Terror Firma

Editor: Peter Labrow · Last update: 24 April 2007

The Doctor lands on Earth with Charley and C’rizz – but it’s not the Earth he was expecting. The Daleks have invaded, conquered and decimated Earth.

Terror Firma

Writer: Joseph Lidster
Director: Gary Russell
The Doctor: Paul McGann
Davros: Terry Molloy
Charley: India Fisher
C’rizz: Conrad Westmaas
The Daleks: Nicolas Briggs
Harriet Griffin: Julia Deakin
Samson Griffin: Lee Ingleby
Gemma Griffin: Lizzy Hopley
Release date: August 2005

The Doctor lands on Earth with Charley and C’rizz – but it’s not the Earth he was expecting. The Daleks have invaded, conquered and decimated Earth. 

But how? The Doctor destroyed Skaro, and all the Daleks, using the Hand of Omega. But Davros survived – alone, with only his own twisted thoughts of revenge for company. Plotting for revenge on the Doctor – and what would hurt him the most, except the destruction of that planet which he loves even above his own?

Davros, it seems, has finally lost the plot. He is almost demented, plagued by mood-swings and a growing schizophrenia – where his own personality is being subsumed that that of another – himself, as the Dalek emperor. To fight this, he swings between waiting death and wanting to start again within a cloned body.

Davros has created an army of Daleks, now seemingly obedient to him. He controls the Doctor’s previous companions – Gemma and Samson – of whom the Doctor has no memory.

The last remaining inhabitants of Earth seem oblivious to the Dalek threat, until at the last minute they decide to rise up against them – except they are far too few in number.

The Daleks, meanwhile, have captured C’rizz and intend for him to become the next Dalek Emperor. Davros, it seems, does not have the control over his Daleks which he believes.

This convoluted tale of deception and insanity is almost too elaborate for its own good. While many of the scenes are good – especially towards the end – as a whole Terror Firma feels lightweight and unconvincing.

The remaining people or Earth – few in number – live a high-life existence of tea parties and cocktails, in scenes which were perhaps intended to contrast with the alterative action of the Doctor and his companions struggles, but actually seem misplaced in mood. When their lives are threatened, we don’t really care.

There are also too many people floating around – two sets of companions – leading to a somewhat incoherent feel to parts of the story.

Terry Molloy’s performance as Davros is excellent, shifting between different personalities, but the growing insanity is overwritten and the writing (not the performance) often lacks subtlety. Paul McGann, quite honestly, doesn’t have enough to work with and is frequently sidelined. The whole basis for the story – Davros leading the Daleks (who don’t trust him and are ready to abandon him) into invading the Earth simply to make the Doctor suffer is simply too weak to be believable.

Yet, despite all that is negative, this story still features some great scenes and strong performances, making it a worthwhile if ultimately frustrating purchase.