When a newspaper reporter goes missing, the Doctor, Tegan and Nyssa uncover a case of alien abduction. The trail leads them to the planet Luparis, and a city that appears to be a replica of Tudor London.
What are the monsters that lurk in the shadows? And what is the terrible secret at the heart of Luparis? To save a world, the Doctor must try to defeat the evil plans of Queen Zafira.
And one of her plans is to marry him…
Tropes
- Altar the Speed: Queen Zafira is in such a hurry to force the Doctor into a marriage she doesn't even discuss the idea with him before declaring them betrothed.
- Anachronism Stew: In-universe. The Hexagora have rebuilt Luparis to perfectly resemble England in the 1600s, but they still possess advanced alien body swap technology.
- Bizarre Alien Biology: The Hexagora can encase their bodies in fluid from their home world and distil their genetic memories within this "memory pool", and use it to transfer their minds into different bodies.
- Busman's Holiday: The Doctor, Nyssa and Tegan are supposed to be having a relaxing vacation in Brisbane to recover from the events of "The Elite", but it isn't long before Tegan's old boyfriend goes missing and they get dragged into an alien abduction plot. At least they got a couple of days of actual holidaying in beforehand.
- Butt-Monkey: For the second story in a row, Tegan is dismissed and looked down on by the society she finds herself in, while Nyssa and the Doctor are admired and coveted. Taking place not long after "The Waters of Amsterdam", this is also the second time in a short period she has to deal with an ex-boyfriend being something other than human.
- Call-Back:
- The TARDIS team have followed up on Tegan's suggestion of holidaying in Brisbane after the traumatic events of "The Elite".
- Tegan mutters at one point that if Elizabethans treated guests as poorly as they have her, then maybe they deserved a bit of a fire.
- The Coup: Jezzavar has been planning one to supplant Zafira and take control of Lupara for himself, and plans to use Nyssa as his Puppet Queen as Hexagoran society does not recognize male rulers.
- Crazy Jealous Guy: Lord Zellenger resents Jezzavar for being another of Zafira's husbands, and he is furious when she decides to take the Doctor as another mate, attempting to kill him.
- Curse Cut Short: The Doctor narrowly prevents Tegan starting an incident with the nobles this way.
- Fantastic Racism: Tegan is very harsh on poor Mike in his bug form, and it takes her some time to even admit that he is who he claims.
- "Freaky Friday" Flip: The Hexagora pull this on kidnapped humans in order to survive.
- Gardening-Variety Weapon: Tegan gets over her initial shock and Fantastic Racism and defends Mike with a pitchfork, ready to do battle with an armed soldier to protect him.
- Go Mad from the Revelation: The "terrible monsters" of the story, the Sleepers, are just unfortunate humans who had their bodies stolen by the Hexagora and happened to wake up from their cryo sleep. Suddenly discovering that you are a giant insect in 1600s England would make anyone crazy.
- High Heel Hurt: Tegan bemoans her choice of footwear when she has to scale a twelve-foot gate, grumbling that she always seems to be in heels at the worst times.
- Hive Mind: What the Hexagora have always had, but are currently lacking as they have taken over human bodies. The absence of the hive mind is slowly driving them all insane.
- Honey Trap: Not that she goes as far as actually seducing Lord Jezzavar, but Nyssa proves very adept at manipulating his attraction to her to con her way back into the palace.
- How Do I Shot Web?: Mike has more awareness than the other body-swapped humans but still has trouble figuring out how to use his Hexagoran body to full effect, and there is some trial and error involved in his learning to fly.
- Insectoid Aliens: The titular Hexagora.
- Intrepid Reporter: Mike Bretherton. So intrepid that he uncovered the alien abduction plot, and got abducted himself for his trouble.
- Mugged for Disguise: Implied with the two handmaidens sent to dress Nyssa and Tegan for the wedding. Nyssa mentions that the two girls are just the right size, and in the next scene they are fleeing the palace dressed in rags. The handmaids aren't heard from again.
- My Friends... and Zoidberg: The Hexagorans go out of their way to lavish Nyssa and the Doctor with fancy titles and epithets... and Tegan gets called their companion.
- New Old Flame: Mike Bretherton, Tegan's old boyfriend from high school in Brisbane, is introduced here.
- Proper Lady: Nyssa gets to draw on her royal heritage, and seems to delight in being a noble again.
- Something Only They Would Say: Mike (trapped in the body of a Hexagora) is able to convince Tegan of his identity by talking to her about events from their shared childhood.
