Search - Doctor Who: The Keys of Marinus (Story 5) on DVD

Samuel K. (Solvanda)
Reviewed on 10/12/2018...

Six episode serial aired on the BBC in 1964. This one is a bit like an anthology miniseries, all tied together by an underlying story arc. This format, as well as the individual casts which had to be hired for each sequence, stretched the timid budget at the time. This being said, Keys of Marinus' structure keeps each story within fresh, as well as the multiple shooting locations, which are well assorted.

The group travels to two cities, a jungle, and an icy wasteland in search of the keys. And indeed, there are some alarming scenes in these episodes which might have made children's hair turn white the next day. Another interesting bit I discovered a while back is there is this bottle in one episode where they find one of the keys. The bottle is labeled "De3 O2" which I believe chemically constitutes "DrivEl Dioxode"? (Nice in-joke by the production team :)

The later "Key to Time" season in the 70's with Fourth Doctor Tom Baker was quite similar to the Marinus concept, but on a universal scale, instead of planetary. Being only the 5th Doctor Who story, Marinus is a jolly good jaunt (for a show still finding it's legs) and great Saturday morning fare whilst holding your favorite steaming palliative flagon.

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