Directed by Barry Letts
Main Cast-
The Doctor and Salamander - Patrick Troughton
Jamie - Frazer Hines
Victoria - Deborah Watling
Main Guest Cast-
Astrid - Mary Peach
Giles Kent - Bill Kerr
Security Chief Bruce - Colin Douglas
Benik - Milton Johns
Swann - Christopher Burgess
Colin - Adam Verney
Mary - Margaret Hickey
Griffin the Chef - Reg Lye
Fariah - Carmen Munroe
Synopsis-
The Doctor, Jamie and Victoria are enjoying some recreation time on a beach in Australia. They are observed by three men who mistake The Doctor for a major world leader, Salamander. They attempt to assassinate The Doctor, but The Doctor and his companions are rescued by Astrid via helecopter.
Astrid takes them to meet Giles Kent, who wants The Doctor to impersonate Salamander, who looks exactly like The Doctor. Giles tells The Doctor that Salamander is corrupt and wants to take over the world. The Doctor is as yet unsure, since he only has Kent's word that Salamander is evil. Nevertheless, he sends Jamie and Victoria to Salamander's headquarters in the Eastern European zone to infiltrate Salamander's operations.
Jamie and Victoria are successful due to a staged assassination attempt that Jamie supposedly foils. Jamie joins Salamander's staff while Victoria joins the kitchen staff, headed by Griffin the Cook and chief food taster Fariah.
It is eventually learned that Salamander has a hidden base underground, where thanks to the unwitting help of the inhabitants he can make natural disasters happen on cue. The inhabitants of the underground base, led by Swann, have been deceived by Salamander to believe that the surface world was destroyed in a nuclear war and that the radiation has turned people into mutants.
Salamander is forced to take Swann with him on his next foray to the surface, where an attempt to murder him is made by Salamander. Astrid discovers Swann, who helps him back to the underground base. Once there, the inhabitants learn the truth. Astrid and Swann, along Colin and Mary who also live in the underground base, proceed to Salamander's headquarters above ground.
Meanwhile, Security Chief Bruce has been investigating the reports on Salamander's corruption with the help of The Doctor. The Doctor and Bruce are in Salamander's office when the arrival of Astrid, Swann, Colin and Mary exposes Salamander's schemes.
Salamander attempts to make a getaway, but is caught by Giles Kent. It's revealed that Giles started the whole scheme with Salamander, but that Salamander cut him out. The two struggle, and Salamander kills Kent. Kent takes revenge by blowing up the cave system, though Astrid is able to help rescue the other inhabitants of the underground base.
Salamander makes his way to the Tardis, which Jamie and Victoria have returned to on orders from The Doctor. Salamander is helped inside by Jamie, who is bewildered by the time machine. The Doctor arrives shortly thereafter and a struggle ensues. The Tardis takes off with the door still open. The Doctor and his companions hold on for dear life while Salamander is sucked out through the doors of the Tardis into the vortex.
Review-
The Enemy of the World is one of my favorite stories from this particular series/season. Much like the Massacre from series/season three with William Hartnell, the Enemy of the World features the idea of The Doctor having a doppleganger. And much like The Massacre, this makes for a quite interesting story. Salamander, as played by Patrick Troughton, is quite ruthless and so different from his fun-loving and cheerful persona as The Doctor. Salamander shows no qualms about blackmailing and deceiving people to get what he wants and this makes the character a great adversary.
The Doctor, wisely, takes things slowly as he's not sure that Kent is being totally truthful with him. The Doctor, however, realizes that Security Chief Bruce, despite his gruff demeanor, is someone that can be trusted. Security Chief Bruce has his doubts about Salamander's sincerity, but without proof will do nothing. However, once Salamder's plots have been exposed he proves a strong ally for The Doctor.
The supporting characters are also quite strong. Benik, Salamander's deputy, is rather unpleasant as such a character should be. Salamander's chef, Griffin, offers some much needed comic relief with his constant complaining. The younger couple, Colin and Mary, who live in the underground base work well as they contrast two opposing points of view: whether to believe or question what Salamander is telling them about the world above.
What really makes this particular story stand out, though, is the fact that for the only time during series/season five, the "monster of the week and/or base under siege" format is given a much needed rest. While those stories have been quite excellent, it's nice to see a change of pace.
Enemy of the World also marks Barry Letts first work on Doctor Who, as he directed this particular story. Given how strong this story is, it's no wonder that he would later be tapped to produce the series a few years later during the Third Doctor era.
Like most series/season five episodes, The Enemy of the World is mostly missing (except for episode three) but I think this is that's well worth seeking out via the audio sountracks or reconstructions.
