Doctor Who (TV Series) Arc of Infinity: Part Four (1983) User Reviews

It's a high energy, satisfying conclusion

[Sleepin_Dragon · 8/10 · 19 August 2015]

So Hedin has been destroyed, and Omega has gained control of the matrix, the Doctor must escape Gallifrey to stop Omega's plan to transfer and return to Gallifreyan Society. The Doctor speaks to Tegan in the matrix and discovers their Dutch location. Omega begins to transfer, Nyssa and the Doctor are on foot seeking the location Tegan gave him. The Doctor's intervention is too late, Omega has transferred, but is he stable?

It's possibly the best of the 4 parts, it is so refreshing to see the streets of Amsterdam used as a location, the trams, the river etc.

I like the effects of Omega's transfer, it looks quite effective. Finally, the last of the Ergon, never to be seen again.

The scene of Omega stopping and enjoying the barrel organ is a particularly effective one, is Omega a reformed character?

There is a fair bit of running around, but at least it's purposeful, and not down corridors, there's lots of energy from all concerned.

The finale is a satisfying one, as we see the Doctor defeat Omega and save the day, and Tegan's back on board, joy.... for some.

Part 4 gets 8/10

The best of the four episode.

[poolandrews · 6/10 · 21 March 2008]

Doctor Who: Arc of Infinity: Part Four starts as Omega (Ian Collier) takes complete control of the Matrix & begins the bonding process, a pulse loop device is created to confuse Omega & allow the TARDIS to leave Gallifrey undetected. Knowing that Omega is somewhere in Amsterdam the Doctor (Peter Davison) & Nyssa (Sarah Sutton) set about trying to find Omega's TARDIS & stop him from achieving full transference...

Episode 4 from season 20 this Doctor Who adventure originally aired here in the UK during January 1983, directed by Ron Jones this episode has had some nice location filming in Amsterdam to liven the dull story up a bit otherwise it suffers from the problems as the previous three episodes of this story. The script by Johnn Byrne is yet again loaded with pointless technical jargon & pseudo-science that is merely there to paper over the cracks in weak & underdeveloped storyline. The whole nonsense about the pulse loop is unfathomable, instead of calling it a pulse loop the production team should have just called 'a thing which conveniently lets the TARDIS leave Gallifrey unnoticed' for as much sense either description makes. Then there's the stuff about fusion generators & matter converters which just left me baffled & confused, speaking about alien technology is fine as long as we get what that technology is used for or meant to do but here in Arc of Infinity & the previous story Time-Flight (1982) from season nineteen the jargon is there to get the writer out of a hole & hope that the audience is so bamboozled with scientific babble they won't question what's going on too much because if you do it really doesn't make a whole lot of sense. Much to my disappointment & consternation Tegan rejoins the TARDIS crew at the end of this episode although her reunion with the Doctor & Nyssa has been contrived & convoluted to say the least.

Ergon the giant alien chicken dies in this episode while Davison actually plays dual roles as both the Doctor & Omega who transforms into an exact likeness of him after transference. Towards the end of this episode there is a fairly lengthy chase sequence through Amsterdam, it's rather fun actually & for me was the highlight of the entire story. As he slowly deteriorates Omega becomes greener & greener until eventually it looks like Davison has coated his hands & face with mushy peas!

Arc of Infinity: Part Four is probably the single best episode from this four part story, at least it has a bit of life & event in it although it still suffers from an almost incomprehensible plot at times. Overall I will give Arc of Infinity an average five stars out of ten across it's four episodes.

Good

[ianweech · 8/10 · 24 January 2021]

It wasn't bad, it wasn't great. It was good. Part 1: 7/10 Part 2: 7/10 Part 3: 7/10 Part 4: 8/10

The Curse of Omega!

[wetmars · 8/10 · 7 March 2020]

Man, this episode had an very satisfying conclusion, I really loved how Omega took the form of the Doctor which is really creative!

Also did you know that Tegan is the first companion to have rejoined the Doctor on his travels after having departed (although other companions/recurring characters had previously left the Doctor's company then reappeared), though she only departed in the previous story?