The Alien-influenced spaceship sets are striking, and there are enough ideas to make a decent adventure. Unfortunately, the gentleman autocrat Monarch–your only opportunity to see distinguished actor Stratford Johns maintain his dignity while dressed as a giant green frog–is far too reasonable and easy going an opponent for the Doctor. The ideas underlying the plot are barely explored, and in constantly trying to find something for three companions to do, the pace slows to a crawl and dissipates any suspense. Fatally, there is an almost complete lack of action. Following Peter Davidson’s introduction in the mind-bending Castrovalva this is thin stuff indeed. —Gary S Dalkin