When your local vicar is the Master in disguise, it’s time to find a new parish.
Short Synopsis
The Doctor and Jo stumble into Devil’s End, a picturesque English village where archaeology, pagan rituals, and alien science all collide. The Master tries to summon an ancient horned alien called Azal, because obviously Satan was just another extraterrestrial tourist.
Extended Storyline
We open with an archaeological dig at a barrow near the village of Devil’s End. Local professor types are about to open the burial mound live on TV (because nothing screams “BBC ratings” like dirt). The Doctor, tuning in, nearly spits out his tea — he recognizes this isn’t just any old tomb, it’s an alien power source sealed away for millennia. Naturally, he rushes to the scene, dragging Jo along.
Meanwhile, the local vicar is revealed to be — surprise! — the Master, who’s decided to swap his evil boardroom antics for cosplay as a rural priest. He’s whipping the villagers into a cult, performing black masses, and generally being the kind of clergyman who makes you rethink church attendance.
The mound bursts open, revealing Azal, a gigantic, horned alien from a race called the Dæmons. The Dæmons once played god with early humanity, handing out civilization like party favors before losing interest and going back to their home dimension. Azal, however, is still hanging around to judge whether humanity deserves to survive or be wiped out. (Spoiler: he’s leaning toward “wiped out.”)
The Master, always an overachiever, wants Azal’s power for himself. UNIT shows up, but tanks and guns don’t do much against an alien who can incinerate people with finger sparks. The Brigadier eventually arrives with the immortal line “Chap with wings there, five rounds rapid,” which remains one of Doctor Who’s most quotable moments.
The Doctor insists that humanity’s creativity and free will are worth saving, while Jo nearly gets herself killed offering to sacrifice her life for the Doctor. This act of compassion basically short-circuits Azal’s brain. Overwhelmed, he has a cosmic tantrum and blows himself up, conveniently taking the Master’s evil plans with him. The episode wraps up with Morris dancing, because nothing says “victory over Satan” like a bit of folk jigging.