Rate "The Armageddon Factor"

Some people go off gallivanting around the cosmos in search of the various pieces to the Key To Time. Other, more nefarious types, simply jump to the end and await the inevitable confrontation...

The sixth and final segment to the Key To Time is now within the sights of the Doctor, Romana and K9, and their quest brings them to the war-torn planet of Atrios. Atrios has been locked in nearly perpetual conflict with its nearest planetary neighbor, Zeos. the entire civilization on Atrios is in grave danger of simply falling apart, but doesn't thanks to the tireless efforts of Princess Astra (take a mental snap-shot of her, by the way. You'll find out why soon enough.) What the Doctor discovers is that there's more to the Atrios/Zeos war than meets the eye, as a group of Shadow-y operatives seem keen to keep the conflict going. These Shadow-y operatives happen to be agents of the Black Guardian, the equal and opposite of the White Guardian who sent the Doctor on the Quest for the Key To Time to begin with.

And all of this may heavily influence what the Doctor does with the fully assembled Key To Time. So what did you think of the story that concluded the Key To Time season? Was it satisfyingly dark and sinister? Or did it simply have Drax's south London car salesman style charm? Let's be hearing from you!

Tough call. There are bits that I really like, but there's also some right dross in here as the budget ran out. Being in a generous mood right now, I'll give it 3/5, but only just.

On the subject of the "right dross" you mention, C=O, there's something woven into the dialogue that bothers me a bit. Astra's character, a few other references, etc., seem to keep the number six front and center in the story. Fine, up to a point, but how is everyone in the story other than the Doctor, Romana and the Black Guardian going to know that this is the sixth segment to the Key To Time? It isn't like segments to the Key To Time are numbered? The repeated meme of "six" is a bit silly in that regard.

I will say staying with this to the end of episode 6 just to see Sir Thomas of Baker's mad moment with a fully assembled Key To Time was quite worth the wait. I'll concur with the 3/5.