Ah, here we are, good old Earth. Ben knows immediately that's he back in the United Kingdom. Home Sweet Home -- or is it? Sadly, he's not arrived just in time for the Cup Final. Rather he's found himself in the aftermath of the battle of Culloden in 1746. Polly's comment that he never gives up hope is particularly endearing, given the circumstances.
Harry -
What an opening. The tumult of battle, the bloodshed and anguish, where else would we be but Earth, unfortunately?
Sarah -
Troughton tears into the role in this story. He's a wild man -- redefining and remaking the Doctor before our eyes. He can't wait to begin the next adventure and inserts himself into history with no concern for the havoc he may cause. He dons the Tam o'Shanter, dismisses romantic piffle, directs Ben to cock a pistol and Polly to confiscate swords, and impersonates a German doctor all in the first episode. I love spending time with the Second Doctor!
Harry -
I love how Patrick Troughton leaps into the role with the zeal of a character actor. He was much more restrained and mysterious in the previous story. Defeating the Daleks seems to have unleashed this Doctor at last.
Sarah -
The Daleks will do that to you.
Harry -
I think the production team's creation of some gimmicky characteristics for this new Doctor seemed a bit forced. Most notably the obsession with headwear. He's said "I should like a hat like that" at least thrice in his first two stories.
Sarah -
Let’s not underestimate the importance of some good headgear, Dear Harry.
Harry -
Then there's the "master of the half-arsed disguise" gimmick, but more on that later.
This is quite the wild and wooly opening episode. The atmosphere and pace of events are frantic. Battle, death, capture, even a mini-cliffhanger at the makeshift gallows. The Doctor and his friends are being thrown every which way.
There was even time for a brief moment of Pythonesque humour to remind us that this is still Doctor Who and not just any old period drama. It's the scene where the Redcoat sergeant captures the Doctor and Ben:
SERGEANT: Surrender in the King's name!
BEN: Blimey, it's good to hear a London voice again.
SERGEANT: Silence, you rebel dog!
BEN: Rebel? What are you talking about? I'm no rebel! Me and the Doctor here, have just arrived.
SERGEANT: Deserter, then. You'll hang just the same.
...at which point the Doctor bursts in with that absurd Dr. Strangelove accent. Hilarious!
Sarah -
Loved it! When you find yourself in a sticky situation, there’s nothing better than whipping out the German accent!
Polly and Kirsty get their own subplot when they land in a pit. She had one of my favorite lines when Kirsty started crying yet again – “Do the women of your age do nothing but cry?” The scenes with Ffinch were priceless – Polly was completely in charge of the situation, that little 20th Century minx.
Harry -
This is Polly's best story by far. She really takes the initiative when you'd think the tough Scottish lass would have been the one to do so.
Sarah -
And then we meet the corrupt Solicitor Grey and his Gentleman’s Gentleman Perkins.
Harry -
Boo! Hiss!
Sarah -
It’s pretty clear he doesn’t have the Scottish prisoners’ best interests at heart when he saves them from the gallows, but we’re not sure what he’s up to until the prisoners are loaded on the ships for passage to the West Indies. Ben is the first one to figure out that they’re to be sold into slavery – staying awake during history class has finally paid off for Our Ben!
I quite liked Perkins. His impudence towards Grey is almost endearing, “A little wine for your cold hear, Lawyer?” I appreciated that he ended up on the boat to France with the Highlanders – at least until the political winds shift.
Harry -
Incredibly, the majority of the story is all about rescuing the rebels from the slave ship. The story is so simple, but the rapid rotation of different scenes and characters gives it a fast-paced feel. The atmosphere in the ship's hold was well done -- lots of groaning and coughing, and everyone projecting the sense that it was a rank and awful place. Despite the awkwardness of watching a recon, "The Highlanders" has that "big period drama" sort of air to it.
Sarah -
It does, and it will be our last one for a while.
Harry -
Sadly so. This historical was decent, but far from being the best of them.
One character who seemed really out of place was the exaggeratedly piratey Captain Trask, who felt like a leftover from "The Smugglers." His telesnap facial expressions were comical, rather than menacing.
Sarah -
Maybe it’s one of those performances better lost to the ravages of the BBC.
Harry -
Speaking of comical, our new Doctor seems to enjoy fancy dress. What did you think of his array of "disguises", if that's the proper term? German doctor, old woman, injured soldier... it seemed a bit over the top to have that many disguises.
Sarah -
He’s having a great time, isn’t he? Troughton is definitely game for whatever they toss at him.
Harry -
There's another thing I can't imagine William Hartnell ever doing. The First Doctor had a presence about him that didn't require elaborate costuming to make himself believeable. When he did take to period dress like Roman togas or cowboy hats, it was more to fit in with the local surroundings, not to deceive people.
But Patrick Troughton has so much fun with his little deceptions that it's hard to slag him for it!
Sarah -
And Polly got to play dress-up, too – her prostitute disguise was more than a little effective.
When he and Polly are finally reunited, the Doctor is disinclined to do anything to rescue Ben and settles in for a bit of a kip. It’s something we’ll see the Doctor do in the future, but it still feels a bit heartless.
Harry -
That was bizarre. This Doctor is nutty!
I wonder at what point it was decided to make Jamie a part of the TARDIS crew. He doesn't stand out all that much here, so his joining the TARDIS crew is something of a surprise. After all, it was Alexander who charged out to face the redcoats, and Ben who had to escape the episode three cliffhanger, and Polly who dominated the subplot.
Sarah -
I’d like to take a moment to point out that we’ve gotten this far in the story without mentioning Jamie. It all the restraint I could muster to not shout his name from the beginning of this post. It’s hard to imagine why he got to become the next companion, but I am ever so delighted that he did!
Harry -
I'm glad the production crew took a flyer and decided to throw him into the mix, because Jamie will turn out to be one of the Doctor's best companions. I'd love to see a historical character joining the current Doctor -- we're stuck in a bit of a "21st century British lasses" rut at the moment.
Sarah -
Aren’t we though? I would love a historical or alien companion next. I guess we’ll see where they go with Jenna-Louise Coleman, but I don’t hold out much hope.
Harry -
Patience, Dear Sarah. Have faith in the Moff!
Sarah -
Best line: The Doctor, when Polly sees his gun, "It’s not loaded; they’re dangerous things."
Favorite moment: Polly outwitting Ffinch.
Lasting image: The Doctor in drag.
7/10
Harry -
Best line: "I've never seen a silent lawyer before."
Favourite moment: the Doctor launches into his German disguise.
Lasting image: Trask's crazy pirate faces. YARRRR!
7/10
Our marathon continues with Story #32 - The Underwater Menace...
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