Dutch Ado About Nothing (Bending “Arc of Infinity”)

Returning to Gallifrey to fight an old enemy sounds like a surefire formula for a Doctor Who epic. So why then is Arc of Infinity so bland? Kicking off the show’s 20th anniversary season, this story seems determined to undermine the memories of classics like The Deadly Assassin and The Three Doctors, turning the formidable Omega into a cowering refugee and completing the Time Lords’ reduction from gods to members of a squabbling afterschool club with ostentatious collars. Even the refreshing Amsterdam location shoot is ruined in series of interminable scenes with the TARDIS team chasing Peter Davison’s stunt double. Are there any signs of life in this lonely anti-drama universe? Well, perhaps one — or rather, Six.

Commentary for Arc of Infinity begins at 23:45 .

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Story Essentials

• Season 20, Serial 1
• Story number: 123, per the The Pull To Open Codex
• Writers: Johnny Byrne
• Director: Ron Jones
• Producer: John Nathan-Turner
• Aired 3 January – 12 January 1983

Pull To Open: Arc of Infinity

• Season 4
• Episode 31
  

Hosts: ⁠Pete Pachal⁠ and ⁠Chris Taylor⁠

Music: Martin West/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Thinking Fish⁠⁠⁠