#xoanon doctors

[thienvaldram]

My own for fun fleshing out of the idea posited by Jonathan Morris that the other voices Xoanon adopts in the Face of Evil are forgotten incarnations plucked from the Doctor's subconscious.

Specifically played by Pamela Salem, Rob Edwards, Anthony Frieze and Roy Herrick.

The First Xoanon Doctor (Pamela Salem)

This incarnation was posted on Earth by her request, as part of the Time Lords solidifying of the Web of Time as history, arriving in the era of the First World War. Upbeat and playful, she had a knack for outmanoeuvring her opponents even in spite of the cultural pushback against the form this incarnation took. She also often came across as anachronistic due to a lack of understanding of the culture of the era of this planet that she was assigned to. She, however, was occasionally prone to seeing humans more as interesting specimens than individuals in their own right.

The Second Xoanon Doctor (Rob Edwards)

Coming across as an eccentric but kindly Professor-like figure, wearing a scruffier version of a formal outfit. This incarnation took up teaching on Earth. He was heavily interested in the idea of luck as an external force and wore a clover on his lapel to represent that. He was prone to meddling in events outside his purview, but only subtly, within his remit as an agent of the Time Lords and thus often employed luck or what appeared to be luck as a ‘weapon’ of sorts in said situations, despite his pleasant exterior he was capable of doing almost anything if he thought it would benefit the ‘greater good’. He was the first incarnation to meet the Abbot.

The Third Xoanon Doctor (Anthony Frieze)

This incarnation lived for a long time, aging up from a child to an adult. He spent a lot of his time on Gallifrey, getting involved in the internal politics of the planet as an advocate for the Non-Intervention policy. He regretted the meddling his immediate predecessor was prone to, though he still returned to Earth to observe the planet and would occasionally intervene if he found a situation significant enough to warrant it. He was brash and abrasive, and had a superiority complex, but still was a kind-hearted person when the chips were down. He met his end in service to Gallifrey in the midst of a Time War.

The Fourth Xoanon Doctor (Roy Herrick)

A calmer, younger, mellower incarnation. This Doctor prided himself on his moral compass, whilst he still acted as an agent for the Time Lords, he treated the role as secondary to his interest in the planet Earth and its people. He was granted an official remit to travel across the Universe, rather than just the history of the planet he was observing, as a result of a great service to Gallifrey during his early life. He was also one of few early incarnations of the Doctor who contemplated any form of relationship with a human, though he ultimately never went through with it. Despite this, he still maintained a wide social network in the era to which he was assigned.

(Did an amateur artwork, also including headcanons for the 'eras' under the assumption of them directly preceding the Morbius Doctors from Forgotten Lives)

[doolallymagpie]

apparently it’s been suggested that xoanon’s non-tom baker voices were other doctors

which means somewhere in time, there might be a doctor running around looking like our good friend dr. rachel jensen from countermeasures

[reachingforthevoid]

Doctor Who: The Face of Evil

I rewatched this 1977 serial on 13 March 2023. It’s the first of three scripts for Doctor Who by Blake’s Seven and Star Cops stalwart Chris Boucher. 

We welcome Louise Jameson as Leela, who is in the first scene on trial for blaspheming against a “god” named Xoanon. She’s banished from the tribe of the Sevateem, who all wear very little. It’s been a while since Doctor Who had a group of alien humanoids not wearing terribly much… Sadly, in this it's to denote their "savagery".

The Doctor arrives, and talks to the camera. He is not in Hyde Park — it’s another alien forest that’s well-realised. He meets Leela who refers to him as the evil one, which is a neat introduction to the mystery. Then we see the Sevateem priest Neeva talking to Xoanon, who sounds awfully like the Doctor. The Doctor is captured by the Sevateem and our hero quickly works out what’s probably happened. Fortunately, Leela is able to rescue him… and he tells her off for killing people. The “no more janis thorns” will echo later with “no more nitro 9”…

It’s a fun tale, with some great moments and interesting ideas. Some ideas we’ve encountered before — invisible monsters, computers with mental health problems, the Doctor forced to fix problems from previous visits, and questioning eugenics — but I think they work quite well in this.

[pers-books]

Pamela Salem 1944-2024

Friday, 23 February 2024 - Reported by Marcus

The actress Pamela Salem has died at the age of 80.

Pamela Salem appeared in three Doctor Who stories. In 1977 she played Toos in the acclaimed Fourth Doctor story The Robots of Death. Her voice was used as one of the voices of Xoanon in the previous story, The Face of Evil.   She returned to the series in 1988 playing Rachel Jensen alongside the Seventh Doctor in Remembrance of the Daleks. She later reprised her role as Jensen in the Big Finish audio spin-off series Counter-Measures and 1963: The Assassination Games. 

Pamela Salem was born in Bombay, India, and educated at Heidelberg University in Germany and later at the Central School of Speech and Drama in London, England.

Film work included the role of Miss Moneypenny in the 1983 James Bond film Never Say Never Again, starring Sean Connery. 

Other television appearances included parts in EastEnders, where she played mafia affiliate Joanne Francis, and as the evil witch Belor in ITV's Into the Labyrinth.

Other television guest appearances have included roles in the third episode of  Blake's 7, The Onedin Line, The Professionals, Howards' Way, Ever Decreasing Circles, Tripods and All Creatures Great and Small

She later moved to the United States where she continued her career in series such as Magnum, P.I., Party of Five, ER and The West Wing where she played a British prime minister.

[Source]

[cqthqrtic]

u and x or y for yosano please ^^

warnings: physical torture/abuse, sadism, possessive behavior, controlling behavior, manipulation, power imbalances.

yan alphabet prompt.

Unique: Would they do anything different from the classic yandere?

Seeing as she’s a doctor, Yosano has intimate knowledge of how the body works and how your body works specifically. That makes any sort of punishment or method of control rather,,, interesting. I definitely think she will purposefully get you hurt and use her ability to punish you by repeatedly hurting you and healing you. Beyond her ability, I think she’d use the fact that she has this knowledge against you by making you fully aware of how she could damage your body in the most excruciating way. I can see her giving you a “lesson” on the anatomy of a human skeleton by snapping each of your bones in one limb before moving to heal it. Yosano is very scary and very sadistic.

Xoanon: How much would they revere or worship their darling? To what length would they go to win their darling over?

I can’t see Yosano as somebody who would worship another. She strikes me as a control freak, somebody who simply wants to posses another person like a cute pet. That’s what she sees you as, a cute pet she can discipline to her heart’s content. She would use her authority as a doctor to control you, maybe even by making you sick or hurt and not curing/healing you so that you can be dependent on her, thus vulnerable to her orders. It would also be incredibly easy to isolate you. Of course, Yosano has to avoid the watchful eye of Ranpo which isn’t easy to do at all. But she’ll surely find a way.

Yearn: How long do they pine after their darling before they snap?

Yosano met you because you were one of her patients who happened to get tangled up in a case due to witnessing a crime. Through the time in her care, she had grown fond of you and even felt… hurt when she had to discharge you. Maybe she’d start telling you that she still needed to give you weekly check ups for the next few months “just in case” because you got sooo hurt that day. It takes awhile until she decides she just needs to have you. But not that long. Patience isn’t exactly Yosano’s virtue.

[legal-party]

From 76 Totter’s Lane, to 1795 France.

From the reign of Nero, to the return of Mondas.

From the fields of Scotland, to the Tombs on Telos.

From the World of Fiction ,to no-man’s land.

From the Inferno Project, to the inside of a black hole.

From the war torn rubble of Skaro, to the realm of Xoanon.

From a plot in Paris, to the plant of Logopolis.

From Castrovalva, to the nightmares of the Mara.

From Androzani Minor, to The Doctor’s own trial.

From Iceworld, to the greatest show in the galaxy.

From the R101, to the Divergent Universe.

From the basement of a department store, to the end of the world.

From The Blitz, to the Bad Wolf.

From alternate London, to the impossible planet of Krop Tor.

From barefoot on the moon, to the end of the universe.

From under the shadow of Mount Vesuvius, to the forest of the dead.

From the garden of Amy Pond, to the opening of The Pandorica.

From a death in Utah, to the battle of Demons Run.

From the last day of the Time War, to a small town on Trenzalore.

From the Orient Express, to the second dimension.

From the bottom of a Scottish lake, to punching a wall for billions of years.

From a university campus, to the Doctor’s fall.

From falling to Sheffield, to the lonely realm of the Solitract.

From Niagara Falls, to the night at Villa Diodati.

From the battlegrounds of Sevastopol, to the planet of Time.

From beginning to end, I love this franchise.

[doctorwhogirlie]

Doctor Who: The Face of Evil

Season Fourteen ✨ 1976 - 1977 ✨

Doctor: 4th

Story Length: 4 Episodes

Companions: Leela

Main Setting: Mordee, fair future; inside Xoanon

Main Enemy: Xoanon

Creatures: Computer, Sevateem, Tesh

My Personal Rating: 7/10

The story itself I didn't like all that much, but Leela's here! And I love her, she's brilliant isn't she! Anyways, yeah the story itself like I said was a bit boring, but the episodes felt quick enough which helped a lot. Plus Leela's perfect<3

(Please don't take these too seriously, I am not a real life reviewer, just someone who likes the show)

[gone2soon-rip]

BELATED ENTRY

PAMELA SALEM (1944-Died February 21st 2024,at 80).British actress,best known for her role as Miss Moneypenny, in the 'unofficial' James Bond 007 film,Never Say Never Again,which saw Sean Connery return briefly to the role as the spy,after a 2year absence.On tv,She was also known for her co-starring role in the early 1980s ITV children's fantasy series Into the Labyrinth as the evil witch Belor,and her late 1980s guest role in the BBC soap opera EastEnders as shady mafia affiliate Joanne Francis.She was also seen in two adventures of Doctor Who: as Toos in The Robots of Death (1977) and as Professor Rachel Jensen in Remembrance of the Daleks (1988), a role she reprised for Big Finish Productions' officially licensed audio drama spin-off series Counter Measures.She was also heard as one of the many voices of Xoanon in The Face of Evil (1977). Pamela Salem - Wikipedia

[pluralzalpha]

Galactic Gazetteer: Xoanon's Planet

AKA: Mordee

Inhabitants: Sevateem and Tesh (humans)

Animal life: horda

Ruler: Xoanon

Visited by: the Fourth Doctor

Appearance: The Face of Evil (1977)

Fun fact: colonised by the Mordee expedition in the far future, who were split into two subspecies by the mad computer Xoanon.

Another fun fact: home planet of Leela.

Fun fact 3: Xoanon used the Doctor's image as his own, hence the huge monument that looks like Tom Baker.

[tindogpodcast]

TDP 1139: 10. #DoctorWho: Unbound: Doctor of War 2: Destiny

https://bbvproductions.co.uk/products/Faction-Paradox-The-Confession-of-Brother-Signet-AUDIO-DOWNLOAD-p389922366

  Times have changed. A choice was made and the universe diverged. And now all of history is at war.

One man stands at the centre of it all. But whose side is he on? Is he with the angels? Or the demons? And does anyone even know which is which?

He was a Doctor once, but now he is Doctor no more. He is the Warrior. The Doctor of War.

Who Am I? by Nigel Fairs The Tesh and the Sevateem are at war, obeying the orders of their God Xoanon. But they cannot know their battle has a higher purpose, one led by the Time Lord responsible for Xoanon's condition. A Time Lord called... the Master.

Time Killers by Lizzie Hopley Arriving on Marinus in search of a temporal weapon, the Warrior and the Master are confronted by a place where time literally is money. As the Master finds himself in changed circumstances, the Warrior finds himself with a deadly decision to make.

The Key To Key To Time by Tim Foley As battle continues to rage across the history of the cosmos, the White Guardian opts to provide the Warrior with a way out... located at the end of a dangerous quest, with an even more dangerous companion. But can a Time War ever truly end?

A new Tin Dog Podcast

[lurking-latinist]

it is not, I think, a terribly widely known fact that Xoanon is one of the many, many names that Doctor Who pinched from Greek: a xoanon is a kind of semi-pictorial cult statue from archaic Greece. It’s actually pretty fitting, since Xoanon’s whole thing is about being an object of worship.

(Yes, the Wikipedia page does have a disambiguation for Face of Evil.)

The Wikipedia page also has this image of a xoanon:

So really in Face of Evil they should’ve used the waxwork.

[thienvaldram]

Thien Valdram Complete Story Archive

For future reference, will be updated.

Licensed

The Dinosaur in the Snow in The Book of the Snowstorm at Arcbeatle Press

Island on the Edge of Eternity at The Cheshire House

Island on the Edge of Eternity Part 2 at The Cheshire House

Fanfiction (DWU)

Pre-Hartnell Doctors

Prologue (Fugitive Doctor)

The Conspiracy of Censeron (Frieze Xoanon Doctor)

Era of Peace (Harper Doctor)

The Corruption of Censeron (Holmes Doctor)

Eighth Doctor

The Greyhound's Wake (Eight & Charley)

Last Time... (Stranded Era)

Fifteenth Doctor

Never Went Back (Post Empire of Death)

Misc

Sutekh on the TARDIS (Crack)

[timeagainreviews]

Are you there Xoanon? It’s me, Leela.

At the time of writing this article, many of you will have in your possession the season 14 Blu-Ray box set for Doctor Who. Within it are classics like "The Deadly Assassin," "The Robots of Death," and the controversial, but still much loved "The Talons of Weng-Chiang." However, today I would like to talk about an often overlooked gem in the form of "The Face of Evil." While the serial does introduce the companion Leela and showcases some classic Fourth Doctor moments, it has also received a fair bit of ire from certain fans over the years. I’ve found myself defending it in the past, to people whose opinions I value. My hope is that by the end of this review, some of you may come away with a new appreciation for what is one of my favourite classic Doctor Who stories.

For a little bit of background, when devising the character of Leela, producer Philip Hinchcliffe and script editor Robert Holmes were looking to do something new with the companion. They wanted a female lead that could also do heroics. The initial concept for Leela was a mix of Eliza Doolittle, Emma Peel,  and Loana from "One Million Years B.C." The decision to make the companion more of an action star was one that was met with resistance from Tom Baker, who in this humble writer’s opinion would have been happiest acting alongside a sock puppet. While he claimed not to like the violence of Leela, I often wonder if it wasn’t because such a dashing co-star would pull focus from the main event- the Doctor.

The writer tasked with bringing Leela to life was Chris Boucher, an avowed atheist. And remember this fact, as it will remain relevant throughout this entire review. Right away, Boucher’s knack for comprehensive dialogue is laid out as we meet Leela, a young tribal woman, being cast out by the rest of her tribe, the Sevateem, for heresy. However, it is her own father that offers to take her place in the "test." Leela’s tone changes from defiance to pleas of mercy for the life of her feeble, but proud father. Right away we’re struck with a series of science fiction tropes, and it’s one wonderful pulpy delight after another. Also telling is the presence of anachronistic technology. Such as the gasket turned into a chest-piece adorning the tribe’s local zealot and shaman- Neeva.

In his element, the Doctor arrives at this frontier world by himself. However, as much as Baker would have relished travelling solo, it becomes immediately apparent why this would be a bad idea. Having no companion to sound off with, he resorts to directing his comments toward you and I, the audience. While I love the Fourth Doctor and his penchant for breaking the fourth wall, it’s not a sustainable recipe for good storytelling. The Doctor needs a companion, if for no other reason than to have someone to explain the plot to.

The Doctor walks through this wilderness without a care in the world as little critters scurry past in a Star Wars or Dark Crystal fashion. It reminded me of moments like when the First Doctor and his companions come across petrified creatures on the surface of Skaro. I wish modern Doctor Who would do more of this- tiny creatures that have no greater bearing on the storyline other than world-building. Leela, having been exiled finds herself walking deep into the jungle. However, it seems that exile wasn’t enough, as she soon finds herself being hunted by her former tribesmen. It would appear that allowing her form of heresy to live is not something Neeva, or his god "Xoanon," are willing to let happen.

Leela dispatches one of her would-be assassins, while another is taken care of by a sympathetic friend named Tomas, who followed the killers after overhearing Neeva’s scheme. While they never touch on it, I wonder if Tomas didn’t have feelings for Leela. It would make sense as she is fierce, intelligent, beautiful, and around the same age as him. Had things gone differently, perhaps they could have had a life together. However, Leela is past the point of no return, and his boyish crush. She pridefully tells him to turn back but warns him not to trust Calib, a man she sees as having more ambition than sense.

Leela walks past what is known by the Sevateem as a great protective barrier. Finding herself pursued by invisible monsters, she runs for her life but falls to the ground at the feet of a man unknown to her. Upon following her gaze up to the feet’s owner, she is shocked and terrified to see the Doctor, a face she of which she is surprisingly familiar.  Despite the fact that the Doctor resembles the "Evil One," the Sevateem’s own version of Satan, Leela doesn’t know what to make of his friendly demeanour. This is a moment of great internal conflict for her as only a few scenes ago she was telling her tribal leaders that their god Xoanon was a lie. Now here she stands, looking the devil in the face and he’s offering her sweets.

I’ve always maintained that the story arc for Leela is one of atheism but in the most Doctor Who of manners. Much in the same way that the Doctor will go into a haunted house and prove that it’s actually an ancient alien force, the show has widely maintained the stance that the spiritual is just science we don’t yet understand. Leela’s first lesson comes in the form of the Doctor deftly dealing with their invisible predator. After discovering that a protective boundary is a machine that projects a sonic disruption, the Doctor deduces that the creatures must be blind and sense things by vibration. Using an egg timer, the Doctor distracts the monsters, while he and Leela make a break for it. It’s a great special effect, as even now I can’t figure out how they managed to crush a clock with what looks like nothing.

Back with the tribe, we learn that Neeva speaks with Xoanon through a transmitter that he believes is a magic relic that allows only the holiest to speak to God. Xoanon commands Neeva to go to war with their enemies the Tesh. But the chief of the Sevateem, Andor, wonders why their God would have them go into battle on empty stomachs. A reasonable concern which is met by Neeva’s assertion that Xoanon will feed those of true faith. The tribe gears up for war, but on their way past the boundary, discover the Doctor.

The men shoot a couple of warning shots across the Doctor’s brow, embedding themselves into a tree. While the men deal with the fact that they are now looking eye to eye with their version of the Devil, Leela slips away. Upon seeing the Doctor, the men do a sort of "Sign of the Cross," gesture with their hands touching their neck, their shoulder and their waist. The Doctor notes this is interesting as it’s also the method one would use to check the seals on a spacesuit. Using his newfound infamy to his advantage, the Doctor holds one of the tribesmen hostages with a "deadly," Jelly Baby. But the men call his bluff and the Doctor is taken to meet Neeva and Andor.

Seeing this as an opportunity to prove their faith, Neeva declares they should kill the Doctor without haste. However, Calib, an atheist in his own right, sees this as an opportunity to make Neeva look bad in front of the whole tribe. He suggests they put the Doctor through the "test." Knowing that if the Doctor dies, it will prove that he wasn’t a god, and if he lives, Neeva will look just as bad, as the belief is that only mortals can survive the test.

Knowing her father to have died from this test, an eavesdropping Leela sneaks her way in to stop the Doctor from being killed. Leela uses local Janis thorns on one of the captors, paralysing him in a rigid posture with no hope of revival. The Doctor is appalled by this and commands her never to use Janis thorns ever again. After making a break for it, the Doctor and Leela make it past the boundary where the Doctor learns why his face is so infamous. Out across the horizon sits a giant mountain with his own visage carved into its precipice.

Meanwhile, the rest of the warriors continue toward the mountain for their attack. I was genuinely surprised as I had never noticed the inclusion of a single female warrior with black braids in her hair. Initially, I had thought Leela was the only female in the entire story, but there comes braids looking like a badass. I instantly want to know more about her and to see her in extended media. Sadly, braids and a bunch of other Sevateem are cut down by beams of light before they can meet the impenetrable time barrier. Clearly, something about this was a trap put on by Xoanon, but why?

The Doctor decides that the only way to understand what is happening is by going back to the tribe, despite the death sentence. Upon returning, most of the camp is still deserted, allowing him and Leela a chance to snoop around. Upon discovering the room of "relics," kept by Neeva, the Doctor reveals them to be nothing more than the scientific instruments of the human colonists from whom the Sevateem and Tesh descend. The Doctor finds the helmet Neeva uses to speak to Xoanon and realises that Xoanon speaks with his own voice. Furthermore, Xoanon seems to think the Doctor and he are one.

Being one of the first to return from battle, Calib discovers the Doctor and Leela. Afraid they will ruin his plans to make Neeva look a fool, he poisons Leela with a Janis thorn. With little time, the Doctor demonstrates to Calib that the equipment they've been worshipping for years is actually capable or analysing and concocting a cure for Janis thorn poison. Leela is revived but slightly incapacitated, which makes her and the Doctor easy to capture when more, including Neeva, return from battle.

Now, remember the little critter I mentioned earlier? Well, it would appear that they're a carnivorous bunch known as the horda. Much like piranhas, they are able to strip a body of its flesh when in large numbers. The Doctor is made to stand above a pit of them while a rock tied to a rope slowly lowers, opening the pit more and more with every inch. Leela tries to give the Doctor a pointer, which causes one of the Sevateem to strike her. The Doctor's response is to kick a horda at him which causes him to run in fear. I mention this because any time the Doctor is violent is cause to pause.

One of the things I find irritating with modern Doctor Who is the insistence that the Doctor is never violent. The Third Doctor used Venusian Aikido. The Fourth Doctor practically breaks a guy's neck in "The Seeds of Doom." Hell, even in modern Doctor Who we see it. Like when the Ninth Doctor punched that guy, or when the Twelfth Doctor punched that guy. Or how about the Eleventh Doctor teleporting a bomb onto Solomon's ship in "Dinosaurs on a Spaceship," written by Chris "I don't understand the Doctor's morality" Chibnall? My point is, that the Doctor isn't violent unless he needs to be. The Doctor is non-violent up until the point where either A) it's the only option left, or B) he's mad. In this case, it's B, he's mad.

What does it mean that the Doctor chose this moment to break his rule? I would venture to say he was punishing unnecessary cruelty in kind. But think even more about the theme of the episode. At this moment, the Doctor's morality isn't what's in question, it's his mortality. It's as if Boucher is taking this moment to compare the actions of a man to the expectations of a god. Before the Doctor shoots the rope with perfect precision, he's revealed himself to be a person subject to the whims of his own emotions. In this way, Boucher is asking the viewer to look at the vengeful nature of our own gods and to see the inherent humanity entangled within. Or in the Doctor's own words- "You can't expect perfection, even from me!"

With the Doctor somewhat exonerated by being able to pass this asinine test, he is given a bit more freedom to move about. But this doesn't mean an end to the unrest. The Doctor reveals that the Sevateem are actually descendants of a survey team (creating a portmanteau), and heads back to the mountain to discover the secrets of the Tesh. Meanwhile, Xoanon removes the barrier surrounding the Sevateem, allowing the invisible creatures free roam to terrorise the simple tribe. The Sevateem are quickly overtaken by invisible beings, which kill Andor and many others. The Doctor takes his leave to climb up the mountain into his own face.

The Doctor discovers a spacesuited man within the mouth of the carving. He also discovers a derelict rocket for the Mordee expedition. It's about this time that the Doctor begins to remember having come to this planet in the past. In an attempt to fix the AI, Xoanon, the Doctor linked his mind. Only instead of repairing it, he created a duality that drove the AI to madness. Thus creating a desire in Xoanon to reconcile these two aspects in itself. Its solution for this quandary was to influence the two groups of humans into two very different evolutions and see who would come out on top. The primitive yet cunning Sevateem, or the brilliant yet passionless Tesh?

At this point, the story takes a somewhat extreme turn as the Tesh are found to be rather advanced in every way by comparison to the Sevateem. The Tesh, being descendants of the technicians of the colonists, are more intelligent. They dress like the Great Gazoo if he went through a harlequin phase. They caper and cavort about in an almost jovial sense, but their belief in Xoanon is no less zealous than their primitive counterparts. They seem peaceful at first until the Doctor discovers they plan to atomise Leela. After showing his disapproval, the Tesh turn on the Doctor, subduing him with their mental powers which looks a lot like staring super hard at the guy until he collapses.

I absolutely love that with two reviews in a row I'm able to talk about two separate James Bond type laser scenes where our heroes are incapacitated in some way and are forced to escape the laser with a mirror. This isn't me calling out the show for overusing a trope. There were eleven years between these two episodes, and it's completely by chance that I decided to review them back to back, but how funny is that? And their titles both have to do with faces! I swear I didn't plan this.

As I said, the Doctor and Leela escape with a simple mirror. The Doctor uses the technology to imitate Xonanon and communicate with Neeva. However, Neeva surprises the Doctor when he calls the Doctor by name, showing that even the most fanatical is not so forgone as to be unreachable. The Doctor tells Neeva to instruct Calib to lead the men to the mouth of the mountain where the invisible beings cannot reach. Soon, the Doctor and Leela find themselves running from the Tesh through corridors. It's classic Doctor Who with the bad guys giving chase through endless corridors which are actually the same corridor. After a scuffle, the Doctor once more is forced to use violence as one of the Tesh comes at him and gets kicked into an electrified wall. The Doctor notes that the man appeared to be hypnotised, as if under the influence of Xoanon.

Leela is given a laser gun to fight off the Tesh, which I find to be the perfect metaphor for this entire story. The cave girl gives up her crossbow for a laser gun. It is as if her transition from a primitive to the scientist is coming full circle. It's as though she is claiming the birthright of her ancestors. She's gone from a person questioning her faith, to a person functioning within this new paradigm. Even though she still finds herself cowering when she hears the supposed voice of God, her confidence is growing. 

Leela continues trading fire with the Tesh, while the Doctor seeks out Xoanon within the "Sacred Heart," a large computer complex. An array of large screens project the Doctor's face. But as the Doctor enters the room, Xonanon experiences an identity crisis, causing it to repeat the question "Who am I?" The panic creates a psychic assault on the Doctor, causing him to drop to the ground. As the question repeats, Xoanon's voice fluctuates between the Doctor, a man, a woman, and a child. The child's voice is a particularly chilling juxtaposition with the Doctor's frantic orange face screaming in a panicked frenzy. Fun fact: the child's voice is provided by Anthony Frieze who won a competition at his local school to be in the episode. For a kid that won a contest, it's surprising how much he nailed that take. It's quite easily one of the most effective moments in the entire serial.

The fourth episode of this serial is easily one of the weakest as it degenerates into a lot of your common science fiction tropes. As I said, once they enter the mountain, the tone of the entire story shifts. This is really my biggest criticism of the entire story. But it's also a bit of a further metaphor for the whole atheism argument. Man leaves the primitive world into the world of technology. But with false gods present, man still struggles to find an identity beyond their god. In their own way, the Tesh are no more advanced than the Sevateem. It would appear that Xoanon's little experiment in eugenics was all a bust.

The Sevateem arrive and fight back the Tesh. They also bring the Tesh's weapons into the fight against the invisible monsters, which turn out to be manifestations of Xonanon's id. This explains why the one time we do see them, they just look like a giant apparition of the Doctor's face. Having saved the Doctor from Xoanon's psychic assault, Leela and the Doctor continue trying to stop Xoanon. Because of this, Xoanon, in a last-ditch effort to stop the Doctor, takes over Leela and the rest of the Sevateem to kill the Doctor. However, having been broken from his own religious spell, the unlikeliest of heroes appears in the form of Neeva. Neeva shoots Xoanon long enough to stop the link and save the Doctor but loses his own life in the process.

The Doctor finally repairs Xoanon but gets knocked unconscious in doing so. Upon waking, he discovers he had been out cold for two whole days. A casual Leela sits beside him eating chocolate in peace. The Doctor assumes this means his plan worked and that Xoanon was stopped. The Tesh and the Sevateem are living together in a sort of shaky truce. The invisible monsters are gone, and Xoanon is now at peace. To prove so, Xoanon offers the Tesh and Sevateem the option to destroy it at the push of a button. They discuss needing new leadership and decide Calib is not the right man. Instead, the people (see: Tomas) want Leela to lead. However, Leela turns down the offer to travel with the Doctor, much to his chagrin. Leela has seen enough of this primitive planet. It's time to see the stars.

If you can't tell by now, the aspect I liked so much about this story was its delving into atheism and theology. It may seem like a heavy subject, but at its core, it's something that represents the show as a whole. The perspective that all problems, at their core, can be met with logic and reason. Furthermore, I greatly admire the way in which they continue this story arc for Leela over the remainder of her tenure as a companion. This idea of a woman raised out of ignorance into the realm of greater knowledge continues to build in her character until she becomes someone capable of living among the Time Lords themselves.

That is not to say this serial is not without its faults. For some, it may not be a fascinating storyline. They may not be as enthralled by its themes as I was. Which is fair. There are also some silly moments, such as the invisible monsters leaving footprints, despite being the projections of a giant head. The use of the word savage is also a bit dated, as is the whole concept of the "noble savage." Also, Xoanon got off a bit light. It was like at the end of The Dark Crystal when urSkeks leave like "Peace out, sorry about all the genociiiiide..." What kind of society are the Doctor and Leela leaving behind? Can the Tesh and Sevateem find common ground, or will it be war in perpetuity?

Truth be told, I rather like that it ends on a bit of an open-ended question. I don't believe it's always the Doctor's job to handhold and change the diapers of every developing society. The most the Doctor can hope for is that things have found some sort of balance, free from meddling or outside influence like aliens, robots, or in this case, himself. Furthermore, I love the concept of the Doctor taking a companion on reluctantly. It's almost a form of penance for the Doctor. You created this madwoman with a knife and Janis thorns, and now you've got to tote her around the universe. In many ways, I find Leela very sympathetic. Having come from a religious background, I know the struggles inherent in losing faith, how it shakes your foundation. This type of representation happens so seldom in fiction, and it's rarely a positive thing.

"I too used to believe in magic, but the Doctor taught me about science. It is better to believe in science." –Leela, from "The Horror of Fang Rock"

[vintage1981]

Leela Enters the TARDIS | The Face of Evil | Doctor Who

With Xoanon defeated and the Savateem and Tesh no longer at odds, Leela decides to run into the TARDIS!

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[cyla]

CONGRATS ON 100!!! you deserve so much more!! can i please request a yandere alphabet with akutagawa? <3<3

Yandere Alphabet with Akutagawa

Warnings: yandere themes, physical abuse, isolation, obsession, please tell me if I missed anything

AHH thank you so much, you're so sweet!!! Please send me more of these, they're so fun to make!!! I'll definitely be doing more alphabets in the future!!! 💕💕💕

Affection - How do they show their love and affection? How intense will it get?

Okay, baby Aku isn't that good at showing emotions. Much less love. So, to show his affections, he does rather strange things. He might bring his darling the most random objects that he'll think his darling might like. Such as a cool shaped rock idk lmao. Or, he could just kill someone who was annoying his darling. I don't think he would really engage in anything physically himself. Or not until very later on. So I don't think he'd get very intense at all. He's more of a blushy boy I think.

Blood - How messy are they willing to get when it comes to their darling?

Oh very messy. He doesn't care who he has to kill. Nothing is getting in the way of him and his darling. Absolutely nothing.

Cruelty - How would they treat their darling once abducted? Would they mock them?

I think he would be a very isolating yandere. He would take away most rights from his darling, locking them up and chaining them to something so he has a piece of mind that they won't can't escape. And I don't think he'd mock his darling at all!! He isn't one for joking anyway.

Darling - Aside from abduction, would they do anything against their darlings will?

He would most definitely kill off any pesky family members or friends that get in the way. And I feel like he'd tell his darling too. He'd say something like, "I am going out to kill ___. Stay here." And then come back with blood all over him. He would also lock his darling up and make sure that they see nobody but him 24/7. Also punishments of course.

Exposed - How much of their heart do they bare to their darling? How vulnerable are they when it comes to their darling?

On the inside, he bares all of his heart to his darling. But he would hate for them too see that. He tries his best to hide it, he really does. But that doesn't really work. But his darling notices little slip ups here and there.

Fight - How would they feel if their darling fought back?

He would feel betrayed and hurt. Dazai betrayed him and left him, so you would do the same!! He also gets angry and lashes out at his darling. Yelling at them with almost tears in his eyes.

Game - Is this a game to them? How much would they enjoy watching their darling try to escape?

No. Not at all. His love for his darling is never a game to him. And he would never even give them an opportunity to escape.

Hell - What would be their darlings worst experience with them?

Probably if his darling ever said that they hated him, he would get really mad. He would probably physically punish his darling, beating them until they're batted and bruised. But after, when he's calmed down, he would regret it and maybe apologize to his darling.

Ideals - What kind of future do they have in mind for/with their darling?

He wants to be with his darling forever. He doesn't have an intrest in family, he just wants a life long partner that he can safely trust. Baby trust issues.

Jealously - Do they get jealous? Do they lash out or find a way to cope?

He gets jealous all the time!! He tries to solve the problem by locking his darling away. But before that, he would totally lash out at the person, killing them brutality in front of his darling. He would turn to his darling and when he sees the fear in their eyes, he's scared he'll start crying. He hates seeing his darling so scared of him. :(

Kisses - How do they act around or with their darling?

Distant. He hates how he loves his darling so much. It's like he has a constant pout on his face. He wants to touch his darling so bad, but he doesn't know how. :((

Love Letters - How would they go about courting or approaching their darling?

He would drug them and kidnap them. Effective, efficient, and easy

Mask - Are their true colours drastically different from the way they act around everyone else?

Not really. I mean, nobody in the Port Mafia would pick him to be the love crazy type, so I guess? And he is very strict on keeping his darling a secret from the rest of the Port Mafia. He would be embarrassed.

Naughty - How would they punish their darling?

Physically. It's really the only way he knows how to. He tries his best not to overdo it, but sometimes if he's really mad, he'll get caught up in it and regret it later.

Oppression - How many rights would they take away from their darling?

Basically every single one. Nobody but him can see his darling. Nobody can text them. Nobody can think about them. They can't think about anyone but him.

Patience - How patient are they with their darling?

He tries so hard to be patient. But sometimes, he doesn't really understand why his darling is so scared of him. And if his darling manages to push the right buttons, it's really easy for him to loose his temper.

Quit - If their darling dies, leaves, or successfully escapes, would they ever be able to move on?

He would also try so hard to move on. But he can't. The Port Mafia would notice too. He would be even more closed off. He would lash out at people for no reason. He would never be able to move on.

Regret - Would they ever feel guilty about abducting their darling? Would they ever let their darling go?

He would always feel guilty about abducting his darling. But he quickly talks himself out of it. And he would never ever ever even think of letting his darling go.

Stigma - What brought this side of them?

I think because Dazai felt him, he tried to fill that void with his darling.

Tears - How do they feel about seeing their darling scream, cry, and/or isolate themselves?

He hates it. He hates it so so much. Especially when it isn't supposed to happen. He understands how punishments can bring his darling to scream, cry and isolate themselves. But if it just happened out of the blue? He would try anything to fix it.

Unique - Would they do anything different from the classic yandere?

I feel like he actually loves his darling. Or he tries to. Or he has tricked himself into believing this is love. Very apologetic but also not? If that makes sense lol.

Vice - What weakness can their darling exploit in order to escape?

Probably if they put on a good enough act that he has made them so mentally unstable, he'd panic and send you to the doctor and his darling can probably escape there.

Wit's End - Would they ever hurt their darling?

Yes. Only for punishments though.

Xoanon - How much would they revere or worship their darling? To what length would they go to win their darling over?

Anything and everything to win his darling. He is obsessed with them. He would risk everything for his darling.

Yearn - How long do they pine after their darling before they snap?

A good while actually. He is so confused as to why he is so fixated on you, and he would like to know why before he kidnaps you. Probably a good six to nine months.

Zenith - Would they ever break their darling?

No. He loves his darling for them, not some emotionless, broken toy. He would be very careful not to break them.

[nostalgia-tblr]

Face of Evil, episode 3

This one was mostly the leads wandering around some corridors for 25 minutes, but then that's most part threes, isn't it? The plot's already been established, there's been a surprising twist, and it's not yet time for the exciting climax. So, some corridors. There is an amazingly dull gun battle between Leela and some extras from an Erasure video, meanwhile the Doctor does a confrontation with a mad computer, and that is *not* what schizophrenia is but it's not like that mistake isn't made by literally everything ever so I'm not as annoyed as I could be. (Have you seen the tumblr DID community, where you celebrate having an abundance of personalities who behave remarkably well for such a serious condition? Odd, that.) ANYWAY. The main point in all this is that the Doctor has fucked up on a previous unseen visit to this planet. (Fandom tends to say it was during Robot, but is that ever confirmed anywhere?) What happened is Leela's ancestors had a computer that accidentally became alive, and the Doctor tried to fix the computer failures without realising what had happened, so now the computer has its own personality plus the Doctor's personality. Specifically Four's personality, which is a potent mix of 75% ego and 25% cold rage about injustice. There's something a bit Elevenish about the self-awareness this story requires from the Doctor. I tend to think of Four as the most hubristic of Doctors, and the most in love with himself, so it's quite fun that he gets this story of having fucked something up and having to fix it somehow. Leela continues to be amazing, whether or not she's the Doctor's mum. She has already killed a number of people in this story, and the Doctor sulks about that but does not actually do anything to stop her like disarming her or lecturing her about peaceful mediation. I don't think she'd listen to him anyway, Leela views the Doctor's not-actually-pacifism as foolish and as a thing that can only exist because she stops people killing him. It's like his principles can only exist because of her emotional labour where by emotional labour I mean extreme violence. One episode left, I can't remember the ending but we seem to have established that killing Xoanon counts as genocide since it's the only one of its kind. So hopefully that won't happen. But clearly there's going to have to be a Tom-ectomy of some sort.