“Well, you can’t rule the world in hiding. You’ve got to come out, onto the balcony sometimes – and wave a tentacle, if you’ll pardon the expression!” Fourth Doctor – Terror Of The Zygons
Alien shapechangers and pet Loch Ness monster
The Zygons were an orange, squid-like alien with suckers; from a doomed planet – Zygor, which was destroyed in a “stellar explosion”; in Terror Of The Zygons. A small Zygon force, were hiding out in their organic spaceship; at the bottom of Loch Ness.
The Zygons were waiting, for the opportune time – to take over the Earth and convert the atmosphere to be similar to Zygor; using the humans as slave-labour.
A refugee-ship filled with other Zygons, was en-route to Earth but it was going to take a few hundred years to arrive; which was just about the right amount of time needed, to convert the Earth.
The Zygons most memorable quality, was their ability – to morph into a likeness of any other creature. To do this, they needed to capture and subdue their victim, within a special booth – within their spaceship; to maintain a psychic link, with the duplicate.
They also had poisonous stings, protruding from their hands; which explained why the Zygons were able to inflict pain on other-beings, with a mere touch.
The Zygons also required continued lactose supplementation, from their pet/weapon; ‘The Skarasen’. The Skarasen was a huge cyborg, in the shape of a plesiosaur (aquatic dinosaur). The Skarasen was used, to destroy drilling platforms – in Terror Of The Zygons, in the North Sea.
Meanwhile, the Zygons began their world-domination plan; by impersonating the Government Energy Minister. A Zygon – assumed the form of companion Harry, who then proceeded to attack Sarah-Jane – in a barn, with a pitchfork; before falling to it’s doom.
The Doctor managed to defeat the Zygons – and blow up their spaceship, killing them all. The Skarasen was scared and retreated to Loch Ness in Scotland, where it resides and is frequently mistaken for the Loch Ness monster.
The Zygons have appeared only once in Classic Doctor Who. Nevertheless, they still became one of the most memorable monsters. With their shape-shifting ability, they offer good value – to any story.
