123) ARC OF INFINITY
3 - 12 January 1983
Average Viewing Figure: 7.2M
Plot
When Omega threatens to renter our Universe, the Time Lords must execute The Doctor
Cast
Peter Davison (The Doctor), Sarah Sutton (Nyssa), Janet Fielding (Tegan), Leonard Sachs (Lord President Borusa)
Michael Gough (Councillor Hedin), Ian Collier (The Renegade/Omega), Colin Baker (Commander Maxil), Paul Jerricho (The Castellan)
Neil Daglish (Damon), Elspet Gray (Chancellor Thalia), Max Harvey (Cardinal Zorac), Andrew Boxer (Robin Stuart)
Alastair Cumming (Colin Frazer), John D Collins (Talor), Maya Woolfe (Hotel Receptionist), Malcolm Harvey (The Ergon)
​
Uncredited Cast
David Cole, Thomas Stein, Julia James (Students), Olwyn Atkinson, Belinda Lee, Lewus Hooper, Colin Thomas, Peter Gates Fleming,
Michael Jefferies, Robert Goodman, Giles Melville (Gallifreyans), John Nathan-Turner (Man near Phone Box)
Crew
Johnny Byrne (Writer), Roger Limb (Incidental Music), Dick Mills (Special Sound), Ralph Wilton (Production Manager)
June Collins (Production Associate), Diana Brookes (Production Assistant), Lynn Richards (Assistant Floor Manager)
Fintan Sheehan (Film Cameraman), Bill Wild (Film Recordist), Bernard Ashby (Film Editor), Christopher Lawson (Visual Effects Designer)
Dave Chapman (Video Effects), James Gould, Carol Johnson (Vision Mixer), Bob Hignett (Technical Manager), Alec Wheal (Senior Cameraman)
Graham Hutchings, Rod Waldron (Videotape Editors), Don Babbage (Studio Lighting), Trevor Webster (Studio Sound)
Dee Robson (Costume Designer), Fran Needham (Make-Up Artist), Eric Saward (Script Editor), Sid Sutton (Title Sequence)
Marjorie Pratt (Designer), John Nathan-Turner (Producer), Ron Jones (Director)
Broadcast
Filming Locations
-
Schiphol Airport, Amsterdam
-
Muntplein, Amsterdam
-
Blauburgwal, Amsterdam
-
Nieuwezijds Voorburgwal, Amsterdam
-
Bob's Youth Hostel, 92 Nieuwezijds, Voorburgwal
-
Singel, Amsterdam
-
Herenstratt, Amsterdam
-
219 Lijnbaansgracht Police Station, Amsterdam
-
Hoopman Bodega, 4 Leidsplein, Amsterdam
-
Vondelpark Youth Hostel, 5 Zandpad, Amsterdam
-
Sint Nicolaasstraat, Amsterdam
-
Amstelveld, Amsterdam
-
Prinsengracht, Amsterdam
-
Huize Frankendael, 72 Middenweg, Amsterdam
-
Amstelsluizen, Amsterdam
-
The Skinny Bridge, Amsterdam
-
Blauburgwal Central Station, Amsterdam
-
Dam, Amsterdam
-
Damark, Amsterdam
-
Television Centre: Studio 1
Deaths
-
Councillor Hedin [sacrafices his life to save his life]
-
Talor [fatally shot with an impulse laser]
-
The Ergon [shot by Tegan]
Production Days
-
10 Days between Monday 3 May - Wednesday 2 June 1982
Production Errors
-
Omega plans to re-enter the Universe by bonding with The Doctor, the Time Lords plan to stop Omega by executing The Doctor. Couldn't Omega such bond with another Time Lord? What makes The Doctor so special?
-
John Nathan-Turner makes an uncredited cameo appearance in episode four, and apparently tries to a passer-by from walking into shot ​​​
Working Titles
-
The Time of Neman - (outline)
-
The Time of Omega
Verdict
This is very easy to forget and overlook when looking for wholesome Doctor Who entertainment which does not mean that it does not deserve any attention at all. The whole whodunnit plot of the story is not good. The villain is revealed in episode two and any observant viewer will be able to identify them. The Ergon is ridiculous and even laughable. Omega, the main selling point of the story is neither menacing enough to be intimidating nor is he powerful enough to be a threat. The filming locations are the best we will see in a long time whilst the Gallifreyan sets are obvious casualties of the tight budget. The dialogue is clucky although the script is well written in places, such as Time Lords looking at Nyssa as if she were their equal. However, the acting is not that great from both supporting cast and extras alike. The Doctor and Nyssa would have made a great team but alas it was not meant to be. Some repetitive scenes, slapstick moments and inconsistencies hamper down Arc of Infinity from being anything special. ***​