, Roy dives into the story's rich Arthurian mythos, praising its blend of legend, sci-fi, and tongue-in-cheek humor. He highlights the return of the Brigadier (Nicholas Courtney) and the dynamic new Brigadier Winifred Bambera (Angela Bruce), celebrating her as a bold, refreshing update to the role. The episode’s central conflict—Morgaine (Jean Marsh) seeking Excalibur to resurrect King Arthur—sparks deep discussion on myth, time, and the Doctor’s hidden identity as Merlin. Roy appreciates the story’s self-referential time loops, the comedic slapstick, and the standout demon design, while also critiquing outdated language, anachronistic science, and the problematic racist moment involving Ace and Xu Yuing. He reflects on his own life—coffee recovery, motorcycling, social media fatigue—and ends with a poetic reading of Tennyson’s 'Morte d'Arthur,' underscoring his deep affection for the mythic heart of Doctor Who.
The Doctor’s time-looped identity as Merlin adds a rich layer of self-referential myth to the story.
Brigadier Winifred Bambera is a bold, dynamic, and refreshing evolution of the classic role, especially as a Black female commander.
The Arthurian mythos is expertly blended with sci-fi, creating a uniquely 'Doctor Who' experience.
Ace’s racist slur toward Xu Yuing is jarring and inappropriate, even by 1989 standards, and reflects outdated writing.
The use of Nitro-9 to blow open an archaeological dig is both hilarious and a nod to the show’s love of chaotic, rule-breaking solutions.
…and 2 more takeaways available in PodZeus
Recording Chaos and Personal Interruptions
Roy begins the episode in a frantic state, recounting how last night’s recording was ruined by noise and stress. He explains he’s now recording during a rare quiet moment, having just rushed his parents to a doctor’s appointment and only now eating breakfast. He admits to being stressed, slurring, and physically unwell, setting a raw, unfiltered tone for the episode.
Cast, Crew, and Production Context
Roy quickly runs through the key cast and crew: Sylvester McCoy as the Seventh Doctor, Sophie Aldred as Ace, Nicholas Courtney as the Brigadier, and Angela Bruce as the new Brigadier Winifred Bambera. He highlights Jean Marsh as Morgaine, her prior roles in Doctor Who and Willow, and the director Michael Kerrigan. He notes the filming locations, broadcast date (September 1989), and the story’s place in the series timeline after 'The Greatest Show in the Galaxy'.
Plot Overview and Arthurian Mythos
Roy summarizes the story: the Doctor and Ace arrive at Lake Vortigern via a time-distress signal, encountering knights from Arthurian legend. The plot centers on Morgaine’s quest to resurrect King Arthur using Excalibur, with the Doctor, Ace, and the Brigadiers caught in the crossfire. Roy emphasizes the Arthurian parallels—Morgaine as Morgan Le Fay, Mordred as her son, Anselin as Gawain’s son—and the mythic weight of the narrative.
Character Analysis and Thematic Reflections
“The moment Morgaine appears as a time-travelling sorceress, I was also immediately reminded of C.J. Cherai's Morgaine series, spelt the same way.”
Visuals, Design, and Trivia
“The fact that I have a slight background in archaeology probably helped.”
“It is delightful and I might just do this right after this pod. Oh, it is hard to emphasize how important this is.”
“The moment Morgaine appears as a time-travelling sorceress, I was also immediately reminded of C.J. Cherai's Morgaine series, spelt the same way.”
“The demon design was better than the demon from Hammer House of Horrors Guardian of the Abyss.”
Host
Roy Mator
person
Morgaine
person
Excalibur
other
King Arthur
person
Sylvester McCoy
person
Sophie Aldred
person
Jean Marsh
person
Nicholas Courtney
person
Anselin ap Gwalkmai
person
Angela Bruce
person
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