4 episodes
Aired between 18th January 1983 and 26th January 1983
Written by Christopher Bailey
Produced by John Nathan-Turner
Directed by Fiona Cumming
Synopsis
Even though she's safely back on the TARDIS, Tegan begins to have awful dreams. The Doctor's curiosity is piqued and he begins to investigate.
Tegan dreams of a cave with a snake head carved into it. She's somehow sleepwalked into the console room previously and changed the course of the TARDIS to go to a planet called Manussa, once home of a barbaric Sumaran Empire.
Concerned that it's the Mara somehow directing her thoughts and actions, the Doctor rigs up a hypnotic device that stops Tegan from dreaming until he can figure out if the cave in Tegan's dream is on Manussa.
It just so happens that the Manussan people were formed as a society when 500 years previous, a man came and overthrew the Mara, leader of the Sumaran Empire. The Manussan's celebrate this overthrowing annually and this years celebrations (very soon to take place) mark the 500th anniversary.
On this planet, there is a nobility - it is part of a federation of three planets, and Lon, son of the Federator is visiting with his mother, Tanha, to enjoy the festivities. Lon is bored however and only reluctantly agrees to go to visit the old Sumaran sites with the chief professor of history on the subject.
Meanwile, the TARDIS arrives in the city and whilst the Doctor goes off looking for the cave, Nyssa and Tegan mingle in the streets. Tegan is eventually taken into a fortune tellers booth and loses her hypnosis headphones, giving the Mara opportunity to take possession of her after appearing inside the crystal ball.
The now possessed Tegan begins running and hiding from Nyssa and starts to put her / it's plans together to reincarnate. Nyssa spends her time trying to find Tegan.
The Doctor meanwhile finds the cave and sees Lon, Tanha and Ambril, the Professor inside it, speaking of a great crystal that was once placed in a carving of the Mara. The Doctor tries to warn them, but is thrown out.
The Doctor goes to the palace and tries to convince Ambril again, but is thrown out. Ambril's assistant, Chela however is curious and passes the Doctor a blue stone and is convinced it's a miniature version of the great crystal. The Doctor tries it back at the TARDIS and finds that it is receptive to mental energy.
Meanwhile, Tegan / The Mara takes control of a showman called Dugdale and uses him to go to the palace and fetch Lon to it. When Lon arrives, he is curious enough to approach the Mara, who then possesses him too. All three of them go to the cave and open a secret entrance, available only to the Mara. It contains lots of dead artefacts from the Sumaran race.
Convinced everything is in danger, the Doctor goes to the palace again, interrupting a dinner. He is thrown in jail for his efforts, leaving Nyssa alone to do the running around. Chela visits the Doctor and hands him an old diary from the previous Professor - Dojjen. He says Dojjen went mad and went into the foothills to join a bunch of religious fanatics who do something called the snakedance that was outlawed by the federation centuries ago.
As the Doctor is studying the diary, Lon returns to the palace and brings Ambril down to the secret entrance, showing him some of the "priceless" artefacts. He and the Mara promise Ambril that they will allow him credit for the discovery if they hand over the great crystal and use it in the ceremony the next day. Ambril's greed gets the better of him and he agrees.
Having read the diary, the Doctor is convinced that Dojjen knew the mara would return, and he would use the crystal somehow to stop it.
Nyssa tries to help the Doctor escape, but they are caught by Tanha, and placed in jail again.
Ambril and Lon return to the palace and announce that they will use the great crystal, something forbidden even for the Federator's son.
Chela is so alarmed that he goes and frees the Doctor and Nyssa. They all try to flee but Lon and his guards capture them again. He orders them executed but his mother disagrees.
As they debate, the showing of the great crystal provides enough of a distraction for the Doctor, Nyssa and Chela to escape.
Once outside the city, near the cave opening, the Doctor muses that Tegan is in great danger and they travel into the wastes to use the small crystal so they can summon Dojjen.
They do so and through psychic connection, Dojjen tells the Doctor that the only way to beat the Mara is to find the stillness within himself.
Back in the city, Lon and Ambril prepare for the ceremony, and the population begin a winding march towards the cave.
The ceremony continues until, by using the actual great crystal, Lon allows the Mara access to the physical world and it leaves the carving on the wall and becomes a giant snake again, subjugating everyone.
The Doctor and co. burst onto the scene, just in time to see Tegan mind-melding with the snake.
Everyone is forced into submission, but the doctor calms his mind enough to become immune to it's power. He removes the great crystal and destroys it, thereby killing the Mara.
Everyone is grateful that the Mara is dead and they are free of it's influence.
Trivia
- This was the last televised story that Chris Bailey did for Doctor Who
- This was also the first TV role that Martin Clunes ever had. In future years, numerous talk shows would wheel out the pictures of him in the ceremonial outfit and embarrass him
- There were rumours in the Doctor Who magazine for many years that it was in fact Kate Bush who wrote Kinda and Snakedance as a pseudonym.
The Review
I have to hold my hands up here and say that I was pleasantly surprised by how good Snakedance was. I remember watching it for the first time around 2007, and I was as frustrated with it as I was with Kinda and other kitsch Doctor Who stories. It just didn't do it for me.
Eleven years on, and I can say that time's definitely changed my viewpoint. Snakedance for the most part, goes away from the heavy metaphors and suggestions and replaces them with some great world building on a par with the excellent background provided in The Ribos Operation. The people of Manussa have a rich history and culture. You can see epoch's and traditions embroiled in the story in a way that doesn't detract, but enhances it.
If that wasn't enough, the acting is great here, with Martin Clunes clearly stealing the show, even though it's his first appearance. Ambril does a great job here too and in any other story, he would be the highlight. A tip of the cap should also be given to the Henry Gordon Jago-esque conman, Dugdale.
When you watch it, although it's super camp, this rich environment and good acting all come together to show something akin to Raiders of the Lost Ark, especially the ending with everyone cowering before the all powerful release of the artifact.
If there's a downside to be had, it's mainly the costumes which do detract from the story, and perhaps the stupid rubber snake on Tegan's arm. Other than that, this is a pretty good one to watch.
Rating
8 out of 10
Rewatchability Factor
5 out of 10
Watch this if you liked...
- Turn Left (Doctor Who, Series 4)
- Rings of Akhaten (Doctor Who, Series 7)
