Doctor Who-Kinda

                    Peter Davison's era as the fifth doctor showcased a somewhat different air than earlier seasons. Somewhat more serious minded and more reliant on story lines than quirkiness and wit,many of the stories of this era showcased somewhat more abstract and an adult flavor that took the show far away from it's public perception as a family program written for children. The fifth doctor era embodies many excellent stories. But this particular one is very special to me. Honestly it's one of the most atypically themed episodes of the show I've seen. It's not about megalomaniac monsters or any huge morality play. Written by Christopher Bailey and aired in early 1982, this is one of those stories you have to think about a bit.


                    Here we find the doctor and companions Tegan and Adric  on a planet where members Earth survey team are beginning to disappear. The leader is convinced the natives of the planet,known as the Kinda are non threatening primitives. After Hindle,a mentally unbalanced member of the survey team captures the rest of the survey team,two captured Kinda along with the doctor and Adric it's realized the Kinda are not in fact primitives. In the meantime Tegan is psychically drawn into the world of the villainous snake-like entity known as the Mara,an evil being that resides in one's subconscious and manipulates events to it's favor. Using the Kinda's advanced telepathy and understanding of the unseen world the doctor is forced into a position of handling the situation. 


                 This probably amounts to being the most cerebral of Doctor Who stories every written. There are many references to Eastern philosophies/meditations such a Buddism and Hinduism as well as a heavy dose of the Aboriginal Austrailians  "dream time". This is also one of the classic Doctor Who stories that is so adult,I'd not recommend it for young children. In the character of Hindle especially. There's references to mental illness,perhaps schizophrenia,and even child abuse more directly on the part of the character. Not only that the metaphysical aspect to the story leaves a lot of loose ends open that sort of requires a more thoroughly informed consciousness. Definitely an excellent example of the wondering,sometimes cerebral nature of the fifth doctor.