205 The Wheel in Space: Episode Two

EPISODE: The Wheel in Space: Episode Two
OVERALL EPISODE NUMBER: 205
STORY NUMBER: 043
TRANSMITTED: 04 May 1968
WRITER: David Whitaker from a story by Kit Pedler
DIRECTOR: Tristan de Vere Cole
SCRIPT EDITOR: Derrick Sherwin
PRODUCER: Peter Bryant
FORMAT: CD: Doctor Who: Wheel In Space
TELESNAPS: The Wheel in Space: Episode Two

The space station aims the X-Ray laser at the Silver Carrier. Jamie signals to the space station using the Time Vector Generator alerting them to their presence on the ship. Two crew members travel over to the ship. The station crew are detecting odd magnetic effects and sudden drops in air pressure. Unobserved egg like bubbles are attaching themselves to the hull. Jamie has been checked by the station's Doctor, Gemma Corwin. When asked for the Doctor's name he says John Smith, taking his inspiration from a box he can see. He is unable to explain why they were on the Silver Carrier. He is introduced to Zoe who has been instructed to observe him. Jamie is given a tour of the station and slips away intent on sabotaging the X-Ray laser so they can't destroy the Silver Carrier and the Tardis. On the Silver Carrier, two white sphere start to glow, becoming translucent, exposing something moving inside which punctures the skin of the sphere with a 3 fingered silver fist.

This episode was just as boring as the first one, slow moving and boring. It's not even got Patrick Troughton in it: he's away on holiday while the Doctor lies unconscious on a bed. we do get to meet new companion Zoe for the first time though, played by Wendy Padbury. The Time Vector Generator is being used as a bit of a modern Sonic Screwdriver, which is now as a do all device. So far this story it's assisted with immobilising robot and signalling station as well as helping to provide a good reason to get the Doctor out the Tardis.Still the end of the episode promises something for next episode as a silver hand means just one thing....

Some of the cast of this story are already known to us or will reappear: Clare Jenkins, who was Nanina in the Savages, would go on to reprise her role as Tanya Lernov in the final episode of The War Games. Laleham , the radio operator, is played by Michael Goldie who previously played Craddock in The Dalek Invasion of Earth in 1964, whilst Kenneth Watson (Bill Duggan) had played the same character in the film version of that story, Daleks - Invasion Earth 2150 AD in 1966. Meanwhile Donald Sumpter, appearing as Casili, would go on to play Commander Ridgeway in the Third Doctor story, The Sea Devils

And it's the end of a 13 episode run without anything to watch. The last episode that exists was Web of Fear 1. We're missing Web of Fear 2-5, Fury from the Deep 1-6 and Wheel in Space 1 &2. But Wheel in Space 3 exists! Hurrah.