I’m probably mad for attempting this again but… time to embark on ‘The Pilgrimage’ once more, with a year-long #DoctorWho marathon leading up to the 60th.
Last time I did this was from the 49th to 50th anniversary. Quite a few more seasons added since then of course! Can I squeeze them all in? Let’s find out! #DoctorWhoDay
The Edge Of Destruction: such a bonkers story. Probably a bit early to be doing something so weird and experimental and potentially off-putting for the audience.
“His heart’s alright” says Ian, checking the unconscious Doctor. Cue years of speculation that he only had one heart at this point, but of course Ian wouldn’t know to check for another one so there’s no contradiction as far as I’m concerned. #DoctorWho
Terry Nation writing a character called Tarron? Wonder if he’ll ever do that again.
Interesting how the search for the keys and the temporary usage of a fake final one foreshadows the Key To Time, 14 years later.
Barbara completely failing to smash the Morphoton brains’ jars and the Voord tripping over his own flippers will never not be funny. 😄 #DoctorWho
Onto The Aztecs, another great historical from John Lucarotti and one of my favourite Hartnells. Susan questions why the Aztecs would think that a male priest has been reincarnated as a woman.
Her grandfather, centuries later…
Hmm, well after the brilliance of The Aztecs we now get the slow, plodding (both them and the story) The Sensorites.
Apart from The Daleks, it’s the sci-fi stories that are letting the side down in season one. The historicals are far more interesting.
Plus the cramped nature of Lime Grove studios is very obvious here. Everyone pretends that stuff happening three feet away is too distant to notice. Or they move painfully slowly down short corridors to make them seem longer. #DoctorWho
I’d forgotten how grotty some of the surviving episodes of The Reign Of Terror look, like they’ve been dragged through the mud. Stands out in stark contrast to the surrounding stories. Thankfully the picture quality improves a bit by episode three.
The Doctor getting roped into the chain gang and then getting out of it is very funny. As is his impersonation of a high-ranking official. Hartnell was always so good when given a bit of comedy material. #DoctorWho
Not the most exciting Historical (too much capturing/escaping/recapturing in that bloody prison) but the Reign Of Terror has its moments. And the jailer is a fun character.
Anyway, that’s season one done. Now hurry up Amazon and send me the Season Two Collection! #DoctorWho
Right, the Season Two box set’s arrived, so back to the #DoctorWho marathon with Planet Of Giants.
The oversized sets are very good. For the time and the budget what they achieved is near-miraculous. The DN6 plot feels like something from an early episode of The Avengers.
This is probably the prime example in the Hartnell era where, due to the tiny studio size, actors have to pretend they can’t see something that’s inches away until the camera pans over to reveal it.
“Yes, my report will financially ruin you.
By the way, I’m off on holiday by myself, sailing round France, so if anything happens to me nobody will notice my absence for quite some time and… oh you’ve pulled a gun. Bugger, I walked myself into that, didn’t I?” #DoctorWho
Only in #DoctorWho would you get cliffhangers where the thrilling scary thing that happens is:
A) a cat appearing
B) water going down a plug hole!
😁
The Dalek Invasion Of Earth: Location filming! Aliens invading Earth! Returning villains!
The Daleks coming back is the first tiny step towards broadening the scope of #DoctorWho. Giving it a bigger, more structured, universe. Rather than just aimless wandering.
Ian asks how the Daleks can be here after being destroyed on Skaro. The Doctor replies that was a million years in the future and this is “the middle period of Dalek history”, clearly bullshitting and making it up as he goes along! 😜
So, we get our first cast change as Susan leaves. She always has this huge iconic status as not only the first companion but also, bogglingly, A MEMBER OF THE DOCTOR’S ACTUAL FAMILY. Yet sadly the character as written doesn’t live up to any of that. What a shame.
Also, Jenny was a really good character. Should have had her come on board as the replacement! #DoctorWhoَ
#DoctorWho - The Crusade. They certainly didn’t compromise or dumb down for so-called “kids” telly back then, with dense wordy scripts like this. Richard and Joanna’s intense argument in episode three wouldn’t be out of place in some heavyweight drama.
And Barbara holding a knife while considering having to kill a young girl rather than let her be captured is pretty adult and grim too.
Right, resuming the #DoctorWho marathon after a Xmas break with The
Space Museum.
Due to some timey-wimey shenanigans, the Doctor’s (and companions’) clothes magically change. Well, let’s hope nothing as silly as that ever happens again! 😜
The first episode is great, with all the ‘jumping a time-track’, weirdness and seeing their potential future. Very Twilight Zone. Wouldn’t be out of place to see Rod Serling popping up to give an ominous intro.
Then we get the less exciting stuff with the Xerons and Moroks. The wettest group of oppressors/rebels ever! A bunch of teenagers trying to overthrow some middle-aged men with ‘50s Teddy-Boy haircuts. Thankfully Vicki sorts them out and the revolution’s quickly done. #DoctorWho
Onto ‘The Chase’, and Dr. Who has a huge new space telly (how did he fit that through the doors?!) that he wants to show off to the others.
I like how the Time-Space Visualiser is labelled with names of planets from our solar system. Seems a bit of a small scope! #DoctorWho
@gavinwinters my favourite has always been "The fragile man who went around wrapped in bubblewrap".
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