Empress of Mars
- Episode aired Jun 10, 2017
- TV-PG
- 43m
The Doctor, Bill and Nardole discover a tomb of the Queen of the Ice Warriors on Mars in 1881.The Doctor, Bill and Nardole discover a tomb of the Queen of the Ice Warriors on Mars in 1881.The Doctor, Bill and Nardole discover a tomb of the Queen of the Ice Warriors on Mars in 1881.
- Soilder
- (uncredited)
- Soldier
- (uncredited)
- Ice Warrior
- (uncredited)
- NASA Scientist
- (uncredited)
- Director
- Writers
- All cast & crew
- Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaMark Gatiss was inspired by Victorian science fiction stories like Journey to the Centre of the Earth.
- GoofsWhen The Doctor tells the Ice Warrior to halt, his arm is extended straight in front of him, but in the reverse shot it is bent at the elbow.
- Quotes
The Doctor: Do you need a hand with the dishes? We're really very good, aren't we, Bill?
Bill: Yeah.
Friday: Friday does not require help.
Bill: [stepping up] Happy to. Honestly. Though, uh, he's better at dryin'.
[the Doctor joins her, together displacing Friday from his task]
The Doctor: Yes. Don't like the soapy water; makes the fingers go all crinkly. Nice to be home, I bet. Of course, it would be better if they'd, uh, 'killed the fatted calf,' so to speak.
[Friday turns and starts walking away]
The Doctor: Rolled out the red-planet carpet. Then you're the last of your kind, aren't you, according the the Colonel.
[Friday stops, looks back]
The Doctor: So no one left to do the rolling.
Friday: I *am* the last.
[Friday looks away, but the Doctor presses on]
The Doctor: How can you be sure?
Friday: [turns to face them] There was a war. A great and terrible war. Friday saw much blood. Now all is gone. My world is dead.
The Doctor: [as Friday turns away] But-but while you were asleep, on your ship, in stasis. Maybe there *are* others.
Friday: [turns back again] Friday would... feel... the presence of others. Friday is alone.
The Doctor: [walks up to his face] Why'd you call yourself that? What's your real name? An Ice Warrior would never let these humans patronise him without a reason. You're helping the pig. For what?
Friday: Mars still has many riches.
The Doctor: [walking away, clearly sceptical] Which you are happy to share.
Friday: Why should not others benefit instead?
[Friday walks away]
Bill: Maybe he's telling the truth.
The Doctor: Maybe.
Bill: Wha', can't we give him the benefit of the doubt? I mean, just because he's a big green monster...
The Doctor: You think I'm taking sides? I'm not taking sides. The universe is too complicated, far too nuanced. Things are never quite black and white. There are individual aliens just as there are individual humans. Different languages, accents, politics. Different times, different... loyalties.
- ConnectionsReferences The Vikings (1958)
What they find are Victorian soldiers with an Ice Warrior reptile servant called Friday. Led by the cowardly Godsacre they were lured to Mars with the promise of treasure by Friday who himself got stranded on Earth and needed the soldiers help.
The Doctor gathers that this is all a ploy, Friday plans to awaken the Empress and this could be disaster for the Victorian soldiers.
Writer Mark Gatiss is at home writing dialogue set in the Victorian era especially if he is also being influenced by books such as The First Men on the Moon. This is really a nod to classic Doctor Who, but this also meant slower pacing and a simpler story structure, but more than made up in atmosphere and production values.
We even get a brief glimpse of a character last seen in the Pertwee era which suggests that the Ice Warriors will be making peaceful alliances in the future.
- Prismark10
- Jun 9, 2017
Details
- Release date
- Country of origin
- Official sites
- Language
- Filming locations
- Redcliffe Caves, Redcliffe Parade, Bristol, England, UK(Tunnels where TARDIS lands)
- See more company credits at IMDbPro
- Runtime43 minutes
- Color