The Mind of Evil [3.7]

Brilliant scientist Emil Keller has designed a machine to suck all the evil thoughts out of violent prisoners, and leave them as cheerful, peaceful citizens. Naturally the Doctor smells a rat and heads to Stangmoor prison to investigate. Meanwhile the Brigadier is managing security at a top level peace conference, and Mike Yates is transporting a banned nerve gas missile across country.

As the Keller machine starts to run amok, the Doctor discovers that Professor Keller is none other than the Master, and the machine houses an insatiable alien Mind Parasite. The Master's plan brings together the nerve gas rocket, the peace conference and the Keller machine in a deadly combination, and only the Doctor can prevent a third world war.

The Majesty

“The Mind of Evil” is actually quite a clever story – three unconnected plot strands are brought together very neatly; the threat will affect the whole globe, but is very straightforward and concrete; and beyond the usual Doctor/Master story arc, there is only one other extraterrestrial element – the Mind Parasite itself. This gives us a very grounded story of politicians and prisoners.

The Misery

At six episodes, the story drags out a little bit. The same cliffhanger – the Doctor being menaced by the machine into reliving his nightmares – is used on three different occasions.

Magical Moments

• “Smile – you are on camera!” The Doctor gets very excited making faces at the security camera outside the prison and is rather embarrassed when he realises a guard is watching him.
• It's a nice nod to “Inferno” to make fire the Doctor's worst fear.
• There's a tiny little moment when the Master pulls off his prosthetic face and leaves it balanced on a workman's mug – a beautifully creepy image.
• Jon Pertwee gets to have long dialogue in Chinese – I've no idea if it's intelligible to a Chinese person, but it's quite impressive to me,
• The Master knows how to make himself comfortable on Earth – he has hired a limo driver and sits in the back smoking enormous cigars.
• Sergeant Benton is pictured posing beside what looks like a really fake missile. (Apparently it was a real one – albeit decommissioned – but somehow it still looks really fake!) Later on, this same missile is being driven around the countryside on an open top lorry in plain view for all to see. Not exactly a 'top secret' convoy!
• The Master's worst fear is a huge version of the Doctor with a maniacal laugh – it's very entertaining to see him cringe!
• Hungry and locked in their cell, Jo remembers that they previously threw their breakfast on the floor. She scoops something up and starts tucking in with relish. The Doctor seems less keen but she forces it on him anyway – what is it? Cold porridge that's been trodden into the floor?
• The Brigadier does an excellent turn disguised as a lorry driver, delivering food and drink to the prison. If he hadn't gone into the military, he could have been an actor!
• Nice to see Jo beat the Doctor at chequers. He prefers 3-D Chess, he says.
• “Do you think, for once in your life, you could arrive 'before' the nick of time?”
• The Doctor and the Master have a little moment miming steering wheels to each other.

In Summary

The Mind of Evil is a solid story – a great addition to the season without being an outstandingly memorable classic. Jo Grant doesn't get much to do, and the story can be a bit of a slow burn at times. But the prison setting, the concept of the machine, and the background of the peace conference and the rocket all make for a very enjoyable adventure.