Vicki’s Release and Steven’s Abandonment
Plot Beats
The narrative micro-steps within this event
Vicki inquires about Steven's (Diomede) fate, but Troilus dismisses her concern, emphasizing that Steven is now the last Greek and will remain captive, while Vicki is led away to be thanked by King Priam.
Who Was There
Characters present in this moment
Skeptical and isolated—his resignation masks deeper frustration, but he avoids overt resistance, recognizing the hopelessness of his situation.
Steven remains chained in the dungeon as Vicki is led away, his identity as ‘Diomede’ a thin disguise for his true allegiance. He interjects once, his resigned reply, ‘I don’t want to fight anybody,’ underscoring his isolation and the futility of his situation. Physically, he is left alone in the cells, his fate framed as uncertain and expendable by Troilus’s remark. His presence in the scene is marked by his absence—a silent witness to Vicki’s liberation and his own abandonment.
- • Survive the immediate threat of Troy’s dungeon
- • Avoid drawing further attention to himself or Vicki
- • His abandonment by the Greeks reflects the cost of war’s end for the forgotten
- • Resistance in this moment would be futile and dangerous
Cautiously optimistic shifting to tense concern—relieved by her release but distressed by Steven’s plight, her emotions oscillate between gratitude and guilt.
Vicki is abruptly awakened by Troilus in the dungeon, her initial confusion giving way to cautious optimism as she learns of the Greek fleet’s departure. She is released from her cell, her status shifting from prisoner to ‘favored guest’ under Priam’s decree. However, her relief is short-lived; her plea for Steven’s freedom is met with Troilus’s indifference, leaving her emotionally conflicted—grateful for her own liberation but acutely aware of Steven’s abandonment. Her physical presence in the dungeon transitions to a liminal space between captivity and uncertain freedom.
- • Secure her own freedom and safety within Troy’s hierarchy
- • Advocate for Steven’s release, despite Troilus’s dismissiveness
- • Her perceived ‘luck’ for Troy is a fragile social construct, not her doing
- • Steven’s abandonment reflects the ruthless pragmatism of war, not personal failure
Jubilant and dismissive—his excitement over the war’s end masks a ruthless indifference to Steven’s fate, reflecting Troy’s ‘us vs. them’ mentality.
Troilus rushes into the dungeon with urgent energy, waking Vicki to deliver the news of the Greek fleet’s departure. His excitement is evident as he frames the war’s end as a triumph, crediting Vicki’s ‘luck’—a narrative he eagerly adopts to curry favor with Priam. He dismisses Vicki’s plea for Steven’s freedom with cold indifference, his callous remark, ‘You’re the last of the Greeks now,’ revealing his belief in Steven’s expendability. Physically, he leads Vicki from the cells, leaving Steven chained and isolated, his actions embodying Troy’s brutal pragmatism.
- • Solidify Troy’s victory narrative by crediting Vicki’s ‘luck’
- • Reinforce his family’s authority by aligning with Priam’s decrees
- • The war’s end justifies any means, including abandoning prisoners
- • Vicki’s release serves Troy’s interests; Steven’s fate is irrelevant
Off-screen but implied to be satisfied—his confirmation of the fleet’s departure aligns with Troy’s triumphant narrative.
Paris is referenced indirectly as having gone out to confirm the Greek fleet’s departure, his actions validating Troilus’s news. His absence from the scene underscores his role as a military leader focused on tactical verification rather than dungeon politics. His authority is invoked through Troilus’s deferential tone, reinforcing the family’s hierarchical power structure.
- • Verify the Greek fleet’s retreat to secure Troy’s victory
- • Uphold Priam’s decrees and family alliances
- • Military intelligence and verification are critical to Troy’s survival
- • The war’s end justifies prioritizing strategic gains over moral concerns
Troilus mentions Troilus’s discrediting due to the war’s end, her fury and hatred for Vicki framed as irrelevant in the …
Objects Involved
Significant items in this scene
The Trojan dungeon cells serve as the physical and symbolic container for Vicki’s captivity and Steven’s abandonment. Their iron bars and dim lighting reinforce the oppressive atmosphere of imprisonment, while their sudden opening for Vicki underscores the arbitrary nature of Troy’s justice. For Steven, the cells become a metaphor for his expendability—left behind as the ‘last Greek’ while Vicki is freed. The cells’ transition from confinement to liberation (for Vicki) to isolation (for Steven) mirrors the scene’s central tension: the war’s end does not bring equality, only shifting hierarchies of power.
Location Details
Places and their significance in this event
The Trojan dungeon functions as a liminal space where Vicki’s fate pivots from captivity to uncertain freedom, while Steven’s remains in limbo. Its stone walls and flickering torchlight create an oppressive atmosphere, heightening the emotional stakes of Troilus’s announcement. The dungeon’s role as a transition zone—between imprisonment and liberation, between life and abandonment—mirrors the broader narrative of the war’s end and its unequal consequences. The space is also symbolic, representing Troy’s institutional power to grant or deny freedom arbitrarily.
Organizations Involved
Institutional presence and influence
The Trojan Forces are represented through Troilus’s actions and the dungeon’s guarded status, embodying the military and institutional power that dictates the fates of prisoners. Their influence is felt in the arbitrary release of Vicki (as a ‘lucky’ asset) and the abandonment of Steven (as expendable). The organization’s goals—securing Troy’s victory and upholding Priam’s decrees—are advanced through Troilus’s callous dismissal of Steven’s plea, reflecting a broader culture of ruthless pragmatism. The dungeon’s access restrictions and the celebration outside symbolize the Trojan Forces’ control over life and death in the aftermath of war.
Narrative Connections
How this event relates to others in the story
Within this episode
"Troilus awakens Vicki with news that the Greek fleet has sailed away, securing her release, but Vicki's joy is tempered by Steven's continued imprisonment, highlighting the limited scope of her "success."
Vicki’s Release and Cassandra’s DisgraceAcross episodes
"Steven's volunteering to infiltrate Troy (Episode 7) leads directly to his imprisonment and eventual abandonment by the Greeks (Episode 8), as the plan fails and the Greeks sail away without him."
Steven Volunteers for High-Risk Infiltration"Steven's proposal to infiltrate Troy (Episode 7) echoes in his abandonment by the Greeks in Episode 8, where Troilus mocks him as 'the last of the Greeks.' This inversion underscores Steven's diminishing agency and the emotional weight of his choices."
Steven Volunteers for High-Risk Infiltration"The TARDIS's arrival as a deceptive Greek shrine (Episode 7) escalates into Vicki being mistaken for a Greek spy (Episode 8), with Steven's fate mirroring the Greeks' deception of Troy via the Wooden Horse plan."
TARDIS arrives as Trojan shrine"Steven's voluntary infiltration (Ep 7) escalates to his abandonment by his companions and fellow Greeks when the fleet departs (Ep 8). This intensifies his isolation and moral conflict in the war."
Steven Volunteers for High-Risk Infiltration"The TARDIS's arrival and Priam's interpretation of it as an offering (Ep 7) is narratively followed by the Greek fleet's departure, which is seen as Troy's 'luck' due to Vicki (Ep 8). This closes the loop on the earlier event's significance."
TARDIS arrives as Trojan shrine"Vicki's luck in Ep 8 (explained by Priam as her bringing fortune) parallels her earlier emergence from the TARDIS in Ep 7, where she disrupts Cassandra's prophecy of doom."
Priam Adopts Vicki as Cressida"Vicki's release from the dungeon in Episode 8 (and her perceived role as Troy's savior) is explicitly referenced in Episode 9 as Cassandra accuses Vicki of being a witch and Troy's doom. This reinforces Vicki's dual role as both a potential savior and a scapegoat."
Vicki’s loyalty tested in the square"Steven’s abandonment in Episode 8 (left to rot in the dungeon) is mirrored in the Doctor’s confrontation with Odysseus in Episode 9, where the Doctor himself feels abandoned and trapped by Odysseus’s decisions."
Doctor Confronts Odysseus in the Horse"The moment in Episode 8 where Troilus tells Vicki she’s 'the last of the Greeks now' (because the fleet is gone) is directly echoed in Episode 9 when Troilus searches for 'Diomede' (Steven) outside Troy and finds only death. The motif of being the 'last' persists, symbolizing the end of hope."
Odysseus confronts the TARDIS’s vanishing"Vicki's release from the dungeon and the Greeks' sudden departure (from Episode 8) leads to Cassandra's paranoia and increased surveillance of Vicki (Cressida) in Episode 9."
Cassandra orders Cressida’s surveillance"Vicki being released from the dungeon in Episode 8 leads directly to her freeing Steven in Episode 9, creating the reunion that allows Steven to be tended to by Katarina."
Katarina rescues Steven under false pretenses"Vicki's absence (due to her choice to stay with Troilus) in Episode 9 creates the power vacuum that allows Odysseus to seize the TARDIS unopposed, escalating the threat to the Doctor and the group."
Odysseus seizes the TARDIS as war spoils"Steven's abandonment in the dungeon (Episode 8) results in Troilus searching for Diomede outside Troy's walls in Episode 9, leading to his fatal confrontation with Achilles."
Troilus and Achilles' fatal duel"Steven’s continued imprisonment in Episode 8 (left behind while Vicki is freed) directly causes Vicki’s desperate need to reunite with him in Episode 9, driving her actions to free him and seek the Doctor."
Odysseus confronts the TARDIS’s vanishing"Vicki chooses to stay with Troilus in Episode 8 ('I wanted you to know that I didn’t [betray you]') which culminates in her confession to Troilus in Episode 9's ruins — her emotional growth from manipulating to confessing is a coherent arc for Vicki."
Vicki’s Confession in Troy’s Ruins"Steven's abandonment in the dungeon (Episode 8) drives his disorientation and confusion when Vicki frees him in Episode 9, creating a direct character continuity in his emotional state and urgency."
Vicki frees Steven from Troy’s dungeons"Steven’s abandonment and isolation in the dungeon (E8) resonates with Vicki’s vulnerability as she faces public accusation in the square (E9), both characters isolated by Trojan society despite their roles."
Cassandra Accuses Vicki of Witchcraft"Steven’s abandonment in the Troy dungeon as Vicki is freed ('You’re the last of the Greeks now. Your friends have all sailed home without you.') echoes Cassandra’s later surveillance order motivated by exclusion and paranoia ('go and watch for that girl...'). Both reflect the theme of betrayal and isolation within the Trojan social framework."
Cassandra orders Cressida’s surveillance"Vicki's release and Steven's abandonment in Episode 8 escalate into the Doctor's moral confrontation with Odysseus in Episode 9, where the Doctor's unease in the horse peaks."
Doctor Confronts Odysseus in the Horse"The Greeks' deception of the Trojan Horse plan (Episode 8) mirrors Odysseus's deception and rigidity inside the horse (Episode 9), both driven by pragmatic reasoning."
Odysseus enforces silence in the horsePart of Larger Arcs
Key Dialogue
"TROILUS: The Greeks have gone."
"VICKI: What about Diomede?"
"TROILUS: Do you think that you can fight the whole of Troy on your own?"
"STEVEN: I don’t want to fight anybody."
"TROILUS: Well, that’s just as well. You’re the last of the Greeks now. Your friends have all sailed home without you."