TV Gold

?Indian Summer of an Emperor? is certainly an apt title for this tenth episode of the series, focusing as it does on the Austrian leader Franz Josef ably brought to life by actor Laurence Naismith. Now moving the series on another six years to 1914 a great deal of the episode features the Austrian leader?s fairly rural surroundings. Although military staff are ever present around him the residence does convey the appearance of a retirement home, a real cosy slightly relaxed feel. Scratching back in my memory of a holiday in Austria in the mid-80?s this is fairly typical of housing in Austria I think. Despite his casual environment Franz Josef still attempts to retain a fading grip on power, ever wary that the future of Austria in younger more ambitious hands such as his nephew Archduke Franz Ferdinand. It is through this character that a link with German Kaiser is forged leading off to scenes involving Willy both with his young Austrian ally and on his own. One of these leads me to mention another familiar face putting in an appearance. It is fairly late in the episode but talking with Willy is Reichschancellor Bethmann-Hollweg played by one time Doctor Who guest star Peter Copley (the occasion being the classic ?Pyramids of Mars? story). As the Austrian Chief of the General Staff it was great to see noted actor T.P. McKenna feature in bringing this historic character to life. At first I almost didn?t recognise him however the more I listened to him and studied Count Conrad?s features I knew it was the same man whom I had previously seen making appearances in both Blake?s Seven (?Season One?s ?Bounty? as ex-president Sarkoff) and Doctor Who (1988?s highly enjoyable ?Greatest Show in the Galaxy? as intergalactic explorer, ?the Captain?). Again regarding the plot it is a difficult one to succinctly sum up although I feel it does an adequate job in conveying the ongoing developments towards the inevitable and imminent war.