Episode #90 : The Robots of Death

"There was a Voc therapist in Kaldor City once. Specially programmed, equipped with vibro-digits, subcutaneous stimulators, the lot. You know what happened, Borg? Its first client wanted treatment for a stiff elbow. The Voc therapist felt carefully all round the joint, and then suddenly just twisted his arm off at the shoulder. Shoompf. All over in two seconds."

Episode 90:   The Robots of Death.
Companions: 4th Doctor and Leela.
Air Date:       Four episodes. 29th January to 19th February 1977.

The TARDIS materialises on board a massive sandminer vehicle combing an alien world for precious minerals. The miner is run by a small human crew with the aid of numerous robots split into three classes: Dums, Vocs and a single controlling Super Voc. The crew are being picked off one by one by an unseen killer.

The Robots of Death is an excellent adventure combining elements of science fiction, horror and murder mystery genres. You can also tell that elements of this story were inspired by Issac Assimov's I Robot and Frank Herbert's Dune. A good combination of elements that make for one thoroughly engrossing story.

After an excellent introduction for Leela in the previous story, she gets dropped to the side somewhat in this one with the Doctor getting almost all the limelight. However you get some good interaction as she attempts to adapt to technology and the larger universe. There is a very nice scene at the start of the adventure where the Doctor tries to explain how the TARDIS is bigger on the inside than the outside which helps us, the viewer, understand how it works more than it helps Leela.

 

 

The story is well written and has you guessing who the culprit is pretty much throughout. The only let down (somewhat) is the motivation but I tend to find that with most murder mysteries. The setting, that of a moving sand crawler mining craft, is delivers a small claustrophobic feel in keeping with the story. Whatever happens no one can simply just leave and everyone is trapped on board with the killer. Robots of Death is another story well worth the watch. Enjoy.