It's rather amazing that, in all of the infinite corridors of time, scientists Tony and Doug always wind up somewhere catastrophic. In End of the World, the temporal travelers arrive in 1910, only to find Halley's Comet looming large in the sky, seemingly on a collision course for Earth; since our planet has never been in any real danger from Halley's Comet, one might assume that Doug and Tony have landed in an alternate universe; more likely, the writer of this episode opted to take huge liberties with historical facts to add extra suspense, tension and urgency to his story.
Without the sense of impending cataclysmic doom, this would certainly be a rather forgettable episode, as Tony and Doug meddle with history once again by trying to save two hundred men trapped in a collapsing mine. That said, WITH the added danger of the comet, it all becomes quite laughable, partly because of the huge factual inaccuracies regarding the comet (an orange fireball!), and partly because the comet's arrival in 1910 somehow affects the Tic Toc technicians in 1968 -- not sure how that works, but watching the frightened scientists recoil in terror as the comet approaches is hilarious. Hasn't the tunnel got an off switch?
While the 1968 scientists look on helplessly, Tony and Doug attempt to rustle up volunteers to help at the mine, but having been told that the world is about to end by local scientist Professor Ainsley (Gregory Morton), the townsfolk really can't be arsed. Doug visits Ainsley and convinces him that his calculations are flawed; when the professor admits to the locals that he was wrong, they pick up tools and get to work rescuing the miners. Jobs a good 'un!
Having happily altered history once again, the time travelers disappear, and after a brief visit for Tony to the desert location of the Tic Toc HQ circa 1958, the pair wind up in the Japanese consulate at Pearl Harbour, one day before the infamous attack. Not having much luck are they?
Without the sense of impending cataclysmic doom, this would certainly be a rather forgettable episode, as Tony and Doug meddle with history once again by trying to save two hundred men trapped in a collapsing mine. That said, WITH the added danger of the comet, it all becomes quite laughable, partly because of the huge factual inaccuracies regarding the comet (an orange fireball!), and partly because the comet's arrival in 1910 somehow affects the Tic Toc technicians in 1968 -- not sure how that works, but watching the frightened scientists recoil in terror as the comet approaches is hilarious. Hasn't the tunnel got an off switch?
While the 1968 scientists look on helplessly, Tony and Doug attempt to rustle up volunteers to help at the mine, but having been told that the world is about to end by local scientist Professor Ainsley (Gregory Morton), the townsfolk really can't be arsed. Doug visits Ainsley and convinces him that his calculations are flawed; when the professor admits to the locals that he was wrong, they pick up tools and get to work rescuing the miners. Jobs a good 'un!
Having happily altered history once again, the time travelers disappear, and after a brief visit for Tony to the desert location of the Tic Toc HQ circa 1958, the pair wind up in the Japanese consulate at Pearl Harbour, one day before the infamous attack. Not having much luck are they?