[Demdike@Cult Labs]

Episode 25

The Keeper

By Allan Prior

Blake, Vila and Jenna teleport down to the planet Goth attempting to find the brain print that will lead them to Star One. Jenna and Vila are captured by the locals - The Goths, a medieval people. Their leader Gola demands Jenna be his wife and Vila his new fool.

Unfortunately Travis and Servalan are also on Goth searching for the brain print. Meanwhile aboard Liberator Avon is convinced a Federation ship nearby is Servalan's and battles with Cally as to wether to go after it thus taking the ship out of teleport range.

Travis escapes with the brain print that was on the back of a medallion worn by Gola, however Blake and the others escape with the coordinates to the prize as well.

..........................

A story which gives Jenna (Sally Knyvette) the spotlight for a change. She has to charm Gola and appease the soothsayer in order to find the medallion, or she may end up the warlords wife. She also looks stunning throughout the episode be it in her usual leather attire or made up to be the queen of the Goths. Vila's role as the court fool or joker is perfect for Michael Keating, his comic timing always to the fore.

Allan Prior must have a one track mind, as here we have yet again, a script by him concerning local tribesmen.

Bruce Purchase plays Gola the Goth leader. He also played the Pirate Captain in the Doctor Who story The Pirate Planet. Here he gives pretty much the same OTT performance as he did opposite Tom Baker.

This together with the last episode Gambit and the final episode of season two, Star One make up a three episode story arc. Unfortunately The Keeper is a pretty pointless exercise, full of tedious bawling by men in furs and leather with about twenty seconds of need to know plotlines.