The Ordeal of Peladon

Peladon #1

Released: 28 January 2022

Listened: 2/5/22

The set starts off pretty simply, with lots of elements that refer back to Peladon’s appearance on the TV series. Peladon is elderly, but still king (still played by David Troughton), the planet is still in its semi-feudal state, and still tentatively a member of the Galactic Federation, although there are parties on both sides who are not in favor of that. And religion rears its head again, as a prophet turns up with visions and possibly healing powers, heralding the return of the old gods. Peladon very much wants to be seen as a man of the people, so he wants to investigate in person, and ends up taking an Ice Warrior ambassador along for the ride, because Peladon stories have to have Ice Warriors. It’s all rather small-scale, really, but it serves to re-establish the tone and the themes. And there’s a surprise cameo late in the story that I won’t spoil, but it’s fun. Don’t know if it was necessary, but fun.