Doctor Who: Dragonfire

The plot involves the search for a treasure guarded by a dragon. At a bar on Iceworld, (clearly influenced by the Star Wars cantina), the Doctor and Mel are reunited with Sabalom Glitz, one of the seekers of the treasure, guarded by a fierce dragon. With the help of a waitress, Ace, they go out in search for the treasure in the lower depths of Iceworld, with places like the Singing Trees, Ice Gardens, and the Land Of Oblivion.

Another party interested in the treasure is Kane. He is the ruthless villain ruling Svartos, a world that has a perpetual dark side. That's an advantage, but even Svartos is too warm for him, as he perpetually needs to lie in his cryo-cabin to achieve a body temperature of 193 below zero. Glitz says of him, "if he were a mortician, the corpses would keep their eyes open." and "cut him open and you won't find a heart, just a block of ice."

As for the dragon, it's more of "a semiorganic vertebrate with a highly developed cerebral cortex."

The best part involves a philosophical discussion between the Doctor and a seemingly stupid-looking guard, who despite appearances, is pretty much an intellectual.

Guest stars: Tony Selby expands the character of Glitz as a dodgy wheeler dealer. Another Tony, Tony Osoba (Kracauer), played Lann the Movellan in Destiny Of The Daleks. Patricia Quinn (Belasz), had a bit part in Monty Python's The Meaning Of Life as the wife of the instructor who teaches the sex ed. class.

Mel's departure seems improvised and totally out of character--apart from keeping an eye on Glitz, something tells me she's not the adventurous type compared to Ace. Those who want to know the full answer can, if one can find it, the New Adventure novel Head Games.

Another flaw is Glitz's offer to take Ace back to Perivale. Trial of a Timelord took place around 2,000,000 AD. Ace, who is from the 20th century, clearly tells Mel a time storm transported her to Iceworld. Glitz was going to take Ace back to Perivale, but what would be the point of taking her back home two million years in the future? The only other explanation is that he could time travel, but that doesn't seem likely.

Also, see if you can see a white curtain, serving as an icy wall, billow out as Mel pitches nitro-9 at Pudovkin.

And the Doctor's regeneration must be making him wonky in his climbing over the guard rail and down the cliff, using only his brolly for support. And the clumsy way in which he clambers all over Glitz who has to rescue him! How awkward!

Sophie Aldred makes Ace a believable and likeable character, tough and full of spirit like Leela, but with a vulnerable side (she's ashamed of her real name). She hits the ground running in her debut in this little bit flawed but good story.


"As long as you bear my mark, I own you!"   June 21, 1999
3 out of 4 found this review helpful

The Doctor and Mel land on Iceworld, where they inadvertently meet up with Glitz, looking for a treasure guarded by a fire breathing dragon! Apart from some ridiculous dialogue, a silly looking monster, and an uneven awkward script, "Dragonfire" can be very enjoyable to the undiscriminating Who fan. Tony Selby's return as Glitz is great. He and the Doctor make a great double-play. It's also a great story for Ace, even if she does have some of goofiest lines in the story. And Kane is a wonderful vilian, not totally OTT. It's a shame he commits suicide. Great soundtrac and design, some fun humor, and Mel gets a nice emotional send off. An enjoyable McCoy runaround.


Doctor Who on ice.   April 22, 1999
3 out of 4 found this review helpful

One of the best of McCoy's first season, this story has him and companion arriving in Iceworld where he meets up with Glitz, a memorable space-age Del-boy, and going in search of a legendary dragon. A well-paced, imaginative story with some great dialogue, and the parodies with the Loch Ness Monster mystery certainly add to it. Kane is one of the most memorable humanoid enemies the Doctor has ever faced, and comes across as a real person rather than a moustache-twirling villain. The only problem I have with this adventure is Ace. Though she went on to become Dr Who's most interesting and grittily realistic companion to date, in this story she often becomes irritating. Who thinks that streetwise teenagers go around shouting 'brill', 'ace' and 'male chauvenist bilge-bag'? And the 'cliff-hanger' at the end of Part 1 is just ludicrous. Surely the creature advancing on Ace and Mel would have been a more than adequate ending to the first episode. Minor gripes aside, however, this is top-quality sci-fi.


The Doctor visits Iceworld and gets a new companion!   April 26, 2000
Aaron Amos (Burley, ID USA)
2 out of 9 found this review helpful

The Doctor and Mel land on Iceworld. The travellers meet their old friend Glitz. The travellers get into a treasure hunt. Mel finally leaves the Doctor and gets a new companion Ace! Mel leaves the Doctor to have adventures with Glitz!


The best of Season 24   October 3, 2001
Alan D. Patten III (Taylors (Greenville), SC United States)
2 out of 3 found this review helpful

When I recieved my lastest (and rather large) order of Dr. Who videos, "Dragonfire" was the first one I pulled out; in part becuase it had been so long since I had seen anything from Season 24 apart from the awful "Time and the Rani" and also because I remember liking "Dragonfire". My memory served me well.The story is well written, and we see the return of Tony Selby as the nefarious Sabalom Glitz, one of the few bright spots from the preveous season's "Trial of a Timelord". It also features Patrica Quinn, best known to cult fanatics as Magenta from "The Rocky Horror Picture Show".The special effects are well done, particuarly by Dr. Who standards and we see the departure of that annoying Mel creature at the end. A very good effort from an otherwise fairly disapointing season of Dr. Who.