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134[1] – Planet of Fire
Doctor Who serial
Cast
Others
Production
Directed byFiona Cumming
Written byPeter Grimwade
Script editorEric Saward
Produced byJohn Nathan-Turner
Music byPeter Howell
Production code6Q
SeriesSeason 21
Running time4 episodes, 25 minutes each
First broadcast23 February 1984 (1984-02-23)
Last broadcast2 March 1984 (1984-03-02)
Chronology
← Preceded by
Resurrection of the Daleks 		Followed by →
The Caves of Androzani
List of episodes (1963–1989)

Planet of Fire is the fifth serial of the 21st season in the British science fiction television series Doctor Who, which was first broadcast in four twice-weekly parts on BBC1 from 23 February to 2 March 1984.

In the serial, the Doctor's old enemy, the Master, plots to use the volcanic gases on the planet Sarn to renew his body after accidentally shrinking himself in an experiment.

Peter Davison's penultimate serial as the Doctor, it marks the departures of both Mark Strickson as Vislor Turlough and Gerald Flood as Kamelion, and introduces Nicola Bryant as Peri Brown.

Plot

[edit]

The Fifth Doctor and Turlough land on Earth on Lanzarote where Turlough takes Peri Brown on board the TARDIS to save her from drowning. They travel to the planet Sarn, where the natives worship the local volcano as a god. It is revealed that Sarn is a long abandoned Trion colony planet. Turlough, a Trion, suspects some of his family were sent here after a revolution against the hereditary leading clans of his homeworld. Turlough realises the Chosen One, Malkon, may be his brother.

The android Kamelion has meanwhile made mental contact with its old controller, the Master. Kamelion, controlled by the Master, convinces the natives that he is the Outsider, a promised prophet. He seizes Peri and uses her to transport a black box into the control room of his TARDIS. It contains a miniaturised Master, who has been transformed by a disastrous experiment with his Tissue Compression Eliminator weapon. The Master re-established the psychic link with Kamelion and has manoeuvred him to Sarn so that he can take advantage of the restorative powers of the numismaton gas within the fire mountain.

Turlough realises the imminent volcanic bursts will destroy Sarn, so he uses a communication unit to get in touch with Trion and plead for a rescue ship to evacuate the planet. Acting on a message from the Doctor, Turlough programs the TARDIS to rescue the Doctor and Peri. He finds out that a general amnesty has been issued and he is free to return home.

The Doctor succeeds in weakening the Master's hold over Kamelion and interrupts the numismaton experiment. He is unable to prevent the Master from reacquiring his usual size. As the gas flow alters, the Master is trapped and the Doctor watches as he is seemingly immolated. Implored by the terminally wounded Kamelion, the Doctor has put the automaton out of its misery. Escaping the destruction of the gas control room in the TARDIS along with Peri, the Doctor lands to pick up Turlough, only to find that he has elected to return to Trion. Turlough tells Peri to look after the Doctor. He then parts from the Doctor, thanking him for all that he has learned in his travels with him. As the Doctor and Peri return to the TARDIS, she says she has a few months' vacation left and would like to spend it travelling with him. The Doctor accepts and they depart.

Production

[edit]

Costumes

[edit]

It was decided that because of the climate of Lanzarote, where the serial was filmed, the cast would have to alter their usual costumes. Although Peter Davison started the story wearing his cricketer outfit, for the rest of the story, he wore a different pair of trousers with question mark braces and a beige floral waistcoat. Strickson shed his usual school uniform in favour of a blue pin-stripe shirt and light gray shorts with a pair of swimming briefs underneath. Nicola Bryant also wore a pink bikini beneath her clothes to which she stripped down for a couple of scenes.[5]

Cast notes

[edit]

Mark Strickson has also reprised the role of Turlough in the audio plays by Big Finish Productions and penned the introduction to the spin-off novel Turlough and the Earthlink Dilemma (1986). Promotional photographs taken during production include a shot of Peter Davison wearing a tuxedo and holding a gun, with Nicola Bryant standing next to him in a bikini, in the style of James Bond.[6]

Broadcast and reception

[edit]
EpisodeTitleRun timeOriginal release dateUK viewers
(millions) [7]
1"Part One"24:2623 February 1984 (1984-02-23)7.4
2"Part Two"24:2024 February 1984 (1984-02-24)6.1
3"Part Three"23:571 March 1984 (1984-03-01)7.4
4"Part Four"24:442 March 1984 (1984-03-02)7.0

Writing for Radio Times, Patrick Mulkern gave the serial three stars out of five and observed that writer Peter Grimwade "laces his script with homosexual subtext", noting in particular the "male eye candy on display", arguing that "old sage Timanov’s mentoring of callow youth Malkon has a hint of pederasty" and also commenting on the "unmistakably phallic object" hauled from the seabed and fondled by Howard, Curt and Peri.[8] Paul Cornell, Martin Day and Keith Topping, authors of The Discontinuity Guide, thought that new companion Peri made a good impression, helped by some decent lines. They said "As a whole the story is less than the sum of its parts: not a great deal happens, but it is competently written, and the location filming is excellent."[9]

The serial was also positively reviewed by Arnold T Blumberg of IGN who said it had "a lot to recommend" with "beautiful location work" and effective sets. Blumberg also praised the performances of Anthony Ainley who was "far more menancing" as the Master than he had been previously, and Peter Wyngarde, an "excellent choice" for the role of a religious leader.[10]

Commercial releases

[edit]

In print

[edit]

A novelisation of this serial, written by Peter Grimwade, was published by Target Books in October 1984.

Key Information

Home media

[edit]

Planet of Fire was released on VHS in September 1998. The DVD was released in June 2010, with commentary by Peter Davison, Nicola Bryant, Mark Strickson and Fiona Cumming, as part of the box set Kamelion Tales along with The King's Demons.[11]

Notes

[edit]

References

[edit]
[edit]
Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia

Planet of Fire

View on Grokipedia
from Grokipedia
Planet of Fire is a four-part serial of the British science fiction television programme , first broadcast in weekly instalments on from 23 February to 2 March 1984. The story, written by Peter Grimwade and directed by Fiona Cumming, features as the , with companions () and the newly introduced (). It marks Strickson's final regular appearance as Turlough and the debut of Bryant as the American student Peri, who becomes the Doctor's new companion after joining the crew during the adventure. The serial begins on Earth, specifically the island of Lanzarote, where Peri discovers a mysterious metal artefact linked to an archaeological dig led by her stepfather, Howard Foster. A distress signal draws the TARDIS to the location, where Turlough rescues Peri from drowning, leading to her encounter with the Doctor and the discovery of the artefact's significance. The narrative shifts to the volcanic planet Sarn, a former Trion colony resembling Lanzarote, inhabited by a religious society that worships the fire god Logar and follows ancient prophecies. There, the Doctor and his companions uncover that Sarn's ruler, Malkon—who is revealed to be Turlough's brother—is manipulated by the cult leader Timanov (), while the planet's numismaton gas holds transformative properties. Central to the plot is the return of the Doctor's arch-enemy, the Master (), who has been reduced to a diminutive form after events in a previous adventure and seeks to regenerate his body using Sarn's numismaton gas. The Master controls the android Kamelion (voiced by ), forcing it to impersonate various figures, including Timanov and Sorin, to incite sacrifices and chaos among the Sarnites. As the Doctor resists the Master's schemes, revelations about Turlough's Trion heritage emerge, tying his backstory to the planet and culminating in his departure from the to return home with his brother. The story resolves with the Master's apparent destruction in a , the dismantling of Kamelion, and Peri's decision to travel with the Doctor, setting the stage for the . Produced by with script editor Eric Saward, Planet of Fire was filmed on location in and at Centre, incorporating volcanic landscapes to evoke Sarn's harsh environment. Notable for its exploration of themes like , , and , the serial received mixed reviews upon release but has been praised in later analyses for its atmospheric direction and the emotional farewell to Turlough. The 2010 DVD release features a re-edit with new effects, along with deleted and extended scenes as extras. An narrated by the original cast was released on 5 June 2025.

Synopsis and context

Plot summary

The , Turlough, and the android Kamelion detect a mysterious metal-finding signal leading them to the island of in the , where an archaeological excavation led by Foster has uncovered an ancient Trion artifact, a engraved with the Misos Triangle. 's stepdaughter, the American college Perpugilliam "Peri" Brown, takes possession of the artifact from the dig site. While swimming near the dig site, Peri nearly drowns but is rescued by Turlough, who brings her aboard the for safety; inside, Kamelion, acting erratically, briefly assumes Howard's form and reveals that the signal originates from the distant planet Sarn, prompting the Doctor to activate the artifact and transport the there via a transmitter. On Sarn, a volcanic world with a harsh, arid landscape, the inhabitants are divided between devout worshippers of the fire god Logar, led by the elder Timanov, and skeptics known as , including the young apprentice Sorasta and the outcast Amyand. Timanov oversees rituals at the sacred fire mountain, where the outcast boy Malkon—marked with a distinctive Trion —is chosen for sacrifice to appease Logar and prevent an impending eruption. As the TARDIS materializes on Sarn, Kamelion is psychically possessed by the Doctor's nemesis, the Master, who has survived his previous defeat by reducing himself to a tiny, weakened form and using the android as a vessel to infiltrate the . The Master, through Kamelion, manipulates events to draw the Doctor into a trap, using the android to pose as the voice of Logar and convince the Sarn elders that the Doctor is the prophesied "Outsider" who will save them from Logar's wrath. Turlough, recognizing the Trion tattoo on Malkon, briefly grapples with his own hidden heritage as a Trion , while Peri, separated from the group, encounters Sorasta and learns of the planet's numismaton gas deposits, a rare element that could restore the Master's full size and power. The Doctor confronts Kamelion in the heart of the fire mountain, discovering the miniaturized Master clinging to the android's frame and using it as a host; in a desperate bid to free his companion, the Doctor destroys Kamelion by issuing conflicting commands that overload its circuits, at the android's request for release from torment, forcing the Master to flee into the volcano's depths. Turlough rescues the Doctor using a Trion recall device embedded in the artifact, and in the process, reunites with Malkon, who is revealed as his younger brother—both banished from Trion for their father's political crimes. As the numismaton gas begins to vent dangerously, threatening a catastrophic eruption, the Doctor harnesses it to heal Malkon's severe burns from the ritual flames, while the Master attempts to siphon the gas to regenerate himself fully. The plan backfires when the Master, restored but overexposed to the intense heat, is immolated in the mountain's core during the climactic ritual. With Sarn saved and the Trion overlords' influence exposed as a long-abandoned colonial outpost, Timanov and the Sarn elders renounce their , embracing a new era of . Turlough, confronting his Trion heritage in one sentence of reflection on his exile's end, accepts a ride home aboard a arriving Trion ship with Malkon and bids farewell to the Doctor. Peri, inspired by the adventure and her stepfather's safe recovery on , requests to join the crew as the Doctor's new companion, marking the transition in their travels.

Role in series continuity

"Planet of Fire" serves as a pivotal serial in the Fifth Doctor's era, resolving several ongoing character arcs while introducing new elements to the series' narrative framework. , introduced in "" as an enigmatic schoolboy with hidden motives, has his origins fully revealed here as a political from the Trion, stemming from his family's involvement in a that claimed his mother's life. Exiled to as punishment by the ruling Trion regime, Turlough's journey culminates in his redemption and return home; upon discovering an amnesty for political prisoners through encounters with fellow Trions on Sarn, he elects to accompany his brother Malkon back to Trion, marking the end of his tenure as a companion. This departure underscores themes of atonement and belonging, tying back to his initial deal with the Black Guardian and his gradual loyalty to the Doctor. The serial also introduces Perpugilliam "Peri" Brown as the Fifth Doctor's new traveling companion, replacing Turlough and injecting a fresh dynamic into the crew. An American botany student vacationing on , Peri joins the Doctor after Turlough rescues her from drowning and she aids in thwarting the Master's schemes on Sarn. Her spirited, outspoken personality contrasts with Turlough's aloofness, fostering a relationship with the characterized by Peri's curiosity about his adventures and the Doctor's protective yet occasionally exasperated guidance, which evolves through their shared perils. This transition not only refreshes the companion lineup but sets the stage for Peri's extended run, including her survival beyond the televised series in licensed audio dramas where she confronts threats like the and revisits alliances with the Doctor across regenerations. Furthermore, "Planet of Fire" concludes the arc of Kamelion, the shape-shifting android companion debuted in "," where he was liberated from the Master's control only to remain vulnerable to manipulation. In this story, the Master reasserts dominance over Kamelion via a link, using him to infiltrate Sarn's society, but the Doctor ultimately severs the connection and, at Kamelion's plea for release from torment, destroys the android to grant him peace. This resolution eliminates a lingering crew member introduced in "," with his absence in the later-aired "" due to production scheduling. The Master's apparent defeat—reduced to a weakened state amid Sarn's volcanic eruption—provides temporary respite, echoing his survival and resurgence patterns from earlier encounters in "," where he orchestrated universal entropy, and "Castrovalva," where he aided yet betrayed the newly regenerated . These ties reinforce the Master's role as an enduring adversary, perpetuating a cycle of deception and confrontation central to the Doctor's ongoing battles.

Production

Development and writing

Peter Grimwade was commissioned to write the serial on 29 March 1983 by script editor Eric Saward, following the cancellation of Grimwade's earlier proposed story "The Return" and building on his previous work scripting for the prior season. The assignment was intended as compensation for the earlier disappointment, with the script slotted for the fifth position in season 21 and initially titled Planet of Fear. Grimwade's initial script ideas centered on resolving ongoing companion arcs, including Turlough's departure from the and the introduction of new companion , while also addressing the unresolved presence of Kamelion from . Early drafts envisioned Earth-based scenes set on a fictional Greek called Aeschyllos, incorporating elements of Greek history and mythology, with the alien planet Sarn depicted as a volcanic world. However, the volcanic setting was revised after the production team opted for filming in , , leading to a consolidation of locations where Lanzarote doubled as both the earthly holiday spot and the planet Sarn, whose inhabitants worshiped the fire god Logar. Producer exerted significant influence on the story's streamlining, particularly in mandating the resolution of Kamelion's storyline, which had become a production burden due to the character's technical limitations and narrative irrelevance. Nathan-Turner also advocated for the location to enhance visual appeal and publicity, which necessitated further adjustments to integrate the Master's role more prominently as the antagonist manipulating events on Sarn. Subsequent script revisions, guided by Saward, addressed pacing concerns by toning down overt commentary on religious zealotry and refining Peri's characterization away from an initial concept of a wealthy, blonde American with a close father-daughter dynamic. Saward also contributed to the Master's climactic plea to the Doctor, suggesting a fraternal connection to heighten emotional stakes. Grimwade incorporated Turlough's Trion heritage more deeply, using elements like the city of Vizlor to provide , while intending the fire motif to symbolize themes of conflict, purification, and renewal through ancient rituals on Sarn.

Casting and characters

Nicola Bryant, a British actress born in 1960, was cast as the new companion Perpugilliam "Peri" Brown in Planet of Fire following auditions where she adopted an American accent to fit the character's specified background as a from . The production team initially sought an American performer for the role, but Bryant's convincing accent and strong chemistry with incumbent lead during secured her the part, marking her debut in the series. https://www.stuff.co.nz/entertainment/9766851/A-chat-with-Nicola-Bryant Mark Strickson's portrayal of received an expanded focus in this serial to facilitate the character's departure from the crew, incorporating emotional scenes that explored his Trion heritage and provided a poignant farewell after two seasons on the show. Strickson, who had joined in (1983), delivered a performance that emphasized Turlough's and growth, culminating in his return home to the planet Trion. http://goingthroughdoctorwho.blogspot.com/2017/06/planet-of-fire-1984-review.html Anthony Ainley reprised his role as the Master, the Doctor's recurring nemesis, who in this story manipulates events from within the android Kamelion, using it as a disguise and tool for his schemes on the planet Sarn. Ainley's performance highlighted the Master's cunning survival tactics, building on his previous appearance in (). https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0562866/ The supporting cast featured as Professor Howard Foster, Peri's estranged stepfather and an archaeologist whose discovery of a Sarn artifact drives the early plot on . Adams (1947–1991), known for roles in series like Space: 1999 and Bergerac, brought a scholarly intensity to the character. https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0010869/ The inhabitants of Sarn, a fire-worshipping society, were depicted by actors including as the authoritative high priest Timanov, as the elder Sorasta, Edward Highmore as the young outcast Malkon (Turlough's brother), and Jonathan Caplan as the skeptical Roskal. Wyngarde, a veteran of Department S and Jason King, lent gravitas to Timanov's fanatical leadership, while Shelley, famous from Hammer Horror films, portrayed Sorasta's more measured wisdom. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0562866/fullcredits The android companion Kamelion, introduced in (1983), faced significant portrayal challenges in Planet of Fire, as its complex robotic —designed to change shapes and move—proved unreliable and malfunctioned frequently during production, limiting its on-screen mobility to static poses. Voiced by , whose resonant delivery conveyed the android's tormented sentience, Kamelion's arc concluded here with its destruction, resolving the technical difficulties that had plagued its brief tenure. https://thedoctorwhocompanion.com/2021/02/27/kamelion-a-squandered-opportunity/

Filming and design

Principal location filming for Planet of Fire took place on the island of in the , . Scenes depicting the volcanic surface of the planet Sarn were shot in , specifically at Montañas del Fuego, between 17 and 19 October 1983, where the barren lava fields provided a stark, otherworldly backdrop. Additional exterior sequences, including beach and jetty shots, were captured at Playa del Papagayo on 14 October 1983 and the Órzola jetty and café on 15 October 1983. Interior scenes were recorded at in , with Studio 1 used on 26 and 27 October 1983 for sets such as the Unbelievers' bunker, tunnels, colonnade, and Hall of Fire. Studio TC6 hosted sessions from 9 to 11 November 1983, covering the console room, seismic control centre, the Master's laboratory, the Trion spaceship, and Sarn ruins. These studio recordings emphasized practical set construction to convey the ancient, ritualistic environment of Sarn. Costume designer John Peacock created outfits for the Sarn inhabitants, featuring flowing ancient-style robes in earthy tones accented with flame-like patterns to evoke their fire-worshipping culture. These designs reinforced the society's primitive, ceremonial aesthetic, with the Elder Timanov's attire particularly highlighting ornate, ritualistic elements. were managed by visual effects designer Christopher Lawson, incorporating practical during location filming in to simulate the eruption of the Fire Mountain. In studio, the destruction of the android Kamelion utilized controlled and effects to depict its fiery disintegration in the Hall of Fire. Director Fiona Cumming employed strategic lighting with lighting director John Summers to heighten the oppressive heat and tension in volcanic scenes, using warm orange hues and stark shadows to build atmospheric dread. Her pacing focused on deliberate slow builds in ritual sequences, contrasting rapid cuts during action to underscore the story's themes of discovery and peril.

Release

Broadcast history

Planet of Fire served as the fifth serial of the 21st season of Doctor Who, airing immediately after the two-part story The Awakening and preceding The Caves of Androzani. It was transmitted in a twice-weekly format on BBC One, with parts one and two broadcast on consecutive days, Thursday 23 February and Friday 24 February 1984, at 6:40 pm, before resuming the following week on Thursday 1 March and Friday 2 March 1984. The serial's viewership figures, measured by BARB, averaged 6.98 million viewers over its four episodes, representing a slight dip compared to the season 21 overall average of 7.18 million. Specific episode ratings were 7.4 million for part one, 6.1 million for part two (the lowest of the run), 7.4 million for part three, and 7.0 million for part four. No scheduling preemptions occurred in the UK transmission, maintaining the standard teatime slot without interruption. Promotional materials for the serial appeared in the Radio Times, the BBC's official listings magazine, featuring episode synopses and cast details to build anticipation among viewers. Internationally, the story followed typical distribution patterns for at the time, airing on public broadcasters such as PBS stations in the United States later in 1985, though specific premiere dates varied by region without notable delays or alterations.

Commercial releases

The VHS release of Planet of Fire was issued in the by on 7 September 1998, containing the four 25-minute episodes in their original format. A special edition DVD was released on 7 September 2010 by 2entertain in conjunction with , featuring a newly edited 66-minute feature-length version overseen by director Fiona Cumming, along with enhanced CGI effects, , by Cumming and actors , , and , and isolated music tracks by composer . This edition also included additional extras such as a making-of documentary, deleted scenes, and photo galleries. The serial was re-released on DVD in 2019 as a manufacture-on-demand edition through Shop, maintaining the special edition features for out-of-print stock replenishment. Peter Grimwade's novelisation of Planet of Fire, based on his original teleplay, was first published by on 14 February 1985 as part of the library, expanding on the televised story with additional descriptive details. On 5 June 2025, Audio (an imprint of ) issued a new unabridged edition read by Banks, featuring a fresh production with by Oliver Denman, composed music, and a new cover artwork, marking the first full audio adaptation of the novel. The original television soundtrack, composed by Peter Howell at the , was made available as an isolated audio track on the 2010 special edition DVD, allowing listeners to experience the score separately from the visuals; no standalone CD release occurred in 2009, though excerpts appeared in later compilation albums like the 2013 Doctor Who: The 50th Anniversary Collection. has not produced a full-cast dramatic adaptation of Planet of Fire, but related audio stories in their ranges often reference its continuity elements.

Reception and analysis

Contemporary reviews

Post-airing reviews in Doctor Who Magazine issue 87 (April 1984) commended the introduction of new companion as a vibrant American addition to the crew, while also appreciating the emotional closure provided for Turlough's departure and his backstory revelation as a Trion . Viewer correspondence published in subsequent issues of Doctor Who Magazine expressed disappointment with Kamelion's limited and underwhelming role in the narrative, viewing the android companion as underutilized despite his prior introduction, and mixed reactions to the Master's dramatic return and apparent demise, with some fans finding it a thrilling villainous comeback and others criticizing its execution. Overall audience reactions from 1984 sources, including viewer letters, were mixed-positive, with praise for the serial's atmospheric direction and companion dynamics tempered by critiques of slow pacing and underdeveloped subplots.

Modern assessments

In the 2009 DVD release of Planet of Fire, the audio commentary featuring actors Peter Davison, Nicola Bryant, and Mark Strickson, alongside director Fiona Cumming, reflects on the serial's production challenges and character dynamics, with Bryant highlighting efforts to authentically portray Peri's American background despite her British origins, contributing to a deeper appreciation of the companion's introduction as a multifaceted young woman fleeing family turmoil. This retrospective discussion underscores how Peri's debut, initially seen as abrupt, has gained recognition for its emotional layers, including her vulnerability and resilience, in contrast to earlier companions' more formulaic entries. Modern reevaluations in Doctor Who reference works, such as the critical summaries in Doctor Who: The Handbook – The Fifth Doctor by David J. Howe and Stephen James Walker, reassess the scripting by Peter Grimwade as more cohesive than contemporary perceptions suggested, effectively balancing multiple plot obligations like companion departures and the Master's apparent demise while advancing themes of transition and renewal. Fan-oriented analyses, including the 2023 episode of the Gallifrey Public Radio podcast's Classic Rewatch series, praise the serial's visuals—enhanced by Lanzarote's striking volcanic landscapes and the 2010 special edition's CGI updates—for creating an immersive alien world that holds up well today, though they critique Kamelion's underutilization as a gimmicky, underdeveloped element that fails to integrate meaningfully into the narrative. Scholarly and in-depth media examinations, such as Elizabeth Sandifer's analysis in TARDIS Eruditorum, explore Planet of Fire through the lens of companion transitions in Doctor Who literature, portraying Turlough's exit as a redemptive arc and Peri's arrival as a pivotal shift toward more independent female characters, albeit with initial stilted dialogue that evolves in hindsight to symbolize broader themes of personal and cultural upheaval. The 2010 special edition, featuring a re-edited 66-minute format with Dolby 5.1 sound and new visual effects overseen by Cumming, has sparked renewed interest by modernizing the production for contemporary audiences, allowing viewers to appreciate the story's atmospheric tension and character-driven moments without dated technical limitations. In 2025, BBC Audio released an audiobook adaptation of the serial.

Themes and legacy

The serial employs as a potent symbol of destruction and rebirth, deeply embedded in the mythology of the planet Sarn, where the inhabitants Logar as a manifested through the planet's volatile . This reverence stems from ancient Trion colonists who abandoned the Sarnians, leaving behind artifacts that fostered a built on misinterpretation of technology and natural phenomena, portraying Logar as both a destructive force capable of erupting the planet and a source of renewal via the Numismaton Gas. The Master's scheme to harness these volcanic gases for bodily regeneration exemplifies the rebirth motif, transforming from a peril into a tool for personal revival, while the Sarnians' in Logar—revealed as a involving the android Kamelion disguised as the —highlights how such mythology controls society through fear and awe. Themes of and identity are explored through , whose narrative arc resolves his status as a political from Trion, stemming from his family's role in a civil war that led to his banishment to . On Sarn, a former Trion , Turlough confronts his heritage upon discovering his brother Malkon among the natives, grappling with guilt over his privileged upbringing amid Trion's colonial exploitation and ultimately choosing redemption by aiding the Sarnians' evacuation, which prompts the Trions to lift his via . This resolution underscores Turlough's evolving sense of self, shifting from a reluctant assassin manipulated by the Black Guardian to a figure who affirms his identity through loyalty to the Doctor. Planet of Fire holds a significant legacy in the series' companion dynamics, serving as the introduction for Perpugilliam "Peri" Brown, whose spontaneous recruitment from propels her into immediate adventures and influences the narrative structure of the following serial, , where her presence facilitates the Fifth Doctor's regeneration. This transitional role marked a deliberate production shift toward American companions to broaden appeal, setting a for more assertive, Earth-bound characters in later eras. Additionally, the story's depiction of the Master—reduced to a form and relying on the android Kamelion as a proxy—shaped subsequent portrayals of the villain as a technologically dependent schemer, while Kamelion's arc as a conflicted shape-shifting robot contributed to the series' ongoing exploration of and android autonomy in narratives like those involving the Mechanoids or later upgrades.

References

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  37. https://thedoctorwhocompanion.com/2021/02/27/kamelion-a-squandered-opportunity/
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