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{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2021}}
{{Use British English|date=June 2012}}
{{Infobox Doctor Who episode
| number = 123<ref>From the ''[[Doctor Who Magazine]]'' series overview, in issue 407 (pp26-29). ''[[The Discontinuity Guide]]'', which counts the unbroadcast serial ''[[Shada (Doctor Who)|Shada]]'', lists this as story number 124. [[DVD region code#1|Region 1]] DVD [[Doctor Who DVD releases|releases]] follow ''The Discontinuity Guide'' numbering system.</ref>
| serial_name = Arc of Infinity
| show = DW
| type = serial
| image =
| caption =
| doctor = [[Peter Davison]] – [[Fifth Doctor]]
| companions =
* [[Sarah Sutton]] – [[Nyssa (Doctor Who)|Nyssa]]
* [[Janet Fielding]] – [[Tegan Jovanka]]
| guests =
*[[Leonard Sachs]] – [[List of Doctor Who supporting characters#Time Lords|President Borusa]]
*[[Elspet Gray]] – Chancellor Thalia
*[[Michael Gough]] – Councillor Hedin
*[[Paul Jerricho]] – [[Time Lord|The Castellan]]
*[[Max Harvey]] – Cardinal Zorac
*[[Colin Baker]] – Commander Maxil
*[[Ian Collier]] – [[Omega (Doctor Who)|Omega]]/The Renegade
*[[Neil Daglish]] – Damon
*[[John D. Collins]] – Talor
*[[Alastair Cumming]] – Colin Frazer
*[[Andrew Boxer]] – Robin Stuart
*[[Maya Woolfe]], [[Guy Groen]] – Hostel Receptionists
*[[Malcolm Harvey (actor)|Malcolm Harvey]] – The Ergon
| director = [[Ron Jones (television director)|Ron Jones]]
| writer = [[Johnny Byrne (writer)|Johnny Byrne]]
| script_editor = [[Eric Saward]]
| producer = [[John Nathan-Turner]]
| executive_producer = None
| composer = [[Roger Limb]]
| production_code = 6E
| series = [[Doctor Who season 20|Season 20]]
| length = 4 episodes, 25 minutes each
| date = 3 January–12 January 1983
| preceding = ''[[Time-Flight]]''
| following = ''[[Snakedance]]''
}}
'''''Arc of Infinity''''' is the first serial of the [[Doctor Who season 20|20th season]] of the British [[science fiction television]] series ''[[Doctor Who]]'', which was first broadcast in four twice-weekly parts on [[BBC One|BBC1]] from 3 to 12 January 1983.

The serial is set in Amsterdam and on the planet [[Gallifrey]]. In the serial, the [[Time Lord]] traitor Hedin ([[Michael Gough]]) seeks to bring the founder of the Time Lords [[Omega (Doctor Who)|Omega]] ([[Ian Collier]]) out of the universe of [[antimatter]] by making him bond with the body of the [[Fifth Doctor]] ([[Peter Davison]]) in the universe of matter.

==Plot==
On [[Gallifrey]], the [[Fifth Doctor]]'s home planet, a [[Time Lord]] traitor steals the bio-data code of another Time Lord and provides it to the Renegade, a creature composed of [[antimatter]]. The High Council of the Time Lords issue a Warrant of Termination on the Doctor to ensure the Renegade can no longer bond with him. The Doctor is taken for execution, despite Nyssa's attempts to save him, and placed in a dispersal chamber.

Unbeknownst to the High Council, The Doctor's mind has been taken into the Matrix, the repository of all Time Lord knowledge, while his body is hidden. The Renegade, who demands an opportunity to return to the Universe it once inhabited, contacts him. The truth of the aborted execution is discovered by the Castellan, who tells Nyssa, Damon, and the High Council that the Doctor is alive.
[[File:Omega from the "Arc of Infinity" (11028308303).jpg|thumb|left|Omega's costume for this episode, on display at the Doctor Who Experience.]]
In Amsterdam, the Doctor's former companion [[Tegan Jovanka|Tegan]] is looking for her cousin Colin Frazer. She is greeted by his friend Robin Stuart, who explains that Colin disappeared while they were crashing in the crypt of the Frankendael mansion. The Renegade, which has established its base at the Frankendael, finds them and uses Tegan as bait to force the Doctor to obey him. The Doctor is returned to normal space on Gallifrey where he makes for the High Council Chamber.

Time Lord Councillor Hedin is revealed as the traitor who transmitted the bio-data. Hedin is in awe of his master [[Omega (Doctor Who)|Omega]], first of the Time Lords and pioneer of time travel. Hedin wishes to release Omega from his exile in a universe of antimatter, not realising the great Time Lord has been driven insane by his years of solitary confinement. The Castellan kills Councillor Hedin, but this does not prevent Omega using the Arc of Infinity to seize total control of the Matrix and come to Earth. When he peels his decayed mask away, he reveals the features of the Doctor, whom he now perfectly resembles.

Omega leaves for Amsterdam with the Doctor and Nyssa in pursuit. Within a short time, the Doctor's prediction of an unstable transfer begins to come true: Omega's flesh decays and it is clear his new body is not permanent. When the Doctor and Nyssa catch up with him, it is a painful task for the Doctor to use the Ergon's antimatter converter on Omega, expelling him back to his own universe of antimatter. The Time Lord High Council on Gallifrey detects the end of the threat. Once Tegan has checked on her cousin's progress in hospital, she decides to rejoin the TARDIS crew.

==Production==
{{Episode table
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|series = 6 |title = 20 | aux1=6 | airdate = 10 | viewers = 6 | country = UK
|seriesT = Episode
|aux1T = Run time
|viewersR = <ref name="AllRatings" />
|episodes =
{{Episode list/sublist|Arc of Infinity
|EpisodeNumber = 1
|Title = Part One
|RTitle =
|OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|1983|1|3|df=y}}
|Viewers = 7.2
|Aux1 = 24:37
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{{Episode list/sublist|Arc of Infinity
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|Title = Part Two
|RTitle =
|OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|1983|1|5|df=y}}
|Viewers = 7.3
|Aux1 = 24:42
|LineColor =
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{{Episode list/sublist|Arc of Infinity
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|Title = Part Three
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|Viewers = 6.9
|Aux1 = 24:37
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{{Episode list/sublist|Arc of Infinity
|EpisodeNumber = 4
|Title = Part Four
|RTitle =
|OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|1983|1|12|df=y}}
|Viewers = 7.2
|Aux1 = 24:28
|LineColor =
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}}
The working titles for this story were ''The Time of Neman''<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/articles/1X4wTFnGndD0Hrj4KMcYRPz/the-fourth-dimension|title = BBC One - Doctor Who, Season 20, Arc of Infinity - the Fourth Dimension}}</ref> and ''The Time of Omega''.{{citation needed|date=November 2012}} For Parts One and Two, the character of Omega was credited as "The Renegade" on the end credits. [[Colin Baker]] stated on ''Doctor Who: The Colin Baker Years'' video that [[John Nathan-Turner]] believed his performance was a little arch, and therefore gave him the nickname of Archie.

Substantial portions of the story were filmed on location in Amsterdam. This was only the second time the show had filmed outside of Britain. John Nathan-Turner hoped to repeat the success of the first story filmed overseas, ''[[City of Death]]'' (1979). Amsterdam was chosen both because the BBC had recently developed contacts there and because it was cheap to arrange travel and hotel accommodations. Story writer Johnny Byrne had some trouble at first because the producers wanted a plot that made the Amsterdam setting a key factor in the course of events, rather than him just happening to be there.

Part One was broadcast on a Monday<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.radiotimes.com/tv/sci-fi/doctor-who-guide/arc-of-infinity/ | title=Arc of Infinity}}</ref> in contrast to the rest of this season's episodes, which were all transmitted on consecutive Tuesday and Wednesday evenings.

===Cast notes===
The story features a guest appearance by [[Michael Gough]] (who had previously played the Celestial Toymaker in the [[The Celestial Toymaker|story of the same name]]).<ref name="bbc.co.uk">{{cite web|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210308132901/http://www.bbc.co.uk/doctorwho/classic/episodeguide/arcinfinity/detail.shtml |title=Doctor Who Classic Episode Guide - Arc of Infinity - Details |publisher=BBC |date=2014-09-24 |access-date=2019-09-10}}</ref> [[Leonard Sachs]] previously played Admiral Gaspard de Coligny in ''[[The Massacre (Doctor Who)|The Massacre of St Bartholomew's Eve]]'' (1966). [[Ian Collier]] previously played Stuart Hyde in ''[[The Time Monster]]'' (1972).<ref name="bbc.co.uk"/>

[[Colin Baker]] (who would later portray the [[Sixth Doctor]]) appeared in the serial as Commander Maxil.<ref name="bbc.co.uk"/> It was his performance in this role (which, according to Baker, producer John Nathan-Turner repeatedly told him to "tone down") that first brought him to the attention of the production office. Shortly after the production, the Assistant Floor Manager on the serial, Lynn Richards, invited Colin Baker to her wedding reception. Amongst the other guests were [[Ron Jones (television director)|Ron Jones]], [[Peter Davison]], [[Sarah Sutton]], [[Eric Saward]], [[John Nathan-Turner]] and [[Gary Downie]]. Baker has said in a number of interviews that his entertaining form at the party directly led to his being cast as the Sixth Doctor the following year. Baker reprised the role of Maxil as an uncredited cameo in the 2006 [[Big Finish Productions]] audio play ''Gallifrey: Appropriation''.

[[Elspet Gray]], who played Thalia, later played Hera in the audio play ''[[Immortal Beloved (audio drama)|Immortal Beloved]]''. Her character's name is shared with the Greek Muse of comedy.{{original research inline|date=May 2012}} At the Fifth Element convention in London in February 2010, Alastair Cumming (who played Colin Frazer) explained that he is not related to Fiona Cumming (director of the [[Fifth Doctor]] serials ''[[Castrovalva (Doctor Who)|Castrovalva]]'' (1982), ''[[Snakedance]]'', ''[[Enlightenment (Doctor Who)|Enlightenment]]'' (both 1983) and ''[[Planet of Fire]]'' (1984)), despite frequent reports that she was his mother.

According to the extensive production documentation released from the archive as part of the ''Season 20 - The Collection Box Set'' in September 2023, Colin Baker was originally considered for the part of the Castellan, alongside [[Bernard Hepton]], [[Derek Godfrey]], [[Patrick Stewart]], [[Francis Matthews (actor)|Francis Matthews]], [[Morris Perry]], [[Keith Michell]], [[Terrence Hardiman]], [[Anton Rodgers]], [[Peter Vaughan]], [[Edward Woodward]], [[Charles Kay]], [[Sean Arnold]] and [[Peter Gilmore]].

Actors considered for the role of Lord President Borusa were [[Peter Cushing]] who had played 'Doctor Who' in two 1960's movies featuring The [[Dalek]]s; Michael Lees, [[Robin Bailey]], [[Geoffrey Bayldon]], [[Andrew Cruickshank]], [[John Horsley (actor)|John Horsley]], [[Bernard Archard]], [[Richard Vernon]], [[Terence Alexander]] and [[David Langton]].

[[Alan MacNaughtan]], [[William Fox (actor)|William Fox]], [[Donald Bisset]], [[Glyn Owen]], [[Richard Leech]], [[William Lucas (actor)|William Lucas]], [[Jonathan Newth]], [[Jeffery Dench]], [[Maurice Denham]] and [[Conrad Phillips]] were all considered for the role of Hedin.

Jonathan Newth was also suggested for the part of Omega, along with [[Malcolm Stoddard]] and Stephen Riddle. [[Honor Blackman]], [[Jennie Linden]] and [[Lynda Bellingham]] were all shortlisted for the part of Thalia, with [[Pierce Brosnan]] and [[Tim Woodward]] being shortlisted for Maxil. The documentation does list whether or not some of the actors were available for the recording dates, but does not reveal if any offers were made or how final decisions on casting were reached.<ref>Doctor Who – The Collection Season 20 Blu-Ray. Release date: 18 September 2023. BBC Video. ASIN: B0CBN3G7JS</ref>

[[Leela (Doctor Who)|Leela]], the fourth Doctor's previous companion who remained on Gallifrey at the conclusion of her final televised story, is mentioned in the script, but the production documentation makes no reference to her character ever being scheduled to appear in the story.<ref>Doctor Who – The Collection Season 20 Blu-Ray. Release date: 18 September 2023. BBC Video. ASIN: B0CBN3G7JS</ref>

==Commercial releases==

===In print===
{{Infobox book
| name = Arc of Infinity
| image = Doctor Who Arc of Infinity.jpg
| caption =
| author = [[Terrance Dicks]]
| series = ''[[Doctor Who]]'' book:<br />[[List of Doctor Who novelisations|Target novelisations]]
| release_number = 80
| release_date = 20 October 1983
| publisher = [[Target Books]]
| isbn = 0-426-19342-3
| exclude_cover = yes
}}

A novelisation of this serial, written by [[Terrance Dicks]], was published by [[Target Books]] in July 1983.

===Home media===
''Arc of Infinity'' was released on [[VHS]] in March 1994. A double-pack [[DVD]] featuring both ''[[Time-Flight]]'' and ''Arc of Infinity'' was released on 6 August 2007. This serial was also released as part of the [[Doctor Who DVD Files]] in Issue 108 on 20 February 2013. In September 2023, the story was released again in an upgraded format for Blu-ray, being included with the other stories from Season 20 in the ''Doctor Who - The Collection Box Set''.<ref>Doctor Who – The Collection Season 20 Blu-Ray. Release date: 18 September 2023. BBC Video. ASIN: B0CBN3G7JS</ref>

==References==
{{reflist|refs=
<ref name="AllRatings">{{cite web|title=Ratings Guide |url=http://guide.doctorwhonews.net/info.php?detail=ratings&type=date |website=Doctor Who News |access-date=28 May 2017}}</ref>
}}

==External links==
{{Wikiquote|Fifth Doctor}}
*{{BBCCDW|id=arcinfinity|title=Arc of Infinity}}

===Target novelisation===
*{{Isfdb title|id=10656|title=Arc of Infinity}}
*[https://archive.today/20121223011305/http://www.personal.leeds.ac.uk/~ecl6nb/OnTarget/1983/arc/83arc.htm On Target — ''Arc of Infinity'']

{{Doctor Who episodes|C20}}
{{Fifth Doctor stories|selected=Television}}

[[Category:Fifth Doctor serials]]
[[Category:Doctor Who serials novelised by Terrance Dicks]]
[[Category:1983 British television episodes]]
[[Category:Fiction set in 1983]]
[[Category:Television episodes set in Amsterdam]]
[[Category:Television episodes set in the 1980s]]

Arc of Infinity - Revision history

imported>Iljhgtn: Excluded book covers set to "yes"