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Classic Doctor Who, Season 2 Review
While I didn't achieve my goal of getting through all of the First Doctor's serials before the 2017 Christmas Special came out, I have still enjoyed making my way through them. The majority of the serials are available on Britbox in the United States, though as some serials are lost I had to buy the audio tracks from Audible.
This season feels a lot more confident in its storytelling and the kind of show it wants to be, and as I result there weren't any serials I outright hated like in the first season. It also means that this ranking is more arbitrary than the last one, and I flipped rankings around up until the last second when I really needed to commit. Here's a quick rundown of my thoughts, based more on my own enjoyment rather than any critical evaluation.
This season feels a lot more confident in its storytelling and the kind of show it wants to be, and as I result there weren't any serials I outright hated like in the first season. It also means that this ranking is more arbitrary than the last one, and I flipped rankings around up until the last second when I really needed to commit. Here's a quick rundown of my thoughts, based more on my own enjoyment rather than any critical evaluation.
The Characters
William Hartnell as The First Doctor - This is the season that really establishes the Doctor as the protagonist of the show, as previously the companion characters were much more active both physically and in terms of story. The departure of three companions and establishing relationships with two new ones really allowed Hartnell to emote outside of monologues. That said, his monologue to Susan when she left may be Hartnell's finest work on the show. Outside of the serious stuff, it is clear that Hartnell is having much more fun this time around, and he really shows how much the character has organically grown and changed over the course of the show.
Carole Ann Ford as Susan Foreman - She was only in two serials, Planet of Giants and The Dalek Invasion of Earth, but the later really acted as a cumulation of many of the character threads that had been set up previously. While its unfortunate that Hartnell missed two episodes due to an injury, it was probably for the best that David got more lines and one-on-one scenes with Susan, as it helped make her exit make more sense than it really did. While the Doctor ultimately made the decision for her, Susan finally got what she always wanted - a (mostly) stable home where she wasn't constantly moving around. That being said, a lot of this falls apart when you think too hard about how young the character is to end her story with whats essentially a marriage exit.
William Russell as Ian Chesterton - With the show relying less on Russell for action set pieces and shifting the "leader" archetype back to the Doctor, Russell got to play with goofier material, and more scenes in general where he was paired off with Barbara. I suspect this may be due to not needing to fill a role as defacto parents anymore, as Vicki never seemed to need that kind of emotional support that Susan always did. The Romans and The Web Planet in particular really highlighted both his comedic and dramatic acting abilities, and his role in The Crusade was as fun as it was bizarre. His exit with Barbara at the end of The Chase was pitch-perfect.
Jacqueline Hill as Barbara Wright - While she didn't have a tour de force like The Aztecs last season, Susan's departure really allowed Barbara to shed the role of defacto parent and play with goofier material that she had been previously given. Every time she's onscreen with Ian it is super fun, The Romans in particular being a delight. Her relationship with Vicki is also extremely refreshing, not at all mirroring her relationship with Susan and giving her a female companion that's more of a peer to play off of. Her mostly solo work in The Crusade works better than it should on paper, and Barbara seems to thrive in the historical episodes in general. Her exit with Ian at the end of The Chase was pitch-perfect.
Maureen O'Brien as Vicki Pallister - For what was essentially conceived as a carbon-copy replacement of Susan, Vicki really comes into her own as a character fairly quickly and shares very little similarity with Susan at all beyond their ages. She's also someone more willing to challenge the other characters on their decisions, and because she's a new character she provides a fresh perspective on, for example, the Daleks. Her dynamic with the Doctor also doesn't have the same limitations as Susan's or the same baggage as Ian and Barbara's, a quality that is vital in setting up the latter's exit.
Peter Purves as Steven Taylor - Just because I'm lowkey in love with Steven after only two serials doesn't mean I can't objectively say that he's a good addition to the TARDIS team. His entrance into the show was clever and unexpected, and his character bears no similarities to any previous companions. He also provides a much shaper contrast with other characters than has previously been seen - his exchanges with the Doctor and Vicki being highlights of his first full serial. He's started off with a lot of potential and I'm excited to see where the character goes.
The Serials
I've ranked the serials based off my own personal preference which is only tangentially related to how good they are on a critical level.
9) Serial 1, Episodes 1-3 - Planet of Giants
This serial is truly proof that less isn't always more. Originally constructed as a four episode serial, it was ultimately decided that the last two episodes would be condensed into one for a faster pace. They accomplished that goal, but it also resulted in a story that seemed to wrap up much too quickly and easily. That being said, the effects work of this episode is impressive considering when it was produced, and the premise was much darker than I would expect from any children's series today. And while this serial does split up the team, they ultimately get decent screentime together as a group, which is nice considering how little screentime they all share in the following serial (Susan's last).
8) Serial 5, Episodes 16-21 - The Web Planet
By all accounts a well-constructed serial, however I couldn't bring myself to get invested after the first couple of episodes. The opening here was very strong, playing with the mystery of what this planet was and allowing each major cast member good material to work with. The scenes with the Doctor and Ian is the opening were particularly amusing. However, once everyone was split up and seemed to have variations of the same conversation with a bunch of bugs, I mentally checked out. It didn't help that I found the premise of the villain confusing, and the constant glare on the camera during scenes set on the planet's surface distracting.
7) Serial 7, Episodes 26-29 - The Space Museum
This serial started out remarkable and ended ho-hum. Up until this point the show hasn't been willing to explore the stranger possibilities that are presented with time travel - likely to limit the use of the TARDIS as a plot device. The main characters discovering themselves in statis at a future point in their timeline was inspired, as was the eerie setup of The Space Museum itself. However, that's where the inspiration ended. The rest of the episode played like a retread of plotlines from several other serials dealing with uprisings within societies, and this one felt incredibly boring when compared to all of them. It only ranks this high due to the strengths of its opener - which is essentially all it has.
6) Serial 6, Episodes 22-25 - The Crusade (Episodes 23 and 25 as an Audio Play)
This serial has a lot of good things going for it - from incredible set design to an interesting plot setup. Barbara, as always, shines when placed in a historical setting. However, it's ultimately fallen victims to a number of tropes that have not aged well. Mileage may vary on the depiction of the Middle Eastern characters and the storylines attached to them, but I suspect the speech given by Joanna was crafted as something empowering for her at the time. Instead, what we get is a racially charged rant that quickly strips away any sympathy many modern viewers would have for her, and coupled with a bizarre storyline for Vicki makes an entire set-piece of the serial unpleasant to watch.
5) Serial 2, Episodes 4-9 - The Dalek Invasion of Earth
Another serial that aged strangely, though not to the point of causing offense. Rather, Susan's departure for a relationship is a plot thread that really shows its age. However, the serial overall is a massive improvement from the first Dalek serial in the previous season. The plot twist at the end of the first episode was still great even though the modern title choreographs what's coming. The supporting cast, even the ones whose stories ultimately end up going nowhere, feel real in a way they sometimes don't on Doctor Who. (Though dead end plot threads are why this serial is ranked so low for me). Each cast member is given a story that's interesting and engaging. However, the real stars of this serial are Barbara and the Doctor. Because changing time aside, Hartnell's speech at the end of this serial may be his finest work. Enough work had been done so her exit felt earned and that it paid off established story and character, and Barbara was easily the most capable she's ever been here.
4) Serial 3, Episodes 10-11 - The Rescue
A short serial that tells a simple story extremely well and does the first introduction of a new companion onto the show. The Doctor was particularly engaging in this, taking on a very proactive role despite still clearly feeling the loss of Susan. Apparently the plot twist was extremely obvious to most viewers, but I didn't pick up on the clues and was very pleasantly surprised by how everything ended up. In particular, I enjoyed how wholely different the dynamic between Barbara and Vicki was to the one between Barbara and Susan. The set design looked great, and I'm struggling to find anything to criticize this serial over aside from it's short running time.
3) Serial 9, Episodes 36-39 - The Time Meddler
As far as I'm concerned, my top three serials for this season are in a virtual tie. This is the first serial with a completely new cast of companions from who the show started out with, and it was handled much better than I expected it to be. Steven immediately gels with the Doctor and Vicki, and has a playful dynamic with them that's (for the most part) a first for the show. Other strengths for this serial include the unusual historical setting and the first real dive into the lore of the Doctor himself. The Monk is a new and interesting type of villain that brings more gravitas than most of the villains on the show. All in all, the season ends on a very high note and promises good things for the show moving forward.
2) Serial 4, Episodes 12-15 - The Romans
I absolutely adore studying Roman history, so this serial wouldn't have been a tough sell for me. However, this one goes the extra mile by having its first big name guest star and having its characters go on a romp through Rome that ends with the Doctor inadvertently giving Nero the inspiration to burn the city down. Parts that wouldn't normally work, such as the jealousy of Nero's wife, Poppaea Sabina, are infused with life and humor and elevates them. Overall, this serial is much lighter and sillier than many others and its extremely fun to watch. The Ian and Barbara interactions are my favorite of the show, and each cast member have enough charisma here to carry the scenes where their characters are separated from the others. The Doctor and Vicki have their first real shared screentime in this and its gold.
1) Serial 8, Episodes 30-35 - The Chase
This serial felt fast paced and exciting in a way that many other serials don't, often by virtue of only taking place on one or two sets. The Chase sees the TARDIS barreling through time and space trying to outrun the Daleks - and as a result has a new setting each episode. Each cast member gets their due, and for a change almost entirely play off one another. The groundwork laid for Steven's addition as a companion mostly holds up, and Purves' appearance earlier in the serial works when it really shouldn't. The real hook of this episode, however, is the departure of Ian and Barbara. In many ways putting them in several different settings over the course of this serial was an excellent highlight of how dynamic they are and how much they've changed over the course of the show. Their final scenes on the show felt earned and right, and a bit cheesy. Not as cheesy as the "haunted house", but that still inexplicably worked as well. The Doctor's scenes with Vicki really formed the emotional core of the final episode, however, and the fact that Ian, Barbara, and Susan are all gone is very much not lost on the audience or in Hartnell's performance.
Final Thoughts
This season was significantly stronger than the previous one, and it proved that it could survive - even flourish! - major cast changes. The historical serials continue to be easy sells for me but the show overall is getting much better at telling scifi stories without relying on the same tropes and story beats over and over again. Arbitrary alien ranking from best to worst: I enjoyed The Daleks, the Mechonoids, and the Sand Beast. I'm not quite sure what to make of the Slyther or the Menoptra, and the Zarbi and the Animus were a big thumbs down for me.
Watch Status Roundup:
Natsume's Book of Friends - 30/80
Digimon Frontier - 2/50
The X-Files - 74/210
The Golden Girls Extended Universe - 76/442
William Hartnell as The First Doctor - This is the season that really establishes the Doctor as the protagonist of the show, as previously the companion characters were much more active both physically and in terms of story. The departure of three companions and establishing relationships with two new ones really allowed Hartnell to emote outside of monologues. That said, his monologue to Susan when she left may be Hartnell's finest work on the show. Outside of the serious stuff, it is clear that Hartnell is having much more fun this time around, and he really shows how much the character has organically grown and changed over the course of the show.
Carole Ann Ford as Susan Foreman - She was only in two serials, Planet of Giants and The Dalek Invasion of Earth, but the later really acted as a cumulation of many of the character threads that had been set up previously. While its unfortunate that Hartnell missed two episodes due to an injury, it was probably for the best that David got more lines and one-on-one scenes with Susan, as it helped make her exit make more sense than it really did. While the Doctor ultimately made the decision for her, Susan finally got what she always wanted - a (mostly) stable home where she wasn't constantly moving around. That being said, a lot of this falls apart when you think too hard about how young the character is to end her story with whats essentially a marriage exit.
William Russell as Ian Chesterton - With the show relying less on Russell for action set pieces and shifting the "leader" archetype back to the Doctor, Russell got to play with goofier material, and more scenes in general where he was paired off with Barbara. I suspect this may be due to not needing to fill a role as defacto parents anymore, as Vicki never seemed to need that kind of emotional support that Susan always did. The Romans and The Web Planet in particular really highlighted both his comedic and dramatic acting abilities, and his role in The Crusade was as fun as it was bizarre. His exit with Barbara at the end of The Chase was pitch-perfect.
Jacqueline Hill as Barbara Wright - While she didn't have a tour de force like The Aztecs last season, Susan's departure really allowed Barbara to shed the role of defacto parent and play with goofier material that she had been previously given. Every time she's onscreen with Ian it is super fun, The Romans in particular being a delight. Her relationship with Vicki is also extremely refreshing, not at all mirroring her relationship with Susan and giving her a female companion that's more of a peer to play off of. Her mostly solo work in The Crusade works better than it should on paper, and Barbara seems to thrive in the historical episodes in general. Her exit with Ian at the end of The Chase was pitch-perfect.
Maureen O'Brien as Vicki Pallister - For what was essentially conceived as a carbon-copy replacement of Susan, Vicki really comes into her own as a character fairly quickly and shares very little similarity with Susan at all beyond their ages. She's also someone more willing to challenge the other characters on their decisions, and because she's a new character she provides a fresh perspective on, for example, the Daleks. Her dynamic with the Doctor also doesn't have the same limitations as Susan's or the same baggage as Ian and Barbara's, a quality that is vital in setting up the latter's exit.
Peter Purves as Steven Taylor - Just because I'm lowkey in love with Steven after only two serials doesn't mean I can't objectively say that he's a good addition to the TARDIS team. His entrance into the show was clever and unexpected, and his character bears no similarities to any previous companions. He also provides a much shaper contrast with other characters than has previously been seen - his exchanges with the Doctor and Vicki being highlights of his first full serial. He's started off with a lot of potential and I'm excited to see where the character goes.
The Serials
I've ranked the serials based off my own personal preference which is only tangentially related to how good they are on a critical level.
9) Serial 1, Episodes 1-3 - Planet of Giants
Planet of Giants was short, very different from other serials, and I really liked it. It was like Honey I Shrunk The Kids except with murder. A fun group episode. (x)
This serial is truly proof that less isn't always more. Originally constructed as a four episode serial, it was ultimately decided that the last two episodes would be condensed into one for a faster pace. They accomplished that goal, but it also resulted in a story that seemed to wrap up much too quickly and easily. That being said, the effects work of this episode is impressive considering when it was produced, and the premise was much darker than I would expect from any children's series today. And while this serial does split up the team, they ultimately get decent screentime together as a group, which is nice considering how little screentime they all share in the following serial (Susan's last).
8) Serial 5, Episodes 16-21 - The Web Planet
The Web Planet was about right in terms of length and pacing but it just didn't suck me in once the bugs started playing major roles and I have no idea why. Also, the glare caused by the costumes was very distracting. (x)
By all accounts a well-constructed serial, however I couldn't bring myself to get invested after the first couple of episodes. The opening here was very strong, playing with the mystery of what this planet was and allowing each major cast member good material to work with. The scenes with the Doctor and Ian is the opening were particularly amusing. However, once everyone was split up and seemed to have variations of the same conversation with a bunch of bugs, I mentally checked out. It didn't help that I found the premise of the villain confusing, and the constant glare on the camera during scenes set on the planet's surface distracting.
7) Serial 7, Episodes 26-29 - The Space Museum
The Space Museum had such a strong opening episode and showed a lot of promise exploring some neat concepts involving time travel and then descended into into a rehash of "planetary politics gone awry" that's been done several times on the show already. (x)
This serial started out remarkable and ended ho-hum. Up until this point the show hasn't been willing to explore the stranger possibilities that are presented with time travel - likely to limit the use of the TARDIS as a plot device. The main characters discovering themselves in statis at a future point in their timeline was inspired, as was the eerie setup of The Space Museum itself. However, that's where the inspiration ended. The rest of the episode played like a retread of plotlines from several other serials dealing with uprisings within societies, and this one felt incredibly boring when compared to all of them. It only ranks this high due to the strengths of its opener - which is essentially all it has.
6) Serial 6, Episodes 22-25 - The Crusade (Episodes 23 and 25 as an Audio Play)
The Crusade should probably have been longer but overall it was pretty satisfying, especially considering two of the episodes were missing. That said, Joanna's "empowered woman" speech aged VERY BADLY because it doesn't read as anything now except for super racist. (x)
This serial has a lot of good things going for it - from incredible set design to an interesting plot setup. Barbara, as always, shines when placed in a historical setting. However, it's ultimately fallen victims to a number of tropes that have not aged well. Mileage may vary on the depiction of the Middle Eastern characters and the storylines attached to them, but I suspect the speech given by Joanna was crafted as something empowering for her at the time. Instead, what we get is a racially charged rant that quickly strips away any sympathy many modern viewers would have for her, and coupled with a bizarre storyline for Vicki makes an entire set-piece of the serial unpleasant to watch.
5) Serial 2, Episodes 4-9 - The Dalek Invasion of Earth
The Dalek Invasion of Earth was way better than the first Dalek serial, though there were a couple of plot threads that didn't end up going anywhere because there was just so much of it. Susan's exit was good even though the marriage proposal seemed really strange. (x)
Another serial that aged strangely, though not to the point of causing offense. Rather, Susan's departure for a relationship is a plot thread that really shows its age. However, the serial overall is a massive improvement from the first Dalek serial in the previous season. The plot twist at the end of the first episode was still great even though the modern title choreographs what's coming. The supporting cast, even the ones whose stories ultimately end up going nowhere, feel real in a way they sometimes don't on Doctor Who. (Though dead end plot threads are why this serial is ranked so low for me). Each cast member is given a story that's interesting and engaging. However, the real stars of this serial are Barbara and the Doctor. Because changing time aside, Hartnell's speech at the end of this serial may be his finest work. Enough work had been done so her exit felt earned and that it paid off established story and character, and Barbara was easily the most capable she's ever been here.
4) Serial 3, Episodes 10-11 - The Rescue
The Rescue was short but was a (relatively) simple story that worked on all levels. It was also a great introduction to a new companion, and Vicki seems similar to Susan but different. (x)
A short serial that tells a simple story extremely well and does the first introduction of a new companion onto the show. The Doctor was particularly engaging in this, taking on a very proactive role despite still clearly feeling the loss of Susan. Apparently the plot twist was extremely obvious to most viewers, but I didn't pick up on the clues and was very pleasantly surprised by how everything ended up. In particular, I enjoyed how wholely different the dynamic between Barbara and Vicki was to the one between Barbara and Susan. The set design looked great, and I'm struggling to find anything to criticize this serial over aside from it's short running time.
3) Serial 9, Episodes 36-39 - The Time Meddler
The Time Meddler handled the transition to a new TARDIS crew incredibly well and the Vicki-Steven dynamic is compelling and electric right off the bat. The Doctor out on his own was also surprisingly effective and the villain was refreshingly different from previous serials. (x)
As far as I'm concerned, my top three serials for this season are in a virtual tie. This is the first serial with a completely new cast of companions from who the show started out with, and it was handled much better than I expected it to be. Steven immediately gels with the Doctor and Vicki, and has a playful dynamic with them that's (for the most part) a first for the show. Other strengths for this serial include the unusual historical setting and the first real dive into the lore of the Doctor himself. The Monk is a new and interesting type of villain that brings more gravitas than most of the villains on the show. All in all, the season ends on a very high note and promises good things for the show moving forward.
2) Serial 4, Episodes 12-15 - The Romans
The Romans was another great history serial, and I was glad the Doctor and Vicki got a lot of screentime together. Only real complaint is that all the main characters were separated again. The music stuff was confusing and later hilarious. (x)
I absolutely adore studying Roman history, so this serial wouldn't have been a tough sell for me. However, this one goes the extra mile by having its first big name guest star and having its characters go on a romp through Rome that ends with the Doctor inadvertently giving Nero the inspiration to burn the city down. Parts that wouldn't normally work, such as the jealousy of Nero's wife, Poppaea Sabina, are infused with life and humor and elevates them. Overall, this serial is much lighter and sillier than many others and its extremely fun to watch. The Ian and Barbara interactions are my favorite of the show, and each cast member have enough charisma here to carry the scenes where their characters are separated from the others. The Doctor and Vicki have their first real shared screentime in this and its gold.
1) Serial 8, Episodes 30-35 - The Chase
The Chase really took advantage of the length of the serial and changed the setting almost every episode and felt more varied and interesting than a lot of the others. Vicki shined in this, and Ian and Barbara's exit was handled much better than I had expected and felt satisfying (x)
This serial felt fast paced and exciting in a way that many other serials don't, often by virtue of only taking place on one or two sets. The Chase sees the TARDIS barreling through time and space trying to outrun the Daleks - and as a result has a new setting each episode. Each cast member gets their due, and for a change almost entirely play off one another. The groundwork laid for Steven's addition as a companion mostly holds up, and Purves' appearance earlier in the serial works when it really shouldn't. The real hook of this episode, however, is the departure of Ian and Barbara. In many ways putting them in several different settings over the course of this serial was an excellent highlight of how dynamic they are and how much they've changed over the course of the show. Their final scenes on the show felt earned and right, and a bit cheesy. Not as cheesy as the "haunted house", but that still inexplicably worked as well. The Doctor's scenes with Vicki really formed the emotional core of the final episode, however, and the fact that Ian, Barbara, and Susan are all gone is very much not lost on the audience or in Hartnell's performance.
Final Thoughts
This season was significantly stronger than the previous one, and it proved that it could survive - even flourish! - major cast changes. The historical serials continue to be easy sells for me but the show overall is getting much better at telling scifi stories without relying on the same tropes and story beats over and over again. Arbitrary alien ranking from best to worst: I enjoyed The Daleks, the Mechonoids, and the Sand Beast. I'm not quite sure what to make of the Slyther or the Menoptra, and the Zarbi and the Animus were a big thumbs down for me.
Watch Status Roundup:
Natsume's Book of Friends - 30/80
Digimon Frontier - 2/50
The X-Files - 74/210
The Golden Girls Extended Universe - 76/442