Story #52 - Doctor Who and the Silurians (1970)

Harry -
I have to admit right off the start, Sarah, I have a lot of love for this story. It contains many of my favourite elements for a Doctor Who adventure. One could argue it sets the template for many more stories to come in this era.


Sarah -
One of my favorite things about the story is that it's an entirely new premise. We've seen alien invasions/base under siege stories. We've seen the Doctor and his companions visit other times and places. In "Doctor Who and the Silurians", we encounter aliens who aren't really aliens -- they were here first! The humans are the invaders!


Harry -
"This planet is ours. It always has been."

Nice role-reversal. Malcolm Hulke takes that premise and lets us view it from many different angles: UNIT sees the Silurians as a threat to be eliminated; the Doctor and Liz see an intelligent civilization to be treated respectfully; the scientists and civil servants see an unforeseen development that must be managed to their advantage. Even within the handful of Silurians, there are peacemakers and warmongers. So many shades of grey, so many bad decisions being made.


Sarah -
So very many shades of grey! This is such a nuanced and grown-up story. I can't imagine watching it as a child and appreciating much more than the cool Silurian costumes and third eyes.

Speaking of Silurian third eyes, they seem to be more useful than a sonic screwdriver. Is there anything they can't do?


Harry -
Oh dear, you have to feel bad for the Second Doctor. He always wanted to meet prehistoric monsters - and who does the Third Doctor encounter in only his second adventure? The Silurians and their giant dino-watchdog. Prehistoric monsters! Somewhere deep within the Doctor's psyche, you can picture his previous incarnation pouting, arms crossed, stamping a foot and spitting out a Troughtony profanity like "Crumbs!"


Sarah -
What a great image!


Harry -
I touched on some of the general characterizations in this story, but the characters themselves are wonderful. I love - LOVE - Peter Miles as the neo-fascist director of the facility. Dr. Lawrence and his comb-over of death - what a truly awful person.


Sarah -
Such a hideous, petty, dictatorial, self-serving bureaucrat. Miles’ performance is brilliant. The scene where he lunges for the Brig is so startling. In the end, of course, karma has its way with Dr. Lawrence. He really should have gotten the anti-viral inoculation.


Harry -
That was an epic death scene.  Then there's Quinn and his frustrated accomplice Miss Dawson. One of them sees the Silurians as something to exploit for his personal gain, the other sees them as something to annihilate.


Sarah -
I positively adored Fulton Mackay’s performance as Dr. Quinn. His smooth exterior never cracked and made me think of a line from a Billy Bragg song: “He’s got the bonhomie of a game show host.” Yet another in a long line of scientists who think they can control alien forces, his downfall is inevitable.

It was also fun to see the brilliant Geoffrey Palmer as Masters, the Permanent Under Secretary. His introduction the Doctor was one of my favorite exchanges:

Dr. Lawrence: "This is the Permanent Under Secretary."
The Doctor: "Yes, well, I've got no time to talk to under secretaries – permanent or otherwise."
Masters: "May I ask who you are?"
The Doctor: "You may ask!"


Harry -
Burn!

Another thing I like about these early UNIT stories is the array of officers we only meet once - like Captain Hawkins - before presumably they are reassigned somewhere else.


Sarah -
This story took it’s toll on the UNIT forces, didn’t it? I wasn’t keeping track, but it seemed they lost so many soldiers along the way.


Harry -
It was funny early on because virtually everybody except UNIT managed to slip down to the caves. Then UNIT went charging in and promptly got themselves trapped, complete with comedy music.

A brief aside on the subject of music.  I'm loving the hints of experimental scores that are to come in the Pertwee era. Granted, I'm not a big fan of the kazoo music that we hear each time the Silurians appear, but I like the thinking outside the box. I know there's a name for that instrument, and it harkens back to ancient times, but it's slipped my mind at the moment.


Sarah -
The Silurians' kazoo theme may just have been my least-favorite part of the entire story. It was so grating.


Harry -
Back to the story. I credit the Doctor for having the naivety to believe that these two endlessly squabbling civilizations could ever agree to share the planet. It was a characteristic moment when he extended his hand in friendship when confronted by the wounded Silurian (and could they not have had proper names?! "Old Silurian" and "Young Silurian" is something only those arrogant apes above ground would have come up with).


Sarah -
It was naïve, wasn’t it? Still, the ethical debate between the Doctor and the Brigadier was a pivotal scene. How did you feel about the Brig misleading the Doctor on what would happen to the Silurians?


Harry -
We have such warm, nostalgic feelings for the Brig these days that it's shocking to see him in this story. Barging around, upbraiding people left and right, shooting a Silurian, and ordering what is essentially a holocaust. I'll admit right now that my lasting image selection will be the mushroom cloud rising up from the destroyed caves. A freaking mushroom cloud! Alistair how could you?


Sarah -
He is a military man, through and through. There are many moments of tension between the Doctor and the Brig as they jockey for power. The Doctor isn't inclined to have someone else in charge -- and neither is the Brig.


Harry -
It was a shocking end to a very grown up story. The issues, the characters, and the portrayal of the Doctor as a determined peacemaker - something we haven't seen since he negotiated a peaceful settlement between humans and the chameleons in "The Faceless Ones."


Sarah -
One more slight complaint. I have to admit I was a bit disappointed in Liz's character development. In the early episodes, the brilliant Dr. Elizabeth Shaw has become "Miss Shaw" in a miniskirt. She finally gets to do science stuff later in the story and stands up the Brig with, "I'm a scientist, not an office boy." But the change is disappointing after her first story.


Harry -
For a seven-parter, it moved pretty quickly apart from Episode Six, which was a series of recurring set pieces: the Doctor in the laboratory working on an antidote; the Brigadier in his makeshift office working the phones; and Liz shuttling between the two. It's boring, but forgivable in that these scenes were meant to show the passing of time. Am I becoming a Malcolm Hulke apologist? Hah!


Sarah -
It's hard to make doing science terribly exciting, isn't it? The contemporary Doctors would just know the answer and be all smug about it. The Third Doctor needs to get there -- no matter how long it takes!


Harry -
I suppose, dear Sarah, you should ask how I feel after we've watched our tenth Pertwee six-parter.


Sarah -
I must admit that I did find myself thinking that it could have been an episode or two shorter.


Harry -
Another pair of seven-parters are straight ahead. Shall we wrap this one up and move on, whilst shaking our heads at the Brigadier?

Best Line: "I take it you're another member of the UNIT team?" "Yes, depressing isn't it?" Oh snap, Doctor!

Favourite Moment: the Doctor extends his hand in friendship to the wounded Silurian.

Lasting Image: the mushroom cloud.

8/10


Sarah -
Best Line: “That’s typical of the military mind, isn’t it? Present them with a new problem and they start shooting at it.”

Favorite Moment: Liz standing up to the Brig.

Lasting Image: The Doctor and the Brig driving in Bessie. It made me giggle.

7/10

Our marathon continues with Story #53: The Ambassadors of Death...

Story #51 - Spearhead From Space (1970)

Sarah -
Oh my, Harry, look at that – color! Loads of color, from the very start. What do you think of the newly designed titles? Can you imagine how exciting they would have been in 1970?


Harry -
As exciting as our new-look blog!  New groovadelic titles, new Doctor, new companion, new hangout, new monsters... everything is new.


Sarah -
Even the format is new. "Spearhead from Space" feels more like a police procedural than an alien invasion story.


Harry -
The fact that the entire story was shot on film and on location lends it a cinematic quality. It's like watching a Doctor Who movie.


Sarah -
We have a strike at the BBC to thank for that!


Harry -
Might as well begin with the beginning. Unlike the Troughton stories we have become so fond of - with their fun, frolicky opening sequences - "Spearhead from Space" begins with a notable lack of fun. We see a concerned UNIT technician at a radar screen as he picks up a strange cluster of objects falling to the Earth. His supervisor questions his findings and there is an instant sense of tension - especially when we get that close up of the techie's sweaty face.


Sarah -
UNIT is immediately reestablished as a centerpiece of the series. There’s one more for the “new” column.


Harry -
Meanwhile, here's something familiar: the TARDIS! It lands in a field, the door opens... and a tall, grey-haired man topples to the ground, unconscious. Ouch. Oh dear, this isn't fun at all.


Sarah -
Good thing those cushioning plants were standing by!


Harry -
At least we have the soothing sounds of a jazz flute to put us at ease as Elizabeth Shaw checks in at UNIT. I love that Liz got her own theme music. And thank goodness the Brigadier is there. Things should get straightened out soon, no?


Sarah -
My faith in the Brig knows no bounds!

The music is perfect for Liz’s introduction, because if there’s one thing she is, it’s cool – cool as a cucumber. Her amused and somewhat incredulous reaction to the Brigadier’s admission that alien life forms have attempted to invade Earth made me love her. No screaming girl, Doctor Elizabeth Shaw is a natural progression from Anne Travers and Zoe Herriot.


Harry -
It's great that she's a sceptic whose opinions won't be influenced by mere military bluster.

There's an impressive maturation to the show here. In addition to the serious tone and refreshing new character, we see a weakened, almost fragile Doctor, not one who immediately leaps into action - although it doesn't take long. When he does leave his hospital bed, he gets put through the ringer right away. He's nearly abducted, he goes on a hair-raising wheelchair ride, and gets shot. Wild!


Sarah -
It’s quite the finish to episode one, isn’t it? And here’s another change – a Doctor who wants to do as many of his own stunts as possible.


Harry -
Well, what do you think of this new Doctor fellow then?


Sarah -
Watching the story, I did my best to put aside all I know about the Third Doctor and try to appreciate Pertwee’s performance as if I were seeing it for the first time.

When he stumbles out of the TARDIS, in the Second Doctor’s clothing – which has somehow magically stretched to fit his taller frame – we can see that this is a new Doctor, but it takes a couple episodes until we get to know him. Other than his conversation with the Brig and Liz, we don’t learn much about this new Doctor in the first episode.


Harry -
The slow reveal does leave us wondering.


Sarah -
I may be projecting, but the scene where the Doctor retrieves the TARDIS key from his shoe felt like a very Troughton-y piece of business.


Harry -
"Shoooes!"


Sarah -
The Third Doctor’s characteristics emerge more from the second episode on and I quite like him. What about you, Harry?


Harry -
I like the very loose concept that each new Doctor is a contrast from the one who came before, both physically and in personality. Once Pertwee's Doctor has recovered, we see a man who is tall and imposing, confident and quick with a quip. He's not content to bide his time in the background. He is a man of action. He is... The Doctor!


 

I quite like the change.  And that number!


Sarah -
He’s all confidence, isn’t he?


Harry -
For me, what I like best about this story is the multi-faceted evil that the Doctor must face. It begins with Channing, who first appears as a silent observer at the hospital, creeping around and glaring at people. It turns out he's more than just a weirdo. He has mental powers that are beyond human, as evidenced by his telepathic hold over Hibbert at the baby doll / plastics factory. Then, there are the Autons. Great bouncing Buddhas, but the Autons scare the hell out of me. It's always that moment - when a mannequin jolts to life - that freaks me out so much. AAAAAAA!

I need a moment. Bear with me please.


Sarah -
I’m not sure that I’ve ever told you, but I’ve always found Autons to be amongst the scariest Doctor Who baddies ever. I nearly squealed with glee and cried with horror when they inaugurated the new series in 2005.


Harry -
OK, so we've seen Channing, we've seen the Autons, but on top of them there is still an even greater, unseen menace. The Doctor and Liz soon piece it together that the meteorites first spotted by the UNIT techie contain elements of a collective consciousness. I really like that kind of Lovecraftian "lurking terror" from the skies - Bob Holmes really did well in creating a slow-building horror here.


Sarah -
It’s quite brilliant how the story builds, adding layers of danger. The establishing shots of the factory where the dolls are made was almost frightening enough for me, but the story keeps piling it on! Speaking of the dolls, I think I had one quite like that back in the day.


Harry -
Evil baby dolls may have destroyed my psyche. Apparently Bob Holmes was no fan of plastics, which is why instead of a furry, lumbering monster, he made plastic into an element of horror for this story.


Sarah -
Turning an everyday object into a monster is always effective.


Harry -
I picked up that bit about Holmes from the entry in Outside In: 160 New Perspectives on 160 Classic Doctor Who Stories by 160 Writers.

This book is acting as a nanny for the time being, while we await the publication of the next volume of commentary and banter from Rob Shearman and Toby Hadoke, who guided us through the Hartnell and Troughton eras.


Sarah -
Not that we’re putting any pressure on Rob and Toby to get the damn book out already…or anything.


Harry -
I couldn't help but be amused by the scene in the wax museum. It opens on a cluster of statues of notable U.S. Presidents. Then the camera pans over to a completely anonymous group of statues. Who are those people? Without batting an eye, Liz reveals that these are top civil servants. Civil servants in a wax museum? Only in Britain! It is, after all, a country where one of the most beloved TV shows was all about civil servants. Hilarious!


Sarah -
That moment made me laugh out loud. “Hey kids, let’s pop down to Madame Tussaud’s and check out the new Ministry of Bridges and Wainscoting Exhibit!”

I found myself quite taken with the Seeleys – they’ve got an important part to play in the story and turn in excellent performances as bickering-but-loving couple. They should have gotten their own series!


Harry -
Ah, Sam and Meg Seeley - what a pair! Salt of the Earth. I'm glad they both survived. Can you imagine a Seeleys’ spinoff series? Sam the poacher eternally getting himself into fixes, with Meg having to save the day. It would be great, if I could only understand what Sam was saying. That has to be the thickest accent in all of Doctor Who.


Sarah -
It would have had a great theme song, wouldn’t it?


Harry -
Imagine them singing a song at the piano, like the opening of All in the Family.  Hah! 

As we leave the Seeleys to clean up their cottage for now, I've got a great sense of anticipation for Doctor Who moving forward. We've got an interesting new Doctor established, with a sharp new companion and the UNIT lads by his side. At this point, we don't know how long his exile is supposed to last, but he's certainly going to do what he can to get around it.


Sarah -
Thanks to the Brig, he’ll have everything he needs to make it through his exile and prepare for its end – facilities to repair the TARDIS, a proper wardrobe, and an automobile, having taken a shine to driving during his escape from the hospital. He’s a Time Lord who is ready for what lies ahead!


Harry -
"Spearhead from Space" is a fantastic "new Doctor" story and one of my all-time favourites. I can't wait to see what's next!

Best line: "Destroy. Total destruction."  Bit harsh!

Favourite moment: The Doctor meets Liz and they hit it off right away.

Lasting image: the Autons come to life.

9/10


Sarah -
Best Line: Liz, to the Brigadier as he is contemplating opening the TARDIS: “I think you should, there might be a policeman locked inside.”

Favorite Moment: The Doctor hiding in plain sight by taking a shower in the Doctor’s lounge, stealing clothes, and then making off with Dr. Beavis’ car.

Lasting Image: The Autons coming to life almost sent me scurrying behind the sofa!

8/10

Our marathon continues with Story #52 - Doctor Who and the Silurians...

The Troughton Era - Final Thoughts

Harry -
Here we are, Sarah. A new year, and a new Doctor awaits us on this marathon.


Sarah -
I'm still basking in the glory of having reached our goal of finishing the Troughton era by year's end!


Harry -
Before we forge ahead, shall we have a few final thoughts on the Troughton era?


Sarah -
Oh yes, let's!


Harry -
It's a given that the Troughton era begins with his regeneration into the Second Doctor, but that moment is critical to the development of the character. The footage is lost, but we hear him say "It's over," with an almost devilish chuckle. The regeneration has worked and he's delighted.  Death has been thwarted.  He knows he has many lives and many more years ahead of him. I think this lends itself to the cheery and free-spirited Doctor that would be portrayed by Patrick Troughton.

No longer gruff and grandfatherly, the Doctor transforms himself into an enthusiastic schoolmaster or favourite uncle, leading his companions by the hand, off on another adventure. That's how almost all of his stories started, anyway. It was practically a template: TARDIS lands, Doctor and friends emerge, have a bit of fun, then the seriousness begins.

That's one of the things that I'll remember about the Troughton era. His stories always began with a sense of fun.


Sarah -
Loads of fun!

The general sense of fun is one of my favorite things about the era. The First Doctor could often be amusing, but his era lacks the joyful feeling of the Second Doctor.

Another change is the shift away from historicals toward more science fiction and, of course, loads of monsters. While the series will often find itself dipping into history, the emphasis on historical stories was never very strong from the Second Doctor on. One could argue that the Troughton era was when Doctor Who decisively became a science fiction series.

Also, I like monsters! What about you, Harry?


Harry -
I love some of the monsters this Doctor confronted. The Cybermen carried over from the Hartnell era, but the Second Doctor faced them no fewer than four times.


Sarah -
He's the Doctor I always most associate with the Cybermen.


Harry -
There were a couple of cracking Dalek stories too, and a bevy of new terrors from beyond. The Ice Warriors, the Macra and the Great Intelligence are menaces we have not seen the last of. To be fair, there were a couple of one offs that didn't work. The Quarks and Krotons were a flop, as were the chameleon beings in "The Faceless Ones." Gosh that one seems so long ago already.


Sarah -
Doesn't it though? Pauline Collins' Samantha Briggs is what I will probably remember most about that story.


Harry -
The swing from historicals to monsters-besieging-bases made Doctor Who both scarier and more fun. And I hope, someday, that the Doctor will get his wish and encounter... PREHISTORIC MONSTERS!


Sarah -
One can hope!


Harry -
It's a bit silly, but I'm finding it hard to let go of Patrick Troughton. He has shot up my informal ranking of the Doctors and I hope someday to be a mad, delightful uncle in his mold!


Sarah -
I'd say you're off to a good start, Old Boy.


Harry -
In the late 60s, the production crew took big steps forward in things like location filming, incidental music, and overall fun. But there are even bigger changes right around the next corner.


Sarah -
If you're going to be a Doctor Who fan, you've got to embrace change. It's the only constant.


Harry -
Unfortunately, we'll be without our friendly guides Rob and Toby for a spell. Volume One of Running Through Corridors comes to an end here, and Volume Two is not yet published. Can we forge ahead without them, Sarah?

Sarah -
I believe we can. I'm sure they'll catch up soon. Grab my hand, Harry. When I say run... RUN!

Story #50 - The War Games (1969) - Episodes Six to Ten

Harry -
Gone, all of them. Jamie, Zoe, the Doctor. Gone.

After nine exhilarating episodes of "The War Games", our heroes crashed headlong into the Time Lords, and their adventures ended. Tried by his peers and convicted of interference, the Doctor is exiled to Earth and his TARDIS grounded. Instead of being permitted to stay with him, Jamie and Zoe are forcibly returned to their own time zones with their memories partially wiped.

Sarah, the war games are most definitely over.


Sarah -
I’m crushed, Dear Harry. I had planned to start this blog post, but couldn’t bring myself to write. I wanted to hang on to the Second Doctor, Jamie, and Zoe for just one day longer.

Still, if they had to go, at least they did it with style. The end of the Second Doctor’s era is the most definitive in the history of Doctor Who. At no other point do the Doctor and all his companions leave us in one fell swoop.

Saying goodbye was like having my heart ripped out, but I think I’ve composed myself enough to discuss the finish now.


Harry -
Instead of finishing the Troughton era with an exuberant, punch-the-air roar, I was left feeling angry and cheated.

I was angry at the Time Lords. Like the Doctor, they left me outraged, frustrated and disgusted. I experienced episode ten the way Patrick Troughton performed it: with a mounting sense of dread (knowing what was coming) and anger (at what the Time Lords decided to do to him).


Sarah -
Troughton’s performance is amazing. He has to do so many things in the final episode and takes the opportunity to showcase the character he’s created over past three seasons. The moment when he acquiesces to Jamie’s, “Aw, c’mon, we’ve been in tighter situations than this,” and agrees to run for the TARDIS one last time, tells us so much about this Doctor. He knows it’s over and that there’s no hope of escape, but can’t resist one last adventure with his friends – no matter how short-lived it may be.


Harry -
This is the first time in the show's history (barring the Meddling Monk) that we have encountered the people from the Doctor's home planet. And the big reveal is... a bunch of dour old sticks-in-the-mud who are fixated on a self-imposed law of non-interference. Well their laws are shite and bully for the Doctor having said so!


Sarah -
Finally meeting the Time Lords gives us a very clear picture of why the Doctor grabbed a TARDIS and got out of there at the first opportunity!


Harry -
Troughton's final moments were heartbreaking and more gruesome than I remembered. One thing that neither Rob nor Toby mentioned – nor any of the guest commentators on the DVD featurette – was the horror of the Doctor's forced regeneration. While he shouts and struggles against his sentence, his face vanishes. The Doctor is literally decapitated, his headless body spinning away into darkness. The screen fades to black, and the credits roll. The viewer is left stunned by that final image. I felt cheated. There was no payoff, no new face, no new leading man, nothing to cling to. How utterly depressing!


Sarah -
It really is. This is the only time the Doctor is forced to regenerate and the only time we don’t meet the next Doctor. It would be six months from the regeneration of the Second Doctor to the introduction of the Third Doctor.


Harry -
In the pre-Internet age, the wait would have been maddening.

"The War Games" is a landmark story for many reasons - it's the end of the Troughton era, there are the sad farewells to Jamie and Zoe, and it is the show's final black and white production - but also because of the bad taste left in my mouth by the Time Lords. Our introduction to the Doctor's home people is entirely negative. We see that they are capable and willing to do terrible things. Their rules and retribution are enough to drive anyone away - and who hasn't wanted to flee a repressive situation? To this point, the Doctor has been a mysterious traveler. But now we see a new side to him - someone who ran away from an intolerably repressive place and struck out on his own.


Sarah -
And what a time he had! I’m so grateful to have had the opportunity to enjoy the entire Troughton Era – even the recons (mostly).

In later regenerations, we’ll take so much for granted about the Doctor’s story, but it’s still all so new here. Patrick Troughton is responsible for the series lasting for a Third Doctor and his legacy can still be felt in the series today. Troughton took the strong character developed by William Hartnell and added so many layers to his interpretation.


Harry -
It was a brilliant - albeit risky - move on the show's part to bring in an actor who was so different from Hartnell. Troughton's turn as the Doctor was a great success and opened the door to endless interpretations of the character.


Sarah -
Each actor creates his own Doctor, of course, but they also leave their imprint on the role. We’ve often discussed, Harry, how much Matt Smith’s Doctor owes to Troughton’s performance. Some of that may be due to the fact that the fans are now running the series, but part of me wants it to be the sheer power of the Doctor and the actors who have inhabited the role.


Harry -
There are definitely some playful glimpses of Patrick Troughton in Matt Smith's Doctor.


Sarah -
If there’s one thing you can say about Patrick Troughton’s performance, it’s that he fully inhabited the role. What a brilliant Doctor he is!


Harry -
And what a brilliant final story he had. As I mentioned in our commentary of the first half of "The War Games", Terrance Dicks and Malcolm Hulke deserve kudos for they way they elevated the stakes higher and higher each episode.


Sarah -
You would never know how much of it happened on the fly, would you?


Harry -
Indeed.  Just when they established the War Chief as top dog, we meet the War Lord, who himself ends up being trumped by the Time Lords. The repeated introduction of higher powers - coupled with the story's length - lends it a truly epic feel.  They did a fantastic job pacing out the story so that it never flagged.


Sarah -
I couldn’t help but feel a bit sympathetic to the War Lord, finding himself surrounded by so many nincompoops and egomaniacs. His devious plans will never succeed with these lackeys around.


Harry -
Dicks and Hulke created so many memorable characters: Lady Jennifer and Carstairs, Smythe and Von Weich, poor old Ransom, and the bickering trio of the War Chief, Security Chief and War Lord.


Sarah -
I loved their face-off scene, when he makes it clear to the Security Chief and War Chief that they are, in fact, expendable.


Harry -
The War Lord is my favourite and I was floored when I realized that he was a brilliantly concealed Philip Madoc. His stubbly beard, short hair and coke-bottle lenses totally fooled me. His calm, creepy threats were wonderful. The War Lord is one villain who deserved a return engagement.


Sarah -
Can you imagine? I’d love to see him come up against the Fourth Doctor.


Harry -
Perhaps in another form.  Anyway, I'm glad that, years later, Jamie and Zoe did get a return engagement, in "The Five Doctors", however so brief. Jamie will also appear again in "The Two Doctors" along with Patrick Troughton, but that's for another time.


Sarah -
I’ll look forward to seeing them again!


Harry -
I think Jamie and Zoe were the best companions of the Troughton era.


Sarah -
Absolutely!


Harry -
Frazer Hines was there for virtually the entire time and did the "male bonding" thing with the Doctor better than anyone so far, and probably ever. Jamie and the Doctor were great mates and complimented each other so well.


Sarah -
Their chemistry was exquisite. Frazer Hines has said that the happiest point in his career was his time with Troughton, and you can see it in every moment they’re on screen together. I always liked Jamie, but had only seen him in a couple Troughton stories and “The Five Doctors” and “The Two Doctors.” He’s now one of my favorite companions of all time – right up there with Barbara, who also won my heart on this marathon of ours.


Harry -
Plus he's got fantastic legs...


Sarah -
Well, there is that.


Harry -
And where Jamie delivered the braun, Zoe provided the brains. Zoe started off as a bit of a smarty pants, but Wendy Padbury matured in the role. Zoe never stopped being brainy, but she seemed to add an element of subtlety to her role as she went on. As we saw here, she was ready to crack some skulls if need be!


Sarah -
I really liked how Zoe unsettled Jamie at the start. He didn’t know how to take this brilliant woman and was clearly threatened by her.


Harry -
He resorted to teasing her early on, but he'd stopped doing that by the time we got to this story.


Sarah -
It makes sense for a man of his time, especially after having said goodbye to Victoria, for whom he had strong feelings. Over time, he and Zoe built a mutual respect and made a brilliant team. Padbury’s characterization of Zoe is brilliant and I really think she deserves more appreciation in fandom.


Harry -
I will miss them both. As they departed to their separate fates, the Doctor's little wave to them was such a sad, tender moment.


Sarah -
I was blubbering by that point.


Harry -
Damn you, Time Lords, I'm getting angry again.

But let's not end "The War Games" in anger. This was an amazing story, that seized me from the start and never let up. The tension and drama got turned higher with each episode and it's astonishing that a ten-parter could succeed in doing so. Well-written, well-produced and well-acted. You can't ask for more and I can't imagine the Doctor going out in a greater epic!


Sarah -
I don’t feel a drop of anger. At this point, I feel nothing but gratitude and appreciation for our time with the Second Doctor. Patrick Troughton went from being a Doctor I liked to being a Doctor I love. I doubt anyone can replace Tom Baker, my first Doctor, in my heart – but if anyone can give him a run for his money, it’s Patrick Troughton. I’ll look forward to seeing our dear friend in the Two, Five, and Three Doctors. Until then, it’s comforting to know that I can return to the Troughton Era whenever I want – recons and all!

Best Line: "It is a fact, Jamie, that I do tend to get involved with things."

Favorite Moment: The Doctor, Jamie, and Zoe making one last run through corridors.

Lasting Image: Jamie and Zoe holding hands as the Doctor waves goodbye. Oh dear, I’m getting a bit teary-eyed again.

Second-Half Rating: 10/10

Overall Rating: 9.5/10


Here we are, Harry, at the end of the year and the end of the Second Doctor Era. It’s almost hard to believe that we’ll ring in 2013 with Doctor Who in color!

Happy New Year, Old Boy!


Harry -
Huzzah!  There must be a bottle of something or other left from our end-of-the-recons party. See if you can find some glasses while I rummage under the sofa.

Happy New Year everyone!

Best line: "I am guilty of interference, just as you are guilty of failing to use your great powers to help those in need!"

Favourite moment: the Doctor mocking the Time Lords and their laws.

Lasting image: the Doctor lying on the floor, playing cards while awaiting his sentence.

Second half rating: 9/10

Overall rating: 9/10

Our marathon continues with Story #51: Spearhead From Space...

Story #50 - The War Games (1969) - Episodes One to Five

Harry -
Oh my word!

After the crawling drudgery that was "The Space Pirates", we find the Doctor and his friends thrust into a pulse-pounding, nerve-wracking adventure in which the stakes keep getting ratcheted higher and higher. After five episodes of "The War Games", I need to catch my breath!


Sarah -
Let there be no doubt, Harry, this is war!

Which, frankly, is a little refreshing after the recent unpleasantness.

It’s hard to believe it all begins with the TARDIS crew laughing at Jamie stepping in a puddle of water.


Harry -
So fitting that the Troughton era ends with one more cheery opener as our friends step out of the TARDIS.


Sarah -
Our friends soon find themselves, in rapid succession, face to face with a British ambulance driver, two German soldiers, and an English regiment during World War I, only to end up in a trench. And still, it's better than "The Space Pirates"!


Harry -
From said trench, the Doctor, Jamie and Zoe are hauled into a British field office and thence to HQ (all of these settings would be echoed, eerily, decades later in Black Adder Goes Forth).


Sarah -
Ha! I was thinking the same thing!


Harry -
This is not a straightforward WWI story, however, as we see General Smythe using a video link in his private room. But before we can even wonder about that, a farcical court martial takes place, and the Doctor is dragged before a firing squad. Episode one may have been the single best episode of the entire Troughton era. It was nonstop action and danger, accusations and paranoia, and a thrilling cliffhanger. Holy wow Sarah!


Sarah -
"The War Games" are on! Honestly, I’ve seen this story before and I was still nervous about the Doctor’s fate.

Before we meet Smythe, the story could easily be a return to the Doctor Who historical, but the appearance of the video screen and Smythe’s use of his glasses to bend others to his will move us into science fiction. The blending of the two types of stories is an utter success. Terrance Dicks and Malcolm Hulke have achieved the ultimate Doctor Who mash-up.

Everyone else we meet in 1917 is so sympathetic and nice – Lady Jennifer, Carstairs, and even poor, hapless Captain Ransom. They seem to know the court martial is a sham, but aren’t sure why or what they can do about it. No one can remember how long they’ve been at the front. It’s all very troubling, until the General puts his glasses on.


Harry -
I should like a pair of specs like that.


Sarah -
They certainly would come in handy.


Harry -
This story is actually the first Patrick Troughton adventure I ever watched, back in 1997 when the Space Network was launched up here. I remember they would broadcast old Hartnell and Troughton stories at some ridiculous hour like 7:00 a.m..  Each weekday morning, I'd race down and throw on the TV all bleary eyed and trying to remember what I'd seen the morning before.


Sarah -
That sounds fabulous! It was the second Troughton story I watched, after "The Invasion". They were both so brilliant that I couldn’t wait to see more of the Second Doctor – which didn’t actually happen until we started this marathon. Still, that was probably all for the best.


Harry -
One of the great things about "The War Games" is that despite its epic length, the story moves along at just the right pace and never gets dull.


Sarah -
It really does. I know it’s often criticized for all the fight scenes. While there are a lot of them, they don’t drag the story down and add a bit of adventure.


Harry -
Each of the first five episodes gives us just enough reveal to keep us interested: Smythe's video link and hypno-specs; then his transmat device that makes TARDIS-like sounds; then the scenes of Smythe in conference with Von Wiech; and finally the appearance of the War Chief at central HQ. Each new revelation gives us a tantalyzing clue that there is something bigger going on than what we have seen so far. It's damn near perfect and the best evidence that I can give is that, unlike "The Space Pirates" where I was checking the time every two minutes, with "The War Games" I'd be stunned to find myself at minute twenty of every episode when I got around to checking.


Sarah -
They just fly by, don’t they? I had planned to watch an episode or two and, before I knew it, I’d watched the first five in one evening!


Harry -
Now, dear Sarah if you'll permit me to careen into the gutter for a moment, I want to appreciate how many hot men there are in this story so far. Jamie is amazing here. Wily and strong, willing to work together with a Redcoat, knocking men off horses and dashing to Lady Jennifer's rescue. Oh Jamie! Then there's Lieutenant Carstairs, all handsome and sensitive. Even Von Weich has a kind of nasty appeal about him. And then... there's the War Chief. Oh my goodness, where to begin. Those piercing eyes, that wild facial hair, that Elvis-like mane of hair... Smouldering. And I mean me, not him!

Oh dear, what was the question?


Sarah -
I know it’s quite the thing to be all dreamy about the cast in the current series, but viewers didn’t have as many opportunities back in the day, did they? Sure, there was always “something for the dads,” but what about the mums and uncles? Listen, BBC -- you’ve got to keep our interest, too!

For this mum, Frazer Hines is the sexiest person to ever grace the Doctor Who frame. Honestly, when he struck up a conversation with me at Chicago TARDIS, it was all I could do stay standing. I’ll save the rest of my Jamie tribute for the end of the review, but safe to say Jamie is at his hottest in The War Games.

Unfortunately, I can’t get the image of a grown-up Eddie Munster out of my head when I see the War Chief. Hope I haven’t messed with your smoldering there!


Harry -
Haha, no harm done. I shall smoulder on!


Sarah -
It may amuse you to hear that part of me wanted him to break out into a chorus of “What’s New Pussycat” while planning his next battle move. Not quite smoldering, but better than Eddie Munster.


Harry -
It occurred to me while writing some of this commentary that characters like Smythe and Von Weich are actually taking part in a Live Action Role Playing game - they are LARPers of the past! Or is that the future? Either way, nicely imagined and portrayed. Their zeal for the contest is evident.


Sarah -
I hadn’t thought of it that way, but it’s brilliant! I’ve never really understood the Civil War re-enactors, to be honest, but thinking of them as LARPers shifts it to the geekosphere, which I can understand.


Harry -
If there is one small sticking point I have with these first five episodes, it is the Doctor's use of the sonic screwdriver. I know, I know, you have years of this griping to look forward to, Sarah.


Sarah -
And I look forward to every gripe!


Harry -
Anyway, my point is, we watch the Doctor spend a good deal of time rigging up a small explosive to open the safe in Smythe's private room. Could he not have just used the sonic to spin the tumblers and open the safe? I mean, he gives the German officer a casual demonstration of the sonic – twice! – and it seemed odd to introduce it at that point in the story, when it would have been much handier before.


Sarah -
While the turning-the-screw-in-the-gun scene was riveting and all, it’s far more exciting (and visual) to blow things up…isn’t it? We can’t rely on the fight scenes to provide all the action. We need explosions!


Harry -
It's a small gripe, really, I shouldn't have even bothered. The rest of the story is totally cracking so far!


Sarah -
Absolutely. My only complaint is that it’s half over already.


Harry -
And unlike "The Space Pirates", where Jamie and Zoe were relegated to observers with little to no impact, here they are front and centre with the Doctor. So great to see.


Sarah -
The whole story is crafted to keep the TARDIS crew front and center. They each have their moments to shine. I laughed when Zoe saves the day (sort of) by smashing a vase over an officers’ head. Zoe gets to demonstrate her intelligence so often, that it’s kind of refreshing to see her get physical!

The entire production design is positively smashing. I guess it was worth sitting through the same explosion multiple times in "The Space Pirates" if it allowed for a bigger budget for "The War Games".


Harry -
Glad to see this "up and down" season ending on a high.

At the end of episode five, Jamie has walked into an ambush at central HQ. Don't tell me he's about to get shot again!


Sarah -
Poor Jamie.


Harry -
Can't wait to watch the second half. Shall we?


Sarah -
Oh, yes, let's!


Harry -
Best line: "How DARE you!" - the Doctor returns to his master-of-disguise schtick to bully the prison commandant.

Favourite moment: the electrifying moment when the Doctor and the War Chief recognize one another.

Lasting image: the Doctor and Zoe wearing that odd eyewear at central HQ.

First half rating: 9/10


Sarah -
Best Line: “Not many women take an interest in the problems of supply.” Poor Ransom has no idea how to chat up a lady, but there's so much character development in just that one line.

Favorite Moment: Jamie saving Lady Jennifer.

Lasting Image: Our heroes lined up for the Court Martial.

First half rating: 9/10

Our marathon continues with the second half of The War Games...