Introduction
Series 3 of Gallifrey would have premiered over eight weeks. Spanning from the 30th of December 2001 to the 17th of February 2002. While it was intended for all eight episodes to be broadcasted in 2002. Due to scheduling conflicts with the BAFTA's and Season 38 of Doctor Who. As well as HBO wanting to air all eight episodes back to back. The first episode was pushed to air in the last Sunday of 2001.
The cast (for the most part with one important recurring character and actor being added, which I'll talk about in episode one) would remain the same. The crew would go under some changes. Paul Abbott remained as showrunner and executive producer alongside Jed Mercurio acting as a executive producer. The writers room would go under some changes. With Russell T Davies becoming script editor and co-showrunner on Doctor Who. He had to reduce his role in the writers room for Gallifrey, even though Davies would still contribute a script to the season. Because of his reduced role. Along with the current slate of Abbott, Davies, Ashdown and Brocklehurst. Two new writers would be added to the writers room. First one being writer of the Tenth Doctor episode, The Darnley Conspiracy, Krista Vernoff, who was brought on full time for both writers rooms for both Doctor Who and Gallifrey following her first script. The other being the head writer of Born and Bred, Chris Chibnall.
With that noted. Let's dive into Series 3 of Gallifrey.
Episode One: THE YOUNGER MAN
Written by Paul Abbott
Directed by John Strickland
Air Date: 30 December 2001
The opening episode of the series sets the stage for the series. As it starts a week into the election campaign with Romana and Roiyden standing in a ticket and Domina and Azmana standing on an opposing ticket. As well as some of the character focus arcs with Roiyden and Penny still trying to conceive a baby, Reiven working out her anger after some of her personal life has been exposed after being buried for about a century, Domina's electoral alliance of herself, Azmana, Volres and former Earth President Diane Turner being rocky.
However the focus of the episode is on Romana working with some campaign aides. Specifically a younger man by the name of Cartrey (played by William Ash). With the two of them becoming a lot closer, specifically romantically. Which is shown to be slightly harmful as Cartrey is married and Romana is shown to be hiding a secret (that the audience does not know yet) from Roiyden, Reiven and Penny.
With the episode ending at the end of the second week of the election as it is shown that Romana and Domina are neck and neck in terms of the popular vote and the electoral college vote.
Episode Two: A RICKETY ALLIANCE
Written by Krista Vernoff
Directed by John Strickland
Air Date: 6 January 2002
This episode puts the characters apposing Romana and company at the fore-front. With the entire anti-Romana alliance being a rickety one. The only two of the four that are on good terms is Azmana and Turner. With everyone else not trusting one and another and start plans to double-cross them if they are wronged.
Volres being the one feeling the most uncomfortable in the alliance as he is working with a bunch of establishment figures. Which is the last thing he is. With Domina shown that she trusts him the least. And has a more... permanent plan to end his career if he stabs her, Azmana or Turner in the back.
This episode would be seen as a highlight of the season. With fans praising Vernoff's layered writing of the show's villains. Giving them more layered characteristics compared to how they were portrayed in the previous two series.
Episode Three: A KNOCKOUT RESPONSE
Written by Danny Brocklehurst
Directed by Syd Macartney
Air Date: 13 January 2002
The episode begins with Reiven arriving at a campaign rally in Arcadia, she walks and greets the mayor of the town. The two of them walk together alongside a crowd, all of a sudden, one one of the crowd members threw some water onto Reiven. Reiven then punches the member in the face, knocking him to the ground and rendering him unconscious. Reiven says "Oh shi-." Before it cuts to black then the opening credits.
After the title sequence we see Romana giving Reiven a bollocking in their campaign office. With Cartrey shown to be sitting in the room. Reiven says that they should spin the story itno their favor. Cartrey says that Reiven should apologize and move on from the scandal. Reiven tells Cartrey to fuck off, which angers Romana and tells her to get out.
While that is happening, Roiyden and Penny are sitting outside, trying so hard not to laugh. Penny asks why he stopped boxing as a hobby. Roiyden jokes that someone caused him to regenerate in sparring match. Penny asks who. Reiven exits Romana's office. Roiyden looks at Reiven and says, "From personal experience. I know that man got off lightly." Which makes Penny start laughing.
Later that night, Azmana is sitting down with a GBC interviewer. With her going overboard on attacking Reiven for being unstable. And that Reiven must resign her position in Romana's campaign.
After the interview, Romana and Cartrey are in bed together. The two of them go over polling about Reiven's punch and Azmana's interview. Which we see that Romana thinks that she and the team can spin this into their favor.
The next morning, Romana sits down with Reiven with a smirk. She leans forward and says, "Your knockout punch... has made our numbers go up." Which Reiven laughs at with confusion. Romana asks if she is friends with any left-wing pro-boxers. Reiven nods her head. Romana asks, "Any of them supporting me in the election?".
We then cut to Reiven entering the gym she uses in Arcadia with one of the spin and news teams from the campaign. She meets up with a friend of her's, which is the person Romana needs. And a photoshoot happens with Reiven showing off her boxing skill, as well as an interview where Reiven talks about how boxing helped her during a dark time in her life.
The photoshoot and interview are published by the GBC. And the reporting is favorable, with Domina trying to hit back in an interview with the GFN, and even the right leaning network having to show Reiven in a positive light. As she is the one who is talking to what the Gallifreyan right are caring about. Boxing, Gallifrey's planetary sport.
The episode ends with both teams looking at polls and seeing a big swing towards Romana and her campaign. Domina says with her team, "We need to get the thing the Gallifrey right care about more than a vicious blood sport." She then asks one of her aides to get her a meeting with, "The Leading Sister of the Church". Domina smiles, turns to the alliance leaders and says, "Time to play hard ball." And with that, the episode ends.
Episode Four: POISON
Written by Simon Ashdown
Directed by Syd Macartney
Air Date: 20 January 2002
This episode begins on a spacecraft flying through Gallifrey. With it being the one used for Romana's campaign. Roiyden enters Romana's office, he rummages though some papers, picks up her water bottle. But, when he picks it up, he notices a strong stench from it. He takes a sniff of it. And his face turns to one of upset. He walks out of the office and goes to her room, where he walks in on her and Cartrey in bed together. Roiyden stands at the edge of the bed and pours out the liquid from the bottle. He orders Cartrey out of the room. Once Cartrey leaves them alone. Roiyden is upset and says, "Why didn't me or Reiven notice it?" Romana tries to explain saying that it was Azmana's fault. Roiyden has an outburst. And screams at her, "That doesn't give you a right to start drinking again! To give into your alcoholism!" Romana looks distressed, as we cut to the opening titles.
After the opening titles, we see Romana sitting down with Roiyden, Reiven and Penny. She apologizes about her drinking. Roiyden says that it's because of her first marriage what drove her to drink and develop an alcoholism gene in her body. And despite regenerating twice since then, it's still there apart of her. She cannot drink. Romana admits that she had started when Azmana betrayed them. But, Cartrey, the young married man she is having an affair with, because of him, she's drinking a whole lot less. Roiyden agrees that he as well as Reiven and Penny will no longer say a word about Cartrey if she goes cold turkey and stops drinking altogether. In which, she agrees.
While that is going on during the episode, Domina is in the southern continent of Gallifrey sitting down with members of the "Church of the Flame" which is the main religious faction on Gallifrey. Which has priestess who are trained on Karn and then assigned churches on Gallifrey, the Matrix acting as the Time Lord's version of heaven.
Domina, while along with Azmana, Volres and Turner, think they are a bunch of religious, pro-life, pompous fanatics. She does work to gain their supports, which is given in a public speech at the end of the episode, showing Domina is starting to gain on Romana.
Episode Five: HEAD TO HEAD
Written by Chris Chibnall
Directed by Nigel Douglas
Air Date: 27 January 2002
This episode begins with a cold open of a GBC news report talking about the upcoming debate between the two Presidential candidates. Which is intercutted with debate prep from both campaigns. With the cold opening ending with both Romana and Domina saying that they are ready. And with that, we cut to the opening credits.
The episode then continues with the debate, with the episode intercutting between the debate and both teams backstage and in the spin-room. Romana and Domina debate on topics such as trade, sanctions against certain planets as well as the thriving Gallifrey oil and gas businesses. Which Romana is unsure about continuing and wanting to retrain oil and gas workers to work with electric and nuclear power. Domina, rebuts saying that Romana's plan would actually cost both workers their jobs and to raise taxes due to them being government programs and not private sector jobs.
Throughout the episode, the two of them go back and forth. But, towards the end of the debate, Domina praises a Sontaran Commander. Which Romana takes and runs with it. Saying that the Sontarans are a war-mongering race. And that they never should be allied with. Which gets applause from the audience. Domina throws another negative attack at Romana. With her just smiling and saying, "Well there you go again." And getting further applause for Romana calling out Domina as a hypocrite and focusing too much on negative attacks.
At the end of the episode, the debate ends. With most pundits declaring Romana as the winner. And her team celebrates. However, the celebrations die down, as a GBC report appears on a television screen with the headline, "PRESIDENT IN SEX SCANDAL WITH AIDE". Romana looks at Cartrey with worry as the episode ends.
Episode Six: TRYING
Written by Simon Ashdown
Directed by Nigel Douglas
Air Date: 3 February 2002
This episode would follow an A-Plot and B-Plot format that would be intercutted throughout the episode. But, to make it simpler, I will cover each plotline separately.
The A-Plot focuses on the long running arc of Roiyden and Penny trying to conceive a child. With them trying over and over again to conceive. But, they are always failing. With this, Roiyden and Penny both get physical health check-ups to determine on if they can have kids. While Roiyden passes with flying colors. Penny is deemed unsuitable to carry a child, let alone to a full term. This arc at the end of the episode ends with Roiyden suggesting the numerous other ideas on how they can have a child.
The B-Plot focuses on Romana and Cartrey's affair as it has been exposed. And Domina is eating it up, especially with it being the final week of the election. This evens up the polls on the eve of election day. And Cartrey is forced to give up all of his money to his wife in a quick divorce settlement.
At the end of the episode, the sun sets on Gallifrey for the last day of the election. As Romana and Domina both look up to the sky and realize. There is nothing more they can do. Election Day is here, and it is up to the public to elect one of them as President.
Episode Seven: ELECTION DAY
Written by Russell T Davies
Directed by Brian Grant
Air Date: 10 February 2002
Due to how much this episode has going in it. It was decided to add an additional 15 minutes making it a 60 minute episode.
For the first 45 minutes, we focus on all of the main characters as they vote in their local constituency. With last minute press interviews, and more coverage of the scandal relating to Romana and Cartrey's affair. Which is certainly not helping Romana's re-election chances. We also see more of the Roiyden and Penny storyline as they are debating about which way they go about getting a child. With them agreeing that adoption is the best possible option. We also get some scenes with Domina and her alliance being smug and self-assured that they are home and dry when it comes to the election and Domina even starts planning out her cabinet once Romana is forced to resign the Leadership of the Prydonian Chapter.
The last 15 minutes focus on the election coverage as well as several of the counts for PR's. In which, all of the main characters contesting the election win their seat. Also, we see that Turner had actually been standing for a seat in the most conservative region on the planet. And she wins her seat in a landslide.
The election count is waiting to see between Romana or Domina can win 576 electoral votes and win the Presidency. And throughout the night, they are neck and neck. With only two regions (which is what Gallifreyans use for "States") left to count. It is said that no matter what, Domina is gonna win the popular vote. And in the end, wins the two remaining regions. However, a lot of pundits and political experts say that if Romana calls for a recount in the two regions, Romana will win the regions and win the Presidency.
The episode ends with Romana staring out a window, she turns to her team and says, "We have a constitutional crisis on our hands." And with that, the episode ends.
Episode Eight: CRISIS
Written by Paul Abbott
Directed by Brian Grant
Air Date: 17 February 2002
The finale begins with Romana sitting down with members of the single digit Scendeles Chapter. She talks to them about forming a coalition government. The members say they would be on board. But, Romana would need to contest the results, get a re-count and win the Presidential Election. Romana sighs, exits the meeting and sits with Cartrey. And asks him what she should do. Cartrey says, "You know what you should do.". Romana pauses for a minute and tells him to call a meeting. The meeting begins and Romana tells Roiyden, Reiven, Penny and Cartrey, "I'm gonna concede the election." And with that, we cut to the opening credits.
After the opening credits, we remain on Romana's team as Roiyden yells at her, "IT'S THE FUCKING MASTER, WHY AREN'T WE FIGHTING BACK!?". Romana, in a calm tone, tells him that even with the Master about to become President of Gallifrey. It'd be a wrong thing to do. But, best thing they can do is... Delay the concession. So, that all four of them can flee Gallifrey. Reiven and Cartrey immediately stand their ground and says that they will not flee. Penny agrees to immediately flee. But, Roiyden is mixed on what to do. But, eventually agrees to flee Gallifrey with Penny.
Throughout the episode. Romana has everyone prepare for what is coming with Domina becoming Lady President of Gallifrey. Roiyden and Penny prepare to take a safe passage out of Gallifrey and the Gallifreyan Empire. Romana wants Reiven and Cartrey to flee as well. But, no matter what. The two of them stand their ground and tell her that they are staying.
Eventually Romana makes a public speech announcing she is conceding the election. She will not defy the will of the people nor cause a constitutional crisis. She has lost the election.
Half of Gallifrey is jubilant and the other half is in complete sorrow. Romana and Penny flee, Romana and Cartrey attend both Domina and Azmana's inauguration as Lady President and Vice President respectively. Domina announces Volres as the new Treasury Secretary and Turner as the new Foreign Secretary.
The series ends with Romana sitting on the steps of the Panopticon building looking out to Gallifrey and says, "No. This fight is not yet over." And with that, we cut to the end credits.
Season Conclusion
So that we the Series 3 of Gallifrey. The series was received very positively by fans, critics and general audiences. However, it was confirmed that a fourth and fifth series was greenlit. But that the fifth series would feature a brand new cast and lead production crew.
Come Back Next Time for Doctor Who: Season Thirty-Eight
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