The Masque of Mandragora

When a wave of Mandragora energy hitches a ride with the TARDIS to 15th century Earth, the Doctor and Sarah Jane’s troubles are only just beginning.  Caught up in a power struggle for the Dukedom of San Martino and the mysterious ancient cult of Demnos, the Doctor’s scientific expertise is really put to the test.  A darker force is beginning to glow, gaining power after centuries of waiting in the shadows.  And it must take over the Earth when the evil of Mandragora swallows the moon…

• The TARDIS control room gets an overhaul this season.  The producer, getting tired with the old set, gets enough money together to construct a more gothic looking control room.  Explained away as the TARDIS's original control room, it would be used throughout the season.  Unfortunately, after being stored over the summer months before the next season, most of the wood set had warped and rotted to the point where it was unusable after this season.

• "The Masque of Mandragora" marks the beginning of what is considered by many fans to be one of the series' best seasons. 

• This story marks the first time an adventure is set any earlier in history than the twentieth century since "The Time Warrior" some 3 years prior.

• Hieronymous is played by actor Norman Jones.  Jones began his work on Doctor Who as the Tibetan monk Khrisong in the Patrick Troughton classic "The Abominable Snowmen."  He returned two years later to play Spencer in the Pertwee story "Doctor Who and the Silurians."