Tardis

New to Doctor Who or returning after a break? Check out our guides designed to help you find your way!

READ MORE

Tardis
Advertisement
Tardis
Unproduced Tag

The Brain-Dead was an unproduced story written by Brian Hayles for Season 9. The idea was submitted in the spring of 1971 but was rejected by script editor Terrance Dicks. Its inclusion of the Ice Warriors led to the development of The Curse of Peladon, however.

Synopsis[]

The Ice Warriors, led by Commander Kulvis, plan to invade modern-day Earth using a weapon called the "Z" beam, which is capable of freezing anything it touches to absolute zero.

Brain Dead Synopsis

The synopsis for the story. (BBC DVD: The Peladon Saga)

In particular, the Ice Warriors can use it to freeze a human brain, turning the afflicted individual into a subservient Brain-Dead. The Ice Warriors hijack a communications satellite and use it to take over the crew of its receiving station, whom they set to work constructing a giant "Z" beam transmitter. They plan to use the satellite network to broadcast the "Z" beam around the world, enslaving mankind and adjusting the Earth's climate to something suitable for Martian habitation. Realising that metals are extremely conductive at absolute zero, the Third Doctor overloads the "Z" beam transmitter just at the point of broadcast, destroying the Ice Warriors and the Brain-Dead. (REF: The Seventies)

Advertisement